Chapter eight: RAB and the introduction of a Krum

In which I introduce a Rowling Original ship that most people forget about or hate because its not the one they like (I don't normally either), and bring in one of my future major characters. And also in which I introduce my own views of who RAB is, and back it up with facts from the books. Any reference to current situations means nothing, it is not intentional. I've just read over what I've written so far and its pretty much like I'm angling my feelings into this story. It is unintentional.

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter

There's not many people in life who I care for more than you. You mean more to me than the world. I love you, will you marry me?"

"What?"

"I said 'can I borrow a quill.'" Harry smiled hesitantly at her, and Ginny shook her head. She had been dreaming again and had totally misheard what Harry said to her.

"Yea, sure. Don't have to ask." She mumbled, handing him the quill and then turning her head away. it felt weird to have Harry in Gryfendor common room when he didn't sit with them at meals anymore. The few days he was even in the school for meals he sat at the staff table, but normally he chose to eat away, often skipping breakfast altogether and leaving the castle as soon as he was dressed.

Ginny knew not to ask questions though, and even the other students had worked out not to ask after the first few weeks. They acted like Harry wasn't part of the school anymore, and it was weird to think that they were just treating him how he was. Not a student anymore. An adult.

Even when he was in the castle he spent his time hiding in the library and looking up curses, counter curses and any information he could about the identity of RAB. Hermione and Ron were helping him when they could, but because they were preparing to sit their NEWTs it was kind of hard for them to put much time into anything.

Hogwarts had changed a lot since the summer, and Ginny wasn't the only person to notice. For one they had another new potions master, this a young woman called Professor Con. And all the students had been surprised when, on their first Defence Against The Dark Arts class of the year, they had been greeted by non other than Victor Krum. Krum, who they were now forced to call 'Professor', seemed to be adjusting well to life in Hogwarts. Well, he had been found to be spending more than the recommended amount of time with some of the older students, the ones he'd met on his previous trip to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. But apart from that he was a fair teacher, and Ginny found the work they were doing in his class to be better than most of the other stuff she'd learned under her previous teachers. She looked up and smiled as Hermione sat down beside her.

"How's the study going?"

"Okay…" came the distracted reply.

"Oh." Then, grinning cheekily. "And how's professor Krum doing?"

"He's great." she replied without thinking, and then looked up, horrified. "Oh god Ginny, I did not just say that."

"Yea, you did." Ginny grinned at her. "And don't worry, I won't tell Ron."

"Thanks Gin. Its not like there's anything serious between me and Ron even though I'd like there to be. I mean, Ron's great. He's just so…I don't know. I keep giving him hints and he just doesn't see them."

"I know. my brothers stupid. You don't have to tell me."

"He's not stupid…he's just slow." Hermione grinned, and then called Harry back as he got up to leave, muttering something about how he didn't need to hear this girly conversation any more than they wanted him to hear it.

"Harry, wait a min. I found something out."

"Oh yea. About what." He wasn't in the mood to hear her girlish giggilyness.

"RAB." Hermione said, and Harry spun round.

"What? You, you know who he or she is?"

"I think so." she smiled awkwardly. "Harry. RAB, Regulus Amelius Black."

"Who?" He asked, though the name rang a bell.

"He was Sirius' brother." She explained. "Harry, it all fits. They say Voldemort killed Regulus when he tried to get away from being a death eater. But of course no-body believed that he was really killed by Voldemort even though they had no proof, but what if he was, what if this was why."

"That could work I suppose, it really could. But how do you know? How are you so sure?"

"I'm sure because…I found this." She grinned triumphantly and then held out a piece of parchment. "It was in one of the books I got from Grimmauld place over the summer, but I only found it last night. I think it proves my point, and I think it'll be a help to you too." Harry took the parchment and looked down at it, reading slowly through the difficult to decipher handwriting.

My name is Regulus Black, and this is my death letter. By the time anyone reads this, if anyone reads this, I will be dead. But hopefully I will not have died in vain. Hopefully I will have taken a part of this monster that is ruling the world with me. I'm here now, in the cave, and I don't know how many enchantments I've fought through to get this far. All I know is that I've got this far, and now I know that I'm here, that I'm going to die but I'm going to take a part of him with me. I know what it will take, because it is as I saw when I looked into the crystal ball (who said Divination was a waste of time), and I also know what form it will take. It will be in the form of a necklace, which I will take with me to my watery grave with the infiri. I know that's how I'm going to die, I think I've known it since I first realised they were there, known that my death lay with them. But I will take a part of him with me once I send this letter back with the spell my mother gave me, that whatever I apply the spell too returns to our family home in London. And so, with these final words, I Regulus Amelius Black, bane of the Dark Lord, give myself unto my cause, and say goodbye to those I love.

In memorandum,

Regulus Black.

"So?" Hermione asked when Harry laid the letter back on the table between them. "Do you think my point is proven?"

"He was Sirius brother." Harry whispered. "He was Sirius brother, and we thought he was bad. We should have known he wasn't really…he was Sirius brother."

"I know Harry, but then maybe its just part of their family that they have to be falsely accused before they can come into their own light."

"Hmm, maybe." Harry looked up as the portrait hole opened behind them, and was greeted by the surly face of Victor Krum.

"Hermy-own-Ninny, Harry. I vas just coming to find you. Harry, I vas vondering, if you're not too busy, if you vould honour me with a game of Quidditch. And Hermy, maybe you could come too."

Harry grinned.

"Yea, that'd be great. you coming Hermy?" she nodded, and they got up and walked out of the common room towards the Quidditch pitch, and Harry realised that there was something he'd missed more than being back at Hogwarts, and that was getting out and relaxing on the pitch.