In Name Only

Chapter Three

Family Ties

Harry was surprised to find that after dinner, almost everyone in the house congregated to the library. It was, by far, the cleanest and safest place in the house besides the kitchen, but even the kitchen wasn't safe with Fred and George around. Harry sat in one corner with Ron, Fred, and George when Sirius and Lupin came over and began telling them stories of the pranks they'd pulled off in school. Hermione was with Ginny in another corner doing their holiday homework. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were gone and Bill had left right after dinner. The pink haired Tonks was still floating around, right now she was with Ginny and Hermione. The three were laughing about something.

Rebecca hadn't returned since she'd left the see Dumbledore in the afternoon, but Harry wasn't concerned about her. Since his conversation with Sirius he wasn't sure she was the kind of person one needed to care about. Sirius didn't like her, hated her in fact, although he hadn't told Harry why. Harry wondered, he would until he knew the truth, but he didn't question his godfather's request to stay away from the witch. He could tell Sirius hated her and while Lupin claimed to tolerate her, Harry knew it was the same type of toleration he showed for Snape.

When Rebecca walked into the library a few minutes later, Harry wasn't surprised to see the look of hatred in his godfather's eyes. Rebecca come over to their corner and dropped something in Sirius' lap.

"Don't ever say I've done nothing to help family. Kallie is distributing it to the papers as we speak so Fudge can't try to worm his way out of it." She turned and walked to another, well-lit corner and pulled a book from her robe. Harry looked at his godfather who had taken and opened the piece of paper. Sirius' face drained of colour but his eyes held a strange light Harry hadn't seen since the night in the Shrieking Shack after they'd found Wormtail.

"How?" he called out to Rebecca, earning looks from Hermione, Ginny, and Tonks in the other corner.

Rebecca looked up and shrugged. "I did what had to be done. I'm not as cold as everyone always wanted to believe and everything I learned was not from Voldemort." Everyone was watching either Sirius or Rebecca and the two just stared at each other.

Sirius stood up and the paper fell to the ground. Lupin grabbed it and Harry watched as his face too, drained of colour. He smiled, though and stood up to follow Sirius. Harry shared a look with Ron, Fred, and George wondering what was on the paper to cause such a reaction from the two men. Few things could cause a reaction like that.

"Rebecca, you did this?"

"Yes, Remus. Regardless of what Sirius may think, I do care about what happens in this war. I know the balance of power will tip to whichever side has the most visible and hidden power. I understand the machinations better than most."

"What is it?" Tonks asked walking up to the other adults.

"A full pardon from the Ministry and a promise of reparations for wrongful imprisonment," Lupin answered, passing the paper to her. "Who did you have to blackmail for that?"

"Now, Remus, blackmail is such an ugly term. Encouraged is a much better expression. I simply helped a friend encourage Fudge that this would be the best course of action if he planned on having much support from Dumbledore's followers which he needs right now. Simple politics. I learned enough manipulations from Ulrich and Marius to ensure survival in that world as well as the one we're currently surviving in."

"Why would you do this?" Sirius asked. Harry and the others had joined the adults and Harry could see Sirius fighting to maintain composure. This was the best news they could have hoped for. If it was true, Harry would never have to go back to the Dursleys and he could stay with Sirius.

"It had to be done. I understand that better than most. I cannot take a public stance in this war, but someone needs to."

"And you decided on me?"

Rebecca shrugged again. "People trusted you. They trusted the faith my father had put in you and it was why your supposed betrayal caused so much trouble."

Sirius left Rebecca alone and the rest of the night was devoted to celebration a few minutes into which Rebecca left the library. No one spared her a glance. Tonks had left to get some more butterbeer and to tell a few of the other Order members. Soon the gathering turned into a large party during which no one recognized Rebecca as being the cause for their festivities.

~~~

Later that night, long after everyone else had gone to bed, Sirius Black couldn't sleep. After the news Rebecca had, literally, dropped on his lap, all he wanted to do was celebrate. He had waited fourteen years for the truth to come out but he had never expected it to be so sudden.

Nor had he expected Rebecca would be the one to provide him with his freedom. After everything he had ever said to her, he would never have thought she would give him to one of the things he wanted, needed most to protect Harry from Voldemort. He had never been anything but hateful to Rebecca. She had wanted to be with the Blacks. He supposed he could identify with her. He had wanted to be with the Potters. He had never hated her for stealing his family. There was only one event he had ever wanted to murder her over.

He walked down the stairs to the basement kitchen to get some more butterbeer and was surprised to find Rebecca sitting at the table bent over two books with a quill in hand writing in one. Her black hair obscured her face from view. An almost empty bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey sat beside her. If not for the movement of her quill, he would have thought her to be drunk or dead.

"Rebecca?"

She looked up and Sirius could see the lines of exhaustion in her face. So much had happened in the course of the day, Sirius would have been shocked if she wasn't tired.

She opened her mouth to speak, then stopped as if she couldn't form words. When she did speak, it was slow and calculated. Sirius wondered what she was working on. "Morning, Sirius. Did you enjoy your celebration?"

"Yes," he answered, watching her. She took another drink from the bottle. "You should have joined us."

She shook her head. "No, it was your celebration and I have far too much work to do."

"What are you working on?"

"A translation for Dumbledore. Tom Riddle's diary left at his father's house the night he murdered his family."

"That explains the firewhiskey," he said, motioning to the bottle. She looked at it and shrugged.

"I know the prejudices as well as you do, perhaps better, and even after all I've done, this makes me sick."

"So do you realize now what kind of monster you served?"

"Don't try to lecture me, Sirius. I know far better than you do what I've done. My sins will never be atoned for and I know that, but it doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to end this war."

"In favour of which side?"

"After securing your freedom for you, do you have to ask me that? I could have easily left everything alone and let things fall as they are willed by fate."

"It could be a plan of Voldemort's."

"Do you really believe that? I did worse than betray Voldemort when I disappeared. I worked to kill him as did Regulus. I will continue working to kill him until he is dead."

"You're not the type to change loyalties, Rebecca," Sirius said ignoring the comment about his brother. He knew all too well what Regulus had been doing when he was murdered -poisoned- by the woman now sitting before him.

"I never said my loyalties were to Voldemort, did I?"

"Don't play mind games with me."

"It's simple common sense, Black, which I've never seen a Gryffindor in possession of. My loyalties have never wavered, but they were never entirely to Voldemort."

"Who were they to?"

"I'm not telling you!"

"What is going on here?"

Sirius and Rebecca turned their attention to the newcomer. Harry was standing there watching them. They looked at each other. Sirius hadn't heard Harry come in and if Rebecca had she wasn't going to admit it to him.

"Good morning, Harry," Rebecca said. "I'm surprised you're awake. The sun isn't even up, it's only just after two in the morning."

"My scar was burning," Harry said. Sirius, argument forgotten, went over to Harry with Rebecca right behind him. He knelt in front of his godson.

"What was the dream about?"

"I can't remember. He was angry about the Death Eaters being captured yesterday."

"That would be about right," Rebecca said and Sirius looked at her. "He lost some of his better trained including three of his Ministry spies. Regardless of them being Death Eaters, they won't be able to pass along information about the Ministry activities anymore."

"But that's a good thing," Sirius said.

"Not necessarily. In vengeance he will probably plan a large attack on a high profile person or on several people at once. In an instant Aurors will be dispatched and he'll kill them all one by one because none are prepared to deal with power of such magnitude." She walked back over to the books lying on the table. "The hatred is strong but hatred brings power. He'll take Azkaban before the end of the season."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I know how he thinks. People are rivaling his power now and he doesn't like it. In retribution, he'll plan something no one will be able to stop. As much as people loathe to admit, the tables will tilt in Voldemort's favour if we lose Azkaban."

"How can you be sure of that?"

"His own personal torture chamber with Bellatrix as its keeper." Rebecca picked up the books. "This is going to be the worst war since that of Gryffindor and Slytherin."

"What, are you a Seer now?"

"I know the signs. Study enough about rising Dark Arts and you see the signs everywhere."

"Shouldn't you be off torturing someone right now?"

"Play nice, Sirius."

"It's funny that you've agreed to stay at Hogwarts after all that you've done."

"Oh really? Tell me, Sirius, is it more important to you to goad me or to help your godson?" Sirius turned to look at Harry, but the boy had slipped out of the kitchen while he'd been arguing with Rebecca. He wanted to curse her. "By the time he goes back to school you'll have custody," Rebecca said. "I won't contest it." She picked up the rest of her things. "Take care of him. If Dumbledore asks, I'll be in Knockturn Alley. He knows where to find me."

She walked past him and up the stairs. Sirius stared after her before going up the stairs to find Harry. He wasn't sure what had just happened with Rebecca, but he had a feeling it was a good thing.

~~~

"Uncle Ulrich?"

"Crucio!"

Rebecca dropped to the ground avoiding the curse and pulling her wand. Springing up she whirled around facing the shadows her attacker hid within. "Vulnaro," she called out.

"Eriperi vires."

Rebecca dodged the strength stealing spell. She threw another curse and the duel continued for several long minutes. When Rebecca finally saw an opening, she seized it. "Expelliarmus." Her attacker's wand flew into her hand and the lights within the shop came on. Laughter came from the still shadowed corner as her uncle walked out from behind a bookshelf.

"Your power has increased, Rebecca," he said, once she had tossed his wand back to him. "Although I am surprised you didn't expect an attack. Work on your timing. It took you a whole two seconds to react."

"I don't expect to be hit with an Unforgivable when I come in the door, Ulrich."

"Start."

"Of course. Has Kallie come by?"

"She is in the library now. But first, child, there is something I wish to talk to you about." She followed him to the back of the shop marveling at how little he had changed in the years since she'd seen him last. He had been her mentor and guide. He had taught her everything he knew about Dark Lords and Dark Arts and everything in between. Without his guidance, she probably would have been killed within weeks of being sorted into Slytherin. Then of course, without his guidance, she probably would have ended up in Gryffindor like her father's entire family.

The back room of the magical wares shop was dusty and cold but otherwise just as Rebecca remembered it. She had taken her first lessons here at her mother's insistence and despite her father's protests. In the end, it had caused a permanent split in the family even before Rebecca had turned to Voldemort. She still regretted it had come to that. She loved her uncle. Ulrich had given her everything she had needed to survive the Death Eaters and Voldemort. He too, knew how to survive when the need came. Survival was how he had ended up in Knockturn Alley selling artifacts from wizarding wars rather than in the public eye like his one remaining rival. She knew he hated what he had been reduced to, but there was nothing to be done about it.

"I know you're back to help Dumbledore."

"Yes," Rebecca answered. "I've told you as much."

"There is something I think you need to know about Tom Riddle before you enter this war."

"I have already entered this war, Uncle, what is it?"

"The second ascension to power of a Dark Lord is always the worst. It is always the one vying for immortality."

"He already thinks he has achieved it."

"But he can be destroyed and you have worked to do so, but Rebecca, child, there is another way. If he has a child."

Rebecca froze. "How?"

"How what? There is a ritual to transfer one's soul into that of their child. I've seen it done in theory, but never in practice. This didn't occur to me until today, but we both know there is a child."

"Yes," Rebecca said. She lowered herself into a dusty chair. She didn't want to believe it was possible but she knew the Dark Lord well. If he knew of this ritual and of the child, he would make himself immortal. "But only one. I killed the others."

"One last child," Ulrich said, becoming quiet, contemplative. "Now, what is you've come here for?"

"I need some research done but I don't want the Order to find out."

"Ooho, intrigue against dear old Dumbles." Rebecca rolled her eyes. Ever since Ulrich had lost at Dumbledore's hand, he seized any chance to work against the other wizard. He worked with the Order, but it was only because he didn't think Voldemort deserved his self given name nor to be called the Dark Lord. He would work to destroy what Tom Riddle had become, but he wasn't doing it for Dumbledore. Rebecca respected that. She hated being a slave to Dumbledore's every whim and if it weren't for her personal insights and reasons for fighting in this war, she would have never come back to Britain. Like any Slytherin, her best work was done behind the scenes and she only allowed herself to be acknowledged if the timing was right.

But she had and she had a job to do now. She knew from experience that Dumbledore would not win the war the way he was currently fighting it. Light Magics could only go so far in a battle and the majority of offensive spells were Dark Arts in any way of their use. She had learned as much from Ulrich who had, for ten years after his graduation from Durmstrang, studied Dark Arts around the world. He had taught her everything he thought would apply to serving Voldemort from his own experience in Grindelwald's war. It was for those reasons Rebecca knew he would help her. Light Magic could not stop a Dark Lord and Dumbledore knew it but he insisted on teaching only Light, forgetting the Darkness which would never forget him.

"Horcruxes," Rebecca said.

"So you've found out his secret," Ulrich said. "I wondered when you would."

"I've known for years. Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Ulrich didn't answer. "I have an idea of the protections he has placed around the horcruxes. I also know that once the horcruxes are destroyed he will try to locate another method of immortality and in order to stop him, the remaining child will have to die."

Rebecca didn't say anything, but she knew Ulrich knew what she was thinking. Death had been her life for years while in Voldemort's service. She knew she could kill innocents. The faces of the children she had killed flashed through her mind, but this time it was different.

"I warned you, Rebecca. Never let feelings get in the way of what we do. You are my chosen heir and as such, you uphold my image."

"What bloody image is that?" she demanded, standing up. "You no longer exist, Ulrich. No one knows the truth besides a few people who remember what happened that day on the battlefield between you and Dumbledore. Everyone else is dead because you killed them. Face it, you are no longer in power here. Tom Riddle has named himself your successor, don't you understand that. Even he doesn't know you're here. If he did you would be dead already."

"And so would you, Kallie, and Potter. Riddle cares not for upholding an image. He believes he is the greatest wizard of all time which isn't true, but I told you to let people hold on to their delusions, especially if the delusions are not true until you can destroy them."

"I know," she said. "Are you going to help me or not?"

"Of course I'll help you. All you need to do is ask. Now, tell me of this diary."

"How do you know about that?"

"Dumbledore stopped in for a game of chess earlier."

"Keep one's friends close..."

"...and thy enemies closer."