Entering the Black Mansion, Asterion walked into the living room. Next to the fireplace, he found Arcturus, the Head of the Black House, seated in an armchair while reading his newspaper. Unlike his usual elegant attire, he was dressed in comfortable, loose clothing, something Asterion never thought he would see Arcturus wear.
Looking around, the entire living room seemed the same as when he left, with one exception. The animated portrait of his grandmother, Walburga, was above the fireplace.
"Welcome back, Asterion." Without lifting his head to look at his great-grandson, Arcturus continued reading with a calm and indifferent expression. A cigar, releasing a thin stream of smoke, rested between his lips.
It seemed the old patriarch had returned to his old smoking habits.
"My lovely grandson!" The animated portrait, of course, noticed his arrival, facing the door as it did.
"It's good to see you still so lively, grandmother." Handing his coat to Kreacher, who stood nearby, Asterion loosened his tie and spoke as he sat on the sofa.
"How was Hogwarts?" Walburga asked, her voice full of happiness at speaking with her grandson again. She seemed like a normal, concerned grandmother if not for her extreme racism, rivaling or surpassing that of Hitler.
"It was…" Asterion pondered for a moment and concluded with a single word, "enlightening."
Shifting his focus from the newspaper, Arcturus's gaze fell upon his great-grandson. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. Holding the cigar between his fingers, he flicked the ash into the ashtray and spoke, "I see you've matured, not as arrogant as before."
Asterion did not respond and instead redirected the question back to him.
"Any movement within the Pureblood Faction?"
It was almost certain that after escaping, Voldemort would regroup with his old fanatical followers. This was inevitable, but it also meant a civil war was about to erupt within the Noble Faction.
Arcturus narrowed his eyes, looking at his great-grandson and wondering how Asterion had learned this without him sending a letter.
"Voldemort is back, at least a part of him." Sensing his doubts, Asterion didn't hide it and said it directly.
Arcturus's eyes grew cold upon hearing his words. Now he understood why people were restless. The monster that had terrorized England thirteen years ago had returned from the dead!
Everything made sense now. Before, he was puzzled by the agitation, after all, his great-grandson was the only Special Grade Wizard in the Pureblood Faction, the only one who could stand against the most powerful wizard in the world and his successor, Rose Potter, another Special Grade Witch.
Unlike the Light Faction, there was no possibility of two lions occupying the same mountain in the Pureblood Faction. Especially since Voldemort had killed Regulus, his son and Asterion's father.
"What do you plan to do?" Arcturus straightened in his chair and asked, his relaxed aura completely vanishing, replaced by the aura of a man nearing a century in age.
"Kill." Asterion uttered a single word, his red eyes glowing with a black pentagram. "A massacre. Treason must be met with the highest penalty, DEATH."
Arcturus was satisfied with the response. Hesitation meant weakness, and weakness translated to death!
Suddenly, Arcturus noticed the black pentagram in his great-grandson's red eyes. "What happened to your eyes?"
"Power." He continued. "Power enough to make Dumbledore hesitate to attack me."
Arcturus and Walburga in the portrait couldn't help but widen their eyes. Asterion's words implied that he could fight and even defeat Albus Dumbledore, the Strongest Wizard in the World.
"What did you do?" Unlike Walburga, who couldn't be happier and prouder, Arcturus frowned deeply. If there was one thing he knew about the world, it was that there was always a price for power.
"What was necessary." Asterion didn't explain and had no intention of doing so.
His words made Arcturus even more concerned. He got up from his chair and walked over to his great-grandson.
Standing in front of him, he gripped the boy's shoulders and looked deeply into his red eyes.
"Asterion, this isn't a game. You've gained a power you shouldn't have. There is always a price for power." Arcturus spoke, his voice tinged with worry and anxiety.
Of course, Asterion knew that the surgery he underwent would leave lasting effects on his body, mind, and soul. It was the price for gaining such immense power in such a short time, but in his view, the benefits far outweighed the disadvantages.
"I'm fully aware, Lord Black." Removing Arcturus's hands from his shoulders, Asterion spoke, his face remaining indifferent. Though Arcturus's concern warmed him, he understood that, above all, actions had consequences.
Arcturus himself had taught him this when they first met.
Seeing this, Arcturus only let out a weary sigh and sat down next to his great-grandson.
"You're as stubborn as a bull, just like your father," he said, his voice helpless.
Walburga couldn't help but worry, but she said nothing. She could see that her grandson was quite independent when it came to himself.
"Where is Bella?" Feeling the atmosphere a bit heavy, Asterion changed the subject.
"Humph!" At the mention of his great-niece, Arcturus snorted coldly. "The girl disappeared a week ago and hasn't returned. She's probably with Voldemort at this moment."
Asterion nodded, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. He didn't think Bellatrix had betrayed them. The woman might be insane, but she was loyal to the family above all else, unlike his uncle, Sirius.
Asterion remembered something and called out loudly, "Kreacher!"
Instantly, a house-elf in old, worn clothes appeared before Asterion.
"I hear your call, Lord Asterion," he said, bowing humbly. His raspy, aged voice was somewhat uncomfortable to listen to.
"Did Bellatrix leave anything with you before she left?" Asterion asked.
"Yes, Lord Asterion. Lady Bellatrix left a box with Kreacher and ordered Kreacher to give it only if you asked," the house-elf said, gripping his own ears tightly, almost as if he wanted to tear them off.
"Bring it to me." Asterion ordered under the surprised eyes of Arcturus.
"Yes, my master." Kreacher disappeared the next moment.
A few moments later, Kreacher returned, holding a wooden box in his hands.
Taking the box, Asterion opened it and saw a jeweled golden cup.
The Cup of Helga Hufflepuff!
"With this, there are four," Asterion murmured, closing the box.
He already possessed the Locket of Salazar Slytherin, the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw, the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff, and the Ring of Marvolo Gaunt.
Three were missing: the snake Nagini, the Diary, and Rose Potter herself.
Though he didn't consider the latter a concern, he doubted that Rose would fail to notice a fragment of soul in her own body.
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Next Chapter: 86 - Civil War (2), 87 - Civil War (3), 88 - Civil War (4), 89 - Civil War (5), Chapter 90 - Civil War (6), Chapter 91 - Battlefield (1), Chapter 92 - Battlefield (2), Chapter 93 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (1), Chapter 94 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (2), Chapter 95 - The War Intensifies (1), Chapter 96 - The War Intensifies (2), Chapter 97 - The Death of Voldemort (1), Chapter 98 - The Death of Voldemort (2) And end of the first volume.
Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 99 – Decision (1), Chapter 100 – Decision (2), Chapter 101 – Decision (3), Chapter 102 - The Black Sisters (1), Chapter 103 - The Black Sisters (2), Chapter 104 - Rose's Past (1), Chapter 105 - Arrival of Country Representatives (1).