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Arcturus Black loved stargazing in the winter. Ravenswood Manor was built with stargazing in mind. Above the third floor where the family rooms are there is a room similar to a sunroom. It was the observatory and, with many warming charms woven into the glass walls, it is Arcturus’s favorite place to be in the winter evenings.
His father, Sirius Black II, was obsessed with the stars. Arcturus could remember the long nights that he spent with his father, just staring at the sky. By the time Arcturus was eight, he could draw star maps without any help and could tell you all of the eighty-eight constellations in the sky. For him, it is something that reminds him of his family. All the born Blacks were given names related to the night, inspired by the saying that their ancestors were in the sky.
Arcturus never knew when the names in the family became more focused on the ancestors than the stars. Many generations ago, the names were chosen from the stars, the constellations, the planets. Nowadays, his family chose to recycle the same names. There were far too many Cygnus’s and Sirius’s for Arcturus’s likening. A name is an identity, meant to allow one to grow undaunted, not in the shadow of someone with the same name. That was Arcturus’s mindset when he and Melania chose their children’s names. Orion, the smart and strong hunter from Greek Mythology who was called the light of heaven, for his heir. Naming Lucretia was different as she was named for an asteroid but, more importantly, the astronomer who holds the record for most comet discoveries by a female. Caroline Lucretia Hershel, sister to William Hershel, was a brilliant witch who wrote many of the books that Arcturus grew up reading. Arcturus had high hopes for both of his children. It was a shame that he never had any other children. He had wanted to name one more child Callisto or Arcas. He is happy with what he has.
Well, he supposed he was happy. He finds that the halls of this manor have grown far too quiet for him, even during his retirement. Arcturus can still hear the echoes of his son and daughter playing in the halls or studying in the library. Lucretia would often drag her younger brother into games that resulted in something getting broken. Their father couldn’t bear to tell them to stop, however. Arcturus learned to put the more priceless artifacts in the attic.
Orion was always the quieter child. He would rather be in the library reading or sketching on the lawn. Drawings over the years made their way across Arcturus’s desk. Arcturus still has all of them, showcasing the change in skill that Orion’s practice gave. Maybe he should pull them out again. It never failed to make the house feel less empty. His wife always smiled, which also helped.
Orion had grown quieter when he went to school. It seemed that all the warmth had slipped out of him, as though he had forgotten to take his Slytherin mask off around his family. After Lucretia married Ignatius Prewett, the change seemed permanent and Arcturus started to mourn the son he knew. Yet, when Orion came to him asking to marry his cousin, Arcturus granted it. He hoped that maybe whatever sparked this decision would bring back the soft smile of his little Rio.
Arcturus had thought he was wrong when, for years, he never saw a change from the marriage. Although they were married when Orion was eighteen, nothing would happen for another thirteen years. Orion proved him wrong in 1960, when he told his father of his new fortune.
A child. A child had brought that smile back to his son. An heir, yes, but a child of his blood, a child to care for. Orion would smile again when he brought this child to his grandfather and Arcturus could see why. This son made him feel the same pride, the same love he felt when his children were born. He loved little Sirius the second he laid eyes on him and when he looked at his son, he knew that Orion felt the same. Orion looked like his son had hung the moon and the stars. The same thing happened when Orion showed up the next year, tired but happy. No matter how tired Orion was, Regulus still had his father wrapped around his fingers.
When Sirius and Regulus were children, they spent many days in the manor and Arcturus’s heart felt full of the same warmth from decades past. Little Sirius was as loud as Lucretia and made Arcturus gladly move the priceless artifacts to the attic again. Regulus, on the other hand, was every bit his father’s son. When not being dragged around by his brother, Regulus would be in the library reading stories from his ancestor’s transcribed journals. Arcturus would often join him to help him with the words he would struggle with.
Sirius had managed to surprise Arcturus, however, when he snuck into the old studio of Orion to steal some paper and pencils. Arcturus pretended not to notice until he gifted his grandson some art supplies. He smiles as he remembers his grandson’s gaping face as he coerced some pictures out of the child in the future. He would receive those pieces from a shy Sirius and they would go next to Orion’s where they still remained.
Despite his shyness then, Arcturus was not surprised when his friends informed him of Sirius’s sorting into Gryffindor. It reminded him of his dear Great Aunt Elladora. Aunt Elladora was sorted into Gryffindor and loved to tell her nephew tales about the red common room and the reckless bravery of her housemates. Armed with his memory, Arcturus wrote to his grandson to voice his support as both a grandfather and as the head of house.
He never received a response so he decided to give Sirius space. Still, Arcturus wished to see his family again, as they have not visited the manor since Sirius started school. Alas, they have always reported being too busy. Orion was dealing with the tense political atmosphere caused by the whispers of war. Sirius and Regulus have schoolwork and training to lead the family in the ways as future lord and heir presumptive. That left Walburga and, frankly, he never cared for his daughter-in-law that much.
“Archie?” The voice of his wife shakes him from his thoughts.
“Lani? I’m up here,” Arcturus calls down the spiral staircase.
The light of his life, Melania, climbs the stairs and crosses the room to him. She must have been settling for bed. She is wrapped in a silk robe that had almost knocked him over when she first wore it. Her hair is still pinned up with a mess of curls, which she gave their children, crowning her head. Arcturus feels a soft warmth in his chest at the sight of her and he extends his hand for her. She smiles and accepts the hand, settling next to him on the sofa.
"What's got you up so late, dearest? It's past midnight."
A glance toward the clock proves her right. Arcturus sighs, "Just stargazing, Lani. It's a clear night tonight."
Melania sits up straighter. "Oh, it's February! All three of them are in the sky, aren't they?"
Arcturus smiles at his wife. She remembers. "Orion isn't the clearest and Regulus is just getting visible but Sirius is the most seen it can be all year."
She rests her head against his shoulder. He turns his head to kiss her forehead, smelling her elderberry lotion that she had worn as long as he’d known her. Theirs was an arranged marriage between friends. They may not have been in love but she was quite a spitfire Ravenclaw and he was happy to be her friend. Their parents saw an opportunity and took it. They were married two years after they graduated, a respectable amount of time for a courtship. She may have started out as his good friend but soon she came to be his confidant, then his wife, and -somewhere along the way- his love. He doesn't know when exactly but he realized one moment, after meeting with a especially infuriating business partner, that he was so hopelessly in love with her. It may have been her strength against a man that thought her lesser, it may have been her faith in him to protect her name, but he realized something then that she has not let him forget fifty years and two children later.
"You want to see them again," Melania says, interrupting his thoughts, again. "Orion and his sons," she clarifies when he turns back to her.
He doesn't do much but hum and run his thumb across the back of the hand still in his grasp.
"Why not just ask? Or you could demand it? You are still the head of house, for all that Orion is the Lord now."
Arcturus shakes his head. "They said they've grown too busy to make the trek out here. I won't add to their burdens."
"You are no burden to them." Ah, for all that he loves his closest confidant, she knows everything including his insecurities. Seeing that he's not budging, she sighs. "Why not a ball? Or a reunion for this branch of the family. I'm sure Lucretia would love to come. She loves her nephews."
"But their work-"
"No." Melania actually interrupts him, the only woman on Earth to do so. "If they truly are that buried in work that they won't spare a night, then it's not healthy anyways. They need to get away from work and the best place to do that is a night break. One night can't make that much of a difference."
Arcturus stares and processes her logic. She's not wrong. If they're that busy, they could use a break. He chuckles and shakes his head slightly, "Alright. I'll get to planning. What da-"
A pop rings in the room. An anxious house elf appears in front of them. "Master! Yous has a urgent guest in the Floo Room! He bes insisting to talk to you!"
Arcturus is standing, glad to still be wearing his day clothes. He wore a typical suit under a large cloak, all in the colors of his house, black and gold. He starts toward the door, asking, "Who is it at this hour?"
"It bes Master Sirius. And he bes looking bad, sir!"
Arcturus walks quicker, his wife right behind him. He calls back to the elf to bring medical supplies to the Floo Room. He, for a moment, hates that the Floo Room is on the Second Floor. He doesn’t slow, though, and gets to the Floor Room in a few minutes. The sight makes him freeze in the doorway.
The elf wasn’t lying. Sirius looks rough. His robes and hair are disheveled and he seems to be shaking. If Arcturus looks closely enough, he might be seeing some blood. The sight scared the former lord and he was almost afraid to call his grandson. Melania seems to not have the same problem, however. She calls for Sirius as she rushes to his side.
Sirius seems to be shaken out of whatever shock he was going through. He looks past his grandmother to Arcturus. He forces himself to stand straighter, still unable to stop shaking. Arcturus takes a step forward and opens his mouth to tell him to stop forcing himself but Sirius interrupts him.
“I seek sanctuary!”
That sentence freezes both Arcturus and Melania. What could possibly have pushed Sirius to ask for sanctuary.
Melania speaks first, “Sirius, what’s going on? Why are you hurt? Wha-”
“You are heard.” Arcturus must follow procedure. He can do that. “For what cause do you seek the sanctuary of the Black Family?” Melania looks upset at the cold questioning but she stays quiet behind Sirius.
“I seek sanctuary from my mother. She has used the cruciatus curse on me twice this evening.” Melania gasps and Arcturus cannot say he feels the same. What has Walburge been doing in that home?
“Granted.” Arcturus steps toward his grandson and lets his voice soften from his lord voice. “Are you hurt besides that?”
Sirius looks honestly surprised at the question and it makes Arcturus’s heartstrings pull. “She used the ripping curse on my back,” he admits, looking at the ground as if ashamed.
The elf with the medical supplies steps forward with the vials and bandages. Arcturus takes a fortifying breath and starts managing the situation. “Melania, take him to his room here and tend to his wounds. Nekkar, assist her.” They nod and Melania carefully puts an arm toward his shoulder, avoiding his back, and guides him out of the room. A thought has Arcturus stopping them, however. “Sirius, is your brother still there?”
Sirius stands ramrod straight in seconds. He sounds horrified as he whispers, “I forgot about him…”
Arcturus is sweeping toward the fireplace before Sirius can get another word out. He needs to get to Grimmauld Place. “Number Twelve Grimmauld Place!” Arcturus darts through the green flames and finds himself in the sitting room of the London Townhouse. He can hear footsteps upstairs and he rushes toward them.
Arcturus traces them to the Tapestry Room, the door already wide open. He walks briskly through the doorway and his eyes widen.
“Expelliarmus!”
The spell catches Walburga by surprise and the dark curse she was aiming toward his youngest grandson is stopped before it’s casted as her ebony wood wand flies to Arcturus. The room falls into silence. Regulus is on the floor against the wall as if trying to escape his mother. Walburga stands in the middle of the room and has a furious look on her face. Orion stands near Arcturus, looking like he wants to interfere but seemingly conflicted about confronting his wife.
Arcturus couldn’t be less conflicted, though. “What do you think you are doing?”
Surprisingly, she doesn’t back down. She sets her shoulders and crosses her arms. “I’m disciplining my son. The other one cowered to some place and this one helped him, I know it.”
Arcturus must look dangerous as he takes a step forward because Walburga’s confidence wavers and she steps backward. “And you’re in the Tapestry Room, why? I doubt Sirius is hiding behind it.” A rush of anger rushes through him at the thought of his hurt grandson.
Walburga is still as stubborn as usual. How that girl got into Slytherin, he will never know. “That wretched child abandoned his family and ran like a coward. He is no longer my son. He’s no longer a part of this family.”
Arcturus remembers the night his Uncle Arcturus burned Cousin Cedrella off the tree for marrying Septimus Weasley. He remembers how furious that his father was for his uncle taking family affairs into his own hands. Arcturus uses the same words his father used that night. “If you choose to disown your child, that is your decision! Disownment from the Black Family is a decision of the head of the Black Family, not any one of its wards! You have no right touching that tapestry for anything more than studying your ancestry!”
Walburga looks almost scared and taken off guard. She reorients herself quickly, however, and she opens her mouth to defend herself, or maybe her beliefs. Arcturus doesn’t let her.
He sends a nonverbal silencing spell at her. She opens her mouth but nothing comes out. “No. You’ve spoken, now you listen. Sirius came to Ravenswood tonight, shaking and bleeding from the curses he said you gave him. Judging from what I walked into and the things you said, I’m inclined to believe him. He sought sanctuary and it was granted but I’m investigating the affairs of my family now. Regulus will be sent with his brother for his safety.” He turns to Regulus. “Go to your room and pack your things. Have the elf help and pack Sirius’s as well.”
Regulus nods and rises on shaky legs before walking out quickly. Walburga looks like she’s going to physically attack someone so, when she starts forward, she finds herself bound in ropes from Arcturus’s wand.
Arcturus rounds on his own child. “How could you let this continue on?! Was there nothing you could do to protect your child from the Cruciatus Curse tonight! From being hurt before! No one starts with the Cruciatus, Orion!”
Orion looks thoroughly guilty before saying, “I love her, father.”
Arcturus looks down and takes another fortifying breath, smelling old parchment and elderberry. This will take a lot of work to fix and all Arcturus wants to do is go back home to his wi-
His eyes widened. He calls for the elf and demands some Veritaserum. Every sixth year potions student worth their salt would recognize this. Once the elf returns, he tugs the bound woman closer and forces her mouth open. He drops three drops into her mouth and lets her go. A fuzzy look went across her face and he unsilences her.
“Why did you hurt my grandsons tonight?”
“They’re brats who irritate me to no end. They should obey me as their mother.”
“Why did you use the Cruciatus, tonight?”
“That wretched child didn’t want to join him.”
“Him?” That made Arcturus curious.
“The Dark Lord. He’ll rid our world of the taint those mudbloods and blood traitors bring.”
Arcturus realizes that he’s only got a couple more moments.
“Why did my son marry you?”
Orion looks scandalized, “Fathe-”
“I’ve been giving him potions since he was eleven.” Orion looks heartbroken, staring at her.
“How? Initially and how did it continue once he was home?”
“It wasn’t hard to spell it into his cup at the feasts. They were long-lasting potions that wouldn’t fade for months without a purge. After I graduated, I had Druella Rosier continue in exchange for a marriage contract with Cygnus. Father agreed.”
“Pollux agreed with this?”
“He encouraged it. He supplied me with the potions and would handle the poisonings at feasts with the family.”
Arcturus feels the sting of his cousin's betrayal but continues to ask questions. “Which potions and when?”
“It started with emotion dulling and subservience potions. It increased to loyalty and admiration potions in Orion’s third year. When he turned fifteen, we started him on minor love potions to increase until he graduated.”
“When did the amortentia start?” Walburga looks startled, even underneath the truth potion.
“In Orion’s seventh year. We needed him willing to fall head over heels for me.”
“And with the emotion dulling potions, no one would see the behavior changes tied to the potions.”
“Correct. It was Father’s idea. Subtle enough to look like he fell in love so that he could be wrapped around my finger.”
“Why? Why create this elaborate plan to marry your cousin?”
“To be Lady Black. To give the lordship to the true oldest of the generation, not the first male. It belongs to me.” Arcturus can see the potion wearing off. “I’m older than even Lucretia and yet Orion, who is four years younger than us, is the Lord. It belongs to me!”
Arcturus just stares coldly before silencing her again. He turns to his frozen son and tells him to pack his things. Orion numbly walks out the door. The elf looks conflicted, still standing there. “Go help your master pack. All of the valuables of the Black Family need to be moved to Ravenswood, including this Tapestry.”
The elf pops away and Arcturus turns back to Walburga, who has adopted a mulish look. “You have betrayed your family. You have betrayed your sons. You have poisoned the Lord of the family and conspired with your father to circumvent the line of succession. This cannot go unpunished.” Walburga’s eyes widened.
“Lady Walburga Black, daughter of Pollux Black. You are stripped of your title.” She’s silently begging him, but he doesn’t stop. “Walburga Black, daughter of Pollux Black, you are stripped of your name.” He thinks he can see tears in her eyes. “Walburga, daughter of Pollux Black, you are stripped of your family and by extension the Black Family magics.” She falls to the ground clutching her chest. “You will remain here until the Lord of the family passes judgment on your crime. You will not send or receive owls nor visitors. You will stay here under watch of the house elf who you no longer can command. So mote it be.” He turns on his heel as he smells the magic of the family burning her name from the tapestries in all of the houses.
He heads toward the Floo Room and finds Regulus and Orion there, trunks at their feet. The elf seems to still be working on the family valuables around the house as he’s not present but Sirius’s trunk is among the ones at their feet so Arcturus couldn’t care less. He gives a bittersweet smile and gestures to the fireplace. “We’re heading to Ravenswood Manor.”
Regulus seems nervous to ask and keeps glancing at the doorway. “Is Mother coming?”
“Walburga is to remain here until her punishment is dealt with. Likely, however, you will never see her again.” Regulus looks almost tempted to say goodbye so Arcturus adds, “You will not see here tonight, especially. It is time for safety away from this house.”
Regulus looks down and nods. Orion still looks distant, warring with the potions in his system that tell him to stay and love her. Luckily, she has kept him on emotion-dulling potions or Arcturus might have had to carry his son out of the house. They all turn to the floo unsure who to go through first. Arcturus nudges Orion, unsure about letting him stay here any longer. Orion takes the hint and throws some powder and goes through. Regulus looks up at his grandfather and Arcturus gives him a soft smile before nudging him toward the floo. Regulus follows his father. Arcturus looks around, grieving the thought of his children growing up in this painful house. He rights his robe and walks into the floo.
On the other side, Orion and Regulus look unsure. Arcturus calls for some elves. “Muphrid. Merga.” They appear in a pop. “Merga, go to Grimmauld Place and retrieve the trunks in the floo room. Put them in the family rooms. Muphrid, get potions together for a purge and send them to the family rooms.” They nod and pop away.
Regulus is still staring at him so he nods at him and gestures for them to follow him. They travel to the fourth floor bedrooms, where all of Arcturus’s side of the family stays when they visit. They can hear Sirius before they get to his, next to his father’s which is across from Arcturus’s own. “I left him. I need to go back there! He’s still there and he’s with her and she’s furious and I left him!”
They turn to see Sirius trying to get up but struggling under his wounds and his grandmother. Regulus makes no time making their presence known. “Sirius?”
Sirius freezes before staring at all of them. He looks like he’s cried at least once but the shaking has slowed and he seems to have bandaged his back. Regulus doesn’t seem to have noticed his brother’s wounds and rushes to the bed. “Siri!”
Sirius gracefully takes the leap of a fourteen year old boy onto what must have been his liver. He doesn’t let go, though, holding tightly to his brother. “Reggie? You’re here?”
Regulus seems intent on burrowing into his brother’s ribs and comes out muffled when he says, “Grandfather came and got Father and me.”
As if noticing the others, Sirius turns to see them still in the doorway. He seems to be looking for his mother so Arcturus shakes his head in his direction. Obviously putting the question on hold, he asks a different one, “Are we all staying here?”
Arcturus nods. “You and your brother need to get out of that house and your father needs some healing of his own.” He feels his son flinch next to him. “Everything else can wait until the morning. Regulus, do you wish to stay here for the night?”
He sees his grandson poke his head up and nod hesitantly. Arcturus nods and asks, “You are not hurt, correct?” He feels relieved to receive another nod. “Alright then.”
He turns around and guides his son out the door, his wife following close behind. “Orion, there are potions in your room. Take them. If I find you have not, I will be your bedside nurse until the purge is over and we both know my bedside manner is dreadful.”
Orion grimaces at the thought and nods. He walks to his room and closes the door quietly. Arcturus and Melania enter their room across from him.
Upon closing the door, the strength he’s used to hold himself up tonight flees and he almost collapses into his wife’s arms when she hugs him. “That witch has made a mess of this family, Lani.”
She runs her fingers through his hair. “She has done nothing unfixable.”
“I would beg to differ. Relationships will never be the same and those boys are going to carry this for the rest of their lives.”
She shushes him “Relationships change and we will help them carry it. They are not in this alone, remember?”
Arcturus nods and allows her to guide him over to their bed.
Arcturus was born with a name that has been passed down. Names that have become less about the story of the star and more about the ancestor before them. Arcturus II disowned his daughter because of her marriage to the man he loved. Arcturus II was a cruel man who cared more about appearances than family. Arcturus swore never to be that way.
Arcturus is the brightest star in the Boötes constellation, the herdsman. It is greatly associated with the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor constellations due to its name meaning “the guard” or “the guardian of bears.” The Ursas were included in the same constellation family and, in mythology, where Callisto and her son Arcas. Arcturus looks to where the pictures his son and grandson have drawn sit. Even if they are not named Arcas or Callisto, they are still his to guard. And he will protect them until his dying breath.