A/N: So... life has both been absolutely wonderful and bloody hellacious at the same time these past few weeks and I'm so sorry I haven't been updating regularly. I've had a bug up my ass on a Lord of the Rings story lately so I've been working on that. It hasn't been posted yet because I don't have a title for it yet. I got married, I started writing a book and that's about it.

Recap:

"Please let them still be alive... I don't think anyone else can get me out of here..." He all but whimpered, brushing his way to long hair from his face. I can see it now, someone many years from now will find this, whatever it is, and no one will know that the corpse inside is the last of the Black family, Regulus Arcturus Black... He thought, unable to voice the thoughts aloud for fear of cursing himself to the doomed fate that haunted his nightmares.

Chapter Twenty:

Daphne glared at her father as he sat her down for the fifth time since she had left the Malfoy Manor three days ago,

"I'm not going back. I won't let a stupid Soul Bond dictate my life just because some uppity mudblood who thinks she's worth something-"

"Enough Miss Greengrass." The whip-like voice of Lucius Malfoy cracked through the air around them, silencing the tirade she had been getting ready to start. Her seafoam green eyes found the blond, and then the seething dark-haired woman at his side. Her eyes were the color of storming skies as she fought to keep herself under control after Daphne's outburst.

"What are you doing here? Come to force me back to your daughter's side? I won't do it." The young blonde snapped waspishly, earning her a sharp glare from her father. Her eyes widened as Pandora's wand appeared in her hand, "Dad-"

"Finite!" The spell was hissed with such vehemence that it slammed Daphne back into her chair and knocked her out.

"Pandora!"

"What? You surely didn't expect me to stand here and listen to the vile propaganda that your dear ex-wife put into her head? Mudblood... She called our daughter a mudblood!" She threw her hands up after holstering her wand in the sleeve of her robes. She spun and walked from the room, her hair a wild tangle of inky curls down her back.

"I can't say I envy you Lucius. Dealing with so many Black women must be difficult." The blond frowned at his friend before turning his eyes to the unconscious witch in the room,

"It will be less so when your daughter is back at Hermione's side. We've yet to tell any of the children that Daphne was put under the imperious curse. With the stunt they all pulled in the DoM, I wouldn't put it past the Potter boy to go after Narcissa, which could be a death sentence for him, and Draco, who has become very fond of his sister in these past few weeks." Gerald hummed softly in thought,

"I think it would be a death sentence for your ex-wife if even half-of what I've heard about the Potter boy is true." Shrewd blue eyes fell on the Malfoy Patriarch, "You seem to have turned over a new leaf Lord Malfoy. Perhaps you've seen the error of your ways and intend to stay neutral in the up coming war?" Lucius frowned and stood up to his full height,

"You know as well as I do Lord Greengrass that turning my back on that half-blood scum made me his enemy. Pandora intends to remain at her, our, daughter's side through this war, and I can't see Hermione anywhere other than Potter's side. Whether or not they survive is now up to us. It's time she and I teach them that to win a war you have to be willing to fight dirty. Dumbledore's forgiveness tripe isn't going to fly this time, not when it's my children and their friends the curses will be flying at. I hope to see you taking a more active roll in the war this time, what with your daughter being on whatever side Hermione happens to be on." He paused and flicked his wand at the unconscious witch, "Do send her over when her head has cleared, Hermione is getting worse." With that said he walked back out of the room and followed his still upset betrothed through the floo.

They were bombarded by three very worried young wizards when they came through,

"Enough!" Pandora shouted, sparks crackling through her hair, "The curse has been lifted from Daphne and I expect she will be returning to the manor within the next few hours. Do remember that any harm she caused Hermione is not of her own doing and that she will probably be extremely distraught. Lucius, I need to go visit my brother. There are a few things that need to be taken care of." Pandora spun and went back through the floo, leaving her fiance with the three teens.

Grimlaud Place

Sirius blinked as the floo activated and his older sister stepped out, looking worse for wear.

"Dora? How's Hermione?" the tired smile that graced his sister's lips cause his heartbeat to speed up in excitement,

"Daphne was imperiused by our dearest cousin Narcissa. The curse has been canceled and I suspect that Daphne will be back at the Manor as soon as her father allows. However, that news is not the only reason I'm here. I need the main tapestry. I can only undo my spellwork if it hasn't been affected."

"That is the main tapestry isn't it?" At Pandora's shake of the head he sat back in his chair and frowned, "Where is it then?"

"It should be in the attic, I thought you knew that this wasn't the main tapestry." Sirius shook his head slightly as he stood and made his way up the stairs and flicked his wand at the door for the attic. The ladder slid down and thumped on the floor gently,

"After you sister dearest." She rolled her eyes and made her way up the steps while her brother held the ladder. She came down a few minutes later with a rolled-up piece of fabric,

"Got it, come on. I need to make sure my spell didn't affect this one, otherwise I won't be able to reverse it."

"What's the difference between that one and the ones in the Black houses?"

"Magic shouldn't affect this one, which means it should still show myself and Hermione. All of the other ones are linked to the one in the office and show whatever that one shows. Father had it done that way due to mother's temper. You and Andy were never expelled from the family, at least not that I know of." She explained as she rolled it out on the floor of the office. It was large, about the size of an area rug, but it still held the whole family tree. "See, it still shows us." She cut open her hand to undo her spell and froze, looking between the two tapestries.

"What is it Dora?" Her eyes were wide and tears trekked silently down her cheeks as she continued to look between the two. Quickly she smeared her blood over her portrait and Regulus'

"Finite Incantatum." Both death dates disappeared and Hermione's portrait, birthdate, and birth name appeared beneath Pandora's, "Sirius... Reg is alive..." She choked, a sob bubbling in her throat even as her younger brother collapsed to his knees.

"Kreacher!" He shouted; his voice raspy with unshed tears.

"What can Kreacher be doing for you Master?"

"Where is my brother? Where is Regulus Black?" Kreacher's eyes went wide as he looked at the tapestry, and then at his Master and Mistress, both of whom were staring at him with tear filled eyes.

"Kreacher never thought Master or Mistress would find out. Kreacher was ordered to not go get Master without being asked. Kreacher be going to get Master Regulus now." The elf disappeared with a loud crack and both siblings looked at each other and waited.

They didn't have to wait long before the elf popped back, with a sorry looking man in tow.

"Reg?" Regulus collapsed in relief as both of his older siblings suddenly engulfed him in a strong hug.

Post A/N: YAY Regulus is free! Maybe he can save Narcissa, maybe she's too far gone. Stay tuned to find out.