Author's Note: Got a bit of a long one for ya.

Nahoki-san: Not entirely sure if I understand your question, but I should be clear: Crow does not control Roman's actions. Everything he does is of his own volition; now, he might not be happy about it, and he might wish things were different, but Crow does not control Roman like a puppet. He does control what timeline Roman happens to be walking in, as is his right as a deity, and he can warn him about future events, if he chooses. The Sectumsempra incident was meant to show that while Crow tries to tell Roman exactly what to do, when to do it and how, Roman can still make mistakes, in that instance he tried to 'play the hero'. He's not the typical hero type though, that's not what he's supposed to be. He's the behind-the-scenes, the unsung hero that ensures the showy heroic types are recognized and successful.

Chapter 26

Trust Issues

I opened my eyes…seconds before vomiting a green substance all over the ground. From somewhere nearby I heard a noise of general disgust and sympathy.

"You're either the luckiest man I ever knew, or-" Regulus stopped himself with a shrug. "You're safe now, and that's what's important." He vanished my sick and watched me glance around before getting to my feet. "We're on the cliff. I wasn't sure how far I was allowed to move you, but I'm glad you didn't just disappear. I don't know when you came from exactly, but I don't think it's ever appropriate for you to turn up inebriated with the Drink of Despair."

"Is that what that was?" I asked, or tried to. My throat was dry and my words likely came out as more of a husk of sound than an actual sentence. Kreacher snapped his fingers and offered me a goblet he'd likely summoned from Black Manor-it had the family crest engraved into it, but the silver cup was filled with water which I gulped down right away. "Thank you."

"You saved Master Regulus," the elf stated without any hint of sarcasm.

I almost smiled but I think I was still feeling the aftereffects of the potion. "Are you alright, Reg?"

"Me? I got the easy part, what about you?" he asked incredulously.

Grimacing I replied, "I'm not gonna lie to you, I did not care for that. Hopefully it was worth my while: did you get it?"

Regulus held up the locket, which was gold with a snake curved into the letter 'S' on the front. "Taken, and replaced with a copy." He looked me over and shook his head.

"What?"

"I just…I didn't expect to get this version of you. That means you've known this whole time…what's the date you've come from?"

"December 17th, 1976," I replied easily. Maybe I'll go back late and miss the party.

Nope. She'll kill you, and I need you alive.

Dangit.

Older Regulus chuckled at my answer. "I see. So it's only the start for you."

"Start of what?"

"You'll figure it out. I'll see you soon, Roman, at least I hope."

"What do you mean?"

I said no questions!

But-!

Older Regulus's expression changed suddenly and he was frowning over my shoulder, shoving the locket in his pocket quickly. "Who is that?!"

I turned to look, and that is when the tugging sensation returned to take me back to the past. Instead of a wind-ridden clifftop I was standing in the corridor, wearing clean dress robes, and waiting on-

"Thank you for waiting." Zabini approached me where I stood, still looking over my shoulder out the window, wondering who older Regulus had seen three years from now. He'd never looked alarmed a day in his life, who in the world could bring that expression out of his aristocratic features? "Did I mention how handsome you look tonight?" She reached up and pushed a stray hair out of my face. A cursory glance at my robes revealed that Reg or maybe Crow had seen fit to clean up my appearance—maybe he'd done it while vanishing my vomit. "Ready?"

She certainly was: her hand had perched on my forearm with no intent to take flight anytime soon. Placing my hand over hers, relieved that she was warm and real and not some hallucination sent to cause me misery, I escorted her to the room Slughorn had elected to host his fancy party in. (He'd complained loudly to Dumbledore about how his office was 'too small'.) Maybe it'd seem bigger if his gut didn't take up half of it.

By the time we'd arrived the room was packed with people, which for some reason made Zabini very happy. I was just frowning around at the decorations which were grossly overused, when Slughorn threw his weight around to greet Zabini, ignoring me as easily as though I were invisible.

"Fashionably late as usual, Allura," he said warmly, shaking her hand. "There are a few people I'd love to introduce you to, if you'll come with me, please!" He began to pull her through the crowd of people, but she felt my resistance, or lack of movement, and turned her large brown eyes on me.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I shrugged. "I just don't like meeting people."

Part of me expected her to tell me to man up and get over it, but instead she gave me an oddly understanding smile. "Don't go anywhere, I'll only be a minute."

She allowed Slughorn to steer her to the names and faces he'd herded or coerced into attending tonight, while I felt myself move through the room like a shadow until I found a window to lean against. The cold glass was a welcome sensation when faced with the heated room filled with people. I wanted to digest what I'd just seen in the future, three years from now, but I also didn't want to think about it. Three years…1979…that was the year Jules and I were born. Had I been sent there now because I wouldn't be able to later? What would happen to me in three years? Would I just pop out of existence?

"You've selected an interesting time to have a serious contemplation, Mr. Black," a voice said from directly to my right.

"Am I not allowed to contemplate seriously? Will I be asked to leave, lest I ruin the ambiance, sir?" I gave the Headmaster a sideways glance.

He gave a small chuckle, "I shouldn't think so, else I'd be banned from the festivities as well."

Sounded nice enough, but Crow's warning about his collecting people was pounding in my head. That, and Crow's burning disgruntlement was weighing heavily on my conscious. I briefly wondered what Albus Dumbledore had done to piss off the God of Time. "Oh? What burdens your mind I would wonder, but then I recall it's none of my business." HINT. HINT.

"I wonder about a great many things, Mr. Black," the headmaster began vaguely. "I wonder about my choices, my students, the wizarding world in general…"

"Is that all?"

"To name a few," Dumbledore looked at me then around at the crowd of people. I'd discovered that about twenty percent were students, the rest being big names in the wizarding community. I actually spotted Abraxas Malfoy chatting with a witch who'd published a number of cook books that had become wildly famous. I knew this random fact because Kipsy liked using her recipes, but I couldn't remember her name. Abraxas' son Lucius had been recently married to my cousin Cissy, effectively making that the last I'd seen of my snobbish cousin. "Where did Ms. Zabini run off to, I wonder?"

I'd forgotten Dumbledore was there for a blissful moment. "She'll turn up."

"I don't doubt it. She seems content with her choices," Here we go. "But she's always been very clever, very ambitious…Roman," Oh look, he's trying for the first name again, "I wonder if I could bother you to come down to my office before the start of break?"

The train left tomorrow morning, so he either meant tonight or before breakfast. I wasn't sure which I'd prefer.

Neither.

Right.

"Is my schoolwork unsatisfactory?" I asked innocently.

"No, but there is a matter I feel we should discuss in private," he replied plainly.

"Would this secret matter have anything to do with my recent recovery?" From an outside perspective, there was nothing else that was particularly strange about my life. Or so I thought. "Because I'm afraid I have about as many answers for you as I did for the matron, sir."

Dumbledore smiled wanly. "My office, tomorrow morning, if you please." That was definitely a command. I immediately started to wonder what would happen if I defied the school headmaster. Nothing good.

I was saved from getting expelled right then and there by Zabini materializing at my side. "There you are! You'll never believe who's here-an actual veela! Come on, you've got to see this!" without a glance at our headmaster she pulled me into the crowd of bodies and robes and strangers, weaving an impossibly complicated route to the other side of the room.

Once we'd paused, still shielded by people I'd never care to know, I glanced around before looking down at my date. "Veela, huh?"

She slid her arms around my neck, eyes sparkling. "Well, you looked ready to melt to the floor with that old man interrogating you. We really ought to work on your expressions, they make you an open book."

I placed my hands at her sides, quirking an eyebrow. "You'd rather have no idea what I'm thinking?"

"I always want to know what you're thinking. I just don't want anyone else to know." She rose to the tips of her toes to give me a rather chaste kiss. "You can lie all you want, but you should always tell me the truth." She kissed me again. "You can mmm-!" I was done listening.

The next morning after breakfast I made my way to where I knew Dumbledore's office to be. Crow had told me since the moment I woke up that it was a terrible, awful, foolish idea and I should ignore the summons. But he refused to tell me why. So I went.

I didn't know the password to the gargoyle but I didn't need it. The headmaster himself was just returning to his office as I reached it, and the statue had already moved aside to allow us entrance. The old man smiled at me and waved me inside. "After you."

I wasn't surprised by the trinkets and books and objects Dumbledore had elected to decorate his office with; the thing that captured my attention about the headmasters office was the wall behind his desk that had every headmaster and headmistress past displayed. I spotted an ancestor (ignoring my adoption for a moment) he had a portrait at Black Manor: Phineas Nigellas Black nodded approvingly at me. "Ah, so you've finally come to your senses, Dumbledore," he said in a smug voice.

"You think so, Phineas?" Dumbledore replied pleasantly as he took to his desk, offering me a seat in a soft armchair.

"Well I don't mean to spoil the surprise, but you're obviously going to make him Head Boy for next year, correct? Ah the blood that runs through his veins, you couldn't find anything better-!"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Perhaps but that's not why we're here this morning. Mr. Black, I must ask you if there is anything you feel you should tell me before we begin."

Biting my tongue to keep from saying something Sirius-like, I shook my head. I've no idea why you want me here exactly so I can't imagine what you think I'd need to say.

Breathing deeply through his nose, the headmaster said, "Very well… But I want it understood that you can trust me."

Again, when it came from Albus Dumbledore it sounded like a threat. Maybe I was overly suspicious but the phrase sent a chill through me, though I tried to hide it. "Could you make it known what you want from me, sir?"

He sighed. "When I spoke with Mr. Snape before executing his suspension, he told me something strange. Something that has given me cause for great concern, you see he wouldn't stop talking about your arm, and how it was proof that you were dangerous. In his eyes, he was trying to protect Ms. Evans from you, not the other way around… Have you any idea why that might be?"

Oh.

Yeah! I told you not to come!

Sorry. Can I just leave?

Yeah sure, if you wanna confirm your guilt!

What do I do?

It's not my job to bail you out.

That's exactly what your job is! You bail me out, I bail you out; we're bailers!

Stop panicking, he's waiting for you to respond.

What do I say!?

Crow sighed impatiently. Do as and what I say.

I straightened in my chair, gazing levelly at the headmaster. "My arm is dangerous? This arm?" I rolled up my right sleeve and showed Dumbledore a scar left there by Snape's curse. I stood up and pointed to various parts of my body as I talked, my legs, my ribs, my back. "Or maybe here or this scar or this gash that's never going to heal properly. You actually take the words of a crazed student, driven mad by jealousy and believe there is truth in them? We all thought you were going to expel him, and I'm not entirely convinced that you shouldn't still do so. Snape thinks I'm dangerous? I'm not the one slicing up my classmates with spells that don't exist. Did you really ask me to come to your office to talk about the word of the kid who tried to kill me?"

In a flash I caught a glimpse, a very tiny glimpse of Dumbledore's discussion with Snape. I heard him say, "You can't expel me, Professor! If you do I'll…I'll tell everyone about Lupin!"

And then I was back in my own head as Dumbledore's defenses raised again. Had he let me see that or was it just dumb luck?

"I'm sorry for inconveniencing you this morning, Mr. Black." Dumbledore stood up as well gazing steadily at me as though he could hear my every thought, and knew my next course of action. Crow assured me he didn't. "I only wanted to be certain, even if the source of information is flawed. You may go."

I nodded once and left the office swiftly, forced to listen to Crow's endless versions of 'I told you so.'

December 24th, 1976

The room was lit only by a number of candles, that for some reason saw fit to burn a cold blue. I was standing amidst several men and women, all draped in black hoods, and in some cases full-faced masks, and we were all formed in a wide circle, in the center of which stood the man for whom we'd all sworn allegiance. He wasn't alone either…

"A new recruit has elected to join us today," Lord Voldemort said, smiling like he knew something no one else did. "I should be happy to welcome him among us…provided he can prove he is worthy to fight for our cause…" his eyes glinted maliciously as they leered down at the boy in black robes, and very greasy hair. Ever since my uncomfortable chat with Dumbledore, I realized why he'd been so keen on getting me away from Lily Evans. He must've seen me react to her touching my marked arm…must've known what I was hiding…and figured killing me was the best thing to do. I still had scars from that encounter, the gash on my back would probably never heal completely. Yet here he was, the hypocrite, trying to earn a mark of his own. "You may join our ranks, Snape, if you can hold your own against…" the Dark Lord scanned his many followers in masks and hoods before his eyes found mine. There he probably saw a dark promise of the things I'd like to do to his new recruit, even though Crow swore again and again that I couldn't kill him. "Black. Show Snape what it means to serve me."

I had the feeling that this duel was proving ground for the both of us, as I'd gotten a mark without having to duel another Death Eater-he'd been way too eager to mark me. But I was in a position of power and status…Snape wasn't.

Which meant he had everything to prove.

And I…I wanted payback.

I moved into the circle as Lord Voldemort moved to the edge. "Begin," he hissed softly, so you'd have to be really paying attention to hear it. I was.

Strike hard, strike fast.

I sliced my wand downward and jabbed it in Severus's direction. "Opprimo!" An unseen force shoved him down to the floor face first. A crunching noise informed me I might have broken his nose. He struggled to push himself up but couldn't, settling for aiming his wand at me and firing off a spell without speaking. Nonverbal spell? Dammit. The next thing I knew I was hanging upside-down by my ankle. Not entirely sure what the counterspell was, I focused my efforts on hexing the grease out of Snape as the blood rushed to my head. He tried to fire off a few in my direction, but with the literal bird's eye view I had the clear advantage. He had to survive…that didn't mean I couldn't let off quite a bit of steam. I had to fit into the role, after all.

February 13th, 1977

"Why Monday? It could have been yesterday, and it would've been perfect!"

"Uh huh."

"I mean, yesterday wasn't even a Hogsmeade trip, but we'd still have the entire day to ourselves."

"Mm."

Zabini sighed dramatically from where her head rested in my lap. "But of course our first Valentine's Day would land on a Monday. And you're taking a thousand classes…"

I was busy writing my DADA essay, as images from the break continuously flashing through my mind as I did so. Hooded figures, forbidden spells, a cruel laugh… "Yep."

"You're not even listening to me, are you?" Zabini waved a hand in my face, causing me to pause in my writing. "Bet you'd pay me more attention if I was naked…" she added dejectedly.

"Doubtful, but you're welcome to go ahead and try," I replied mildly, earning a soft smack to my chest. Smirking, I put down my quill and sat back to get a better look at her pouty face. "Yes?"

"Did you at least buy me a gift?" she whined, trying to gain my pity or guilt, depending on my answer.

She'd get neither, as usual. "Maybe."

"Why not give it to me now instead of forgetting tomorrow?" she proposed hopefully.

I shook my head. "I'm insulted and offended by how little you expect of me."

Zabini raised an eyebrow. "Well, after you didn't get me anything for Christmas, what's a girl to think?"

I winced, and unfortunately she noticed. "The break was…stressful for me. And I thought you made me apologize for that already."

She puffed out her cheeks. "I did. But I don't think you meant it."

I picked up my quill and wrote a few more lines to my essay. "You're probably right."

"Hey!" Sitting up, she snatched the parchment from off the table and sat on the table, tucking one ankle behind the other as she surveyed my work. "Hm. 'Yet through extensive research, or trial and error,'" she read aloud. "'I have found the simple shield charm to be ineffective against several curses and to rely on its protection is to rely on luck.' That's my optimist," she commented sarcastically, holding the parchment over her head when I tried to take it back. "Ah-ah-ah!"

"I still have three more inches to write," I explained, trying to reach for it again, going so far as to stand up but she somehow managed to continue her game of keep-away.

"But your handwriting is smaller than most of the drop-outs just waiting to happen, so you're probably good with what you have," she replied simply, rolling my essay up behind her back and when I went to grab it she kissed me.

I relented…if only to steal it back while her guard was down, and then I pulled away. "Right. I'm finishing this in the tower." I pressed my lips to her forehead as she pouted. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"With my present?" she asked moodily.

"Mhm."

"Are you lying to me?"

"Never." I might omit certain truths though…

May 21st, 1977

"It's a bunch of scribbles," I said, failing to even pretend to be impressed. "Moving scribbles."

Sirius shook me by the shoulders. "Just wait until Remus finishes the sketches, it'll go from nonsense to a full map!"

"Of what?" I asked skeptically. The three of us were sitting under the beech tree by the lake, Remus was drawing quietly while Sirius tried to show off what the four Gryffindors had been working on for most of the year. Apparently, due to all the secrets they'd discovered over the years, and the kick they got out of sneaking around the castle, the plan was to create a map of Hogwarts that would move just as the castle and its occupants did. But in the meantime, it looked like Peter's Potion's homework assignment. Totally useless.

"Mock all you want," Remus said. "When it's finished, you'll want to use it."

"You mean before or after we graduate in a year?"

"It'll be finished by September!" Sirius declared.

"Where's James?" I asked, if only to change the subject.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a knowing look. "Oh he's busy today."

I wondered if that had anything to do with me finally telling Lily to make good on our bet. "Ah."

"What about Zabini? She's usually hanging on your arm like a leech," Sirius ducked the swing I aimed at his head. "Ooh, I seem to have struck a nerve!"

"Shut up." I said steely. I never expected her to stick around for very long, but it'd been six months now and she hadn't left my side. Yes, there was the nagging suspicion she only liked me because I was rich, but I think deep down part of me hoped I was more than a mountain of galleons to her. In any case, Sirius comparing her to a blood sucking parasite made me angry.

"Of the five of us, I expected Sirius to get a girlfriend first," Remus said from where he sat. "But I suppose his methods aren't cut out for a stable commitment."

That made me laugh, because it was true; Sirius was a shameless flirt, though sometimes he would aim at those out of his reach like Professor McGonagall or that young woman who ran the Three Broomsticks. For his part, Sirius looked offended at Remus's remark. "I beg your pardon, Moony, I'm already in a stable commitment!"

"With someone other than your mirror," I chuckled.

"Oh…well what's wrong with focusing on me? I'm marvelous!"

Whether he thought it or whispered it, I heard Remus say, "Marvelously imbecilic…"

August 3rd, 1977

"You idiot."

Regulus grimaced, pressing a cold cloth to his arm, trying not to cry, but I knew he wanted to. I wanted to, when it happened to me. "You should talk," even his voice shook. "Or are you upset that you're no longer the youngest Death Eater?"

"Snape was the youngest, and the most foolish, until you stuck out your arm," I grumbled, pushing his hand and the cloth away to look at the newly burned mark on his arm. His pale skin was red and irritated around the new dark mark, but that would heal in time. I wanted to jump back an hour to stop it from ever happening to my cousin in the first place, but Crow said this was important to the timeline. That didn't mean I had to be happy about it. "You should try soaking it in murtlap essence, the pain dulls quicker that way."

He nodded mutely, his silver eyes glued to his left forearm, apparently it was just sinking in…no pun intended…

"Why did he want you?" I wondered aloud. "He already had me, and Bella…"

"It was Mum's idea…" Regulus admitted quietly. "That way one from each sect of the Black family would represent and bring power to the cause…"

"And you believed her," I finished bitterly.

He won't be with them long.

What does that mean?

Trust me.

Crow had been saying that a lot lately. I had to trust that everything he said, everything he asked me to do, everything I let happen, it was all part of some bigger picture. Sometimes I wondered if that picture was really the best outcome…

September 1st, 1977

Regulus and I had spent the remaining days of summer together, either on our own or in meeting with other Death Eaters, occasionally in the presence of the Dark Lord… he was growing stronger, our numbers were swelling, and they were getting restless. After many years of waiting, it struck me that Voldemort was waiting for something. After that discovery I tried many times to look into his mind, despite Crow warning against it. Of course I saw nothing but I caught a glimpse of a boy I thought I'd seen once before in Dumbledore's mind. A Slytherin, young, talented and handsome. Who was he?

I never found out, and soon found myself wrestling across the busy platform for one of the last times as a student. Reg remained close at my side, trying to protect his left arm-he was still in the tender stages of healing and getting roughly checked to the side is not what he needed today. I spotted Sirius and James on the far side of the platform and- "What is your brother wearing?"

Regulus looked around. "Wonderful. He's gone full muggle."

Sirius Orion Black strutted towards the train wearing black leather, a t-shirt with some kind of insignia emblazoned across the front. When he tossed his hair I could've sworn I spotted an earring. I shook my head, "Truly the end is nigh…"

"Talk of the devil," Reg said in an undertone right before Zabini turned up, the crowd parting before her like she was a goddess.

I punched his bicep right as she hugged me. "I missed you so much you wouldn't believe. I have questions, but to start-" she pulled back, staring at my head. "What in the name of sanity have you done to your hair?!"

"I was ambushed one night by my own house elf," I replied, running a hand through my freshly cut hair. Kipsy claimed I looked better if only she could see my face. ("Master's got a missus now, master's got to look nice!")

Zabini stared at me for a long time as though in complete shock. She didn't speak again until we'd boarded the train and settled in a compartment. "It looks good…"

"But?" No one stays that quiet for that long, especially not my girlfriend.

"No it really does, it actually suits you quite well…it's just," she raised a hand to run a hand through my hair, the sensation was odd but nice. "You look different. And I don't mean just the hair: did you always have freckles?"

I flashed back to a particularly sunny excursion to the future that was a brief but thrilling break from my dark summer. "I get them when I'm in the sun too long. They'll fade by November."

She frowned, resting her head on my shoulder as she relaxed against me. "That's a shame. They're cute."

I wondered about Jules for a moment. She had freckles, but did she have them all the time, or were they due to her many days in the sun?

I glanced towards the corridor outside the compartment and spotted Remus and Lily walking past, headed for the Prefect Meeting. Lily wore a shiny, new Head Girl badge. I should probably go to that meeting, but I knew what being a prefect was about by now. Not long after seeing them I saw James walk the same direction, only he glanced into the compartment and for a moment I held his gaze. He glanced at Zabini beside me, and Regulus across from me. Two Slytherins. His eyes flicked back to mine a question plastered across the front of his mind. Who's side are you on?

I gave a small shrug in reply. Mine.

October 30th, 1977

The explosion blew sideways and upwards. I heard Filtch utter words even I could never repeat in the loudest voice he'd ever been able to reach. Seconds later, Sirius and Peter scurried past us in the hall, covered from head to toe in soot and ash, Mrs. Norris on Peter's heel.

Zabini laughed. "Wasn't that your cousin?"

I rested my arm around her shoulders and steered her away from the building chaos. "Never seen those people before in my life."

I never knew what they'd done, or what they tried to do. No one ever found out. All Sirius would say about the event was that it was Peter's fault.

Peter never said a word about it, but we all noticed his irrational fear of cats had increased tenfold.

December 31st, 1977

You should go back inside.

…

Kid, you're gonna catch your death out here.

…

Roman?

…

Kid, you know I don't do well with the silent treatment or whatever this is.

A million thoughts wanted to run though my head, accusations, or doubts, blaming, self-hate, but I kept my mind as blank as my heart. Maybe if I knelt in the snow long enough I'd freeze myself and wake up with the spring. I already couldn't feel my fingers and legs. I could only stare dully at the tomb I couldn't bring myself to enter.

You need to get warmed up. The worst is yet to-

Why didn't you tell me!?

I beg your pardon?

I could have stopped this from ever happening! You knew, didn't you? Why did you let this happen!?

…You know why.

I felt that weird pressure around my eyes and nose as wetness began to form there. I knew I could trust Crow, knew that I had to…but I would also know for the rest of my life that he let my father die…

January 19th, 1978

I was many things, but I wasn't reckless…anymore. I was in detention that evening with Slughorn and Regulus because we intended to be there. I'd caught a glimpse of that young man I'd seen in both Dumbledore's, and then Voldemort's mind, and of the three of them, I suspected Slughorn would be the easiest from which to extract answers. I asked Reg to come along because he was one of Slughorn's favorites, thus he'd be able to distract the old man while I set to work. After seeing his future version, and how easily he'd accepted me just popping into his presence, I knew that one day, Regulus would know I was slightly possessed by a deity. (Not possessed by, simply hosting!) The first step towards that future had been revealing to him that I was a Legilimens, and it's a good thing I did, else he'd have objected to the insane plan we'd hatched.

So there I was, seated at a desk beside Reg, writing lines as Slughorn graded papers, or possibly filled out an owl order for expensive sweets.

I will speak with respect to others. I will speak with respect to others. I'd written the line at least a hundred times by now. It was a dull repetition, but it was worth it; I'd finally been able to cuss out Snape and tell off Bulstrode for giving my girlfriend long, creepy looks. Slughorn has never been one to tolerate shouting, especially not when he's supposed to be the center of attention, thus I managed to get the walrus angry enough to land me in detention. I will speak with respect to others. I will speak with respect to others. I had been slightly worried that showing a temper would spook Zabini, but if anything, she seemed to admire me all the more. Something about having a backbone... I will speak with respect to others. I will speak with respect to others. My story wasn't nearly as exciting as what Reg pulled off. Being a favorite, he had to work extra hard to get into trouble, something that even Slughorn couldn't deny was detention worthy. It was one of the only times you'd remember voluntarily that Reg and Sirius were brothers.

His lines were something to the effect of, 'I will not sabotage potions class for my own amusement.'

We wrote with purpose, putting out the vibe that we were truly repentant, but really I was working in another field… Focusing my mind on Slughorn's, I searched his memories specifically for that Slytherin boy…and found him remarkably fast; he'd been a student some thirty years before now and…his name had been Tom…Riddle…I saw him being Slughorn's favorite student, saw him corner the teacher one evening and ask him about…about…what the hell?

"Good gracious, is that the time?" Slughorn asked rhetorically, snapping me back to myself. "Well boys, let's see what you've accomplished."

Reg stood gracefully, stalked the length of the room and offered his lines to Slughorn, looking bored. I hopped up with feigned joy and strolled the length of the room before dropping the parchment on Slughorn's desk. "Professor, I had a question for you," I said, wondering what the first thing to pop into his head would be if I asked the same thing Riddle had.

"Indeed?" Slughorn glanced down doubtfully at the dropped parchment with the words, I will speak with respect to others written over and over again.

"Yes, sir, you see Professor Watercress was ranting during class yesterday and said something about Horcruxes. What are those?"

Slughorn stiffened visibly, glancing between Regulus and myself with wide, suspicious eyes. "They are nothing to concern yourself with!" He hissed, very much out of character. But in his mind, I saw the same memory from before, a younger, blonder Slughorn explaining to Riddle in detail what he knew about the subject… "Both of you! You're good boys—you needn't worry yourself over Horcruxes! That is to say, I don't know much about them myself, but I know enough to say that they are not worth your attention! Understood?"

I nodded, and Reg followed my lead looking alarmed at the supposedly soft and jovial professor's behavior. But I wasn't satisfied, because whomever this Riddle fellow was, he occupied the thoughts of two very powerful wizards, and somehow he was connected with Slughorn and these Horcrux things.

And I wanted to know why.

March 24th, 1978

The night was calm and the moon was almost full, but not quite. I knew the difference by now. Either way it was perfect for looking at the stars, which I'd discovered to be quite relaxing, not to mention Zabini loved it. Lying at an angle to me she reached for my hand and asked, "…Which one are you named after?"

"My grandfather," I replied facetiously. I knew she'd really wanted to ask which star was 'Alphard', but I appreciated her respect of not breaching that topic. It'd really spoil the mood.

She tapped my chest with our joined hands. "You know what I meant. Which one is Pollux?"

"It's an awful name," I pointed with my free hand. "It's known as the brighter twin." Take that Jules. "Right there."

Zabini squinted, her eyes following my finger. "Where's its twin?"

"It's a little harder to see, it's called Castor."

"Is there an evil twin I need to worry about?" she joked.

"How do you know I'm not the evil twin?" I grinned at her expression.

She opted to clear her throat and slightly change the subject. "What constellation is that?"

"Gemini, which is fitting I suppose," I sighed. "I mean, if you believe in all that divination crap."

"I believe it has some merit," she replied diplomatically. "For entertainment purposes." A comfortable silence stretched between us, well I thought it was comfy, but apparently she was getting a little impatient because not five minutes later she said, "Is this all you had planned?"

"This was your idea, m'dear," I reminded her, sitting up and twisting to look down at her. "But I actually wanted to show you something."

She was so cute. At the idea of me showing her something outside, in the open, where anyone could look out the window and see us, even in the silvery glow of the moon her cheeks turned red. "W-what? Out here?"

"Yup. And, just in case," I pecked her lips before getting to my feet.

"In case of what?" she demanded, propping herself up on her elbows.

"There's a good chance you'll run screaming after I show you, so…" Before I could psych myself out, and before she could utter a complaint or one more question, I transformed.

Standing before her on four paws, I waited for her to make a run for it. She stared at the panther in shock, slowly getting to her feet and moved closer cautiously. I'd never been so fully aware of her hands as she reached them towards me. On her left, middle finger she wore a silver serpent ring that coiled around her delicate finger thrice, its eyes were small sapphires; and on her right, ring finger she wore another silver ring I'd given her around this time last year. She loved it and hated it, because it was only visible when we were alone; a little charm I'd placed on it-simple but quite unbreakable. It had the Black family mark on it, like she'd always wanted, but again, she couldn't show it to anyone but me. So she knew, and I knew, but until the time was right, no one else could know.

Finally she reached me in my animagus form and felt along my head, down my neck and spine. I flicked my tail in her direction and she jumped with a small gasp, apparently forgetting I wasn't a statue or stuffed. I transformed back and gathered her in my arms. "Only five people know I can do that, including you."

She blinked up at me, and I knew she was still at a loss for what she was supposed to think. It's not every day your significant other turns into a panther and back again. "…When did you…how did you…why didn't you tell me sooner?"

She was puffing her cheeks out again, she did that when she was feeling put out and angry all at once. I tilted her head up to look into her eyes. "I had to be certain, first."

"Certain of what?" she whined. "That you could trust me?"

"I know I can trust you. I just wanted to be certain that I loved you."

Her eyes grew as round as the nearly full moon high above us. "You love me?"

I wiggled my eyebrows. "It can't be that surprising, after all you get confessions about once a week."

"Well yes, but they're all nameless idiots. You're you…say it one more time."

"Why?"

"I want to be sure."

I smiled and declared, "I love you, Allura." and she nearly fainted right there in my arms. I didn't need to hear her say it back, though she would for days on end. I'd waited this long on purpose because I was waiting for the day she had it firmly set in her mind. Waited until she knew with all her heart, without messy words getting in the way, that she loved me too.

A/N: Now be honest...thoughts on Allura?