~ "You're a wizard, Harry!" - Rubeus Hagrid
~
~ Corvus Black - POV ~
~ 12 Grimmauld Place, Islington, London ~
~ April 20th, 1984 ~
'It's a fine spring morning here in Grimmauld Place.' I thought to myself as I took in the cold morning air while enjoying a warm cup of Earl Gray while watching the drifting clouds in the late morning sky. In my previous life I was always more of a coffee drinker than a tea drinker, but I definitely didn't mind a good cup of Earl Gray tea every now and then.
It's been some time since I've incarcerated myself into Corvus Pollux Black, approximately about four months since that evening in December '83. Four months since the death of my mother, Walburga Black. Four months since Arcturus Black III was appointed my legal magical guardian as my closest living relationship. At least the closest one that was not either; married off, not of the main bloodline, incarcerated; or recently deceased. And honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better guardian. Other than that I uphold the dignity required of an heir to the noble pure-blood standards of one belonging to the House of Black, which was simply enough. Arcturus didn't have any other requirements for me to live up to, he was more of a silent and watchful guardian.
Even when I had Kreacher take down some of the more dark and gruesome decorations lining the walls of the house, like the severed and mounted heads of house-elves that was kept above the fireplace in the study. When I asked him about the changes I was making to make myself comfortable in my new home, and the ancestral home of the Black family, he replied.
"Do as you wish Corvus. This will be your home longer than it shall be mine from now on. I won't be around long enough for the difference in the esthetic decor of the house to bother or even interest me."
Which was true, even if a bit morbid and self depreciating, yet very realistic of him. If the was one thing that I've come to know about Arcturus Black III, it is that the man was a true realist. I guess he would have to be after everything he's been through. The man has witnessed two World Wars on top of the rise and fall of two Dark Lords in Grindelwald and Voldemort. On top of that, he has outlived all of his children and grandchildren, and could do nothing but be witness as the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was reduced to him and his great-grandson. For all that and more the man had my deepest respects and admiration.
Plus the man was quite generous with me. For example; two days ago was my birthday, which is awesome because it is coincidentally on the same day as my previous life's birthday; the eighteenth of April. An Aries, if you buy into that sort of thing. Anyway, even though we didn't have a party or anything like that, I still received a few gifts from some people like the Malfoy's and other pure-blood families, mostly as a courtesy and definitely nothing to be impressed with.
But it was the unexpected gift from Arcturus that blew me away. During the late evening of the eighteenth, after a mostly a quiet day of receiving gifts delivered to me by Kreacher. I was reading some books on the Mind Arts, Occlumency and Legilimency, in the study when Arcturus entered with a large package levitating behind him. He just placed the gift beside me, said. "Happy birthday, Corvus." And then walked right back out without waiting for a response or to see if I liked the gift.
At first I started at the present, a little bewildered, before a shit-eating grin formed on my face when I realized what was inside the package. A Foe-Glass. A Foe-Glass was a type of Dark Detector. It looked like a mirror, but instead of a reflection it showed the enemies of its possessor. The figures appeared as "shadows" but became clearer and more visible as the enemies became closer to the possessor. And the shadows were not few in numbers when I came into possession of the thing, but only one whose image was clear enough to see.
Lucius Malfoy. Which wasn't all that surprising really, the man has been drooling and coveting the Black family fortune since Voldemort used his family's fortune like his own piggy-bank.
Anyway, I loved the gift from Arcturus and I made sure to voice my appreciation for it and him the next day. Which brings us to today. I awoke early because I had a prominition that I was going to receive some long awaited post this morning. So here I am, enjoying some Earl Gray, awaiting said post.
And speak of the devil. I spot a winged figure swoop across the morning sky headed straight for me.
"Kreacher!" I called out to my aging house-elf, and with a pop he appeared in front of me, and before he even opened his mouth, I ordered him. "Go and grab some owl treats for our guest, now, hurry along."
As he popped away a brawny barn owl swopped down and landed upon the patio table shaking the table, the tea cup saucer, and a small plate of cookies or biscuits as they call them in England. Clutched in one of his talons was an entirely recognizable yellowed envelope. Written in emerald green ink on heavy parchment and sealed with a purple wax stamp with Hogwarts insignia. As soon as the barn owl touched down, Kreacher returned with a small saucer plate filled with owl treats, which the owl turned to as I quickly snatched the envelope from his talon and opened with looking at my name on the front.
I took out the first page that read:
~ HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Black,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
~
I not embarrassed to say that a small excited squeal escaped my lips as I read those words. Who wouldn't be, especially as a reincarnated individual who immensely loved the books and movies in my previous life. I went on to turn to the second page that read:
~ First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
~