Vicious Cycle

Chapter 3

A/N to answer ninjaaa0006: Bellatrix did not marry Sirius necessarily but they are married. It will go into more depth in this chapter but it's called the 'Black Binding' where if a Black has conceived a child with another then they shall be wed upon the birth of the baby to ensure that the child is legitimate, magic made Bellatrix and Sirius marry, not a ceremony necessarily.

So Bellatrix still tortured the Longbottoms and is still a Death Eater, and yes, you'll be some of the surviving family of the Blacks in this chapter :)

Thank you again for all your support!

Please review it really makes me more passionate to write and will equal quicker updates ;)

A week today Sirius Orion Black would be brought forth before the Wizengamot for his trial, if found guilty he would immediately be given the dementor's kiss and if found innocent then he would be able to walk free with 100,000 Galleons for every year he had stayed in Azkaban, and Harriet could not be more relieved to have such knowledge.

Her godfather – her father in this timeline – would soon be a free man four years before he would of (or should of, unless this strange timeline would have changed that too) broken out.

Blowing a strand of midnight curls off of her face she made her way down the steps of the inn in which she was staying above – The Whyte Brewer's Inn – to sit at one of the tables. Her initial idea had been to stay at the Leaky Cauldron but she was positive that Tom (the friendly barman) would have asked more questions than she could answer.

Whereas in this pub, halfway between Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, asked no questions as long as you had the right amount of money, which, luckily – as the Black Heiress – she had more than enough of.

However Harriet's chipper mood of knowing her… whatever would soon be released was soon gone as soon as she took a swing of her Pumpkin Juice whilst reading the Daily Prophet Headline.

NOTORIOUS MASS MURDERER LORD SIRIUS BLACK GRANTED A TRIAL!

By Rita Skeeter

At the name Harriet felt the sudden urge to stab the article with a nearby fork.

Which she did.

On Sunday 12th February Amelia Bones, Proxy for the House of Bones and Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, requested a trial for Lord Sirius Black, which was granted.

It turns out that Lord Black never received a trial, when we tried to reach Ex-Minister Bangold for a statement it was denied.

Could Black truly be innocent? After all, the Black family are notorious for delving into the Dark Arts (Black's own cousin, Bellatrix LeStrange nee Black, is currently in Azkaban as well for the murder of 107 muggleborns, 'blood traitors' and muggles as well as the use of the unforgivable curses) and there are many eye witness accounts to testify otherwise.

One witness – an Auror who had been on the squad that detained Black – reports: "when we caught Lord Black he was laughing madly, chanting to himself 'it's my fault' over and over. He said he was guilty. I cannot think of a reason why he would say such words if he had not committed the crime himself. Whether the man is innocent or, more likely, not he's still insane!"

From another source, an old classmate of Lord Sirius Black's – Severus Snape, now the Potions Master at Hogwarts – informed us, "Black has always been a dark wizard. You should have seen some of the spells he'd use on others to bully them. He was cruel, selfish and insane. I, for one, am sure that he is guilty and I – as a person who was in many of Black's classes in the seven years that he attended Hogwarts – do not think that he needs or deserves a trial."

Harriet sneered at Snape's statement, noting how he didn't give Sirius his rightful title when talking about him as well as acknowledging just how petty the man – who would currently be around twenty-nine – was being. He may have been a mass help in her timeline's war and protected her but that didn't change all of the bad things that he had done and that he was, overall, a crap teacher.

However, it also seems that we've got a mystery on her hands! We have been able to receive the information that the person who requested Black's trial was none other than Heiress Carina Titania Estelle Black, obviously the daughter of Lord Sirius Black!

I, for one, am wondering where this Heiress has been all these years and how we have never heard of Lord Sirius Black's marriage! Unless, it was due to the Black Binding, where if an Black conceives a child with an another then the two are married upon arrival of the babe.

See Pg 5 for the Crimes of Lord Sirius Orion Black

See Pg 6 for the Crimes of Lady Bellatrix Irma LeStrange nee Black

See Pg 8 for the Black Family

See Pg 14 for the Black Binding

See Pg 16 for Theories on Heiress Carina Titania Estelle Black

Harriet felt like whacking her head against a wall. Great. So now everybody knew of her and were asking questions that she truly had no answer to. She supposed that she could claim to have been raised by some distant relative.

Taking out her book on Understanding Thee Customs and Traditions of Families of Olde again she swiftly flicked to the Black family tree, searching for a family member that had died between 1986-89.

There was only one, a man whom had previously been blasted off of the tapestry so that she could not see him but in this book, it seemed, the disowned (like Iola Hitchens nee Black) had not been crossed off.

Therefore Marius Black was still upon the family tree, dates reading 1917-1988 who had married Vensula Selwyn – whom Harriet assumed was a squib from the Selwyn line – whose dates read 1921-1989. The couple had had a son – Victor Black (1940-1980) – and he had gone on to have two daughters of his own but as Victor had not been magical either there would be nobody to contest to the factor that she could have been raised by Marius and Vensula for several years.

Therefore that would be her excuse. That, when she was young, Marius and Vensula found her and decided to take her in, until last month when Vensula died, leaving her a note with the name of her father and beliefs that he was innocent, so Harriet – well, Carina – came over from France (where she would claim that she lived with them, she supposed that she'd have to learn some French to keep up with this story) to England on a quest to free her father.

Sounds believable enough, she supposed.

VC-VC-VC-VC

Upon an island stood a seemingly impenetrable fortress, it's mass triangle structure and exceptional high intimidating even the bravest of wizards and witches. And yet that wasn't the most fearsome thing about it.

For around it's grounds and within it's halls dementors roamed, maliciously sucking every inch of happiness, every droplet of joy, from it's inhabitants and visitors alike.

The higher the floors went, the more dense the amount of dementors. And upon the topmost floor, nearing the end of the hallway lay a fearsome creature.

A grimm. A sign of death, many proclaimed, ironic that it was the only thing that gave this man the will to live on.

That was until he heard a mass number of footsteps storming down the hall towards his cell, swiftly changing back to human form instead of the dog lay a man that looked as if he were a living corpse, his skin yellow and clinging to his bones, his teeth rotten and hair long and mangled.

The marching feet ended at his cell. He looked up to see at least seven Auror guards looking down at him, the prisoner's warden at their side.

"Is this Lord Black?"

"Yes, Sir. Prisoner 390."

So the man who had inquired the animagus' name nodded at his men to take the man by his arms and pull him to standing.

Prisoner 390's brows furrowed in confusion as he began to be hauled through the hallway. He had so many inquiries but with such scarce drinking water, so much that his throat felt like sand paper, it being excruciating to swallow, he was only able to rasp out, "why?"

One of the Auror's looked at him with contempt, but answered him none the less, "because your daughter Heiress Carina Black, has requested that you get a trial. Not that you need one, we all know that your guilty."

It seemed, however, that it was not just Prisoner 390 – Lord Sirius Orion Black – who heard the words spoken by the Auror, but also Prisoner 93: Bellatrix.

Her strangled voice rang in his ears as he continued to be dragged, "you better look after her Black! You better!"

At first he had thought that her rantings were just another point proven about her lunacy, that was until he remembered. He remembered that night. November 19th 1979.

He had a daughter with – he was married to – Bellatrix LeStrange.

No, she'd be Bellatrix Black nee Black now.

He was so screwed.

VC-VC-VC-VC

Harriet was more than pleased when she received the letter that Sirius had been moved from Azkaban to a Ministry holding cell, knowing that he was now far from the dementors reach was most comforting.

What was not comforting, however, was a letter that she also received that day.

Dear Heiress Carina Titania Estelle Black of the House of Black,

We were most surprised and pleased by the announcement of your existence, especially as we had been faced with the realisation that our house may have been dying out.

I hereby extend an invitation for you to join us for supper this evening at 12 Grimmauld Place at 6:30pm, it is requested that you wear formal robes with the crest of the house of Black.

Yours Sincerely,

Lady Dowager Walburga Ursula Black nee Black of the House of Black.

Harriet groaned. Walburga Black was meant to be four years dead by now, but no, apparently the timeline didn't feel like having the bat shit crazy lady die in 1985 instead leaving her to be a pain for Harriet.

Brilliant.

Well, if she wanted to be able to influence others to not join Voldemort this time around by using power and influence as an Heiress then she couldn't seem like an outcast or be disowned by this family.

Dear Lady Dowager Walburga Ursula Black nee Black of the House of Black,

I would be most honoured to attend a supper at Grimmauld Place, I will be there on time.

Kind Regards,

Heiress H Carina Titania Estelle Black of the House of Black.

She frowned where she had slipped up and done an 'H' but as nine year olds make spelling mistakes all the time she was positive that her… grandmother would not look into it so deeply.

Knowing that she would now have to go to Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions again Harriet was most grateful that she knew how to apperate – after all, she was terrible at flooing anywhere – and disappeared with a 'POP' only to reappear down an alley way, onkly meters away from the vibrant shops and stalls of Diagon Alley.

Madam Malkins' shop was easy enough to spot, both due to it's central location and the factor that Harriet had been there many times before, and she soon began to make her way over to it.

It was a bit busier than last time, several people being fitted at the same time whilst Madam Malkin all but danced around them, her quill and notes flying behind her as they noted everybody's measurements.

When she saw Harriet she smiled instead of cowered this time, putting the young Heiress in her last available space before finishing up the measurements of the boy standing next to her.

Peeping over she saw that the boy had bright blue-grey eyes that stared on stonily forward and hair of such darkness that it rivalled her own, the boy had a sharp jaw line and painfully high cheekbones. Long, dark lashes and porcelain skin.

Theodore Nott, she recognised. A Slytherin who had been in her year of whom, if she was not mistaken, she had had a crush on throughout her second and third years. Very good looking, arrogant and rather mysterious.

She had gone off of him swiftly enough when she saw him being cruel to a younger student. She supposed that she would have to make friends with him – and Malfoy (the very thought of the blonde ferret made her want to vomit) – in this time frame to be the perfect Pureblooded Heiress that she needed to be in order to influence people, and – if necessary – manipulate them, to the correct side of the war. The side that apposed the self proclaimed 'Lord Voldemort'.

"It is rude to stare," came the drawling voice of the Nott Heir.

Harriet bid her temper down but still delivered the boy with a glare, turning back as Madam Malkin approached her.

"Let me guess, formal and heiress robes?" Madam Malkin inquired with a smile as she approached Harriet once more. Clearly the woman had realised that she was not some pompous, arrogant, cocky idiot (exhibit Theodore Nott) and was no longer afraid, and Harriet could not be more glad.

She smiled charmingly at the woman, "yes please, two of both with the House of Black crest upon them."

She knew that she also had the Heirdoms of Peverell and Slytherin to deal with but she would rather not complicate things further nor bring more attention to herself, but she definitely would claim them before she went to Hogwarts for being the Heiress to three houses – and those houses being Black, Slytherin and Peverell to boot – would give her more of the influence needed to be able to deter classmates from the dark side.

Madam Malkin did not need her measurements as she had been in here only a few days prior so simply began to try different styles, inquiring as to what colour schemes Harriet wanted to which she replied to have one green and one purple for both – she did not think that she could stand to wear red again after being covered in the blood of her family and friends during the war.

She could feel the Nott Heir's eyes upon her, she supposed that he was taken aback that she turned out to be the mysterious Black Heiress, whilst Madam Malkin bustled about before informing Harriet that her robes would be ready in two hours.

Harriet really, really hated waiting but none the less it would give her the time to see if Hedwig was in Eeylops Owl Emporium yet, or to buy a new broom from Quality Quidditch Supplies, oh how she missed flying.

Wondering out she began to head towards said owl shop, only to be dismayed when she found that her beloved owl – of whom had perished in the Battle of the Seven Harriets – was not yet there. So instead she wondered into Magical Menagerie, deciding to see if Hermione's Crookshanks was there yet, poor cat.

When she wondered in, however, she did not expect to hear a voice calling out to her.

"The speaker approaches, come speaker."

At first her brows had furrowed before she had realised what the talker meant by 'speaker'. Parseltongue. Harriet began looking around for a snake, soon seeing a giant, violet King Cobra raising it's head to meet her eyes.

"What do you want?" Harriet inquired of it, eyes narrowed upon the deadly snake.

The snake's beady black eyes bored into her own, "I wish to be your familiar."

"What's a familiar?"

"A familiar, young one, is a bond between an animal and a human, the animal is able to be a part of the human and the human can draw on the animal's strength and abilities. You are one of the only Parselmouths in the world and I wish to be bonded to you."

Harriet nodded at the King Cobra's answer. To be able to draw upon the abilities of the King Cobra would be extremely beneficial, also it would work as a way of intimidating and to make the Black family be more inclined to accept her. After all, what family like the Black's would think to turn away one of the two only Parselmouths left?

So she decided to query of the owner the price of the snake. They looked at her as if she were mad to want the King Cobra but informed her that she could have it for a measly 4 sickles as nobody else wanted it.

The King Cobra hissed in glee when she picked up it's cage, taking it from the shop before she inquired of it, "what is your name?"

"Bellator."

VC-VC-VC-VC

Straightening out her formal, emerald green robes she coaxed Bellator into her wrist, where in which the snake disappeared to form an elegant violet tattoo. Inhaling in a deep breath Harriet hoped that she would not fall – needing to take floo travel to refrain from the Blacks finding out that she could apperate – as she entered in the fireplace of the Inn in which she was staying in, calling out, "12 Grimmauld Place," before disappearing with the roar of the flames.

VC-VC-VC-VC

When Harriet arrived at Grimmauld Place, somehow managing to remain on her two feet, she found about eight people staring at her.

Walburga Black, Druella Black nee Rosier, Cygnus Black, Pollux Black, Irma Black nee Crabbe, Melania Black nee McMillan, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Lucretia Prewett nee Black she recognised from Sirius' showing to her of his family tree, and Narcissa from the Quidditch World Cup and Battle of Hogwarts.

A woman with golden blonde hair narrowed her eyes at Harriet, stating, "you look just like my Bella."

Harriet inwardly sighed, better get her parentage out of the way to begin with, "that's because I'm the daughter of Lord Sirius Orion Black and Lady Bellatrix Irma Black nee Black."

Walburga – who Harriet recognised from Grimmauld Place's portrait – grinned wildly at such an admittance, "I had told Sirius that he should have married Bellatrix. Looks like they did after all! Seems like that boy was good for at least something."

Harriet scowled at the cruel words about her father, something that another blonde haired, older lady picked up upon. Frowning at Walburga Melania stated, "hush about Sirius, Walburga you're upsetting the girl."

Walburga reluctantly kept her trap shut.

"I'm your great-grandmother, Lady Dowager Melania Black nee McMillan, but you may call me 'nana'. Welcome to Grimmauld Place."

The woman who had spoken earlier – Druella Black, her grandmother – offered her a half-smile, half-smirk as she asked of Harriet, "I'm your maternal grandmother. And where have you been all these years?"

"I've been with Uncle Marius Black in France, I came over to England in order to try to free me father as I just know that he is innocent," Harriet informed them, keeping to the story that she had decided upon at an earlier date.

Many gasped and looked rather off put at knowing that a squib had raised their relative for the past eight years, as Bellatrix had been taken to Azkaban but a fortnight after Sirius.

"That will simply not do," stated Pollux Black, frowning as he observed Harriet, "as the Heiress to the House of Black you should be spotless in etiquette, politics, family history, astronomy, law, dancing and posture as well as should be delving into some of the Black family spells. Tell me, Heiress Carina, did your 'Uncle Marius' teach you any of that?"

Harriet shook her head.

"Well," stated Cassiopeia Black, fearsome dark eyes burning holes within Harriet's striking grey ones, "we better get started soon then."

During that evening, when Walburga and Cassiopeia got into an argument that then brought Irma in as they turned her wig 'Gryffindor red' accidentally and Pollux in as they made pixies attack him and then Cygnus in as they made his ears grow and vanished his clothes to wear a cloth like Kreature Harriet Potter – or Carina Black now – couldn't help but think that Death had it out for her.

After all, why else would he stick her as a member of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black?