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Snapping out of my thoughts I nodded to Kreacher, "I have a task for you Kreacher, one that you have to be very careful about, I need you to remove the painting of Phineas Nigellus Black from where it is currently, cover it and place silencing charms on it, before taking it to the Black vault in Gringotts, if Phineas currently resided in that painting, you are to hit it with a stunning charm to knock him out before proceeding, do not let him see you or escape his portrait if he is here."
Kreacher nodded his head to me and then disappeared with a pop to go and carry out his given task as I sighed a breath of relief, that would be one problem sorted.
I did not need Dumbledore having eyes and ears here, not until I got my measure of the man in person when I went to Hogwarts in a months' time.
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I gave it five minutes before I started toward the stairs once more and ascended to the third floor, wanting to make sure that Kreacher had removed the painting before I risked anything, I couldn't avoid to take any chances.
But as I rounded the corner from the stairs onto the third floor I sighed a breath of relief, there were three corridors to go down here one to the left, the other to the right and the third was straight forward and the shortest of the three.
it was rather obvious to me that the right and left-hand corridors had expansion charms on them as they were by far longer than the total width of the house, and there was a clear spot down the left-hand corridor next to a set of double doors that was a lot lighter than the rest of the wallpaper where it was fairly obvious that a painting had hung till recently.
No sooner though had I had my moment of relief than the sound of my Grandmother's voice filled my ears.
"Magnus? Care to explain why Kreacher has just removed the portrait of one of your ancestors?" She asked.
My eyes turned to the sound of the voice, the portrait hung just a few meters away from where the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black had once hung between the two doorways and was watching me with calculating eyes, I had no doubt that she was wary of me, but I also knew that I had little to fear from her as she was only a portrait and all she could do was screech at me, but given how I was playing things carefully I knew I needed to placate her.
"Oh course grandmother, I was just airing on the side of caution," I said as I gestured to the book in my hand, "It's my understanding that Phineas Nigellus Black was once a headmaster at Hogwarts and like you and grandfather he has two paintings one here in the manor and another at Hogwarts." I explained.
Walburga's eyes narrowed, "What are you suggesting?" she asked me, I could practically see the wheels in her head turning as the listened to me.
"I am suggesting that Phineas might not be completely loyal to house Black, and I didn't want him to see me and then jump back to Hogwarts to inform Dumbledore about me," I said plainly.
Walburga kept her eyes on me and nodded, "I see it is likely a wise choice, his portrait has rarely came by to visit in the past number of years so I don't think he'll notice straight away, but what I want to know is why are you against Dumbledore knowing you are here?"
I smiled, "For the same reason I don't want others to know, they would all see to use me to better themselves, the second that it was discovered that I'm the Heir black and I'm underage, they are going to try to use me and restrict me, have someone placed as my guardian, that is the last thing I want, I don't need someone to tell me what I can and cannot do,"
Walburga watched me closely and nodded, "I can tell that you are not telling me something, but I will not push the matter, you are the black heir now and like it or not there is little I can do about it, but everything you have said up till now sounds just as though it should for a Black, we are never tools to be used, however, you may run into a problem when you begin Hogwarts once there your heritage, position and the fact you have no guardian will come out."
I took a breath and nodded, "there are things I am not telling you, I have suspicions that have no basis as of yet, and until they do I will keep them to myself, and you have my word that I will not do anything to endanger the House of Black," I said firmly, disliking the fact that I had to admit something like this but I had little choice in the matter given she already suspected me, "as for that fact I am already aware of such and I will be searching for a way to get out of such, I have some idea's but nothing that I am willing to state will work for sure."
Walburga nodded in acceptance, "I am unsure how you will go about it but should you need any advice your grandfather is quite versed in both the old and pureblood laws. I am sure he might be of aid to you, his portrait is in his office, the single door to your right, you will also have to engage the wards, Orion will walk you through how to do so."
I nodded, "thank you grandmother" I said before moving to the door and opening it stepping into the large office space, it had two tall windows, both with dark green curtains with a number of holes in them, and one wall was a book shelf with a large oak desk in front of it.
With a coating of dust over it, there was a deep green carpet on the floor and the two other walls had a number of Portraits on them, all of them seemed to be frozen in sleep aside from that of my grandfather who was the middle portrait on the wall opposite the desk.
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