Prologue
The soft creak of stairs under booted feet broke the deep silence. On the top landing, a door long kept locked swung noiselessly open. Moonlight spilled into the hall, quickly shut again behind the heavy oak.
In the soft light, the room was a place outside of time. He could hear again the throaty laughter, the sighs of a lover seventeen years gone. For a moment he could hardly breath, remembering.
He was almost afraid to slide the stone from its place, but the box still lay behind it. With shaking hands he drew the intricately carven wood into the light.
Inside the chest lay a single blue rose, preserved by some nameless magic. Its delicate scent breathed of simpler times. They had been so young then. Had they truly not seen where their path would lead? With a hush of rustling petals, he laid it tenderly aside.
The green and silver scarf beneath still smelled of Regulus. With tears burning his eyes, he clutched it to himself. Grey eyes haunted him, and this too he set aside.
Moving to return the box to its hiding place, he paused. Something else lay in the bottom. An artist's fingers caressed the smooth leather as he withdrew it. Trembling, they slid over the letters there.
Regulus Arcturus Black
With trembling hands, he opened it to the first page...