Chapter 90: Long overdue conversation
“I’m sorry I didn’t come to visit sooner. I just couldn’t.”
“Why so?”
“Guilt mainly.”
The confused look on his father’s portrait made Rick sigh. He went on to explain how Charlus met his end and why. It was a bit irrational, Charlus’ death was Mulciber’s fault but also the Death Eaters, Voldemort and Charlus himself. He could have ran, hid but he chose to stay and fight. To stay and protect innocent people.
“Mom… I felt even more guilty when I looked after her. She was… As if a dementor had kissed her. She didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep much. She didn’t take care of herself at all. She was just… sitting on the bed and looking outside the window. There was no one home, dad.”
“Ho, Dorea.” Charlus couldn’t help but shake his head in disappointment and sadness.
“It was Lily that helped her. One day she had enough. She brought her to the bathroom for a really needed shower and… Well, she begged for her help because she found out she was pregnant and needed someone to guide and teach her on how to be a mother.”
“I have a grandchild?!”
“A? More like…” Rick took a moment to count them all. “Nine with a tenth any day now.”
“Tell me about them! Corvus! Tell me about them! And how come Lily had so many children? What year is it?”
“Well… Lily and I ended up marrying Bellatrix too so she helped. The very first is Rose she’s…”
One by one, Rick talked about his children. The legitimate ones and the illegitimates ones. The latter needed a lot of explanation. That Rick fathered three children with his second wife’s sisters was mind blowing to Charlus but then again, they were Blacks and Blacks were more nuts than sane. He understood the need to strengthen the House but that was going a bit too far. Even more so with the plans they had in mind. Impregnating little Nymphadora who wasn’t so little anymore? Amelia Bones to repopulate the House of Bones and tie the house strongly with house Potter and Black? On parchment it all made sense in reality the method was completely asinine.
“And of course, your mother is all for it because that’s more grandchildren to spoil.”
“Yes.” Rick chuckled in annoyance. “The more, the better but I’m honestly done with children. Raising them I mean but duty is duty, I suppose. I just hope that by the time I'm fifty, the last ones are at Hogwarts.”
“I imagine you didn’t have much time for you.”
“No. I managed though. I won the European league nine times for the Magpies. The World Cup three consecutive times for England. Some people say I’m the greatest seeker in history.”
“That’s something to be proud about but it’s not of any interest to you, isn’t it?”
“No. I… I was happy the day I announced my retirement. I thought I could finally get back to studying magic. Except… Voldemort made a reappearance.”
“Reappearance?”
“Yeah. Long story but Lily blew his head off with a muggle weapon.”
“She used a gun?” the eyes of the portrait widened in shock.
“More or less. So much for the Dark Lord being the worst in history. He survived however, as a wraith. We thought he was too weak to do anything but when Rose started Hogwarts he came back possessing a teacher. And now… He’s resurrected for good. That happened a week ago.”
“... I need more information.”
Charlus got it. From Rick failing to kill him to his resurrection, Rick held back nothing but the actual knowledge of the Horcrux. He didn’t know if a portrait, something without a soul, was bound by the Fidelius’ magic. Now the ones in Albus’ office were bound to the school. To keep the headmasters’ secrets so he wasn’t worried about them, but he wasn’t going to risk it even if the portrait was his father’s.
“I felt so powerless, dad. I couldn’t prevent her from being put in mortal peril. I couldn’t help her when she needed me the most.”
“Now, Corvus, that’s simply not true.”
“Of course it is!” The angry scowl Rick gave his father didn’t intimidate one bit.
“You taught her everything you could so she could defend herself and it worked. She faced an Ironbelly and came out of the encounter victorious. She faced the danger of the Black Lake and came out victorious. She faced the maze and Voldemort and came out victorious. You giving her the cloak saved her life. You may not have a direct hand in protecting her but you did protect her.”
“She’s fourteen! She shouldn’t have to defend herself!”
“Indeed, no. But that’s life. You know even better than I do that it is pointless to focus on what happened and how it could have been different. What matters is to go forward. You always knew that, far better than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“But…”
“Did she ever blame you for the situation she was in?”
“...” instead of giving a verbal answer Rick shook his head.
“Then there you have it. From what I heard about her she’s just like you in that regard. She doesn’t bother with what she can’t control and goes forward to change what she can.”
“... It’s becoming even harder and harder to keep this mindset, dad.”
“But you will. Of that I’m sure. Now tell me about your mother. Is she well? Is she happy?”
Rick dreaded that question. That was partly why he didn’t want to speak with his father. His mother was well but it was only thanks to her grandchildren. Arcturus too in a fashion. She needed to occupy her mind because while the wound of Charlus’ death was old and closed a bit, it never really did completely. She wasn’t happy. That felt like a failure to Rick. Still, since he was there, there was no point to lie, especially since the family was moving back to Potter Manor. His father’s response wasn’t what he expected.
“Foolish woman. She needs to let me go.”
“Dad?”
“She’s barely into the second part of her lifespan as a witch. Does she intend to not know happiness anymore until she dies? Foolish, absolutely foolish! Corvus, bring your mother to me. She and I need to have a talk.”
“I… Okay. But if she’s burning you to cinder, that’s on you!”
“She won’t burn me down.” Charlus rolled his eyes at how the stupid the notion was.
“Merely singe me a bit.”
Rick shrugged his shoulders. If that was what his father wanted then he would do it. He just hoped his mother wouldn't curse him to hell or go back to the way she was after her husband’s death.
Saying goodbye to his father he went to the Manor’s basement. He had a lot of work to do to recreate the playroom in Lions’ Pride. Lots of runes to carve.
“It would be faster if I could simply point my wand and cast a spell that would carve the-”
He froze on the spot at the idea he got. Runes needed to be carved with a wand or another magical medium but what if he didn’t need to? What if, indeed, he created a spell which when it hit a surface would carve on the spot the rune? Like a branding. The motif is already complete when it’s applied on a surface. If he could do that with ink on parchment, he could definitely do that on harder surfaces. The principle was the same, the method just a little different. Knowing that such spells required knowledge in very advanced arithmancy he immediately thought of Lily. She was better at it than him after all.
Taking the floo he went back to Lions’ Pride. He spent the whole day talking with his father so he knew that Lily was either in the parlor enjoying a late night cup of tea while looking at Scotland’s wilderness through the open window or was already in bed. He checked the parlor first because Bella may still be tied up to the bed. Whether she was or not, didn’t matter. He didn’t want to deal with her right this instant. It proved to be the correct decision when he found the love of his life doing exactly what he expected her to do.
“Good evening, you beautiful woman.” he embraced her from behind and kissed the back of her neck.
“Hmm. Great evening now.” she leaned into his chest, melting at the contact of his warmth. “Where were you?”
“Speaking with my dad’s portrait. I needed fatherly advice.”
“I think you know more about being a father than Charlus does.”
“True but… Nevermind, you wouldn’t understand. What I wanted to talk about is the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had. After asking you to marry me and recruiting Bella, I mean.”
“Now, I’m intrigued. That will have to wait though. I’m done with my tea and dead tired.”
“Time to go to bed?”
“Hmhm.” she hummed in agreement.
Picking her up in his arms, making her squeal softly in contentment, he carried her to their bedroom where they found a nearly delirious and begging Bella. She had been present the whole day cumming and had completely drenched the bed.
“Shit! You didn’t let her out?” He put Lily down and used his wand to free his second wife. On the spot Lily went to check on her.
“I completely forgot about it! With the children I- HMM!”
Bella had jumped on Lily and pushed her down onto her back.
“Moaaar.” the insane woman said in a tired voice.
Rick facepalmed while Lily was completely dumbfounded.
“Only, you Bella. Only you.” He remarked and pulled Bella off Lily. “The toys were not enough, huh?”
“No~ I need you… to be satisfied.”
“Tomorrow. We’re all tired.”
Rick got on the bet between his wives and both had the same reaction: they snuggled against him. In Bella’ case it was more curling around him like a cat though.When morning came (and so did Bellatrix from Rick’s cock) he went to see his mother. He entered her room silently, and joined her in bed. Above the cover. He hugged her from the front, and put his head against her midriff.
“Now, what happened that I’m so lucky in the morning to have my son pay me a visit?” The still a bit sleepy voice of Dorea reached his ears.
“You gave birth to me?”
She snorted softly and opened her eyes for good, looking down at him. Instinctively reaching for his dirty blond hair to stroke them. She hadn't had that in years and only realized now how much she had missed it.
“What’s wrong, Corvus?”
“I… realized… With the Dork Lord coming back, I've been neglecting some people in my life. You most of all. So I was thinking… Well I wasn’t really. I was more feeling in truth. Feeling that I wanted to spend time with my beautiful and awesome mother, just the two of us. Perhaps make use of those blank coupons I gave her from Christmas all those years ago and she never got around to use.”
Dorea gave him a graceful smile. “I never had to. You were always right there.”
“But not with you. I know there was the war, then Rose then more grandchildren. Quidditch too.”
“That’s called growing up. It’s bound to happen. You have your own life to live and-”
“And you’re a very important part of it. So we can stay like this all day… Or we can go on a mother-son week-end in two days? Better yet. Do both.”
Dorea took a moment to consider that plan. Did she want to spend time with her one and only child? Of course she did. But taking him away from his family? His children and wives? That felt wrong, despite how much she wanted to do so. Yet here, she was being offered the opportunity to feel guilt free for wanting it. She wasn’t asking openly for it, she wasn’t saying the words. She just received the offer.
“Alright. Let’s do that.” She felt good saying that and felt something that she hadn’t felt in years: happiness. A pleased smile spread on her lips. “Where did you have in mind?”
“A three day long-weekend? I was thinking… Maybe Japan? I know how you loved it there. Or the chalet in the French Alps? The one I sent Lily and Bella.”
“... Japan. I want to see more of it.”
“Then Japan it is.”
He rose from his position and gave his mother a loving kiss on the cheek. Promising her a very good time there, he exited the room and started his day. First thing first he went to the Department of magical transportation to request an international Portkey to France, where he would be able to get one for Romania then China then finally Japan. That’s when it hit him that he wouldn’t be able to reach Japan for the week-end. He could easily get a portkey for France by greasing the hand of whoever was working at the Department of transportation but the other ministries? Not as corrupt and it would take time to get the authorization to get a portkey. As such he changed his plan. The three day week-end would become a whole week and they would go there by muggle means. Flying in a plane.
It was easy to book a flight. A bit less when creating his mother’s identity. He was still known as Rick Wald in the muggle world he left before he could get one, he still existed in the records. His mother didn’t exist at all since she was born in the Wizarding world and lived all her life there. After a bit of research, abuse of the confundus charm on the right people and many pounds, Rick had forged a real identity for his mother. Not only for her but the whole family who hadn’t yet. Bella, Andi, Narcissa. The children all got one already. After all, they went to muggle school and needed identification for that.
He told Lily about his get away with his mother and while she didn’t like it being on such short notice she was happy for Dorea to spend some time with her only son. The idea of carving pre-written runes through spells astonished her. It was pure genius in her opinion. She even went further and thought of creating spells for multiple runes at the same time. To make whole sentences. The problem was that the need to remember all those spells was a hindrance and that wasn’t even taking into consideration that a slightly different spell needed to be created for each rune or combination. That would take years to do for little gain.
More importantly Rick’s idea gave her one of her own for her problem with the communicating mirror. By using runes as a phone number it may be possible for a mirror to call any other mirror if the runes chosen on the calling mirror matched the receiving mirror. Muggle had what they called ‘cell phone’ already, she could buy a few and study them to get some ideas. Ever since she became a mother then a teacher, she hadn’t had much time to study what muggles came up with technology. She was surprised to see they had made leaps in this area in the last fifteen years and she suspected the discoveries will keep coming and coming at a faster pace. She thought about the medical discoveries and wondered if muggles were advanced enough to help with a cure to Lycanthropy. That was a question for another time however.
“I guess it’s just you and me now.”
Lily had just watched Rick and Dorea leave for their week vacation and turned her head to look at Bella. The playful grin her sister-wife had, told her everything she needed to know about what was going on in her head.
“Bella, really?”
The Lady Black embraced her from behind and grabbed her breasts to weigh them a bit. “I’m horny.”
“You've been horny all the time recently.”
“I know. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s the prospect of a new baby coming soon? The veela? Our husband having some alone time with our mother-in-law?” she whispered the last part sultrily.
“...”
“You know you like the idea.”
Lily shivered as she felt her neck being slowly licked from bottom to top by Bella’s tongue. She answered with a heavy and needy breath.
“Yes. I shouldn’t. I… Orion and Walburaga being first cousins disgusted me but…”
“Our husband is handsome and Dorea is gorgeous.”
One of Bella’s hands stopped playing with a breast and slid slowly downward across Lily's stomach. When it reached the top of the redhead’s jeans it went under it, under the panties and reached for Lily’s pussy. Instinctively Lily’s hips bucked forward.
“Want me to dim the light and dress like her? That way you have your own experience with Dorea.”
Lily turned her head to look at Bella with fury and lust. Dorea was a soft spot for her, just like Amelia was. The latter was her bimbo dream, the former was… Gracefulness incarnate.
“Bedroom, ten minutes.” she said to her Bell.
It turned out to be five.