HP - Shadow Monarch!

[Chapter Size: 1800 Words.]

Third Person POV

London.

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...

The day began tensely in the wizarding world as news of the four massacres quickly started being published in newspapers, spreading across England's magical community and even internationally. The shocking events left other countries nearby wondering what was happening in England, especially with the country's recent delicate political climate.

People speculated about the identity of the person who had been killing witches across multiple locations. Questions also arose about what had happened in Hogsmeade, as it was obvious that the same person responsible there was behind the other incidents.

Many noticed that the killer seemed to target only dark wizards, yet fear gripped the entire wizarding world. Who would dare confront Voldemort and his followers? Who would massacre prominent families in such a way, even killing a patriarch and pure-blood Death Eater, almost turning these murders into a grotesque sport?

The Ministry of Magic was overwhelmed that day, with more and more people crowding its entrance, demanding answers and action against the murderer. Even questions about the boy who had been abducted surfaced.

The great wizarding families were now filled with fear, raising many questions and suspicions. Those involved in sending wizards to capture Snape's father were confused, pondering if Snape himself might be responsible. At the same time, this seemed unlikely, as the murders were happening all over England. Someone was out for blood, and everyone felt a certain unease in the air.

That very morning, the funeral of the Norton family's patriarch was held quickly to lay the old pure-blood noble to rest. Being a figure of importance, many families attended to pay their respects and gather information about what was happening by conversing with one another.

After all, Norton was a Death Eater, and no one had ever killed a Death Eater before. This left everyone unsettled, searching for answers, which was why so many important figures were present, hoping to find clues or even suspects behind the murders.

Astraea was among them, arriving with her family through one of the Floo Network entrances. As they stepped in, she glanced at her children and grandchildren, who seemed a bit uncomfortable with the tension in the air. Astraea knew very well who was behind the killings, though everyone else appeared oblivious to the true perpetrator of so many deaths.

The Black family walked calmly to where the other pure-blood families had gathered, dressed in mourning attire but still exuding elegance. Despite most not liking the Norton family, they were still allies among the Death Eaters and held a similar social status. Although Norton wasn't one of the 28 great families, his family still commanded significant prestige within England's magical community.

"Grandmother, I heard Snape might have been captured yesterday," Andromeda remarked, showing a certain interest in the subject.

Astraea raised an eyebrow at her granddaughter, noting the girl's fascination with the boy. It seemed there might be some affection there. Astraea didn't think it would be harmful to keep Andromeda informed about Snape, especially since Andromeda had made it clear she would never marry a pure-blood. She had even stated openly that she intended to marry a Muggle-born, knowing full well it would mean expulsion from the family. She had already been punished for voicing such thoughts.

Nevertheless, Astraea still believed that Bellatrix would be a better match for Snape. Even the boy seemed to show interest in her. But she decided to set that thought aside for the moment.

"Yesterday, he was at the mansion after the abduction incident. So, I don't think it was him," Paris interjected from beside his parents, recalling having seen Snape and finding it implausible for him to be involved.

"He was there yesterday? He came to the mansion, Grandmother?" Bellatrix asked curiously, her inquisitive gaze fixed on her grandmother.

"Yes, Snape came to our home yesterday and asked for a few things. I took him to the shop, and we set up the fireplace for him," Astraea replied calmly before pausing for a moment and continuing.

"But now, forget about this. Remember, you cannot say anything about Snape. Even if you wanted to, a protection spell has been placed on all of us," Astraea continued, as everyone around her, including her children, had no choice but to comply. This was a way to keep the family protected, even against other Death Eaters or Lord Voldemort himself. Since the protections had been strengthened, the goblins at Gringotts would ensure that nothing about Snape leaked from the negotiations among those involved.

And so, the Black family approached the others. As they exchanged greetings, they noticed the Nott, Rosier, and Malfoy families among the other pure-blood families aligned with the Dark Lord.

"Astraea, it's good to see you here," the elderly patriarch of the Rosier family murmured, standing beside his eldest daughter, with other children and grandchildren behind him.

"It's good to see you too, Jarnon," Astraea replied cordially.

"Yes, but it's unfortunate what has happened. I just wonder who this murderer is and why they're doing this," he said, sounding concerned.

Astraea looked at him as if he were an idiot. The chaos had essentially been caused by him and his allies. Now, that fool had to deal with the consequences and hunt the killer—a killer who was not just a brutal slayer of wizards using swords and daggers but also a powerful alchemist who had emerged in the past year. This fool had been upset when Snape had beaten his grandson. One day, he would see the tables turn on him, just as they had for the head of the Norton family.

"I have no idea, Jarnon, but it's clear they do not fear the Death Eaters or any power our families wield..." Astraea said in a tone that signaled her lack of interest in continuing the conversation. She added, "In any case, I'll be greeting the other guests now," ending the exchange.

"Hello, Astraea..." the head of the Nott family said as she approached.

The situation was tense with the next family. Patriarch Nott was furious with the Black family for selling a shop to someone else after an agreement had supposedly been reached. However, now was not the time to discuss it.

"We'll speak another time, Mr. Nott. For now, let me speak with the other guests," Astraea stated firmly, steering her family toward the Malfoys next.

Lucius Malfoy's father, Abraxas Malfoy, greeted them. He was present with his son, Lucius, as the only living representatives of their family. Lucius's mother had died long ago, and Abraxas had no surviving siblings or parents.

"Astraea, it's good to see you. I hope we can find some time to talk later," he said, inclining his head slightly as a gesture of respect.

"That's fine. It's good to see you too," Astraea responded before moving on.

Meanwhile, Lucius noticed a blonde girl walking between the two Black sisters. "Hello, Narcissa..." he greeted her, addressing her as his fiancée. The girl nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The Black family continued greeting the attendees, family by family, until they reached Mrs. Norton, who stood at the forefront of the funeral with her son by her side.

"Mrs. Norton, I'm very sorry for what happened to your husband," Astraea said respectfully, stopping in front of the coffin.

"He was tortured by a damn murderer," the widow murmured, still trembling slightly. Even after receiving care at the magical hospital, she hadn't fully recovered. Despite this, she displayed her grief, leading the funeral with the strength she could muster and radiating hatred for the person who had attacked her family just hours earlier.

"Yes, I heard it wasn't an easy death. Knowing he was tortured for hours before finally dying must have been a terrible torment," Astraea said, her words making the atmosphere uncomfortably tense.

As soon as she finished speaking, even her children and other family members glanced at her with concern. Everyone knew Astraea had a sharp tongue and enjoyed provoking others, but this time, she seemed to have gone too far.

Lady Norton, visibly uncomfortable, did not appreciate the comment. However, she said nothing—after all, who were they compared to the influence of the Black family?

"Yes, the damned murderer broke into our home with a sword and used a Cruciatus..." the widow murmured bitterly.

"Well, I hope you manage to catch the killer soon," Astraea remarked in an ironic tone, knowing full well that the Nortons were not competent enough for such a task. She had heard that they had already sent assassins after Snape, all of whom mysteriously ended up dead. While Astraea harbored a certain fear of Snape, the irony of the situation amused her internally as she observed the other guests.

Some attendees whispered among themselves. No one truly suspected that Snape was the killer, but the pattern was undeniable: those seeking vengeance for the murders met the same fate. It was remarkable how it had escalated—from a few students being sent to the hospital wing to members of influential families being killed—all because they sought retaliation. This made Astraea wonder why no one had yet suspected that Snape might be responsible.

The funeral proceeded. A kind of magical priest appeared to say a few words before the coffin was lowered into the grave.

"May Lord Norton rest in peace—or continue on his journey," he said, as for wizards, death was not the end but a transition in some greater cycle. With a flick of his wand, the soil began to cover the coffin, sealing it forever.

Meanwhile, the guests continued their conversations. Even Abraxas Malfoy approached Astraea again. Clearly, he was interested in the Black family's dealings with the goblins after observing their peculiar behavior concerning Snape. Abraxas was keen to find out what was happening at Gringotts. However, Astraea deftly ignored him, recognizing his intrusive and unsubtle approach.

At the end of the ceremony, something unexpected happened. Those bearing the Dark Mark on their bodies began to feel a sudden, unmistakable summons.

Whispers quickly spread among the prominent families.

"He's calling us. Should we go?" someone asked urgently.

"Should we take our children?" another inquired, worried.

"No, of course not. We must leave immediately," someone replied decisively. "He must be furious, and if it's an important meeting, we cannot make him wait."

The murmurs continued as the Death Eaters quickly organized themselves. They bid farewell to the family members who couldn't attend the meeting and vanished in bursts of smoke that rose to the sky, appearing to fly toward the Dark Lord's call.

Voldemort himself waited anxiously, his frustration evident. He needed answers. Who was killing his followers? Who was this figure employing such distinctive and lethal methods? It was a situation he could not ignore, and he knew he must deal with this killer as soon as possible.

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