Chapter 24

Marcus Sayre POV

"Come in" he said loudly as he kept his eyes on a Wizengamot bill that he was reading. 

It was one of a series of bills that were aimed at increasing support for the ICW for the duration of the war. Even after the sheer success that Grindelwald was having in Europe, the Wizengamot remained divided on the topic to officially enter the war. 

The most that could anything passed through the Wizengamot was material aid. Volunteers were allowed to leave and join the ICW and the ministry was more or less encouraging some of the more talented Aurors to join up unofficially. 

Minister Spencer-Moon for all his faults isn't as meek and placating as the previous Minister but with the way the Wizengamot is now...

For war to be declared, the Wizengamot is required to achieve three quarters majority and as of right now, he could only see 60% vote for war. It would take something drastic and truly threatening for people to get off the fence.

He himself was...reluctant to get out of the stance his family has held for the longest of times. He had encouraged his allies in the grey faction to abstain as he did when he had known their own votes would not have made the difference necessary to declare war. For some time he was getting courted by both groups. Strangely enough, both light and dark factions were not at all united in how to approach Grindelwald and rare coalitions were happening.

If France looked like they were losing...well, that would truly shift things and he expected far more switches towards the war camp.

He glanced up and saw it was Dayton. 

"My Lord" Dayton said as he bowed.

"Dayton" he acknowledged and gestured for him to sit down. He got up and went to the drinking cabinet. "Firewhiskey?" he called out without turning around.

"No thank you my Lord" Dayton said politely. It was to be expected. Dayton rarely drank in his presence but niceties had to be observed.

He returned to his seat with a glass of Firewhiskey in his hand and gestured for Dayton to begin.

"I have interrogated Morfin Gaunt" Dayton said with a stony face "The man is extremely mentally unstable and Azkaban certainly help his mental status." He said with a shake of his head before straightening out.

"The house is in a state of extreme filth and squalor, with thick layers of dust and grime and all the pots and utensils were rusted through. Mould, clutter and stale rotted half eaten food around the place. The man himself was completely unkempt and let his hair grow to extreme lengths and the entire time was hissing to himself." Dayton said with utter disgust "To think the last of Slytherin is in such a fucking state." He said with loathing before continuing "I do not know how he keeps himself fed but he isn't malnourished." He sighed before straightening up and returning to the subject.

"Merope Gaunt was his sister and from what I have seen in his memories that Bartholomew extracted from the man, she was highly abused and damaged girl. Morfin himself wasn't much better off but he piled on the misery on his sister." Dayton paused momentarily.

"His memories indicated that our suspicions were correct; Tom Ridde who lives nearby is her father." Dayton said simply and Markus sat back in his chair for a moment before returning his gaze to Dayton "Did you check him?" he asked simply.

Dayton nods "I have." He hesitates slightly but continues "Tom Riddle and his family have been victims of muggle baiting at the hands of the male Gaunts. Tom Riddle himself was subjected to the imperious curse and love potions and was forced to marry Merope Gaunt." He shook his head in mild admiration which made Markus curious as to what he had to admire.

"Tom Riddle broke the imperious he was under and managed to escape when he was still under the influence of the love potion." Dayton said a little astonished and Markus understood it completely. 

"A muggle broke the imperious he was under?" he asked astonishingly and in disbelief. "Impossible. She must've cancelled it" he said sharply. 

Dayton looked at him with a serious expression "Sir, I have checked the memories twice because I couldn't believe it. He definitely broke the curse." Dayton frowned "She definitely still had time to put him back under but she didn't. The only reason I or Bartholomew could think of was that she was simply too surprised to act."

"Hmm" he said as he considered Dayton's words. "Perhaps she gave up? If he was able to break the curse and was still under the potion, it would be pretty clear that he didn't want to be around her. It would have been devastating for what sounds like a woman who was heavily damaged in many ways" he supposed and Dayton nodded slowly.

"It had been the last time he had seen her and whilst he was aware she was pregnant, he doesn't know that he has a living child" Dayton said pursing his lips "The experience has left him quite broken understandably." He finished.

"Do you have the memories on you?" he said as he took a sip of his firewhiskey.

"I do." Dayton said getting up "Shall I bring the pensieve from the shelf?" Dayton inquired. "Please." He said and Dayton got up and brought down the pensieve.

"Will you join me?" he inquired and Dayton shook his head "I've seen them a few times." Dayton grimaced "They are not pretty. Morfin's or Riddle's." He said simply.

He said nothing further and dived into the memories. After a couple of hours, he resurfaced and drank the entire glass of firewhiskey before returning to the globe and pouring himself and Dayton a glass of firewhiskey.

He returned to his desk and brought Dayton's glass over who looked wide eyed. "Drink up Dayton. After those memories, I do not want to drink alone." He said sharply as he pinned a glare at Dayton and Dayton sighed and took the glass to his amusement.

They sat in silence as they both reflected on the memories.

Merope Gaunt's time in the Gaunt Shack was utterly miserable. Truly, it was a shame to see the girl ruined before she even had a chance at life. To a lesser extent Morfin never had a chance himself.

Both children of Marvolo were ugly and showed excessive signs of inbreeding. 

Morfin had clear signs of mentally derangement and was excessively violent. The mother's death at the hands of Marvolo only increased the violent bouts and Merope had been the recipient of those outbursts from an early age. Ever since the death of their mother, Merope was relegated to akin to a House elf. Her little capability for magic only increased her mental and physical abuse, often derided as a disgusting little squib.

She took care of her father and brother regarding the household and in return she received beatings and groping. She barely educated and only taught a few things most pertained to the dark arts, potions and herbology.

In 1925 Bob Ogden had appeared to inform Morfin to attend a hearing regarding his violent behaviour against muggles in violation of the law, Morfin had to be restrained by his father lest he assault Ogden. The Riddle family passed by fortuitously and Morfin had to be restrained once more by his father until he hissed at his father and it didn't take a genius to interpret the angry hissing and the subsequent strangling of Merope. Ogden separated the patriarch from Merope and got cursed by Marvolo. 

Ogden later returned with a number of Aurors and arrested both men and they were subsequently charged. Marvolo for abusive behaviour to his daughter and obstruction to justice and received a sentence of six months in Azkaban whilst Morfin received a three year sentence for casting against a muggle, resisting arrest, assault against an DMLE officer and the earlier crimes that were outstanding.

By the time Morfin left Azkaban in 1928, his father was dead and his sister nowhere to be seen. To this day, Morfin lived alone in that shack and from the recent memories, he was even more unstable.

The house was in extreme filth and squalor

The timeline fit. Merope for the first time was free from his abusive family. From Tom Riddle's memories, it is quite clear she must have had decent magical strength if she was able to cast and keep him under an imperious for so long. 

How ironic. The girl's magic was suppressed as a result of her treatment by her family and the strength of her magic dissipated until it recovered by a decent amount when she was free. He shook his head in contempt at the male Gaunts. Belief was a massive factor in magic. To think they ruined a pureblood witch due to their insanity...

From Riddle's memories, even if his memories were hazy, it was clear she developed an obsessive love for the muggle. He sneered lightly before he breathed out loudly.

He glanced at Dayton who was watching him curiously. He shook his head "I was simply thinking over the obsessive love she developed for Tom Riddle" he said calmly.

Dayton nodded in understanding "Yes...It was unfortunate that she developed that emotional tie to the muggle." Dayton pursed his lips as he thought something over.

"It is likely that such an obsession helped her deal, quite unhealthily, with her...situation...at home. Once she was free from her brother and father, she was free to pursue him completely. Sadly, her home environment never allowed her to ever understand what was right and what was wrong even if it was a muggle. In truth, the fact she pursued a muggle in the first place makes me question her own stability." Dayton said calmly before continuing "It is possible she considered him to be her freedom. After all, he was handsome, wealthy and could look after her." He finished

"Hmm." He said absentmindedly as he swirled his glass of firewhiskey in deep thought.

"The saddest thing was that she never had anyone to turn to once she was alone." He said pursing his lips. "What was Ogden doing?" he said Dayton. Dayton was meticulous in his work and he most likely found out everything about Ogden and the residence in Little Hangleton.

"Ogden by all accounts is a diligent officer but he did not return from what I could find. He had no real reason to. He did his duty and that was that." Dayton said simply.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes "Well, no need to consider what ifs even if the girl's life was tragic in the extreme. Had the Gaunts not been so isolated, perhaps she could have been removed from them." He shook his head.

They fell into a period of silence.

"What do you think we should tell Ms Riddle?" he said aloud as he pondered the question.

Dayton gave him a dry smile "The entire truth." He said simply before continuing "The entire thing is a mess my Lord. The whole thing had been a scandal of sorts as they ran away together to London. The residents of Little Hangleton think he left her because she lied about being pregnant and he has never told anyone about anything regarding magic or the fact that she was indeed pregnant." He said with a stony face "The man abandoned the woman while she was pregnant and yes I know he was forced to impregnate her amongst other things but even so, the child would have been innocent." Dayton paused briefly before continuing with a sneer on his face "The fact that a muggle" Dayton spat out "Considered himself above a pureblood witch, even if she kidnapped him and force him, is offensive" he scowled before returning his face to neutral and continued "He gives off the impression that he doesn't care about the child." Dayton said with a little anger in his tone.

"What about the grandparents" he asked. "From what I have found so far, they are unaware they have a grandchild." Dayton confirmed.

"Hmm." He said simply

"Ms Riddle likely does not want anything to do with the muggles. Nor with Morfin Gaunt." He mused aloud. Dayton scoffed lightly "I don't blame her." Dayton derided.

He turned his gaze towards Dayton "Can you come up with a plan that takes care of both the Riddle elders and Morfin Gaunt?" he said before pausing briefly "I suspect that Ms Riddle might be...wanting to express her displeasure at the fact that her mother was abandoned whilst pregnant regardless of her crimes and herself abandoned in the orphanage. She is not one to let slights go and this certainly is a huge slight" he said thinning his lips.

Dayton nodded agreeably "I have already come up with a rough plan that involves an altercation between Morfin Gaunt and the Riddles that turned deadly killing everyone." Dayton said calmly.

He nods approvingly "Good." With the death of Morfin Gaunt, Emily Riddle would be the heir of Slytherin. Given that the Gaunts were deemed unworthy of the title for the last few centuries, chances were now that she was...less inbred and mentally incapable and magically strong, she could pass whatever criteria House Slytherin set down. Speaking of inheritances...

He eyed Dayton "You said Tom Riddle was wealthy?" he said tilting his head.

"The Riddles are wealthy. They own most of the land in Little Hangleton. They are actually an old muggle family and have own much of Little Hangleton for some time. Why?" Dayton asked curiously and Markus smiled at him.

"It is her inheritance no?" he said tilting his head. "It is only right that she inherits it all from the Riddles. Contact our associate in the muggle world to found out everything about the Riddle family and who they employ as lawyers." He said firmly.

"Yes my Lord." Dayton said as he got up. Dayton stopped briefly to ask "What will you tell Ms Riddle?" Dayton asked curiously.

"You've suggested I tell her everything. I'm inclined to. If nothing else she will be grateful that he managed to find out about her origins. She likely won't be pleased that her father was a muggle and that her mother was so..." he stopped before continuing "beaten down" he said delicately.

Dayton laughed harshly "That girl will be seething and it would only ignite her hatred for muggles given her own abandonment by one." Dayton warned.

It was true. It presented a problem. His son had warned him about the path he saw her take had he not interfered. The question was, had his son's visions come early enough to prevent Riddle from spiralling? This certainly constituted a critical point in her life that could define her.

"We will deal with it. I trust my son to deal with the fall out of this mess." He said calmly and Dayton and proceeded to leave the office.

The next few hours, he continued to read bills until he retired to bed where Anne was waiting for him.

"My love" he said as he kissed her on the cheek as he saw her comfortable and reading The International Standard. "Markus" she said distractedly as she leant into the kiss but kept her eyes on the paper to his amusement.

"What's so fascinating in the paper that you can't take your eyes of it?" he asked as he undressed.

When he didn't receive a response he turned around and saw her engrossed into the paper and he began to chuckle which seemed to take her out of the paper "Did you say something Markus?" she said gently.

He finished getting on his night clothing and walked to his side of the bed "Yes, I did." He said as he got under the duvet. "I asked what you were reading that you were so engrossed in" he said calmly as he took a sip of the water on the bedside.

"Ah" she said in understanding and handed him the paper "It's of course regarding the war. Grindelwald is facing massive insurgency in the regions of Russia that he has occupied and his progress into Baltic states is pretty much halted" she said happily. 

"Really?" he murmured and read the paper keenly. It was true if this paper was to be believed which he didn't wholeheartedly. He was keenly aware of the propaganda that both sides employed especially from the ICW and MACUSA given that they only read papers from ICW and free countries.

The Russians have halted the progress of Grindelwald's forces whilst he was away and the casualties were high on both sides whilst they were slipping in agents, mostly his own assumptions, in occupied territory.

It was good news. The news from the western front was far quieter despite Grindelwald's presence there. Belgium had been contested for some time now with neither side truly gaining a substantial victory. The ICW presence there was high and they were getting reinforcements from the French and Spanish ministries.

The Asian ministries were being pressured last he heard by the ICW to increase their contributions to the war effort along with Britain but the ICW influence was limited here given the strength of the magicals here.

"Seems like things are turning from dire to mildly dire" he murmured and she made a noise of agreement.

"Yes" she sighed "Though it seems like it could turn at any moment to either side. The Americans can't come soon enough" she complained. He turned towards her and gently held her hand and she turned to him with a soft smile, a smile he so loved.

"How was your day?" she said as she stroked his cheek gently.

"Tiring" he sighed "The Wizengamot has been presented a bill to increase our monetary and potions contributions to the ICW by the pro war factions. There's no chance passing with the amount of money suggested but a lighter version..." he trailed off "would likely be acceptable to the majority given that it is not a declaration of war. On that front, things are unchanged." He said pursing his lips. She looked at him worriedly "Are you being pressured to switch from abstaining?" she asked.

"Not quite pressured but I am sought after. Even if I personally wish to declare war on Grindelwald, it would be a shift from the position our family has held for a long time now and it would have consequences, some I cannot foresee." He said tiredly.

She squeezed his hand in comfort and he smiled at her "I know the death of your parents hangs over you and it must be difficult to balance political stance of our family with your own personal one. I'm sure it will work out" she said gently.

He moved towards her and kissed her gently on the lips which she reciprocated "Thank you my love." He said warmly and she felt into his chest and he held her.

They both remained quiet, enjoying each other's warmth.

"I have confirmed who Emily Riddle is." He said after a time. She remained unmoved from her position. "Who is she?" she asked calmly.

"She is a Gaunt. Daughter of Merope Gaunt, pureblood witch from House Gaunt and Tom Riddle, muggle." He said simply.

She removed herself from his chest and stared at him "She's a half blood then" she said without emotion.

He nods lightly "She is. Morfin Gaunt is the last Gaunt other than her and her muggle father and grandparents still live." 

"Tell me everything you know" she said firmly and he proceeded to do so for the next ten minutes and her face grew grimmer and grimmer.

"Poor girl" she said once he finally finished the tale.

He hummed in agreement. She was dealt a bad hand, all things considered.

"It needs to be handled delicately" she said firmly as she cast her eyes on him "By all accounts, this may well have been a leading contribution to her path into the deep ends of the Dark." She laughed harshly "It would be so easy for her to think that her father abandoned her because her mother was a witch, it happens often enough to the blood traitors who have no sense, and then proceeded to abandon his own daughter to the filthy and destitute orphanage that she was likely abused in." She exclaimed angrily "Then she finds out her uncle is a deranged and utter disgrace to House Gaunt and House Slytherin that also abused her mother?" she asked as she shook her head. "Utterly alone, without any guidance to deal with all this whilst she also had to deal with being considered a mudblood in Slytherin." She scoffed "Is it any wonder she turned into a monster as she sought to gain as much power as she could, without any wisdom on her own part or with the assistance of wisdom given to her by someone who she valued in her life?" she said gesturing with her hands to his amusement which she spotted and she turned to him angrily "Why aren't you outraged?" she demanded and he chuckled.

"My dear, you are plenty outraged for the pair of us." He said teasingly and she hit him on the shoulder "Don't make light of the situation." She scolded and he turned serious for the moment "I am not making light of the situation, my dear. I have spent two hours in memories that I'd much rather forget which showed the degeneration of what was once a noble and powerful house and the desperate situation of a poor girl who made a slew of bad decisions when she was finally free. I'm well aware with what she has to come to terms with and how delicate the situation is." He sighed as he rubbed his forehead.

"So what are you going to do about it?" she asked intently.

He glanced at her "I will show her and tell her everything I know" he said simply. "I will invite her over for Yule and walk her through the memories starting from the beginning. She needs context and she needs to understand fully how bad her mother's situation was and how she was ill equipped to deal with her infatuation and she likely didn't know truly from what was right and what was wrong. Similarly, her father's reaction is understandable" she grew outraged but he quickly cut her off "but unforgivable" he said as he peered at her and she grew calmer "He should never have abandoned a pregnant wife, even if she controlled him mentally and physically. He should have found out what happened to his child rather than being miserable in his parent's house."

"What else can you expect from a filthy muggle? Yes what she did was wrong but he should have at least ensured the survival of his child and taken his child in!" she said angrily before visibly forcing herself to calm herself.

"Do the grandparents know?" she asked sharply and he shook his head "It is extremely unlikely." He said calmly.

She looked thoughtful "In any case they are inconsequential. Even if she knows everything, she won't forgive him, rightly so." She said with a deathly calm.

He nods "Correct. She won't. There are...plans...to deal with both sides of the family if she wishes to." He said calmly as he searched her face. She looked at him with approval "Good. The filthy muggles won't be able to make amends for her, she likely won't allow them to even if they wished to and I have my doubts about that. Much cleaner to be rid of them entirely." She said calmly and he considered her thoughts and actions.

"Are you getting attached to the girl?" he asked suddenly and she looked at him in surprise and looked thoughtful "I suppose I am." She said surprised as he was.

"I'm aware...of the risks the girl poses but she deserves a better life, a better chance at life with proper guidance." She said lowly "Despite her calculating and manipulative exterior, I think there are aspects to her that she has never allowed to see the light of day." She said as she pinned him with a determined glint in her eye "I know I've seen some of it when she was in my presence. I'm certain that with some nurturing, she can be made into a healthy adult." She said firmly.

He looked at her surprised and considered her words "Are you suggesting...we take her in completely?" he said as he met her gaze.

She nods "Yes. She is a Gaunt is she not? That means the Sayre family is the closest and last living family that she has ties with. The Gaunts were a large family that kept breeding with each other for hundreds of years" she grimaced "until they dwindled to what they are now. That means we are the closest blood relatives to them even if it is more than three hundred years ago." She said with a raised eyebrow and he laughed as he shook his head and he looked at her with twitching lips.

"Facts aside, are you intending to scare the girl away from our boy?" he said as he broke into a laughter "Once she finds out the cost of inbreeding has yielded for House Gaunt, she'll be quite disgusted with any notion of inbreeding." He said knowingly.

She shook her head in denial "No, that is not what I'm saying and you know it" she said with a glare without any heat before she smiled "I doubt that'd turn her off from Atticus. Three hundred years separates the families and even if it didn't" she grimaced as she stopped her sentence.

He returned to her reasoning regarding taking her in with a serious expression "I'm...not against it. In all truth, it would help to keep an eye on her, family links aside. We would be able to help Atticus as he continues to soften her." He said thoughtfully.

"Besides, she could only benefit from growing up amongst well adjusted purebloods who won't have the extreme purist notions." She said frowning.

"Yes, Atticus did mention her circle involved heirs of prominent and quite extreme purist families." He said shaking his head "No doubt it was calculated by her considering she was in Slytherin and knew where the power resided. To position herself as one of them even if there was no proof would have meant she needed to adopt their beliefs. Hopefully, she isn't set in stone regarding those beliefs." He said as he considered it all.

"With the disaster that lead to her birth, the neglect and uncaring of her father, it proves to be a recipe for pureblood extremism" she said through thinned lips and he could only nod. 

"Atticus will have quite a job to do." He murmured.

"Do we even have to do anything?" she said suddenly "It's not as if her opinions of muggles and pureblood extremism would affect us." She said blatantly.

"It's not so much but more the lengths she might be willing to go. Atticus is right in dealing with her more extreme opinions. It is a slippery slope Anne. People like Atticus, Emily, Grindelwald and even Dumbledore in a lesser capacity are all strong willed individuals." He paused "How will she deal with adversity? Would she resort to violence if she decided that was the only way to get what she wanted which is a slippery slope, especially one who is set to be attuned to the Dark quite substantially." He said shaking his head "No, we need to ensure that she is moderate lest she slip off." He mused.

"Hmm." She said simply in a neutral tone. He was aware she wouldn't give a shred of care if muggles were exterminated but she did care tremendously of the lives it would take to do it, if they even could do it. Not to mention, she didn't believe muggleborns deserved to die or the treatment they reserved from the population even if she thought of them as lesser. If the extremists got into power...well, it would not be a happy time for muggleborns.

"Will you tell Atticus as well?" she asked him after a period of silence.

He thought it over "No." He shook his head "I will only inform Emily. She needs to know first and Atticus knowing would be unfair to her. If she wishes to tell him, then she will." He said firmly. Atticus had mailed him to ask him to tell Atticus if he knew more but he had shut that down as he didn't have the right to know before her. He was disappointed in Atticus to ask that of him.

"That's quite right. It probably grates on her enough that we know in the first place." She said thinning her lips. "No matter" she said as she yawned. She kissed him goodnight and moved to sleep. He turned off the light and moved under the duvet next to her.

----------------------------------------------Break----------------------------------------------

Soon enough, it was time to return home for Yule. He sat in the compartment with his eyes closed, pretending to nap whilst he reflected on the past few months.

He spent the first few weeks after he used the Resurrection Stone with Emer Sayre who had given the necessary information he needed to start improving his control over Hyper-Percipience. 

Much of it involved forms of meditation to get in contact with his magic and ambient magic and he felt more and more in tune with the magic surrounding him. He hadn't seen magic differently, nor felt differently, not quite yet but Emer had assured him that it was coming. Emer had stated it would take years to truly be anything more than a beginner.

In the Time Room, he spent most of it working on his projects, which included creating drawings of satellites. Much of the runic schemes that would be on the casing would be similar to the drone he created though it required far more stabilising elements that protect and ensure that the satellites remain in orbit.

He experimented with Chinese runes as Chinese runes had some divination capability and he wanted to tie that aspect to the function of the satellites.

The satellites would be fitted with an enchanted device that would be capable of searching of specific metal deposits from orbit using spectrum analysis heavily amplified with magic. With the runes that had divination capabilities, even if they were limited in scope, they would be able to increase through...a luck factor for a lack of a better term, the success of finding deposits.

The device would be fitted with the very first magical computer; for sometime he had considered how to approach the problem. He was capable of programming and knew several programming languages, such as Matlab and C++ but that prepared little for the infrastructure that he needed to create to actually make use of that programming knowledge.

The purpose of the computer would be simplistic; he needed it to record, analyse and sort them through a criteria that he'd set. It would a single program that would run continuously as the satellites orbited the Earth.

Given that the computers would be run on magic, he needed to find a material that would make it possible.

He purchased numerous wardstones not simply for the purpose of magical computers. He wanted to experiment with ward stones to discover what made them capable of storing magic and which ones had better capabilities of storing magic which would give him insights how to proceed.

Basalt, Granite and Quartzite were the three main types of wardstones. Basalt yielded low capacity in comparison to Granite and Quartzite whereas Quartzite had the highest capacity to hold magic.

That had given him several hypotheses. All three had various things in common but he primarily focused on the fact they all have Quartz in their mineral content.

Basalt is created from molten rock that is solidified through rapid cooling and almost all of the volcanic rock on Earth is Basalt. Basalt has the lowest content of Quartz of the three.

Granite is mostly composed of Quartz, feldspar and a few other things if he remembered correctly whereas Quartzite is Quartz Sandstone, which is purely made out of Quartz that has been converted into Quartzite through heating and pressure creating a harder stone.

The common thread made it obvious that Quarts were what he needed to investigate and so he did. He remembered from his old life that crystals are arranged in an ordered structure forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. Quartz is a hard crystalline structure which had its structure in a trigonal system, a classification that would show three sides of the Trigonal crystal that is Quartz when viewing from a cross section.

He was aware of a multitude of crystal formations that he could experiment with. Diamond was an easy choice as was garnet, gold, silver, emeralds and more.

Given how conductive gold was and the fact that Goblin Silver, of which silver definitely was the predominant component in the alloy, was able to hold enchantments for hundreds if not thousands of years, he knew he was on the right track.

He considered transfiguring material into gold but dismissed it as he didn't want to introduce instability in his theory. And so, he obtained eight different materials that he knew were cubic crystals (cubic system where all three axes are of equal length and intersect at right angles – based on a square inner structure) or hexagonal crystals (based on a hexagonal inner structure).

And so, much of November was spent experimenting with these materials and he arrived on a conclusion that Diamonds were the greatest at retaining magic due to their structure whilst Garnet was a distant second.

Magic flowed through Silver and Gold easier but Diamond and Garnet held the largest capacity to store magic. Garnet was problematic however. There were different kinds of Garnet and the samples that he had shown wild variations of capacities. Garnet was a catch all for the physical properties and crystal forms but differed substantially in chemical composition. This meant that unless he knew exactly the chemical formula of the ideal Garnet mineral, he would have to continuously have to deal with variations of capacity.

Whereas with diamond...

Diamond was composed entirely of a single element, Carbon, where the atoms were arranged in a cubic arrangement. And the best thing was...it was easy to create massive Diamond wardstones.

Diamond was created through temperature and pressure, albeit massive amounts of pressure and very high temperatures, and he was more than capable of creating an environment that replicated the conditions needed to create Diamonds.

That was one option. The other option was to transfigure coal into Diamond but he wasn't certain that it would work. He knew that carbon likely 80-90% of the content within coal but he wasn't sure that he could permanently transfigure it to Diamond. Until he considered his second law that he discovered and he had literally hit his head on the desk. Repeatedly.

His second discovery, Law of Permanence after Transfiguration states that an object retains its permanence once it is broken in two or more pieces...if you knew what you were doing basically.

That meant that he could literally transfigure earth into a massive Diamond, for example an hourglass but with a miniscule centre that only needs small amount of force to break it into two.

That was what he had been thinking about. Until it clicked for him. 

He literally had an endless supply of everything – provided he knew the structure of the material. 

He was thankful to whatever deities existed that he never submitted the second contribution to the ITB. He would have destroyed the economy once people caught on what it meant and his hide would have been wanted by pretty much everyone, especially the Goblins.

That had effectively had him stop his progress and he sat himself down as he stared blankly at the ceiling for a full day equivalent in the Time Room.

He quickly notified his former Master that the second contribution could not be allowed to be known. She met him during Hogsmeade and he explained to her that the two discoveries she knew about, in combination, could yield virtually unlimited gold and much more, effectively tanking the worldwide economy. He had gotten her to sign a secrecy contract to never disclose this or show or even insinuate to anyone once she understood how fucked everything would be if it became well known. He had asked if she told anyone and he, for first time legilimised her, to check if she had been truthful which she was.

He mentioned to her subtly that it didn't mean she couldn't use it for her own purposes, she just had to make sure none ever knew what she was capable of. Thankfully she was quite elderly and had no need for money and lived primarily for her descendants and her research. She would experiment with it and he shrugged at that.

Returning to Diamonds – now that he could effectively make them as large or small as he wanted, he effectively had the perfect form to store magic. The perfect battery for computers and many other future things that he would power.

Unfortunately, he had stalled on how to go about creating the necessary architecture, such as an interface and so on, that would allow him to create a magical computer. He set it aside for now and returned to studying magic. He focused on Blood Magic, Alchemy and Healing progressing past NEWTS in Blood Magic and was progressing decently in Healing. He needed to do some experiments in Alchemy, which he planned to do on his return to Hogwarts after the break.

"Atticus, we're here" Eden's voice broke him out of his relaxed state. He opened his eyes and yawned.

After bidding his friends goodbye, he got off the Express and looked around. Emily was coming for Yule. His father had annoyingly rejected informing him on the progress of finding Emily's family on the basis that she could tell him if she wanted.

He didn't need to be informed, given that he knew the gist of it all, but still. Emily hadn't said anything about what his father told her, simply that she was coming to find out about her family. 

She was getting curter and he didn't know what to do about it. He racked his brain to figure it out and nothing made sense. Of course they continued to meet to discuss magic and so on but anything that even approached personal, she simply redirected the conversation.

He sighed and looked around and spotted her. She came towards him with a raised eyebrow and he shrugged "Might as well go to my parents together." He said simply and she said nothing as they walked towards his parents who were waiting on him. 

"Son" his father greeted and he warmly returned it. After a customary hug from his mother and her own greeting for Emily – which didn't involve touching – they left and went home.

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Emily POV

She sat down in Lord Sayre office with a strange bowl at the edge of the table with Lord Sayre...Markus opposite her watching her.

"I have discovered your heritage in completeness, Ms Riddle" he said simply and her breath hitched.

She knew that it was likely given the mail he had sent her a few weeks ago but to hear it. She struggled to control her face and left it blank. Emotions of elation, excitement, anticipation and more than a little fear threatened to overwhelm her.

She inspected Markus' face and saw him give nothing away. It was blank and his eyes were simply calm.

"Please tell me" she said hoping that she kept it calm and without any hints of the emotions she was feeling.

"Your mother is Merope Gaunt, daughter of the late Marvolo Gaunt of The Ancient and Noble house of Gaunt." He said calmly and her eyes widened. 'her mother was who was descendant from House Gaunt?' she quickly got her eyes under control and calmed herself to prevent herself to appear desperate. Her mind whirled 'How did a witc-'. No she thought furiously. Her mother was not a squib she seethed internally. 'But then how do you explain her death...' a thought ran through her mind that she brutally cut down.

He was searching her face but she controlled it as much as she could. "She died in childbirth, the matrons told me." She started as she recollected the cruel words from one of the matrons that despised her. 'Your mother was ugly and she knew it. She hoped you looked like your father' the matron said as she laughed at her anger. Her accidental had flared and a light bulb had burst in light of her anger and the matron never mentioned it again.

Lord Sayre nodded lightly "That is likely true." Emily moved forward "How could she die if she was a witch" she pressed, hoping that he would confirm that she wasn't a squib.

He almost grimaces "She likely was in a poor condition when she arrived at the orphanage to deliver you Ms Riddle" he sighed and he rubbed his eyes.

"Why was she in a poor condition?" she asked in a forced calm and she near her limits "Tell me everything regarding what happened with my mother." She near commanded as she stood up with her hands clenched into fists "And my father" she added. "Please." She said through gritted teeth.

He looked at her with a look of pity and her stomach dropped and he told her the story. About her mother's life and the treatment she received at the hands of family, about the circumstances of her first taste of freedom, her infatuation with Tom Riddle, the muggle. She had to fight to control herself as the story was narrated to her regarding her father the filthy muggle that abandoned her mother and her and then finally what she knew herself.

A few minutes pass as they sat in silence before he spoke as she gazed away, focused on her thoughts that were threatening to...

"Ms Riddle..." he began and she looked at him with a blank face, hiding away what she felt "Emily..." he amended as he spoke gently with a look that she wanted to wipe of his face with a curse.

'He's not responsible' she reminded herself as she repeated this mantra.

"This" he said gesturing towards the bowl that as covered with huge amounts of miniscule runes "Is a pensieve. It is a device that allows you to view memories" he said and she didn't react as she considered what he was likely implying. She forcefully shoved down her emotions and looked at him "I have gathered memories from your...uncle" 'uncle?' she laughed viciously in her mind "That corroborates what I have told you. And memories of Tom Riddle" he sighed as he got up and placed the pensieve in front of her.

"The memories belong to you. For you to view. If you wish." He said gently "It is understandable if you do not wish to." He said.

"Have you viewed it?" she asked him in an emotionless voice. "I have. I needed to confirm that what I had been told was true so that I could offer the truth to you" he said kindly.

He was waiting on a response from her. What did he want from her? Everything he just told her was worst than what she had ever expected. 

An abused mother that suppressed her magic as a consequence of her family. An abused mother that obsessed over a filthy muggle who then abandoned her.

She wasn't stupid she knew her mother forced him against his will. But from what Lord Sayre was saying, her father likely knew her mother was pregnant. To abandon her and her mother at that stage...she gritted her teeth in rising hatred.

She cast her hard eyes at Lord Sayre who looked sympathetically at her. "May I stay here? To think it over?" she said with a forced calm.

He nodded lightly "Take the time you need Emily. Call for an house elf if you need any of us." He said as he walked out of the office.

She didn't know how long she sat there. She faced the crackling fire which had been a welcome distraction to her thoughts.

Her magic was bubbling underneath her skin. She wanted to release it. To destroy, to Tear apart, to Annihilate. 

She thought she'd never hate anything more than Billy Stubbs or orphanage or that fucking bitch of a matron Mrs Cole.

She was wrong. She hated the Riddles with everything she was. He abandoned HER. She didn't care that he was forced. She didn't care that her mother was a weak willed woman who let herself die – she was a witch that died from childbirth at a dirty filthy orphanage instead of going to a place like St. Mungos – instead of living for her daughter. She was apathetic and held her mother in contempt. She had magic and she was weak. Her uncle though...he would die along with the Riddles for the slights he did against her mother. 

She was abandoned and there was nothing else to it. Her hands clenched and unclenched and her magic was stirring, rising all around her in her deep anger and hate.

The door opened and Atticus stood there, wide eyed and wary of her. "Are you alright?" he said hesitantly as he took her in. She held a manic look in her eyes and he looked even more wary.

"Emsy!" *pop* "Yes master" the female elf said "Take Ms Riddle to the Duelling Room when I say so" he said before turning towards her "Do not kill the elf. You can cast whatever you want at me when we're in the duelling room" he said curtly "Do it Emsy" he said before she could get a word out and her magic lashed out the elf that barely managed to escape. Shortly Atticus arrived with this wand drawn.

"Shall we?" he said with a tilted head as he stood opposite her.

She grinned cruelly and she began with a blood boiling curse in her favourite spell chain. He deflected it away as he took a defensive stance and she unleashed every dark curse she knew. 

Ossus Fragmen a bone shattering curse, Abrumpo a cutting curse, Comprimo a dark compression curse, Fulmina a electric torture curse as she cast those spells out loud. She leapt to her left as he cast Infestus Apris a swarm of bees, Istalri a fire spell, Perfringo a bone shattering curse, Pelleo a bludgeoning curse.

Spells fired between them, streaks of light marring the duelling pit. Both of them deflected as they cast at each other, him with damaging spells and she with her maiming, torture or killing spells. 

She fell into rhythm, casting as she moved, ducking and shifting her stances away from his attacks as he transitioned from spell chains to another. Her blood sang as she fell into her instincts as she continued to cast as fast as she could, her darkest spells rolling off her tongue. She felt free, in exaltation as she cast to kill, to maim to utterly annihilate her enemy. Her magic rolled off her as she continued to cast to shield to dodge. Her wand moved into one chain into another with practiced ease, smooth and devastating.

He shifted his stance as she continued her barrage of spells and his eyes began to glow brightly as he prepared himself. He remained in the same spot as he conjured, deflected or simply leaned to one side or another and she sent a blasting curse at his feet and he simply raised the floor with a transfiguration to protect himself. She followed up with a barrage of cutting curses and piercing hexes, intent to damage him, to mutilate him and yet he remained calm in his spot as he simply deflected away three separate curses with two seconds.

She intensified her casting, diving deep into her power as she let of spell after spell at him. She didn't know how much time went by, she simply vented out her frustrations. Her inability to hurt him, Her pain at the knowledge she received, her hate that threatened to drown her. She grew crazed and she yelled out her frustrations in a final rotting curse she overpowered as she felt herself tire out. He intercepted the spell with a marble block and he disarmed her, ending the duel

She fell to her knees sucking in air, tired and spent. She balled her hands into fists as she closed her eyes as she breathed laboured. She heard footsteps approach which she didn't respond to.

He sat down right next to her and the only noise that was heard was her laboured breathing.

Neither said anything as her breathing came under control until he brought her a glass of water which she grabbed, not meeting his eyes and she greedily drank it.

She gasped once she finished drinking the entire glass and she finally looked at him and a kind expression was on his face.

"I tried to hurt you." She said emotionless "Why are you not angry. Furious at my spell choice?" she said tiredly as she cast her eyes to the ground.

"You weren't trying to kill me per se." He said finally and she looked at him in disbelief and saw his twitching lips and she brokenly laughed.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes "I don't know what my father told you but when I felt the rising magic, I knew I needed to get into his office where you were".

Her curiosity peaked and she stared at him "You felt my magic?" she said with a titled head "The office is a floor up and at the end of the hallway." She asked in surprise.

He nodded lightly "That's right. I don't know if it was sensitivity or not" he shrugged "But I felt it. So I came." He said pausing "You were...quite upset" she scoffed "and you needed to vent" he said happily before cocking his head "So why not someone who can take it rather than a poor wall that did nothing to deserve it" he said with a light grin and she looked at him in amusement.

"Did you do anything to deserve it?" she asked plainly and he shrugged "I don't know, probably? Possible?" he said with a full blown grin and she laughed lightly before she fell quiet.

She stared at him as she took in his face and she saw poorly hidden worry in his eyes. She tried to kill him with the darkest of magics she knew, even if she wasn't thinking, and here he still was. She felt for the first time a deep happiness that she was sure she'd never feel again before shame took her over.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered "I..."

He grabbed her hand and squeezed gently. She closed her eyes as she treasured his touch as she basked in the comfort he offered, the comfort she needed but wouldn't ever admit.

"Emily..." he said softly and she turned to meet his gaze. "I understand." He shook his head "You just..." he sighed "Whatever you are dealing with must be pretty bad for you to lose control to such an extent." He said kindly.

She wanted to yank her hand away. To ask him why he was so weak that he didn't put her down for trying to kill him scowling and sneering in his face. But she couldn't. She didn't want to. Not truly. She needed him and she hated herself for being so weak. There was a difference between wanting something and needing something.

She could use his pity, she could use his sympathies to manipulate the situation to her liking and yet...she felt tired. She didn't want to and she knew she couldn't. Pathetic she thought scathingly to herself as she opened her eyes and looked at the ground.

She tilted her head up and laughed at her day. Her Occlumency was completely shot and she hasn't recalled a day where she lost it to this extent. 

"Your father...found much about my mother...and father" she said bitterly.

He said nothing as he caressed her hand with his thumb. She adjusted herself and crossed her legs as she faced him completely on the ground.

"My mother is...was Merope Gaunt" she began and retold the story starting at her weak mother as she stared at the ground, calmly and emotionlessly until she was done.

"Emily, your mother..." he sighed and she stiffened slightly "Your mother was utterly unfortunate" he growled out and she looked up at him in surprise. She hadn't expected that.

"She never had a chance Emily, not truly. The only time she did was when she was finally free from her degenerate father and brother" he began angrily before he continued "and when she was finally free, she continued her path on what she likely saw as her freedom, never once considering that she was finally free to live her life away from that dump and that shitty town" he said as he dragged a hand across his face "She wanted happiness that she was denied her entire life and she unfortunately went on a path that was tragic" he said before he met her gaze "For her but in the end, she managed to give birth to you safely, at a place she thought would make sure you survived" he said gently and she felt a rising anger but he spoke before she could respond.

"Who did she know Emily?" he posed to her "She was pregnant, her husband abandoned her and she had no income. She was a poorly educated woman who was abused, both mentally and physically from your explanations and she was pregnant. For months, she survived, I have no idea how but she did even as abject and destitute as she was but long enough to give birth to a healthy girl" he said as he squeezed her hand "At an orphanage that was free from her family who would have subjected you to the same treatment" he scoffed as he scowled "if they didn't kill you for being a half blood" he said with fury in his eyes "Her father was free from Azkaban, even if he died within a few years" he reminded her. 

He continued "She had an inner strength and her magic likely focused on making sure that you survived Emily." He paused as he met her gaze "She was weak in many ways, mostly because she didn't know how to be strong as she was never shown it or if she did, it was long beaten out of her but she was strong for you Emily. You lived. She won in the end when she could have easily given up after the muggle abandoned you and your mother." He said finally.

She remained silent.

Had she been born in the Gaunt ancestral home would she have been as weak as her mother? 'No. She would never had been so weak' she thought as she scowled at the notion. But she did recognise her fate may have been much worse if she grew up with her uncle. She got up from her seating position and fought to suppress the overwhelming disgust that came upon her at the prospect of her sick uncle touching her and probably doing worse. Even if he hadn't been insane, the sick bastard wouldn't have thought of it.

She paced as her mind whirled. Her mother was weak but she lived long enough to bring her into the world. For that, she would have her thanks. Nothing more.

She would exact revenge for her own sake...and for her mother. She would pay the debt she owed and she'd cast her out of her thoughts forever then.

He got up and faced her and she stopped her pacing. "Are you going to watch the memories?" he inquired and she gritted her teeth. She needed to know even if her family was deranged and utterly disgraceful.

"I am." She said sharper than she intended. She met his gaze and she softened. She reached out and grabbed his hand "Thank you" she said softly.

He simply smiled at her and nodded a little. 

She hadn't been...at her best in their meetings. She felt...annoyed at the constant attentions he received from the female population. He was astoundingly popular.

The first and second year Slytherins loved his charms class as he taught it far less sterile than some of the professors they've had. She knew of course given that she had observed him helping students in her own charms class last year and in her Runes and charms classes this year.

There'd be sometimes days where rumours floated around regarding him supposedly having had this or that girl. She knew objectively that it wasn't true. He'd never be interested in those bland girls that were not special, who were ordinary, painfully so. 

It had been difficult to remain calm when Parkinson or Rosier ran their mouths in her presence about him when her circle were around her. They all knew that she met up with him frequently and they'd smell blood if she ever showed displeasure. She increased her sessions with Dolohov who was one of the few in her year that was able to keep up with her enough.

She met his gaze and her stomach fluttered as she took him in. She took in his restrained magic, of which she could feel the endlessness that he so exuded even in its restrained condition.

She banished her thoughts "I'm going up now to view the memories." She said as she reluctantly let go of his hand and pirouetted on her heels but she halted momentarily and turned slightly "I'll see you in the morning" before she walked off.

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He sighed as he fell upon his bed. His parents had already gone to bed after they stopped at his room and he told them what he and she did in the duelling pit and that it might need a little cleansing of the dark magic. His father grimaced but nodded and stated that he'd work on it in the morning. 

It required Lord's permission to readjust the duelling pit and to initiate a cleansing ritual.

His thoughts returned to Emily. It seemed like she was often on his thoughts.

She'd been vulnerable when he had come across her in the office, her magic as dark as he'd seen it. Her casting was suitably dark and he wasn't entirely sure if he could have withstood the strength of the spells had he been her age and not ritually enhanced.

He shook his head. There was a week until her birthday and he'd gift the Locket to her. He first needed to go to Burke and inquire about anything that was resembled perhaps anything...snakey. 

He'd squeeze the information out of Burke that it had been sold to Ferlow, his own alias and proceed ask him if he knew how to contact him. When he inevitably said no, he'd simply purchase something meaningless to cement his visit in Burke's mind in case Emily ever followed up on his story.

He'd inform her that he went to Burke, to see if her mother ever sold anything to Burke and tell her that he managed to obtain the Locket from the man who bought it from Burke.

It tied it all nicely.

He yawned and got dressed and went to bed.

The next day, he woke up early and proceeded to do his daily exercising routine and at 8AM went downstairs. He'd been the first up and the elves made his favourite; marinated pulled beef with salad in a brioche baguette lightly coated with butter with a side of crispy bacon with a glass of orange juice. 

Not long after, Emily came down looking refreshed, as if yesterday didn't happen.

"Morning" he greeted her as he searched her face. Her face softened and she nodded "Morning" she returned his greeting and sat next to him.

She looked at his half finished meal and raised an eyebrow as he took a bite. He swallowed and drank his orange juice to wash it down and looked at her with his own raised eyebrow "Don't judge me. It's Yule. I'm allowed." He simply said as he glared at her. She scoffed lightly though her eyes showed a little amusement "You ate that meal at least three times a week in the summer. You called it 'DiLunch'" she said with a deadpan look "You're lucky you exercise as much as you do." She said primly as a plate of omelettes, bacon and toast appeared in front of her.

"You're just jealous" he uncaringly as he took another large bite out of the baguette as he stared at her happily chewing at her and she twisted her nose in distaste before she turned towards her breakfast.

"Hello children" his mother called out as she walked into the dining room. She looked at his breakfast and she looked scandalised "Again?" she said unhappily and he shrugged "Do not shrug at the dining table. It is uncouth" she chastised as she sat down at the table waiting for her own breakfast.

"You're lucky you exercise as much as you do" his mother said in distaste and he almost choked on a mouthful as he glanced between his mother and Emily who herself was fighting a smile as her lips twitch minutely.

"What's gotten into you Atticus?" his mother said disapprovingly.

"He's been acting immature all morning Mrs Sayre" Emily said daintily and he looked at her betrayed as swallowed the mouthful.

His mother looked at him disapprovingly before she dug into her breakfast.

Not long after his father arrived and conversation had been light. "Emily, please join me and Atticus in my office. There are things to discuss" his father simply said as they finished their breakfast. She nodded blankfaced and soon enough, they made their way to his office.

Once they were all seated his father began "I believe you have seen the memories by now?" his father asked calmly.

"I have." She says simply and his father nodded. 

"I have called you here today to discuss a number of routes available to you. Atticus is here as my heir." He said calmly as he inspected her.

"Routes?" she asked with narrowed eyes echoing his own thoughts.

His father nodded "Undoubtedly you are...unpleased with your father I suspected" his father mused and he caught could see a little tightening of her jaw and an agitated glint in her eye.

His father continued "Similarly, your uncle has proved to be inadequate. The way your mother was treated was horrific and given that he is...mentally unbalanced, it is perhaps a mercy." He said out loud and Atticus eyes widened in surprise as what his father was implying sunk in and he glanced at Emily and saw her eyes light up with glee.

"From the memories, you know that your father definitely knew your mother was pregnant. Despite the circumstances, he should have done his duty as your father but it is to be expected." His father said with his hands entwined on the table.

"The routes I'm referring are as following; they can be left to their own devices, they can all be...disposed of quite neatly or some of them can be left alone." He said simply to the silence of the room.

"Father..." Atticus began but his father put up a hand and sent him a glare "Do not speak. This does not concern you and you are here only to observe. It is a matter for Emily and her alone." And a silence fell once more.

She thinned her lips and Atticus could see her gripping her chair hard. "Is there an option for me to do it myself?" she asked emotionlessly.

 "I cannot begin understand what you are feeling. It would be an insult to suggest such a thing. You discovered hurtful things and I have no doubts that you wish carry your own retribution. I am loathed to deny you this." His father paused briefly. "But... you are thirteen, almost fourteen. Not to mention, these are your...blood relatives even if they are degenerates or worthless muggles. To kill your own kin is not something I want to condone." His father said sharply.

She began to breathe out deeply as she sent a scathing glare at his father "You would deny my right?" she hissed out through her teeth as she got up from her chair.

"No. I would deny you staining your hands with the blood of your kin. But they will be gone. Tomorrow if you wished." He said simply. 

She fell silent as she considered his words her face stony but in her eyes he could see a war occurring. Finally she responded "I want to be there when he dies. To know he's dead because of me." She said firmly in a tone that brooks no disagreement.

His father leaned back in his chair. "You won't be dissuaded from this?" he said calmly as he pinned her with his eyes which she met determined.

He sighed "Very well. Tomorrow you will go with Dayton." His father agreed and Emily smiled with her eyes cold as she nodded in acceptance. 

"Now, the Riddles were not destitute. They were wealthy. By all rights when they...pass, everything they owned is yours by birthright." His father began and she sat up straight with intense interest "We have arranged everything ready for you to inherit. Similarly, with the death of Morfin, you become Heir of House Gaunt – we have checked Gringotts, your mother was never disowned – which means you are ennobled in the magical world. Sadly, House Gaunt whilst an Ancient and Noble House have lost their elected noble seat and the Gaunts are known to be destitute so it is likely there is little wealth from that side of your family but with the wealth to come from the Riddles, you will be well off in both worlds." His father said finally.

"How wealthy are the Riddles?" she asked keenly. "They have just over 200,000 pounds which equates to 50,000 galleons. However, their real wealth is the land that they own in Little Hangleton. They own all of the village except of course the Gaunt ancestral home which means in reality you will own everything in Little Hangleton soon." He replied to her.

She leaned back in her chair as she seemingly contemplated the change of fortunes. He himself was staring at his father. He hadn't witnessed this side of his father before. He had known his father had done things, like having the people responsible for the death of his grandparents killed who had survived in New York, but seeing it was an entirely different prospect.

"Congratulations Ms Riddle, you will be wealthy enough on your own. 50,000 galleons is nothing to scoff at. The land in Little Hangleton is not worthless either and should you wish, you would be able to do what you like with the land." His father began again.

His father continued "Now let's discuss what you wish to do now that you will be the Heir of House Gaunt soon." 

She met his father's gaze "I wasn't aware I needed to discuss it with you." She said calmly.

"You don't need to. It is up to you. Ultimately, I can only offer advice if you wish to hear it" his father simply stated.

She sat back in her chair and crossed her legs "I do not have immediate plans" she admitted "House Gaunt's reputation is not stellar" she said with a little bit of unhappiness creeping in her tone.

His father nodded agreeably "Yes. House Gaunt's reputation has slipped dramatically. You will have large job ahead of you to rebuild it if you wished to. But ultimately, you now have a wizarding family that you belong to and a one that was powerful once." His father said calmly with a little bit of gentleness creeping in his voice.

"In any case" his father said getting up "If you wish for advice, I will be available for you." He said simply "Now, I'm expected elsewhere so I will see you all for dinner" he said as he walked out of the room.

"Did you know your father would be doing this?" she said finally breaking the silence as they sat next to each other.

"No." He said curtly. "I didn't expect this from him, not so bluntly. I suspect he was doing it for you." He said frowning.

"Yet he won't allow me to kill them" she said a little bitterly and he turned to face her "Killing your uncle, your father, your grandparents is beyond messed up Emily" he said frowning at her "In the end, they will be dealt with. Why are you angry at not doing the deed yourself?" he said tilting his head. 

She breathed out but she didn't say anything further.

"At least you won't be poor by the end of tomorrow" he said nonchalantly and she turned to him with a glare on her face and he raised his eyebrow at her "What? It seems like it's all a complete victory come tomorrow night for you." He said with a tilted head with a smirk.

She glared lightly at her but he knew she was quite pleased about that. They got up and as they talked, they moved towards the library.