A/N Revised version of "Somethings are Regrettable." I felt that with the other version I lost track of the plot, a lot of the chapters repeated each other, and I never focused enough on Regulus becoming a Death Eater. Then there is the matter of characters, I dwindled with too many. Anyway this version will be quicker, maybe more suspenseful? and there will be some twists! also hopefully the writing is an improvement!

I don't own the characters in Harry Potter, I only owe the ones I made up, i.e. Leandra and the Stirling family.

Prologue

She was the youngest child of Dante Stirling, heir to the Stirling Tower. They came from a long line of wizard architects, or crafters as they are called. Magical buildings were complex structures, dangerous because of their unpredictable nature. An empty hallway could actually devour its creator if it feels it's not beautiful enough. Take Hogwarts for instance, the stairwells rearrange themselves periodically when they get bored. In the wizarding world, when someone says a house or a building has 'personality' it's meant literally.

Her family emigrated from Prussia in the late 1700's. When they arrived at Britain they had little to their name but as the years passed they managed to build a reputation and a successful enterprise. They established their main office in Diagon Alley. It's referred to as the Stirling Tower.

They strictly catered to pureblood families or the Ministry.

Every British wizard family knew of the Stirlings, they had shaped much of our skylines. All the rich, prestigious families like my own had Stirling-designed homes and offices. They were a part of a life of luxury. Everyone knew the Stirlings only catered to the rich and the powerful. Often their projects marked history, such as their hand in designing and building Azkaban. They worked for years closely with Ministry officials to fashion the infamous prison. Cesar Stirling died because of it. His blood is in the dark structure itself. Therefore, it is rumored, no Stirling can ever be held in Azkaban, because the prison owes its life to any Stirling.

It could be true. Crafters know secrets about haunted houses and magical constructs that no ordinary wizard does. That's why she wanted to be one, I think, because then she could learn to control something so exclusive and dark. She enjoyed a challenged.

I admired that most about her.

August 17, 1977

Narcissa had a talent for buying gifts. A gift she chose for you was either something you always secretly desired or something you never realized you needed. They were always delightful. Narcissa took great care considering gifts. Sometimes she would start weeks before birthdays or holidays. Even if she did not get along with the person very well, like Sirius or Andromeda, she did not rush the process. She waited and searched until she found the perfect match.

That was what she was doing that fine day in Diagon Alley. She was coming to pick up a gift she had ordered for Regulus. They were a pair of Quidditch wrist-guards. Black leather with dark grey embroidery and branded on both were his initials, R.A.B.

She remembered how she watched his first match. She had been so worried for him. He was always so small and fragile, the baby of the family. But then he caught the Snitch and won the match for Slytherin by a landslide, many say he is the best Seeker Slytherin's ever had. He is certainly the best Seeker at Hogwarts. No could dispute that.

She paid for the gloves, she would wrap them herself once she got home. As she gathered up her change, she admired her own engagement ring. She often got distracted by it. It sparkled boldly. It was bigger and more expensive than Bellatrix's had been. Their wedding was going to be in June. Their house in Wiltshire should be finished by then. Lucius did not spare any expense in the design of their manor. The Stirlings were building the house; Narcissa was excited especially since Dante Stirling was going to head the project. Everyone knew Dante was the best of the three Stirling sons under Master Ammulius, their father.

Stepping out of the store she took a moment to admire the dark gothic tower that loomed over Diagon Alley. It was the Stirling Tower. At night the dark mahogany of the tower glowed crimson red. It was invisible to Muggles. The goblins of Gringotts resented it; its majestic presence threatened to overshadow their own construct. But the goblins had built low into the ground, while the Stirlings ventured to pierce the skies.

"Cissy!" Bellatrix seemed to appear out of nowhere, cutting through the usual weekend crowd in the street.

"Bella?" Narcissa was surprised to find her sister out. It wasn't like Bella to be out shopping, not anymore. She was usually busy meeting with other purebloods and planning the future of the magical world. "What are you doing here?"

"You won't believe it, Cissy, but I've just come from lunch with Charles Nott and his wife," Bella explained quickly. Charles Nott, a good friend of Lucius, he had been somewhat of a 'brother' for Lucius while he was in Hogwarts. Narcissa very much liked the Nott family. "And you won't believe what they've told me."

"What?"

Bella's dark eyes were glittering. "Lolita Stirling is Muggleborn."

"No!" Narcissa gasped, clutching her bag.

"Yes!"

"Lolita is a Muggleborn?" A sickening feeling struck her, because she had quite a few interactions with Lolita. Dante and her had dinner with Narcissa and Lucius just a few weeks ago! Narcissa even remarked that she very much liked Lolita. But she was a Mudblood this entire time… and her dirty paws had worked on her manor! "Are you sure? That's a serious allegation!"

"Ascanius Stirling came groveling to Nott's doorstep, and told him everything," she explained. "He begged Charles for help. Said he had no idea before a few days ago."

"How could that be possible? A child never knowing his own mother is a - a Mudblood!" A few passerbys glanced in their direction at the word. The two pureblood sisters glared back whoever cast a judgmental eye.

Bella grew slightly more serious, leaning in to whisper, "Ascanius seeks to join our ranks. If it's true, he's done well to distance himself from his parents but there's the matter of his purity now."

"Well, Lucius has always been fond of Severus," Narcissa said. "A half-blood can still be an asset to the cause."

Bella gave a shrug, "I suppose."

Narcissa always suspected her cousin was jealous of Severus Snape. The half-blood was held in high regard by the Dark Lord.

"It does make me wonder," Bella said slowly, "how many others are hiding Mudblood lineage?"

Narcissa sighed and shook her head. "I agree. I never imagined someone so agreeable could be a Mudblood. And Dante never behaved like a blood traitor."

"We will have to tell Regulus," her cousin said. "He's always seen around with Dante's daughter, isn't he?"

"Yes, they are very close," Narcissa sighed. She felt immensely sorry for Regulus. He did not have many friends at all. Sirius was the popular, extrovert with all the friends and admirers. Regulus had a talent for disappearing in plain sight at social gatherings. Leandra was his best friend. And Narcissa suspected Regulus had romantic feelings for her as well.

"Ammulius is likely to sack Dante from the business and if he's wise, disown him too from the will," Bella said. "No idea what will happen to Leandra and Ascanius, but it's best Regulus keeps his distance."

"But it's not her fault-"

"She's a scandal nevertheless and impure on top of that," she snapped. "He is a Black, any half-blood is beneath him."

Narcissa was about to argue the case that Regulus didn't have many friends, but she knew her cousin wouldn't listen. "Well this is going to be a nasty birthday surprise for him."