A/N: Well hello. I haven't written a fan fiction in years but I've always wanted to write one about Regulus Black so I'm just going to do it. I'm usually all about Sirius but lets face it, Regulus seems a little more complex and we all know he had some redeeming aspects of his personality. But that doesn't mean I'm going to write him as a romantic sop. He's going to be dark. And I know Harry doesn't think Regulus was nearly as handsome as Sirius but I don't really trust Harry's judgment of how much of a babe certain wizards are. I don't know if I judge Harry's judgment of anything. That kid is kind of hopeless. This story also features Alice, Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Xenophilius Lovegood probably a touch of James and Sirius every now and again, and maybe Lily can cartwheel through the story somewhere so she doesn't feel left out.
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Demons in the Architecture
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Prologue
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There were angels carved into the architecture of Hogwarts. Velia Bagshot knew that there were hundreds in the Great Hall alone. They were engraved into goblet stems, imprinted into the enormous stained glass windows, and fixed atop the pillars that held up the enchanted ceiling.
As you travelled further down into the castle the carved angels became all but extinct. Velia stood at the edge of the Deathday Party Hall. The chandelier's eerie blue light picked up the malevolent features of imps, ghouls and demons impressed into the dungeon's walls. Velia shivered as she passed a curious hand over a demon statue. Her finger connected with its sharpened tooth, causing her to wince. She held her hand to her mouth and sucked at where the skin had broken.
Footsteps always sounded loudly in the dungeons, the architecture made sure of that. Velia silently stepped back into the shadow that pooled between the statue and the dungeon's wall. She knew it wouldn't bode well for her to be found by someone so close to the Slytherin common room at this time of the night.
He emerged from the south side stairs first and strode across the hall. As soon as Velia recognized his regal features her heart pounded a little harder. She pushed herself even further into the shadow, hoping that its darkness was complete. She pressed her hand over her mouth when a shaky breath emerged as a visible fog.
Mulciber and Avery marched after him. The speed of his stride seemed to suggest that he was trying to escape them. When he reached the end of the hall he turned to face them, his robes whipping behind him.
"Regulus," Mulciber puffed as he struggled to catch his breath. "An attack on a mudblood will put us in his favour. It'll show him that we're serious about demonstrating his power."
"Someone innocent," Avery contributed, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. "It'll send a stronger message. One of the first years, maybe a girl-"
The chandelier cast its blue light on Regulus's strong features. His domineering stare had stopped Avery midsentence. He cocked his head to the side, his gaze hard but strangely curious.
"You wish to demonstrate his power by attacking the weakest creature you can find?" Mulciber and Avery quavered under his stare, sharing a nervous glance between them.
"Pathetic," he said simply, his gaze shifting to the black candles that floated above them. Velia held her breath, praying he couldn't hear the nervous thud of her heart.
"We'll demonstrate his power," he assured them calmly. "When we do they will be of our age. They will be a worthy witch or wizard. Have some pride in what we do," Regulus scolded. Velia allowed the smallest release of tension. She was happy to banish the thought of some poor first year writhing on the ground under the influence of a dark curse. At least someone older will have more of a chance at defending themselves.
"There will be blood. Lots of it," Regulus added. "That should make our message clearer." The cold blue light danced across his dark smile. Mulciber and Avery grinned appreciatively. Having satisfied his followers, Regulus dropped his leering grin and quickly strode out of their company. Mulciber and Avery shuffled back down the way they came.
Velia forced herself to stay still in the demon's shadow for a few minutes longer. She willed the terror to subside, slowly making her way out of the Deathday Party Hall. Once she reached the main foyer she broke into a run. As she climbed the tight spiral staircase to the Ravenclaw common room, she thought of all the good things that would be waiting for her. The domed ceiling, painted with stars that always twinkled with their own pure light. Alice Fortescue sitting by the fire laughing good-naturedly as Xenophilius terrorized the other Ravenclaws with his most recent outlandish conspiracy.
She stopped briefly as her hand closed around Ravenclaw's bronze knocker. For the first time she noticed a tiny cherub moulded into the base of the bronze, its hands reaching for the knocker. Mirroring it symmetrically, a vicious little demon pulled at its wings.
There were angels in the architecture of Hogwarts, but there were demons too.
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Disclaimer: I don't own anything.