AN: Ugh, it's Monday. I hate Mondays, so I'm trying to make it more bearable by updating this fic. Regina is always my favorite character to write besides Gold, I don't exactly know why. I think it's because of the snark potential. Anyway, thanks for those of you who continue to support this story.

Chapter 9: The Ally

Regina inwardly blanched as she and Mary Margret walked up to what was apparently a wizarding world private investigator.

Finding out that there was magic in this world had thrown Regina off for a bit. It seemed like a big coincidence that she and Snow White had found that bar. But the more she thought about it really didn't. She knew that as long as she had magic, somehow she had been able to find magic. So finding the gateway to Britain's magical world really shouldn't have been that big of a surprise to her.

But it was. If she wasn't on a deadline to find Gold, she would've explored the place more. Tried to figure out how it's magic worked, when, well Regina couldn't use hers here. Or not like she could when she was at home. Things were different here.

She had been trying though, ever since she had figured out what was going on in the bar that night.

She had been able to do some spells, but it took a lot more effort here.

She grimaced at the current sad state of her fireball, she was no threat to any of the wizards there. And unlike Mary Margret, she did not think it was okay to merely ask the wizards for help.

She wasn't that stupid.

Mary Margret had taken the wizarding world with a little more excitement than Regina did. She actually thought they had a real shot at catching Gold now.

Regina wasn't quite sure.

If Gold had known there was magic in the real world, he would've never had done the fiasco with the hat. He would've just left and figure out how to cleave himself from the dagger after the fact. Away from Emma, Regina, or anyone who was willing to stop him.

No, she was pretty sure he didn't know magic existed in this world. But if he did—

Why would he be coming here?

She still didn't know why Gold had flown to London in the first place. He had nothing there.

Really, he had nothing in this world.

Well, save for maybe Belle. But she had a feeling the two of them had both resigned to the fact that little farce of a relationship was over.

Though, who knew? That girl seemed to have a thing for self-punishment, so she might go back to him.

"I still think this is a bad idea." She told Mary Margret as they approached the Ron Meister's Office.

What a stupid name.

Mary Margret sighed. "Well, I don't see what other option we have, Regina. Besides, they say this guy is good."

"They laughed when they said he was good." Regina said. She had thought it was stupid earlier, when Mary Margret had asked some random passer buyers in the pub if they knew a detective or someone who could help them and they recommended the Ron Meister.

Personally, Regina wanted to see the wizarding police. But Mary Margret had insisted, the less lies the less mess they would get themselves in.

By the state of the Ron Meister's office, Regina had a feeling that the situation was going to get even messier dealing with him.

"I still don't get why you can't trust people, Regina." Mary Margret said.

Inwardly Regina rolled her eyes, but she didn't show it. She felt bad for Mary Margret. Deep down inside she knew that there was a part of Mary Margret that was probably trying to replace Emma with Regina. Personally, Regina found it a bit annoying. Snow White was her stepchild, if any adoption should've been taking place it should've been Regina adopting Snow not the other way around. But Regina couldn't help but feel for the woman, she didn't know what she would do if Henry would've been swept up by the darkness.

Finally, after getting her temper in check Regina said, "It's common sense, Snow. I have a bad feeling about this. I mean, I could easily get the wizarding police to look for Gold."

"No why would 'choo do this when you could have the Boy Who Live's right hand man help 'choo instead."

She turned around and almost groaned when she saw the man. Tall and lanky with a bit of a beer belly, she hardly doubted that the carrot haired man would be any help if he was the Ron Meister. Which she was guessing he was.

Snow seemed enchanted enough though—she always did go towards the stupid ones. "Why do you say that?"

"Why don't 'choo come in my office," He said. "I'm taking that's why you're here, ladies?"

"No. We're trying to find the lollypop guild." Snapped Regina.

It wasn't her best, she'd be the first admit. It was a variation on something she had used another time to insult someone else, but she had a feeling she didn't need to waste her best quips on this one.

"Regina!" Snow said in an admonished tone.

She refrained rolling her eyes as the Ron Meister spoke. "So, I'm taking it that you're not around here. Where are you from, Canada?"

"Maine." Regna corrected,

Snow White interrupted her. "We're looking for someone, The Ron Meister?"

"Then you found the man, I take it you need my deductive prowess."

This man was no Sherlock Holmes, that Regina was pretty sure of that. And she was also pretty sure there no way he could help them find Gold. Grumpy would probably be a better detective, and that was saying something with how sloshed the dwarf was.

Just like Snow that other night.

Regina smirked at that memory. She just wished she took some pictures for future blackmail material. The whole situation had been a little embarrassing at first. Having to rely on that over hormonal businessman to get Mary Margret a room, though she admitted he was helpful in the end. It a bit obnoxious, but at least he was coherent enough to help—unlike anyone else.

It was during all this she learned the magic world existed, the bar keeper had just let that little bomb drop. Because apparently non-magic folks never went to that hovel. Unless of course, they were taking their little cherub to get magic school supplies.

Regina probably wouldn't have gone there either, but she wanted a stiff drink. And she found all the hovels usually had (stiff drinks, that is). And something about the place stood out.

Now she knew it was because of the magic.

The Ron Meister looked like he belonged in that hovel, Regina thought. The man had to be half drunk right now.

Regina wouldn't have given the man the time of day if Mary Margret wasn't there looking like a puppy dog.

At this point she didn't think it would hurt because she really had no clue how to find Gold herself. And she figured, if they hired the Ron Meister, maybe Mary Margret could micromanage him instead of her, and she could do her only quasi-nefarious investigation.

Yes, Regina was tempted to use dark magic to find her former tutor. She figured it would be easier to track him that way then relying on—well, the Ron Meister, whose office they had just entered.

It smelt like an odd mixture of gym sock and baby powder, she wanted to blanch, but she didn't. And there was so much orange

"So, what 'choo need my services for?" The Ron Meister said as he sat on his battered looking leather chair and put his orange tennis shoes on top of his desk.

Regina had to control herself from sneering. Instead, she looked pointedly at Mary Margret.

Surprisingly, Mary Margret didn't really want to do the talking. Regina was annoyed, ever since she had decided to become "good" it was always up to her to talk unless there was a lecture about accepting goodness.

And those lectures often made Regina want to barf, though she was trying her hardest to bear and grin it.

These were her friends now.

She was good.

Although, there were times like now, she thought how easy it would've been to do a little dark magic.

It seemed fitting, especially with Gold. She just needed Mary Margret to take charge of this situation.

Mary Margret sighed. "Regina?"

Regina shook her head, "Mary Margret, just tell him what you want."

"Ladies." The Ron Meister said. "Please, what can I do for service?"

"He's really charming, isn't he, Regina?"

Uh, no.

"You know what, I left my sunglasses at the pub. Why don't you tell the Ron Meister, what's going on, Mary Margret. Meet you back at the pub in an hour."

"Sounds perfect," The Ron Meister said. "You can buy us all a pint!"

Uh, no.

But if it got Mary Margret off her back for awhile then so be it.

She then made her way down the streets of Diagon Ally. She hadn't really explored the place since she found its existence. How could she with Mary Margret being her shadow? However, now, she embraced her darker side and set off towards the apothecary to buy potion ingredients since she was pretty sure she could at least brew a pretty decent potion in this world, since it didn't really use much magic.

She bet even Gold's bookworm could brew a potion.

Probably not a decent one though.

Regina strolled through the store. Frowning at some of the ingredients. Gold would have a coronary if he saw them, she thought ,as she looked at how inexcusable state some of the products were in.

The eye of newt was hardly usable. Pickled up, with God knows what. It made it useless. Same with the dragon horn, and any other common potion ingredients. She probably couldn't even find the right ingredients to make a decent tracking potion, she noted to herself when she bumped into something hard.

Regina was not one for bumping into things, let alone for bumping into people. She found it annoying, and usually people knew to get out of her way.

So, when she looked up at the person she bumped into she couldn't help but glare at the man.

Eying him, she felt there was something recognizable about him, but she couldn't pinpoint it.

The man raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

The guy at the bar!

He looked different when he wasn't halfway drunk and not wasn't exchanging saliva with his girlfriend. He actually looked like he might have a few brain cells, Regina noted. She also noted that he looked a lot grumpier when he wasn't drinking booze. She was the same way.

"You're in my way." She barked because she really had no intention on getting to know him.

Because Regina didn't like people, though he'd probably be more knowledgeable than the Ron Meister.

Well, most people would've.

He rolled his eyes. "You walked into me."

She glowered at him.

He didn't even flinch. Instead, he said. "Are you looking for something in particular. Because those newt eyes are positively wretched."

"Don't I know it." Regina murmured. "Most of the stuff here isn't worth a damn."

"Really?" The man said. "Seems like quite the few people would disagree with you."

"Even you noted the newt eyes were rancid."

"True." He said, "The dried herbs aren't horrible though."

Regina nodded. Not that dried herbs would do her much good, they were usually used for warding not looking for a former Dark One.

"You're not looking for herbs," He stated looking at her before adding.

"Obviously," Regina stated. "I'm trying to brew a simple tracking potion."

"Do I look like an apothecary clerk?" He asked.

He didn't. He was wearing a suit that was probably just as expensive as the ones Gold wore, expect there was a way that he wore his suit that Gold just could not just replicate.

He was definitely attractive, if a bit of an ass.

Not that Regina cared about those things, she had Robin.

"I thought you might be helpful, like the other night." Regina barbed. "Apparently, you are just an ass in a fancy suit."

She started to walk away, but found she couldn't move.

The man grabbed her arm and Regina turned to look at him, something about his touch and his gaze electrified her.

It shouldn't have.

But there was just something about the man, and it wasn't romantic attraction. For that, she was pretty sure.

It had something to do with magic. It reminded her a lot like the first time she met Emma Swan, she had noted that there was something powerful about Henry's birth mom. The same way she noticed that there was something about this man.

Something Regina couldn't pinpoint.

Finally after the man got tired of putting on his emerald greens at Regina, he said. "Ah, yes, the bar. That was before Greengrass had the fire whiskey contest."

"Who's Greengrass?"

"The woman whose tongue was down my throat," The man smirked. "If you want proper ingredients to make your little tracking potion, I suggest you go to the shop in Knockturn Ally. It's not the best place for a single woman to go, but they'll say what you need."

" Please, don't be archaic. I can protect myself."

"I'm sure you can," He said again with a creepy smirk as he let his grip loosen.

Regina rolled her eyes as she left the shop, noticing that even as she snapped her heels the man's gaze still lingered.

What a Pervert.

But a part of her couldn't help but smile.

Because even without her Evil Queen wardrobe, she still had it.

Chapter 10 Preview: Rumple gets introduced to the magical courts.