#lestrange castle

[lulublack90]

Prompt 14 - Drinking Games

@wolfstarmicrofic December 14, word count 567

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He and Narcissa used to play drinking games at these stupid family dinners. Every time his father said ‘family,’ they’d take a sip. They took a sip every time someone praised Bellatrix. When someone mentioned The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, they drank half their glass. Finally, when someone said ‘Toujours pur,’ they finished their glass, no matter how full it was. Needless to say, they were usually almost paralytic by the time the coffee was brought out. Not foolish enough to get caught, they always took little vials of a potion he’d invented that worked like the hangover cure potion but removed all traces of alcohol from the system, making it an excellent way to sober up in a hurry. Looking at the crumbling castle before him, he wished he’d brewed some for tonight.

“Sirius, I’m surprised to see you,” Bella greeted him with a sickening smile.

“I felt I’d better turn up every once in a while. I am the head of the Black family after all,” he watched the muscle under her eye twitch. Bellatrix had always resented the fact that he’d come back to the family and taken his rightful place. She’d seemed certain that it would be passed to her.

Lestrange Castle required an infusion of gold. It looked fine on the surface, but upon closer inspection, you could see where it was peeling. The Lestranges had once been a powerful family, but bad investments, gambling and other unsavoury pursuits had left the vaults bare. Bellatrix had married Rodolfus Lestrange because of her large dowry and probably because they’d expected her to be named as heir once Sirius had abandoned them. She hadn’t even seen Regulus as an obstacle. More fool her, as he was a bad hand with an undetectable poison and with a dagger to boot.

He was led into the library, where a house-elf was handing out drinks.

“Master Black, what can I get you, please?”

“Just water for me, thank you,” Sirius replied, looking around the room to see who had joined them. The elf bowed and went to retrieve his drink order.

“Idiot,” Regulus hissed as he came to stand beside him. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? We could have come together.” Regulus looked him over. “Wait, why are you here?” Sirius said nothing and tapped the side of his nose.

“I might need you to cause a distraction later,” he said quietly so that no one else but Regulus could hear him.

“That can most certainly be arranged,” Regulus smiled a wicked smile and walked off the browse the bookshelves.

“Sirius, what brings you here?” Narcissa moved to greet him, kissing both his cheeks before stepping back.

“Thought I’d pop in as I didn’t have any other plans,” he told her, taking a sip of his water.

“Well, I’m glad to see you again so soon.” She looked over at Lucius, who was in deep conversation with the Lestrange brothers. “It will be nice to have someone to talk to.”

“I’m sure it will be.” A different elf from the one who brought his drink to him popped into the room and announced that dinner would be served in ten minutes. “Just going to pop out for a quick fag, Cissa. Save me a seat?” He walked off before Narcissa could reply and went to look for a convenient side door.

[lulublack90]

Prompt 28 - Outsider POV

@wolfstarmicrofic July 28, word count 817

Part nine of werewolf Sirius

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Regulus couldn’t feel much of anything any more. He’d given up. He had no idea how long he’d been in the dungeon. The Dark Lord himself had dragged him down here when he’d been caught leaving that accursed cave. Voldemort mustn’t have realised that the locket in the basin was a fake. His last coherent thought was that he hoped Kreacher had hidden the real one well enough. 

He had a hacking cough that would overcome him, choking him, making breathing impossible until it had passed. It was during one of these fits that he swore he heard screaming and his brother’s voice, but then it suddenly stopped and all he could hear was snarling. He fell asleep and didn’t hear another sound for weeks. 

Then the screaming started again until it turned into a low howl, whatever it was howled over and over for hours until the screaming started again, and then it was silent again for days and days. 

This new routine happened twice more before he heard the unmistakable sound of someone being dragged out of the dungeons. He was too weak to cry out for help. Whoever it was didn’t come back.

He stopped eating, unable to keep the foul sludge down any more. He drank when he could, and the bucket was refilled twice a day. It was always icy cold and stung for hours if he drank too much at once, but it was what kept him going, though for how much longer he didn’t know.

Then, after what felt like years, there was a familiar popping sound. He cracked open an eye and saw a small, large-eyed creature approaching him. He laughed a scratching whisper of a laugh, he’d finally broken, his mind was playing tricks on him. 

More time passed, but not much, and then the pop happened again. His head was tilted back by tiny, spindly hands and a small amount of sweet liquid dribbled into his mouth. Three more vials were pressed to his lips and he swallowed them automatically. He lost consciousness again.

His eyes burned when he woke next. There was light in the dungeon and warmth. Candles floated around the space and a fire blazed quietly in the centre of the room. He had to squint to see, as his eyes were so used to the darkness. There was a house elf stooped over a cauldron, stirring something mouthwatering. 

“Kreacher?” His hoarse voice cracked as he breathed out the name. 

“No, Master Regulus, Rorbey is being sent here by Master Sirius,” Rorbey squeaked in his high-pitched voice as he spooned some broth into a bowl and pushed it into Regulus’s bony hands. “Rorbey make yous better Master Regulus. Eat up, eat up,” The elf motioned with his hands and Regulus took a bite of the warm liquid, he groaned with pleasure as he greedily guzzled the broth. Rorbey's words only sank in once the bowl was empty. Sirius had sent him. Sirius knew he was alive. Sirius was saving him. That absolute hero-complex buffoon was going to lord this over him for as long as they both lived if he managed to get Regulus out of there.    

Rorbey stayed with him for a few days. Feeding him and bringing him potions. He’d even brought him books to read so he had something to pass the time. “Master Regulus, Rorbey must be going back to Master Sirius. Rorbey promised, sir.”

“Can you take a message?” Regulus asked. The elf nodded. Regulus told him what he wanted the elf to convey, but he should have known better than to expect an elf to say crass words to their master. The elf popped away and Regulus was left alone. 

Rorbey came back quickly and handed over a scroll of crumpled parchment and a bent self-inking quill. He scrawled out a note for his brother and handed it back to Rorbey before the ink had even dried. 

He sat and waited with Rorbey while Sirius and Remus came up with a plan to get him out. Days, weeks, he wasn’t entirely sure. Then Rorbey disappeared without a word. He heard what sounded like thunder above him and howling so loud, it made its way down to him. The candles and the fire went out, and then the screaming began. 

Regulus retreated to the far corner and watched the door as the howling drew nearer. He had nothing to protect himself with and only realised when the door to his dungeon burst open, revealing a ginormous black wolf. No, not a wolf, a werewolf. Its jaws dripping with blood and its piercing blue eyes trained on him. It let out a low growl and stepped into the dungeon, blocking out the slivers of light from the corridor behind it. So this was how he was going to die. He looked into those icy blue eyes and recognised them. 

“Sirius?”

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[lulublack90]

Prompt 27 - Fix-It

@wolfstarmicrofic July 27, word count 876

CW - Murder, killing with a knife, blood, dead bodies, graves

Part eight of werewolf Sirius

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He looked at the note over and over. It was definitely Regulus’s handwriting, he’d watched him use it enough times. The papers had said he’d drowned and every scrap of information he’d managed to gather said the same. Regulus Black had drowned. He’d thought it odd, as Regulus had always been a strong swimmer. He often out-swam Sirius himself. But now he knew the truth, but he couldn’t think why Voldemort would lock the son of his most loyal servants away and lie about his death, hopefully, he could ask Regulus himself once they got him out. 

Greyback returned on the day of the full moon. His followers grabbed Sirius and forced him to his knees. He glared up at the old wolf. They’d prepared for this. 

“Well, Lord Black, are you ready?” Greyback growled. “Your brother’s life hangs in the balance. If you answer incorrectly again, I’m afraid that young Master Black won’t see the moon rise.” Sirius shook with rage. 

“How do I know you’ll keep your word and let Regulus live?” Sirius’s voice was shaky. He added to it, pretending it was with nervousness. 

“When you agree, I shall send word to the Dark Lord and your brother’s carers that you are doing as commanded, and they will keep him alive until the sunrises tomorrow and I will send word that Dumbledore is dead. If I don’t your brother, your lover and yourself will not live another day.” Greyback’s eyes flicked over to Marcus. “You know what, we'll throw in your little buddy as well. He’s been useless to me since he arrived anyway.” Sirius swallowed and let his head hang low.

“I’ll do it,” He whispered. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t quite hear that,” Greyback smiled horridly, holding a hand to his ear. 

“I’ll take you to Albus Dumbledore in exchange for my brother’s life.” He repeated, defeatedly. Greyback took out a small scroll of parchment, held it up and clicked his fingers. It disappeared into a cloud of black smoke. A minute later, a different parchment returned in the same black smoke and Greyback unfurled it. 

“The Dark Lord is very happy with you, Lord Black.” He turned to address the rest of the camp. “We will be leaving in a few hours for the forbidden forest. Prepare yourselves, my children. Tonight is going to be written in the history books!” A knife slid across Greyback’s neck, he raised his hands to the wound as blood poured out. He fell to the ground with a sickening thump. Then, one after the other, his closest followers fell with him and a few others dotted through the gathered wolves. Remus stepped forward. 

“Well done. We leave for Lestrange castle before nightfall.” The gathered wolves all bowed to their new leader, Sirius included. Remus bent and pulled Sirius up from the ground. They stood together looking at the new pack they’d created. A wolf pack that after tonight would be peaceful and free from Greyback and Voldemort’s whims. 

“Who’s hungry? After all that, I’m starving,” Marcus rose from his bow, clapping his hands together. “Hey, when you’ve finished making googly eyes at your mate, pack master. Could you do something about this rubbish strewn across the camp before it starts to stink?” Marcus joked, holding his nose closed. Remus rolled his eyes at the mischievous wolf and raised his wand. He levitated them into the forest and dug graves for them all. No words were said and the few that had gathered quickly left. 

The pack of twenty wolves arrived at the castle gates. Those who could do magic had acquired wands, and together they began to pull apart the protection spells keeping them out. Sirius felt the last bit of magic breaking and the gate swung open. Sirius walked through as they’d discussed earlier to check it was safe. When nothing happened, the rest of the pack followed. 

They hid in the shadows away from the main door. He and Remus locked the gates again with their own brand of magic. It would be almost impossible for anyone to get in or out who wasn't already familiar with their spells. Sirius cast a reviling charm to show how many people were in the castle. Faint yellow dots appeared before him. He counted ten in all. Nine gathered together in the dining room and one below in the dungeons. Smaller blue dots shone together in the kitchen. House elves. He watched as another blue light appeared, and together they all disappeared. He ended the spell. Taking Remus's hand, they turned back to the gathered wolves.  

“Anyone who has changed their mind now that we are here and doesn’t wish to take part in this fight can go and none of us will hold it against them. We will meet you at the new camp tomorrow if we make it out,” Remus addressed his pack in a whisper. Their superior hearing meant they all heard the quiet words. None of the pack moved.  

Sirius could feel the change coming. Remus looked at him, and they shared a silent moment before the first whimper left one of the other wolves. They hastily cast a silencing charm around the pack and let the wolves within out to play.  

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