Credit for everything familiar goes to J.K. Rowling. Don't forget to review! Thank you!

Regulus was laying on his bed, staring at the black snake that slithered down his arm. He'd just turned seventeen the day before, and the only gift given to him to celebrate his coming-of-age was his very own Dark Mark. His mother had been overjoyed, cursing his older brother Sirius over and over for not being as faithful to his blood as his younger brother. Regulus smiled. Sirius has been an ignorant traitor, and it was a good thing he'd run when he had. He didn't belong in this house, or even this family.

A sharp knock on the front door snapped him from his reverie. They couldn't be back already, he thought. His mother had left only a few moments ago, to do what, he had no idea, but he didn't care anyway. Assuming it was a messenger looking for his mother, Regulus pulled down his sleeve to hide the Dark Mark, slid from his bed and out into the hall, and then ran down the stairs two at a time until he faced the door.

When he swung it open, however, his mouth opened in surprise. This girl couldn't be a messenger. He stared at her, waiting for an explanation.

The problem was that Hermione didn't have an explanation. She'd spent most of her time planning on how to get to this point, including the hour she'd had to wait until left. Now that she was here, standing in front of Regulus himself, she found herself speechless. Another problem was that, while some said Regulus hadn't been as lucky as his brother had in the case of physical appearance, it seemed otherwise to Hermione. She couldn't seem to look away from his mysterious dark eyes.

"Can I…help you?" Regulus asked, running a hand threw his soft dark hair.

Hermione shook herself back to reality. "My name is Hermione. Hermione Granger. Are you…are you Regulus Black?" she said, despite knowing that this must be him, but there were no other words coming to mind.

"Yes, I am," he said, looking at her quizzically. "What exactly is it you want again, Hermione?" Regulus asked. His patience was wearing thin with this girl who obviously had something wrong with her, or at least shouldn't be here.

Hermione's mouth opened silently and closed again. This had been a terrible idea. What was she thinking, coming all the way back to 1979 with some delusional idea that a member of the Black family would help her defeat Voldemort?

"Never mind," she mumbled. Hermione was turning away and walking down the steps up to the door when a hand grabbed her wrist. She froze and turned back around to face Regulus, whose face was as confused as Hermione felt.

As far as Regulus was concerned, he wasn't about to let this girl go. She knew who he was, and where he lived, and that just wasn't something he was comfortable with.

"How do you know who I am?" Regulus asked with squinted dark eyes.

Hermione continued to look back at him in silence. What would he do if she told him how she really knew who he was? Would the mere mention of Sirius get her inside, or the exact opposite? Hermione guessed the latter and cleared her throat. What was she supposed to say?

"I…I…" she stuttered. For the first time, absolutely nothing that could get her out of this came to mind as she continued to look into Regulus' surprisingly attractive face.

"Here's an idea. How about you come inside and we talk about this a little more. I'll even make some tea to give you more time to come up with a story," Regulus said with a tiny smirk at the side of his mouth. Hermione watched with her mouth open as he stepped aside so that she could walk inside the familiar old house. Of course, it was much cleaner now than she'd ever seen it, but it was also much, much darker thanks to, she was sure, those who were living there.

Hermione walked in farther, following Regulus to the kitchen. She still had no idea what she was supposed to tell him. What would happen if she were to tell him the truth? He seemed good-hearted, but had he changed his mind yet? Did he even know about the horcruxes? No, he couldn't, because there stood Kreacher, washing dishes in the kitchen sink just as Hermione figured he always did.

"Kreacher, would you so kindly make us some tea please?" Regulus asked as he pulled out a chair for Hermione, and then walked around to the other side of the table to sit facing her. "Of course, master," said Kreacher, bowing so deeply his nose touched the floor.

As Kreacher bustled off, Regulus turned back to look at Hermione. "So, thought of anything I'll believe yet?" He asked with the same little smirk as before. He really did want to know why she was there, and how she knew who he was while he had no idea who she was. That just couldn't be a good thing. Plus, why not have some fun while his mother was away?

"Well," Hermione began, carefully choosing her words. "I'm looking for something and I think you might be able to help me."

Regulus' brows furrowed. "Help you? I don't even know who you are, and…"

"Master, your tea is ready," said Kreacher as he placed a tray with two steaming mugs of tea on it onto the table between Hermione and Regulus.

"Thank you, Kreacher," said Regulus, but he did not reach for his cup. Actually, he hadn't taken his eyes off of Hermione's face at all. "I still don't even know who you are or why you're here, so I would appreciate it if you'd clear that bit up before we continue this. Now, who do you work for?" he said, his voice considerably deeper and louder than it had been before.

If Hermione hadn't been nervous before, she certainly was now, not to mention absolutely terrified, and she had a feeling Regulus was aware.

Hermione stood up. "I shouldn't be here. I'm so sorry." She turned to leave, suddenly wanting to get out of the house as quickly as possible, but Regulus was already in front of her, leaning on the doorway.

"I don't think so," he said. "At least not before you finish your tea." He pushed off the wall and stepped closer to Hermione so that he was just inches from her face. "You didn't really think I'd let you leave, did you?"

Hermione's hand tightened on the wand in her pocket, but Regulus was too quick for her.

"Expelliarmus!" he said, smiling as Hermione's wand shot right into his empty hand. "You should sit back down, Miss Hermione."