Chapter 35: Harry Gaunt - Chapter 35
Cygnus bowed his head to the man he'd sworn to follow. They weren't alone in the dimly lit room, the other Death Eaters from the night before standing just behind.
"Cygnus." Voldemort spoke softly beside the fireplace. "Good morning. You have good news I trust?" He smiled as he looked away from the flickering flames
"Success for our cause my lord." Cygnus returned, their presence here at Riddle Manor more than a privilege. "The muggles burned."
The other Death Eaters laughed.
"Well done Cygnus." The Dark Lord appeared pleased as he came away. "And the rest of you, go home and rest. You've earned it." Voldemort wanted Cygnus to stay, which he did while the others left across the polished wooden floors.
"Cygnus."
Voldemort approached him. "Speak to me of Lord Black," he commanded, coming to a stop right before him. "Tell me your… honest opinion."
Voldemort had yet to receive word from the reclusive Lord: not a message, letter, an invite. Nothing.
"I have not been able to see him my lord," said Cygnus carefully. "And Walburga has given nothing new."
Voldemort listened, his face was well groomed and his hair stylishly made.
"I'll-" Cygnus halted.
"Do not speak." Voldemort raised his hand. "Walburga is the cause of this. She disobeyed me." His eyes became dangerous. "I rely on you Cygnus." Voldemort set his hand upon his shoulder. "You must do this. Arrange for me an audience with Lord Black."
It was imperative that all the Lord's be brought to heel. They had too much power, too much pride to sit by and allow Voldemort take over.
"I will my lord," assured Cygnus. He'd do anything as he lowered his head. "Please forgive my family's failure. I've been away too long, even my own daughter." Cygnus tried not to show his rage.
"Daughter?" Voldemort stepped back with a curious gleam. "Ahh yes, you've been most unfortunate Cygnus." He looked commiserating. "Which is it this time?"
It had been amusing to see the man's despair before.
"Bellatrix." Cygnus straightened up. "I saw her last night. She was with a muggle." He looked away at the wall in shame. "I'll set things right."
Voldemort grinned.
Cygnus looked back but saw nothing. "They must be together my lord, she used magic in his presence. He even drove her in one those…" He always forgot the name. "Contraptions. She must be married as soon as possible."
Along with some heavy restrictions on what Bellatrix was allowed to do.
"Plans are already in place Cygnus," commented Voldemort as he walked smoothly away. "As you well know. Let Lestrange handle her. I need you focused." He looked back from beside his desk, his eyes flashing red.
"O-of course my lord." Cygnus swallowed as the Dark Lord swept around his desk and took a seat. "Am I to arrange further attacks?"
Cygnus rather hoped the Dark Lord would allow it. He enjoyed the rush.
"No. Do as I've said." Voldemort had other plans now as he looked across his letters. "Go. I await good news Cygnus."
Cygnus bowed. "Good day my lord." And left with confident strides.
Clunk.
Voldemort twitched at the noise. He'd told them to be mindful. "Pampered children, the lot of them."
They'd believed him so easily as he picked up the first of his letters, many of which were simple correspondence for day-to-day things. One was from Gringotts, his account doing well while others became empty. There were those from his solicitor regarding property sales, many of which had gone through without a hitch.
There were too many to count as Voldemort swept them aside. They didn't matter overly, they were all his now as the final letter revealed itself. It was a response via Gringotts, on behalf of boy who simply baffled at every turn.
Voldemort didn't expect it to be from him personally, that would have been foolish as the letter was opened.
'Dear Mr Riddle.'
Riddle laughed at it cynically. It still had its uses. 'I regret to inform that Lord Gaunt is unavailable at present, owing to his attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. However, given your unique claims, I have in good consequence decided to forward your request to his Lordship for review.'
"Excellent." Voldemort skimmed the rest.
'Kinds Regards,
Greycup, Account Manager to House Gaunt.'
Crinkle.
Voldemort set the letter aside, contemplating all he knew about the young Lord. Firstly, and perhaps most interestingly, they were not actually closely related. There was any number of muggles in-between the boy and their closest ancestor. But again, it didn't matter given their shared gift, which Voldemort was only too keen to hear through the lips of another.
He'd wished to meet Lord Gaunt straight away, or perhaps really the boy that had taken what he never could. The advice he'd been given had been to the contrary though, which he'd ignored.
Voldemort had only one thing to ask the boy, he didn't care if he was as deranged as they came or if he liked killing Aurors on the weekends. What mattered was what he believed in, if he'd follow and be at peace beside his only family.
"We shall see." Voldemort hissed to the empty room. "Harry Gaunt."
He was looking forward to it.
~~~~~~~
Arcturus stood at the window within his study, feeling warm and without worry as he sipped his tea. It wouldn't last of course, it never did these days while the sun begun to cloud within the sky. "I hope he's doing well," he said, meaning Lord Gaunt who'd thankfully agreed to his paranoid plan.
Spying. Arcturus sniffed at the notion. He'd been far from pleased to arrive at the conclusion some weeks ago after his little chat with Walburga, which revealed far more than he could have imagined.
She was mad. And now Arcturus was too after hiding away. "Dark Lords," he muttered after another sip. "Killings. Conspiracy. The statute." He set his cup down. Arcturus hadn't believed it. "But the muggles."
They were killing them in droves. Just this morning in-fact had been a front-page article in the Prophet, stating dozens and dozens of muggles had been killed in what was now officially being referred to, as 'The Pureblood Movement'.
"As if they all don't hate us enough already." Arcturus turned away from the window and set his cup down. "And she said it was for us."
Arcturus shook his head. Walburga had thrown in his face how Purebloods were being treated, clung to the same frustration that to his shame, he'd once carried too. But it was folly. They'd never succeed because they'd already lost, the country had already moved on and to newer times.
There were half-bloods in the Ministry. Even Mudbloods who made decisions about their country. It was Pureblood's like Bones, Abbott and the Longbottom's who were paving the way, not to mention Diggory, the obnoxious fool.
And what could violence solve, but only make things worse? And the children too, they'd be drawn in like they always were. That's why Harry was so important. He'd already seen through what this Dark Lord was trying to achieve: he was against him. He'd kill him if given the chance.
Rumble.
"What?" Arcturus flicked around towards his door. "Who the hell-" He hurried out and down the stairs. "I said no guests! Kreacher!"
Crack.
Kreacher appeared at the bottom.
"Why are their guests here!" Arcturus bellowed.
The little elf shuffled nervously. "Master, Mistress Druella let them in."
"Oh did she." Arcturus scowled. "Then where is she then, hm?" He glanced about beside the troll's foot, looking senile. "Hmph. She's not here."
They must have left as soon as they arrived.
"Arcturus?"
He startled. Where had she come from. "Druella!" He turned to her voice beside the living room door. "Stop opening the door for no reason!"
Arcturus almost tripped over Kreacher as he moved away.
"Arcturus, Cygnus is here." She swallowed as he stopped by the stairs. "You ought to hear this."
She stepped back in, the clicks from her heels like a ticking clock in Arcturus's head. Cygnus was here, about damn time as he followed after her, looking stormy upon his arrival in the upholstered sitting room.
Cygnus was perched by the fire in a comfortable chair.
"You…" Arcturus stomped over with a fearsome scowl. "Stupid half-eaten horse pie! Do you have any idea what you've done?" Arcturus kicked his leg, getting a shout in return as Druella stood nervously to the side. "You've ruined us!"
Arcturus wanted peel his skin off. "Where's my wand," he said looking around. "Kreacher!"
Kreacher appeared with his wand in his hands.
"Arcturus!" Druella pleaded as he swiped it into his hand. "Please just listen. Cygnus wouldn't come if it wasn't urgent!" She stepped towards his arm, gently lowering it back down. "It's about Bellatrix."
"Bellatrix?" Arcturus blinked. He'd told her to stay out of it. "What's she done?"
Cygnus made a noise as he rubbed his foot. "I saw her last night with a muggle!" He hobbled to his feet in a heated rage. "This is the last straw Arcturus. I sat by while you arranged those pathetic marriages to Flint and Brown. But now an actual Muggle?"
Cygnus drew his wand. It was time he took matters into his own hands as Arcturus raised his own again. "What are talking about you oaf," said Arcturus. "Bellatrix is at Hogwarts! She cannot just slip away to some muggle hovel. And what were you doing there?"
Arcturus gave him a penetrating look. Druella too who'd only heard the beginning before letting him inside.
"That's none of your concern," he said self-importantly. "But I did see. And she was with a muggle, they were driving one of those…"
"Cars." Druella said quietly. "Contraption isn't right."
Cygnus gave her a sour look. "Cars then. They got out and then she took them away. So, obviously she's found a way to slip out!" Dumbledore had probably even allowed it. It was sickening. "I am bringing her back. She's to marry now and forget about finishing Hogwarts."
He took a step.
"B-but Cygnus. I just can't believe Bellatrix would do this." Druella knew her best, not her father. "You remember how she is. She listens to us, her and Cissy."
"You once said the same about Andromeda," he bit back to her. "And look how that turned out. She's off somewhere with a Mudblood, and we still don't know where!" He stepped back to her fully. "We can't let this happen. Bellatrix has clearly been led astray and it's up to us to sort it out. Now are you coming or not?"
Cygnus was going right now. The morning was almost over, they'd arrive in-time for lunch without anyone the wiser.
"You're a complete fool Cygnus," said Arcturus for the final time. "Whatever you saw with those cretinous friends of yours, it certainly wasn't Bellatrix with a muggle."
Arcturus turned away. There was no way he was leaving the house for such nonsense as he made his way back to the door. "Oh, and by the way." He leaned back through the entrance. "Lord Gaunt will probably be there. And as you say, you know how Bellatrix is." Arcturus may be old but he wasn't blind. "Good luck to you."
He then swept out the door, leaving Cygnus and his wife to stand alone beside the fire.
She spoke to him quickly. "Cygnus, think for a moment," she pleaded. "You don't know what you saw, whatever you were doing last night, it simply isn't as you say."
He gave her a disgusted look. "You're afraid," he accused. "You fear little boys more than the risk this brings us?"
Druella shook her head, that's not what she'd meant.
"Then let me tell you something about fear." Cygnus took her by the arms. "The Dark Lord, he cannot be denied. I've done all I can to see this family well-positioned, but with Arcturus still here, he jeopardises everything."
He looked her in the eye. She must know what would befall them should they fail him.
"C-cygnus, what Walburga says-"
"If I don't get what he wants." He gripped tightly to her arms. "He'll simply take it. He'll take everything we have and leave us to dust in a fiery pit!"
Druella arms had gone soft in his hands. She slumped into his chest with quiet sobs. Cygnus whispered into her ear. "We must do this," he said clearly. "Bellatrix must marry Lestrange. And Cissy Malfoy. You must do what I cannot."
He embraced her. Knowing how much he was asking.
"I-I can't-"
"YOU MUST!" Cygnus held tight. "You must do as I ask, there's no other way." His voice was barely a whisper. "You must get rid of him."
He kissed her like they always used to.
Druella had to do it. She had to trust that he'd always had their best interests in mind.
She kissed him back with a passionate breath, murmuring words he'd heard outside his fondest memories.
I love you.
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