...Finished with the first inspection, Appolyn thought for a few minutes, just standing there with her eyes closed while I stood by her side and kept quiet. You never know, I could knock her off her axis or something. Well, I'm just kidding. In fact, magic, like anything serious in our world, doesn't like to be rushed.
No, I'm not saying that you have to be slow, indecisive, and so on to do sorcery or magic. I am talking about reasonable slowness, thoroughness: if there is something important to be done, one should not always rush forward and break one's head.
It is necessary to think about it, to consider what if there is another solution than the one that came to your mind in the first moments. I am not saying that you should throw away real insights, but you should at least think about a plan of work.
So Veila did the first examination and diagnosis, and now she's thinking about how and what to do.
— Sora, what do you really want me to do with Bellatrix? — The woman asked, interrupting her thoughts and turning to me.
— I want to know a few things, find out exactly what kind of person she is. There are many rumors, and all of them are bad, but I need to know accurate information, not distorted by anyone or anything, so I ask you to know: "why", "for what", "based on what", "what she felt", "what she thought at that moment about what was happening in general". The more detail and clarification there is in her story, the better. Without this information, I can't make a final decision.
— What decision? — The woman frowned slightly.
— If Bellatrix really did all those horrors that so many people talk about, or even enjoyed them, then I have only one verdict: death. — I spoke calmly, looking into Appolin's eyes, my voice not faltering for I am confident in my words.
Letting a psychopathic madman do his old thing in public? And even before that, he had eaten his fill of prison food and devised cunning or not so cunning plans of revenge against everyone, starting with the main enemy and ending with a sloppy janitor who had gotten under his skin? I find this frankly delusional, as do various "we can fix him", he "came to his senses, changed", and so on. If a man has turned into a monster, the moth cannot turn back into a caterpillar, unless he tries to pretend that he is going back to being the old man, only more thoughtful.
No, that's extremely stupid, it's better to cleanse the gene pool of garbage and mutations immediately.
— And how are you going to fulfill your plans for the black family? — The woman elegantly arched an eyebrow.
— I didn't say Bellatrix would die right away, did I?
— That's very cruel, don't you think? — Appolin frowned as he realized what I meant.
Well, I never thought that Veila was stupid, or just plain stupid. And it would be strange if creatures who are naturally gifted with mental magic were stupid, or even downright stupid.
Everyone has this power, and the correction should be made for the conditions in which the Veila grew up, her values, aspirations, and so on — that's what determines the direction of the gift.
As for the cruelty, I just realize that sometimes you have to make hard choices, cruel because there is no other way. I allow myself a heavy sigh to show how much I myself "like" such activities.
— The last generation of blacks had done a good job of destroying their own kind. The most recent branch had produced three talented witches: Andromeda, Bellatrix, and Narcissa. All three girls were very promising to their parents, but Orion, the then head of the Black family, and his wife Walburga had gotten it into their heads not only to get involved in another war for power, but also to try to sit on all the chairs.
Instead of following the example of other weakened clans and taking a neutral position to preserve their blood and survival, they decided to get involved.
The result: Narcissa, a natural healer, is given to one of Voldemort's cronies, Bellatrix is given to another Eater, and Andromeda manages to break her parents' plans by running off with a Muggle-born wizard, making herself an enemy of the idea of "pure blood".
Instead of finding promising suitors, introducing them into the Black family, multiplying and strengthening the clan, these two "geniuses" of intrigue gave the girls to other clans, strengthening them. — Another heavy sigh. — I don't even call these people idiots.
— Where did you get that information? — Appolin looked pensive and frowned now. — The French services were working on the case of Voldemort and his movement, as well as all the wizards in his entourage, including the Blacks. However, they were unable to obtain this information.
— They didn't get much at all. — I waved my hand at the woman, I won't give you all the details, but the fact is that in the magical world, as I said, people are a little crazy, so there are very few good agents, spies and so on, and they are all known to everyone. So when these guys came to Britain, the locals immediately figured out why they came, and when the enemy agents are known by sight, it is not so difficult not to leak or misinform. I may not be much of a schemer, for I am not of the same mind, but even I can see how it could be done. Be that as it may, an explanation should be made to the woman, who was clearly displeased with my words.
— The British grant their countrymen many permissions, but they know how to keep an eye on foreigners, and their intelligence is excellent, so there is nothing to be surprised about. — I shrugged in the end. — But I ask you not to reveal the information I've told you to anyone outside the family circle. I only revealed it to you because Fleur and Gabrielle will soon make us relatives. If it got out to outsiders, it could make it much harder for me to carry out my plans.
— Oh, no need to worry, Sora. — Appolin smiled, slightly patronizing. — Many in Europe are aware of the once powerful Black Family and its current state. Moreover, there are rumors that the next and last head of the Black Family is believed by many to be Sirius Black. So even if someone else were to find out this information, the family has lost almost all credibility and respect.
— Well, Sirius Black certainly won't be the next head of his family. — I chuckle sarcastically.
— What makes you so sure? — The woman narrowed her eyes slightly.
— There are many reasons, but the most important is that he practically earned the stigma of 'Blood Traitor' when he disowned his parents and relatives. His best bet is to repent, take the path of redemption, and faithfully serve the future head of the family, otherwise not even the family's house elves will show their faces or respond.
— And how do you plan to rebuild the Black Family? — In the emotional background a lively interest was aroused, but I don't intend to make now an evening of revelations, I mean more of what I have already told you.
— I have a plan. — I smile broadly and can't hold back the thought that comes to my mind. — And it's very complicated.
— I don't understand you. — Appolyn frowned.
— Don't mind her. So, shall we continue, or do you need to prepare?
— No, — the woman shook her head. — I don't need any special preparation, and it's not a difficult case, painful, yes, but not difficult. That's why I want to call Fleur — she needs to learn, to gain experience, to fully subdue her heritage. You don't mind, do you? — There was not only a questioning tone in his voice, but also something else I couldn't immediately identify.
— No, I don't mind, if you think it's possible. — I shrugged calmly.
— Good. — Appolyn gave me a suspicious look and left the room, following her daughter.