What If Series: The Black Prince

by Miss Mysteria

Chapter Thirteen

13th of February, 1991
Black Manor, Drawing Room

It had been three years since Lorcan had last been to Black Manor.

A few weeks after his eighth birthday ball at Ravenswood, Arcturus's health had begun to decline. He hadn't told anyone at first, proving the steadfast and sneakiness of a Black Lord and he'd actually managed to keep it secret for four months, hiding it even from his Grandmother (once he had reached age nine, Lorcan had felt that he was too old to still be calling Melania 'Mimi').

Lorcan remembered the day he found out about his Grandfather's illness vividly, as up to that point he hadn't really experienced death. Sure, his biological parents had died but he had only been a baby and hadn't known them. It had been in the summer of 1990, his dad and Moony had met him by his bedroom door one morning and that in itself had been odd as they usually waited downstairs in the dining room for breakfast. They had walked with him down, not into the dining room, but into the living room next to it. Moony had sat on his left and his dad had knelt down in front of him. And then they had told him.

Arcturus had Dragon Pox.

Apparently the man had contracted the disease while working during the stressful time when Lorcan had been adopted into the family, but due to potions and the low level of visible sickness, nobody had been told or aware of his struggles. In the winter of 1988 had Melania found him downing potions in his office and that only had happened because she hadn't knocked as she usually did. Although furious, the woman had been heartbroken; even though the two of them had married due to a contract put together between their fathers, they had eventually learnt to love one another as husband and wife and as best friends.

Melania, keeping an apparent vow to her husband, had not told any of the family. Sirius, Remus and Lorcan were kept away from Black Manor in the years to come with the excuse of renovations on the bedrooms bar the Master where Lord and Lady Black slept and most other rooms. The excuse hadn't worked in all honesty, however the demanding tone not so often used by Melania had made them realise that they weren't wanted over there and that there was a good reason.

Arcturus went to St. Mungos, under an alias with his face hidden, for treatment but the so called 'cure' hadn't taken. His body had been getting weaker and weaker but before every Wizengamot session he would take a Strengthening Potion against both Melania's and the Healer's advice so as to not give away his illness.

Melania had finally told Sirius and Remus in January of 1990 when Healers had told her in private and away from Arcturus that he was not likely to last much longer. Furious as he had been at the knowledge of his Grandfather's wellbeing being kept from him purposefully, Sirius had understood why when he had seen Arcturus in his bed, Strengthening Potions out of reach and his wand too far away for him to summon them.

They had all four of them decided to keep it from Lorcan for as long as possible.

That had not lasted when Lorcan had seen Sirius and Remus walking out of the Floo and he knew that there was only one place they would go together.

He, being the eight year-old, had not spoken to them for three weeks after the revelation that they had gone to Black Manor without him. Of course, he knew better after he was told about Arcturus's rapidly declining health.

They had told him in August of '90, it was now February of '91 and Lorcan was finally in Black Manor.

Only not for the reason he wanted.

In the middle of breakfast, the official House Black owl had come in for Sirius and when they had seen the black envelope they had known what was to happen today.

So, two hours after receiving the letter requesting that 'Heir Black, Consort Lupin and Heir Potter' come to Black Manor, Lorcan was sat on a dark blue chaise lounge chair in the drawing room wearing all black clothing and was wiping his face furiously to get rid of the tears that had rested there. Moony was next to him, a solemn expression plastered across his face with an arm around him, rubbing comforting circles on his back.

Melania was somewhere else in the Manor, having said her goodbyes earlier before anyone else had shown up. Then there were the rest of the Black Family who had deigned to show; it was custom that all members of a House pay respects in person to their passing Lord but as their family was somewhat known for their calling other members 'Blood Traitors' there were less people there than there should have been.

Sat on the other furnitures that had been conjured in the room were the Longbottom's (Neville, Augusta and Callidora), one Prewett (Lucretia), one Weasley (Cedrella), the Malfoy's (Lucius, Narcissa and Draco. The Head of House Malfoy, Abraxas, had died the previous summer of Dragon Pox himself) and the Black's (Pollux, Cygnus and Druella and Cassiopeia) all of which were wearing the same mourning expression as Moony. None of them had really expected this day to come, as Arcturus lead House Black with an iron fist and showing everyone how strong their House was.

Now it would fall to another.

That other was the only person in the room with Arcturus right now; his dad, Sirius.

Sirius would become Lord Black, no doubt his Grandfather was giving him the Lord ring, and Lorcan would become Heir Black as well as Heir Potter. It was huge news, no one outside of House Black knew of it as of yet and it would be kept that way until Sirius said so, as he, as soon as Arcturus passed, would be in charge of their family.

There was quiet over the room, the only sound being the occasional sniff from Lorcan and the mutterings from Narcissa to Draco, who had experienced this in the summer before and was no doubt having trouble with it occurring again so soon.

Then, came an echoing of footsteps that floated in through the open door of the drawing room. All fourteen occupants of the room sat and waited with bated breath as they waited for whoever it was to walk past the doors. There was a flash of green that came passed the door; the Healer was leaving. The man stopped as he recognised the feeling of being watched and he turned to see them all sat there and watching him, waiting for an answer. He peered up the hallway, where there was sound of another set of footsteps walking closer, and then looked back at them all.

He cleared his throat and clutched his bag tighter in his hand. "He went peacefully."

Lorcan choked on his breath and Moony grabbed at his wrist tightly.

The Healer moved on, allowing the space between the doors to open up again.

And then Sirius was there, looking just as awful as Lorcan felt. His cheeks were red, fresh tear tracks resting on them that he had clearly tried to wipe off before giving up. His black button up was untucked and his over-robe was nowhere to be seen. Some of his hair had fallen stray from where he had tied it back and now framed his face, sticking to the wet cheeks.

Remus made to stand but Sirius waved him down. Something on his hand glinted in the light coming from the windows at the movement and all eyes were drawn to his third finger on his right hand; the Lord Black ring sat there proudly. In the other hand was a black velvet box which everyone present knew to contain the Black Heir ring that Lorcan would put on once alone with his father.

Lorcan could feel Neville and Draco's stares burning into the side of his head, but chose to ignore them.

Sirius coughed into his hand to relieve the bile rising in his throat at the thought of Arcturus's body in the Master bedroom upstairs. His voice was scratchy and timid when he spoke.

"Arcturus Sirius Black the third has passed, leaving me in the seat of Lord Black and my son Lorcan in the seat of Heir Black. He will be sworn in once we are in a private space. Myself, my Heir and my Consort are to be staying in Ravenswood House up until September 1st where upon we are to be moved into Black Manor as is proper for Lord Black's immediate family. I have made my decision that the official third in line to the Black Lordship is, should my and my sons unfortunate deaths occur, Regulus Arcturus Black-"

"He is dead!" Pollux Black, son of Arcturus, stood dramatically from his seat next to his son Cygnus who hadn't moved, as though he had expected Sirius to say the name of his deceased brother. "He is dead and you know it you conniving, mudblood loving bastard with-"

Sirius waved his hand tiredly and Pollux's lips were immediately glued together. Quickly, the mans eyes widened and he began to breath heavily in and out of his nose. Cassiopeia scoffed and dragged the man back into his seat from his other side.

"As I was saying, Regulus Arcturus Black is third in line for the Black Lordship should mine and my sons untimely deaths occur. Arcturus's death will be officially announced at the May session of the Wizengamot, upon which I shall take the seat of Lord Black and Lorcan shall take the seat of Heir Black, due to the higher status that House Black retains over House Potter. The reading of the will occur on October 22nd, if you are a recipient of anything regarded by the last wishes of the late Arcturus Black the third, you will be notified by Gringotts a week prior and will either expected to show yourself or another can stand in your place on the sweared vow that they shall not speak of anything they see be bequeathed." Sirius sighed and waved his hand again, undoing Pollux's glued lips. The man grasped and rubbed at at them fiercely and if it hadn't been the situation it was, Lorcan would have grinned. "If you have no questions, queries or regards, I thank you for coming and wish you well on your Floo home. Tippy-" as Sirius said the name, a house elf dressed in House Black attire appeared right beside him, "will show you out."

Lucretia Prewett and Cedrella Weasley smiled as they stood and made their way to the doors, giving Sirius a squeeze of his shoulder and hand as they passed him. Pollux, muttering darkly about Mudbloods and blood traitors, stormed out ahead of Cygnus who carefully sped out after him, giving a nod to Narcissa who was his daughter, and no one else, taking Druella, his wife, with him as he went.

Cassiopeia thanked Sirius and inquired about who was going to be living in Ravenswood House after they left it in September and Sirius told her he would get back to her on that. Lucius nodded once to Sirius, Lorcan and the Longbottom's before offering an arm to Callidora and seeing her out of Black Manor (he had a meeting of his own now that he was Lord Malfoy and Callidora Black, nee Longbottom, didn't want to wait around for Augusta and Neville).

When all who were left were just Remus, Lorcan, Sirius, Augusta, Neville, Narcissa and Draco, Remus finally stood and embraced Sirius. Draco and Neville both stood from their seats and came over to sit side-by-side with Lorcan, offering comfort should he need it (in the past three years Neville, Draco and Lorcan had become closer than before. There was still an element of distrust between Lorcan and Draco, but the Malfoy Heir had matured somewhat over the last several months, with his own Grandfather dying and becoming Heir of his own House. They were friends, and whenever they argued, which was often, Neville was always the mediator).

Hours later, in Sirius's study at Ravenswood House, Lorcan slid the Heir Black ring onto his third finger of his left hand, on his right was the Potter Heir ring.

As he felt the magic take hold and blanket his core, he knew right there and then that nothing would be the same again.

Although Lorcan realised this, it was the magnitude of which that Lorcan had no idea.

In fact, only Lord Sirius Orion Black knew of this, and he would keep it that way until he knew more.

You see, Arcturus Black, cunning as he was, not only hid his illness from them for so long, but also a revelation that would shock the world. A revelation that he had told Sirius of minutes before he succumbed to the Dragon Pox.

Lord Voldemort had created Horcruxes.

And there was a very high chance that his own son, Lorcan Hadrian Black, was one of those Horcruxes.