Vaughn had only just followed Kreacher into the old Black house when a familiar voice rang out from the corridor adjoining the sitting room.
"Hey! Kreacher! Is that our dear Weasley?"
"It must be him! I can't think of anyone else who would find this place."
It was Phineas Black's voice. Kreacher bowed to Vaughn. "Honored Mr. Weasley, please follow me this way."
Vaughn nodded and followed Kreacher through the sitting room. As they passed through the corridor, he saw a portrait with Old Black smiling and waving at him from inside it.
In a corner of the portrait, a pale old witch wearing a black veiled hat had been trussed up, with a dirty sock stuffed into her mouth. Her eyes kept darting about as she made muffled noises.
That was Walburga, Phineas's great-granddaughter and Sirius's mother.
Noticing Vaughn's gaze, Phineas gave a fawning smile. "Sorry you had to see this. This madwoman spends all day shouting and screaming. She actually wanted to throw Sirius out."
"Sirius may be a useless fool and a traitor to the family, but he is the last of the Black bloodline."
"Thank you once again, dear Weasley. It was only through your generous assistance that the Black Family could continue."
Looking at this obsequious old man, Vaughn found it hard to imagine that he had once been Hogwarts Headmaster. Still, he smiled politely. "That was our agreement. I always keep my promises."
Phineas's expression stiffened. The cunning old fellow had tried to twist their agreement and transaction into an act of generosity on Vaughn's part, hoping to preserve the Black Family's inheritance.
Clearly, he wanted to leave it all to Sirius, but Vaughn had seen through him.
Glancing again at Walburga in the corner of the portrait, Vaughn narrowed his eyes. "Phineas, you'd