As Sirius Black listened to the first half of Lucien's words, his heart began to sink. He thought Phineas had indeed managed to persuade Lucien after all.
Lock him in this house he had hated his entire life, find him a woman, make him have children to carry on the Black family's so-called glory-the mere thought disgusted him.
But that final "not willing" sent a sudden surge of joy through Sirius Black. His mood swooped and soared like a broomstick, the swings so drastic that he nearly lost his footing.
"However, I can help clear Sirius Black's name so he can live in the wizarding world as an innocent man. Whether he wants to continue your family line afterward is his business."
"Of course, I can give you a discount on my fee." Lucien looked at Phineas's portrait. "There's no need for Galleons or anything like that, but I want to study half your magic books and records of secret lore. I also want my pick of rare materials-herbs, magical creature materials, minerals, and so on."
The magic books and all that secret knowledge went without saying.
Lucien also believed Phineas's claim about the family's secret vault. Even a cunning rabbit kept three burrows, let alone a wizarding family with a history stretching back over a thousand years.
Although Phineas's earlier words had been unpleasant, he had been right about one thing: Sirius Black genuinely did not know where the family's secret vault was.
Otherwise, Sirius Black would have spoken up to refute him long ago.
As for requesting herbs, magical creature materials, and the like, those were for cultivating the Apples of Youth.
For that mythical plant, capable of extending life and increasing magical power, to mature, it needed not only a constant supply of magic but also to