His great-aunt nodded. 'Melania's already here, as you can see. As for Ignatius Prewett – well, he's still upset over what happened at Christmas and doesn't want to come.' She sniffed. 'I did, however, make it clear that he's welcome if he ever changes his mind. I haven't heard back from the Tonkses.'
'I don't understand,' Abraxas said to Sirius. 'Why is everyone coming here?'
'Since Narcissa was kidnapped, it's reasonable to assume that everyone else is in danger too,' Sirius replied. 'I want the family where I can keep an eye on them.'
'Who did it?' Aries asked. His brow was knitted in concern, but blue fire raged in Draco's eyes.
'It was him, wasn't it?' the blond boy spat.
Sirius nodded and placed a comforting hand on his nephew's shoulder. 'Lucius took her,' he said. 'Dobby saw it, but was too late to prevent it.'
Abraxas was shocked at the idea. Never in a million years would he have thought his son capable of such a thing.
'Are you sure it was kidnapping?' he asked hopefully. 'He is her husband, after all. Perhaps she went willingly.'
'We already asked that,' Cassiopeia told him. 'She left her wand behind, and Sirius saw evidence of a struggle.'
'How did he get in?' Lupin asked. 'I thought he'd been taken off the wards.'
'So did I,' Sirius replied coldly. 'But Dobby saw him leave through the fireplace.'
All eyes turned to Abraxas, and the old wizard shifted uncomfortably.
'I did remove Lucius from the wards,' he said defensively. 'But he lived at the Manor for many years. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that he had placed his own backdoors into the system.'
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes. 'Not to mention that there are numerous potions and spells designed with the express purpose of fooling ordinary wards,' she pointed out.
'That too,' Abraxas said. 'If Lucius has gone back to the service of the Dark Lord...er, Riddle, rather...it would be no difficulty for him to obtain such tools.'
Sirius turned on him. 'Then why didn't you take extraordinary measures!' he shouted. 'We could have used Fidelius! We could have placed the house under lockdown!'
Druella sniffed. 'All of which would have had the effect of making my daughter a prisoner in her own home,' she said. 'Be reasonable, Sirius.'
'As much as I am loathe to admit it, Druella has a point,' Cassiopeia said, trying very hard not to gag at the idea. 'None of us could have anticipated that Lucius would commit such an atrocity.'
'He's an effing Death Eater!' Sirius snapped back.
'He's also her husband,' Lupin said reasonably, placing a hand on his friend's back. 'If he wanted to talk to her, or to persuade her to come back to him, most people would expect him to send an owl before trying to kidnap her.' Sirius began to calm down, and Abraxas relaxed. He knew there was a reason he liked Lupin.
'You have a point,' Sirius agreed reluctantly. 'She hasn't heard from Lucius since he left. She even sent him a few owls. He didn't reply.'
'Then why did he kidnap her?' Draco shouted. 'It can't have been just to have a chat. It must have something to do with Riddle!'
Sirius sighed. 'You're probably right.' He paused. 'I think everyone's here who's going to be here,' he said. 'Let's start setting up those wards. Then we can plan our response.'
It took them several hours to set up the defences. Cassiopeia had clearly been hoping for the chance to set up such outrageously illegal wards for some time, and eagerly took command of the process.
'You do realise that anyone not on the approved list who tries to enter the house will die a painful, prolonged and gruesome death?' Lupin observed.
'Good,' Sirius replied coldly. His friend stared at him for a moment wide-eyed, then decided to give him a bit of space.
'I'm glad I'm on his good side,' Lupin muttered to Abraxas on his way out of the room. The older wizard chuckled, and nodded in agreement.
'Sirius may not like to admit it, but he's his parents' son through and through,' Abraxas replied.
'Don't let him hear you say that,' Lupin said with a grin. 'He'll set the wards to fry you too.'
Sirius looked over his shoulder and glared at them.
'Watch it, you two,' he growled. 'I just might.'