Harry Gaunt - Chapter 11

"Wait here," said Kreacher as he hobbled away. "Master be coming."

Kreacher moved slowly, looking no different and no better than he'd done before. Harry wondered if he was ageless.

"Thank you," he said to his trailing figure. "I'll wait."

Harry smiled by the door.

Kreacher apparated.

"Charming," said Harry with a laugh. Kreacher really wasn't the most personable elf, perhaps that's why the Blacks had picked him as he glanced around the gloomy hallway. He must say, it was exactly as he remembered it, just as dark and dreary.

Harry nudged the troll's foot with his own.

"Not my favourite umbrella stand, I must confess," came a jovial voice as it descended the wooden stairs. "But then again, none of it is."

Lord Black was walking towards him.

"Lord Black," offered Harry as Lord Black arrived at the bottom. "Thank you for inviting me in."

Harry gave him a respectful nod, but didn't offer his hand. Lord Black would find it offensive.

"Not at all Lord Gaunt," said Lord Black with a gracious air. "I assume you've come to settle our business?" he posed.

Harry hadn't actually.

"Not at first," he began. "But we will. I was actually looking at a house near Thornhill Park." Harry gestured over his shoulder. "I went for a walk and… here we are."

Harry shrugged.

"Well then," clapped Lord Black in good spirit. "Come on through. We'll have some tea."

Lord Black swept around in his fine robes, leading Harry with smooth steps towards the kitchen. "Have a seat."

Lord Black took his own at the head of the table, indicating Harry take the one to his left as they both settled in.

"Now then," began Lord Black with a flick from his wand at the kitchen cupboards. "Introductions. I am Arcturus Black. And would you like milk with your tea?" he asked inquiringly, just as a pot with a steaming lid hopped onto the kitchen table.

"Harry Gaunt," returned Harry with a nod. "It's good to finally meet you - and yes please." Harry looked at the excitable pot waiting to pour his tea. "Hello there," he smiled.

It was like a puppy, bouncing with energy at the prospect of pouring tea. Harry then saw as it was joined by a saucer and cup, which arranged themselves with clickety clacks on the wooden table.

Harry smiled at them, he liked animating things.

"Wonderful aren't they," commented Arcturus, watching all the while as he took a sip from his tea. "They were Melania's favourite, my late wife. She was brilliant with Charms."

Arcturus looked at them fondly. There was never a day that went by that he didn't miss her.

"I am sorry to hear that," said Harry sadly, looking up from the cups at Lord Black. "And I agree, these have a spirit of their own!"

Harry flicked a playful finger at the teapot, which began to wag from side to side.

"They do don't they," agreed Arcturus, thinking how Melania would have enjoyed meeting Harry. There was something about him, something she unlike Arcturus would be able to put her finger on. "Am I the first to meet with you?" asked Arcturus

Harry nodded, sipping his tea. "Yes that's right," he said. "The rest were all too happy to receive repayment."

"Oh yes, I expect they would," critiqued Arcturus with a sniff. "They've forgotten the meaning of civility, particularly some who shall remain unnamed…"

Arcturus wrinkled his nose.

"You mean the Malfoy's?" said Harry bluntly, assuming that's who Arcturus meant. "They asked for more. Said the Gaunt's hadn't recorded it properly."

Harry had enjoyed the howler Greycup had written.

"Good, you noticed," nodded Arcturus. "Lord Malfoy is an astute businessman, but he will never be liked by his peers, nor his son who is much the same."

The Malfoy's had grown too arrogant over the last few hundred years, even to the point where they declined an offer of marriage to a daughter of Black.

"I'll be sure to stay clear of them," assured Harry, setting his teacup down. "I am curious though. Why did you alone wish to meet me?"

Harry already had a decent idea, but he wanted Black to confirm it as the man took a breath.

"For many reasons," he began, appearing at odds with a few of them. "I first wished to see for myself who you were and what kind of Lord you would be. Then ascertain just how it was that you appeared so suddenly."

Arcturus gave Harry a pointed look. "But why did you come?" he emphasised, knowing Harry could have just denied him, let the debt linger as it had done.

"I wished to visit," said Harry simply. "If we're going to be neighbours, I may as well make myself known. And I was never truly averse to settling the debt in person. I've just been busy."

Harry just hadn't had the time between Dragons, Greycup and plans for Hogwarts.

"Come with me," said Arcturus with a sudden word. "I've something to show you." He rose from his chair and walked to the kitchen door. "Come. You'll enjoy it."

Arcturus certainly seemed to be as he waited for Harry by the doorframe, seeing now how cautious the boy could be. And he was a boy, one Arcturus didn't wish to alienate as Harry finally came.

Arcturus then led them through the long hallway, then up the stairs to his study with quiet steps.

"It quite similar," commented Harry as they stepped onto the second floor.

"To what?" returned Arcturus.

"The layout, it's like the house I just saw," Harry looked around with appreciation. "I suppose they're all from the same period," he concluded.

Arcturus nodded, walking through the door to his office. "They were all built in the 17th century. The Blacks funded many of them too," he said before arriving at his desk, where he retrieved a book from inside a drawer. "This is it."

Harry walked over as Arcturus opened the old looking book, watching as he flicked to a page that had been marked with a slip.

"The Gaunt Family tree," presented Arcturus grandly, stepping aside some so Harry could read. "I do not know of course where you fit in, but should I hazard a guess, it would be here."

Arcturus pointed to the name that had belonged to the Gaunt's only squib. Harry read it aloud. "…Evan Gaunt."

Harry blinked, then blinked again with widening eyes. "Evan?" he breathed.

"You know it then?" posed Arcturus. "You are from this line?"

Harry snapped around, his eyes narrowing fiercely.

"Forgive me," said Arcturus slowly, raising a hand placatingly. "It is not mine to know. Please, keep the book." He gestured Harry take it, it was of no use to him anymore anyway.

"I will buy it," countered Harry, placing a hand on the pages. "You didn't need to show me. So I will buy it."

Harry nodded once in appreciation, closing the book with a gentle hand. His mind racing at the truth so plainly offered to him. He really was a Gaunt, and more a Gaunt than he was a Potter as he walked to the tall window.

He looked outside, it was all so simple. Evans was his mother's family, descended singularly from Evan Gaunt.

"You'll enjoy the view when you move in," observed Arcturus. "And consider this, if you would."

Arcturus perched at the side of his desk.

"Consider what?" asked Harry with a glance behind.

"I will absolve you from the debt," began Arcturus seriously. "But only if you consent to an alliance between our houses."

Arcturus wanted Harry as a friend, not an enemy, which for the Blacks seemed to be growing daily because of his useless nephew.

"Take your time," he added.

He'd sit here while Harry thought it through.

Harry turned away to the window again, wondering where Lord Black had been when Voldemort had first risen to power. He didn't seem to the type to fall for Voldemort's promises.

"I am open to an agreement between us," said Harry to begin with, stepping back from the window. "But the specifics must be clear. Our alliance will be fair and transparent. Agreed?"

Harry walked to the front of Arcturus's desk.

Arcturus smiled.

"Agreed," he confirmed. "I would have denied you if you'd accepted outright anyway, without a thought to the terms."

Arcturus was pleased, evident from what he said next. "How about dinner?" he posed. "Kreacher is an excellent cook."

"Dinner?" said Harry.

"Dinner," confirmed Arcturus. "You may as well meet the rest of us. We're not all bad."

Arcturus laughed heartily as he walked from his desk towards the door.

"I should really ge-" began Harry.

"Excellent!" Arcturus rubbed his hands together. "I'll make arrangements! It shouldn't be long, we eat early most days."

And with that, Arcturus left the room to prepare a tour of the house for Harry, calling for Kreacher into the open hallway…

…Harry didn't want to stay for dinner. "Fine," he huffed to himself, heading off towards Arcturus's voice.

Break.

Bellatrix was in her room reading her book when she felt the house begin to shift, one which didn't happen unless guests were imminent. "Please, don't let it be one of them," she said as she hurried to her bedroom door, which was ajar so she could hear who was coming. "Cissy?" she leaned around the doorframe, peeking across towards her sister's room. "Cissy!"

The door was closed.

Bellatrix would have to venture out across the squeaky floorboards.

Squeak.

She winced, stepping upon everyone as she made it across the small landing. "Cissy?" she said again as she opened the door. "Cissy."

Bellatrix looked disapprovingly inside.

"Bellatrix!" Cissy hurried to her wardrobe, her naked body flittering across the room. "Can't you knock!"

She threw her dressing gown on.

"No."

Bellatrix stepped inside.

"Someone's here, a guest…" she looked at Cissy pointedly. "I hope it's not them."

Bellatrix wanted to avoid that if all possible.

"Surely not," returned Cissy from around her wardrobe door. "We've only been back a day. It's too soon!"

She leaned back in, rummaging through her clothes while Bellatrix plopped on her bed. Cissy had such a nice bed.

"I suppose you're right," said Bellatrix, glimpsing some of Cissy's lovely clothing as she arranged them all in her wardrobe. She must have been trying them on. "How are you feeling? About… you know."

Bellatrix herself couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Better," said Cissy quietly. "I slept well last night. I feel safe here." She turned around, holding a dress that was just Bellatrix's size so she could see. It was a pale blue. Cissy wiggled it encouragingly.

"It's not my size," shot Bellatrix quickly. "It's for you Cissy. Not me."

But Cissy came over with it, smiling happily as she tried to tempt her with it. "Try it on," she offered innocently. "You'll fit. It's too big for me," she shoved it over, then tugged Bellatrix up towards her wardrobe.

"Cissy…"

Bellatrix didn't do this sort of thing. She had simpler clothes, clothes her mother had helped pick.

"Trust me," implored Cissy, tugging playfully at Bellatrix's dress, which was filled with earthy colours. "Just try it on. If you don't like it you can take it straight off."

Cissy hopped away, giving her sister space while she perched on the bed. She wanted Bella to see how pretty she was, maybe it would help with how they were feeling.

"Just once," declared Bellatrix, slipping out from her dress before it bundled at her feet. She held the new dress across her body, tilting at her appearance as she did. "I like the blue," she offered.

It was sky blue, quite lovely as Bellatrix slipped it on, gently pulling the straps across her shoulders.

"Oh let me see," hurried a giddy Cissy as she guided her around. "Bellatrix. You're beautiful!"

Cissy didn't have to embellish, she really was as Bellatrix did a playful twirl, smiling happily.

Knock Knock.

The sisters froze, staring at one another as if the door had just knocked. Surely not.

Knock Knock.

"Girls?" came the voice of Arcturus from behind the door. "Dinner in half an hour. We have a guest," before adding. "Dress appropriately."

He waited a moment.

"O-okay," said Cissy. "Thanks."

She looked at Bellatrix, who looked back with wide eyes as Arcturus moved away, managing quite spectacularly to avoid the squeaky floorboard as he did.

"Maybe it's not one of them," said Bellatrix hopefully, following Cissy to the bed.

"He said to wear something appropriate," denied Cissy as they plopped on the bed. "He doesn't normally say that, we already know how it works when guests visit."

Cissy sighed, falling back onto the bed with her eyes on the ceiling. Bellatrix promptly followed her, sighing too from beside her. She understood how Cissy felt.

"Do you still want to get married?" asked Bellatrix. "I mean, ever. If you had to choose." Bellatrix swivelled on her front to see her. "Brown might not be so bad."

Bellatrix hadn't met the man, but had enquired with those who had - whom she trusted. And he was very nice, apparently.

"I do want to get married," said Cissy thoughtfully. "I want a family - a big one."

"Yes I know that bit," teased Bellatrix, giggling at how cute Cissy's children would be.

"But I want to choose," continued Cissy with emphasis. "I don't want Brown. I want - I want someone I like." She turned to face Bellatrix. "What about you Bellatrix, is it the same?"

Cissy couldn't remember Bellatrix ever saying, always more concerned with what Cissy was feeling.

"Who knows," hummed Bellatrix. "I try not to think about it. But if I do, then yes, I would like a family - but not now," she nodded firmly on that point. "We're too young, even by Pureblood standards. I'd like to do something first, make the world a better place."

Bellatrix knew it was a silly thing to wish for.

"You've never said that before," poked Cissy with her finger. "Bellatrix Black, first woman to witn the World Duelling Championships."

Cissy giggled when Bellatrix's scoff. "Author then, you've always loved to read."

"I suppose," Bellatrix didn't know as she sat back up. "We better get ready," she said. "We can't be late, it's past five already."

Cissy glanced at her clock, forced to agree. "You can keep it," she said, meaning the dress. "I want you to have it."

Cissy hopped to her feet before Bellatrix could protest, leaving no room for argument as she got herself ready by the wardrobe.

"Don't go down without me," said Bellatrix before she left, vowing to return later for her normal, none fashionable dress.

"Okay, we'll wait for each other."

Bellatrix nodded, leaving through the door as she skipped across the landing. She'd wear something simple for dinner, not willing to tempt whichever had come to visit.

Maybe then they'd lose interest.

Or not.

Bellatrix could hope.

AN

Numbers. Voldemort has made 5 Horcruxes, so 6 soul pieces including his, he's not made Nagini yet and Harry is no longer a Horcrux after being hit with the Killing Curse in chap 1. So Harry has 5 to find. It's a bit oblique when he says it, my bad.

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