Chapter 71: Time moves on

Rick was made the secret keeper of the horcruxes and shared the secret with Dumbledore and Regulus. Arcturus wanted no part in this so wasn’t told. He told Lily, his mother and Bella and the latter had been completely disgusted by the fact she had held one of them in her hands.

During his last lesson with Charlie, Rick had met his father Arthur and a great friendship regarding muggle began between the two. The Weasley patriarch had quite a few ideas about enchanting muggle objects but not really quite having the understanding of them. That was why he created a bit of hazard most of the time.

When Rick realized that Arthur was actually his cousin twice removed, things went even smoother. It was Dorea who told him that one of her cousins was Cedrella Black and Arthur’s mother. She had been disowned for marrying Septimus Weasley long ago. The family discovery didn’t stop there as one of Molly’s uncles, Ignatius, was married to Lucretia Black, Arcturus’ eldest child.Just like he did for Andromeda, Rick sent a letter to Cedrella telling her that if she wanted her disownment annulled she just had to say so (giving her access to her vault that was still untouched since her disownment). Dorea quickly sent a letter to Lucretia and Cedrella for a meeting and to catch up. The house of Black was reconnecting with close family and getting stronger. If not politically then in simple numbers.

By the time September came around, many things had happened. Lily had finished her charm mastery and passed her arithmancy mastery. She had been warned by Dumbledore that the Arithmancy teacher’s contract would end next June and that they would not renew it, meaning Lily was more or less hired. That meant that she would either live at Hogwarts on a permanent basis for ten months or take the floo twice everyday. Rick had said he could always buy some land near Hogsmeade and have another manor built there. Something that everyone agreed on. Especially Dorea who still felt uncomfortable sometimes in Potter Manor because of Charlus’ absence.

Bella got back in top shape and now that she didn’t have to give birth to an heir anymore, entered the duelling circuit. Both Solo and in duo, her partner being Marlene. The two had bonded during Marlene’s training and were working quite well together. Especially now that Bella had more or less learned everything Rick had to teach her about muggle knowledge. She had come up with her own spells that Rick jokingly said ‘only a cunning Slytherin could have come up with that’.

Minerva and Severus had visited Potter Manor to see their goddaughter. The latter had been gobsmacked by Rose looking exactly like her mother. He had also been quite uncomfortable when Veronica ended in his arms but quick instructions on how to hold a baby and he relaxed quite a bit. Lily finally lent him the Japanese potion books she was done with and he was quite excited at the prospect of reading them himself. He had asked her to review his courses and find anything he could do better.

It was a long talk that lasted for multiple days and saw him visit quite often. They agreed that the very basics like ingredients handling and security needed to be the first class for the first and second year and that brewing potion should come later. She had been quite happy to see her childhood friend finally opening himself to others’ ideas and improvement. He didn’t particularly like teaching in general but with Voldemort still around it was important for him to be close to Dumbledore to play the spy game if needed.

Minerva had loved to meet and talk with Godric and felt proud of herself when he complimented her on how she was leading the house of the lion in Hogwarts. Since she was visiting, Rick finally gave her the snitch from the World Cup Finals he never got around to giving her. This time it was in a box with a tiny transfigured and charmed crow flying around and landing on top of the snitch. At this point she didn’t know where to put all those small transparent cases as her desk was limited in space.

Andromeda had her talk with Ted and it didn’t go well. There was no fight, no voice raised, no. There was just no reconciliation. Rick wasn’t quite aware of their arrangement but they both agreed on something and were happy with it. Horny Lily, who had made herself scarce since Rick had put his foot down in their sixth-year and completely disappeared when she married Rick (with one appearance with Dorea after Charlus’ death), was back and she didn’t want to go away this time. She had been quite troubled by it and Bellatrix noticed. She demanded to know what was wrong.

“So what?”

Was her answer when Rick and Lily told her all about it. She was absolutely not bothered by it at all and understood her attraction to her was a result of her attraction towards Andromeda and Dorea. Bella had no problem with Lily indulging her lust with her sister. They were not married together for one and for two…

“Who do you think was my first kiss?”

The Lady Black had added, implying that it had been Andromeda. That had changed everything and when Lily asked if she truly could go after the middle one of the Black Sisters, Bella had encouraged her. It took time for Lily to convince her to agree for Rick having the same privilege.

“Imagine how much more powerful the house of Black would be if Andromeda and Rick had children too.”

With a direct hit to Bella’s weaknesses: her love for the House of Black and Power, Bella quickly caved in. The only problem so far was that Rick wasn’t in the know but Lily was already planning to make him agree. He was doomed and trapped and he didn’t even know it. Not until it was too late on Christmas.

Lily and Bella may have been done with children but only for themselves. They had no problem with someone else getting pregnant. Lily was already salivating at the prospect of a pregnant Andromeda with breasts full of milk, just like Bella had been. It hadn’t been difficult to convert the second Black sister to see things Lily and Bella's way. She had a taste of a night of passion with Rick and wanted more. Way, way, more.

After tying Rick up to the bed and working together for hours on his cock without letting him cum, they could have asked anything from him and they would have gotten it. He had resisted as long as he could but a man could only do so much when three gorgeous ladies were continuously working on his prick. That’s how Andromeda ended up not pregnant but bred. Once he agreed to all their demands they released him. Though if you asked them they had released a beast and Andromeda took most of the blunt of his primal urges (which she had been fine with). It wasn’t a surprise when by late January her pregnancy had been confirmed. September and Nymphadora’s departure for Hogwarts were approaching too fast for Andromeda’s taste and at the same time not quick enough because she wanted to move in with the family.

Now that Nymphadora was almost old enough to be autonomous and since Andromeda couldn’t work with Ted anymore (not after what she witnessed at his workshop), Rick offered her to work with Remus at Up Your Arsenal. She wasn’t good with runes or charms but her personality made her really good with people. After coaching her a bit on what broom does what and for which occasion one broom is better than another, she worked as the vendor and clerk at the store. Remus was quite happy with getting a new employee and colleague because one of the workers he had hired had gotten married and quit.

One thing that delighted Rick for multiple reasons was Nymphadora gifting her old toy broom to Rose. Much like the Metamorphmagus did, Rose flew everywhere in the manor as if she was possessed and displayed her father and grandparents talent in flying. Minerva, who has received a memory of it, was already making plans with the gryffindor quidditch team almost a decade in the future.

Lily was a bit miffed that her daughter seemed to have taken her father’s love for flying, sense of adventure and recklessness. Not that much however, when Rose demonstrated that she liked books and was very curious about magic.

Whenever he could Rick would either transform into a crow and have Rose chase him or use his patronus instead. From time to time, behind Lily’s back he took her on his broom to enjoy the breeze up in the sky. Rose was over the moon every time. And every time, she snuggled against her father’s chest making his heart melt.

Lily wasn’t the only one who went back to enjoy life a bit as if she was a teenager. ‘Responsible’ Bella had checked out, leaving Crazy and Horny Bella in control. She was back to calling Rick ‘Master’ full time (except when the children were present) and kept purring in his ear while molesting him.

The only time she behaved was during official meetings or gatherings like the Yule Ball or New Year's Eve's ball. Of course, while Lily was dressing more conservatively as the Woman-Who-Won (yet still wearing form fitting dresses), Bella had no such ethics and flaunted her body at Rick’s arm.

Both of his wives were often talked about in Witch Weekly every time they were seen publicly in a new outfit. Amusingly it was Lily who was acclaimed like the perfect image of a pureblood Lady while Bella was also acclaimed but for daring, freeing and innovative fashion. A true emancipated witch. Readers were divided in two sides. The first looked up to Lily and spat on Bellatrix, the second was doing the opposite.

Although Bella’s appearance was scandalous for the backward Wizarding Britain, she behaved like a queen and not like a slut. The few people who had called her a few bad words or tried to make a move on her thinking she was unfaithful and easy were put in their place by her sharp tongue or duelling skills. In the case of the latter, Bella fought herself with Rick as a second.

He never needed to intervene as she wiped the floor (sometimes literally) with the fools who didn’t know any better about running their mouths inappropriately. One of those people was a certain Lord Blishwick who had found out that it was Rick who broke his betrothal contract with Ameila or suspected it strongly. He had called Rick a coward who was hiding behind his wife because he couldn’t protect her and wasn’t man enough.

Even Bella looked at the man with pity.

Rick had issued  a duel of honor on the spot surrounded by all the ministry guests for the New Year’s Eve Ball and nobles or important families. Clearly, the Lord had forgotten that at twenty Rick nearly killed Voldemort. As expected by many, the duel had been violently one sided. It lasted five minutes and only because Rick toyed with Lord Blishwick. The man was still in St Mungos six  days after the due.

“I act as my wife’s second because she would never forgive me if I took her fun away. I’m also better at cleaning the mess she leaves behind.”

After the duel, Bellatrix dragged him away to a closet and fucked him good for the next half an hour before going back just in time to start the New Year.

A new development in spring of 1984 saw the light of day. Bellatrix, during one of her outings in muggle London had come across the declining punk style and one of his replacements: the goth. She had loved the idea of piercings as a form of jewelry and experimented quite a lot. In the end she opted for both ears pierced from top to bottom with small rings, accompanying huge earrings and a tongue piercing. And that was only for the face.

By the time Summer break came to an end, the new manor was done. Rick had bought the land of a small castle ruins North-East of Hogsmeade and had it completely torn down. The manor had been built on it. He had paid the goblins for the best ward work and put his own wards afterwards. It had not been cheap but the Potter family wasn’t poor and didn’t live an extravagant lifestyle. The money Rick made from his quidditch contract and bonus for his victories or image would cover everything in a few months alone. With the deals he had with his medical pills and the palladium, a decade playing quidditch would become three years of it. And that was only with Rick’s money.

Nonsensical books about Lily came to see the light of day. The fact that she had killed Voldemort and was the Lady Gryffindor made ink run and unscrupulous people tried to make money out of her name. Rick had found a very good solicitor who shut everything down and sued all those ‘authors’ for every last knut they had. They had been dumbfounded when they were sentenced guilty, not understanding that you couldn’t make money out of someone’s name for free. The only books Lily authorized talking about her were history books.They had to present a bill to the Wizengamot for the protection of the name and image of people. Until now there was no real law against defamation and libel. Everything was done through an honor duel or in rare cases a blood feud. People were not accountable for what they wrote or said and in Rick and Lily’s mind that wasn’t right. Especially when someone’s reputation could unjustly be dragged to the mud without any recourse to fight back.

At first there wasn't much traction behind the bill but after many examples more and more people got behind it. Rick attacked whoever he could. It was easy really. He pointed at a family, spat unflattering fake rumors then picked another then another. Lords and Ladies only understood why the Potters were pushing forward the bill when many were outraged by the lies brought upon their houses.

“What are you going to do? Duel me? I’ll wipe the floor with you. Sue me for defamation? Oh, wait. You can’t! Not yet at least.”

Of course to smooth things over, Rick said that it was indeed all lies and apologized for them but not for telling them in the first place because it allowed to make his point across. In the end the bill passed.

They also fought and were still fighting hard for werewolves rights. The relatively cheap price for the wolf-eazy pills and its effects helped greatly in swaying some political blocks their way. They made some small progress but it still wasn’t enough. Blood prejudice was too anchored in the Wizengamot and it would be years and possibly a new generation of Lord and Ladies before werewolves were not seen as third class citizens.

The day they left Potter Manor for Lions’ Pride Manor (because there were lots of ‘lions’ there) was a particularly sad day for Dorea. Everyone had already gone ahead and moved in. The grandmother of eight was standing near the floo and was looking at the living room with lots of sadness.

“You know it’s for the best, mom.” Rick said softly as he hugged her from behind.

“... I know. I… spent more than thirty years living here with your father. Suddenly leaving for somewhere else is…”

While Dorea had been quite distracted by her grandchildren and her work in potion brewing, the down time she had proved to be difficult. She was seeing Charlus everywhere. Leaving the manor for a place where her husband hasn’t been would free her from his metaphorical ghost but at the same time would feel as if she was forgetting about him or moving on. It didn’t feel quite right for her but neither quite wrong.

“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling. I only knew him for five years and it wasn’t nearly enough. I’m jealous of you. All this time spent with him… Not fair.”

“No… No, it’s not but this is the life we have.”

“We can always come back for Summer, you know? It’s warmer here and I suppose the children would want to get as far away from Hogwarts as possible once they are all studying there.”

“I’d like that.”

“...”

“...”

“Would he… be proud of me?”

Dorea’s eyes widened displaying the utter disbelief she felt. “Would? Corvus, your father was proud of you already. You were already an accomplished and strong wizard when you met and quite independent. Had he been alive he would have bragged to his old friends about having the best son in the world. Nearly killing a Dark Lord? Winning the Quidditch World Cup? Marrying not one but two beautiful witches? Eight children? His head wouldn’t have been able to go through any door.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He was always talking about how proud he was of you.”

“Why can you go through the doors then?”

“Because I’m not a boastful Gryffindork. That’s why.”

They both chuckled at her little jab then fell into silence. After one last look, Dorea took her son’s hand and went to the floo.