Half Mast [Aly]

[Ulysses Holland]

The offices beneath the crystal Ministry atrium were solemn, in a way they hadn’t been in years. The late-afternoon air felt heavy, like a blanket of woes weighing upon the Zabini Administration’s offices. Steps were muted, voices were hushed, and doors were closed in these offices. The Ministry was in mourning.

Less than a week prior Richard Morrison, the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and his entire family were killed. Not just killed, butchered. The scene had been confounding and far, far too public. It sent a ripple of fear through not only the Ministry but also the entire Wizarding populace.

Was Ulysses Holland afraid? Never. But he was surprised, a feeling that somehow vexed him even more so. This was dark magic, whatever left the runes that Holland had reviewed in the healers’ notes. It was ancient, ancestral. Holland knew very few who could decipher it, but it just so happened that one of those rare experts had booked a meeting with him recently. If Jakob Bloodwyne wasn’t here to explain, Ulysses would simply ask him.

Ulysses paced the black marble floors in his office on the first floor, his hands clasped behind his back. Whenever he would turn he would catch a glimpse of himself in the glossy black stone walls of the room, his shoulders squared and his cloudy blue eyes hard. No, Ulysses did not like surprises. Not at all.

[Alyson Bludwyne]

JAKOB BLUDWYNE

---

Jakob was not excited at the prospect of this meeting. It had been forced upon him by his recently Returned daughter and with her recent antics, it was sure to be an unpleasant one. And as if meeting with Ulysses Holland under these circumstances wasn't bad enough, Alyson had also declared her intentions to tag along. Jakob could almost predict how things were going to turn out and he didn’t even need his daughters Sight to do it. He'd tried to explain to his daughter just who Ulysses Holland was, but as was her usual these days, she did not consider his opinions to rank very highly.  

Time had not been Jakob's friend. He had once been a powerful wizard in his own right, had managed to completely evade suspicion after the fall of his first Dark Lord, but the fall of his Dark Masked Lady had been harder to navigate. Loosing his wife, and then being faced with the madness of his daughter, Jakob had struggled to put his life back together. He’d lost everything in one fell swoop and then when he’d gone to check on Alyson after sending her to the Fort, he’d discovered she’d disappeared in what everyone had called the Flux. All that he had worked for over two decades gone.  

He’d been forced to ask for help to ensure his name remained clear and he’d turned to the depths of the Wizarding Underworld. His particular talents had quickly made him useful and now 17 years later, he was firmly indebted to the true leader of that Underworld, Ulysses Holland. 

He hesitated one last time before they left. Holland did not usually appreciate Jakob asking for favours in the first place. His position was to create fear through the threat of his talents. And anyway, Alyson had already specifically berated him for putting himself so thoroughly in someone else’s power. And yet now, what she was asking, it was only going to cement that fact. 

“I need him out Father,” Alyson said pointedly, her dark gaze boring into her father’s one, brooking no argument. He’d faded in the 17 years she’d been away. He was almost of no use to her like this except perhaps as a link to the Underworld she had not had time to control. She needed more people and not for the first time she cursed the Flux that had so completely ruined all her perfectly laid plans. Seventeen years she’d been gone. Seventeen years of peace as the Light grew strong and fat on its success. Well no more. The Morrison’s had been the first but they would not be the last. Already the pieces were moving, her black pawns moving quickly across the board, surrounding the white before they even knew the game had truly begun. But she was missing her knights and bishops. And it was time to rectify that.

With a resigned sigh, Jakob held his hand out toward Alyson, tensing as she took it. He thought he’d be able to stop her if she tried anything, but he’d also seen hints at a new darker power inside her that he did not fully understand. It was therefore a relief when he’d apparated them into the Ministry Atrium that he could let go of her and let her bloody bird take care of her.  

“This way,” he muttered gruffly, leading the way to Holland’s office. Alyson smiled serenely, her public mask fully in place as she used her weak, pathetic body to its full advantage and followed him through Ministry Halls. Jakob couldn’t help the sense of smug pride as he glanced back at her. He’d created that. He’d bled and sacrificed all his life for her and there was a deep certainty that she had been worth it. She was perfect, minus the slight issue with her magic. A mask of pure innocence and light to cover the deep abyss within. And if he was right with what he suspected lurked within her, it was darkness indeed that would once again sweep the nation.  

The thought buoyed him so that when he knocked on Holland’s door, it wasn’t with his earlier hesitation. He was expected –though not with company- so he walked in, bowing his head respectfully. He caught the snort of amusement from Alyson as her Little Shadow no doubt described what he had just done and knew meek and weak Alyson was gone, even as a chill settled into the room, the shadows getting just that touch darker.  

“Sir, thank you for granting me this meeting,” he said, trying to ignore his daughter standing by him, rudely staring towards Holland with those large dark eyes of hers.  

[Ulysses Holland]

The office seemed to vibrate with Holland’s presence when he finally stopped pacing, standing straight-backed and square-shouldered. He held out a hand and the gold-capped cane containing his wand flew to his hand. The office was a reflection of its inhabitant; black and gold. Dark, but with a flawless pristine surface. Nothing out of place. A knock sounded on the heavy oak door to his office and Ulysses turned on his cane, his clouded blue eyes boring into his visitor.

The door opened, and the severe expression Holland carried in solitude quickly fell away to reveal a polite and friendly personality. The old wizard stared down his nose at Jakob and the young girl with him, whom Holland could only assume was his recently Returned daughter, Alyson. It didn’t come as a surprise that Jakob would have to bring his daughter along with him; Holland had heard she was a sickly child. She was such a skinny young thing. Pitiful.

“Sir, thank you for granting me this meeting,” he said, trying to ignore his daughter standing by him, rudely staring towards Holland with those large dark eyes of hers.  

“Good Afternoon, Mr. Bloodwyne. I see you brought Alyson with you.” Ulysses surveyed his daughter and nodded in greeting, a small smile playing at his jowls. “Please, come in. Be seated.”

Holland waved the duo in, conjuring two gold-painted chairs opposite his large black desk. Ulysses took a seat in his own leather-tufted office chair, placing his cane perfectly horizontally along his desk, fiddling with the clasp to release his wand. He sat silently, his blue eyes darting expectantly between his two guests.

Holland knew the Bloodwynes. They were cultists. Weak spirits, in need of a philosophy to blindly follow to an uneven and flimsy prosperity. In his lifetime Holland had seen many of their like: Death Eaters, Sentinels, the Shadowloved. They were all the same. They had no vision. Resting their hopes and ambitions on a foolish messiah rather than mastering their own fate. Even when Jakob presented his usefulness, his wit was always a disappointment. Anastasia had been more of the same, rest her soul. Ulysses did not hold much hope for Alyson.

“Now, what is it you’ve called to meet me for?” Holland finally spoke, stoping his fidgeting with his cane to pick up a file on his desk. “Here to confess to me about your extracurricular activities? I daresay they’ve already gotten my attention.”

The file dropped open to reveal black-and-white Wizarding photographs of the injuries to the Morrison family. Even without color they were gristly, the caked blood and gouged skin sharp in the photos’ grain. “Care to explain?”

[Alyson Bludwyne]

“Good Afternoon, Mr. Bloodwyne. I see you brought Alyson with you. Please, come in. Be seated.”

Alyson cocked her head to the side, examining the pulsing aura in front of her. It was strong. And tempting. Her loose hair hung lankly over her shoulders, almost hiding the small magical object that perched just below her ear. It’s whispered instructions guided Alyson to the offered chair, before describing the man they faced.

“Now, what is it you’ve called to meet me for?” Holland finally spoke, stoping his fidgeting with his cane to pick up a file on his desk. “Here to confess to me about your extracurricular activities? I daresay they’ve already gotten my attention.”

There was the sound of a file falling onto a hard surface and Alyson smirked as Little Shadow relayed the scene from her perch on her shoulder. The games could be so much fun to play.

“Care to explain?”

He had known this would come up, known that Ulysses Holland would not appreciate the public nature of the murder. He’d not known Alyson had planned to do such a thing, was still unsure how his weak, magically lacking daughter had even managed to subdue an entire wizarding family, but the results had been magnificent in their horror. Again he felt the pride of a father, but now it was tinged with fear. Holland and Alyson were similar, especially in the regard that they did not need to raise their voices to display anger or unhappiness at a situation.

Jakob suddenly felt very cornered and for a second he wasn’t sure which person was wisest to anger. But then he looked at Holland’s cold blue stare and made his choice. Alyson was still so young and only recently Returned to the world. Perhaps, when age eventually stopped the great man in front of him, as time did to all men, then Alyson would be able to truly step in and fulfill her destiny.

“My dau-” Jakob began to explain, his speech stopping abruptly as a pale hand appeared on his arm.

There was a pause as Alyson flexed her fingers just a little in warning before turning her dark gaze towards this man who was apparently her father’s next choice as Leader. Jakob Bludwyne had always liked to follow.

“What my father is trying to say, is that we’re not here for that. We need someone out of Azkaban. A dear family friend. Winston Warghollow.”

[Ulysses Holland]

How precocious. Apparently Jakob was so desperate to avoid his own agency that even his young daughter spoke for him. A small smirk played at Holland’s lips as he looked between the father and daughter; while obviously irritating for him personally, objectively this was an interesting dynamic. Ulysses folded his hands in front of him on the desk, staring into the girl’s dark, unseeing eyes.

“Ms. Bloodwyne. I’ll forgive you due to your long absence, but I’m afraid you misunderstand the… leverage of our relationship.” Ulysses smiled apologetically, but the way he twisted his wand in his cane gave away a slow seething within. Ulysses Holland wasn’t ordered about, particularly not by petulant children. It also wasn’t his custom to do favors with little reason, and at the moment the Bloodwynes were causing significantly more trouble than they were helping.

This wasn’t a negotiation. Holland had spent the time to make sure Jakob Bloodline understood, he would have to explain it to his own daughter. They were in the heart of the Ministry, steps from the Minister’s office. An army of aurors and hitwizards inhabited the upper floors, and could be down in moments. Who would they defend; the right-hand man of the Minister for Magic, or the man whose fearful face gave away his many crimes as soon as he was pressed about them?

“I remember the man of whom you speak, I presided over his trial as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.” The old man’s steady hands gathered the images and replaced them inside the file, dropping it in front of him. “It is not within my power to pardon convicted criminals, and if I remember correctly Mr. Warghollow is entirely where he belongs.”

[Alyson Bludwyne]

“Ms. Bloodwyne. I’ll forgive you due to your long absence, but I’m afraid you misunderstand the… leverage of our relationship.”

Alyson huffed in delicate amusement. “Oh no. I understand completely. My father was very tedious in his explaining of the fact that he has lowered himself to work for you. Which brings me to the other matter I wished to discuss today. Once this business is concluded, the Bludwynes will no longer be at your disposal. We have other business to attend to and my father does not have the time to run around for your petty tasks.”

Jakob watched the scene unfurl with horror. She was antagonizing perhaps the most powerful wizard in the country. Ulysses Holland had the might of the Ministry at his disposal. What did Alyson have? How could she be so confident? What had she done? What had he done in allowing this to even occur?

“I remember the man of whom you speak, I presided over his trial as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. It is not within my power to pardon convicted criminals, and if I remember correctly Mr. Warghollow is entirely where he belongs.”

Alyson waved the details away with a bony pale hand. “He’s only where he belongs because the people in power don’t appreciate the complexities of life. Death comes for us all eventually. It is an honour to give that life to further the power of others.”

She leaned forward, her already dark eyes somehow turning a shade of black that seemed to suck at the bit of colour in the room, the light dimming as her presence grew.

“I play games with my lessers too Holland. But I am not one of yours so cut the crap. We both know that you have enough at your disposal to get him out one way or the other. I could do it myself, but I really do have other things to attend to; as you so cleverly noted, I have been away for a long time.”

[Ulysses Holland]

Ulysses sat with his hands clasped, unphased by the young girl’s outburst. It was painfully apparent that Alyson Bloodwyne was not told ‘no’ often. Clearly Jakob patronized her. But Ulysses Holland never did anything unless he was receiving something in return; the Bloodwynes gravely misunderstood their relationship with him if they thought this was an appropriate way of asking him for a favor.

“I play games with my lessers too Holland. But I am not one of yours so cut the crap. We both know that you have enough at your disposal to get him out one way or the other. I could do it myself, but I really do have other things to attend to; as you so cleverly noted, I have been away for a long time.”

Holland didn’t move save to dart his icy blue eyes to the door behind them; at his prompt it opened, and a square-jaw wizard in a bowler hat entered and stood rigidly next to the door. This man was Mr. Taylor, Ulysses Holland's loyal bodyguard of several decades. Though he was a stranger to his daughter, Jakob Bloodwyne would recognize him all too well. “I admire your confidence, Ms. Bloodwyne. Perhaps one day it will be rooted in skill, rather than arrogance. You’ve had my answer. Unless you come to me with new information or a better offer, it is resolute. Good day.”

The square-jawed man opened the door wide for the Bloodwyne’s to leave. Holland put the file on his desk away and took out parchment and his crystal circular reading glasses, prepared for his day’s work. Their conversation was over.

“Oh, and Mr. Bloodwyne,” A thought occurred to Holland when the duo were on their way out the door, “Consider this the termination of your contract. You’re free to practice however you wish, but you are no longer protected by my organization. Take care.”

[Alyson Bludwyne]

“I admire your confidence, Ms. Bludwyne. Perhaps one day it will be rooted in skill, rather than arrogance. You’ve had my answer. Unless you come to me with new information or a better offer, it is resolute. Good day.”

Alyson smirked in childish amusement. Men and their constant belief that she couldn’t possibly have any skill… it was her true saving grace. The reason that suspicion had yet to ever come close to her despite some rather tedious connections from time to time. Her weak, childlike body just wasn’t threatening. How could a child with no apparently ability to cast spells ever be a threat. The very idea was absurd.

“Perhaps you are correct Mr Holland,” she conceded. “Perhaps I should demonstrate first. You’ll notice. I’m sure.” She said standing, her hand held out for her father to take. “Come father. I believe we are being dismissed.”

Jakob was shaking as he slowly guided his daughter towards the door, visibly wincing as they moved past a large presence. The shadow in her mind unfurled as she debated demonstrating in that very instant but there was so much to do. And the Ministry would be such a tedious place to do it. The darkness receded for now. There would be ample time soon to show her true might.

“Oh, and Mr. Bludwyne. Consider this the termination of your contract. You’re free to practice however you wish, but you are no longer protected by my organization. Take care.”

Alyson rolled her eyes as her father turned to plead with Holland. “Don’t be pathetic father,” she said, feeling rather pleased with the outcome even as she tightened her grip and left the room. She hadn’t really expected to get Winston out this way, that would have been an unexpected bonus, but letting her father believe that she actually had a motive other than getting him out of the yoke of Holland’s quaint organization had been amusing.

Seventeen years after the war, the Bludwyne’s may not have their original standing in powerful society but few Purebloods did when the Light were in charge. That would change. The Pure would come. And Ulysses Holland would realize how easily his Empire could crumble when true power came to play.