I know I promised you an "epical-and-adventure-story", but I'm still building Regulus as a character, he needed living each one of these moments to ending up betraying his master at the very end. So I would ask you to be patient. And I need a comment! Do it for me, please!

Two rings (Cristmas, 1972)

Regulus came back to the compartment and joined his pals who were still talking about Quidditch games. There was a great chance of Slytherin winning the championship that term, since they had won two of the three initials matches against the other houses. Only the match against Gryffindor had been a bit more difficult, and this was exactly the issue they were talking about when he slid the door open to enter:

'We have to change our strategy. Now that they have their new seeker, that guy called Potter, Gryffindor has more chances to win. He has eagle eyes and can fly quickly as a thought. We need to tackle him and distract him in any way possible. If Steve hadn't scored at the same time that Potter caught the Snitch, we would have lost the match.' Said Emma Vanity, the team captain, a girl with big eyes and thin lips, thin and very tall for her age. She played as a chaser and was promoted to captain when his predecessor, his friend and chaser Steve Laughlot, seventh year student, resigned from his post in order to study for NEWTs (because he wanted to become a apprentice healer at St Mungo's after his graduation).

Regulus wanted to return to the corridor soon as he heard Potter's name. First Rachel, now Potter, it was just what I need, he thought. But the corridor no longer had the same appeal as before now that he knew Alice wasn't there. She should be with her friends in a compartment full of Puffs, laughing from the imitations which the boys were doing. For a second he regretted not having been selected for Hufflepuff. Then he looked at his friends. They were almost choking with laughter from the malicious imitation that John was doing by remembering Potter catching the Snitch - lifting one leg and doing a pirouette, smiling foolishly as Sirius's friend was somewhat foppish. That scene turn off that foolish thought form his mind: definitely Slytherin was his place. He stretched his legs and relaxed. To his surprise, Emma pulled his head to her side, laying him in her lap and began to stroke him. It was enough: he had no doubt that he was in the right place. Then he closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep, betrayed by a smile that wanted not leave his face. Amifidel felt a bit of envy and regret for having ceded his place aside Emma to his friend and started making jokes:

'The little baby will sleep on Emma's lap, will you? Want a soother, do you?'

But the more his friend made fun, more Regulus snuggled on Emma's lap, who seemed to enjoy the whole situation. Much as Regulus pretended to sleep he ended up really falling asleep, and awakening when they were almost in London. His brother was waiting at the door, smiling. He knew that Sirius wanted to get off the train with him to avoid claims of Mrs. Walburga, therefore he did not asked what his brother wanted, just followed him down the corridor to where there were James, Peter and Remus. He sat next to Remus, while Sirius told them, smiling proudly:

'Do you know Slytherin keeper? Emma? I met my brother sleeping on her lap! That's it, bro! Don't miss even the older girls!'

The other three looked at Regulus with interest, by greeting him "great achievement." The train stopped and they came down, excited. Regulus tried to find Alice into the crowd, but his parents were already waiting on the platform, and they were in a hurry to go home.

Arriving at Grimmauld Place, Regulus ran to his room, where Kreacher was waiting for him. The elf was anxious to know the news, which Regulus told him while excitedly fixing some Slytherin banners on the walls, stopping a few times to explain to the elf every detail of the school and his classes. Kreacher, as if it were possible, opened wide his eyes even more then close them, delighting as one could imagine himself into the described scenes.

On Christmas Eve, Regulus, Sirius and their parents had a family meeting at the house of their maternal grandparents, Irma and Pollux. The meetings of the Black family on the maternal side used to be animated, because they were quite noisy and it invariably ended in discussions or even duels. Sirius and Regulus never knew for sure when the adults were just talking or fighting because on both occasions what they were hearing, after all, was screams. And usually it was imitated by their cousin Bellatrix, who burst into laughter at the situation. Who never lost her composure was Narcissa, who looked down her nose upon her cousins and sisters, wishing internally have been born into a more elegant family. Andromeda used to laugh at Bellatrix's jokes though that night she remained silent.

To Regulus' surprise and Sirius's displeasure, Lucius Malfoy joined them a little before dinner, accompanied by his parents. Narcissa's eyes sparkled and her face lit up. Malfoy gave a huge bouquet of flowers to the hostess and another one which he distributed flower by flower for each women present. His gesture made the ladies enchanted and left Narcissa in the clouds. Sirius looked at Regulus and mimicked to induce vomiting with his index finger toward his mouth, but despite Regulus laughing at his brother; intimately he felt very instructive and recorded every detail from Malfoy's gesture in his memory.

The dinner was served and Lucius asked everyone's attention, standing up and clattering gently with a fork on a glass wine:

'During my second year at Hogwarts I had the pleasure of meeting the most beautiful flower that one could imagine. As beautiful as delicate, I could not resist her charms, her sweet perfume. To my delight she allowed me to follow in her footsteps since then, as her servant in love.' He looked at Narcissa and she smiled back encouraging him. He continued, turning to Pollux 'But a so delicate flower is not born in any garden, could only come from a celestial garden and eternal as the Black family.' Narcissa's grandfather smiled and looked at his son Cygnus, nodding across Malfoy's statement, who felt he had pleased the head of the Black family, then he looked Cygnus into his eye and finished his speech: 'and it's with great pleasure that I ask you Narcissa's hand in marriage. I would feel very honored to be part of your great family.'

Cygnus stood and stared at Malfoy:

'It will be an honor to have you in our family, son.' Then he rose his wine glass and proposed a toast, saying:

'Toujour pour! Long live the young couple!'

And everyone imitated his gesture, although Sirius and Andromeda had done it without demonstrating enthusiasm. Lucius stood up and walked to Narcissa, knelt and took her hand, placing a beautiful diamond ring, kissing her hand fondly and then everyone clapped. Narcissa was smiling from ear to ear and the whole family started the usual buzz that accompanied every Christmas dinner.

While the elves served the dessert, Andromeda seemed to fill up from courage and stood up, clattering her glass with a fork in an uncomfortable imitation of Malfoy:

'May I have your attention for a moment, please?' She waited a few seconds for everyone to be quiet and continued: 'it's with great joy that I want share with you that Ted Tonks did a wedding proposal to me at the end of last week and I -' she rose up her right hand from within the pocket and showed her hand with an engagement ring, as bright as Narcissa's one ' and I said "yes".'

'No!' Said her father and her grandfather at the same time, while her mother fainted and the whole family started talking loudly and all at the same time, demonstrating their discontent. Mrs. Walburga said:

'You cannot marry a Mudblood, dear! That, besides being a betrayal of the family, is a disgrace!'

'Don't call him that, Aunt Burga! He's as honest as we are. He works hard in the ministry, has a great career. And he's lovely, honest and loves me!' Andromeda shouted.

'Oh, I know, loves you! Bah! He didn't even have the decency to come here asking for your hand, as Lucius did ... And you speak of honor, you silly girl ...' Grandma replied, sharing her thoughts.

'Don't be two-faced, Grandma! He didn't come here to ask for my hand because you banned him from stepping in this house!'

And saying this, Andromeda left the table in tears, while Narcissa told her:

'Thanks for ruining my engagement party!'

Sirius followed Andromeda, who did not noticed him and hurried out through the front door of the house where she Disapparated. Regulus watched everything stunned and without saying a single word. Sirius came back and sat down at the table, whispering:

'Ridiculous!'

Regulus remained silent, his heart pounding hard. Then his imagination saved him from the bitter reality: he was doing a wedding proposal to Alice in that very same room, years later.