"It could difficultly be worse." Sighed Snape. "To sum up the situation, Albus, this bitch of Cassiopeia Black invited us to see us fight each other, figuratively and literally. When it was over, she had pretty much managed to plunge House Black in a five-side civil war. I doubt most of them will want to speak with each other for the next decade."
Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes, calculating the potential losses for a moment.
"I suppose Lucius Malfoy is going to lead one." He said, reopening his eyes, and rubbing with his handkerchief his glasses.
"Yes."
"Has Sirius any possibility to save the situation?"
The question was not provocative, but the visage of Severus Snape let for a moment show a terrifying hate. Not anger. Not loathing. Raw, pure hate. Then the feelings disappeared on the livid face of the last Prince descendent, kept again under enchanted chains.
"No, Albus. Lord Black," the irony in his voice could not have been more biting thought Dumbledore," has behaved himself like a true Gryffindor all day and he has managed to alienate pretty much his whole family. The only thing all the factions agree is that they hate him, Albus. More than they hate each other, I think. By the end of the day, I think they were more exasperated than me by his comments of 'Snivellus' than me."
"That doesn't explain why you sent back Miss Potter alone at three in the afternoon, doesn't it?"
"Miss Potter, Albus," said Severus Snape with part of exasperation, part of ...pride? "Was intelligent enough to be on her guard once we entered Black Cobra Manor and not eat any poisoned food. Unlike the others."
Albus Dumbledore for a moment didn't realise the meaning of these words. Then he did, and rage began to fuel his old heart.
"She dared POISONED the Boy-Who-Lived?" The Headmaster roared, waking up many portraits of former Headmasters present in the office.
Snape nodded, his visage presenting something like...approval?
"We left all the students in a small dining room while we discussed Albus. Of course, we locked the door, and we didn't leave anyone to mount guard, so nobody realised the door had been thoroughly cursed from inside to stun anyone trying to touch it once it was closed. After that, this madwoman sent them a lunch laced with Vomiting Potions, Retching Potions, Diarrhoea Potions and Boil Potions. From what I understand, nearly all the children ate the food without any wondering if there was a trap." Snape's sneer proved how much he valued this sort of behaviour. "The three Burke children were stunned when they tried to open the door in order to seek help."
"I suppose it was pandemonium when Lady Cassiopeia Black informed you." Albus said in a calmer tone. While each of these potions had humiliating and smelly effects, even combined the consequences were not THAT bad. Neville Longbottom and all the 'victims' of Lady Black's back humour were no doubt already healed and tomorrow would present no symptom anymore.
"It was not her, Albus." Informed him the Potions Professor in a voice mixing tiredness and resignation. "Astrid Sverre and Alexandra Potter had not touched the food, and one of the two blasted her way through the wall with a powerful Bombarda. Imagine our surprise when these two young witches came into our meeting room and told us what had happened." Snape expression turned to one of amusement. "Never had I seen before Narcissa and Lucius ready to murder someone on the spot."
"Mhhh..."Reflected the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Who do you think casted the spell?"
"Potter, no doubt." Albus raised an eyebrow, at his agent's affirmation. "It is in line with the spells she showed last year in her classes Albus, and she practically insulted Cassiopeia in front of anyone. She said and I quote "you reek dark magic" to her."
Albus laughed, and Fawkes accompanied it on his perch.
"I suppose Cassiopeia didn't take it too well."
"I'm not sure, honestly." Said Severus, looking for the time a bit uncertain. "In the short conversation they had, Black compared Potter to her grandmother Dorea. And once Sverre and Potter left, she continued to make several times the comparison."
"Mhhh...very well. Nothing we can do now anyway." Snape nodded unhappily. Albus and Severus had never been invited into these circles before the war against Voldemort, so their sources on that period were definitely limited. Dorea Potter nee Black was long dead, most of her generation was dead too, and Lady Cassiopeia Black was not going to last more than one more month. At best. "Back to the main objective. Do you know who is going to receive the Black Files upon her death?"
Snape exhaled a long breath. What he was about to say wasn't going to be pleasant at all for his master.
"Yes, Albus. If the meeting I have assisted today is any indication, Narcissa Malfoy is the prime candidate to receive the Black Files."
"Who are the others?"
"Astrid Sverre and Alexandra Potter."
Albus Dumbledore grimaced. Of the three, the first two were completely unsuitable for his plans and the third's only value resided in his magical guardianship of her. Still, if he could take advantage of this...
"Don't dream, Albus." Said Snape in a tired tone. "I'm sure Lady Cassiopeia is aware of your position on the files and the guardianship of the Potter Heiress. She is not going to let you grab the Files like that."
"I could always pass a Wizengamot vote before her will was read, declare it invalid and seize her material possessions." Said Dumbledore in a tone Severus Snape had recognised over the years as one where the man revealed his true persona of the ruthless politician who violated three major laws before breakfast.
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.