Apollo

Horcrux hunt, London.

"I take it this is it?" Eva asked, staring at the bright red door in front of her with a frown.

Hermione nodded. "This is it."

"I don't think I understand what this is, exactly." Harry ran a hand through his hair, clearly at loss.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I told you, he's the one we're looking for."

"Technically, you just dragged us out the door muttering something about a picture-" Eva began, but quickly shut up once Hermione's murdering glare landed on her. She raised her hands in surrender. "But if you say this is it, then so be it! I trust you completely!"

Harry snickered behind Eva, earning himself a push from the girl.

Hermione on the other hand, approached the door, ignoring her two friends now looking at her attentively, and rang the bell. It took a full minute before they heard several locks clicking on the other side, a loud grunt, and then the door flew open, revealing what Eva would have never guessed. Well, she hadn´t even guessed to begin with, she had no clue what or who to expect.

Standing inside appeared a man that seemed to be on his 40's with a scruffy stubble, long brown hair, and friendly freckled face, although he didn't seem too happy to see them, neither did he seem angry...he was almost- confused. Like he didn't get much visitors, or any at all judging by the long blue bathrobe he was wearing. What threw Eva off a bit was just how incredibly ordinary this man was, nothing jumped at her as a clue to where the Horcruxes might be. The confused man scanned the three friends, eyeing each of them carefully before slowly raising a brow.

"Can I help you?" His voice had a thick sort of accent, which Eva couldn´t quite place, but given the fact she wasn´t english to begin with, she didn´t fret about it. The man himself seemed pretty nice. The wrinkles at the corner of his eyes showed just how much he smiled, or used to.

Hermione, as expected, did the talking. Harry was too awkward and Eva too upfront, better to leave it to a relatively decent girl to talk to the man. She cleared her throat and smiled politely "Good Evening, Mr. Apollo?"

He frowned, but nodded. "Yes?"

"Sorry for the unexpected visit, Mr. Apollo, but we really need to talk to you. It's an emergency."

He seemed taken aback by Hermione's urgency, but then Harry coughed uncomfortably as if unsure of what was going on, making the mystery man land his eyes on the raven haired boy, recognition suddenly flashing through them. "You, I know who you are!" He pointed a bony finger towards Harry´s forehead, looking almost scared. "Reckless kids- you can´t be seen!" He shoved the door open and hurriedly motioned for them to get inside. "Quick! Get in ´fore anyone else sees you."

They squeezed past him and into the foyer, a bit too confidently in Eva's humble and untrusting opinion, which led her to slip her hand to grip her wand carefully tucked inside her coat, ready to use it if necessary. The man scanned the sidewalk, before shutting the door and locking it.

The place was small, with a single narrow hallway, dark walls packed with a hundred different hung pictures, overall cozy and well kept. What did catch Eva's attention however was the absolute lack of magic inside the flat. It was no-maj -ehem, muggle- to the last book.

"Come now, this way." Apollo said ushering them into the nearest room. It was a small living room, neat and cozy. The fireplace was on, and judging by the bundled up newspaper carelessly thrown into the coffee table and the half drunk cup of tea, Eva figured Apollo had been sitting here before they arrived.

Apollo walked towards the window and hastily shut the curtains as the three friends sat down on the couch facing his previously occupied armchair. "What on earth were you thinking, dropping by unannounced?" he complained, making his way towards his seat. He looked uneasy, but not angry. In fact, Eva dared say this man had been angry only a handful of times in his whole life.

"We´re sorry, Mr. Apollo, we can assure you we made sure it was safe before getting here." Hermione tried to appease the man, smiling at him with her best apologetic smile. "We´ve come here because it´s a matter of urgency."

"So you´ve said." He sighed, taking his tea from the table. "Don´t see how I can be of any help, miss-?"

"Granger, Hermione Granger. And these are my friends Eva and Harry. Although I figure you already know who he is."

"Pleasure."

He took a sip of his tea, as though the subject was closed, but Hermione was having none of it. Eva could see just the tinniest of twitches on her right eye, and she knew the girl wouldn´t take no for an answer. "How do you know Harry?"

Apollo raised his brows at Hermione, and shook his head, setting the cup down on his lap. "Can´t imagine someone wouldn´t know ´im. His face´s all over the damned place, but he talked about you, all right. Summing ´bout some scar, I dunno." He rolled his eyes. "Used to talk absolute nonsense back in the day, the bastard."

"He?" Hermione questioned, leaning forward "You mean Regulus Black?"

"D´you know him?" Shock spread through his features, his hands almost loosing grip of the mug. "Did you know Regulus?"

Hermione eyed Harry and Eva next to her, and pursed her lips. "No, not personally anyways. His brother´s Harry´s godfather."

Apollo eyed Harry knowingly. "Ah, Sirius. Yes, met him once." His eyes then became distant, like he was trying to remember the good old days. "How´s he?"

Harry´s breath hitched. "He´s dead." He snapped almost angrily, but Eva knew he was just surprised to be asked of him by a stranger. Apollo frowned and shook his head sadly.

" ´course. " He then smiled with tight lips, staring pitifully at Harry. "I´m sorry lad, honest."

Harry shook his head, brushing off the apology like it was nothing worth discussing. Eva could almost feel his discomfort, so she decided to cut in before things grew tense.

"Mr. Apollo, how did you know Regulus?" She tried to sound as though she was merely curious, and not bluntly interrogating him. Apollo´s eyes became once again vacant, his mind going back through the years almost visibly. "Were you friends?"

Apollo chuckled and shook his head in a silly girl kind of way. "Friends? Yeah well, in the eyes of others I s´pose that´s what we were. Friends."

Hermione became instantly interested, and leaned forward. Eva´s confused brows started to relax as she slowly began to understand what Apollo really meant…in the eyes of the others I suppose that´s what we were…could they be-? "Were you close?" Hermione asked, for the first time genuinely too naïve to see the truth. No, not naïve- innocent, Eva thought somewhat amused.

"Hermione-" Eva tried not to smirk, a soft spark of understanding passing through her and Apollo as they locked eyes before he cut her off.

"We were lovers, young lady."

Harry choked on his own spit, gasping for air as Eva softly patted his back. Hermione on the other hand, blinked a couple times before breathing out a soft "Oh."

Although the whole scene seemed ridiculously funny, Eva couldn´t help but notice how the man´s eyes grew sad all of the sudden. He buried deeper into his armchair, as if the years hit him all at once, making him look old and tired. This changed things, Eva guessed.

"Can you tell us more about him, Mr. Apollo?" Eva half whispered, trying to appear trustworthy. He sighed, and Eva tried once more. "You see, we found a journal back on his old childhood home. He wrote your name quite a few times on it, that´s how we knew to look for you."

The mention of the journal seemed to upset Apollo, as he straightened in his seat and ran a hand through his eyes. Eva hoped she hadn´t pushed him too far accidentally.

"Blasted journals. He ought to have gotten rid of the damned things, I tell you."

"Do you know about the journals?" Harry asked. Hermione looked at him unbelievably, and Eva could almost hear the words coming from her mouth. Of course he knows about the journals you idiot, he just said so!

He huffed, and drank the last of his tea before setting it aside. "I know about´em, all right. He en´t do nothing but write one after the other, he said they were important. Summing ´bout defeating the leader of that horrible gang of his. Prob´ly wrote ´bout half a dozen on the last few weeks."

Gang. So he is a no-maj, Eva thought as she eyed Hermione and Harry, both realizing what she just had. Looking at the three friends in front of him, Apollo finally gave up and with a loud exhale he settled more comfortably on the armchair.

"We were together for two years, I met Reg -er Regulus- back in Oxford. Likely he was looking for someone else, but he found me instead. After the first couple months, I followed ´im to London, where he said we´d be together. In a way, we were, but he always ought to do some nasty job for that terrible gang, it´d keep ´im away for days. We lived further south, lovely place, ought to move out after he- well, died." He talked as though it hurt him no more, but Eva could see past his façade, she could see his eyes squinting ever so lightly. Every word he said though, seemed to blast down every assumption she´d made of Regulus Black. For starters he wasn´t entirely lonely, he had a lover, of all things.

"Did you ever notice him to act strange?" asked Harry, as he crossed his arms. "Sort of weird things happening when he was around?"

Apollo eyed Harry carefully before offering him a small smile. "I know what you mean, lad. Regulus did make strange things happen, all right. Wasn´t like me, I knew, never asked ´im what he was though, didn´t want to. Prob´ly wouldn´t have liked the answer. You´re like ´im too, I can tell, you carry them sticks round en´t you? Well I en´t like you. I´m- what´d he call me?"

"No-maj." Eva whispered, then shook her head to correct herself. "I mean- muggle."

"Muggle, that's it." He repeated, shaking his head slightly. "I en´t know much ´bout you magic lot, but he did explain a couple things every now and then. Didn´t talk much ´bout it, to be honest. All I wanted was a normal life with ´im."

Hermione smiled sadly, understanding first hand how the muggle/wizard interaction worked. It was hard to maintain an unbiased relationship on either side, there was always that sense of…not belonging. Like one was keeping a secret from the other.

"But he never introduced you to his family? His- gang?" She asked. Apollo shook his head in return.

"His family en´t know ´bout us, better they didn´t, he said. Never met ´em, s´ept Sirius, the crazy gal. Regulus was always very dark, and mysterious, always pressured by that horrible gang leader. We ought to keep us secret, that is, for my safety. Never understood why he kept sayin´ that, never questioned ´im either. Always did as he said."

"So how come he told you about Harry and his scar?"

"Heard ´im once, talking into some green fire one afternoon. He was talking ´bout a sort of, dunno, legend? He told someone ´bout a babe that´d be born some specific day. Likely important. But I read ´bout the scar and this lad right here on one of them papers with moving pictures, sodded things keep gettin´ delivered even after he was gone! I know you´re wanted by that gang leader and his croonies. Them crazy bastards sometimes pop around ´ere, it was dangerous coming ´ere like that!" He threw his hands up, and Eva couldn´t help but smile. " ´nyway, Regulus disappeared one night, he said he´d be out, might take some time. I reckon you know what happened to ´im better than I do. I waited and waited, s´posed it must´ve been summing with that gang. Like I said, it´d sometimes take ´im away for days. A sort of warning ´rrived four days later though, like a letter. It asked me to take all our things, ´specially them horrid journals, and head out north, keep a low profile. Keep ´em guarded, it said, and stay safe meself." He looked down at his hands and sighed. "I didn´t know he was gone, I never. Thought he might´ve gotten in trouble, or summing of a sort. "

"How did you find out?"

He looked up to meet Harry´s eyes once more, "Your godfather visited me ´fterwards. He told me ´imself."

There was a moment of silence, none of them daring to say something in fear of sounding insensitive. Here they were, digging out some poor man´s worst memories of the time he lost his lover, when they didn´t even think Regulus had one.

After a few seconds though, Apollo took a deep breath and clasped his hands together, bringing their attention back to him. "I s´pose you come ´ere for the journals, then." He sighed and shook his head. "Sorry but, no can do. Like I said, them things were importan to ´im, can´t just give ´em away now can I?"

Eva understood where he came from, those journals were probably too dear for him to give up. She imagined herself on his place, having only Draco´s written word to keep her company, how could she ask this man to just- hand them over?

But she had to, because the cause was bigger than them, much more important.

"I understand what we´re asking means to you, Mr. Apollo." She cooed, voice soft and silky. She hated being manipulative, she also knew it was one of her best talents. "You know, I understand you better that you think."

He frowned, and she could almost feel her friends doing the same. "D´you now?"

Eva nodded, feigning sadness. "I myself am dating a Black, you see. In fact, he´d be Regulus´ nephew, in a way. My boyfriend´s mother is Regulus´ cousin." Slight surprise flashed through Apollo´s eyes, and then Eva knew she had his full attention. "He´s involved in the same gang…it´s a family obligation to be a part of it. I tried to stop him before he got in, but there was nothing I could do. He, like Regulus, had no choice."

"What´s his name?" he asked.

"Draco Malfoy."

Apollo leaned back, nodding. "The young Malfoy, yes. I know ´bout ´im too. En´t he some sort of royal?"

Harry laughed shortly, Hermione nudged him to shut him up. "No he isn´t." Eva answered equally amused. "but his family has a lot of money, you see the Black family is very important in our community. As are the Malfoys. Doesn´t surprise me Regulus kept you away from them, he meant to keep you safe. To them your kind, the non-magical, are inferior. Unworthy."

"He told me so." Apollo agreed. "Tell me more about this Draco. How´s he like my Reg?"

Eva smiled at how he referred to Regulus, and secretly wondered if Draco referred to her as my Evangeline. "Growing up in a family like the Black and Malfoy isn´t easy. They have traditions and mentalities, from centuries back, that make them mean and intolerant of those different from them. Draco, like Regulus, grew up like that. When I met him though, he changed his mind about his family. He´s fighting against those horrible ancient beliefs. But they had to pretend they still believed, which is why both joined the gang their families belong to. In a way, they became spies, leaking information from the gang to the authorities. Regulus did too in his time, hence why he wrote the journals."

As she spoke, she felt tears forming at the base of her eyes, a soft sob escaping her lips. She hadn´t meant to cry, but the memory of Draco getting the dark mark did that to her. She soon found herself unable to stop the painful emptiness in the pit of her stomach, a feeling she recognized as longing. She missed him so much, and only then did she allow herself to feel that. Harry moved closer to her, realizing her tears were true, and held her hand.

"He´s been missing for a few days now, Draco." Eva spoke through now contained sobs. Her eyes darted to the ground, fearing to give into her emotions. "We´re at war, our kind is at war. My boyfriend, he- he left to find something to help us win the war, but he´s been gone for so long now I-I don´t know anymore."

Her voice grew desperate, but Eva was only trying very hard not to break down. She didn´t want to fall into that endless cycle of panic and despair, crying at night because she didn´t know where Draco was. She was so much stronger than that, a fighter, not a damsel in distress. She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe he´d come back when the time was right. With a gulp, she managed to subside the emotions and stop the silent tears from falling.

"Mr. Apollo, I don't mean to take away the only reminder you own from your lover, but my boyfriend risked his life to get the one we have, which only lead us to you." She locked eyes with the man in front of her, who mirrored her own brokenhearted gaze. Although she had initially said it to try and sympathize with him, she saw now just how they were the same person. Two hopelessly devoted lovers, who's happily ever after was tainted by the dark mark, and a ridiculous hero complex. Yet, both still standing and holding on to a promise. "You can help us find what Regulus started. He was a good man, Apollo. A good hearted man that chose to do the right thing in the end, even if it cost him his life. He was brave, and he loved you so very much. Don´t let his sacrifice be in vain."

Mr. Apollo´s own cheeks were now stained with tears, his lower lip trembling slightly. She could almost feel his doubt, and wanted to get up and hug him, wanted to abandon all her Slytherin image and tell him things would get better. For both of them. Before she could though, he closed his eyes for a second, then stood up. Much to their surprise he only walked towards the back of the room, and reached for a box on the floor. With steady hands, he lifted it up and brought it towards Eva´s own extended ones, leaning in close and whispering only loud enough for her to hear. She was surprised to hear him speak so clearly, his rough accent replaced with a softer, subtler voice.

"I made the mistake to hide away when Reg was in danger. I assumed he knew what he was doing, but now, years after it´s happened, I see just how stupid I was to believe he could handle things on his own. I´ll never know if he needed me then, if I could´ve helped him, it´s too late now anyway. Not for you."

He let go of the box, and smiled knowingly to Eva, who found herself smiling back at him through tears and hiccups. Had she pretended the whole thing? She ha initially planned to act a part, make herself appear more similar to him. No, she realized then, she hadn´t feigned a broken heart. She really was broken hearted, just as much as Apollo was. She needed Draco to be safe, with her.

"Thank you, Mr. Apollo." Hermione was quick to say, smiling warmly at him. "If you´d like, we can give these back to you when everything´s over."

He shook his head, a faint shadow of a smile still on his face. "Rather you didn´t, Young lady. I reckon it´s time for me to move on."