Dear Crouch/Black Family,

You have been cordially invited to the 421st annual Serpentine Family Reunion. This means you are either a Serpentine or a friend of one. As this is a formal event, our family accepts only the highest-standing of friends, and you are to be congratulated by being allowed to attend.

The Reunion shall be held at the Serpentine Family Home in Nine Wands, England, at precisely 7.00 on the date of December 21. We would be pleased if you were to attend.

Signed,
Jewel Riddle Serpentine

Regulus whistled appreciatively. "Four hundred and twenty first. That's almost older than Quidditch," he stated. "Not even my family goes back that far." He paused. "Then again, I suppose it makes sense. You'd have to have years of selective breeding to get someone like her."

A log snapped in half, cracking violently, in the fire. Barty hummed. He was concentrating on the game of wizarding chess in front of him, and wasn't really paying attention to what Regulus was saying. "Knight to E6." The glass knight obeyed him, taking off Regulus's bishop's head in the process.

Regulus was too entranced by the letter to notice that he was losing. "I wonder if Moggy knows about this?" he mused. "I doubt it, though. It was probably Cade." His voice dropped to a conspiring whisper. "I've heard she loves to mess around with other people's lives," he said.

"Is that so?" Barty mumbled. It was now clear that he wasn't paying attention. "It's your move."

Regulus looked down at the board and sighed. "Are you even listening to me?" he asked in a frustrated tone.

Barty had the grace to at least shake his head. "If you don't move, I'm going to skip you," he informed the Slytherin.

Regulus rested his chin on the palm of his hand. "It doesn't matter. I've lost anyway," he sighed, pointing his wand at the mutilated set. Slowly, they began to piece themselves back together and, looking defeated, slink back towards their case. Barty's pieces clicked in triumph and marched off of the board.

Barty hummed again. "What you do reckon is for dinner? I wonder if they've got that thing that looked like a slipper." He leaned back in his armchair, crossing his legs and gazing up at the domed cieling. "It was wicked good."

Regulus rolled his eyes, fed up. "It's called bichon au citron, Barty, and no, they only had that last week because of le Jour de la Sainte Barbe. Yes, it was good," he snapped. "But that's beside the point. Aren't you at least a little bit interested in this reunion?" he demanded, shoving his set back into his bag.

Barty was quiet for a minute. Regulus was on the verge of saying something to remind him of his presence, but before he could, Barty shifted in his seat. "I am interested," he said slowly, still not making eye contact, "but… I don't want to… intrude… if she doesn't want us… knowing… about her family."

Regulus threw his arms up in the air. "Honestly! You're impossible. Your father must have really drilled those morals into your head when you were little." He must have noticed how Barty's eyes grew dark at the mention of his father, so he changed the subject. "I think we should ask Moggy about this."

Barty's head snapped up and for the first time that night, he looked at Reg. "No way!" he exclaimed. "She'll kill us if she knew Cade invited us to the reunion!"

Regulus tilted his head to the side. "But how would she feel if we just turned up- and you know your parents are going to make you go- without warning her that we were going to be there?" he inquired, challenge in his voice.

Barty paused and then sighed, sinking back into his chair. As usual, Reg's logic was infallible. "Well, I suppose…" he mumbled. "But she'll still kill us."

"Who's going to kill you?"