Work Text:
Greece 1985
Alex Regulus Black was a happy child. Severus was glad that his beloved son had no memories at the horrible hidden facility, where Dumbledore had sent him, after Severus refused to obey his wishes in regards to the Shrieking Shack incident.
Did he still miss Regulus? Of course, he was still missing him, but he also knew, that as long as Sirius Black was still alive, he couldn’t risk trying to contact Regulus. And who says, that Regulus was even still interested in him? He had claimed to love Severus, but why had he never tried to find them?
Without Alex, he would have probably lost his mind ages ago. Severus had been grateful for the help of the Goblins. Otherwise he would have probably lost permanently his voice, and probably his life, too.
By accident had Sirius spotted two names on the family tapestry. It had been his last visit to the house, before he got banned forever. No, how could they still be alive? He was so certain that his devious plan can’t fail! Seems like he had to do it himself, and by Merlin, he will not fail. Hissing, as he felt the mark of the phoenix burn at his side. He had been branded with it, just like Peter and James, after the Shrieking Shack incident. Only Moony had escaped, due to not being able to recall that night.
And he hated it, no longer being free, but a mere slave, who had to obey or will be punished by his sadistic Master. Appareting to the Villa Rustica, where Dumbledore now lives, after he had lost his position as headmaster and Chief Warlock of the British Wizengamot! Dumbledore had also been banned from the ICW for life, after they’ve learned about his alliance with Grindelwald!
Crawling to Dumbledore’s ornate throne, the disowned Black heir almost wet himself, as he got hit with two Crucios for being late.
“Forgive me, Master. But I have discovered, that Snivellus and his brat still seems to be alive! Allow me to hunt them down and to kill them!”, begged the crazy mutt.
“No, why should I allow you such a boon, Sirius! It’s only because of your careless actions, that I’ve lost everything. You’re only still alive, because I’m able to siphon off your magic to increase my own magical powers.”, thundered Dumbledore.
“Lupin and Pettigrew are much more useful!”, did he add, just to rub more salt into Sirius’ injured pride.
Sirius gritted his teeth in anger, but he know better than to annoy his master. Those Cruciatus curses hurts like hell. And he didn’t want to be punished even more.
“Send James to me, as soon as he arrives, I have a special mission for him. And you will be staying in Britain. Should you be a good boy, then I may allow you to kill one of your family, but that’s all. Do not test me, Sirius Black!”, growled the ancient warlock.
James had married Lily and they had two children together, a son and a daughter (Harry James Potter & Rose Lilith Potter). However in James’ eyes Lily was just a trophy wife. He was unable to admit, even to himself that even today he was dreaming of pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes.
His mother Euphemia had taken Lily under her wing and put her on an extremely tight leash, after she didn’t live up to Euphemia’s expectations. Lily had hated every minute of it, but she had no choice. Should she try to run with her children or even use her wand against her parents-in-law, then she could be lucky, if it’s only a few years in Azkaban. Euphemia had always enjoyed to remind her rebellious daughter-in-law, that for most muggleborns the punishment would be having their magic bound, and be obliviated about everything since they’ve turned 11 years old and then just dumped somewhere in a gutter.
Where would she even run? She had nobody, her parents have died in a car crash in the early 1980s, her sister had cut all ties with her, and somehow even found a squib solicitor who set up a permanent magical restraining order! She had no vault in her own name, as she foolishly followed James’ advice to close her vault and add the meagre amount of it to his own vault. Even from the two trust fund vaults of her children, she wouldn’t be allowed to remove more than 10 Gallons – in 6 months! She had no higher education or even a muggle education after primary school, therefore chances for a good job are practically zero.
Lily doesn’t feel like she lives in a gilded cage or even a fairy tale. She had rarely any contact with her children. They’re not even 6 years old and either spending their time with tutors or with their grandparents. At first she had been happy, that James wouldn’t demand another child. But as time went by, she began to realise, that he seems to care less and less about her well-being. As long as she can’t shame his family or be a bad influence on his children, he couldn’t care less about Lily.
Once she’d eavesdropped on him, and almost snapped her wand, as he shamelessly pleasured himself, while murmuring the name of her former childhood friend. Fantasising, what he would like to do to the shy Slytherin potions prodigy, alas, nobody knows where he had gone. But this didn’t appease her fury!
Imagine her fury, as she realised, that she was practically a prisoner at Potter manor. She wasn’t allowed to brew in Fleamont’s laboratory or use the family library for her research. Doing a Mastery, no, that just wasn’t done.
And she was certain that those elves spied on her and report back to her in-laws. But complaining didn’t help. She tried it once and got punished for it. It was after Harry had celebrated his first birthday, as she refused to give James a spare. The next thing she did remember was being chained to the bed, a lust and a strong fertility potion forced down her throat, while James could do, whatever he wanted to her. The elves had even sown her mouth shut on order of Euphemia Potter, and the magical thread wouldn’t be removed, before Lily’s will had been broken.
Needless to say, she never dared to complain loudly again. She wasn’t even allowed to name her own children. Oh, no, this was the prerogative of the proud grandparents. Just to rub it in, how powerless she is, they did choose a flower name for Lily’s daughter, but then combined it with Lilith. Harry got named after a Potter ancestor, and the children even got a wet nurse, as it was tradition for light pureblood families. And just to rub it in even more, the elves did even remove her breast milk, so that James could feed his children during the night.
Euphemia disliked her daughter-in-law immensely, but she did adore her two grandchildren. And she would have liked to have more, but alas, the chit just didn’t get pregnant. James also didn’t share a bed with her any longer, but preferred his old room.
Sirius was only rarely with them any longer. He had inherited a small fortune from his late Uncle Alphard and used most of it to buy a luxurious apartment in Muggle London. He was still single, and seems to get worse, after the Blacks had kicked him out. And there were even rumours about a lurking full disownment. Sure, Sirius could be a rebel, but he was still their son, too.
Sirius had been furious, not only being enslaved to the old coot, but once more shouldn’t he get his revenge on Snivellus and the brat, that had ruined everything. Oh, he wanted nothing more than capture his brother and to rub it in, that he would never again be able to find them, because Sirius had already killed them. Maybe it’s time to kill Regulus, yes, only a dead Snake is a good Snake!
As always Sirius hadn’t learned anything from past mistakes, and he was not longer welcomed at any Black family homes. Even Andromeda had cut all ties with him, after learning the truth by accident.
Sirius had gone back to London, changed into his Grim and wanted to rip out the throats of his father and brother, as Kreacher came to their rescue. The elf killed the frothing grim, before he could lunge at their throats. As the grim was dead he turned back into a naked Sirius Black, with a glowing phoenix on his chest.
“Thank you, Kreacher!”, said Regulus breathlessly.
Orion and Walburga did also thank their loyal elf and then decided to burn the corpse with Fiendfyre. They would also still undergo the full disownment ritual and inform their family afterwards.
“Master look”, cried Kreacher, and the family followed his outstretched arm. A new branch had appeared on their family tree. Regulus’ name was tied to Severus Prince-Black and underneath you could read: Alexander Regulus Prince-Black.
This gave them some hope, but it also hurt Regulus even more. His missing lover had had a child, his son, and nobody knows where he could be. What had the headmaster and his minions done to him?
“I will contact the Prince family, maybe they know a way to find Severus and his child. This attack did at least give us some answers.”, remarked Orion.
“What do you mean, father?”, inquired Regulus baffled.
“This does not only confirms, that our enemies had known, that your beloved was a male bearer, but that he was also carrying the next Black heir. You told us about the bad blood between them, but this goes farther, it shows, that Sirius was willing to murder them in cold blood, just to still kept a small claim on the Black lordship. Your grandfather had already decided, that the one of you, who has a magical heir will become the next Lord Black. It was one of the reasons, why he did not only try to shag so many willing witches at school, but also tries to take out the competition. It made sense, that he somehow learned your lover’s secret, and that was all it takes, to make him go round the bend.”
“Since your beloved is a male bearer, you both are viewed as blessed by Lady Magic, and this only strengthen your claim on the Black heirship, Regulus. You were also viewed as bonded in the eyes of magic, as soon as Severus got pregnant with your son. But it’s still a mystery, why we didn’t figure this out sooner. Something had to kept them so well hidden, that even our family tapestry wouldn’t reveal the truth!”, explained Walburga.
“We need to find them, I missed Severus for years, and I want to meet our son, too!”, exclaimed Regulus. “It’s as if my heart is only beating with half of its strength!
Both had recognised the glowing phoenix as a slave mark, and it confirmed their worst worries. But could it really be the missing Albus Dumbledore, who would go so far, as to enslave their estranged son? And how many others had he enslaved, too?
James felt the burning of his slave mark, gritted his teeth and apparated to Dumbledore’s lair. It was never a good idea to let the old warlock wait. He knelt and crawled closer, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore’s wand out of his sight. He’d learned his lesson well!
“You’re late. I do not hope, that you have forgotten your last lesson, my dear boy!”, scolded him Dumbledore.
“Forgive me, Master. I couldn’t risk anyone learning, where you’ve been hiding. And Lily is once more trying to break free from her boundaries.”, replied James.
“That’s not an excuse. Sirius had informed me, that Snape and his brat could still be alive. Find them and bring them to me! Do not disappoint me!”, growled Dumbledore.
James agreed to it, anything better than being crucioed. To be honest, he was also curious, what had happened to Snape, since his disappearance all those years ago. How did he even have a child? It doesn’t really matter, James would find them and drag them back to Britain. At least the life debt should help him on locating them quicker.
He also didn’t make the mistake to ask after any of the other Marauders. They weren’t close any longer. Sirius’ idiotic prank had broken their pack irrevocably. Remus did try his best to get access to the different werewolf packs in Britain, before poisoning them on Dumbledore’s orders. Of course, this did get more and more difficult, after the first victims had been found, and Greyback’s pack didn’t even let him near their forest. Lupin also justified feared, what they would to do him, should they ever connect the dots.
Unfortunately for the young werewolf, Greyback had figured out, what his wayward cub had done, and already set up a trap. Lupin would soon regret it, turning into a kin slayer, as he would be forced to face his werewolf sire on the next full moon, and his chances for survival are practically nil.
Just as expected, Lupin did fall into the trap of Greyback. Due to having bitten the young wizard as a young child by accident, Greyback had showed him too much leniency, which he regretted bitterly. Lupin got offered a fight on life or death between him and the older alpha. The victor would be allowed to walk away freely.
Surprisingly Lupin did accept it, he had always hold a grudge on the older werewolf, even after learning the truth many years later, that it was the fault of his own father, that he had become an accidental victim of the powerful werewolf alpha. It was just easier to hate the werewolf, who had just wanted to protect his own pack, and even went so far only to turn sick children, as the curse could cure them or those, who had been abused and neglected by their own families, and therefore choose a cursed life!
Lyall Lupin, Remus’ father had been part of an illegal group of werewolf hunters, who deliberately target the camps of the werewolves, when the adult wolves were absent and gruesomely slaughter the females and the cubs. Among the victims had also been Greyback’s mate and their cubs. This was the reason, why Greyback wanted revenge, especially as a drunk Lyall Lupin insulted Greyback during a full moon night in the Leaky cauldron, but was too much of a coward to accept a duel between them, as it was once tradition.
After learning, that Lyall Lupin had bewitched a young muggle woman (Hope) after hiding a dark creature at her workplace and convinced her of marriage, should he solve the problem, it only got worse. This was utterly despicable in Greyback’s eyes and he tried to track them down, even as it take a few years, due to Dumbledore’s meddling and his alliance with the werewolf hunter. Hope Lupin had been kept under potions and curses for years, as part of an experiment, what would work to subdue muggles, and just shows, that even then, Dumbledore still wanted to rule over both worlds!
Of course, this had also some negative side effects for their child. Hope had big troubles to become pregnant, and her only son would be a spineless enabler with a hidden dark side, that got nourished by his insane father. He wanted to tun Remus into another devoted member for Dumbledore’s order, no matter the cost. Remus got bitten, as he wanted to surprise his father at night and jumped out of a bush, just as Greyback had found him and disarmed the hunter. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop the attack, and infected the young boy.
Hope had died from ovary cancer as another nasty side-effect of those experiments, but not even Remus seems to grief the death of his mother, as the training by his father made him soon forget her.
To keep this a secret, and also placing a geas on the young boy, that would suppress his wolfish instincts for as long as possible, Lyall Lupin agreed, that Remus would be trained by Dumbledore to become one of his personal enforcers. He wouldn’t be registered, but should regularly report back to the headmaster, and should it be necessary infect others, too. This was the true reason, why the security wards had been so lacking. Dumbledore needed unlucky students to find their way into Lupin’s lair – either they survived and got turned, or they got killed, and their bodies never found. Female students would be used as breeding slaves, after all the wolf would trigger an earlier puberty in the young werewolf, and this is the only way to keep him partially on a tight leash. Lupin never know how many young witches he had attacked during his time at Hogwarts, as this was part of the suppressed memories. The only kindness that Dumbledore bestowed them was a protection against lycanthropy, but should they survive, then they would be delivered straight to one of those hidden facilities and never be seen again.
As soon as Remus turned 17 years old, he received, just like his father the phoenix tattoo, and was quite proud of himself. Never knowing, that this wouldn’t only turn him into another slave like his former pack, but also allowing the crazy headmaster to siphon of as much of his magic, as he’d liked.
And now, he had no other choice, but to fight the infamous Fenrir Greyback, something which he had always dreaded, but also yearned for it to happen. The fight was hard and bloody, but Greyback won and then ordered that Lupin’s corpse would be put inside the fountain at the British Ministry of Magic, with the phoenix tattoo on full display.
To be honest, it was often quite too easy to leave any corpse behind in that Ministry building. But most of the time, they prefer to do this with those wixen, that had wronged their pack! Lupin senior was the next on their list!
Needless to say, that Dumbledore did throw a giant tantrum inside his lair, another dead Marauder, why had this to be happen now? Hopefully, James would be able to find the missing Slytherin and his brat, or all will be lost!
Using a ritual allowed James to pinpoint that they had to be in Greece, therefore a portkey to the main land would be helpful, and then letting the life debt magic help him to apparate closer.
Too bad for the arrogant Potter heir, that he hadn’t bothered to study the weather reports and ended up in a bad storm near the island, where Severus and Alexander were living. The storm did almost spell James’ end, but somehow Severus had feel the need to go for a walk at the beach. He spotted the body in the water and without hesitation swam out to save the dunderhead.
Severus successfully brought the unconcious body of his nemesis back to the beach, and sending a Patronus to one of his Greek friends to bring a car and blankets. He then transfigured a few big stones into warm towels to give them some protection against the elements.
A second patronus would ensure that Alexander stay in their cottage and not trying to look for his missing parent. For his age, Alexander was extremely overprotective over his bearer, and would even face a storm, just to check on Severus. Something that Severus wished to avoid, since Alexander was still so young.
Yannis & Georgios appeared just a few minutes later, the twins were used to help Severus on his different errands and could immobilise the most erratic patient, should it be necessary.
“Hi, Sev. Only you would consider to go to the beach during a storm”, smirked Yannis.
“Can we not mention it. We need to bring him to the cottage, as I can’t say how long he was in the water. Dunderhead or not, Potter shouldn’t need to die for that.”, replied Severus.
“Do you know him?”, inquired Georgios curiously.
“Indeed, I do – he is one of my former bullies. I have no idea, how he suddenly appeared near our island. And it doesn’t matter. Let’s go, I would like to be back, before Alexander decided to go looking for me. The brat is much too protective!”, answered Severus.
“Deal with it Sev, the little brat loves you. You’re his whole world.”, grinned Yannis.
As James woke up, he found himself tied to a bed, without his wand, and with a strong headache. The room was tasteful decorated, the lights dimmed, and he still had no idea how he ended up here.
Voices could be heard nearby. Curiously, he tries to eavesdrop, just to grit his teeth in anger, as he wasn’t able to hear anything.
“Done your homework, brat?”, asked Severus.
“Sure, Papa. What’s about the stranger? Why is he here?”, demanded Alexander.
“Because I am not in the mood to let anyone drown, not even one of my former bullies!”, explained Severus. “Don’t worry, I’ve already alerted our account manager. Two of the Greek Gringotts Goblins will floo in, after the storm is over and interrogate Potter. Depending on the answers, we need also to involve the Greek Ministry of Magic. And I would really like to avoid that, when possible!
“I don’t like it! How could he find us here?”, muttered Alexander rebelliously.
“It doesn’t matter, he can’t harm us, brat!”, commented Severus.
“Fine, I’m going to prepare the mixed salad for dinner, Yannis had also brought fresh fish from his latest catch.”, offered Alexander.
“Don’t touch the stove. I will join you soon, after I’ve checked on our guest!”, reminded him Severus.
“Alright, Papa!”, agreed Alexander and went to the kitchen.
“Awake again, Potter! I don’t know how you may have found us, and it doesn’t matter. You will be soon be facing the Goblins, and hopefully, it’ll be the last time that our ways will ever cross!”, sneered Severus.
“Don’t be so sure about that, you still owe me a life debt. I can demand whatever I like from you. So do not be so cocky. A male bearer, who would have thought and so handsome without that hideous glamour. Would be a shame should something happen to your brat!”, challenged him James immediately.
“We’ll see about that!”, scoffed Severus.
Hearing the floo, he send his patronus to lead the guests to the correct room. Soon afterwards two Goblin elders entered the room. Sneering at the Potter heir, the two greeted Severus in fluent Gobbledegook, and he answered in the same tongue to Potter’s dismay, as he couldn’t speak it.
“Let me check on you first, Severus! Maybe the gods had been gracious and you are finally free!”, suggested one of the Goblin elders.
Severus nodded, and let them work their magic. He trusted them, as they had been the ones to help him adjusting to their new life and ensure that none of their foes would be able to find them!
“Fantastic news, my child, there is no life debt tying you together any longer. Saving this disgrace of a wizard had wiped the slate clean. Please leave us alone, so that we may interrogate him. Depending on the answers we will involve the Greek Aurors in this case!”, informed him the Goblin calmly.
“I understand, please share our evening meal later. You know how to find our kitchen!”, offered Severus, before leaving the room.
Together with Alexander did Severus prepare a scrumptious meal. For their Goblin guests did he also fry some delicious mutton, while he prepared a fish dish for Alexander and himself.
James didn’t enjoy the interrogation by the Goblins at all. Their Veritaserum made him spill all beans and even override Dumbledore’s orders. He got told, that he would later handed over to the Greek Aurors for further investigation. They also know how to rid him of the slave brand, but he would have to sign a document, that will prevent him from being near Severus or any of his children for the next 10 years.
“Be glad, that you got handed over to the Aurors, instead of facing our justice, wizard. Severus and his son are viewed as Goblin kin. It would have cost you your head, idiot!”, sneered the older Goblin.
It was the first time, that James learned about this, and needless to say, he didn’t utter a single protest. No need to make his situation even worse. Turning on Dumbledore, maybe that’s the best he could do when he managed to avoid Azkaban. Sure, it meant, that he can kiss any chances of the Potter lordship good-bye. It’s not as if he’d really cared about that. Should Harry take it someday, he would certainly do a better job compared to James!
He got even lucky, that he also received his share of the evening meal, as Snape could have just not fed him. Seems as if he is really the better man.
The Goblins had a nice evening with the Snape-Black family. Even informing Severus, that Sirius Black is dead, without sharing overly much of the rabid mutt’s fate. They also told father and son, that only after Sirius had been dead, did they appear permanently on the Black family tapestry. Whatever Dumbledore may have done keep them hidden, and seems only starting to fade during the last few days.
They did also inform him, that the Princes and the Black had never stopped their search for Severus and his child. Which helped to soothe some of his fears and insecurities. Regulus hadn’t married anyone else, but stayed faithful.
Marvolo Malfoy – Lord of Slytherin had been chosen as new headmaster of Hogwarts and already enacted some long overdue reforms as well as an audit for the school, that revealed many crimes committed by Dumbledore and his allies! He had successfully courted Bellatrix Black, and their wedding would be take place during the next summer.
Rodolphus Lestrange had married into the Greengrass family, while his brother Rabastan started a triad with the Prewett twins. Only Molly Weasley née Prewett had been vocally against it, but warned, that shouldn’t she stopped her uncouth behaviour, then she would face the strict family laws for her own transgressions.
Epilogue:
Britain 1991
Dumbledore and his order didn’t stand a chance – the ICW and their Goblin allies were merciless. Dumbledore got tried in front of the ICW after the irate Lady Magic personally appeared and ripped out his magical core, before placing a truth on him, so that he could only speak the truth and not longer had the silver tongue ability.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone, that many crimes got revealed, but the most devastating blow got delivered by Severus Prince-Black, who had attended the trial with his son Alexander and his reunited partner Regulus Prince-Black. Seeing the happy family together was the final nail for Dumbledore’s sanity and as he tried to break free and to strangle Severus with his bare hands, did he got hit by lighting bolts out of the blue, before a Goblin decapitated him in front of the shocked audience.
James Potter got off easy, as his time as an unwilling slave go taken into account. He wouldn’t be allowed to work as an Auror or ever become the lord of the Potter family, but he wouldn’t face any time in prison.
Lily Potter had finally gotten her wish to go separate ways, as she would never be viewed as an equal partner for James, and therefore wished to start anew in the United States. A small estate with a single vault (20.000 Galleons) her wand and anything she may have bought over the years would be hers.
The custody for Hadrian and Rose would remain with the Potters, as the twins had no interest to live with their mother as they had a stronger bond with their grandparents. Unlike James, had the twins a more open-minded education and therefore no pressure about houses at Hogwarts – let the Sorting Hat decide.
James did marry a French witch a few years later and had more children with her, while begin to train as a social worker, after excessive mind healing sessions and also having to atone for his bullying days!
Severus and Regulus had 5 more children – 3 sons and 2 daughters, which were an absolute delight for their family and friends. Hadrian Potter & Alexander Black got both sorted into Slytherin. Rose got sorted into Gryffindor together with Neville Longbottom, her childhood friend.
To the surprise of the Weasleys, Ron got sorted into Ravenclaw, breaking the mould and become the protector of a young muggleborn witch – Hermione Granger. Together the duo was unstoppable, and with friends in every house, house unity was no longer a dream, but reality!
Peter had been able to escape, and was living in the Arabian Emirates, he had no wish to ever return to Britain, and successfully established his own spy-net, which ensured that nobody would dare to cross them any longer!
All was well, and Dumbledore would suffer with Sirius forever in hell for his crimes, together with the other allies, that deliberately followed his evil crusade!