Everyone stayed awake until the next day, waiting for the Aurors to arrive, but they never came, which surprised everyone, given that it was an obvious place to hide after an escape given the political complications they would have when searching the Black Manor.
"That's strange, they should have arrived long ago," Narcissa spoke, stroking Asterion's hair, his head resting on her lap. Her fingers gently traced the silky dark strands that easily slipped between her fingers.
"Maybe they focused on the other prisoners?" Asterion replied, enjoying the strokes on his head, his voice slightly sleepy. He hadn't slept much last night, so he was almost drifting off to sleep with her touch.
Everyone fell silent.
"Why release all the prisoners, to create more chaos?" Narcissa asked Bellatrix in a slightly lower voice, apparently afraid of disturbing Asterion, who was almost asleep.
"I didn't release anyone besides the little puppy, it was Rodolphus who did it. He seemed particularly keen on killing me, although I don't understand why." Reclining on the sofa in a carefree manner, Bella spoke, staring at the ceiling as she counted how many imaginary stabs she had delivered to the sheep. Her eyes narrowed with a malicious and sadistic look, as if recalling something interesting.
Sirius rolled his eyes at Bella's comment; she obviously knew the reason but pretended to be unjustly treated.
Arcturus frowned; he looked at Bellatrix with a deep gaze, showing clear dissatisfaction. Both his great-nieces' marriages were troubled, and he wondered if he had made a mistake in choosing their spouses.
"By the way, I'm surprised that my master is the son of Regulus; my first thought upon learning of his divine existence was to think he was Sirius's son," Bella spoke at that moment, subtly changing the subject. She felt she would be reprimanded by Arcturus if she continued to mention her ex-husband.
Everyone deliberately ignored Bellatrix calling Asterion "master" and revering him as a god.
"Me too," Narcissa agreed with her sister's words.
"Hmm," Arcturus merely nodded in agreement as he took a sip of his tea.
"Why?" Asterion looked confusedly at everyone.
Bella laughed loudly and spoke with a malicious smile on her lips. "Sirius is a sexual libertine; as long as there's a pussy, I dare say he wouldn't hesitate to stick his dick in without a second thought."
Sirius, who had been silently quiet, didn't expect to be insulted at this moment; he felt like a dagger had struck his heart, causing unknown emotional damage.
"I lost count of how many times I had to go to Hogwarts to deal with his sexual scandals," Arcturus looked at Sirius with disappointment and shook his head.
*Ouch!*
Another imaginary arrow pierced Sirius's heart.
"Remember, Asty, don't learn anything from him; this man is scum who only thinks with his lower head. This kind of man doesn't live for long," Narcissa warned Asterion sternly, who nodded in agreement with her words.
*Ouch!*
"Someone who can't control their own desires is no different from an animal that only follows instinct," Asterion spoke, delivering another emotional blow to Sirius.
Sirius was now lying on the sofa, defeated and powerless, with a bitter and painful smile on his face.
"I was young and didn't know what I was doing," Sirius spoke in his defense, but everyone, except Asterion, turned their gazes to him, a look of disdain and contempt.
"You were chased out half-naked by Lord Shafiq when he found you in bed with his wife," Narcissa replied coldly, her gaze not hiding the antipathy she felt at the moment.
'What else could he say?'
Sirius simply lay on the sofa, wishing to find a hole to bury himself in with the shame he felt at the moment. What did his nephew think of him now?
Bellatrix just laughed at her cousin's misery, not hiding the pleasure she felt in seeing him suffer.
-
Fifteen days later, with less than two weeks until the Masquerade Ball, Asterion entered the living room to find Arcturus, Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Sirius gazing at painted portraits of five girls around the same age, between 9 and 10 years old.
"What's going on?" Asterion asked, confused.
"Your potential future wives," Narcissa replied, not taking her eyes off the papers containing all the information about the girls.
Asterion looked surprised at the five portraits, two redheads, one blonde, and two brunettes.
"This is so outdated; let the boy choose who he'll share his life with on his own," Sirius said, taking a large gulp of wine from the glass he held. He seemed pleased with the taste of the wine.
"To be like you, single at thirty-one," Narcissa retorted sarcastically.
Ouch!
Sirius placed his hand on his chest and said with a sad tone. "That was cruel, Cissy." Then, he took another sip of wine at eight in the morning.
She just scoffed and looked at Asterion with a gentle gaze and asked.
"Any preference, Asty?"
He pondered for a moment and said. "Maybe someone like Cissy. Elegant, cold and strong, I don't want a pretty vase for decoration." Sitting on the sofa, he crossed his legs one over the other and continued speaking. "Instead of illusory love, I prefer companionship."
Almost everyone looked strangely at the almost ten-year-old boy. They couldn't believe they heard such words from someone so young. Wasn't it normal for someone his age to think about love that way?
Narcissa felt mixed feelings about his words. She was glad that he wanted someone like her, but at the same time, sad for his pragmatic view of life.
But the entire silent atmosphere was shattered by Bellatrix's words.
Stroking her chin, Bellatrix wore a pensive look and thought aloud. "I think I meet all the requirements, should I marry my master?"
"You're thirty-nine, Bella," Narcissa spoke, looking coldly at her sister with a slightly hostile gaze.
"Age is just a number, the prison just an exotic room." Offended, Bella retorted, rising from the sofa.
"That doesn't change the fact that you're old," mocked Narcissa.
"You meant to say I'm a mature woman," said Bellatrix, her tone dangerously sharp; she hated when people mentioned her age.
"Enough of this childish argument! You're not children," Arcturus intervened at this point, his voice strong and grave, calming the two.
Narcissa and Bellatrix exchanged cold glances and sat back down.
Bellatrix muttered loud enough for everyone to hear her murmur. "Cissy, the possessive, is back." Remembering how Narcissa used to be as a child, the girl wouldn't let anyone play with her dolls.
Especially her, not that Narcissa was wrong, all of Bellatrix's dolls met a tragic end, all of them being decapitated, dismembered, and buried...
Narcissa glared at her sister with a deadly cold look but remained silent due to Arcturus' presence.
"According to your preferences, you have two options, Daphne Greengrass, a young witch of Semi-Grade 2, or Susan Bones, a Grade 3 witch, both powerful for their age and likely to reach Grade 1, especially Miss Greengrass, who has the potential for Semi-Special Grade. In addition to them, Pansy Parkinson is also suitable, although her talent is slightly lower than the other two."
"Politically, Susan Bones is the niece of Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. On the other hand, Daphne Greengrass is the heir to the prestigious Greengrass family, controlling a good portion of Britain's magical resources."
"According to the report I received about their personalities, Susan is more timid and reserved, while Daphne, on the other hand, bears a resemblance to Narcissa."
Arcturus finished speaking and looked at Asterion, waiting for him to respond.
Asterion couldn't help but think about Susan. She wasn't his type; her red hair might attract him, but that was about it. As for political power by marrying her, it wasn't much to begin with. The Bones family was only strong because of Amelia Bones; once she left her position, the Bones family wouldn't be as important as it was now. Besides, with Amelia's personality, it would be difficult to gain any privilege; she was known to be impartial and cold. There was no way she could help with anything if he married her niece.
On the other hand, Daphne was the heiress to the Greengrass family, both politically and economically. She was indeed the better choice. Combine that with what Arcturus described, and he had a future wife.
But Asterion looked at Arcturus and asked, "Which of the five girls would be most beneficial for House Black to marry?"
This question brought a smile to the old patriarch's face. There was nothing that made him happier than seeing Asterion prioritize the family over his own interests. That was how the family would continue to stay strong, with family interests always coming first.
"Parkinson and Greengrass. Both control strategic materials, House Parkinson with alchemical items and House Greengrass with potion ingredients."
Everyone in the room looked at Asterion, awaiting his response. To Sirius, his nephew might be experiencing life before marriage, but seeing how he conducted himself, he knew the boy was a true pure-blood, unlike himself.
Asterion pondered, weighing the pros and cons, but with a touch of selfishness on his part, he finally spoke up: "Daphne Greengrass should be more suitable."
Narcissa wore a displeased expression on her face, although it didn't show, she followed the pure-blood ideology. The Greengrass family, on the other hand, was quite liberal with their marriages, regardless of whether they were half-blood or Muggle-born.
However, as it was Asterion's choice, she remained silent.
"I still think I'm more suitable..." Bellatrix muttered in the background, but everyone ignored her.
----------------------------
Author's Thoughts: I admit that I like Daphne, maybe because I read so much fanfic. I'll explain why the Aurors didn't come to search Black Manor later. The ball will start in the next chapter and after the ball, a time jump of three years and Hogwarts.
I hope you liked the chapter, a little longer than normal, I'll try to bring longer chapters
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Next Chapter: Chapter 33 - Black House Masquerade Ball (2), Chapter 34 - Black House Masquerade Ball (3), Chapter 35 - Three Years (1), Chapter 36 - Three Years (2), Chapter 37 - Hogwarts Express (1), Chapter 38 - Hogwarts Express (2), Chapter 39 - Hogwarts Express (3) Chapter 40 - Hogwarts Express (4) Chapter 41 - Hogwarts Express (5), Chapter 42 - Hogwarts (1), Chapter 43 - Hogwarts (2), Chapter 44 - Hogwarts (3).
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