The Third Time is a Charm

Posted: 04 December 2009

Chapter 54: Meeting the Ladies

It was exactly one week after meeting with Walburga that Becca was scheduled to meet the other ladies. She was to go to Grimmauld Place at ten in the morning and speak with Ladies Black and Malfoy. Then they would have lunch and the other ladies were coming at two. It was going to be a long day and she hoped they didn’t run into any surprises like the last time.

She had seen her two favorite men yesterday. It had been decided that they would come out of the training room every now and then to spend a few hours taking a break from the rigorous training schedule and to spend a little time with her. They had to go over contracts and catch up on what was going on in the company. They did get a little relaxing time at the pool and The Seven always joined them as they loved the heated water. Only Seventh Born had stayed with Becca, all the others went back with the men in the training room. Since Remus was occupied as well, Becca had taken up some of his duties to make sure everything went smoothly. She had the help of his elves and the others from the pharmaceutical division to distribute the potions and meet with some of the others that wanted the cure.

Once the word of mouth had spread so far, it was easier to get the information out there as more and more bitten werewolves wanted the cure. Only those that had been born and raised werewolves were hesitant. It would change their whole lives to something they had never known. They were still helped though, to make sure they had medical treatment and a means of support if they wanted. It was a way to show them a better life if they chose that path.

The builders were already installing mini floos in the Weasley and Malfoy homes. Becca had to laugh to herself and wonder what they would say if they knew the other was getting their construction at the same time. Her Great Grandfathers would amuse her with stories about their feuds. She knew once the Malfoy’s manor was renovated with the new floos there would be other people that would want it. Lucius Malfoy had already sent over several contracts to cover the expanded usage of the floo network. She gave those to Gorbink to look over before giving them to Severus to finalize.

As she went about her morning getting ready for her visit to Walburga Black, she contemplated on what the woman may want to speak to her about. She would be there most of the day and had four hours before the other women would come for afternoon tea. She readied herself for another inquisition from the older woman and most likely from Lady Malfoy as well.

Just as it was a minute before ten, Becca collected her things, and pulled on her necklace and said “Grimmauld Place” and landed in the foyer just as she had done before. Both Ladies Black and Malfoy were standing there to greet her.

"Greetings, Lady Black," Becca bowed slightly before them. "It is most agreeable to spend time with you today. I am honored you would have me back to your lovely home." She then presented her gift. It was a small jewelry box that the builders were making with the scraps of acromantula shells left over from other projects. It had special protection spells and of course was Goblin made so the wards on it were perfect. It was polished to a high shine and there were runes etched into the design. At least Becca didn't forget to present it first this time. She was hoping her etiquette mistakes from last week were overlooked. This woman had the ability to make her mission much easier or very difficult depending on how she responded.

"Greetings, Ms Prince. It is most agreeable to have you here today. Lady Malfoy will be joining us as my guest. I believe you already know each other."

Becca bowed to the second most important ally she could obtain. "Greetings, Lady Malfoy, it is most agreeable to spend time with you today." Then Becca also gave Lady Malfoy the same type of box that she had given Walburga. She explained to both of them about the features of the boxes and the protections on them and who made them. Of course she did not tell them it was from scrap material merely that they were Goblin made. Products made by those creatures were very coveted as there were very few of them in the wizarding world. The goblins did not give up their works easily. Becca thought that the goblins actually got some form of amusement to know that these were from leftover spider shells.

Now that the formalities were adhered to the ladies retired to the sitting room where tea was already set. Walburga gave the assent to release Seventh Born and the snake, as before, went around the room looking for dangers. Finding none, she slithered back to her mistress and settled down under her chair.

Narcissa sat very still. She had been told about the snake from Walburga, but she was not really prepared to see a basilisk in the room. She wondered if her aunt knew what kind of snake it was. She would reserve the issue for later.

This visit was more of an inquisition, with the two aristocratic ladies as the interrogators. Becca answered their questions as much as possible. Things like her views on muggleborn, pureblood, wizarding society, the retaining of the old customs and how much of the book was true. What she was doing now and how did she come to be the Mistress of a snake.

The only thing she did not tell them was that she was from the future. She only said that she was sent by some other people to 'prepare the way' for a baby coming this year. When they tried to find out what baby, she said she was under oath and couldn't tell. After two hours of nonstop talking it was time for lunch and they retired to the dining room.

Becca was hesitant to approach the subject of Voldemort with the two women, but she knew it needed to be done. They had talked about other things closely related but had avoided the subject itself.

She cleared her throat and hesitantly said, “Lady Black, I feel that it is time to tell you something before the others arrive.” Lady Black had the characteristic stern look on her face. She was sitting strait up in her chair with perfect posture and the black austere dress made her somehow look like a three dimensional picture rather than human. She slightly turned her head toward Becca.

“Yes?” She said coldly. Becca knew this was a façade, after all Regulus loved her and talked of her fondly and he must have seen another side of her. Indeed, when they had captured Pettigrew she let the mask slip and was quite jovial at her antics in sending the rat animagus away.

“There is currently a search for your son. This search is quite thorough and is the reason the animagus was here last week. They are looking for Regulus and we feel that you may be in danger.”

“I am assuming I am in danger from the Death Eaters looking for my son?”

“Yes, Lady Black, but the men have come up with a plan. They want to stage his death and let them find his body so they will stop looking.”

“What will they use in place of his body?”

“Either a golem or a transfigured animal, I was not part of the decision. I just didn’t want you to be upset when the aurors come and tell you he died.”

The woman’s lips turned up in a small cruel smile. “I am sure I will be most upset when someone comes to tell me that my son is dead.” Becca was thinking she would like to be a fly on the wall when Walburga gave them the performance of her life. Becca smiled at her in turn and took a sip of her tea. Yes, this woman was most formidable and an excellent ally.

Narcissa, knowing about the search, was watching the exchange before her. Yes, she thought, these people could be Slytherin and she was amused at the expressions coming from her aunt, especially the little smile at the end. She knew her aunt and could almost see the ideas forming in her mind. She hoped she was here for the performance.

The other ladies started to arrive and as they flooed in one by one, Becca could see that it would be quite an afternoon. She was amazed at the families represented there. Seven other ladies in total, Parkinson, Dolohov (two of them), Crabbe, Goyle, Nott and Avery. All of these women were staring at Becca wondering what she had to say to them. The two Dolohov women were the wives of Antonin Dolohov’s brothers that had already been killed.

As the ladies arrived they each greeted their hostess in the familiar formal greeting that was expected. They did not however give Walburga Black a gift as they were all from the same social circle and been in each others company many times before.

It was Narcissa Malfoy, standing next to Becca, which gave her a run down of every woman there. Each woman was screened and either was pregnant or had a small child with no visible magic that was considered a squib. The women had been chosen well, as they all had something to lose if the current situation changed.

Narcissa was the first one to speak after everyone sat down in the sitting room. Kreacher had added more chairs so everyone would be comfortable.

“I have told them about the twins and how your people came up with a way to treat the infants that are magically… challenged.” Becca smirked at the pause and the substitute word for inferior. It was one of the things pointed out in the book.

“Our medical facility can help them, but it is experimental and we cannot promise the same results in each child.” Becca informed the women in the room. “We do try to help everyone we can.”

“What exactly is it you do and how did you come up with the idea?” One of the Dolohov women wanted to know.

“For that you would have to speak with Doc. He is the one who developed several ways to try and regenerate a depleted core. He did extensive work on it when hired by my Grandfather when I was a child.” Becca answered her. “Our company funds the clinic and it is run as a private facility.”

“Are you in any way connected to St. Mungo’s?” Dolohov asked again.

“No, I doubt they even know we exist. Because of the current political situation, we prefer to stay out of the picture and do everything privately.”

“How much of the book is really true? We received one and I read it, but it can’t possibly be true. I mean, how would someone get that kind of information?” This time it was Lady Parkinson who asked.

“The information was compiled from several sources. It was painstakingly researched and many of my family died getting some of the knowledge. It is taken from written records, pensieve memories of the dying and from personal experience. Everything stated in the book is true.” Becca looked Lady Parkinson in the eye and faced her so she could see that she was not lying. She nodded in acceptance of the information seeing the truth in Becca’s face.

“Why are you not allying yourself with Dumbledore? He is the leader of the light, is he not? It seems to me that you would want his help not ours.” Mrs. Crabbe challenged Becca with her tone and words.

“Dumbledore doesn’t need any more power. He has been exalted and given too much power already. It is not healthy for the Wizarding World to blindly follow a man or woman without some restrictions on his movements and making him accountable for his actions. We like to do things our own way.” Becca then changed the subject; she didn’t really come to discuss the old coot.

“So who are you exactly and where do you come from? You appear to be around the same age as most of us, yet we don’t know you. You never attended Hogwarts and you are not from the Prince family that we know because Eileen Prince was the last person to have the name.” This came from Mrs. Avery.

“My family is not from here, we are from another country. I was homeschooled and have been sent to help you with the knowledge that was given me, to help stop the war. It is time to start restoring the Wizarding World to its former glory. This needs to be done by not killing, but by bringing magic together instead of this tearing apart that is so prevalent now.”

“One of my children has already been declared a squib and left at an orphanage for muggles. Can you help me get her back?” The second Dolohov woman asked. Becca felt so sorry that the information didn’t get to her sooner. But perhaps they had not been too late.

“When was the child taken? Do you know which orphanage? We can try to find her; I have many contacts in the muggle world that may be able to help.” Becca assured. She couldn’t promise anything, but she knew the magical children needed to come back into their own world.

“My brother in law took her just a few weeks ago. She is two now and has had no magical energy.” She answered.

“Do you have the Dark Mark?” was Becca’s next question.

The Dolohov women looked at each other and then at the other ladies. No one wanted to give this information to Becca, but with a nod of approval from Narcissa the woman looked at her and nodded her head.

Becca sighed at the stupidity of people and rubbed her hands over her face. She had to tell them the truth and they were not going to like this. But she couldn’t keep all her secrets to herself anymore. She would have to be careful though; there were some things Harry and Severus didn’t even know yet. So she started to explain.

“My parents were captured by Vol… that mad man’s followers and forced to take the mark, my father was killed and my mother drained of all her power before she was rescued. She was pregnant for me, so my power was gone too. When What’s-His-Name dies, everyone, and I really mean EVERYONE, with that mark will die. I can remove the mark, but you have to know that your husband’s could be in danger if What’s-His-Name finds out.”

She watched as the truth of what she was saying sunk into their brains. One woman put her hand gently to her stomach and looked back at Becca.

“How can you take the mark away? Only the Dark Lord can do that and we all know he won’t be bothered.”

Becca got up from her chair and walked over to one of the Dolohov women. She stared at her and asked, “Would you like the mark removed? Since your husband has already perished we can safely remove it.” It was a crass way of putting it, but never the less true. Her husband was already dead so if the mark was removed she need not worry about her immediate family.

“I don’t know if I can. My brother in law won’t be happy about it and he is not someone you want to cross.”

“If Voldemort doesn’t scare me, I doubt Dolohov will. Think about it. We can hide you if you want. It is up to you, but only you can make that decision.”

The ladies were watching the exchange and were wondering if Becca could really remove the mark as she said. It created a discussion about other things as well. They covered a wide range of topics, mostly covered in the book. Becca was encouraged that the women had read it and were asking her these questions. It meant the remainder of the Wizarding World was likely doing the same.

They were in the middle of a discussion about the mini floos when both of the Dolohov women suddenly stopped whispering to themselves and said, “We will do it.”

“Do you have anything at home you can’t part with?” Becca asked.

“You mean you want to do this right now?” one of them asked.

“No better time than the present. Do you have a house elf you can call to pack your things?”

They both nodded and called the elves to the sitting room. Becca was amused as both elves, wearing tea towels, bowed to their Mistresses until their noses were touching the floor and asking how they could serve.

The elves eyes grew big when their Mistresses told them to pack everything they owned and bring it back to Black Manor.

“Were those your personal elves or were they Dolohov elves? We don’t want them going to tell your brother in law about this.” Becca stated.

“Oh no, they are our personal elves. They have been with us since we were children.” One of the women answered.

Becca nodded and asked if they were ready. Neither of the women actually believed the younger woman could do this, but they were willing to try. Several times they had been on the receiving end of the older man’s wrath and they wanted out badly enough to take this chance.

“This may hurt a little. Mostly it will leave you a little drained before you start to feel better.” Becca said before starting. Then as she had done with Severus’ mark and with Harry’s scar, she started hissing while the other women watched. About fifteen minutes later, both women’s marks were removed as the others watched in awe.

“I have never heard another person speak the snake language.” Narcissa said. “I didn’t even know anyone else could. Are you descended from Salazar Slytherin also?”

Becca evaded the issue by saying, “I am not blood related to him, but all my family speaks parsletongue.”

The two Dolohov women and the elves and one child were transported to a secure location to be put into part of the unused portion of Prince Stronghold Manor. Becca had called one of their own elves to take them. It was a section that was not connected with the main part of the area used by the prince family and could not be traced. When they arrived, a Prince Security Elf would greet them and go over the rules. They would also get started on finding the other child. Then both children would need to see Doc for magical restoration.

The meeting didn’t really end until dinner time and Becca needed to leave. She had missed her afternoon nap and was tired. After she bid the ladies goodbye, she picked up Seventh Born, who was still under the chair, and went to the foyer to portkey out of there. They made plans to meet again the following Monday.

It was the start of their own women’s club.

A/N Thank you to every one out there that has reviewed. Big Chocolate Christmas Cookies to Kim, momoko, Judy, nari-chan and bianca.