Chapter 536 - Mulciber Citadel (1/2)
The day was warm, but on the outskirts of Mulciber Citadel stood a young golden-haired man with handsome features staring quietly at his childhood home. Peregrine Mulciber did not have many fond nor warm memories of his childhood home. But he had still had them once, before his father learned that he was a squib, and before his younger brother, Damian had become twisted under his father's hand.
Peregrine grimly stares at the grand Mulciber Citadel, before making his way up the path. Even now, despite having been thrown out by his father, and all but disinherited but in name, Peregrine was still permitted home. He had not returned since he was ten years old, when his mother whisked had him away in the dead of night to safety to keep him away from his father. And he was under no mistaken impression, because he knew for a fact that his father would have killed him for his existence of being that of a squib and his father would not have felt a single shred of remorse afterward.
Frankly, Peregrine would have gladly never returned to Mulciber Citadel, but a recent university graduate, he had found himself unemployed. And then, he had heard from his aunt and uncle that Gringotts was hiring squibs as was the Ministry of Magic and other positions. For certain, he had thought he would be assigned to the new Gringotts division, Gringotts Incorporated. But to his own shock and that of the goblins, he passed the examinations for Gringotts with flying colors. He was one of the few non-goblin accountants and was the only squib accountant at present being employed at Gringotts.
Making more than an enough money, Peregrine's thoughts had returned to his mother. He knew how much his mother suffered at the hands of his father, but she would never leave him of out of fear. But maybe, now that he had his own earnings, his mother would be willing to leave Mulciber Citadel.
Raising his right hand, Peregrine hesitates for a moment, before using the doorknocker that was a silver snake with emerald eyes biting its own tail. Peregrine knocks thrice and waits to see if there is a response. Not hearing a sound, he raises his fist to knock, when the door swings open to reveal an old, familiar face
Peregrine's face tightens with worry and rage at seeing the Mulciber family house elf, Beat. The house elf that was nearly the same age as he has a round swollen nose, missing teeth, and a broken bat like ear that hangs down. There are old and new whip scars on his arms and legs and is badly bruised from a recent beating.
”Bee-bee?” Peregrine whispered in concern and utterly aghast at seeing his childhood companion so savagely beaten.
”Per-per?” The house elf whispered in disbelief, before flinching and crouching down as if in fear. ”Sorry, Master! Beat did not mean to be rude!”
Peregrine's face hardens resembling far too much that of his father's, but unlike his father's face, there is genuine concern and kindness visible in Peregrine's eyes. ”It's alright, Bee-bee,” Peregrine said as he gently patted the top of his childhood playmate's head. Beat flinches at the gentle touch of the first young master that was once his friend.
Peregrine quickly withdraws his hand with anger and sadness in his gaze. ”It's alright, Bee-bee, I understand.” Clearing his throat of emotion, he says, ”I'm here to see my mother, Bee-bee, will you take me to her?”
Beat anxiously shuffles on his feet as he glances around frantically, before whispering, ”The Madam is lying in bed, she was hurt by the Master again.”