Chapter 43: The consequences

Potter Manor, Honley, West Yorkshire, Great Britain.

Currently, Fleamont Potter and Euphemia Potter lived happily with their only son James Potter and the recent addition of their son's dear friend, Sirius Black III.

They took in their son's friend, Sirius Black III after he was disowned by his family this summer and ran away to live with them.

"Fleamont, I know we agreed to Jamy's request to let the Black's son live with us, but are you sure it won't be dangerous, you know, your health isn't the best at the moment?" asked Mrs. Potter to her husband as she looked out the window at her son and Black playing in the manor's courtyard.

"There is nothing to worry about my dear, I am more than capable of handling any situation and my health cannot prevent me from doing so," said Mr. Potter with pride and confidence.

Euphemia Potter just rolled her eyes and smiled slightly at the overconfidence her husband always had, no matter how bad the situation, he was always so firm.

It was one of the many reasons why she fell in love with him and why she lived in denial as well.

"I know dear, I know you could deal with any situation, but still, it's not good to get on the Black's bad side right now, the current situation is not favorable and you know it," Mrs. Potter said trying to make him understand.

"You may be right, but knowing Orion Black, what his disinherited son does couldn't care less about him than his own house-elves," said Mr. Potter unconcerned about the situation.

So unconcerned was he that he even took the moment to grab today's paper and read it as he continued the conversation with his wife.

"Yes, but knowing his wife, it's safe to say she'll use this to cause trouble for us in one way or another."

"Oh, right, Walburga, well, she can be a big problem," sighed Mr. Potter as he remembered Walburga Black's character.

She was obsessed with blood purity as were all the Blacks.

But unlike Mr. Black who was always calm, cool, and very elegant, she, despite being from such a noble family, would often show her disdain for others or call out insults against blood traitors, half-bloods, or muggle-born wizards, all without regard for their status.

"My dear, I understand your concerns, but that woman is the biggest reason I wish Sirius would stay with us."

"Why, she would be the last person we would want to have a conflict with."

"Precisely because of that, she is an evil person who would not hesitate to do the darkest and most heinous thing to get what she wants, she has no affection for even her own son Sirius and that is because she sees him as a blood traitor. What do you think she might do to him if we left the boy alone?"

Mrs. Potter was silent for a few seconds thinking about what her husband had said.

"I understand, so that was your idea all along, that this woman would notice us and not her own son, wasn't it?"

Mr. Potter just smiled at her without answering and continued reading the paper.

"But what an interesting thing, look, my dear, it seems the Prince family is back!

"The Prince's? I thought they didn't have any heirs anymore?"

"Oh, it seems they did and their heir is even considered the Lord of the family, which means he's a direct line."

"Wow, some illegitimate child may be, the Prince were never a big a family to have a descendant that no one knows about, unless..."

"Unless it's Eileen Prince's son, yes, I thought the same thing my dear, it seems to be the most viable option."

"Wasn't Eileen disinherited and even erased from the Prince family tree, how could her son have become Lord Prince then?"

"Inheritance Ritual," said Mr. Potter simply causing his wife's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Now I get it, I had forgotten that such a vile ritual was still allowed," said Mrs. Potter with distaste at the thought of the ritual.

"We'd better not think about it, we've already spent so long trying in vain to get it banned."

"You're right dear, sorry. By the way, the Minister and the Wizengamot haven't heard from him, unless he decided not to mention it to the Ministry of Magic, we should have heard from him."

"That's what's interesting, apparently this is the first time he's mentioned that he is the heir and current Lord Prince, quite a news that even in Britain was not known by anyone, well that is if we don't count Gringotts" Mr. Potter laughed just thinking about the face that all the nobles and the Ministry of Magic would be making not knowing something as important as this.

In the magical world, it was a courtesy and a tradition that every heir to the noble families should introduce themselves or at least let the Ministry of Magic know.

Otherwise, it could be taken as an insult and it was precisely for this reason that Mr. Potter laughed, he knew that they would not like to have found out at the same time as the rest of the magical world.

"Don't laugh, the poor boy won't have an easy time of it now, expect many in Britain to oppose him and create strife over it as an insult," Mrs. Potter told him.

"Oh, but my dear, that young heir doesn't seem to have any interest in Britain, look, he's doing very well in the USA," Mr. Potter replied, showing her the pictures on the front page of the newspaper in which the young Prince received two awards.

"Wow, 16 years old, he's already Lord of one of the top houses in Britain, he also won a potions competition and even got the US G.M.M, that's a lot for his age" she said very surprisedly as she read the paper.

"Impressive isn't it, the G.M.M. which is like the O.M. (Order of Merlin) but from the USA, was obtained by a 16-year-old," said a smiling Mr. Potter.

"It's certainly impressive, but I doubt that's what has you smiling so much."

"You know me well my dear. This young man is a matter of great pride to the entire British magical world, he managed to create a potion that is capable of forcing any living thing to remain in its true and complete bodily form," he said proudly and with a smile.

"So that was it, no wonder you were so happily, one potioneer admiring the work of another, typical of you," said the wife exasperated.

"Oh come on, this is a very big achievement, you do understand that not only did he create a unique potion but he is also a British potioneer, this gives me hope for the future of potions in Britain."

"And clearly that's what matters most to you isn't it, potions and the future development of British potioneers?" sighed Mrs. Potter.

"But of course I do, he's a British potioneer genius just like me, it's a matter of respect and pride, woman, you wouldn't understand."

Mrs. Potter could only nod and roll her eyes as she said to herself, 'I sometimes wonder how I could have married someone so obsessed with potions and nationalism, and is not as if that young man was his own son.'

After a few moments, Mr. Potter seemed to read something else in the diary that caught his attention.

"James, James, come here a moment son!" Mr. Potter quickly called out to his son who was outside playing.

Location Unknown, Great Britain.

In a dark and cold room, 12 people were talking.

One of these people was distinguishable from the others because his eyes flashed a malevolent light that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who looked directly at them.

"What's going on!" said the man with the malevolent gaze who was furious, twisted pale, "Give me an explanation as to why it is that no one ever mentioned this Prince?"

The remaining 11 people trembled slightly and after a few moments, one finally answered him.

"My Lord, this... I can explain, the plan was for this young man to join our ranks but it was not yet time, I don't know what could have gone so wrong, he was so close to being a death eater, I..."

"Silence, I have no use for your excuses Abraxas."

Abraxas Malfoy was horrified at this point.

"Do you understand that not only did we lose a talented young death eater but now even this one created a potion that will make all the werewolves who joined our cause start to reconsider being part of this war. And all this while we are so close to war!" said Voldemort angrily as he unleashed his magic and used it to put pressure on Mr. Malfoy.

"Now, tell me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you at this very moment. Abraxas."

"Forgive me... Master, we can still... we can still bring him to our side..." said Abraxas slowly and with difficulty since he was under Voldemort's magical pressure.

"Bring him? to join our side? the only reason I would bring him for is to kill him myself, stupid!" Voldemort sent Abraxas flying with his magic.

"Who has anything else to say?" Voldemort asked, narrowing his eyes.

"My lord, Mr. Malfoy is the biggest financial contributor our cause has, he has contributed a lot, I...this...perhaps it would be best if..." one of the individuals present said calmly.

"Abraxas Malfoy, you are weak and failed in your duties, Now to die!" Voldemort seemed to only get angrier, so he didn't let him finish speaking, and for a moment he perished all rationality and attacked Abraxas without a second thought "Avada Kedavra!"

Poor Abraxas Malfoy didn't even have a chance to escape, he was hit by Voldemort's unforgivable curse and lost his life.

The one who had tried to speak in Malfoy's defense along with the rest of the other death eaters present watched all this, trembling and not even daring to lift a finger.

"Now you may continue," said Voldemort to the death eater who had begun to speak.

The death eater seemed petrified for a few seconds until he reacted and quickly changed what he was going to say at first.

"Master, the main priority at the moment is to keep the Malfoy's economic power on our side."

"You're right, Evan," Voldemort raised his wand and looked around at some of his men. "So, do you have any good recommendations?"

"Well... Master, I have heard that Abraxas' son, Lucius is an intelligent and loyal wizard among our ranks, he might be a good addition to take his father's place in the cause," the death eater said quickly.

"Very well, the dead cannot be resurrected, but pureblooded wizards who are loyal can take their place and Lucius seems like a good seedling."

"That's right Master and if not, we could still use the Imperius Curse."

"Master," another of the death eaters present began to say, "he's still too young to take that place, I don't think...."

"I'm not going to let him do anything big! He'll just continue to be our financial support and in time he'll prove if he deserves to keep his place!", Voldemort roared, then looked at Evan Rosier.

"I have decided to be kind enough to give the Malfoy's another chance. Don't waste your time and inform Lucius of my decision," Voldemort told him.

"My Lord, what should we do with young Prince?"

"Young Prince's days are already counted, now don't waste my time and prepare everything for what is to come, I want no more mistakes, no more excuses!"