The Locket

Flossey

Chapter 7: Family Affairs

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Sad day. :(

Regulus looked at the birthday card that sat on his dresser, opening it. Inside was his cousin's scrawled cursive, "Happy birthday, Regulus. Your present will be delivered to the Hogs Head at noon, a fortnight from Sunday." Of course, he was not getting a gift today. He had a meeting with an unrevealed Death Eater, possibly several.

"Yo Regulus, ready?" Regulus turned to the doorway where William was standing. He nodded silently, following him out to the common room. It was dimly lit as always, but bustling with activity as everyone prepared for their trip to Hogsmeade. He was surprised at the number of students awake, considering their house's late-night shenanigans to celebrate their win. Despite going to bed early into the event, Regulus could have sworn hearing Rebecca lead several more intoxicated chants of his name well into the night.

In the corner of the room, Regulus spied the very same girl, curled up in a large chair and sleeping over a cup of coffee. He smiled at the sight, and the smile grew broader as he saw her right herself quickly, as if shaken awake by an unknown force, then begin writing hurriedly. His attention was pulled away by the sudden arrival of Professor Slughorn, whose booming happy voice commanded silence.

"Oh-hoh children, just give me your permission slips, and you will be free to venture to Hogsmeade!" In groups of friends and couples, the Slytherins lined up, chatting excitedly. Regulus and William stood next to each other, but they allowed silence to fall between them, as they did not need anyone overhearing their business.

The silence didn't last however, as a loud group of boys led by Evan Rosier came behind them. "Sup Black?" Evan began, clapping Regulus on the back. Without allowing him to answer, Evan continued, "You should've stayed out with us last night. Things were crazy."

Regulus frowned, "I have commitments." Severn Wilkes, who was standing at Evan's side, chuckled a bit, "That girl of your's.." His statement was cut short as Regulus rolled his eyes, uninterested in whatever shenanigans Rebecca had gotten herself into. Instead of taking the bait, he merely asked, "Do we have practice later?"

Evan shook his head, "Thought I'd give the boys the day off. Smashing Hufflepuff will be a breeze." Wilkes laughed, "In fact, I think their strategy will be avoidance. Their captains skittered off quickly when Evan and I saw them at dinner last night."

Regulus shrugged, but William spoke up, "Did you see how those Ravenclaw girls were hanging around after the game?"

"They were so into us! I suppose they don't get enough man out of the Gryffindors." In a second, Regulus watched all three of the boys begin to hoot and holler about the Ravenclaw girls, as if they were a pack of dogs seeking meat. Regulus rolled his eyes and monitored the line, which was moving very slowly.

"Regulus, don't you wish you could get a piece of that?" Wilkes yelled jokingly. Regulus shrugged, "I've got my own girl." The three boys laughed, and Rosier commented this time, "It's like you two are already tied down! She owns you!" Evan lowered his voice, leaning in, "What if the Dark Lord doesn't allow that kind of relationship?" Regulus ignored his question, even though the interest had peaked. For a moment, there was silence between the boys, which William broke, "Well speak of the devil and she shall come!"

Sure enough, Rebecca had moved groggily across the common room and soon took a spot under Regulus' nose. She sipped her coffee, looking up at him with sad eyes. "I need help with my essay, Regulus." She put her forehead on his chest, leaning on him.

For the moment that he pulled her into his arms, Regulus thought about Evan's question. Who would he pick - the Dark Lord, who held his career in the balance, or his girlfriend, who held his heart? While either choice could be argued, there was no obvious answer to him. They held two different places in his future. In his mind, it was fine for him to fight for the good of the wizarding world during the day, then come home to his family at night. But honestly, did any Death Eater do this?

To his knowledge, no. Lucius had relations with his cousin, Narcissa, but she was a trusted outsider. Was Rebecca trusted? Could she be trusted? The answer, in his opinion, was yes. But to others? He had no idea. Another question came to his mind. Would she hold him back? Would she effect his work for the Dark Lord? He was unsure of it.

"Yo Reg, enough family time, we need to get going," William announced, pulling Regulus out of his fog. He saw that the line had left them behind and was now a pitiful excuse for a queue. "Don't go," Rebecca whispered. Regulus pulled her to arms length, "Rebecca. You are hungover. You will be better. Go to sleep, you'll work on the essay later." Rebecca frowned, "But I need your help."

"I need to go to my meeting. You knew this. Go to bed." Rebecca mocked him for a moment, and Regulus pulled away, "This is called responsibility, Rebecca. I'll be back later." Rebecca's mouth opened to protest, but he covered it with his own, giving her a kiss before moving to Professor Slughorn.

"Good day for Hogsmeade, isn't it boys?" Slughorn boomed, checking their permission slips, "Buying presents for your sweets?" He gave them both a broad smile, and they returned it. As he handed their slips back to them, he began telling them of his times at Hogwarts - but once they had the papers in their hands, they moved off quickly.

Rebecca watched them, leave, frowning. She turned on heel silently, but Slughorn had hurried himself over to her, "Not feeling well, Rebecca?" She shook her head, "Just a bit under the weather." Slughorn nodded, "Well if you need anything, my office is open! I'm not off to Hogsmeade today - I have those papers to grade. I forsee that your's will be excellent!"

Rebecca gave him a grim grin, "Thanks Professor." As they parted, Slughorn suddenly remembered something, "Oh yes, Professor McGonagall spoke to me about your work - she said it may be lacking! I'm sure you're capable of doing much better, Rebecca, so please work hard on this next essay! Say, why don't you ask Regulus for help? You two are quite cozy, aren't you?"

Rebecca gave him a faked broad smile, "Of course, Professor." He was satisfied and hurried off, unable to hear her final comment, "If he ever comes back." She rolled her eyes, moving to her dorm room to get some much needed rest.

Regulus and William had left the other two, walking briskly and silently towards Hogsmeade. "Harsh," William had commented at the beginning, "To Rebecca." Regulus rolled his eyes - apparently, nothing he did with her was right, "Whatever," was his flat response.

With a short five minutes, they were both outside the Hog's Head, a grungy pub frequented by older wizards and people who didn't want their business heard. They hurried in silently. William looked around and saw what he wasn't expecting. In a corner booth was a young woman with a gaunt face and wild hair, talking tight-lipped with a young man whose flowing blonde locks were tied back with a ribbon. They were in the inner circle of the Dark Lord's minions, some of his most trusted.

As the two boys moved as a unit, the two turned their attentions to them and stopped talking. The woman's mouth slid into an easy grin, "Cousin dearest!" she drawled. Regulus nodded his head, "Bella. Lucius." He slid into the booth across from Bellatrix Lestrange, his cousin who was a decade his senior. William sat across from Lucius Malfoy, who was marrying Bellatrix's sister. Regulus felt strangely like this was becoming a family affair.

"It's so nice to see you're serious about the family business," Bella joked, throwing her head back in a cackling laughter. She looked around for a moment afterwards, looking at Regulus straight in the eye, "But you didn't bring your little girlfriend out to play?"

Regulus showed no reaction, "She's studying." He had no idea what Bella wanted to "play" with Rebecca, but he did not want to know. Bella had always hated Rebecca, for some reason, and last Christmas they'd gotten into a screaming match over the lamb.

Lucius looked at Regulus disdainfully, "What a good student, I suppose. Now, to the details. You know your induction date, correct?"

Regulus nodded, "Correct." Bella took over the interrogation-style situation, "And you will not know further details of that. The time and location will stay undisclosed. Fellow Death Eaters are invited, and your parents do not wish to attend. Narcissa will be present as a family witness."

Regulus nodded, "And Rebecca?" Bella giggled, "Is not a priority." Regulus stayed silent. Bella grinned, "Regulus, we must test the girl - to see her loyalty to us before your attachment is allowed."

Regulus shook his head, "She is loyal, she will not betray me." Lucius shrugged, "Things happen, Regulus. Some women cannot be trusted. Just - feed her a lie for us. And we'll test her."

"Test her?" Regulus questioned. Bella's shrill laughter came again, "Just wait for the signal - and do what is asked of you." Regulus nodded solemnly.

Bellatrix smashed her fist on the table, "We'll drink to it!" she raised her hand towards the barkeeper, "A round of firewhiskey!"

The older, bearded man waved his wand in the air lazily and instantly, four dingy shot glasses flew to the table, full of a wicked brew that burned as it went down, but gave the drinker a hearty boost of courage. Regulus hated the stuff.

He pushed his away, shaking his head, "I don't partake in that - I'm a prefect." Lucius laughed, "Has that ever stopped a Hogwarts student?" William nudged him, as if to warn him that he should drink it.

"Come on, Reggie, you're not a baby anymore! Drink up!" Regretful, Regulus grabbed the glass and threw the drink down his throat, followed soon after by the other three. The strange wizard concoction burned their throats, but soon enough a feeling of empowerment and strength overtook them. Regulus, usually tight-lipped about his affairs, was soon boasting about his exceptional marks in school and his accomplishment on the Quidditch field. In turn, Bella and Lucius began telling him vague stories of great dealings they had carried out for the Dark Lord. William bragged of women, but Regulus called his bluffs.

Early in the morning of December 20th, Rebecca was asleep in the darkness of Regulus' room.

"Rebecca," came the whisper out of the darkness. Someone tapped her, and she giggled in response, "I'm tired, Regulus."

Again, the whisper, "Rebecca, wake up." This time, someone shook her. She turned over, throwing her arm over where Regulus should have been. "Regulus?" she whispered back, feeling around the bed. Nothing.

Before a scream could escape her mouth, she was stupefied. Regulus watched silently as his girlfriend was kidnapped. He stood, holding Bellatrix's arm and apparating to an unknown location, not an emotion on his face.

A/N: Sorry for lack of updates, I had a bit of a writer's block.. Hope y'all enjoy this and are ready for the next, which is already halfway finished! Thanks to the beta for getting me to write.. She's awesome!

The answer to my last fanquestion was.. MORSMORDRE! I wonder when Regulus will use that spell..

Anyways, next one.. After the First Wizarding War, how did Lucius Malfoy ferret his way out of his legal charges? (Yes, despite the flowing, beautiful blonde hair, Lucius is also a ferret.)

So, that's all folks, and please review!