"You've," Lily unusually stumbled over her words and had to start again, "you've made him your Heir?"
"Sirius is my Heir but he will be Sirius's." Arcturus informed her as though the matter was a fait accompli.
"Even though he carries my blood?" challenged Lily in a way that Sirius remembered well.
Arcturus made a vague hand wave. "The only blood he carries that matters for the family magic is Black."
Lily rubbed her protruding abdomen. "Then why all the fuss about purity of blood?"
"Those of us in magical families with generations dating back years who have created and maintained the traditions of our society wish to protect them." Arcturus explained with more patience and less vitriol than Sirius had expected. "Marrying someone who shares the same history and culture helps in that protection. New magical people tend to want to challenge the status quo."
"If the status quo isn't challenged occasionally, how will society move forward? Grow?" Lily argued passionately. "Traditions and culture are important but a society will stagnate if it clings so furiously to the past that it doesn't allow for a future."
"And there is the crux of the political argument at the heart of the wizarding world." Arcturus tapped his cane lightly on the floor.
"So you agree with Voldemort's position that all muggleborns should be killed?" Lily asked pointedly.
Arcturus tilted his head in her direction. "The Dark Lord wishes to kill us all, Madame Potter, not simply the muggleborn."
"Call me Lily," she said absently, continuing to soothe the stirring baby within her, "and if you know that, why do you support him?"
"I neither support nor oppose him." Arcturus replied sternly. "Do not confuse the House of Black with the antics of those that have taken the Mark."
"Ouch," whispered Remus, "I'd forgotten just how sharp a tongue your grandfather had at times."
Sirius nodded. Lily was embarrassed; her cheeks aflame.
"My apologies, Lord Black." Lily inclined her head, her red hair cascading forward.
Arcturus huffed but nodded. "Accepted." He sighed as though disgruntled. "I cannot blame you for your confusion when most of the younger generation have lined up under the Dark Lord's banner and embarrassed the House." He cast a look towards the door and the rest of the hospital outside. "All except my Heir, of course."
Pride was evident in Arcturus's voice.
Lily smiled. "Sirius is one of the most stubborn men I know." Her smile fell away. "Charlus and James went for news."
Apparently Arcturus picked up on her evident worry as much as Sirius did. "Sirius is a survivor. He will recover."
"He'll be staying with us."
There was another faint hint of a challenge in her voice but Arcturus bowed his head in agreement.
Lily's eyes flickered to the group on the other side of the room. "They're talking about my son, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid so." Arcturus said. He played idly with his cane – a sure sign that he was internally agitated. "The boy will be a very powerful wizard. They will wish to use him for their own gain, even Albus Dumbledore, and they all are refusing to acknowledge Bertie's authority to restrict their knowledge of the event." He cocked his head. "Bertie has been arguing that it is too dangerous in these times for them to retain the knowledge especially when the child is not yet born."
Lily paled. "I wish I could obliviate them but I couldn't take on three by myself, and Albus; he's another four wizards just on his own."
Arcturus glanced over at her sharply. "You agree they shouldn't remember at all?"
Her green eyes met his determinedly. "Protecting my son is more important than their memory of the event."
Sirius wondered whether Lily had known of the prophecy at that point.
"You're a father," Lily continued, "would you not do everything you could do to protect your child?"
Arcturus was about to respond when Charlus and James entered. Their faces showed a modicum of surprise at seeing Lily seated with Arcturus and they both walked over quickly.
"Sirius?" asked Arcturus immediately.
"In a healing coma." Charlus said succinctly. "He was tortured badly and he will need extensive therapy to walk again but he'll be fine in the long term."
"That's a relief." Lily leaned into James who had sat beside her, placing his arm around her shoulders.
"A word, Charlus?" Arcturus motioned to an empty corner of the room.
Charlus nodded briefly, bemused.
Arcturus erected a privacy ward. "Lily has expressed concerns that the Ministry will seek to use her son and not comply with Bertie."
Any hint of Charlus's usual good humour disappeared and his brown eyes hardened. "Your observation?"
"Confirms her fears may be valid." Arcturus said without turning toward the group. "They have been in a huddle since we arrived and Bertie is quite clearly the only one arguing that they should restrict the knowledge."
"Bastards!" muttered Charlus. "So we're obliviating them?"
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