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Dataset card Data Studio Files
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"Malfoy Manor is as impregnable as your lordship’s fine castle," Burke said regretfully. "Castle Draconis, where Lord Lucius and his family live, has a secret entrance, but it has a Malfoy blood ward on it now. It was designed by your ancestor Slytherin, though—since the castle used to belong to Slytherin’s great friend—and so it may be that there is still an older blood ward that would let you in."
"But you don’t know that?"
"I’m afraid not, my lord. Now, as for Castle l’Etrange...." He racked his brains for memories. "He has a set of passwords, but he changes them frequently. At least, he did."
Tom was disappointed. "Yes, we interrogated Carrow and acquired the most recent ones that Carrow knew. Is that it?"
Burke leaned forward conspiratorially. "Carrow might have had noble blood, but he was not a smart man," he said. "He never knew that there was another method, which bypassed the passwords. But in fairness to him, I don’t think that even Lestrange himself knew it."
Tom was staring fiercely into Burke’s eyes, hanging on every word. His face told Hermione that Burke was telling the truth.
"It isn’t a blood ward," Burke said. "Lestrange’s wife—well, former wife now—was born into the noble Black family, as you know. My late aunt Belvina was also a Black, and it was through her and my uncle Herbert Burke that I learned of this family story. There was a pair of heavy wardrobes, which look to anyone like ordinary furniture, but they provide a passage between two points. You step in one—it does not even matter which one—and say the password, and the magic takes you to the other side. Lady Bellatrix took one with her when she married Lestrange." He paused theatrically, relishing this. "As I learned when I took refuge with my noble kin, they have the second."
Soon after the Cygnus Black contingent were shown to their quarters, yet another guest was announced.
"Sirius Black is here to speak with the lord of the castle," explained the house-elf to Tom.
Tom was pleased at being designated thus, but he kept the grin off his face, since Hermione and Severus were there. "I wonder what he has to say," he murmured to her.
She stared ahead coolly, keeping her countenance. The thought crossed through her mind that, as a child, she had seen her own parents do this, and she had also seen Lady Merope speak to people with whom she was displeased, never showing anger with a potential ally. The memories pained her. "I hope he has recognized how unnecessary his tantrum was."
"What if he hasn’t? What if, instead, he wants to take his wife and stepdaughter home with him?"
Hermione sighed. "Then we have little choice but to let him. You could hold him here, but that would be a terrible idea for all kinds of reasons. Politics, but also, it’s wrong to treat allies that way."
Tom did not disagree.
When the tall doors to the great hall were pulled open again, Sirius slunk in in a very doggy way. He was slightly hunched, almost as if in defeat. The sight gave Tom hope that perhaps he was not going to take his family and go home....
"My lord," Sirius bit off, glaring at the hem of Tom’s robe.
"Black," Tom acknowledged.
"I... have realized some things," Sirius said. "I learned about your plans to travel to Hogwarts... I trust that it was a successful trip...."
"It was," Tom said. "I also learned from the Longbottoms and Dumbledore that their associations with the Weasleys are alliances of convenience. They did not know of any other options for opposing Malfoy. Of course, there is one now."
"Then you learned more than my father did. Very well. I expect that you mean to attack Lestrange and Malfoy soon... and I want to be a part of that."
Tom nodded. "Castle l’Etrange first. Caractacus Burke, who has been a guest of your relative Lord Cygnus, knows of a secret way into the castle."
Sirius’s eyes gleamed in interest. "That’s... intriguing," he said. "Well... as I said, I would like to fight with you after all."
"And the rest of the bargain?"
Sirius scowled at the floor. "Lord T—Riddle, that is, I still am not happy about that. I did not want my children, if I had any, to live that way."
Tom and Hermione exchanged a look. Sirius might not be the most cunning of wizards, but it was clear to them that he knew he had the upper hand. Would they really reject an extra wand in a battle? Of course we won’t, Hermione thought. And he knows that.
"Sirius," she said, her voice calm and accommodating, "have you ever considered that your future children might want to live that way? They will know that they are Blacks. They will know their uncle and aunt... unless, of course, you mean to keep them from your own brother and favorite cousin. They might develop a lot of ill-will toward you if you deny them options that the rest of the family—and allies of the family—have offered."
"They would respect me as their father," he grunted.
"I’m sure they would, but we are witches and wizards, and we see "respect’ differently to how Muggles do. It does not have to mean "letting parents dictate our lives’ for us. And once children are of age, they can defy their parents." Sirius’s eyes gleamed in a spark of anger, and Hermione held her hand up for peace. "Would you keep your children from meeting ours, out of fear that they might like each other? You chose to live the life you wanted. All I ask is that you leave all options available to your children."
Sirius sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "I just don’t like it," he finally said. "I think you are ignoring certain possibilities, like sibling rivalry. That would be especially bad if, for instance, two of my children "liked’ your heir. What then, Lady Riddle? Your match worked out, with all due respect, but sometimes they don’t."
Hermione, Tom, and Severus exchanged annoyed glances. "No one can foresee all possibilities," Tom said. "You’re presenting barriers because you yourself left noble life. That is the real reason. These are excuses."
Sirius opened his mouth to object, but Tom cut him off. "In the case you describe, Sirius, what of our child? He—or she—would have a choice. It’s not like two children fighting over who gets the last sweetmeat. What you describe only becomes a problem when the person is wedded to the "wrong’ sibling against their wishes. Otherwise, these things work themselves out—if they even arise at all."
"We should not debate this right now," Hermione said. "You have offered your wand for when we attack Castle l’Etrange. That is what matters right now."
Sirius was relieved. "Yes. You will accept it, then? No conditions immediately?"
Tom glowered, his eyes momentarily flashing red. "All right, Black, no "conditions’—except that you hold to your oath of fighting for us."
Black nodded. "That, I swear."
All of the family’s allies were in the castle, and they could conspire freely. Plans were made and roles were assigned that very evening. At last, the day after Cygnus and Sirius came to Parselhall, a menacing group of witches and wizards—and one basilisk—set out.
The Lestrange castle was not far. Malfoy Manor itself was rather close to the nearly coastal location of Parselhall, and Castle l’Etrange was only a bit to the north of the Malfoy fief. Tom recognized that this proximity meant that they should expect a counterattack, since it would not take long for someone to send an owl.
Tom coaxed the basilisk onto the covered cart once again, making sure to protect his allies from its lethal gaze. He would have most of the group with him. However, a small group would Apparate to Cygnus Black’s isolated manor after Tom’s contingent set out. This group included Cygnus and Druella themselves, but also Andromeda, Regulus—and Hermione. Tom did not fully trust Caractacus Burke and did not want him in the same place as Hermione with so few people around to protect her, especially since he did not entirely trust Cygnus and Druella alone with Hermione either. He presumed that their daughter and son-in-law would prevent any betrayal. The small group would use the magically connected wardrobes to infiltrate the Lestrange castle, taking down any magical security measures present so that Tom’s large group could then storm the place.
Severus was not going at all. "I would go," he said, "if not for the fact that someone will need to hold this castle if... the worst happens. The twins are the last of our lines in that case, Tom. I have to stay here for them. Someone always has to stay behind, and I should be it. I won’t be alone. Several of the others will stay with me."
Tom was stricken. "The worst won’t happen," he said. "You know, I assume, what I did—Carrow—Slytherin’s locket—"
Severus gave Tom a heavy, dark look. "Yes, I know. I trust that you are not allowing Hermione to wear it."
"She says she wears it inside her robes."
Severus scoffed. "Sentimentality is all very well, but she shouldn’t wear it at all in battle. Yes, Tom, I know she is not planning to duel anyone, but it could still happen. She should leave it here. And in case she is under attack...."
"She has a key to our bedroom," Tom said, "and it is charmed to bring her back to that room immediately if she says a code word or rubs the key."
"Good. I hope, of course, that this raid goes well. And you are correct that you won’t "actually’ die either way. But Tom... harm could come to you anyway. If they wound you severely, you could die of that and be unable to repossess your body."
"I know," he said curtly. "That’s why I intend to have victory."
Severus smiled thinly. "If Lestrange knew what was happening, he would "intend’ victory too. Godspeed to you."
Tom and his force had left and were approaching Castle l’Etrange, according to a letter he sent to Parselhall by owl. It was time, then. Hermione linked hands with Andromeda Black as the small group of five people Apparated away to Cygnus Black’s manor. She took in her surroundings as they landed. Compared to Parselhall, it was small and comparatively unprotected, at least by conventional means. A single wall surrounded the place. However, Hermione could also detect the prickles of magic wards.
They entered the manor quietly, Cygnus and Druella leading them to the room where the wardrobe was stored. Cygnus drew his wand and flicked it, making the door snap open.
"The other cabinet," Hermione ventured, gazing into the empty wardrobe. "Where do you think Lady Bellatrix kept it?"
"Most likely in her bedchamber," said Cygnus. "She had separate quarters from Lestrange, so even if he is there, we won’t have to fight him immediately."
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped into the wardrobe.
Castle l’Etrange.
Alecto Carrow was extremely disgruntled. Her brother was likely dead, after having been captured by the half-blood Riddle. What wizard wouldn’t exact revenge on a foe who had tortured him, attempted to murder his wife, and raided his castle? Of course Amycus was dead, Alecto thought bitterly. Lestrange had thrown him away after the Riddles and blood-traitors killed two of the attackers, not making the slightest attempt to rescue him and scornfully dismissing the idea when Alecto proposed it. Amycus had held no more value to Lestrange, the wizard to whom they had sworn fealty, or to Lord Armand Malfoy himself.
Lestrange also had not been permitted by the high lord to return to his own fief again. Whatever Lord Malfoy wanted him for—and Alecto was quite sure she knew—it was a demanding task, apparently, and that meant that Lestrange’s fief had to have a regent. According to the English magical aristocracy’s inheritance traditions, she, Alecto, should have been next in line for the regency of Castle l’Etrange. Unfortunately, Lestrange did not observe those traditions. He had instead placed Selwyn in charge of the castle, and Selwyn was not even one of Lestrange’s own vassals! He is sworn to Malfoy, Alecto seethed. Malfoy obviously gave that order. He has usurped power from everyone now, even though Lestrange does not see it.
Alecto Carrow was beginning to regret ever swearing the oath to Rodolphus Lestrange. It wasn’t as if she had wanted to serve a blood-traitor and her half-blood spawn, but surely there had been better options. The oath had cost her brother his life. She had a horrible suspicion, too, that Armand Malfoy ultimately intended to force her into an unwanted marriage with Selwyn. When Amycus had been alive, she had been content to remain single, as she preferred; someday he would marry—she had thought—and continue the line.
Selwyn was currently sitting in the high seat, imagining that he was lord of this castle and not just regent, while Alecto sat in lonely splendor in the sitting room that Lady Bellatrix had used as lady of the castle. A knock sounded at the door.
There aren’t even any house-elves here anymore, Alecto thought as she bade the Muggle servant enter. Lestrange had either killed them all or sent them to Malfoy Manor. It was... appropriate... for Muggles to serve wizards, of course, but at the same time, there was something vaguely wrong about their serving in place of house-elves, the traditional attendants and household servants for people with magic.
The cloaked woman swept in with a silver goblet of wine. "My lady," she murmured, presenting it to Alecto.
Alecto took the goblet and drank deeply. The wine seemed to hit her instantly. She felt her thoughts begin to garble. "What is this?" she asked. "How old is this wine?"
"It was freshly opened, my lady," murmured the servant.
Alecto tried to focus. She gazed at the servant, blinking, as she attempted to identify the person. "What’s your name, wench?" she said. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before...."
The woman threw her hood back. A halo of bushy brown hair ringed her young face, the features fierce and angry. "You have not," Hermione said coldly.
It’s the Mudblood! Alecto thought. She wanted to scream, but the wine... what was in the wine—
"That wine contained truth serum," Hermione said. Alecto panicked for a moment, but it was too late; the potion took full effect. Hermione noticed the exact moment that Alecto’s face went slack. She flicked her wand at the door, opening it for Andromeda and Druella Black.
"Who else is here?" Hermione demanded.
"Lord Selwyn," Alecto said dully. "Lord Malfoy placed him here instead of me."
"Lord Lestrange’s knights: Yaxley, Runcorn, and Rookwood."
"That’s all?"
"All with magic, yes."
Hermione nodded, turning to the Black ladies as they approached. She did not want to watch this.
Lady Druella spoke in a low, furious voice. "You bitch," she snarled. "How dare you sit here, where my daughter and granddaughter should sit? How dare you aid and protect rapists?" She sneered, teeth gleaming in the dim light of the sitting room. "You are so worried about blood-traitors that you have betrayed your own sex!"
Hermione stood by the door, trying her best to ignore the screams and gurgles as Lady Druella cut the other woman’s throat.
When Alecto’s dying screams faded away, the three women tramped out of the room to take on Selwyn and greet Tom’s force, which was soon to be at the castle gates.
Sir Augustus Rookwood, a knight of Rodolphus Lestrange, burst into the great hall, his eyes wide with alarm. "My lord!" he exclaimed to Selwyn.
Selwyn regarded the knight with disdain. "You presume to interrupt me thus? This had better be important."
"It’s of the utmost importance," Rookwood assured him. "The castle is under attack!"
Selwyn leapt to his feet, furious. "What? Have you been at the bottle, man?"
"It’s true! I heard her ladyship, Lady Alecto, shriek—and saw three cloaked people sneak out of her parlor."
"It could be treasonous servants," he said, drawing his wand. "But we will investigate."
They emerged from the great hall into the main wing of the castle, wands out—but they saw no one in the hall. Selwyn turned to Rookwood, irritated.
"I really did see them," he insisted. "Let’s check on her ladyship."
The sitting room that Alecto liked was on the third level of the castle, far from the great hall. The wizards walked down the hallway towards the stairs, passing by a cracked door behind which five people stood silently. With their backs turned, they did not notice as the entire group left and went into the great hall to unbar the doors and take down the wards.
Hermione slipped into the shadows, her charmed key at the ready. It was unpleasant to admit, but Severus and Tom had been right. She was feeling tired. She hoped this would be a quick victory.
A pair of boyish shouts echoed through the castle. Rookwood and Selwyn had found Alecto’s body, it appeared. The Blacks exchanged anxious glances with each other and Hermione. Tom’s force was not here yet, and it was not at all clear that they could take on Selwyn and three knights without backup. They hid in a side room, collectively hoping that the castle’s occupants would look last in the wide-open great hall.
"Should we go after them?" Andromeda whispered.
Cygnus considered before shaking his head. "You cut Lady Carrow’s throat, did you not? No curses?"
"Then with any luck, they will think Muggle servants did it and won’t get reinforcements. We should wait for Lord Riddle."
It was a torment to stay in that space, barely larger than a closet. Hermione thought repeatedly of the key. I want to be here for this, she chastised herself. We have done our part. Tom can get in now without any difficulty at all. He just needs to come soon—
The great doors to Castle l’Etrange creaked, wood and metal against stone. That sound could not be disguised. Selwyn, Rookwood, and anyone else they had alerted would hear it. But Hermione’s heart leapt. As if reading her thoughts from a distance, Tom had come, with a basilisk and fifteen wizards and witches.
Pops of Apparition shattered the air. Selwyn and Rookwood appeared in the great hall, bewildered and shocked. With them were two other knights.
They gazed in horror as Tom cast away the covering, revealing the basilisk, his face hard and menacing. "That’s the—" Rookwood broke off, paling.
Tom hissed in Parseltongue. Although the basilisk’s eyes were still covered by a blindfold, it had its sense of smell. Its jaws opened, revealing lethal fangs. Rookwood shouted and ran for his life.
"After him!" Tom shouted to the snake in Parseltongue. "Don’t let him get away!" Tom was frightened that Rookwood might manage to get an owl to Lestrange and Malfoy. He was not prepared for that fight yet. If Lestrange himself showed up, then that was one thing, but they had no idea what Malfoy had used for a Horcrux.
But if the basilisk eats him, Tom suddenly realized with delight, it might not matter. A disembodied Malfoy is no threat to anyone. "Return to the great hall," he told the basilisk. It stopped slithering and tried to back out of the hallway as Rookwood continued his terrified flight up the stone stairs.
"We are hopelessly outnumbered!" exclaimed Selwyn to the other knights, Runcorn and Yaxley. "We are fools to stay here!"
"But Augustus—" began Yaxley.
"We can’t help him! We must leave. To Malfoy Manor!" With three pops, the wizards vanished.
Numerous oaths, spoken in English, French, and Gaelic, pierced the air. Tom reemerged into the hall, the blindfolded basilisk behind him, and glared furiously at the spot where the three wizards had been. "Secure the castle!" he barked at his allies. "They’re going to come back with more, make no mistake about it." His eyes were gleaming scarlet, Hermione noticed. "With any luck, we can finish this today."
"Did you kill that one?" Regulus asked.