Chapter 18: Greetings to the future Lord Prince
Alex didn't deny himself and decided to go to the Muggle world. Darius immediately followed him, but the others decided to stay behind. Having ordered Toby to inform them immediately in case of any problems or troubles, our couple went to the main gate of the castle.
- Where shall we go, my lord? - Darius asked. The young lord thought for a moment and then answered.
- I don't know. There is no point in going to Yew Street. I know where we are going, though," Alex said suddenly.
- Where to? - asked the man with a questioning eyebrow.
- You'll see, - with these words, Alex grabbed Darius and apparated.
The Peverells appeared in an unremarkable dark alley. Darius immediately cast distraction spells on them and transfigured their clothes into more suitable ones, then together with the lord went out of the alley into the street.
- Where are we? - The man asked as he looked around.
- This is the city of Cockworth, - Alex answered, also looking around. Darius hesitated after that and a minute later he asked.
- You have never been here, and this place has nothing to do with your past. So what are we doing here? I've already realized that you didn't decide to come here because you suddenly wanted to visit the Muggle world. Do you need something or are you looking for someone?
- You're right about everything but one thing. This place has something to do with my past because my mother was born here," Alex answered.
- But she's only five or seven years old now. Besides, she's nothing to you, you're no longer Harry Potter, but the head of two families. There's a gulf between you and a huge one at that," the words hurt the boy's soul, but he knew that the keeper was right, and that made it even more painful. - Forgive me for these words, my lord, but it would be easier for you if you let go of your past, - Alex thought about it and answered after a minute.
- But letting go is easier said than done. Besides, I didn't come to this town to see my mother, but someone else," Darius was surprised, even surprised.
- Petunia? - The surprised man asked.
- Who? - The boy didn't understand.
- The Dursleys, - just one word that made the boy look at the man as if he were insane.
- Why would I go to her? - The boy asked.
- 'She's the only one I could connect to your past,' Darius explained.
- No, there is someone else living in this town," the guardian looked at the head of the family with an interested look.
- And who is that?
- Severus Snape," the Lord replied, and Darius looked very surprised in response.
- Why would you want him? He's no argument, he's a very powerful wizard in the future, a talented potions master, but now he's just a boy of seven, so why do you need him? - The still-surprised man asked.
- You said we need allies that can help us in the future. We have an alliance with the Blacks and will have one with the Malfoys if Lucius takes Andromeda as his wife. But that's not enough, we need more allies especially in the Ministry and among the purebloods, that's why I'm looking for them," Alex answered.
- That's right, we need allies, but they must be purebloods with influence and connections, and you're looking for a half-blood boy. I don't understand your motives. What do you want to do? - Darius asked again.
- In the past, he had referred to himself as the Half-Blood Prince. I thought he called himself that at the time, but he was the last descendant of a pureblood Prince. He's a half-blood now, but if he assumes the status of heir and then head of the family...
- He will be recognized as a pureblood," Darius finished for him, and then looked at the young lord with approval.
- That's right. He lives, somewhere in this city. As I recall, he was left motherless when he was five and lives with a Muggle father he hates. Perfect case to get him on my side," Alex said, and then, hesitating, continued. - I hated him from the moment I met him until he died, and after I found out the truth, I felt nothing but sympathy for him. He had a lifetime of pain and disappointment. Almost from birth. His father didn't love him, even hated him, and his mother died early. Marauders showed up at school and all seven years were hell, then he fought with the only person who treated him well, who he loved. Then this very man linked his life with his main enemy. Then they had a son, and afterwards, she died because of him. I didn't know it, but for all seven years, he watched over me at Hogwarts and protected me, albeit in his way. I want to thank him," Darius raised an eyebrow at the last words.
- How?" the man asked.
- It all started when my mother met him, he was ten years old then, so we mustn't let it happen. We'll get him out of here," the boy said.
- You want..." Darius started, but Alex finished for him.
- We'll take custody of him and get him out of here, and we'll meet my mother at Hogwarts at the earliest," the man sighed heavily, calculating in his mind how much gold the goblins would have to spend to pull this off.
- But first, we'd have to find him and ask him, in case he didn't want to," the man said reasonably.
- "He lives in Spider's Dead End. That shouldn't be far away. Let's go," the boy said, and Darius silently followed him, renewing his spell of diversion. They walked for a short while, and after ten minutes, Darius, who had been thinking about something, bumped into something. Looking down, the guardian of the clan saw the head of the clan looking ahead. Following his gaze, Peverell senior saw a boy sitting on a bench reading some kind of book. He was pale, greasy-haired, and wearing clothes that were several sizes bigger than him.
- Was that him? - Darius asked. In response, the lord simply nodded, answering the man's question. - Come, let's go take a look. Besides, there is a faint magic emanating from his book. Probably an illusion," with those words, Darius with a couple of swings renewed the diversion spells and cast the same on the bench itself, as well as another one from prying ears. After that, he and Alex headed towards the bench. As they approached Darius was able to identify what kind of illusion it was that worked against Muggles.
Snape sat on one side of the bench, Alex sat on the other end, and Darius stood in the front without removing the spell. Taking a closer look at the book in his hands the young lord hummed. Potions. Who would doubt it?
- Young man, it's risky to read a potions book on a street full of Muggles," Darius said, removing his spell. And the 'young man' jumped up from his seat as expected.
- Who are you? - Snape asked in an unfriendly voice.
- Well, well, well, why so rude? My name is Darius Peverell. I am the guardian of the Peverell family," the man introduced himself and bowed.
- Peverell? - asked the surprised boy.
- Yes, a Peverell. Judging by your reaction, you know roughly who the Peverells are," the man said, not asking, but rather stating.
- I've read something," Snape replied.
- Well, you're quite well-read for your age," the man said with approval in his voice.
- What do you want from me? - Snape asked, sitting back down.
- I have a proposition for you, or rather not for me, but for my lord," Darius broke the spell on Alex as well.
- My name is Alexandros Peverell-Slytherin. I am the head of the Peverell family and the head of the Slytherin family," Alexandros introduced himself, standing up next to Darius.
- Severus Snape," Snape introduced himself, remembering his decorum. - And what is this proposal? - Severus asked, looking at Alex.
- The opportunity to leave this place forever," Lord Peverell replied.
- What is the price for that? Why me?" Severus asked again.
- Do you know who you are and who your mother was? - Alex answered a question with a question.
- I am a wizard, - the greasy-haired man answered at once. - My mother is also a wizard, - then he became silent.
- Is that all? - Darius asked, and Snape nodded in response.
- Do you know what her surname is? - Alex asked.
- Eileen Snape," the boy answered without hesitation.
- Before the marriage," Alex corrected himself. The boy thought for a moment and then answered a moment later.
- No.
- Her name was Eileen Prince. She was the last known representative of the pureblood Prince family," Darius enlightened the boy.
- Prince? - Snape asked surprised.
- Yes. The Princes were an ancient pureblood family that went back over twenty generations. Your mother was the first child of the family. Then Lord Prince died suddenly and the family died out. And women in the Prince's family don't inherit," the man explained.
- I am the heir to the line," Snape guessed.
- That's right, you are, though unrecognized. And since there are no other living relatives besides you, you get the opportunity to claim the title of Lord Prince," the man said.
- You mean I get the opportunity? Haven't I had it since birth," Snape wondered.
- No. At least not while your mother was alive. She was a member of the family. She could make a marriage contract with someone of the aristocracy and then give birth to a pureblood heir. You are not a pureblood, you were born to a Muggle without a contract. You're an illegitimate child, a bastard to put it simply, and bastards have no rights in the magical world. They can't inherit," the man explained.
- And what do I get by accepting your offer? - Snape asked.
- For starters, an education worthy of an heir and future head, freedom, a normal life without that lowly Muggle who beats you up almost every other day," Darius replied.
- For starters," Snape repeated after the man. - You mean there's going to be more? - The boy asked curiously.
- A family," Alex replied, settling back into his seat. In response, Snape looked at the boy wide-eyed and asked.
- What?" his voice was hoarse with excitement.
- A family. A family that will love you no matter what, that won't leave you anywhere, ever, for anything,' Lord Peverell said in a firm voice.
- Can I think about it? - Severus asked.
- You have one minute," Darius crossed his arms and looked around with an indifferent expression on his face, while Alex pulled out a book on dark magic from his spatial pocket and began to peruse it.
- And what is the price of all this? - asked the boy suspiciously.
- Your loyalty, - simply answered the guardian.
- Loyalty? To whom? - the boy did not understand.
- To the clan and only to it. Everything is for the good of the clan. The clan is above all, - Alex answered, without taking his eyes off the book.
- Peverellam? - the boy asked with a shudder.
- Yes, the first of all," the young lord answered, still looking away from the book.
- And the Princes? - worried the boy.
- 'Worried about his kind. Commendable," Darius thought approvingly, not changing his bored face in the slightest.
- 'They're not going anywhere. A bastard can't claim the title of Lord, but an adopted member of another clan, no matter how light or dark, can. You'll be accepted into the Peverell clan and you'll have the opportunity to claim the title of Lord Prince as well," Darius explained. - A moment passed. So, what's your answer? - Peverell Senior asked, looking at the boy, and Alex looked up from his book and looked at Snape without blinking.
- I agree," Snape replied, looking at the young lord. He smiled happily, even Darius smiled, which was rare.
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