Chapter 42 - Infiltration, lies and deception - Part 1

Fomsey's face lit up and as she nodded she quickly disappeared. And although she was no longer in the room, it could be heard in the distance. ''Fomsey is a good elf. Fomsey will tell the master.''

Arcas was exhausted and promptly collapsed on the bed in the room. His lost gaze stared at the ceiling as he tried to relax a bit. So far he had never been so long doing something like what he had started to do with this poor Muggle family.

Although he felt great sorrow to alter the memories of this couple in this way, Arcas knew that it was something necessary for the survival of his family. His gaze was still lost on the ceiling and he could only sigh to try to remove the great guilt he felt.

''So close to being able to go to Hogwarts. It only remains to talk to McGonagall and not show her anything suspicious.'' Arcas thought.

Once again he began to remember the day his great-grandfather informed him that he would have to go to Hogwarts but he could not go in the normal way so to speak. Unfortunately, all this because Nymphadora was being watched very carefully and could not explore the castle and know what was really happening in this place.

The only information that she had been able to obtain is that there was a very strong misappropriation of the money, in which it was being spent, it totally escaped all the information that she had been able to obtain. Also, the small number of teachers was ridiculous compared to the number of students in this place. And what they taught was minuscule compared to what she had learned. Everything she had been taught so far at Hogwarts was nothing like what she had learned in just 3 months under the tutelage of my great-grandfather.

In her words "The castle is falling apart and only gives the illusion that it is still working properly."

When my great-grandfather asked her what she meant by this, she replied. ''Some classrooms are hardly used, much of the castle is sealed, and what strikes me the most are the stairs that move in random ways changing places for no reason. They can't seem to control this.''

Nymphadora's face grimaced with her mouth as she thought what else she could say to my great-grandfather and then she lit up her face and said. "And above all the forest is now totally forbidden."

To my surprise, this is what shocked my great-grandfather the most. His face was filled with surprise and disbelief. He quickly told Nymphadora that he understood that she could go to rest while he conversed with me. She simply nodded and made a movement with her shoulders.

As was customary, he motioned me with his eyes to follow him, this time we went to the room with the family portraits. Once in this room, we quickly went to the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. My angry great-grandfather started calling him.

''Phineas, Phineas !! What is happening.''

Suddenly, a smart-looking wizard with black hair, dark eyes, a pointed beard, and thin eyebrows appeared in the portrait. "Silence child, you could be the current head of the family but I will not accept that you shout my name like that." Phineas Black said with some anger.

My great-grandfather responded angrily, his voice loaded with many emotions. ''I am the patriarch of the family and you will not tell me what to call you even if you are my ancestor now tell me. What's going on at Hogwarts?''

Phineas tried to look away and in a voice that was in great pain, he said. ''You know very well that I can't say anything about what happens at Hogwarts. We are all magically bound to say nothing and help the current director. Because you think I'd rather pretend to be asleep or just not be in that painting.''

My great-grandfather looked to the side with a face of resignation. Phineas also showed some pain, unable to help at all. As Phineas averted his gaze he became aware of Arcas' presence. He settled into his chair and began to watch him carefully.

"Child you have not introduced me to your companion." He said in a calculating voice.