188So I miss Violet's work rather desperately and wrote a 2K+ piece because I wanted to see Caelum and Rigel arguing and then it just grew and grew until I had no idea what to make of it. This can be considered AU, especially the Rigel POV which I wrote before Violet published her last chapter and which then was left lying on my laptop until the wonderful Rigel Black discussion group reminded me of how much I miss this series. Special thanks to Mana, Aisucold, Plogop and Reg — hope this helps you deal until the next update!
I need to dash off and catch a flight now so I don't have time to edit until I come back in a weeks time. I decided to post this anyways so feel free to point out the mistakes.
Chapter 2: Blood and Family
These gatherings will be the thing I miss least when I turn back into a Potter, Rigel mused as he handed his cloak to the house elf with a nod of thanks, ignored its surprise and joined the queue leading towards the hosts. Sirius was already waiting for her somewhere in the crowds having decided to accompany her father for some Auror business they had to discuss. She found herself making her way on her own, standing unnaturally straight in Archie's black robes. She still couldn't quite get used to the fall of the fabric and as pretty as the subtle silver embroidery on the expensive material was, the long swathes of cloth hampered quick movements. She blanched at the thought of doing potions or duelling with Leo wearing these.
The queue finally edged forward and any thoughts of all the potions time she was wasting being here vanished as the room came into view. The hall the Malfoy's had created on their grounds for the occasion was bedecked in lights and glamour for the annual gala. Of course, decorating it as the Rosiers had done last year would have been too gauche for a family such as the Malfoys so it seemed that this year, they had chosen fire and ice. Large balls of flames seemingly held aloft by air replaced chandeliers high above the milling guests while glittering ice sculptures reflected the light in a thousand directions. Light and airy music seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere until Rigel spotted the Will-o'-the—winds, a cousin of the hinkypunk that lured travellers to their death with alluring music instead of ghost lights. Taming this many to play without any danger to the guests in this large hall must have cost a fortune she mused, but then, these were the Malfoys. Anything accomplished by others had to be done a hundred times more extravagantly for their honour to be satisfied.
She gave a small smile as she reached Narcissa Malfoy at the bottom of the stairs and bowed over the hand proffered.
"Rigel, I thought I saw your father around the hall already." Her eyes crinkled as she looked at her with warmth that had not been readily apparent for the previous guest.
"Mrs— Narcissa, the beauty of the place is only eclipsed by your own. My father arrived earlier with my uncle James so I am alone tonight."
"Not for much longer I assume. I've seen quite a few Slytherins looking for you tonight," a dry voice added and Rigel turned to Lucius Malfoy as she replied:
"I shall be sure to find them immediately then, the weeks away from Hogwarts have seemed to stretch rather interminably."
Mr Malfoy gave a small nod but the wary gaze he wore since she had blackmailed Riddle remained. She tried to look as unassuming as she could and moved out of the way as the old couple behind her accosted Narcissa. Rude as it was to interrupt the greetings of the hosts, Rigel moved along quietly, not wanting to cause a scene. Seeing the sneer headed her way by the portly gentleman behind her, she could only assume he objected to her father's politics. Wanting to get out of the way, she turned her gaze only to see Riddle observing her with a sardonic gaze and she doubted he had missed the sneer. She gave a short bow and moved forward; surely Riddle didn't greet everybody — no matter their political importance — at the entrance. Ever since the Basilisk incident she was trying to keep a low profile and while her first term of Hogwarts this year was gearing up to be as eventful as the last, she could hopefully manage one gala quietly.
"Rigel Black… what a pleasure to have you attending this event."
Rigel stayed silent with a small fixed smile on her face wondering why she had ever promised Pansy she would attend this. She couldn't remember the last time she had a full night's sleep and while the glamour should hide any tell tale signs of exhaustion from her face she didn't feel she had the mental capability of verbally sparring and understanding any opponents tonight — let alone someone as good as Riddle. Thankfully, Riddle didn't seem too interested in making her talk. After a few pointed remarks she should probably analyse in depth once she was home she managed to move past him into the thick of the crowd.
Her eyes swept the room while she weaved between the floating platters of drinks and the clusters of richly dressed high society. On one side of the hall she could see Sirius and James looking serious as they spoke with the Minister of Magic. She wondered if it was the Azkaban breakout that made them accost the minister with such grim faces in such a high profile setting.
Finally, she spotted a head of silver gold hair and made her way towards her friend. He was in conversation with Aldon at the moment while a few other Slytherins seemed to be idly listening. Both had supremely bored expressions on their faces but even from a distance away she could see their set shoulders and guessed they were not exchanging pleasantries. The two had not formed a closer friendship despite spending more time in each other's company. The group of Slytherins seemed to turn towards in synchrony and she saw Draco's frown relaxing as she approached. She was a few meters away when she noticed the other person making his way to the cluster of Slytherins from the opposite side of the room.
Caelum Lestrange looked as elegant as ever as he approached but his eyes were sweeping the room obviously looking for someone. They both paused for a second as their gazes crossed. Rigel kept his face carefully blank as a sneer appeared on his face. It was too late to turn around now but she hadn't thought she would cross him here again. Rigel knew how to deal with Lestrange, but Harry also knew Caelum and her relationship with him might make her slip where she could not afford to do so. Her internship at the potions guild had been an intensely useful experience but with Lestrange and their complicated dealings to manoeuvre now, she wondered if she should just have broken her promise to Pansy.
It had all started around mid way through her potions internship.
Rigel was busy not being bored when she first heard the swearing. She was coming back from the Potion Guilds Library with a pile of books on a range of topics. Master Thomas and the Guildmaster still could not understand how she was imbuing the potions and had resorted to researching in the private library, only open to the best potioneers of the country. She was now spending hours looking at old tomes that were not available in the Potter or Black libraries. Rigel was trudging down the corridor, the one reserved for the newest potioneers to practice their craft, a book on Polyjuice potions already open at the top of the pile, when she had paused at the swearing.
Peering through the open crack of the door she saw Caelum Lestrange staring at an exploded wreckage of a cauldron with clenched fists and white lips. She hadn't seen the other boy much since she had given him the list from Remus, mostly she had given the boy a wide berth while he spent inordinate amounts of time in the library with eyes that were getting steadily darker with every day of lost sleep. She wasn't sure if she wanted to interrupt the charged atmosphere but the decision was taken out of her hand when the door creaked and his eyes locked with hers.
"Lestrange," she said neutrally as he remained silent.
"What? Come to gloat?" He snapped. Two weeks ago Rigel would have left at this point, but she could see the hidden embarrassment on his face at having being caught in such a situation. As much as she disliked Caelum, she had seen he took pride in his talent and honestly, in the last few weeks he had acted more like a potioneer than she had. Still, she questioned her next actions as she took in the two other cauldrons bubbling away as well as the potion ingredients laid haphazardly on one of the desks.
"You can't add the feverfew this late into the aconite precursor potion."
"What?" He didn't seem to react so she pushed the door fully open and settled her books on one of the desks.
"I heard Master Whitaker talking about your project," She lied carefully, not wanting to reveal her slight connection to Lionel Hurst. "He said something about Wolfsbane? I've worked on that potion before, under supervision of course, so I know how dangerous this stage can be."
Lestrange looked at her silently for another long second, eyes unreadable before replying: "Master Whitaker supplies the Aconite precursor, I'm just trying to lengthen the time the potion can be taken at before the transformation."
Rigel's eyes brightened and her mouth fell open as she thought of the implications. The current wolfsbane potion needed to be taken in the six hours before the transformation. She knew the last four werewolf-related violence that had been plastered over the Daily Prophet were due to not having access to the potion at the right time. If Lestrange managed to increase that time by even twenty—four hours it could actually make a noticeable improvement to the wolfsbane potion.
She looked at him with new eyes, and thought all over again how complex a person could be. As much as she hated him for his views on everyone she held dear, this boy who supposedly hated muggleborns and werewolves was improving a potion that would only help the latter. She could call him foolish and blind but Caelum Lestrange was also brilliant enough in potions to be in this internship without the help of a guild-master. She could hate his views while appreciate his talent.
"Of course, and you thought to add the feverfew to delay the coagulation of the silver with the neutralising reagent." She muttered excitedly as she stepped closer.
Lestrange was looking at her with wide eyes, nearly taking a step backward and a small part of her mind acknowledged she's never shown anything other than a blank inscrutable mask to him and Casillas.
"Have you tried adding magical mint to the feverfew? It's usually used in healing potions in very deep wounds but it thins the blood and it might act the same way in this type of potion."
She ignored the part of her brain that was asking her what she thought she was doing.
"Am I supposed to believe you want to help me and not sabotage my potion?" he said doubtfully but there was no spitting disgust in his voice like there had been at the gala.
"I am not, I don't sabotage potions and frankly, you need my help. Even with the Aconite precursor potion supplied to you, you seem to be low on magical reserves."
"Why—"
"Look, I'm not doing anything with Master Thomas at the moment and I have rather large magical reserves so you can keep your pride and exhaust yourself to failure or you can accept my help, as one potioneer to another."
She doesn't think she's ever spoken so much to him but his surprised expression changes to a thoughtful one as he answers her previous remark.
"You'd need to have another reagent to overcome the side—effects of the feverfew in a wolfsbane potion."
She gives a small smile and they both crowded around the second cauldron.
Things didn't outwardly change between them, Rigel didn't seek him out in her breaks or talk to him outside the guild, but in the last few remaining weeks of the internship, they somehow found themselves both in the same potions lab, experimenting and discussing theories. It might seem odd, but she liked his company. Caelum was rude and could be offensive, but he was also passionate about potions and was ready to discuss opposing views. She didn't think she'd ever had someone her age she could talk to about potion ingredients who was as interested in the outcomes.
Then on presentation day, she changed the rules.
Caelum had not succeeded in his ambitious plan for Wolfsbane, and even as she tried to tell him he had done useful research, she could see bitterness seeping onto his features as he mistook her tone for condescending. So she tricked him into going out for lunch and the dynamics changed again.
No one else her age had ever seemed to really understand what potions meant to her.
But Caelum came closest.
It had taken time, but Rigel recognised in him the look she hid herself. The look you could only get when you stubbornly persisted in loving something despite your family's disapproval. Rigel had always considered potions a solitary life and she had always enjoyed that aspect but there was excitement in bouncing back ideas and thoughts with a peer that could keep up with you. They continued to give themselves blatantly obvious excuses to meet up during the Summer and share rapid fire deductions and experiments. Caelum had years over her in experience and he was not shy of mocking her about it even as he drawled what to avoid doing with ingredients she had not dared to touch because of the safety levels needed in handling. She knew her parents would be horrified by some of the books he was bringing to the potions room, potions officially classified as dark. But the thirst to understand the potions which could prove to be potentially useful in a specific situation was too strong to ignore. Besides she could see Caelum handled these recipes with practiced ease.
The Guild had seen no problem in allowing them access to the empty potion rooms on the first floor after the internship was over and that was where they usually met. Knowing he would never accept charity but that he had more limited funds for potions, Rigel made a habit of arriving earlier and stuffing the cupboards with ingredients, pretending the guild had supplied them.
She did not know what category Caelum fell under in her life, but she had no one quite like him. He was painfully blunt but never did he speak to her like he had done when she had been pretending to be her cousin at the charity gala. He had been brought up in the most racist household in Britain and they had loud arguments in between potion making about everything from blood purity to creature rights. He had managed to incite her into raising her voice into a near shout three times within four weeks and he always gave that smirk when she realized she had lost her cool once again. There was something in his directness that chipped away at her carefully placed mask and hidden opinions. Maybe months of living around political beliefs she disagreed with but kept silent about had eroded her patience. Or maybe it was relieving to be honest with someone who she was not in awe of or afraid of hurting their feelings.
The summer was quick to pass, with mornings spent with Caelum, afternoons with Leo and dinner with her parents. With her weekends usually monopolised by Archie she had never felt busier, as she kept the different parts of her lives carefully segmented.
There was no formal goodbye with Caelum. On her last day of holiday he had simply smirked, taunted her about her competency in brewing the animus potion and before she could argue a strong rebuttal had drawled, "I suppose I'll have to fix that by letter. Do you even get letters in that heathen school of yours?"
Relieved, but not wanting to show it, she had smiled placidly in a way she knew irritated him and insulted his hair.
Bringing herself back to reality she firmly placed that placid look on her face as she reached her friends, warmly squeezing Pansy's arm as both Draco and Aldon gazed at her with narrowed eyes.
Theo Nott rarely had fun at society events. He wasn't Blaise whose favourite pastime was watching other people or Millicent who danced all the dances and made fun of the faux pas and set downs he was sure these society events were specifically organised for.
But considering how bored he was most of the holidays, he followed his two friends through the ballroom and prepared to spend away the hours enjoying the simplicity of the music and ease of the companionship — they didn't expect perfect behaviour from him. There was no pressure when he was firmly ensconced between the two of them drinking a spicy pumpkin concoction while Pansy and Draco exchanged what they had been up to in the holidays. Theo raised his eyebrow when Blaise gave a small smirk, which Theo always thought made him look more dangerous than he actually was. Blaise noticed his look and gave a nod towards the approaching Rosier who was closely followed by Rookwood and Selwyn.
Pansy immediately brightened even further in their presence as she squeezed the upperclassmen's hands and asked them if they had any dances saved for her.
Theo was about to point out she had just told Draco how she was tired of all the dancing at society events when Milicent elbowed him and rolled her eyes at his bewildered expression.
"Honestly Theo, do you have any tact?" Milicent whispered in his ear despairingly.
Shrugging he turned back to the conversation and concealed a smile as he realised it was circling around Rigel. Aldon Rosier was using an innocent voice while he needled Draco about the elusive Black.
Draco was a born politician and Theo could already see the formidable opponent he would become as he grew older. But as usual, there was something about Rigel that made Draco act like a five year old protecting his toy broomstick from grabby hands. Theo didn't understand what Rosier's aim was in implying Rigel would be spending next Summer with him, he felt more comfortable not knowing frankly, but he could see it was the perfect hook to get Draco's feathers ruffled.
Theo replaced his empty cup with two glasses of elderflower wine from a passing tray and wordlessly handed one to Blaise as they both quietly enjoyed the unfolding scene. Draco was getting more agitated as Aldon parried his own attacks with a sardonic smile. The two had always been friendly but even Theo had figured out that was more because of their common links through Pansy and Rigel. They spent most of the time in each other's company exchanging pointed pleasantries or secretive remarks which, as most mysteries around Hogwarts, centred around Rigel Black. Theo idly wondered if he should get into the heated debate masquerading as a conversation but knowing he was missing half the unsaid insinuations he figured he would only make things worst.
Perhaps Blaise could manage defusing it, but he was enjoying himself too much. Only Pansy was biting her lips, obviously not sure if she should interrupt.
Millicent seemed to be the most practical of all of them as she exclaimed in loud voice,"How convenient, here's Rigel, he can explain his summer plans himself."
The group turned as one in the direction she had waved at and sure enough, there was the Black heir weaving between guests, scanning the crowds with a slight frown. It had only been two weeks since they had left Hogwarts for the holidays but somehow there was already something different about Rigel. The slight boy hadn't gained any height over the past year but he had grown out of the gangliness that had plagued him for a few months. Theo didn't spend much time musing over the appearance of his Slytherin classmates but there was just something that called for attention in Rigel. Even now as he obliviously made his way to their side, Theo could see multiple pairs of eyes following his progress across the hall.
Rigel finally got to their side and greeted them with a small smile, features placid but eyes showing warmth.
"Rigel, we were just talking about you," Blaise spoke up and Theo winced as Millicent and Pansy both glared at the boy. Theo had learned very early the best way to avoid a drama filled life was not to irritate any female presence around.
Rigel replied calmly, "I hope it was more exciting than the truth at least."
Theo saw Pansy was about to protest or explain when someone else accosted the growing group on the side of the ballroom.
"Lestrange, I see you made it despite the piles of homework I was assured Durmstrang gave out during the holidays," Aldon drawled, his voice losing the amusement it held while he spoke to Draco.
Theo frowned as he saw Aldon angling himself slightly in front of Rigel, while Bole and Pucey turned towards the group and away from the conversation they had been having a few metres away. There seemed to be a slightly awkward pause as everyone registered Aldon's tone before Pansy's good breeding made her take over the conversation and make introductions between Lestrange and the rest of the group.
Theo had briefly met the Durmstrang student at a previous function, had stayed just long enough to realise how dangerous the boy was—could anyone expect different considering his mother—and had escaped the conversation. He had overheard rumours there had been an altercation between Rigel and the other boy but nothing concrete had become known and there was a tendency for gossip to be exaggerated. All Theo had accepted was that the public secret hate between Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black had not skipped a generation.
Pansy trailed off as the charged atmosphere did not disappear.
"We've met Pansy," Rigel finally spoke after a long second, his face was beautifully expressionless but Theo had lived with Rigel for nearly three years now and he could bet the blankness was hiding some quick thinking, "Lestrange."
Well that didn't make anything less awkward but Lestrange didn't seem very bothered by the hostile environment.
"Black," his tone as haughty as his features, "I see you're still insinuating yourself into parties."
Rigel gave the other boy a painfully fake smile and said, "Where else would I get the pleasure of your honest company."
Millicent seemed to have taken pity on Pansy's wincing face and turned to Blaise as she asked in a louder voice than usual, "So what have you been doing away from Hogwarts?"
Blaise gave one of his wolfish grins as he replied, "Nothing as exciting as certain others here I am sure."
Theo scoffed, "Come of it Blaise, you know we're all frozen at home with the ministry curfew, I haven't even been allowed to go to Diagon Alley alone— as if the Tinkler was planning on doing his shopping in broad daylight."
He saw Rigel grimace in sympathy and Theo briefly wondered what Sirius Black had banned his son from doing. Knowing how busy Rigel kept himself at Hogwarts he could imagine his fellow Slytherin would only see the Azkaban breakout as an annoyance in the form of a more vigilant father.
Pansy frowned and said, "Our parents are not over reacting considering we have no idea how he escaped from Azkaban." She shuddered delicately as she added, "I haven't even been allowed to visit the family grounds to see our unicorns without an escort these days. I'll be glad to be back at Hogwarts."
Millicent squeezed Pansy's arm, "While I'm sure it is wise to be careful, the Aurors are hot on his trail, the Tinkler is probably too busy running away to cause any problems."
Theo silently disagreed, considering the Tinkler's past record. The escaped convict had a bloody agenda against purebloods, which had been made obvious when he had tried to bomb Diagon Alley on one of the busiest pre—Hogwarts shopping days years ago. Knowing Milicent was only trying to soothe Pansy, he stayed quiet but others had obviously less tact than a bludgered hippogriff and he frowned again when he heard Lestrange make a contemptuous sound.
"He escaped Azkaban— something no wizard has managed to do before—and has eluded the ministry's finest for over three months. Rumours are he was behind the Crouch assassination a few weeks ago and you think he's half way across the continent?" he drawled.
Pansy gave a small gasp and Theo saw Rookwood frowning as he and Selwyn got closer.
"Coroners have ruled it a suicide I believe," Rosier said.
"You've heard of the machinery found at the crime scene, the Tinkler is known for such dangerous devices," Lestrange replied.
"I find it interesting how high you estimate the capabilities of a muggleborn Lestrange," Blaise idly pointed out.
Lestrange gave a dangerous smile in response and Theo cursed his dormmate's propensity for fanning flames as he had the sudden image of two sharks circling each other.
"The muggleborn intellect was never the issue Zabini. David Gillhorn was known to be a genius at Hogwarts before the purity laws led to his expulsion. The fact that he eluded our magical forces shows a degree of intelligence… or perhaps it is just evidence of a lack of skill in the Auror department."
That comment seemed to have been directed towards Rigel specifically and Theo was puzzled for a second before remembering James Potter was head of the Auror department and a close friend of the Blacks.
Rigel, who had been pointedly ignoring the conversation, merely gave an exaggerated blink before addressing Pansy: "We'll be at Hogwarts soon enough and I doubt there is a safer place in Britain."
Theo could see he wasn't the only one that had noticed Lestrange's deliberate attempts to get a reaction out of Rigel and the latter's lack of response seemed to only make him more determined.
"Tell me, has Hogwarts reversed its ridiculous anti—dark arts laws? Or do you always just cower behind your school's reputation? Planning to hide behind Dumbledore's robes at the first sign of danger Black?"
Rigel finally turned to look at Lestrange and his face was slightly amused as he answered, "Yes I would probably allow the headmaster to deal with the threat dear cousin, defence is not my forte."
Rigel's poor attempts to neutralise the conversation might have worked if he had been alone but Theo had a feeling this conversation would only deteriorate as Draco who had managed to restrain himself until now bit out coolly, "Don't sell yourself short Rigel, how many third years are apprenticed to potions master Severus Snape?"
"Besides, this years DADA professor seems to know what he's doing," Rosier added helpfully with that creepy grin of his.
"Oh yes, Rigel Black the potion star. How must it feel to be second class in your own family?" Lestrange said.
"What do you mean Lestrange?" Bole asked puzzled, "If there's anything Black is second class in, it surely wouldn't be Potions."
Theo saw Rigel barely conceal a grimace, the Black heir had obviously been trying to avoid this conversation which, of course, would make Slytherins like Blaise and Rosier only more curious.
"Haven't you heard of Harry Potter's imbuing technique? I believe an article in the Daily Prophet even called her a 'rising star' over the results of her internship at the Potion's Guild last Summer," Lestrange continued.
Rigel was too polite to roll his eyes but he seemed to be suppressing a sigh as he saw the interested looks of his fellow Slytherins, "Yes we're all very proud of Harry's achievements, I'll be sure to tell her you're following her potions career so closely Lestrange. Perhaps we can invite your whole family for lunch and discuss how you spent your internship."
The warning was unmistakeable but Lestrange was obviously no novice in this type of play as he smirked smugly, obviously happy to have gotten Rigel to react.
"You think I can't acknowledge ability when I see it? Tell me does it rankle to be outstripped in talent by a halfblood?"
"Not at all, Harry and I enjoy discussing potions together. She told me about your internship project for instance, I was impressed by the conclusions you came up with, are you planning further work in that direction?"
"Perhaps, I would explain but I doubt your prepubescent brain would be able to keep up, no matter what you claim to be doing with Snape."
Rigel did actually roll his eyes as he replied, "You know very well age has nothing to do with potions talent. Otherwise the improvements to the series of dragonhide potions would never have been made."
"Wulfric was twenty one when he published those papers."
"But records show the first of the potions was invented in his early teens. I'm sure you're not waiting to be an established potions master before beginning to innovate."
"Who said anything about being a potions master? Do you make similar assumptions when you are making potions?"
Theo was watching the unfolding sniping with wide eyes and he wasn't the only one. Rigel and Lestrange seemed to have forgotten they had an audience as they continued a rapid dialogue. He'd never seen Rigel be so blunt in a public setting, never seen this side of his closed off dorm mate. He seemed to be nearly teasing in his answers to Lestrange's rather rude comments — although none of the rumoured animosity seemed to be apparent between the two as they tested their wits on what sounded like obscure potion theories. It didn't last much longer though as Rigel seemed to remember the setting and half turned towards them with a sheepish smile, "Sorry, curfew has interfered with my potion making time and it seems to result in potion tunnel vision at the most inappropriate of times."
While Theo would count the last few minutes of conversation genuine, he couldn't help but notice how it had neatly changed the ensuing conversation away from his cousin. Or it would have, if people like Blaise Zabini didn't exist in this world.
"Do you not spend time discussing potions with your cousin? It must be fortunate to grow up with someone that shares your passions so closely."
The look Rigel gave Blaise made it obvious he knew exactly what he was doing but Rigel didn't have time to answer as Lestrange interrupted, "I guess Potter can't afford to spend time explaining potions to someone who doesn't even show up to potion presentations at the guild."
"Really Lestrange, you must explain your obsession in my cousin's potions," Rigel said.
"Cousin? I didn't know you were related to the Potters so closely," Rookwood interjected.
Pansy said, "They're not related Edmund, the Blacks and Potters are just close enough that Rigel and Ms Potter grew up together as cousins."
Lestrange seemed to not have heard Rookwood's comment as he said, "Obsession is a strong word, it's only smart to keep track of the brightest of potion makers."
Rigel couldn't hide his surprise as he repeated, "The brightest of potion makers? Is that an actual compliment? I'll be sure to pass it along, Harry will appreciate the high praise."
The problem with Rigel's usual opponents, Theo mused, was that they completely missed which buttons to hit. Lestrange's attempts to irritate Rigel by negatively comparing him to his cousin were failing and he wasn't surprised. Whatever skills Ms Potter held in potions, he doubted it could compare to Rigel's and the latter was obviously immune to such jealousy. It seemed to speak more about Lestrange's character than anything else. Theo wondered why Lestrange was making such as a concentrated effort to get at Rigel, it seemed to go further than simple dislike and he would bet there was jealousy of some sort there, but he couldn't figure out how or why.
Meanwhile, Lestrange was obviously changing tact as he smirked once again, "Don't bother, surely we'll see Potter at events soon enough when her parents start matchmaking."
Rigel eyes widened before he smoothed his features once again, "Are you sure you want to imply such a thing Lestrange? What would your parents think if you were even seen speaking to a halfblood?"
"My parents would marry me to said halfblood just to spite Black and Potter. Besides, Harry is the Potter heir, whatever her blood status she won't last long on the marriage bartering stage."
Theo could tell without even looking that Blaise was having way too much fun seeing Rigel unsettled and he himself could say Lestrange has done a good job of surprising Rigel. He couldn't say he didn't have a point either. With the new marriage laws in effect, the ministry was forcing halfbloods back into the pureblood fold. Even he could see how eligible the Potter heiress would be, regardless of the light affiliation or her blood, even if only for her close connection to the Blacks.
Rigel was slightly flushed and his eyes flashed as she stared down Lestrange. "Do you really think Harry would ever consider someone who holds your views on werewolves or the purity of her blood? You should know she would need to respect her partner Lestrange, and as ludicrous as this conversation is becoming, I can assure you she would not approve any marriage at this stage."
"I'm sure no one is saying Miss Potter will…" Pansy tried to halfheartedly said while the others continued to watch the ongoing conversation silently. Rosier did seem to be about to interject, either to inflame or to soothe — he could never tell with him — when Lestrange interrupted Pansy, his own face slightly flushed, "I don't think the law says anything about approval, I believe that falls on the first pure blood to honour her by asking," he drawled.
Theo has to admire his ability to continue pushing these insinuations, whether true or false, faced with Rigel's obvious reaction. Although the sensible response to the sudden and real anger he could see on Rigel's face was to back down, Lestrange has obviously not realised the danger he was in and frankly Theo didn't think he could say anything to improve this.
He wasn't the only that tensed when Rigel gave a short bark of laughter that held no humour.
"You think you can trap Harry with a marriage contract? Believe me that is the least of her problems at the moment and surely you know her well enough by now to know she won't allow such an obstacle to interfere with her potions career. I pity the boy who tries."
Theo could see Lestrange was visibly surprised at the quiet conviction in those words. His face betrayed the fact that he hadn't actually meant to go this far, but there could be no backing down from the implications he had made.
Theo had met a friendly and unassuming girl in Diagon Alley last year. She had been interesting by virtue of being Rigel's childhood companion but he could not have imagined she could be the cause of such a conversation, in full public — a verbal tug of war between the Black and Lestrange heirs. With a burst of clarity he realised that feeling of jealousy he had felt from Lestrange was over Harry Potter, as odd as it seemed. He wondered what the other unnaturally silent Slytherins around him thought about the development; probably picking up many more subtle cues about the encounter. A brief glance to his left showed Blaise no longer seemed to be amusing himself with the fireworks but was watching the scene with sharp narrowed eyes.
The silence persevered with Lestrange the image of nonchalance, although both his hands were hidden from view and Theo could imagine them being curled in tight fists. Rigel on the other hand was making no pretence of indifference. Even dwarfed by Lestrange's larger frame, he was staring straight at him, no amusement apparent on his features.
"Is that a challenge?" Lestrange finally said, voice unconcerned.
Rigel's features set as he took in the situation and he seemed to come to a decision.
"No. Or you would already have lost."
Pansy gave a small gasp, and Theo frowned in confusion before Rigel took a deep breath and elaborated, "Harry Potter is already engaged. To me. Which makes any further threats in that direction useless Lestrange."
There was a moment of shocked silence as the words reached them. He saw even Selwyn, who had been holding herself back from the group behind Rookwood, had raised an eyebrow.
"What. She wouldn't-" Lestrange stopped himself from giving anything else away while Rosier let out a delighted laugh.
"Felicitations Black. Miss Potter must be very lucky to have such a solicitous fiance," Rosier drawled, and Rigel shot him a quelling look at what had just been made obvious.
He doubted any of the Slytherins would have missed that this was an engagement of convenience anyways, most likely to prevent situations like the one that had just occurred from happening. It also pointed to the obvious flaw in the new legislation and Theo wondered what the politicians would make of this engagement. Two high profile families like the Potters and Blacks, he would wager most would know by the end of the evening, something Rigel seemed to have mentally braced himself for as he answered Milicent's and Pansy's congratulations while shooting the silent Malfoy scion worried looks. Theo had known Draco Malfoy since they were both five years old but he still couldn't interpret his expression in that moment.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier Pansy," Rigel said, "the papers were just officially signed last week and my father wanted to keep things quiet until it was certain."
Or until nothing could be done to stop it, Theo completed in his head as he idly wondered if the SOW party would still try to do something obvious to stop the match at this point. He knows more than one family would be disappointed in in losing the chance of adding parseltongue to their bloodline. Theo wondered if the Potters and Blacks would have taken that into account when writing up the contract to protect Harry Potter. He wouldn't rule out the potential of one of the more… bloodthirsty families trying to remove the competition. Rigel Black had already attracted the attention of the powerful and his inborn gifts and position as sole Black heir had put him at the top of some matchmaking lists. He knows even his parents were considering Rigel for his little sister—something he tried not to think about. Theo had a firm policy of ignoring the marriage shenanigans until it was unavoidable but he doubted the news would make many people happy. Including Lestrange, if the angry blush on his cheeks meant anything.
"So is Miss Potter still going to attend more of these events Rigel? I must confess I am curious to meet your cousin," Blaise said with one of his indecipherable smiles.
Rigel seemed to be regretting ever opening his mouth and he was saved from answering when a loud explosion was heard and the floor of the hall itself seemed to tremble.
Aldon Rosier was surprised when he realised he was actually looking forward to the Malfoy gala. He could partly attribute that to leaving the manor— which had been made increasingly difficult with his parent's paranoia over the Azakaban breakout— but he had to admit seeing Rigel had also been an incentive. The young Black heir was usually an instant indicator something interesting was likely to happen in the immediate future.
He amused himself with teasing Malfoy while he waited, idly ignoring Edmund's exasperated presence while Rigel's classmate got increasingly stiffer and irritated. He had come to escape sheer boredom and Malfoy obliged beautifully by being the possessive only child who had never learned to share his toys.
He frowned however when Rigel Black arrived and he noticed signs of fatigue carefully glamoured away. Aldon was surprised by the surge of protectiveness he felt – something he only usually experienced for Pansy— as the younger boy greeted them. He carefully smoothed his expression as Caelum Lestrange joined their group but could not help stepping forward, angling his body in front of Rigel. He mostly knew Lestrange by reputation and that was enough to know the boy was dangerous and he hoped Rigel would heed the warning Aldon had given him at the last gala to not antagonise the other boy who was known for his spell work, not his patience.
To Aldon's surprise Black and Lestrange acted rather differently than last time. While Lestrange did his best to get a reaction out of the other boy, Rigel was deftly manipulating him into subjects Lestrange was interested in while letting his insults flow off like water. But as the two exchanged potion theories trying to make their point Aldon realised why this conversation was so unsettling. He, like all the Slytherins and most of Hogwarts knew Rigel was dedicated to potions, but since Rigel never spoke about potions to them, accurately deducing they didn't hold the same interest, Aldon had never seen him so passionate or animated when talking about his studies.
His realisation was cut short when Lestrange took it too far and he saw Rigel turn expressionless in anger. He raised an eyebrow when Edmund held his arm, silently warning him not interfere. It seemed he didn't have to stop Rigel from using magic on Lestrange again though as the verbally eviscerated him, probably not even understanding what he had done. Aldon doesn't know how the Lestrange and Potter heirs got close but the clear but obviously clueless jealousy he can see in Lestrange's eyes actually remind him of Malfoy when he's observing Rigel interact with anyone he considers a threat to his claim.
He wonders if anyone else in the group sees it, Blaise certainly does considering his question, but before he can comment on it, the ground trembles and all thoughts of the Potter heiress are erased as he tries to understand what is happening.
It takes a few moments before the screaming and shouts begin and Aldon has his wand out by the time the second explosion sends tremors through the hall, closer this time. There's a loud bang, a wand this time and a voice comes out impossibly loud.
"Please remain calm, Aurors are on site and investigating as I speak. Wizards and witches with combat experience please remain vigilant as we call for reinforcement."
The buzz of concerned voices doesn't quieten and Aldon frowns when he fails to see any of the key players in the hall. Riddle, Malfoy, Potter… they should have been immediately apparent in such a crisis and Edmund meets his eyes, both coming to the same conclusion. Aldon rolled his eyes when he notices Rigel trying to slip away, face pale, and grabs the younger boy's arm.
"What are you doing Rigel? You'll only get lost in the crush."
"My father—"
"Will thank me for not letting you act like a reckless Gryffindor. This is the safest place to be at the moment." He doesn't remove his grip until Rigel gives a curt nod and allows Pansy to take his arm.
Giving Pucey and Bole a look, they silently place themselves around the younger Slytherins, wands all out.
"Well I can say the Malfoy gala has never been so exciting," he drawls, trying to inject a bit of levity in the situation. This is ruined as a third explosion rocks the hall and someone starts screaming outside.
The third explosion also leads to panicked guests streaming out of the hall and out into the garden.
"Idiots," Lestrange sneered. The boy hadn't moved from his position, serious eyes betraying the idle twirling of his wand in his hands.
Aldon silently agreed. From his vantage point he could see flashes of light and shouts, the perpetrator of such an audacious move was likely battling it out with the best of the Aurors.
Knowing the enemy was identified and engaged was comforting and Aldon felt himself relax as he gave Pansy a reassuring smile, "I don't think this will last much longer, you have to be a certain type of idiot to try and assassinate the most powerful of the wizarding elite in one go."
Pansy gave a small smile back, one hand still clenched around Rigel's arm, "I'm sure you're right Aldon, I hope no one is seriously hurt, this reminds me too much of our second -"
Pansy trailed off, frowning as the doors of the great domed hall slammed shut. Aldon didn't like where this was leading, but there was little he could do. He might have tried to figure out what was happening if he didn't have Pansy and the other third years with him but his hands were tied for the moment. Two thirds of the hall had emptied, many of the guests had streamed out into the garden, perhaps to help with the ongoing fight outside. Or more likely, to try and run away, Aldon thought sardonically. He didn't have time to wonder much longer as a large crack resounded and a group of people appeared in the centre of the hall.
"Impossible, the wards…" Draco breathed out.
Aldon ignored him as he took in the arrivals and the eerie music that was emitting from them. Ten humanoid looking figures stood silently in a semi circle. Even enshrouded in black with smooth white masks in lieu of faces, Aldon could see they were unnaturally still, more mannequin—like than human with limbs at awkward angles. The man in the middle however was not quiet as he emitted high—pitched laughter. He seemed painfully thin, in his late forties with tufts of grey hair growing haphazardly on his head. He was dressed in a muggle pinstriped suit of an eye jarring purple. Despite the quality and cut of the material, his traits were haggard and he looked unwell.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you I am not part of the tonight's entertainment," the man said in a high—pitched tone before cackling madly again while the music continued to play a tinkling melody in the background.
Aldon had suspected, but the madness in his eyes made it obvious who exactly had dared to crash the Malfoy gala.
"Merlin, that's the Tinkler," he heard Nott breathe as Bulstrode whimpered.
Aldon cursed under his breath as he tried to figure out how to get them out of harm's way. He also wondered why no one vaguely adult—looking was doing anything and he blinked repeatedly as he felt a haze of tiredness threatening to overtake him.
"I would present myself but I'm afraid I don't have time to socialise with scum. Now as you may have noticed, my little distraction outside has anyone that could rescue you occupied," the Tinkler continued in an airy voice, making the whole situation even more surreal.
"Any bright ideas Edmund?" Aldon breathed out, but his friend only shook his head a fraction, before murmuring, "Something's not right… the music…"
Aldon didn't have time to wonder as he saw the unusually silent guests slowly collapse onto the floor one by one. Meanwhile, the Tinkler had removed a silver pocket watch from his waistcoat and began clapping his hands excitedly,
"Right, now you may be experiencing some wooziness, not to worry, I don't have time to poison the deserving, I'm just here to collect a few packages. Can anyone be so kind as to point me towards any Malfoy, Lestrange or Parkinson spawn —I've been reliably informed they are present."
He feels Rigel tense on his left before moving to stand in front of Draco, and of course this would be payback for their parents' sins, Aldon sighed inwardly. Half the hall was already slumped on the floor, sleeping if the Tinkler was to be believed. That honestly seemed to be the easiest options to Aldon, let the adult—like wizards and witches deal with this mess. But he unfortunately didn't much feel like letting Pansy get kidnapped. He was saved from trying to come up with a ridiculous plan by a whispered curse from Lestrange that shot a dark flash of light towards the closest mannequin.
No, not the mannequin Aldon realises as the eerie music comes to an abrupt halt. The mannequin had been holding a small device in its hand; a palm sized red and gold box which had fallen on the floor, the curse covering it in a goo—like black substance.
"Good thinking," Edmund said as the Tinkler paused in his dramatics and stared straight at Lestrange.
"Now look what you did," he tutted as if talking to an errant child, "I was trying to do this the easy way after all." The Tinkler paused as his eyes moved over their group and Aldon tensed even further as he saw recognition in those brown orbs.
"Well, well, all three of you in one swoop— what luck. Come up, come up, unless you want the pretty blood all on the floor. I am trying to kidnap you in unharmed pieces but my little puppets are not the most distinguishing of sort," the Tinkler said dramatically, as if speaking to a large audience, even though most of the guests are asleep, or at least giving a very good impression of it.
"This is the part where the responsible adult tells you not to do anything foolish," Zabini drawled quietly, drawing a choked laugh from Pansy.
Aldon knows he's one of the best duellers in his year but he still hesitates to throw the first curse and lose any element of surprise.
"Lestrange, you don't have any potions ingredients with you by any chance?" Rigel's soft voice asked.
"Seriously? You're thinking of potions now?" Theo hissed.
"I just wanted to—" Rigel is cut off by Lestrange who, obviously tired of waiting, throws another curse straight at the mannequin's chest. Despite the awkward limbs, it dodges fluidly away and retaliates. Somehow, despite all that's happened, Aldon's eyebrows rise in shock when he hears Rigel curse for the first time in their acquaintance as he raises a quick shield in front of them.
"Naughty, naughty," the Tinkler cackled, "I guess I can afford a slight delay and a little blood, the wards will hold and anytime soon they'll discover the hall's rigged to explode if they tinker with it anymore."
Aldon bit his lip in frustration, he had hoped the increasing magical presence behind the doors meant imminent rescue.
"Third years, try not to get in the way. Aldon, Alice, use blunt force curses as the elements are unlikely to work on these abominations," Edmund said in a low steady voice.
"Aldon, I'm not—" Pansy's worried voice was cut off by Rigel, and Aldon saw him hand her something from the corner of his eyes.
"Pansy, take this and stay close to Millicent, you can activate it by tapping on it with your wand. I only have one but it should create an impenetrable barrier. Use it when the puppets get too close. You two are the weakest in defence magic."
Aldon gave him a wordless thank as he met Rigel's eyes, knowing Pansy had an out and this would allow him to focus on bringing down as many mannequins as possible.
"Rigel you can't just—," Pansy was cut off again as the Tinkler gave a mock thoughtful hum for his invisible audience before he turned towards his puppets, "Do try not to kill the targets, dead hostages are rather useless after all."
The mannequins seemed to take that as an order to move and they began moving smoothly forward. To no one's surprise, Lestrange was the first to move into a clear aggressive duelling stance and launch himself at the mannequin who's hand he had already destroyed.
Aldon spent a split second to regret the fact that Hogwarts didn't teach more aggressive duelling spells before he ducked to avoid an incoming spell and began throwing his own.
He has practised duelling with countless tutors since he had first received his wand but he should have predicted the real life situation with a mad Azkaban escapee, a dozen puppets and a handful of younger students would be fraught with complications.
The main problem seemed to be that the puppets wouldn't stay down. They seemed to be some flesh in there as he saw the spray of blood from Alice's cutting spell. Unfortunately, the inhuman aspect came into play and the mannequin barely seemed to pause before it levered the wand it held and issued a standard issue auror binding spell which Edmund managed to block.
They parried spells back and forth, both sides limited — the mannequins by their order not to kill and the older students by their need to stay defensive and cover for the younger Slytherins.
"This isn't going to work," Lestrange snarled ducking under another curse, "we can't try and wait for back up, you heard what he said."
Aldon didn't have the time to answer but a few seconds later Edmund managed to take out a puppet out with black flames that consumed it until there was nothing left to get back up.
There was brief pause on both sides in which the Tinkler had time to laugh from his vantage point, which was the chest of a rather portly snoozing wizard. Aldon briefly wondered where Edmund had learnt such a spell before two spells, probably aimed at his friend, caught him in the shoulder and flung him back into the body behind him, both of them careening into the wall.
"Aldon," he heard Pansy scream from somewhere in the field and he blinked dazedly as he wondered why he couldn't seem to get up. He blinked again as he saw a pale face appear in front of him and it took him a second to realise it was Rigel's, frown firmly in place and wand raised as he spoke up: "Draco, Pansy cover me!"
Rigel had removed his robes and stuffed them under his head as a makeshift pillow as started muttering under his breath, worried look never fading. "…I can't heal this… this is too complex, maybe Archie…" he heard as the boy cut away at the green trimmed robes Aldon had put on this morning which had gone from pristine to covered with a red sticky substance. He could see Edmund giving him desperate looks trying to assess his injuries but the two puppets he had engaged would not let up.
"If I knew it would only take a puppet—induced injury to have you rip my clothes off," he jested weakly as he felt himself slip in out of focus, his whole left side throbbing with pain as he kept his eyes firmly off himself and focused on Rigel's face.
"Well if you haven't lost your sense of humour it can't be too grave," Rigel whispered to him and he moved his wand in complex patterns as white bandages appeared, wrapping his shoulder and arm tightly to his body.
"I've disinfected and numbed the wound but there's something dark in there, you need a proper healer…. this needs to end fast," Rigel said grimly, absently wiping sweat of his face and leaving a streak of blood on his cheek. "I can feel Riddle and my father's magic both working on the wards, but we need to disable the explosives before they succeed," Rigel continued.
"Don't do anything stupidly heroic," Aldon warned darkly and Rigel gave him a small smile in return.
"Pansy, now would be a good time to use that button," he called out and Aldon saw her rush forward.
"What do I do?" she asked in a serious voice Aldon had never heard from her before she added, "my core's running low."
"That's fine, the barrier buttons don't need any magic to sustain them. Now hold his head and be ready to disable the barrier when Milicent gets too tired to continue," Rigel ordered her before turning back to Aldon, "Can you create a patronus? We can't have them tripping the explosives with all the hostages here."
Aldon stared at him a second before managing to speak: "I can't— but I know Alice has managed it." Rigel nodded once before getting up.
It was a slightly surreal experience to watch the jets of light crisscross above him as he stood defenceless on the polished marble flood of the Malfoy hall. He watched quietly as Rigel carefully made his way to Alice who was furiously fighting against a mannequin while Bole covered her from stray spells. Meanwhile Pansy had placed his head on her knees and tapped the innocuous little button Rigel had given her. There was no visible change except that the blood soaked pieces of his robe Rigel had cut off were pushed out a metre away as the force field was created.
Even in his dazed state, Aldon noticed the slight tremor in Pansy's hands. "Hey, nothing's going to happen to you," he tried to comfort her, managing to squeeze the hand that was nervously combing through his hair.
She stilled and looked at him, gaze serious, "I know." He felt his eyebrows rise at the quiet certainty in those two words.
She saw his confusion and elaborated, "Rigel was too busy protecting me to be of much help. He's also usually too busy protecting his secrets, but I don't think he has any reservations now." It took a moment for Aldon to parse her meaning and he then turned his eyes back to the hall, ignoring the dulled pain in his shoulder as he saw Rigel make his way towards Lestrange. Three of the mannequins had been torn apart by the bloodthirsty Slytherins but the rest seem to have grown more violent in return.
"Stop holding back Caelum, there's no one here that will report you for dark magic," Rigel said calmly as she blocked a stray spell from hitting Lestrange in the back.
The older boy startled but didn't turn around as he kept his eye on the mannequins. He had lost his robes at some point and was dressed in a simple sleeveless shirt and a pair of black pants.
"What are you talking about Black?" He scoffed as the other boy approached while still defending himself from the mannequin spells, dressed in grey long sleeved shirt and pair of formal pants.
"I'm saying you were right, we need to be on the offensive and end this fast unless you want to be blown to bits. Can you cast the snake spell you told Harry about, I need plausible deniability."
Aldon could feel his eyebrows rising once again as saw the two cousins interact, just how many times could he be caught of guard? He stored the fact that Lestrange and the Potter heir were friends for later as he pushed himself forward on his elbows and with Pansy's help, got a better view of the room. Edmund and Alice were working in tandem to destroy a mannequin. They had gotten rid of two with Edmund's black fire spell but they obviously needed time to isolate and work the spell on the single puppet.
Pucey and Bole were also working together, managing to defend the group with strategic defensive spells but couldn't seem to attack the mannequins at the same time. The black robed human puppets moved in obvious synchronisation, making defensive actions all the harder. There was obviously a wizard in there somewhere for them to be able to use magic but the limbs didn't seem to move in a human like manner.
The closest Slytherins were Malfoy, Zabini, Blaise and Milicent who seemed to be using their third year repertoire effectively judging from the missing limbs and gushing wounds on two of the closest mannequin. Aldon resolved not to tell them the mannequins were more wizard than they looked with masks and movement, in case that shook their resolve.
His attention was captured by Rigel again, who was now surrounded by a dozen huge snakes, courtesy of the Lestrange heir. Aldon couldn't help the shiver as Rigel began speaking in parselmouth, the snakes slithering away to do his bidding as they attached themselves to mannequin legs and striking venom into the limbs. Aldon revised his theory that the mannequins were imperiused humans when the venomous snakes had no effect. Still, the snakes seemed to be as stubborn as their master as they clung onto arms and legs, slowing the puppets' movements. A few other snakes had started moving sleeping bodies away from the centre of the hall and out of harm's way.
"Foul, that's cheating," the Tinkler shouted as he got up.
That was when Rigel and Lestrange appeared to stop holding back and attacked in synchrony. Aldon understood why Pansy had said Rigel could be more effective as he watched them completely abandon their defensive position and launch themselves straight into the fray.
He heard Pansy's sharp intake as she saw the two, surrounded by the last four mannequins, ducking and weaving in between the curses.
"Duck," Rigel shouted to Lestrange as he conjured a knife and threw it straight into the face of an oncoming puppet with scary precision.
Aldon narrowed his eyes as he continued to observe Rigel fighting back to back with Lestrange. He realised why the duelling style had made him so uneasy… Rigel was free duelling — something that had not been taught in polite society for decades. Rigel moved with grace Aldon had never seen him use at school as he interspersed spells with kicks and punches.
The other third years were slowing down as they ran low on magic but somehow; Rigel's magic seemed to be growing more powerful as the two boys continued duelling. It was rather beautiful to watch, Aldon thought dazedly through the blood loss, as the two black haired boys took down three more mannequins using spells that were decidedly not light.
The remaining mannequins were faltering, attention divided as they were attacked from both sides and Aldon watched with vicious satisfaction as they fell down one after the other, even Draco dispatching one with a well placed curse that cut the body clean in two. Lestrange was just finishing up the final one with a bone—shattering curse that Aldon watched with gruesome fascination when the Tinkler realised his predicament and changed the rules of the game.
Before Aldon could even shout a warning, he had disappeared, only to apparate directly behind Draco Malfoy who had been breathing heavily and leaning against the wall. He saw the other students realise what had happened a split second after the Tinkler had conjured a knife and held it up to Draco's throat, with the other hand also held in Draco's direction.
"Whoopsie, I would apologise for ruining your heroic actions but frankly you've all been rather inconvenient hostages. Now throw away your wands before my hand slips," he said.
There was a pause and Aldon saw the older Slytherins debate whether to give away their only form of attack. Seeing the hesitation the Tinkler deliberately dug in the knife and a thin red line appeared as Draco clenched his fists tightly.
"I should say I have verrry poor impulse control," he added before giving another cackle.
"You can't harm Malfoy, you've already announced your plans to kidnap him," Lestrange drawled.
"Well I could do with fewer unmanageable hostages," the Tinkler replied, "Do you really want to debate what I will and won't do — I am said to be mad after all."
Pansy's hand was still in his hair, gripping tightly and Aldon could feel how tense she was. Slowly the other Slytherins complied and Lestrange sneered before dropping his. It seemed even he wouldn't risk the life of the Malfoy heir by not complying.
"Now, Parkinson, get up and –"
"What's your play David?" Rigel spoke up.
Aldon gripped Pansy's hand tightly, hoping she wouldn't get any stupid self—sacrificing ideas as Rigel slowly approached the Tinkler, step by step.
"Stay where you are little Black, he's already told me you can be tricky," the Tinkler said.
He saw puzzlement on Rigel's face before he dismissed it and stopped, two metres away from the Tinkler and Draco. Aldon could feel the wards weakening and he hoped the adults had gotten the Patronus and were taking into account the explosives as Rigel tried to buy them more time.
"I have no wand, I'm just a third year boy with a muggleborn aunt and a half—blood cousin I love dearly so I ask again, what's your plan? I've read the treatise on wizarding society you wrote before vanishing and you made valid points— so why are you setting back muggleborn rights a hundred years with this kidnapping scheme?"
Aldon saw the Tinkler's eyes widen in surprise and he wasn't the only one. Aldon would have quite a lot to add to his mental file on Rigel if they came out of this debacle alive.
"You agree with my treatise?" He seemed tickled at the thought, "Then you know this society is rotten to the core. I've just changed the methods I will take to fix it!"
Aldon saw Edmund and Alice slowly move towards each other on the side, obviously scheming, but thankfully the Tinkler was too engrossed with the anomaly that was Black.
"By kidnapping three underaged kids? Do you think their families will stop anti—muggleborn legislation if you harm their children? I can assure you all they will do is hunt you down to the ends of the earth. So let Draco Malfoy go. You seem to have bypassed the wards so Apparate away now, before the Aurors come down on you—"
"No" the Tinkler screamed, "I have spent years in Azkaban, driven to despair because their parents were powerful politicians who could get away with locking up those who dared to disagree with the status quo — I will not stop now."
"So this is just about revenge? This whole farce has nothing to do with muggleborn rights?" Rigel had raised his voice in return as he took another step forward.
"Shut up!" the Tinkler shouted, "You won't get in my mind, he warned me you would try and do that, but I will not take lessons from a boy with the darkest and most evil of curses and you will find me more powerful than a half—mad basilisk. I will not be stopped, now Parkinson, get over here unless you want me to get your darling friend's blood all over his pretty robes."
Aldon tensed as he whispered, "Don't you dare," but Pansy was not listening as she slowly removed his head from her knees and rose up, tapping the barrier off, tears silently streaming.
"Pansy stay where you are," Rigel barked out and she started in surprise. The third year Slytherin took another step as he stared straight at the Tinkler and said with a dark smile, "You know what else I defeated apart from that snake? Your silver—tongued friend. Did Voldemort tell you anything as he twisted your mind to do his mad bidding? He loathes muggleborns, his whole reason of existence is to get rid of blood like yours in polite society—"
"Silence, I said, silence!" the Tinkler roared, and Aldon could clearly see the madness in his eyes, he wondered if Rigel's plan was to actually get him as angry possible.
"Deep down you know I'm right, he suggested this plan didn't he, and you know you're not likely to live long after you hand him the heirs. And why would you survive? He considers you to be worse than filth."
The Tinkler seemed to have reached his limit, as he lifted the wand from Draco's neck and slashed it towards Rigel. Rigel didn't even duck as he gave a smile and waved his hand, obviously waiting exactly for this, as a shield of red rose in front of him, absorbing the spell, while his magic simultaneously slammed the Tinkler backwards into the wall and immobilised him there, as if held on an invisible cross.
"You shouldn't have hurt my friends," Rigel said to the man as he began issuing curses and threats. Rigel then kneeled to where Draco had fallen on his knees and asked, "Are you okay?"
Aldon finally let go of his breath as the other Slytherins quickly collected their wands, prioritising security over analysing Rigel anomalies.
"You inbred pureblood scum, I'll get—" the Tinkler turned abruptly silent as Rigel looked at him and Aldon realised he had wandlessly silenced the man.
Standing up, Rigel approached the Tinkler, "Caelum, you've studied enough Occlumency, can you find out how to deactivate the explosives from his mind?"
Lestrange just gave her and indecipherable stare and a wordless nod as he approached and roughly grasped the Tinkler's face so their eyes could meet.
"Legilimens," he murmured. Aldon could feel the seconds drag as they stood in absolute silence until Lestrange spoke up, "It's the pocket watch, you need to move the silver hand to twelve for it to deactivate."
Rigel pointed the wand to the Tinkler and before anyone could say anything intoned, "Stupefy," and as the Tinkler slumped unconscious, he released the magic holding him up.
Alice carefully took out the silver pocket watch from the inner pocket of the Tinkler's robes and moved the hand. There was anticlimatic moment in which Aldon wondered if it had even worked before the three main doors leading from the hall into the garden burst open and wizards and witches came streaming in — and then paused at the scene within.
Aldon raised his head weakly and tried to see it from their perspective. There was a sea of bodies slumped on the ground, with the middle of the hall clear except for a few charred remains— was that a mannequin arm? A few languid snakes were slithering over bodies while framed at the back, were twelve teenagers in various positions of recline and one unconscious terrorist slumped against the floor.
Then the scene unfroze and the aurors began spreading around the hall while a few people made straight for them. Sirius Black was at their head and he ran forward until he was grasping his son tightly.
Behind him came others and he spied both Malfoys fussing over their son while Pansy was also clasped tightly in her fathers arms. He smirked when he spied Alice and Edmund exchanging affections in a way that was decidedly not for a public setting. He observed the lack of decorum all the pureblood families were showing, the naked worry on the parents faces not hidden behind layers of manners and politeness and ignored the fact that his parents were not among them.
"Archie, Merlin, where are you hurt?" he heard Black moan.
"I'm fine dad, honest, this isn't my blood, it's Aldon who needs medical attention," Rigel replied as he hurried to his side.
"I thought I told you not to do anything heroic?" he murmured as the other boy checked on his wound.
Rigel stared at him for a moment before smiling, a curve of lips filled with relief as he absently brushed Aldon's hair out his eyes, "No, I guess the most Gryffindor of us all was you tonight."
Aldon could not help the burst of laughter and immediately winced at the pain. Then there was a serious faced medic asking him to describe where he was hurt and Aldon held on tightly to Rigel's hand as the boy tried to explain what had happened. Now that the adrenaline had passed, he felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness so he focused on Rigel's face as he explained. He was getting better at understanding when Rigel was playing a role, he saw the sincere looking expression that was utterly fake pass over his friend's face as words continued to smoothly paint the narrative to a blurry audience.
"… lucky… he was quite mad… the older students … protected us…"
Aldon couldn't help the smile as Rigel spun the story round and round again.
Finally the medic murmured something about anaesthesia and he sighed in relief as he felt himself falling slowly into unconsciousness. At that moment, he saw Rigel's face lose the masks for a second as he gave a grave nod to someone in the distance. With the last of his energy he raised his head and saw Tom Riddle, leader of the SOW party's face turn grave, a question obviously answered.
Rigel Black's secrets it seemed, only got more complicated with time, Aldon mused, already half unconscious. He knew Edmund would update with the official story once he was awake and at least he had quite a lot to analyse once he was stuck at St Mungo's. With that Aldon let himself drift off from the most fruitful Malfoy gala he had ever attended.
If anyone has any advice on how to improve action scenes, please do tell. Also, for the more avid readers, please understand that while I base this on Violet's world, I'm not completely faithful to it (the perks of not having to follow through and continue the plot) so you might feel this Rigel is superpowered and you would be right — this is kind of crack as it's not a scenario likely to happen.