July 31st, 1998

The Burrow

Adelaide landed with a groan and felt the circular glass charm holding the sands of time dig into her chest. Her hair fell in front of her face and she hissed at the effort it took to roll onto her back. When she did, she caught sight of the three men staring down at her in shock. "Severus."

"It's like she didn't even miss us," Sirius complained to Remus, who stared at him.

"She just saw us."

Severus kneeled down and pulled out his wand to begin to heal her. "You only have a few cuts and bruises and a small concussion."

Adelaide ignored his words and his wand and reached up to touch his cheek. "I missed you."

Severus paused and looked into the familiar golden eyes. "I don't hate you."

She felt an unexpected sob build in her chest. "I'm sorry."

"C'mon, heal her," Sirius complained. "You're not the only one that hasn't seen her for twenty fucking years, Snape."

"Don't be rude," Adelaide said, though her words trailed off when she looked at them. "Oh."

"You're fine," Severus told her, putting his wand away. "But you should check with Leon to take care of the other things."

Adelaide gasped and shot to her feet, grabbing onto Severus's arm for support as he followed her up. "I need to go take care of them! Shit, they'll get there any second now."

"Let's go, then," Sirius grinned. She took a moment to look between them, feeling both thrilled to be back and horrified to be gone. She pushed those feelings aside and nodded, grabbing onto Severus and Sirius, looking to Remus.

"Can you gather everyone up? I don't want to interrupt Harry's party, but we should get this out of the way."

"Sure," he smiled softly. "I'm glad your back. Moony is glad you're back."

"Me too."

With that, she Apparated the three of them out of the Burrow and into the Malfoy villa she'd set the makeshift time turners to take them to. To her great relief, no one was there yet.

"So who all is showing up here again?" Sirius wondered, wrapping an arm around her.

"Fab, Gid, Avery, and Draco."

"He's a git."

Adelaide let out a short laugh. "Have you been upset with him for a full twenty years?"

"Yes."

There was a giant flash of light in the room and Severus pulled her back as all four men popped into the room, dropping right where they'd been standing. Sirius, however, had not gotten out of the way in time and was taken down with the rest of them, something Adelaide couldn't help but laugh at.

The first to untangle themselves was Avery, who looked around and took Sirius's spot to her right where he watched everyone slowly get to their feet. Draco separated from them quickly. Apparently, he'd removed all of the spells and potions before leaving, because he looked like himself again.

"That was rude," Sirius muttered with a pout.

"Is everyone okay?" Adelaide asked, looking over them. She was surprised to find Fabian and Gideon were fine and without a scratch on them.

"Yep," the twins said together.

"I'm fine," Draco scowled when she looked at him in concern.

"I left the same day as you," Avery told her easily. "I healed myself up first."

"Great," she breathed, hesitating. "I don't really want to deal with this. Do you think we could just, like, stay here forever?"

"Why? I thought you were excited to see everyone," Sirius frowned. She nodded a little and glanced at her left arm. He followed her gaze and nodded. "Ah, I see. I promise we won't let them hex you or anything."

"Thanks, very comforting."

"What's wrong with your arm?" Draco asked her with a frown. She hesitated and pushed her sleeve up to reveal her dark mark. "Shit."

"Fuck," Gideon said loudly. "How the fuck did you-,"

"Honestly, I'd rather not explain it twice," she told them tiredly. "It was a shitty day, and-," she stopped, her eyes landing on Draco. "Is this place warded?"

"I don't think so, wards are usually set when someone starts living there. Why?"

"Fuck, we need to go," she winced. "Sirius, help me get everyone back to the Burrow. I need to- I have to go."

"Go ahead," he nodded. He knew why she was so desparate to get behind wards, so he shooed her away. She grabbed onto Severus and Avery and Apparated into Ginny's room, breathing out a sigh of relief when they got there.

"What's the plan?" Avery asked her. She looked him over and laughed softly.

"Get you out of those robes before anything else. Give me a minute, I'll go find something you can wear."

"I can do it," Severus told her. She shook her head.

"Stay here with him. I'll just be a moment. I won't let anyone see me, I promise."

Adelaide rushed out of the room, closing the door behind her, and ran down to the first floor to find Bill. She ducked behind a corner when Gabrielle walked into the kitchen and waited. As soon as the girl was gone, she stepped out, grabbed Bill's wrist, and tugged him back into the living room. He cursed as he stumbled and caught himself on the couch.

"Shit- Hermione?"

"Hey," she smiled softly. It really was nice to see him again. She'd missed him. "I need to borrow some clothes."

He looked at her torn robes. "No offense, but I don't think I'm your size. What happened? Are you okay? What the hell is with your-,"

"The hair and eyes?" she shrugged. "I'll explain later. The clothes aren't for me, though I should change. That's a good point. No, I just think you're the closest size to him."

"To who?"

"Will you just get some clothes?" she asked tiredly. "We'll be up in Ginny's room."

"I- yeah, okay," he shook his head, confused. "Just a minute."

"Thanks," she smiled brightly and left him in the living room, confused. She made her way back up to Ginny's room and closed the door behind her. "Bill's going to get you some clothes."

"Bill?"

"Weasley," she answered, digging into Ginny's dresser. She pulled out a white tank top and a pair of shorts and moved behind the magical screen that Molly had put in there since Ginny had shared a room with her so often. She tossed her torn robes to the side and pulled on the clothes. "I was going to get something of Harry's for you, but I don't want to go to Grimmauld Place, honestly. I don't feel like dealing with Walburga's bloody portrait yet. I am excited to tell her how I'm going to sully her house, though. That'll be fun."

"Are you changing?" Avery asked her with a disbelieving laugh. She walked out from behind the screen and pulled a brush through her hair.

"No, I changed," she answered. "Can you-,"

"Yeah," he shook his head when she came to stand in front of him with her back to him. He took her hair in his hands and began braiding.

"What's your plan?" Severus asked her. She hummed, thinking.

"Explain," she said slowly. "Collect Reg, and then plan."

"Plan."

She shrugged. "I honestly thought I might die there so I wasn't putting much time into planning. My biggest issue is…" she shook her head. "Draco, Sirius, and Kingsley should help with that."

Avery spelled her hair to stay like it was and tapped her shoulder, dropping the braid to let it fall against her back.

"Hey, I've got- Hermione!"

Adelaide threw up a shield quickly to block the stunner Bill sent at Avery. "It's okay! I know what it looks like, Bill, but you need to trust me. Do you trust me?"

He stared at her golden eyes. "I don't understand."

"And I plan to explain," she promised, gently pushing her friend behind her and dropping the shield. "A lot happened."

"You were downstairs five minutes ago with brown hair and eyes that didn't glow and no Death Eaters," he told her. She nodded.

"I know I was," she said, pushing her right arm out to him. "Check the mark."

"Sirius gave you your mark-,"

"On my left arm," she agreed. "Check it."

He waved his wand over it and frowned. "Dumbledore."

"Do you trust me?"

"I do."

"Then don't hex him. He's a good person. Whatever he's done is my fault, not his."

"Addy," Sirius called, running into the room. "Oh, shit. Bill."

"I needed him to bring clothes for Avery," she explained, taking the clothes from Bill and handing them to Avery, shooing him behind the screen to change. "What's up? Is everyone here okay?"

"Yeah, I left them in the front yard," he nodded. "Remus has just about everyone gathered. I was actually coming to tell you that just Bill was missing."

"Who that knows me is here?" she asked softly.

Sirius considered it. "The teachers, Abe is here, us, obviously, Emmaline Vance, Kingsley. I think that's about it."

"Hermione, everyone knows you," Bill sighed, confused.

"I know," she assured him. "Come on, let's go deal with it. Where's Draco?"

"He's with Remus."

Adelaide nodded and, as soon as Avery was done changing, the group made their way downstairs. Everyone had gathered in the backyard, so she brought the twins inside and told them to wait in the kitchen with Avery. Severus and Sirius went out first and she followed nervously.

"I'm sorry, Harry," was the first thing she said. "I would totally wait to do this tomorrow or something, but there is something I need to do as soon as possible."

"Oh shit," Sirius cursed. "Does it hurt?"

"Well, considering it hurt when it was one month and it's been twenty years, yeah," she sighed. "It feels like it's almost been destroyed."

"I don't understand," Harry said when everyone just stared at her. "What did you do to your hair? And your… eyes?"

"I'm getting to that," she waved him off, her eyes searching the crowd to find Aberforth. She narrowed her eyes at him. "You tried to keep us from Hogwarts!"

"I didn't particularly want to aid you in becoming this," he scowled. She huffed at him.

"Hermione," Ginny snapped. "What the hell? Are those my clothes?"

"Okay," she sighed. "Okay, fine. Professor McGonagall, do you-,"

"I remember you," the woman answered with a long-suffering sigh. "I thought Albus was joking."

"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Harry asked sharply, looking to Sirius.

"It's okay, Pup," he assured his godson. "I know it's confusing, but everyone just needs to stay patient. She just got back."

"Back from where?" Molly questioned sharply. "And her eyes- that can't be safe!"

"It's perfectly safe," Adelaide assured her. "Now, at least. God, this would be so much easier with Alphard."

"Bastard died ten years ago," Sirius huffed. "Couldn't bother to live long enough to see you come back."

"Oh no," she gasped. "That'll make everything so much more difficult. God, why'd he have to die?"

"Beats me."

"I remember you," Kingsley realized, getting to his feet with his wand out. "You died. You can't be here."

"No, I didn't- I didn't die. Neither did Reg."

"Sirius, you said-,"

"I know what I said," Sirius made a face. "I was angry and sad and to be fair, she did leave us at that raid. She just didn't die."

"Kingsley, you know what's happening?" Arthur asked. Kingsley shook his head.

"No, I do not. I remember her- Adelaide Snape. She was quite a concern. No one knew if she was light or dark. Dumbledore let her into the Order, though. She died in May of 1979. I remember it clearly because we knew quite a bit less about upcoming raids after that."

"1979?" Charlie asked sharply.

"Oh my god," Emmaline nodded quickly. "He's right, you fucking died! Lily was a wreck."

"I'm obviously not dead!" Adelaide told them. "Seriously - Sirius, I'll tell Harry everything if you make that joke - I am right here. Kings, what can I do to prove it to you?"

"Let me see your mark."

"Easy," she agreed, making her way over to him. She'd glamoured the dark mark on her arm, so she wasn't as worried about anyone seeing it before she wanted them to. He checked her arm and frowned.

"Dumbledore's signature."

"But Sirius gave her Order mark to her," Molly disagreed. Adelaide switched arms, handing that one to Kingsley.

"Sirius's signature."

"That's impossible!"

"Merlin, Granger, stop fucking with them," Draco snapped irritably. "Just spit it out or I will."

"Fine," she huffed, glaring at her friend. "I would like to make it clear that this is entirely Fred and George's faults."

"We did nothing!"

"I went up to your room."

"...oh."

"And I was wearing a time turner, so when your prank hit my chest, the time turner broke into it and sent me back to the Hog's Head in 1971."

"That's impossible!"

"It's true," Aberforth disagreed. "I gave her over to Sarah Snape and de-aged her. She grew up as Severus's sister, Adelaide."

"Is that why your hair is all… black?" Neville asked her. She nodded.

"Yep. My eyes are golden because the sands of time were absorbed into my core and changed it. There was a whole thing with that but it's unimportant right now."

"How do you expect us to believe you?" Hestia Jones questioned.

"I literally went to school with her," Emmaline scoffed. "She skipped like all of her classes and I think she nearly died saving Black during a Quidditch game once."

"Yeah, that was shit," Adelaide agreed. "But he was going to die and no one else bothered to save him, so I had to."

"Sirius, did she really… is this true?" Harry asked. Sirius nodded with a grin.

"Addy was one of our best friends. Your parents loved her almost as much as I do."

"Oh," Adelaide breathed, her face falling.

"Damn it, Padfoot," Remus cursed, rubbing her arm. "I know it's a lot, Addy, but you've got a lot to do."

"Yeah," she shook herself. "Yeah, I know. Um, so I grew up there. It was hard. And then after my first year, I made a mistake and Draco got pulled back in time as well."

"I'm never touching those fucking galleons again," he informed her. She rolled her eyes at her friend.

"And to think I missed you."

"Leon- er, Draco left before the end of our sixth year. Addy stayed until May of 1979."

"Why'd you leave?" Katie Bell questioned. Adelaide sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"In our seventh year, the Carrows used a friend to trick me into going back to Slytherin common room - I was a Slytherin, get over it - and they took me to Voldemort. He wanted me because, like Kingsley said, no one was sure if I was light or dark."

"But why?" Harry asked her, confused.

"Because just as I was friends with your parents, Sirius, and Remus, I was also Severus's sister and close with two other Death Eaters. All three of them joined because I knew they would - they had to do it to uphold time. Obviously, no one knew they were good, so no one knew who I was loyal to. I tried to fake date Remus to convince them-,"

"No, you don't get to gloss over that," Ginny interrupted. "You dated him?"

"No," she and Remus said together, equally disgusted. Tonks was laughing openly at the pair.

"I just had to fake date him so everyone didn't think that-,"

"What?"

"You might as well tell them," Severus told her. "They will find out anyway."

"But Ginny will make a big deal out of it," she pouted. He raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed. "Later, I promise."

"Your habit to avoid things that make you uncomfortable is exhausting," he told her. She made a face at him and elbowed his side.

"My point is, it didn't work. The Carrows took me to Voldemort and he told me I'd be getting the Dark Mark whether I wanted it or not."

"I remember that," Kingsley nodded with a frown. "Dorea and Charlus called an Order meeting without Dumbledore's permission and forced him to look for you."

Adelaide smiled softly. "I didn't know that. It makes sense, though, with how intent Dumbledore was on just letting me die."

"He- what?" Molly asked. "Surely you are exaggerating."

Emmaline scoffed loudly. "Literally everyone knew Dolohov wanted to fucking kill her. Dumbledore didn't do shit even when Fabian screamed at him in the middle of the Great Hall. Some of us thought she was dead."

"That was my bad," Adelaide winced. "I was testing my device to take me to the future and I had some… mistakes. I think that was after Gid arrested him, which would mean I was gone for two weeks that time. But yes, Dumbledore didn't give a shit about my safety. He made so many excuses… that's not important. What I'm trying to say is that I was forced to take the mark."

There was a moment of silence as everyone tried to catch sight of it on her arm. She shook herself and removed the glamour to show them.

"Oh my god," Ginny gasped, covering her mouth. "How? Why?"

"It was a shitty day. I was taken to Malfoy Manor and when threatening me didn't work, Voldemort tortured someone I love. That's when I said yes."

"How did you escape?" Bill asked her quietly.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I passed out."

"I can answer that," Sirius spoke up. "My grandfather."

"Oh," she breathed. "Of course, he would know. Suddenly I'm thankful for him digging around in my mind."

"How would Arcturus Black know where you are?" Arthur questioned her.

"Because I made the mistake of showing him a memory, letting him inside my head," she shrugged. "He used old magic to take all the memories I had and all the memories I'd ever have - it's a nasty way of looking into the future and only really powerful Legillimens can do it."

"Get back to the point," Severus suggested. She paused.

"What was my point?"

"Why you left," Remus reminded her.

"Oh, right. So after I took care of the thing I was waiting for, the last thing I had to do before leaving, James called me to a raid. I got there and I guess I was fighting Severus."

"You were particularly impatient," he agreed. "I can usually distract you."

"Well, I was angry," she shrugged. "It had been so long and then I didn't even get the chance to properly say goodbye because of a fucking raid, and-,"

"The point, kitten."

"Right. Sev blasted me into a wall and told me to leave because they were looking for me again," she explained.

"That's certainly incredible, but-,"

"No, there's more," she interrupted. "Just a few more things. I brought some people back with me. Not… not everyone I wish I could've, but… everyone I could."

"Who?"

"Um, guys?"

"Merlin, you took your sweet time," Fabian told her as the three walked out together.

"Not like we're waiting to see our sister or anything, Pip."

Adelaide made a face at them. "You try explaining all of this next time!" The brothers both pecked her cheek and walked past her to hug Molly tightly. She gave them a minute, Avery standing behind her cautiously, before interrupting. "Okay, there is a little more. I'm sorry, but this hurts and I'd like to fix it as soon as I can."

"What hurts?" Neville asked her. She waved him off.

"This is - don't fucking hex him or I'll hex you - this is Frederick Avery, one of the Death Eaters that I- Percy!" she shouted, throwing a shield up with one hand and a bobble-head hex at him with the other. "Fuck. He's a friend! He's a good person. Chill."

"Is that it, then?" Kingsley asked her. It was Fabian that let out a laugh.

"Look at her, who is she missing?"

"Black?" Emmaline guessed, earning a few nods.

"Sirius is right there," Harry told the woman in confusion.

"Not Sirius," Emmaline laughed. "Regulus."

"Regulus is dead."

Adelaide looked at her friend seriously. "No, he fucking isn't. I wasn't going to let him- let him die in there. I didn't even want to let him take the potion but he refused to let me-,"

"Because of what happened last time," Draco scowled. "Remember that? I'm sure Madame Pomfrey does. I do."

"It wasn't a big deal," she shot back. "I'm fine!"

"You didn't even warn me! You think I would have gone with you if I knew-,"

"That's why I didn't tell you!"

"And you almost died!"

"But I didn't!"

"Merlin, relax," Sirius told them both. "That was years ago, even for both of you."

Adelaide glared at Draco. "And because I did that, I made an antidote and it's the reason he isn't fucking dead right now, asshole."

"Yeah, let's get back to the part where you said he isn't dead," Harry agreed. "If he isn't dead, where is he?"

"In Potter Manor," she explained. "And I'll need you to help me get in there because it's under a Death Fidelius. Or it should be."

"It is," Sirius agreed. "It'll be easier with all three of us there. It should open up the wards quicker."

"Why?" Harry wondered.

"Well, I was adopted by your grandparents in my sixth year and Addy had a very strong familial bond with your dad and your grandparents, so it will accept her as a Potter, too. They took care of her for a long time when her and Snape's mother died."

"Oh my god," Adelaide gasped, her hand flying over her mouth as a memory played in her mind. "Sirius! You could've ruined time!"

"What?"

"You told me about me!"

"Oh, right. That."

"Black," Severus growled. "You are the most irresponsible person I have ever met."

"Any questions everyone has, I'll be willing to answer later," she told everyone, fingering her braid to calm her down. "But we need to get this done, so…"

"Yeah, let's go," Harry agreed, moving over to them. Adelaide looked to Avery.

"Come with?"

"Sure," he agreed. Her eyes settled on Severus but he shook his head.

"I think I will stay and answer whatever they want to ask me," he explained. She offered him a grateful smile and grabbed onto Avery and sent them away at the same time that Sirius Apparated away with Harry.

They appeared outside the wards at the side of the house. It looked the same as it always had, a sight that was comforting to her.

"What do we do?" Harry wondered. Sirius plucked his wand from his robes.

"We have to cut our palms and let our blood fall on the wards," he explained.

Harry grimaced. "Why do so many things involve pain? Can't magic just be fun?"

Adelaide rolled her eyes at him and cut her palm shoving it forward until she felt her hand lock into the wards, leaving her stuck there. "Shit, this sucks. I can feel it."

Sirius helped Harry cut his palm and then did his own, both men pushing their hands into the wards as well. "It'll only take a couple of minutes."

"So why is he here?" Harry questioned.

"Oh. Because there was no other way to trick the entire Black family into thinking he was dead," she explained. "I'd have just taken him with me, but it was too risky."

"Adelaide-,"

"Just a second, I think it's getting close."

"Adelaide," Avery snapped. She looked over and felt her breath catch. He had a shield up and she caught sight of the person she'd been hoping to avoid.

"Shit," she cursed, her heart racing as he moved closer. He was grinning at her and she resisted the urge to Apparate away, mostly because she was stuck in the slowly dismantling wards. "Sirius, he's here."

"Who- oh, fuck," he cursed loudly, raising his wand with his free arm. "Avada-,"

"No!" Adelaide yelled, shoving his hand down. "He can't! Not until- you don't know what it would do."

"You'd better listen to her," Dolohov called as he finally got close enough to speak to them. "You're finally back, aren't you?"

"What's happening?" Harry asked, his own wand raised despite his confusion.

"I didn't think you were this stupid, Adelaide," Dolohov told her. "Or do you not know how deep our bond runs?"

"It's not a bond," she snapped out furiously. "You cursed me. It's just a curse."

"Call it whatever you'd like, Snape," he shook his head, still grinning excitedly. "You can never get rid of me. Why don't you just give in? Come with me. It'll be so much easier on you."

"Get the fuck away from her," Avery called to him. Dolohov raised an eyebrow at him.

"We should've just killed you," he told him. "Let you die with your parents."

"Your mistake, I guess. Don't come near her."

"I heard you," Dolohov confirmed. "And her brother, and the Dark Lord, and the Carrows. The problem is, Avery, I want her."

"Adelaide," Sirius gasped. She looked over in time to see him reach over and shove her hard past the wards. Harry followed her through and they could see Sirius and Avery stand side by side with their wands pointed at Dolohov.

"Inside," she said, her voice shaky. "Let's get inside."

"But they're-,"

"We can't help them."

"Hermione, we help everyone!"

"Not against him," she snapped. When he stared at her angrily, she shook her head. "Fine. Do what you want."

"You're really not going to help them?"

Adelaide responded by twisting on her ankle and Apparating into the basement. "Miffy!"

"Mistress is back," the elf exclaimed.

"Miffy, please go help Sirius and my friends. They'll be outside the wards. Please pop them in here, but don't do anything if it isn't safe to get to them."

"Yes, Mistress!"

With the elf gone, Adelaide dug into her beaded bag and found the potion she was looking for. She pulled Regulus, who looked no different than when she'd left, into her lap and tipped the potion down his throat. It was a few very long seconds before he coughed and his eyes shot open.

"Oh my god," she breathed, stroking his cheek. "It's over. We're done with it, Reg. The war is over."

"We're-," he coughed, pushing himself into a sitting position. "What year is it?"

"1998. We're here, love."

Regulus reached over and grabbed her, kissing her lips hard. She kissed him back, a few tears falling. She could feel their bond snap back into place, once more at full strength and she breathed out in relief. When he released her, he grabbed her face in his hands. "When did you leave?"

"Right after leaving you here," she answered, leaning into the touch. "There was a raid, James called me to it. Severus told me to leave."

"Mistress," Miffy popped back in, distressed. "They be fighting!"

"No," she squeezed her eyes shut. "You can't get to them safely to bring them into the wards? Miffy, I can't go out there."

"Miffy tried."

"Okay," she breathed, casting her patronus. "To Severus and Remus. Harry, Sirius, and Avery are fighting. He's here."

"What?"

"They're outside the wards. I went inside, but they need backup."

When the silvery grim ran off, Regulus looked at her, his eyes dark. "Addy-,"

"He showed up while we were trying to open the wards," she explained quietly. "He didn't touch me and Sirius shoved me into the wards as soon as they opened up."

"He's really here."

"Yeah."

An eagle patronus flew into the room and she heard the voice of one of the twins, though she wasn't sure which one it was. "We're on our way with them. Stay where you are. We're coming to stay with you while they help capture him."

"We should get upstairs," she told him with a sigh.

"Addy," he said softly. She looked at him, taking in the sight. "I love you."

A small smile graced her lips. "I love you too, Reg."

Xx

When Dolohov finally managed to Apparate away, Sirius let out a furious shout and threw a fiery Bombarda at a group of trees, blowing them up. He turned around, threading his fingers through his hair as he paced. "Fuck! Goddamn it!"

"Sirius," Remus said, grabbing his arm. "Sirius, he's gone. We can't do anything. We should get inside and make sure they're okay."

Sirius didn't reply but he did start moving toward the house, letting everyone follow him. Harry, oblivious to his godfather's burning anger, rushed up to him.

"Why did he- how did he find us?"

Sirius ignored his godson, probably for the first time ever, and threw the door open. When he was met with four wands in his face, he scowled. "He got away."

"Shit," Fabian cursed loudly.

"It's fine," Adelaide rolled her eyes at them. "I never expected to catch him."

"He can't just be out there, Adelaide!"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does!" Sirius shouted at her. She met him in the middle of the room instead of letting him stalk over to her. "Do you not remember what he did?"

Adelaide stared at him hard, her voice rising to match his. "Do you think I could ever forget? Of course, I remember! But there's not a fucking thing we can do about it right now so just let it go!"

"I know you don't give a shit about your life, but-,"

"Sirius," Regulus yelled, interrupting him. Sirius's eyes fell on his furious brother for the first time. "Shut the fuck up."

"She doesn't care!"

"She does care!" Regulus shouted back. "If you don't remember, I can feel her fucking feelings and you're only making everything worse!"

"It just- he got away, Reg."

"I'm just as furious as you," Regulus told him, taking in a deep breath. "But she's right. We can't do anything about it right now."

Sirius cursed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, Addy. I just-,"

"I know," she assured him. "Me too."

"Are you all done yelling now?" Severus scowled.

"I don't get how he found us," Harry said when no one answered the man. "He got there like… right away."

"You haven't told them," Regulus realized. Adelaide shook her head quietly.

"I couldn't."

"It's okay, Little Lion," he assured her, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "You don't have to right now."

Harry stared at them, his mouth hanging open. "What?"

Remus let out a laugh. "The thing she refused to tell everyone, the reason she and I had to pretend to date? It's because she and Regulus have a soul bond. It was so clear that no one believed they'd really broken up. Obviously, they didn't."

"Hermione is… dating Regulus Black," Harry muttered to himself. "I don't…"

"Harry, why are you so incredulous every time I date someone?" Adelaide asked him with a small laugh. "You were shocked that Viktor asked me out."

"You hate Quidditch!"

"I've told you a million times, Viktor is more than just his career. He actually happens to enjoy learning, unlike you."

"He's three years older than you!"

"Which was a large part of why we didn't continue dating," she rolled her eyes.

"Regulus is older than you."

"I wouldn't expect them to break up anytime soon," Sirius snorted. "They're engaged."

"What?"

"Let's go back to the Burrow!" Adelaide suggested, blushing at the look her friend gave her. She grabbed Regulus's arm and popped out of the entry hall, leaving her friends alone and Harry in shock.

Xx