Lionhearted: The Moon Ascendant
Chapter 7
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Regulus Black stood straight-backed and silent, his hands folded politely as he stood in front of the floo to welcome guests as they arrived. He watched the people milling around his family's sitting room, their relatives from both the Black and other pureblood families.
It was one of those occasions that Sirius liked to call the 'Most Ancient and Noble Open Houses of Boredom', and he tried to tame the smile that was threatening to break out at the thought of what his older brother would be doing if he were here, because he was still supposed to be annoyed with him.
He was decked in his very best victorian style dress robes, the ones with the ruffles around the neck and the wrists that scratched at his skin, and he could imagine Sirius trying to get away with loosening them when their parents weren't looking, or he would lean over to whisper something scathing about such and such distant cousin and her horrible shoes.
'And Look how horrible the food is!' he would say, grimmancing as Kreacher moved around the room holding trays of those terrible stuffed olives that he hated so much.
The house elf was actually currently carrying a tray of tea through the small sober crowd of black dressed witches and wizards, making his way towards the love seat in the center of the room where his mother was sitting. He glanced over at her with concern as she accepted a cup and continued her discussion with her sister-in-law, Narcissa and Bella's mother Druella Black nee Rosier.
This was the first 'family get together' since 'the accident' as his father was calling it. His mum wasn't up for standing very long and every once in awhile she would get headaches that would make her have to lie down, but at the moment she seemed to be enjoying herself, and he thought his dad had been right; Walburga just needed to get into her element again. They had originally been planning the party to celebrate Sirius' induction to Slytherin, but now his grandfather and parents had repurposed it. Ostentatiously it was to celebrate mother's 'good health', but more accurately it was all a PR stunt.
Speaking of his father, Orion Black was standing in a small circle near where the parlor met the foyer, talking with Rosier Snr., Rabastan and Rodolphus' father Mister Lestrange, Wilkes Snr., Avery Snr., and Uncle Cygnus. He wasn't privy to whatever the adults were discussing, but he figured that it must be good because they were laughing; not real laughs like how his brother would laugh, but polite well mannered chuckles.
'They wouldn't know a real laugh if it came up and bit them on the ass' Sirius would say, and Regulus coughed to stop himself from snickering, a couple of distant aunts giving him disapproving looks as they walked passed. Instantly Kreacher was by his side offering him tea.
"Does the young master need anything? Water? Food? Kreacher will serve whatever he needs, oh yes."
"No, thank you Kreacher," he murmured so nobody could see him. These were the family members who'd be scandalized if they saw him thanking a house elf. Kreacher looked disapproving but nonetheless moved on to offer food and drink to the other guests and mumbling to himself. Regulus released a breath and tried to ignore his empty stomach. He never expressed as much himself before, but he hated those stuffed olives just as much as his brother did. He resolved himself that he could hold on. Just one more hour and he could eat as soon as everyone else left.
He was just about to go back to daydreaming when the floo flared to life and in strode another group of witches and wizards. He could see the silvery blonde head of Abraxas Malfoy, who Orion quickly greeted into the circle. Regulus watched with disinterest and scanned the crowd for any other people. Somewhere down the hall he knew his grandfathers, grandmothers, and great aunts were entertaining in the dining room where they could all sit down without straining themselves.
He could also see his Uncle Alphard ambling around, a more jovial figure than the other Black family members. Regulus thought he was a bit strange but Sirius liked him because he was funny and one of the only adults who would entertain them during parties. Most of the other family members were in constant disapproval of him because he wasn't yet married and for most purebloods they felt it was their duty to keep the family line going, not to mention his complete disregard for propriety.
Finally, after scanning over other more distant relatives that he didn't care much to acquaint himself with, he finally did see two figures that he recognized. Narcissa's older sisters Andromeda and Bellatrix had also entered the floo, and now they were now crossing the room to greet his mum.
"Auntie Walburga, how are you?" Bellatrix said as she strode over dramatically, and kissed both her cheeks before flouncing, and there was no other word for it, into the loveseat next to her.
"Ah, Bella, Andromeda, how are my darling nieces?" Walburga said, turning to grip Bella's hands grandly, "Your mother said we'd be expecting you later." Andromeda gave a small curtsy and a soft hello in greeting, but soon her Aunt was distracted as Bellatrix went into describing their recent trip to France and instead she caught Regulus' eye and came over to join him.
"Hullo Reg. Are you alright? You look stiff as a board."
He smirked back at her and straightened his back even more, feeling rather mature and tall in his heeled dress shoes. "I'm fine Meda. Dad told me to stand here and 'give the impression of aloofness'" he said crisply.
Andromeda laughed, a soft version of their parent's polite chuckle, although her mouth was turned in a genuine smile. "Oh, I see. Then you're doing an excellent job."
"Thanks! Did you want Kreacher to get you some tea?" he asked as she stood beside him scanning the room of their other relatives. She was ten years older than Regulus and while she and Bellatrix looked very much alike, this close to the fire the differences were more obvious. While Bella, the older sister by a year, had the trademark Black family hair, Andromeda's was light brown and she had wider eyes and a kinder face.
Not that it was too hard, he thought when she declined and he watched his eldest cousin gesturing through her story to his mother. While he had thankfully never faced the brunt of Bella's wrath, he'd certainly seen the results of it, often when it was directed to his older brother.
Regulus asked her how Paris was, and she smiled as she went on to talk about the different places she'd seen. Since graduating from Hogwarts a few years ago, she and Bellatrix were doing the 'fashionable' thing and traveling.
The expectation for Black family women was to get married and take on the duties of helping to run their new husbands' estate, and he supposed this was the interim between 'finding their husbands', although he tried not to think of it too much. His mother and father often talked about the viable bachelors and bachelorettes among the Pureblood families, but those conversations were boring and didn't hold his interest for long.
If Sirius was around to hear he would probably make a remark about the irony of husband hunting at a family reunion, but of course, he wasn't around, and the thought ruined a bit of his mood and he reminded himself to be annoyed. It must have shown on his face because Andromeda gave him a sympathetic smile and patted his arm.
"It's okay Regulus. I miss him too."
"I don't know what you're talking about" he said huffily, and Andromeda went back to people watching with an amused smile.
It was after a few minutes that the two were joined by Uncle Alphard, who greeted them spiritedly, a glass in his hand. "Ah, there are my niece and nephew. Or rather two of them. How are you Regulus? Andromeda, dear?"
"Hullo Uncle. We're doing well, thank you." she said as he waved off her curtsy.
"Now, now, no need, no need my dear. We're all family here after all. A little bit too much family as a matter of fact," he said slyly before taking a sip of his drink. "How was your trip? I could listen in on Bella's retelling but I think I want to skip the dramatics today." He said with a wink, and Andromeda hid a smile as she looked over his shoulder in case her sister might have heard, but Bellatrix's attention was on the group listening in.
She swatted his arm playfully. "Stop it Uncle, be nice."
He laughed, a real one, and several people nearby gave him reproachful looks.
"I'm too old to be nice," he turned to Regulus who'd been standing in quiet bemusement. "And how about you lad? You getting along alright?"
"Yes, Uncle." Regulus said politely, and he felt very mature having his own group to talk to like his dad. Andromeda and Uncle Alphard shared a smile.
"That's good to hear. And how about your brother? Is he enjoying Hogwarts?"
Regulus schooled his expression. It felt like no matter where he was, every conversation ended up on Sirius in the end. He didn't used to mind so much because Sirius had been there and so it was natural for him to get all the attention. But he wasn't here now. Regulus was. So why was everyone focused on him?
He shrugged, and let the conversation flow towards Andromeda and what she had been up too.
"Parents tried marrying you off yet?" Alphard asked wrly and Andromeda shook her head knowingly as she watched her mother talking with Lestrange Senior.
"Thank heavens not. They're trying to set Bella with someone up first, I think."
"I see. Ah well, better for you I'm sure. Wouldn't want to rush in to anything you don't really want after all."
"And What would you know about rushing in to things? You're an old bachelor!" Andromeda teased.
"Right you are!" He said taking another shot of his drink and Regulus zoned out of the conversation to people watch again.
It wasn't until Uncle Alphard clapped him on the shoulder that he was shocked out of his daydreaming. The 'party' was winding down at last, and the extended cousins were leaving to his immense relief.
"Well then nephew, I'll be seeing you at the next 'family reunion'. Remember to keep your chin up. Very soon it will be you going to Hogwarts and driving my sister mad with worry. Though I dare say she was mad enough before." He turned to his niece.
"And goodbye Andromeda dear. Remember what I said; don't rush into anything you don't really want. If your parents try to force you, you come see me."
"Yes Uncle Alphard." Andromeda said softly, her expression distant as he left, and soon she was also giving Regulus' shoulder a squeeze goodbye while Bellatrix was getting up from her place on the sofa, and gesturing that it was time to go.
"Don't worry Auntie Walburga," Bella was saying as Orion ushered them to the fireplace "I'm sure it's just a phase. Once the Dark Lord gains more power he'll make the right decision. Or else." she added with a sneer, and Regulus could sense his mother stiffen where she sat as Bellatrix swept away into the green flames.
Andromeda gave her a soft kiss on the cheek goodbye and an apologetic squeeze before rushing after her sister to the floo.
Grandfather Arcturus was the last leave, clapping his father on the shoulder before following after his in laws. Regulus stood by the floo trying to hear their conversation.
"Well son, I'd say the party was a smashing success. Why, I don't recall anyone even mentioning the 'incident', and I think we made some progress in building relations to the Malfoys and Lestranges."
Regulus absorbed this with a frown, a niggling feeling at something Dromeda had mentioned, but he didn't have to to think much on it as Grandfather was bidding him goodbye with the same advice of 'Just one more year till Hogwarts for you' before he took the floo, and finally their home was free of relatives.
Regulus sighed with relief, his shoulders sagging, and he was surprised to his own father had done the same before he followed his lead as he approached mother, whom Kreacher was fussing over.
"No, no. Leave it Kreacher, I'm fine" she said shooing the house elf off who disappeared with a bow, and she looked up at her husband who lent an arm to help her stand. "Well darling, I dare say the night was a success" she said, and Orion smirked at the echo of Arcturus' words.
"Indeed. Hopefully this will help put matters behind us for now. Next is going to be the hard part."
He left the 'Dealing with Sirius' unvoiced, possibly to spare his mother, and Regulus turned to go to the kitchen now that all the guests were gone. He was starving.
He found the house elf washing dishes in the basement kitchen, and Kreacher looked up as he came down. "Master Regulus is in the kitchen again, oh yes. Must be hungry after a long day without food for urchins."
"Hullo Kreacher." He said brightly, coming over to see what was on the table, but made a face when all he found was nasty vegetable hors d'oeuvres. He glanced back towards the house elf, who was still muttering to himself and banging pots and pans together, and he snuck over to the ice box.
"No master Regulus, let me." Kreacher tried saying, rushing over to him with his dishrag still in hand, and Regulus tried shooing him off.
"It's fine Kreacher, I got it" he said as he took food to the table, intent on making tea. He'd just been about to reach for the kettle when heard his father stomping down the stairs and looked up hurriedly as Orion came to the door.
"Regulus, what are you doing down here?" he asked quietly, his sharp black eyes scanning the room. Regulus fiddled uncomfortably as father looked from him to the teapot he'd just been reaching for. "Kreacher!" he snapped, and the house elf appeared with a salute in front of his father looking nervous.
"Yes sir?"
"What's going on here? Why is my son down here with you instead of up in his room?"
"It's my fault, father I was just…"
"Quiet!" he interrupted glowering, "Kreacher, go to you cupboard! And once you've suitably punished yourself you are to take Regulus' dinner upstairs!"
Regulus' face drained at the mention of punishment, and he looked guiltily at the house elf as Kreacher bowed and gave him a worried glance before disappearing. There was a moment of silence before his father addressed him.
"Regulus, You are a member of the House of Black for Merlin's sake! I don't ever want to see you doing that again!"
"I'm sorry father, I was just hungry and…"
"Then you should have waited upstairs and ordered the house elf to serve you! That's what they're for!"
"He was doing the dishes, and I don't mind getting food myself-"
There was a bang from the end of his father's wand, and Regulus flinched back, for a moment wondering if he was about to be hit, but it looked like it'd just been an expression of anger as he father continued to rant.
"I don't care if he was about to save bloody London! You are a Black! You do not stoop yourself to doing menial labor and fraternizing with house elves!"
Regulus looked wide-eyed up at him, the thought crossing his mind that he wouldn't need to 'frantanize' with house elves if his father hadn't been ignoring him all month, but he bit his tongue and composed his expression as Orion continued to yell.
"House elves are for serving! Not to be making friends! This is exactly the kind of thing that cause your brother to be led astray! Sympathy for the weak! And I will not have it in my house!" there was another bang from his wand as he stomped and Regulus flinched again. "Is that clear?!"
Regulus nodded, looking down at his shoes and fighting the stinging sensation at his eyes. The comparison to Sirius again stung worst of all, but his father was already mad, it wouldn't do to let him see him cry.
"Good. Now, go to your room and change. Kreacher will bring you dinner upstairs!" he said as he swept out the room, banging the kitchen door behind him.
"Yes father." Regulus said quietly as he was left standing in the kitchen, alone.
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After the delivery of Sirius and James' contraband to Gryffindor tower, the boys decided that they wouldn't enact their revenge until the middle of next week for maximum impact. This worked well for Remus since it would give him time to recover from his second full moon a Hogwarts.
He finished his homework over Saturday and Sunday between finding himself goofing off with the others and trying to ignore the growing aches and pains while they encouraged him to join in walking around the Hogwarts corridors, or roaming around the lake.
Sunday afternoon he spent time playing gobstones with Peter and rubbing his sore shoulders while James and Sirius scratched their heads over the instructions of the box of Color changing foam.
"I bet there's a way to stop it from turning red at all." Sirius said as he wrote a note next to the color list.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. There's probably some charms we can try…"
Sirius nodded and took out a notebook, writing down a to do list of charms to research.
Remus thought it funny how they were perfectly willing to take notes when the subject was pranking, but he kept his comments to himself. Curiously he came to look over Sirius' shoulder, scanning the different charms they'd been listing for future research.
"Colovaria could work, maybe if we add a part about 'not red' to the end."
Remus looked up, his curiosity peaked, "Is that really how it works? You just add more words?" He liked the idea of creating his own charms, but experimentation wasn't until year four of their magical theory class.
"Well sure." said James. "It's all in latin anyway, so it usually turns out alright. But you have to be very specific sometimes. Charm experiments get dangerous if you mess it up. My dad knew this one bloke who used to work at the ministry. He messed up the inflection on a concealing charm he was working on for the auror department, trying to make his head invisible you see. He didn't really think it through and managed to just make his head disappear completely. I don't think they ever found it actually. Had to have a closed casket at his funeral" James said as he scribbled down another three charms to the notebook, and looked up at their squeamish expressions. "But like I said, it's usually alright as long as you don't do anything stupid."
Remus didn't feel very convinced, and that night when he went to bed, before his usual nightmares of claws and teeth, he had a strange dream of going to Defense class, only for everyone to point and laugh at him and when he went to look the mirror he reached up to find his head had disappeared.
The next morning he felt absolutely miserable as he dragged his aching limbs out from under his blankets and went to get ready for class. His roommates were up by the time he finished his shower and when he was sure they weren't looking he neatly stuffed his extra change of clothes in his bag and was ready to go down with them to the Great Hall.
During breakfast he tried to be nonchalant as he filled his plate with meat, and gladly the others were too preoccupied with greeting the other Gryffindors, Dorcas and Marlene waving at them, and after settling in James and Sirius would sneak glances at the Slytherin table and put their heads together as they came up with more spells to add to the notebook.
The Slytherins weren't paying them much mind, just as they'd all planned because of all that work of trying to 'be on their best behavior'. The exception of course was Snape who seemed to be waiting for them to make a move. He kept staring over at their table, eye glittering meanly. After noticing him Peter leaned over to James and nudged him nervously. "Snape's looking suspicious." he whispered, and the bespectacled boy glanced up quickly.
Sirius smirked across from them. "That's fine. Let him stew over it. It'll be more satisfying when it actually happens. More suspenseful that way."
At Transfiguration Remus turned in his homework early and Professor McGonagall gave him a slightly pityingly look, although he still had to try and attempt his switching spell during class. In Charms Professor Flitwick didn't even make him preform the incendio charm in front of everyone, although he suspected that he just didn't want another explosion like last time. Herbology also came and went miserably, as his arms were too sore for the assignment of digging a new plot for spiky bushes, but thankfully Sirius was up to it. He seemed to enjoy the violence of stabbing into the ground over and over.
By lunch Sirius and James were giving him odd looks while as he ate, although he'd added a few vegetables to make them less suspicious about the amount of meat on his plate. Finally they both dawned a look of understanding when he put his head down and almost went to sleep halfway through History of Magic, sore and miserable.
"Why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well?" James demanded as they made their way to Potions. He shrugged back as they settled into their seats and Slughorn gave his instructions for the Potion they were working on today.
"Do you want one of us to bring you to the hospital wing?" Sirius asked with a frown as he and Peter got paired up once more.
"No, I'll go during free hour. I just didn't want to miss any classes." he explained as they unpacked their textbooks.
"Merlin, James! I think we've made friends with a swot." Sirius said grinning.
"Oh, you think so, Sirius? What gave it away?" James snorted, coming back from the cupboard with their ingredients, "But really Remy," he said turning to him, "If you want to go to Madam Pomfrey just say so. We wouldn't mind bunking class."
And Remus was sorely tempted as they sat in the increasingly warming dungeons. The combination of heat from the flames and the fumes from cauldrons was making his face warm and his vision swim, and it felt like everything had him on edge. Slughorn would come around laughing his full bodied laugh, or Snape would go to whispering behind his hand to Mulciber, and just the noise of it all was eating away at his nerves with an irritation that wasn't his own.
He had bite his tongue to stop himself from nearly snapping at James over nearly messing up an ingredient or Sirius for hissing at Peter to be careful, or Peter wringing his hands and whimpering for making a mess, and it was such a relief when they were finally finished and he rushed out into the cool air of the corridor and tried to clear his head.
"Alright Remy?" James asked coming over to where he'd leaned against the nice cool stone of the hall.
"M'fine. It's probably a fever" he mumbled as the others came to join them "I'm just going to see Madam Pomfrey now."
"Great, we could come with-"
"No." He cut off with a little more force than he'd meant to, and he mentally cursed at the wide-eyed look James gave him. "I mean, no thank you. Go on and enjoy free hour. I'll be fine by myself."
James and Sirius looked unsure, but then thank Merlin for Severus Snape, because at that moment the Slytherin was coming out the dungeon with Evans and he gave the four a suspicious look before turning to her saying, "Watch out Lily, I think I sense a flock of Howlers."
James groaned and turned to them, and Remus took this chance to sneak away while his attention was grabbed. "It's been a whole month since that happened! Why are you still bringing it up?!"
Whatever reason Remus didn't hear; he was already past the dungeons, through the entrance hall, and soon he was coming up on the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey gave him a quick smile from her office door. She was currently attending to a third year student with leafy red marks over their forearm. She tutted as she gather salve and bandages around the sulky girl's arms. "Mishandeling Devil's Snare. You're very lucky Professor Sprout noticed in time, or it could have been worse."
She shooed the student away after instructing them to be careful next time before focusing on Remus. "Now I don't suppose you're too nauseous for dinner again? You're a growing young lad. You're a little on the small side already" she said, measuring his wrist with her hand, and he gave her an offended look. "Now, now, don't be cross. Come along, even if you can't hold down some food you should get some rest."
She led him down the wing to the very last and most hidden bed, and set a alarm charm. "Just an hour till the others go to dinner and we can make our way down."
He laid back against the hospital cot pillows and was immediately sucked into sleep.
He awoke to a blaring noise right over his head, and nearly jumped in his bed. He glared at the little clock shape that'd appeared as Madam Pomfrey swept towards him and vanished the alarm with a wave of her wand.
He shifted his aching shoulders while she helped him out of bed, and they made their way through the darkened corridors and to the Entrance Hall, and soon they were crossing the grounds and standing in front of the Whomping Willow once more.
"Now, are you sure you'll be alright going by yourself?" she asked as they stood at the beginning of the tunnel.
He nodded. "Yes, I'll be alright."
She gave his shoulder a squeeze then climbed her way back up the tunnel stairs to the willow, and he took a breath and stepped forward into the darkness.
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The wolf shook off the last remnants of pain from its head to its tail before standing to survey the room. It bared its teeth at the same strange surroundings from its last awakening. Why was it still here?
It walked forward, nose to the ground as it sniffed once more for others, and remained disappointed at the faint smell from people long gone. It circled the bed, sneezing a cloud of dust from under the threadbare bedskirt, and shaking it out of its brown fur before sniffing at the nightstands. One of them smelled the most like its human self, and he left it alone to inspect the door. It nudged it with its head before letting out an angry growl. There was no getting through that barrier, not yet at least.
It paced towards the window with its white beams of light back and forth restlessly, till that restlessness became angrier and angrier and with a roar of rage it pulled back to run at the boarded windows. It rammed and rammed into it, shaking off the soreness growing in its sides, before it noticed the rocking chair in the corner.
It grabbed a wooden leg in it's jowls and swung it across the room with a crash, a rush of satisfaction as it splintered into pieces. It jumped onto the bed, the legs buckling under its weight as it ripped and tore at the mattress feathers, flying everywhere. It gave a long howled as they rained down to the floor before it scratched at the headboard and gnawed on the bed posts until it tired itself out and flopped down on the ruined mess of springs and fabric. It panted with exertion and moved an amber eye over its ruined prison, too tired to continue its rage against the room before chewing on its paws tiredly.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remus looked around the ruined bedroom in horror. He'd been awoken by the wounds on his arms. He hissed as he tried lifting himself up and looking around the room hardly recognizing his surroundings. There were feathers and stuffing everywhere. He was splayed out on a ruined mattress, springs sticking out around him, the headboard and bed posts broken, and the scattered remains of a chair littering the floor. He sat up quickly, his heart beating fast as he he stood and wobbled with the rush of movement and worsening nausea. Gingerly cradling his arms, he stepped over splinters to the windows and door fearing what he'd find and sick with worry that he'd broken out, but the window boards and door were standing steady and he sunk onto the floor, and looking around the room once more he curled his knees to his chest and shakily buried his head in his lap. He was safe, he was safe, he breathed to himself until his heart stopped racing and he felt he could pull himself together.
He pulled clumps of feathers from his hair and shakily reached for the nightstand drawer from his spot on the floor, wincing as he stretched to grab his bag and pajamas. He still didn't trust himself to stand from the sick feeling in his stomach as he shakily changed into his clothes.
Madam Pomfrey came with a soft rap on the door and despite herself gasped at the damage he'd done. She quickly recovered herself at the guilty look on his face, waving her wand. Little by little the pieces of splintered wood and upholstery mended themselves while she strode forward to inspect his arms.
"Not to worry dear," she said kindly as she applied dittany the wounds closing and leaving silvery lines of scars. "These things are bound to happen." Soon enough the room was back together although there were still scratches and cracks that even Madam Pomfrey couldn't fix completely. That wasn't very much comfort at all, as much as he appreciated her trying, but he nodded softly and let her help lead him away from the shack.
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Hello everyone! Happy Holidays to you all!
I'm finally back from my Christmas and New Years break, and ready to posts for chapters! Whoot!
I hope you liked seeing Regulus' point of view. And as promised, we're moving away from Remus' point of view for a little while. Finally the time has come to get into the mind of our favorite rebel child and our favorite redhead, so I hope you're looking forward to that.
Also, I was asked on a previous chapter why the first years are taking muggle studies when it's an elective class in canon. This is actually a part of what makes this fic divergent. A part of the problem with the series proper was the idea that wizards are so completely ignorant of Muggles. It makes zero sense that even the ministry officials whose jobs involve muggle relations really breaks suspension of belief. And this IS a fix fic after all, so it was a perfect opportunity to introduce muggle studies as a core course. This also serves a purpose in helping me organize the classes in general. I created my own class schedule to try and make sense of it all. This point will be a lot more relevant I think in the future during Harry's generation, but I won't spoil it for you.