LAST TIME
"Finish that sentence. I dare you."
Augusta gulped, rage burning in her eyes, amidst an ocean of fear. Her hands trembled, and she looked at the Aurors before glancing back at him, her body trembling.
"My apologies. What I said for Sirius was out of line." Augusta breathed, her eyes fixed on the glowing wand tip at her neck.
"Good. Now get out of my sight." Arcturus sheathed his wand. "And never ever utter a word about Sirius or Andromeda again. Or they'll be your last."
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Amongst the obsidian benches, wands rose, their tips glowing green or red. The scribe stood below, counting them as her quill hovered in the air, scratching by itself on the floating pad of parchment.
Past her shoulder, on the center of the stage below, a rat-faced man squirmed in the bronze chains and shook his head frantically, his eyes wide with fear. His hands trembled, and his mouth moved soundlessly.
Arcturus felt the slight satisfaction warm his chest as Pettigrew trembled, his mouth moving soundlessly. In the light, as Pettigrew turned his head, Arcturus spotted a faint blue and black ring around the man's eye, and his lips curved into a satisfied smile.
The bang of the gavel rang through the courtroom, and a crimson-robed Auror shoved Pettigrew back into the seat, sneering at him as the chains tightened.
"Peter Pettigrew," Crouch's voice boomed through the courtroom. "Do you have anything to say for yourself before the sentencing?"
The auror waved his wand and a breath escaped Pettigrew's mouth. "I— please. I was forced. I had no option! I was scared. Please!"
Arcturus scowled, his fingers tightening against the head of the cane.
"We've already decreed that you acted of your own free will and have found you to be guilty. By the statement of Albus Dumbledore, you attacked Harry Potter with a killing curse, despite knowing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was dead. In doing so, you killed Sirius Black, who leaped in front of the curse and died protecting Harry Potter."
"Sirius was the secret keeper. I was avenging—"
"The dark mark was discovered on your arm, and not Sirius Black's!" Crouch barked. "I think we've heard enough of your desperate lies and no revote needs to be conducted. The Council of Magical Law hereby declares Peter Pettigrew guilty on the charges of the murder of Sirius Black, being an accomplice to the murder of Lord James Potter and his wife, Lily Potter, and using an Unforgivable curse against a wizard. We also find you guilty of the attempted murder of national hero, Harry James Potter. In addition, the charge of perjury has been added to your list of crimes."
The color drained from Pettigrew's face, and Arcturus felt the thrum of satisfaction rise higher in his chest.
Below, a sheet was passed to Crouch by the scribe and he read through it, giving it a satisfied nod. "A staggering seventy-eight percent of the members have voted for the Dementor's kiss. The Council has spoken." Crouch picked up the quill and wrote the verdict upon his parchment. "I, Bertemius Crouch, by the powers vested in me by the Council of Magical Law, hereby sentence you, Peter Pettigrew, to the dementor's kiss. Your execution will be at sundown tomorrow."
A triumphant flame burned in his chest and a smile curled on Arcturus' lips as Crouch snapped the quill in two. The flashes of cameras went off, and murmurs spread across the courtroom.
"Aurors, take the prisoner away." Crouch rose from his seat. "I now yield the position back to the Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore… and excuse myself from the next trial."
A pair of Aurors dragged Pettigrew off the chair, who screamed and pleaded, his chained feet kicking in the air, as he was dragged out of the door.
Arcturus leaned back in his chair and let out a breath, digging into his pocket. Sirius and James beamed up at him from the photo, their arms slung around each other's necks as they laughed at each other.
"I got you both justice," Arcturus murmured. "You can rest now. I'll take care of the rest too. For both of you. And for Lily too."
He folded it, placing the photo back in his coat. On the lower rungs, Dumbledore retook his seat. Arcturus watched as he leaned to a side and whispered in hushed tones with Bagnold, his head bobbing slightly as they talked.
"We'll shortly proceed to the next trial." Bagnold stood and cleared her throat. "Reporters, shut down your cameras. Our Hitwizard squad doesn't take kindly to sudden flashes of light. Any response they give, will be on your heads."
The doors in the middle opened, and several figures wearing dark burgundy robes marched in, their wands in their hands, the daggers at their hips gleaming in the torchlight. Arcturus smothered a flash of irritation as one stood right behind him.
"I'd be much obliged if you weren't breathing down my neck, lass," Arcturus looked over his shoulder.
The Hitwitch stared down at him for a moment, before scooching a step to the left, her wand still out, its tip glowing a faint orange. She raised an eyebrow at Arcturus, who returned it with a piercing glare that had made the Aurors stop in their tracks before.
"Mr. Black, I am here to protect you, not indulge your needs," she said. "If you have a complaint, you can take it up with my commanding officer, Alastor Moody later. Or even Mr. Crouch." Her eyes flicked to the rows below where Crouch was now seated next to his wife, who was already sobbing in her handkerchief. "Though, he might have his hands full with other matters."
Next to him, Macmillan chortled, twirling his silver goatee. "They've big brass ones, Artie. Best not to mess with them."
Arcturus let out a breath, his lips twitching slightly. "You would know, Philip, won't you? You were married to one."
"Damn right, I was, Artie." A grin spread across Macmillian's wrinkled face, his mustache quivering. "We must have drinks sometime for old time's sake. It'll get you out of your old shack. Merlin knows what you'd be doing sitting on your damned arse all day, brooding."
"Not the time, Phil," Arcturus muttered. "Nor the place. You do know whose trial it is next, don't you?"
"Eh, if you start picking your moments, they'll never come. Live in the now, Artie. We aren't as young as we used to be. And these gatherings get horrendous without some joviality. Unpleasantness all around, worse than the forties. But we don't let it get to us, do we? We stand tall. Tall like men of noble stock."
"Phil, we'll talk later," Arcturus sighed, tapping his cane as chairs were dragged onto the podium, chains hanging off their armrests and legs. "And I'm busy this month. We can meet after."
"I don't have long, Artie." The grin faded into a smile. "I'd like it if we all could meet one last time before I can't get out of my home and then am tied to a hospital bed, probably." He grimaced and Arcturus felt his heart drop. "Healers say this might be the last Yule I see. Buggers, half of them, but you gotta listen, don't you? And not many of us left now."
"We'll meet. The weekend after this," Arcturus said. "Write to the others and inform me about whichever place you feel best."
Philip extended his hand and clasped Arcturus' arm, shaking it. "Look after my son when he takes over the seat completely, eh? He's been sitting on it in sessions for the past few years. Give him a word of advice every now and then like you used to do for me, yeah?"
"You know I will."
"And Artie? All this? It ain't your fault." His eyes flicked to the stage as the Hitwizards readied themselves. "We made our choices, they made theirs. Don't you dare beat yourself up over it. I'll know and I will give you a kick up your arse like Charlie did to you all those years ago. And I'm even less afraid of you than this one behind us."
Arcturus' eyes flicked to the Hitwitch who was listening to them and her gaze snapped back to the stage below, ignoring him.
"You know me too well, Phil."
"Eh, not as well as Charlie. But you two were a different breed. Shame what happened to him and Dorea. But he showed those bastards why you don't mess with the legion. We—"
The doors opened and a squad of Hitwizards dragged four prisoners in, three men and one woman. They shoved them onto the seats, and the chains clicked into place, subduing them, while the Hitwizards retreated, surrounding the stage from all sides.
Arcturus felt a storm tear at his heart as the woman looked up, her purple eyes— Melania's eyes, gleaming through the locks of raven hair, as they ran over the benches, staring down the council.
"The real shame, Phil, is that my granddaughter and her husband turned out to be one of those bastards." He scowled as Bellatrix made herself comfortable on their chairs, smiling at the council. "And she is probably the worst of them all."
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The bang of Dumbledore's gavel cut through the murmurs of the courtroom and the sobs of Crouch's wife. "The four of you stand accused of capturing Aurors—Frank Longbottom and his wife, Alice Longbottom—and subjecting them to the Cruciatus Curse. You further resisted arrest, grievously injuring two Hitwizards in addition to using killing curses to evade them. How do you plead?"
"Mother!" Crouch's son shrieked, straining against the chains. "Father! Please. Please, I didn't do it! I wasn't involved!"
"You were caught at the scene of the crime, Mr. Crouch," Dumbledore said, his voice rising over the sobs of Crouch's mother. "And the last spell on your wand was the killing curse, which was taken from your hand. Do you dispute this evidence?"
"Please, I wasn't involved." Tears streamed down the boy's cheeks.
"YOU LIAR!" Augusta Longbottom shot to her feet, and the Hitwitch behind Arcturus twitched. "YOU BLOODY LIAR! YOU FILTH TO—"
"Madam Longbottom!" Dumbledore boomed as every person in the courtroom turned their heads to look at her. "Please, control yourself, or I will have to remove you from this room. Each accused has the right to defend themselves."
"Dumbledore, surely you cannot believe him!" An offended look twisted on her face. "He tortured my son into insanity. My boy is as good as dead because of this bloody bastard! I demand justice!"
"And justice will be served, Madam Longbottom, if you let it," Dumbledore rose from his seat, and the torchlight flickered slightly, rising higher. "Kindly sit down and let this council do its job. Any interruption again and I will be forced to have you removed till the trial ends. Do not impede the Council's proceedings, Madame Longbottom."
"Please do," Arcturus muttered, and Macmillian snorted next to him.
Even Amelia, who sat next to the Macmillian seat, glanced at Arcturus before looking back at Augusta, who glared at Dumbledore, fury burning in her eyes. Dumbledore met her glare with his own until she huffed and retook her seat.
"Now, Mr. Crouch." Dumbledore turned his attention to the boy, who squirmed in his chains. "I shall repeat myself. Do you dispute the evidence presented by the Hitwizard squad? Remember, if you dispute it and are proven wrong, the charges of perjury will be added to your crimes. You're charged with casting multiple Unforgivable Curses against another witch and wizard. A single use of the spell carries a life sentence in Azkaban."
Crouch trembled in his seat, his mouth moving soundlessly as Dumbledore stared him down.
"I see," Dumbledore sat down on the bench and picked up his quill. "The objection will thus be struck from the record. Does anyone else, Mr. Lestrange, Mrs Lestrange, object to the charges pressed against them?"
Bellatrix said nothing, looking around the courtroom with bored eyes, and Arcturus' heart sank.
"Let it be noted that none of the accused objects to the charges." Dumbledore declared. "Mr. Clinton, do you have anything to present on behalf of your clients as the attorney provided to them by the council?"
An old man stood up on the side of the room, his mustache quivering. "I can only request the Council to consider that no one was killed and that never in history has such a drastic effect of the cruciatus curse been recorded."
"Noted. Does any of the accused have anything to say for themselves?" Dumbledore looked at the four of them. Rabastan twitched in his chains while Crouch continued to cry like his mother was. On the other hand, Rudolphus and Bellatrix sneered at Clinton.
"Nothing?"
"Only that the Dark Lord will rise again, Dumbledore." Bellatrix flipped her hair with a twist of her neck, breaking through the brief silence. "He is more than a man. He's the chosen of magic. He'll come again in the time of its need. And we'll wait in Azkaban to support him when he returns. We'll not stand by the oppression of magic and the dwindling of faith by the mudbloods that come amongst our numbers. Magic has been tainted by mediocre minds, and he'll purify it again. Lead us to the golden age of magic! The magic of old times! True magic!"
Angry whispers flitted across the courtroom, and the Hitwizards around the room tensed.
"He was nothing but a madman!" Someone stood up. "Who gave him any right—"
"ORDER! Silence in the court!" Dumbledore boomed, and silence fell. "Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Junior. This council of Magical Law finds you all guilty of the charges. As per law, each of you must face a minimum of three lifetimes in Azkaban for your acts, if not more." Dumbledore banged his gavel. "Does anyone in this council suggest an alternative punishment?"
"DEATH!" Augusta shot to her feet. "The House of Longbottom demands that they be sentenced to the dementor's kiss for their crimes!"
"The penalty of death can be considered as the sentence exceeds a lifetime," Dumbledore said. "And does anyone in the council back this punishment, feeling it is appropriate for their crimes?"
A handful of wands rose, and Arcturus felt a weight drop in his gut.
Below, Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. The punishment shall be put to vote. Those in favor of the dementor's kiss, raise your wands red and those for life in Azkaban, raise your wands green."
Arcturus felt his arm grow heavy as he drew his wand and lit its tip green. Raising it, he spotted the several glows of red, and his heart plummeted. The blood pounded in his ears as the Scribe counted the votes and tapped her wand to the parchment. With a flick of her wrist, it floated into Dumbledore's hand, who adjusted his glasses.
"The votes stand, forty-three percent in favor of the dementor's kiss and fifty-seven for life in Azkaban." Dumbledore declared, and a sigh of relief slipped Arcturus' lips. "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, by the powers vested in me by the Council of Magical Law, hereby sentence you all to life in the highest cells of Azkaban. Take them away."
"You bloody useless mongrels! This is a joke." Augusta Longbottom spat and stormed away, pushing a Hitwizard out of her way, and slamming the doors behind her.
Below, Bellatrix gave out a high laugh that rang through the courtroom until she was hit with a silencing charm.
Many heads turned and the members of the council muttered amongst themselves as Bellatrix sauntered away in chains. Rabastan and Rudolphus followed her quietly while Crouch was dragged out of the door by the Hitwizards as he pleaded with his parents and Dumbledore for mercy.
Once the doors closed, Dumbledore banged his gavel again, and the room quietened. "The Council will convene again tomorrow for more trials. A detailed letter of tomorrow's accused will be sent to all members by tonight." Dumbledore paused. "The Council is adjourned."
Members rose from their seats, and the Hitwizards and Hitwitches cleared the room. Arcturus leaned back in his seat and felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Macmillian giving him a sympathetic look, the skin on his forehead wrinkling.
"Will you be coming tomorrow?" Macmillan asked. "I hear they're bringing someone back from Azkaban to testify."
Arcturus spotted Amelia twitch as she stood, her fists clenching before she walked away from them.
"Artie?"
He looked up and shook his head. "I had business today, Phil. I needed to see Pettigrew be punished and put away. And… and I needed to see Bellatrix. I knew she was a bad egg but— but I never thought the rot ran so deep."
"Reminds me of that cousin of yours who was with Grindelwald. The one you relieved of her arm."
"Cassiopeia." Arcturus gripped his cane tighter. "And no, Philip. After what she has done, I think Bellatrix is worse."
"If you say so." He grimaced, watching as the courtroom slowly emptied, only a few groups lingering behind, their chatter echoing through the chamber. "Coming with me to the floo?"
"No, you go ahead. I'll see you when we all meet." Arcturus took a deep breath. "Right now, I've some work to do."
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The chatter of Aurors and Hitwizards drifted through the dimly lit corridor, Arcturus' cane clicking on the white marble tiles as he walked. Lamps hung from the ceiling, casting long shadows behind him as he walked. The Aurors who spotted him, said nothing, moving away, inclining their heads as he passed, turning down the corridors.
"Arcturus." A figure stepped out of the shadows, an electric blue eye whizzing in its socket, as he pointed a thin brown wand straight at Arcturus' heart. "If I didn't know better, I would say you're here to free the sack of shit who's your granddaughter."
Arcturus squinted at the scar-riddled face and blinked in recognition. "Alastor? Merlin, you're looking rather…"
"Scarred. With a new eye. And half a nose less." Moody growled. "I've been told. They call me Mad-Eye behind my back when they think I'm not listening." He smiled savagely. "Thankfully, this new eye comes with special enchantments. Ones that make me perfectly suited to keep an eye on this filth."
"I see." Arcturus shifted his cane to the other hand, frowning at the man. "Who did this to you? The nose and the eye?"
"Rosier took the nose two weeks back. But I got back to him. With interest." He grinned, the corner of his lips splitting wider than they should have. "And as for the eye, it was the bastard, Voldemort. Said I took out his spies, so he took out my eye. An eye for an eye, he said. Then, he fled like a cowardly cunt. Unfortunately for him, they gave me something better than my old eye. One of a kind, this thing. Crouch got it from the cloaked lot downstairs."
"The Department of Mysteries parted with something," Arcturus raised an eyebrow. "The folks down there are more possessive of their things than goblins are of gold, I hear."
"They are. Buggers, half of them. But they have good things." Moody's magical eye stopped, fixed upon Arcturus as his real one. "Now, what are you doing here?"
Arcturus sighed, running his thumb over his cane. "I wanted to see Bellatrix one last time, Alastor. I… I need to know why she did all those things. What did she get?"
"She's a fanatic. Sold upon delusions conjured by that dementor fucking bastard. It's no use." Moody growled. "I rather expected you to go to Pettigrew than this one."
Arcturus felt anger bubble in his veins at the name. "Who said I wouldn't go after him too?"
"That's more like you." Moody snorted. "Bones is guarding him right now, and she's a tough lass. Pettigrew isn't allowed visitors either, and she's a stickler for rules. Even if a part of her would want to kill half of this lot with her bare hands."
"I can't say they deserve anything less," Arcturus agreed, letting out a breath. "But Moody, I still want to see Bellatrix before I go to Pettigrew. Just… talk to her one last time before she's sent to Azkaban forever. I don't have much of a family left. Do it for an old man as a favor, please."
Moody's eye whirled in his socket, and he grunted, moving aside. "Only five minutes and not a second more, Arcturus. And I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Arcturus inclined his head and stepped forward, only to be stopped by Moody's arm.
"Hand me your wand." Moody produced a thin tray from his robes. "You're not going in there with it. Your granddaughter, as much as you would like to believe otherwise, is a deranged criminal. She injured two of my Hitwizards in transit without a wand. She tried to take their wands, but I got her with a stunner first."
"I see." Arcturus frowned slightly and removed his wand, keeping it on a thin tray that Moody produced.
"Don't worry, I won't touch it or use it, just keep it till you get back. You've my word." Moody scoffed. "Bloody touchy you are. I get that a wand's sacred to the wizard, but security comes first in here. We do not want anyone from this lot escaping. And it is my job to make sure of it."
"I understand." Arcturus pursed his lips and walked past him, down a corridor.
Torches flickered on the walls, the soot gathering behind them, throwing light against the cobwebs around. Arcturus' own breathing echoed in his ears as huge metal bars that rose up to admit him.
Beyond it, Bellatrix sat in her cell, humming to herself. Two gates of iron that glowed with a sheen of magic separated them, unmoving as Arcturus approached.
Purple eyes snapped up toward him as he clicked his cane against the metal bars.
"Grandfather!" Bellatrix hopped to her feet and skipped toward her side of the gate, pressing herself as far as she could and beaming at him through the bars. "You came! I didn't expect to see you. Like, ever again. How are you doing? Are you here to help me? Do you know where our lord is?"
Arcturus smothered the stab of irritation. "You, Bellatrix, are beyond help. And so is your so-called lord. And even if I could help either of you, I won't. In fact, I take great pleasure in knowing that the bastard is dead."
"Lies!" Hatred burned in her eyes, and her knuckles whitened against the bars of the cell. "Lies. He'll return, Grandfather. He's our savior. The chosen of Mother Magic. Not even Death can touch him."
"He got blown up at the hands of a toddler, who was the son of a muggleborn. I'd say that Magic itself stopped him, deciding that his atrocities could no longer be allowed." Arcturus scoffed. "He was a madman, Bellatrix. He preached about purebloods yet slaughtered so many."
"He gave them a better existence!" Bellatrix burst, trying to pry the metal bars away, as they cracked with magic. "He gave them a chance to be a part of a greater world. In their next birth, they wouldn't carry the vestiges of the old one that they clung to. He gave them freedom from their sins of tainting magic."
"That's a load of dragon dung if I've ever heard one."
"You too are blinded to the reality, grandfather." Bellatrix shook her head, her dark curls tumbling down her face. "Mother Magic always chooses her champions when she needs them. It is foretold even in the scriptures that Auntie Walburga had."
"Walburga?" Arcturus felt fury burn in his veins. "It is always that damned woman. Poisoning and alienating all whom she could get her wretched claws on. If she was alive, I'd kill her with my own wand."
"I always thought auntie was a bit cracked." Bellatrix wrinkled her nose. "But this once, she was surprisingly correct. I guess even the broken clock strikes true twice a day."
Her high cackle rang through the cell, and Arcturus twitched, the noise grating on his ears, as her laughter echoed down the corridor and through the cell.
"You shouldn't have listened to her, Bellatrix."
"I didn't believe her at first, but I checked myself, Grandfather." Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with reverence. "Merlin came forth when Magic needed him to, and saved us all those years ago. Now, she needed a champion again. My Lord, Lord Voldemort is her next chosen, even if you don't believe it yet. Mother Magic won't allow him to perish unless his purpose has been fulfilled. I hope you can see it before he returns and join him in his glorious purpose."
"I'm never going to join that bastard or ever support one like him." Arcturus sneered. "He killed every single person whom I considered family. If I see that bastard again, I'll rip him from limb to limb."
Bellatrix's face twisted, and she lunged at him, only for her arm to fall short of the second set of bars beyond which Arcturus stood.
"You dare? You dare insult him? He's magic's chosen! You dare—"
Magic burst from the bars, shoving her back and she screamed, twisting on the floor.
"Get this in your head, Bellatrix. Voldemort was nothing." Arcturus peered at her through the bars as she rolled to her side, heaving. "He was just another dark lord, who caused nothing but duress and destruction to magic and its wielders. All he did was slaughter witches and wizards, doing more harm to magic than good. He killed all those who stood in his way, just for a bit of power."
"You're a non-believer, grandfather. But you'll know," Bellatrix giggled, pushing herself to her feet. "But is that why you came here? To make me turn on my faith in Mother Magic and her champion?"
"I came here to ask you why you tortured poor Frank and Alice." Arcturus shifted his cane and scowled. "But you are nothing but a poisoned mind, rotten to the core. I was told of this, but I didn't want to believe it."
Anger burned in her purple eyes as her face twisted. "Longbottom deserved all that was coming for him for all he did to Andy! She was too weak to stand up for herself. But I took her revenge for her, like any good sister would! You told us to stand for each other and I did just that!"
Arcturus frowned. "As far as I know, he did nothing to Andromeda. It was her who ran away and got pregnant."
"You're wrong! He ruined Andy's life!" Bellatrix heaved. "Yes, her choice in a partner was lacking, but it was Longbottom who wanted to get hitched to the leg-spreading slut that became his wife. Andy played along, finding her own love, to ensure there was no guilty party for his sake. But what did he do? He pinned it all on her and laughed as he married that slut, while Andy had to suffer. I made him suffer back in turn."
Arcturus drew himself up. "She didn't say anything of that sort."
"She was weak, grandfather." Bellatrix shrugged. "Which is why I suspect that she was so easily tainted by the mudblood. But I got her revenge."
"You've become insane." Arcturus muttered, and she tilted her head.
"My insanity is just the true reality that you fail to see, grandfather," she said. "I hope we can talk again when my lord returns and frees me from the clutches of Azkaban. And I hope you changed your mind till then."
"Your lord is dead."
"If that is true, then our world heads into its final night, grandfather." Bellatrix's forehead wrinkled. "A night with no dawn beyond. But I don't think magic would allow that. I have faith." She turned around and retreated to the shadows in her cell, sitting down on her floor, touching her palms to the ground. "Forgive my grandfather, Mother magic. He knows not of your champion. But he'll believe once he sees."
Arcturus sneered and stormed away, hearing the grates of iron drop behind him. Moody stood at the mouth of the corridor ahead, his magic eye whirling in its golden socket while his real eye was fixed on Arcturus.
"I told you that she was a fanatic," he grunted, holding up the tray with his wand for him. "More than half of them are. Some just pretended till it suited them, but are singing a different tune now. Magic's chosen, my arse."
"I wonder how anyone in their right mind could even buy into that dragon dung." Arcturus scowled and pushed his wand back into the holster. "Having faith in Mother Magic is something we all have. But a champion of magic? That too a Dark Lord?"
"For some of his men, including your granddaughter, he's the next Merlin," Moody snorted. "Bloody propaganda, spread by the bastard to garner support, nothing more."
"True. Yet, I still don't see how he could rally fanatics to him like Grindelwald did with that. At least Grindelwald had a purpose that made sense. This? Champion of magic? If he ever had pitched this to me, I would have kicked him out of the room the second he uttered those words."
"Anyone in their wits would.Unfortunately, this lot isn't the best at it." Moody's eye swirled in his socket. "Twisted, raving lunatics. Worst lot of cases I've seen in my career, when it comes to being sane. Guess what they say about dark magic turning people nuts is true."
"I suppose," Arcturus sighed. Moody's eye rotated back to him and then glanced over Arcturus' shoulder, while his real eye softened in slight sympathy. "I must really ask. How does that eye work in tandem with your real eye? Do you see two things or just one?"
"Lose one to find out."
"I'll pass," Arcturus said. "I've lost enough and can't afford to lose anything more. Especially—" he swallowed the words on his tongue, as Harry's bright, happy emerald eyes flashed in his mind. "Especially with me being the last Lord of House Black."
"Must be hard. I never had much of a family, but you did. Sirius was a good lad. I saw James and him during their Auror training. Cheeky bugger, that one but a good man. They both were." Both of Moody's eyes focused on him. "You want to see Pettigrew?"
"I do."
Moody glanced around before producing a thin silver card from his pocket, and placing it in Arcturus' hand, and closing Arcturus' fingers over it.
"It'll get you through, at least until you meet Bones. Only she can admit you in his cell. Once you're done, I want this back," Moody whispered. "And if you get Bones on board, make sure to give the bastard a good kick or two from me too."
"There's a reason I always liked you, Alastor." Arcturus laid a hand on his shoulder. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come to me. You've been a great help."
"You sponsored me and got me in here when none of those paper pushers would have touched me with a ten-foot pole. Least I can do." Moody crooked a finger. "Down the hall, and then the third left. You'll see Bones there."
"Much appreciated," Arcturus smiled and walked past him, his cane clicking lightly on the floor.
The iron grates lifted as he neared them and turned down the way Moody had shown him. Amelia Bone rose from a chair, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Did you get lost, Mr. Black?" Her wand slipped into her hand as she moved away from the chair, standing between him and the gate ahead. "Or did you come here, expecting to bribe your way in? I can hear the jingle of your coins."
"Good evening to you too, Amelia. I didn't expect to see you here today." Arcturus gave her a smile. I thought you went home after the Wizengamot session."
"Some of us have actual jobs to do." Amelia glared at him. "Which is exactly what I'm doing right now, Mr. Black. I request you to go back the way you came from."
"I would after you let me have a few words with Pettigrew." Arcturus stepped closer, watching her sharply. "He and I have business to get down to."
"Business like the one you're having some of the Aurors carry out on him for you?" Amelia met his gaze, glaring back at him. "Don't think that I don't know about it, Mr. Black. You were the one having Pettigrew beaten to pulp in these cells by the Aurors on your payroll. Unfortunately for you, I'm not one of them."
"I don't think that'll stop me from going in today. Tomorrow, Pettigrew will get the ultimate punishment," Arcturus said. "But before that happens, I want to have revenge on Sirius' behalf. He was my heir and the last of my line, Amelia. I will not be denied."
"I am denying you, Mr. Black. No one is allowed to see Pettigrew without a signed permission."
"Why don't you make an exception for me? You were friends with Sirius, no?"
Amelia's eyes hardened, her shoulders stiffening. "He was a part of my squad, Mr. Black. Nothing more."
"I wouldn't dare suggest otherwise, my dear. But he was still one of yours." Arcturus paused. "And you know what it is like to lose your family to bastards like him, don't you? Don't you want to punch them bloody with your bare hands too? Punish them. Break them for what they did."
Amelia's eyes flashed and she lowered her wand. "I do. Believe me, I do. I really really do. For my brother, my parents, and little Susie who is an orphan due to them. I want to kill them. You succeeded in getting the death penalty for Pettigrew. I… I couldn't even do that."
"You're young and you don't have the connections yet. And you have stepped on many toes." Arcturus said. "But I respect that. It is what I once did." Arcturus grasped her shoulders, staring into the brown eyes that were swirling with grief and anger. "A part of you wants to punish Pettigrew. Punish those who killed your parents and brother. Punish every Death Eater. You want to deliver the ultimate sentence for them. I know. I know the look on your face, Amelia. It is the same one I have seen in the mirror many times."
Amelia looked away. "I can't, Mr. Black." Her voice broke. "We've laws in place for a reason. Even… even if some tend to look the other way, I can't. As much as I wish to, I can't."
"You can because deep down you know it is right, Amelia," Arcturus said. "Ignore the rules when they become a noose, dear. Believe me when I say that it is okay to break the rules at times if you are doing the right thing. In the end, you just need to make the world a better place." Arcturus stepped back. "If you want something, name it. I will do all I can in my power—"
"Karkaroff." Amelia turned to him, her eyes teary as she glared at her feet. "Crouch has cut him a deal of exile in exchange for his cooperation in naming Death Eaters."
"And you don't want that deal to go through?"
"Karkaroff was there that day when my parents died. He killed them." Amelia spat. "I don't want to see him walk free. I want him in Azkaban, suffering for his crimes. But I don't have the pull to influence the Wizengamot. I will speak up but… I am not sure if it'll work." A tear slipped down her cheek. "The trial is tomorrow. I— don't let him walk free, Mr. Black. Promise me…" She closed her eyes. "Promise me and I'll just leave from here for a glass of water and come back only after you leave."
Arcturus watched as she trembled slightly, her throat bobbing as tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Consider it done then," Arcturus declared. "Tomorrow, Karkaroff will go back to Azkaban. I'll make sure of it. This favor you're doing for me… for Sirius, for James, and for Lily? It will not be forgotten, Amelia."
"Just… just take care of the collar. It shouldn't break. And no visible injuries or magical curses. I… I—"
"I'll make sure. Now, I think you're thirsty."
Amelia gave a hasty nod and opened the gate, before rushing away, wiping her cheeks furiously.
"Poor girl." Arcturus whispered, looking over his shoulder.
Then he turned to the gate and stepped through, as another iron grate rose, admitting him in. Pettigrew looked up, his eyes widening as he tugged at his chains. "Lord– Lord Black?"
"Hello, Peter." Arcturus closed the grate behind him, cracking his knuckles. "You and I are going to have words. You see? I am going to make the remaining few hours of your existence as painful as I can. And I promise, you'll regret ever being born by the time I'm done with you."
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