I returned to Grimmauld Place shortly after four in the afternoon. The moment I stepped through the front door, I noticed voices drifting from somewhere deeper within the house. The sound was unusual enough to catch my attention immediately. Grimmauld Place had become far livelier than it once was, but most conversations still tended to occur during meals. Following the voices through the corridor, I soon realized they were coming from the study.
I knocked lightly before opening the door.
Near the fireplace sat Arcturus Black, while Blake stood beside the desk holding several sheets of parchment and explaining something with far more enthusiasm than she usually displayed.
Both looked up as I entered.
"Ah, Alastair," Arcturus said, gesturing toward an empty chair. "Come in. Blake was just showing me the spell the two of you have been developing. I have to say, it is quite ingenious."
I took the offered seat and glanced toward the parchments scattered across the desk. Several contained projection diagrams while others showed enchantment sequences I recognized from our recent research.
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Black," I replied.
The old wizard waved away the formality with an expression that suggested he was in an unusually good mood.
"Credit should be given where it is due," he said. "Most students your age are satisfied if they manage to complete their homework without embarrassing themselves. The two of you are already attempting to improve existing magic and create something with practical commercial value."
Blake looked distinctly pleased by that assessment, though she tried to hide it.
"The projection charm still requires refinement," she said. "The stored images are stable now, but we haven't completely solved the persistence issue."
"Yet," I added.
"Yet," she agreed.
Arcturus chuckled softly before setting down one of the parchments he had been examining.
"I also understand that you intend to turn this enchantment into a commercial product once development is complete."
"That is the plan," I admitted.
"In that case," he said, folding his hands together thoughtfully, "the Black family will provide whatever assistance is reasonably required. Since the Black heir is involved in the project, our purchasing channels can be used to secure raw materials at proper rates, and our business contacts can assist with promotion once the product is ready for market."
For a moment, neither Blake nor I spoke.
That was not a small offer.
The Black family possessed generations of connections among merchants, craftsmen, suppliers, and influential families. Access to those networks would remove obstacles that would otherwise take years to overcome.
"I am happy to see such trust in us," I said honestly. "The Black family's support would certainly accelerate the process."
"It is less a matter of trust and more a matter of observation," Arcturus replied. "I have spent enough years watching people to recognize the difference between children playing with ideas and young innovators producing results. Thus far, the two of you have consistently produced results."
Blake attempted to look modest and failed completely.
Both Arcturus and I pretended not to notice.
The old wizard allowed the silence to linger for a few moments before his expression gradually became more serious. He set aside the parchments he had been examining and leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Since both of you are here, there is something I need to discuss."
The shift in tone immediately drew our full attention.
"Originally," Arcturus continued, "I had intended to keep the two of you away from the attention of noble society for several more years. Children attract enough scrutiny as it is, and heirs attract even more. My expectation was that you would spend your early years quietly building foundations before anyone truly began paying attention."
His gaze moved between Blake and me.
"Unfortunately, neither of you appears particularly interested in remaining unnoticed."
Blake coughed lightly.
I chose not to comment.
Arcturus snorted.
"That was not a compliment."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before fading once more.
"The Study Club, the professor duels, the reopening of a forgotten section of Hogwarts, your academic performance, your enchantment research, and your increasingly visible influence among the younger students have ensured that a great many people are now paying attention."
He paused briefly.
"More attention than I would prefer."
That wasn't surprising.
The club alone had likely generated enough gossip to reach every major family in Britain.
"You should both make an official appearance in noble society," Arcturus said. "There will be a Yule Ball on Christmas Eve. Normally such gatherings are reserved for older children. Fourteen is usually considered the minimum age for meaningful participation."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This year, however, invitations have been extended to younger heirs."
I suspected I knew exactly why.
Arcturus confirmed it a moment later.
"Most of the attention will be focused on the two of you."
Blake straightened immediately.
"I understand."
"So do I," I replied.
Arcturus studied us for a moment before nodding.
"Good. Then at least I won't have to explain the obvious. There will be curiosity. There will be speculation. Some families will seek alliances. Others will attempt to gather information. A few will undoubtedly decide they dislike you before you have spoken a single word."
"That sounds manageable," I said.
"It is."
His expression became thoughtful.
"What is less manageable is the fact that many of those opinions have already begun forming."
I considered that for a moment.
"To be honest, I expected a far more outrageous reaction from traditionalist families after my behavior at Hogwarts and my stance regarding muggleborn students."
Arcturus barked out a short laugh.
"Trust me, some of them are furious."
That answer surprised neither Blake nor me.
"The difference," he continued, "is that most pureblood families possess enough sense not to display that anger publicly."
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"Whether they like it or not, Albus Dumbledore currently holds enormous influence throughout magical Britain. Publicly attacking children for associating with muggleborns would gain them very little and cost them quite a lot."
His gaze settled on me.
"Many of them are waiting instead."
"Waiting for what?"
"To see whether your ideas are temporary idealism or something more substantial."
The room grew quiet.
After several moments, Arcturus continued.
"I will be honest with you, Alastair. While I respect your intelligence and admire your accomplishments, I do not agree with all of your conclusions."
I nodded.
That had always been obvious.
"Nor do I expect you to."
That earned a faint smile.
"Good."
His expression hardened slightly.
"I have spent my entire life safeguarding the interests of House Black. That responsibility does not disappear simply because I happen to like you."
The words were calm.
Measured.
But entirely sincere.
"If I ever conclude that your actions threaten the future of this family, I will act accordingly."
Beside me, Blake remained perfectly still.
Arcturus looked directly at her.
"Even if doing so causes Blake to hate me."
The statement hung in the air for several seconds.
Then Blake shook her head.
"You really don't understand me if you think I'd hate you for protecting the family."
For the first time since the conversation began, Arcturus looked genuinely surprised.
The surprise lasted only a moment before something softer appeared in his eyes.
Pride.
"Perhaps," he admitted quietly, "I understand you better than I thought."
The tension in the room eased after that, though not entirely.
Some truths were too important to disappear simply because they had been spoken aloud.
Still, I found the conversation oddly reassuring.
Arcturus Black might disagree with parts of my vision.
He might challenge me in the future.
But unlike many of the people we would soon meet at the Yule Ball, at least he was honest about where he stood.
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