— Hmmm... — the woman frowned slightly as she looked at the unconscious brunette lying on a mattress on the floor in a working magic circle.
— Now. — I put a seal on Bellatrix's face before turning off the circle. — This is the patient you asked me to help you with.
— I vaguely recognize her face. — the woman turned to me, raising a thin eyebrow in question.
— Perhaps you've seen her magical photographs in the newspapers, the woman is quite famous as a former member of the Death Eaters.
— Bellatrix Lestrange. — Appolin frowned and examined the unconscious terrorist. — Why do you need her?
— I'm only telling you because we're practically family now. — I sigh demonstratively. — I want to rebuild the pureblood black family...
As I said, I need to study Bellatrix's condition, and I can't do it myself, so I need a smart, strong mental wizard. But here's the problem: Where can I find someone I can trust with such a secret? Right here.
I could start talking about checking and rechecking my friendship with Delacour, trying to come up with a nice, clever excuse for my trust... but I won't. Yes, I agree, I've had a hard life, a lot of bad things have happened, even downright bad things, but I just don't want to suspect everyone.
I admit that there are people for whom it's normal to suspect everyone, to not believe anyone, to be skeptics and naysayers. But I'm not like that. I feel the world around me, I feel people, I feel myself in the world.
I know many secrets, but I am not omniscient, I cannot look into people's hearts and souls, so despite all my empathy, I admit that I can be deceived. In fact, the Dunois have proven that to be true. But that doesn't mean I have to turn into an evil, suspicious being with a block of ice in my chest. I want to believe that there is good in people, if not in all of them, if not so much, but enough for me to trust them, albeit with the caveat of the greater good.
That doesn't mean I'm naive and will run off and make out with the scum of Knockturn Alley (there are some normal people there who have just had bad luck in life). Anyway, I've come to a simple conclusion: you have to think with your head, yes, but if my heart feels something good, I'm not going to dismiss it. Let it be what it is.
If the Delacours have decided that I am a worthy match for their daughters, and they even agree to most of my conditions, then Pierre and Appolin will not harm their daughters if they have any plans for me. No, my trusting Appolin is not some kind of test, it's more a gesture of trust as future kin.
It was also a demonstration of my intentions and ambitions, which would only make Fleur and Gabrielle's parents more confident in their decision and those who could watch their backs.
There was hope for Dunois too, but as it was, friendship was out of the question and I had to avenge her. And I will, of course I will. It would be a pity, of course, if I had to look for other ends to untangle the tangle of guilt, and it would take much longer, but I will not forgive the incident with the girls. For now, I must concentrate on the task at hand.
— But she's a Lestrange, not a Black. — Appolyn's facial expressions are very expressive, so the slightest change in the position of her eyebrows, her lips, the wings of her thin nose can say a lot.
— Yes, it did. — I agree. — But there's a nuance. The fact is, Bellatrix was forced into marriage. — The raised eyebrow said a lot of things: question, doubt, irony, a slight sneer. — No, — he shook his head negatively. — It was harder there: she, sixteen years old, with a huge talent in combat and dark magic, excellent in charms and generally a very spirited girl, suddenly faced with the fact that she was going to marry the one she had wiped the floor with in the dueling circle. How does that feel, huh? — The woman frowned slightly.
— The head of the Black Family didn't care what his niece thought, no one had given the girl time to come to terms with it, to calm down. And to tame her temper, Orion Black had agreed to a very rigid version of the marriage, in which Bellatrix had to obey her husband, who, by the way, was already an Eater. I suspect the girl was simply broken, and ended up with the famous Bellatrix Lestrange.
— I see. — Appolin nodded thoughtfully, examining the brunette in a new way. — But you still haven't explained how you plan to use her to restore the Black Family. — The woman drew her wand from the sleeve of her dress and conjured up the first diagnostic spells I was unfamiliar with.
— Her husband had the right to break the marriage, according to the contract, so Bellatrix was simply black again. The only woman in the family, not exiled, not cut off from the family's magic and heritage.
— Hmmm... — the woman cast more spells, spells, her whole appearance spoke of professionalism and concentration. — I see. But she had spent a long time in Azkaban, and now she would definitely not be able to have children — the effects of that terrible prison manifested themselves faster on women. — Appolyn didn't turn to talk, didn't let herself be distracted from her work.
— That's true. But I recently had the opportunity to do a fertility ritual, and I kept its effect on her, even though it was not easy. Then, when you work with her, I'll perform another ritual, and Bellatrix will become pregnant and give birth to a full-blooded heir of the Black family.
— And the price? — Vayla asked after a short pause. — There is always a price.
— Yes, there is a price. — Why lie if it's going to come out? — But it's not that big, so it won't cause too much trouble.
— Okay, you'll tell me later. — I just shrugged my shoulders at these words, it's really not an excessive price, even if it's a lot of work, right? — Okay, I'll get started. — Appolin pointed her wand at Bellatrix's forehead and said a verbal formula that bore no resemblance to the famous "legelimens".
***
POV Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange
— Brother, I don't like what you've agreed to. — The man gave his brother a stern look, and given his appearance, marked by adversity, illness and curses, many would be frightened.
— I don't like it myself. — The second man, sitting in a deep armchair by the fire, reading a work by the Muggle author Jack London, replied in an even tone.
— Then you shouldn't have agreed. — The one who spoke first frowned. — Do you realize what you've gotten us into? — The second man sighed heavily, taped up the page and turned to his brother.
— What do you want from me, huh? Or maybe you had a workable plan to escape Azkaban? Well, I'm listening. Go on, prove you're smarter than your big brother. — Rudolphus gave his brother a stern look, and he had come out of that fight victorious, but Rabastan was not about to give up so easily.
— We should have waited, the master would have... — the man began, but was immediately interrupted.
— "Lord what, huh? WHAT!?" Rudolphus broke out, jumping up from his chair, but the book remained in his hands. — Are you saying we should have waited! — almost shouted the head of the family. — Have you forgotten, idiot, in what condition we were dragged out? Or have you forgotten that we have about a year to live? — Rudolfus approached Rabastan, practically hovering over him. — You were so eager to die out there, weren't you? So maybe we should bring you back, huh? Well, why, your wife carried, so you've practically fulfilled your obligations to your clan, and you can go wherever you want!
— Don't twist my words. — Rabastan grimaced and turned away. He was hurt by his brother's words, but the subject had to be discussed before he made any more mistakes. — I spoke of the wrong thing.
— I know what you meant. — The elder waved his hand. — I don't care what the Lord might have done, or what the Lord might have done, we would still be dead and have no descendants. Do you realize that or don't you? — The wave of emotion has passed, and all that remains is weariness. — Our family is cursed, Rabastan, badly cursed, and we've made our own situation worse. The Japanese gave us a chance, and I'd be a fool to waste it! — The man sank heavily into his chair, picked up a glass of water from the table, and took a few sips.
— I agree with you that we have a good chance, but you shouldn't have agreed to these conditions, let alone let Bella go.
— Bella is one of the main terms of our agreement. — Rudolphus sat with his eyes closed, the book in his lap.
— Our family is rich, we have many rare and unique artifacts. You could have offered something else... and this alliance...
— Yes... — The older brother stretched out tiredly, did not open his eyes, felt very tired, no, not physically, but mentally. — Father was right: you, Rabastan, are not fit to be the head of the family... — The man smiled sadly, but he didn't know what to do. — The man smiled sadly, nostalgic for the old days.
— I understand more than you! — the younger man snapped at him. — If I were you, I wouldn't allow such humiliation!
Rudolphus made no reply to these remarks. He did not like the situation, and he would have been happy to do as Rabastan said... except for one thing: they had no choice, no choice at all. No one but the Japanese would help them, and the family, its glory and its secrets would die with them if Hoshino hadn't come to them in Azkaban...