A Need For Memories Chapter 34: A Dark Meeting, a harry potter fanfic

AN: Okay, I have changed the parts in the story that have Regulus as being already a Death Eater. He is not one now but, if things are not altered, should be in a few weeks. Anytime in this story that he refers to the Death Eaters as "his side" he means that he is clearly aligning himself with them at this point. Please be patient with him he will get there but it will take more time to come around as he doesn't have as great a motivating factor as Severus does (ie Lily).

Part 34

For a few stunned moments Ron and Hermione just stood there looking awkward, and if truth be told, a little terrified. By unspoken agreement, they had never mentioned what had taken place those few months they had been separated during the search for the horcruxes after the final battle. Everything just seemed so much more important since then and they didn't like bringing it all up again, but that didn't mean they never thought about it.

Hermione (hesitantly): "Well, I guess he's right. If we never talk about it, it will always be between us. I just don't know where to begin."

Ron shuffled his feet and cleared his throat several times without answering.

Hermione (voice getting a little stronger): "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"

Ron (snaps out of his daze): "Well, it wasn't as if you weren't thinking some of the things I said that day. You just stood there and let us have at each other like you didn't care who won."

Hermione (angrily): "You're saying this is all my fault? You leaving and walking away from us for months without so much as a by your leave? I can't believe you!"

Ron: "It's not as if you ever needed me for anything. I'm sure you and Harry were just fine with me not around! I was just getting in the way."

Hermione (shouting now): "Getting in the way of what exactly? When did I ever show by word or deed that I was even remotely interested in Harry as anything other than a friend?"

Ron (shouts back): "Oh, just about every time we were together as a group in sixth year! You were always putting me down whenever we were all three together. Any time I tried to tell yous something you would make some sarcastic comment and then tell Harry how wonderful he was! You never took any notice of me!"

Hermione (snorts): "Oh, please! As if you would have noticed with the way you were going about your relationship with Lavender! It was sickening!"

Ron (shakes his head): "As if you cared about that!"

Hermione (looked at him in shock): "You thought I didn't care? Since when have you known anything about my feelings? I thought at the time that you were trying to get back at me for something though I wasn't sure what it was. But then I told myself not to be silly, even you wouldn't go out with another girl just to get back at me."

Ron looked away.

Hermione (shrieks): "What? What did I ever do that was so terrible that you would do something like that to me? That's even worse than you abandoning us for a few months! I thought you were better than that! I thought that even you would have figured out how I felt for you! It must have been farely obvious!"

Ron mumbled something that sounded like "Krum" beneath his breath.

Hermione (looks like she wants to cry): "You thought that I had feelings for Viktor Krum? Ron, why couldn't you have just talked to me about any of this. I have always had feelings for you, right from the beginning even before we were friends. I know that at first it wasn't really romantic feelings but by the time of the Yule Ball…"

Ron (looks ashamed): "You know how much I've always felt underappreciated. Even in our group it never seems like it's enough the things I can do. When you accepted his invitation to the Ball…"

Hermione (gently): "Ron, it was because you seemed to only have just realized that I existed as a female then. That hurt so badly. I knew you were jealous before then of Viktor but I didn't realize how much until our fight the night of the Ball. I never understood why the two of us couldn't have a normal relationship instead of always fighting all the time…"

Ron (blushes): "Well, I always wanted to get your attention and it seemed that starting a fight about something was the only thing that you and I did together that was just for the two of us. Look I am really sorry. It wasn't your fault about me walking away from you and Harry and I never should have tried to make you choose between us. I understand now why you stayed with him and if I had really thought about it then I would have known that you think of each other as siblings. I knew how Harry felt about Ginny. It just never seemed to sink in when it came to thinking about his feelings for you."

Hermione (chuckles softly): "You're right. I think about Harry as a brother and I know he has always thought about me as a sister. The thought of us being together that way…"

She made a disgusted face and Ron laughed and pulled her into a hug.

Ron: "I'm really sorry, you know. Looking back on our years at Hogwarts, it seems like I was always trying to get in your good graces only to get your help with homework. But I felt that was the only way, besides fighting with you, that you seemed to feel comfortable with me being close to you."

Hermione (shook her head): "I always did say you had the emotional range of a teaspoon. It was nice to feel needed. I know that you and Harry could have made it without me, well maybe not with History of Magic…"

They both grinned, knowing that from then on, if there were more disagreements, and there were likely to be many loud and angry disagreements, they would take them as they come and not let too much time pass between the argument and the understanding that went with making up.

They didn't come out of the room for quite some time after that.

Harry grinned as he shut the door, locked it and cast "Muffliato" on it. No one else needed to hear the screaming and yelling that was shortly to come. This was long overdue and he hoped they wouldn't be too angry at him for causing them to talk (aka scream) it out.

Regulus shook his head as he sat on his bed. He should be happy. He would be getting what he always wanted in a few weeks' time. He would join the Death Eaters and be looked up to by many of the younger students in Slytherin. Why did he suddenly have this feeling that something wasn't quite right with his world? He wondered where Severus had disappeared to. The older young man was someone he looked up to and even liked. He seemed to know a lot about the Dark Arts and was even more ready to make a name for himself among the Death Eaters than he was. It was always worth it to talk things out with him.

Suddenly there was a flash of bright light and a scarlet feather floated down to his bed along with a note. Somewhat suspiciously Regulus reached for the note. The green loopy writing was slightly familiar but he couldn't quite place where he had seen it before. At least not until he saw the signature:

Mr Black,

Please note that your presence has been requested in a matter of utmost importance to your future health and happiness. Please respond immediately by coming to the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to train Trolls for the ballet. Someone will meet you there. Everything will be explained when you arrive.

Professor Dumbledore, headmaster

For a moment he stood there undecided. Why should he be at the beck and call of someone like the headmaster? He had no proper wizard pride after all. But then he thought that it would be unwise to antagonize the man while he still attended his school. All right he would go. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long and then he would find Severus and see if he could sort some stuff out.

When Regulus was led inside the Room of Requirement by Professor McGonagall, Ron and Hermione had finally joined those inside the Room. They were smiling and it was evident to the others that they had made the most of the situation to come to a new understanding about their relationship (at least it was evident to Harry, Ginny, Neville, Lily, Molly, and Alice).

Regulus: "Well, what was so important? I was trying to finish my homework."

McGonagall (sternly): "Mr. Black, you will not use that tone of voice with the headmaster, nor anyone else in this room."

Regulus was carefully not looking at his brother. He knew full well that he was one of the only two Slytherins in a room full of Gryffindors that he had never gotten along with. And although there were two Professors there, he figured they would probably be on the Gryffindors' side, being as they were both former Gryffindors themselves. He and Sirius had not talked since the summer before last, shortly before Sirius had run away from home. He had almost begged his one-time brother not to leave and when he had, he had felt betrayed and had told himself that from then on he would have no brother.

Harry stepped forward.

Harry (firmly): "Okay, I know that you have some problems with most of the people in this room, but from now until the time you leave, I want you to listen to what you will hear and read. It will have a major impact on your life and we have all agreed that you should be given the same chance as everyone else in this room."

Regulus: "And who exactly are you?"

Hermione (steps forward): "Unbelievable as it may seem, we are from the future. We have just finished reading a book chronicling our sixth year at Hogwarts, which happens in the year 1996-1997. We will be giving you an overview of what happened and you will learn more about it as we go along."

They quickly explained the important parts of the Half-Blood Prince, leaving out the bit about the locket and the note feeling it would be better for all concerned if he found out about that in the course of the seventh book. While Regulus was slightly shocked that his Hero would go to the extreme of making seven horcruxes to obtain immortality, he felt his faith in the man (for lack of a better term) shaken only slightly. So the man was willing to do whatever he needed to to achieve his ends, what was wrong with that? It was a Slytherin quality, after all. He decided that he would hear what the book had to say (even though it would be highly prejudiced as it was coming from the point of view of one who clearly was on the side of Dumbledore) and maybe after they were finished, he would have some useful information to share with his Hero and maybe give himself a higher standing at the start.

Ron: "Okay, now that everyone is here and everything has been explained, who would like to read next?"

Neville: "I will. I haven't gotten to read yet."

Hermione pulled the seventh book from her bag and handed it to Neville and they all got comfortable with Regulus seated in a chair beside Severus as he was the only one that Regulus felt comfortable near.

Chapter One

Sirius (shakes his head): "It's just the title of the first chapter and already I'm worried about this book."

Regulus holds back a smirk with difficulty. It sounded like his side was doing quite well this time around. He hoped this was a good sign of things to come.

Severus looked at the younger Slytherin and inwardly sighed. He hoped that before the book was over, the younger man would start to see what he did. There was no sense in following one who could care less about his followers (slaves) and treated them the same way he treated his enemies, if not worse.

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Alice (sniffs): "You can't even trust your own side not to turn on you. What a way to live."

Regulus held back a snort. They were just careful, that was all. Anyone would be under the same circumstances.

Dialogue

Nearly everyone sighed and Severus looked like he wasn't sure how he was supposed to react.

Regulus (looks amused): "What? It's not as if he has not made it abundantly clear which side he's on. Why is everyone looking like he killed his best friend?"

The Marauders jumped to their feet and looked ready to attack this interloper while Molly and Arthur just looked appalled at such a lack of tact (manners). Both Lily and Severus turned extremely white and Lily looked like she wanted to cry.

Harry held back a sharp retort and the other four from the future looked murderous. They knew that his attitude would eventually change but it was very aggravating to hear such sentiments from one who would eventually sacrifice all for the opposite side of which he had always stood for.

Severus (looks ashamed): "Look, Reg, I…"

Albus (sternly): "We will learn in time, I think, what the true state of things is, Mr. Black, and for future reference I would appreciate it if you would keep such comments to yourself. I don't expect you to immediately declare yourself to be on our side, and frankly such a change in attitude so soon after coming here would be suspect. But I do expect you to remember your manners and try to respect others' feelings."

Regulus looked down and muttered something that might have been agreement under his breath and Neville feeling that it would be best to push on, continued to read.

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Lily (snarls): "Yeah, that would be a crime. Who would want to spend more time in that monster's presence than they had to?"

Sirius (snorts): "I could name at least two."

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Frank (under his breath): "I doubt he could possibly have a poor reception at this point."

Remus who picked it up through his werewolf-enhanced hearing glared at him.

Frank (louder): "Well, think about it. He killed Professor Dumbledore. That will keep him in Voldemort's good graces for quite some time."

The others had to admit that he did have a very good point.

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Severus: "A useful spell that keeps all unwanted guests from entering a meeting point. Sounds like they've had that going for a while. After all they used it in the… last book." He said hesitantly.

Regulus smirked at its usefulness but felt a tiny twinge all the same about Dumbledore's death. He tried to shake it off as it being because he had known the man for so long.

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Sirius (looks disgusted): "Only the Malfoys would have peacocks on their property. What a waste of money."

Molly and Arthur looked slightly uncomfortable at this discussion of wealth.

Alice (musingly): "That's usually how it is. Most of the nicer families have next to nothing but are filled with love and laughter while the richer families tend to be snobbish prigs (present company excepted) who have enough money that they could literally swim in it and buy their way out of just about anything as long as there is someone willing to be bribed."

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Sirius (snorts): "Sounds almost as ugly as our old mausoleum, um… (at a glare from Regulus) I mean mansion. Just add a few plaques decorated with heads of house elves and there you go."

Regulus (sniffs): "As if you ever understood about having proper wizard pride."

James (scoffs): "Hey, if having proper wizard pride means I have to kiss Voldemort's butt and agree with everything he says as if I had no brain of my own, I'm glad I'm a 'blood traitor'."

Everyone except McGonagall and Albus and Severus (though he agreed with the sentiment mostly): "Here, here!"

Regulus shook his head. Just what he would expect from a lot of Gryffindors.

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Everyone, even Regulus, winced.

Remus: "I hope it's no one we know."

Harry: "As if that would really make a difference."

Regulus looked uncomfortable. This was the only part of being a Death Eater he didn't particularly care for. But it was all part of the package and really what could he do?

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Harry shook his head. Poor Draco, he had found that being a part of the Death Eaters wasn't nearly as exciting as he had thought, but felt there was nothing he could do about it. After all, he had his family to think of.

Regulus (interested): "Who's that?"

Albus: "A foolish young man who got in too far and realized he didn't really want to do it anymore."

Lily: "His name's Draco Malfoy."

Regulus: "Oh."

Dialogue

James (sarcastically): "Yes, we can't have that, can we? It might cause the world to spin off its axis."

Regulus: "The Dark Lord has better things to do than wait on tardy Death Eaters."

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Everyone (except Albus and Regulus) looked disgusted.

Albus: "That's what happens when you decide not to be human anymore."

Regulus shrugged. What did it matter what the man looked like? He was still the Dark Lord.

Dialogue

Regulus smiled at his friend. He was happy that the man had risen so far in the ranks of the Death Eaters.

Severus looked away. To know that killing the one person who always believed in him had allowed him to become Voldemort's right-hand man, made him sick.

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Frank glared at Severus and then looked at the others: "You're just letting him do this without comment? What is wrong with you people? He's trying to kill your son!"

James (sternly): "Look, Frank, he obviously needs to seem aware of such things in order to maintain his position as a spy. I'm sure there is a fail proof plan in place to ensure Harry's safety."

Harry shook his head sadly. There was a plan alright, but it was not fail proof and Mad-Eye had paid the price for allowing Mundungus to be a part of it.

Regulus just shook his head. These people were incredibly naïve if they thought Severus was on their side. He was obviously a very good actor.

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Everyone shivered. Voldemort smiling was never a good sign.

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Albus looked at the people from the future: "Should we be concerned about this source?"

Harry (looks uncomfortable): "Maybe a little. But not because he's the source of the information. He's just not very reliable in most senses. It's better to keep a close eye on him."

He then flinched inwardly at his choice of words. The reason that Mad-Eye had died was because he had been trying to keep a close eye on Mundungus.

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Hermione (scoffs): "Of course he has. Does he think we are so stupid as to have only one plan that could easily leak out. We would try to have several other false trails."

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The people from the future grinned. He was definitely susceptible.

Alice: "Why is that funny?"

Ron (smirks): "Because the last time he was confounded, it was by Professor Dumbledore. The poor man just never knows what is going on."

Ginny (shakes her head): "I guess you would have had to have been there or heard about it from a source who was to understand the irony."

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The younger people, excepting Regulus, looked horrified.

Regulus tried, and failed, to not look smug.

Albus and McGonagall simply shook their heads wondering how much worse this book would get and what kind of new laws this new Ministry would enact.

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Ginny growled. She had hated that man even more than she had hated his sister. He was the one who had taught the Cruciatus curse to everyone at Hogwarts and tried to force everyone to use it on each other.

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Lily: "Why would they do that if they thought the Ministry had been infitrated? Do these people never actually think things out?"

Harry (thoughtfully): "No. They have Voldemort to think for them. Why would they need to do it for themselves?"

Regulus glared at Harry. He thought for himself a lot, thank you very much.

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The future Weasleys looked at each other. Did Snape just not know for sure where Harry would be going? Or was he attempting to hide the information as a way of keeping more than just Harry safe? They would never know but they felt grateful for the fact that whatever the reason, the Burrow was safe until after the wedding.

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Hermione (mumbles): "Some things make so much more sense now."

The other people from the future nodded. Things that hadn't made sense before now made perfect sense. Like why Harry had been wanted for questioning in Professor Dumbledore's murder. After all, Thicknesse was the head of Law Enforcement.

Albus (looks concerned): "What department is he head of?"

Ron: "Magical Law Enforcement."

The others shook their heads and Regulus inwardly grinned, after all this was a major blow to the other side.

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The people from the future looked downright insane and the book went flying across the room as they broke out in shouts of incomprehension. Luckily for everyone involved, Hermione had thought to place a quick "Muffliato" before things got really out of hand.

Sirius (looks a little scared): "Do you get the feeling that we're missing something here?"

The others nodded and Regulus watched the future people warily. If they were so incensed by the mere mention of one of the Death Eaters why were they allowing two future ones to be in the same room?

It took quite a while before everyone from the future calmed down enough to be able to remove the silencing spell. But everyone could still see that they were anything but calm.

Alice (quietly): "What did he do?"

Ron (bitterly): "Besides nearly killing Hermione in the Department of Mysteries battle? He has many crimes associated with his name not the least of which was killing Uncl…"

Hermione hurriedly clapped a hand over Ron's mouth, but the damage was done.

Molly (looks alarmed): "Who? Who did he kill?"

Ginny glared at her brother. She couldn't believe he would come right out and say that. She knew he had all the tact of a blunt axe, but this was unbelievable.

When it didn't look like the people from the future would be answering, Professor McGonagall spoke up.

McGonagall (gently): "Do you think it will come up in the book?"

Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at each other. They thought about what had happened in their seventh year and couldn't honestly think of a reason why it would come up. All but Neville knew what had happened to the Prewetts and after the war, they had explained a lot to Neville and Luna too.

Harry (hesitantly): "I don't think so. Look, we shouldn't have brought it up. It will only bring unnecessary pain."

Arthur (gently): "Maybe it would be best to know this now so that if it's mentioned in the book, we can be prepared and if not we can prevent it."

Harry and Hermione looked at Ginny and Ron knowing it should be their call as it was their family they were talking about. Ginny nodded and, along with Ron, took Arthur and Molly off into the other room.

Lily (quietly): "Do we get to hear what he did?"

Harry (nods): "Okay. Well, shortly before Voldemort is vanquished the first time, a lot of the members of the original Order of the Phoenix ended up dead."

Figuring he should get this out of the way, he told them the names.

Harry: "We lost a lot of good fighters: Edgar Bones and his family, Benjy Fenwick, Marlene McKinnon and her family (Lily moaned at this name), Dorcas Meadowes, and… (very quietly) Fabian and Gideon Prewett."

James (urgently): "When?"

Harry: "Sometime between early July and Halloween of 1981. Marlene McKinnon and her family was the first. From a letter I found dated just after my first birthday, she died about a week before. By the time the new year arrived, we had lost over half the Order to either death, disappearance, imprisonment, or permanent incapacitation."

For some reason he couldn't fully understand, Regulus felt slightly guilty over the list of names. He had known most of them, even if only by name, and all they were really guilty of was being on the opposite side of the war. He snorted inwardly. This was war, there were always casualties on both sides. He was sure that not many people grieved for the fallen Death Eaters.

Frank (frowns): "That's a very short time to lose so many in. Do we know all those involved? And can we take them out or protect them when that time is close?"

Hermione (shakes her head): "We don't know everyone involved. To this day we do not know all the names of the Death Eaters, then or now. We can do our best to protect them and we have already started the process that will make sure that they'll have a fighting chance."

Harry nodded. They had discussed it amongst themselves after the war and it had seemed pretty clear who had been behind the deaths leading up to Halloween. It was no coincidence that the spy was in the Order and would have a clear idea of what was going on. How many lives had that pathetic rat destroyed? They would never know.

After awhile Ginny, Ron, Arthur, and Molly came back into the room. It was obvious that all of them had been crying. Lily went over and gave Molly a hug.

Lily: "Don't worry, Molly, we'll make sure this never happens."

Molly nodded but was unable to speak. Arthur kept his arm around her as they sat back down. Neville gave them a sympathetic look and began to read again.

Dialogue set

Neville (snorts): "Now that would have been a tragedy."

Dialogue

Harry looked away. He still didn't know how he felt about Scrimgeour. The man had been too worried about his image and not enough about the safety of the people who looked to him for leadership, but he had tried to save Harry's life. He wished he could have thanked him for that at least.

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Sirius (sarcastically): "Aren't we just lucky?"

Remus: "At least the Order seems to be well informed about all of this."

Frank: "Except that Voldemort knows about the true day they're leaving. (Seeing all the glares directed at him) Alright. Alright."

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Lily: "And aren't we glad he's made so many?"

James: "Besides, he's had his share of triumphs."

Hermione: "Voldemort doesn't understand Harry. Which is a very good thing. His ego is about the size of the planet Jupiter. As long as it remains so, he, like every other tyrant, will be brought down."

Ron: "It's amazing how little he understands Harry. Harry understands him a lot more than anyone else would."

Harry: "Well, sharing his mind and his moods so much in my fifth year would tend to do that."

Regulus looked at the boy with something approaching awe. There had been a distinct note of bitterness in the boy's voice. Didn't he know that that was something that any of the Death Eaters (especially Bella) would kill for?

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Ginny (snorts): "That's because you're an idiot. But thank you so much for continuing to be one. It helped us all out immensely."

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The people from the future winced. Poor Olivander. He had been there for months. Maybe as much as a year. They could not imagine what he had gone through to remain sane.

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Regulus (blinks): "Wait. Wormtail? As in your little friend Peter, Wormtail?"

The Marauders grind their teeth.

Harry: "Yes."

Regulus: "He's a Death Eater?"

Everyone nods.

Regulus: "Hmm."

That was completely unexpected. He would never have thought the coward was brave enough to become a Death Eater. This would bear watching.

End of dialogue

Dialogue

Remus (shivers): "Did he get that to use against me?"

Hermione (bites her lip): "Partially, I think. You will find out the real reason it was given to him later. But I think if it had taken you down, it would have been an added bonus to the Death Eaters."

Regulus (curiously): "What does silver have to do with Lupin? And why would it be a bonus to us if it helped take you down? Besides being a member of the Order, I presume?"

Remus (sighs): "I'm a werewolf."

Regulus blinked and then blinked again. It wasn't so surprising and Severus had once told him his theory about the other boy.

Harry: "Moving on. Remus was sent as an emisary to the werewolves. He was to try and talk them out of siding with Voldemort this time. I think it worked. The only one who sided with Voldemort was Greyback and we all know how twisted he is anyway."

Dialogue

So that's why he had Lucius Malfoy's wand, thought Harry. I would feel sorry for the man if he hadn't tried to kill all the muggleborns in the school and tried to frame Ginny for it. Well, besides being an all-around mean guy.

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Hermione: "Okay, I'm confused. I know that you won't get as good results from another's wand unless they give it to you personally or you win it in a duel, but why are they taking this so hard?"

Regulus (looks shocked): "Are you really that stupid? (Ignoring the indignant glares sent at him from most of the others in the room) It's not like their ever gonna get it back and besides it just means that he's saying the person he takes it from is now completely useless to him."

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Sirius (in a sing-song voice): "Looks like someone has fallen out of favor."

Regulus shook his head. Would his stupid ex-brother ever grow up?

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Albus: "He's worried about the twin cores."

It was not a question.

Harry: "Yes, Olivander had told him about them under torture."

Albus nodded.

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Regulus shook his head. What a stupid thing to do.

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James: "Yeah. I thought the Malfoys were first among the Death Eaters when it came to loyalty."

Regulus sniffed. As if it were some vulgar contest in trying to procure favor with the Dark Lord. Everyone would know their place. He imagined some just had to be reminded of it now and then.

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Regulus (grins): "You can't lie to the Dark Lord."

The people from the future exchanged looks and barely kept from glancing at Severus. The man had been lying to his "Lord" since the day he threatened Lily. That was the sign of one powerful occlumens.

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Hermione (looks at Harry): "Do you think he actually "likes" the snake?"

Harry (considers): "I think that if Voldemort could be said to like anything or anyone, then yes, I think he "likes" Nagini."

Albus (curiously): "When did he acquire her?"

Harry: "I'm not sure. It must have been sometime after our first year, wouldn't you say, Hermione? Snakes don't live for more than twenty years. Except basilisks, of course."

Hermione nodded.

Regulus frowned. Just because the Dark Lord was hard on his followers didn't mean he saw them as nothing more than beings to do his bidding. Did it?

Dialogue

Harry (sniffs): "Maybe they see that following you is the worst thing anyone could ever do. Maybe they're actually seeing sense for once in their lives."

It had been quite clear to him, in Malfoy manner, that whatever his father might think, Draco didn't want to be a Death Eater anymore. It had also been apparent that Narcissa had only wanted to protect her family. What he'd learned after the war, mostly from Andromeda, was that Narcissa valued family more than anything else in the world and would do whatever she had to to hold it together.

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Neville: "Did he know about the eye contact thing with Legilimency?"

Harry (nods): "I heard a conversation between him and Snape just before Christmas in my sixth year. Snape said that Malfoy had been learning Occlumency from his Aunt."

Neville snarled and went on with the story while Regulus wondered what Bella had done to the kid.

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All the younger generation (except Severus and Regulus) pulled a face. The woman was absolutely nuts.

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Lily, Alice and Molly looked sick.

James (disbelievingly): "Why would anyone want to be close to that?"

No one wanted to ask which person he had meant or whether it had been both.

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Lily: "Oh, no, don't tell me that bit** had a child."

The others made sounds of disgust while the people from the future tried to hide smiles at what they knew was coming.

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James, Sirius: "CONGRATULATIONS, MOONY!"

The others offered theirs, albeit more quietly while Regulus watched shocked as even Severus shook the other boy's hand without it looking like he was being forced. He began to feel a little jealous*. What was going on?

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Sirius (sneers): "Right back at you, Bella. I wish I could do the same for you. I wish I could forget I was related to such a monstrous bit**!"

Regulus looked slightly taken aback by the force of his ex-brother's exclamation. Would he one day want to say the same thing about him? Would Regulus even care if he did?

Dialogue set

Remus turned pale at the thought of children. How could he be so selfish?

James and Sirius wacked him upside the head: "Don't even think about it!"

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Dialogue

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Dialogue set

James and Sirius opened their mouths but…

"Stay away from them!"

Everyone turned to look at who had spoken and to say that most were shocked to see Severus on his feet, hands clenched, was an understatement.

Albus's eyes twinkled as he saw more barriers being broken down and more acceptance come into the eyes of Frank. He hoped by the time the book was over everyone in this room would be friends (or starting to).

Dialogue

Harry (snorts): "Well, then you can just take yourself out of that equation, too. And we would all be better for it."

Regulus (confused): "What?"

Severus shakes his head at the rest of the room, silently telling them that he would handle this: "I'll tell you later."

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Severus went white.

McGonagall: "Oh, dear, who is it?"

Harry (slowly): "I don't know. We really knew nothing about what happened in this chapter before we started reading it. Though we guessed some of the things from later events."

Dialogue

Dialogue set

Dialogue

Hermione let out a soft cry of distress. She had only known the woman a year, but she had been so kind and understanding.

The rest of the people from the future looked at each other. So this was what had happened to the woman. They had never known, simply unsure about what had happened to her only that she had disappeared and no one had ever seen her again.

The Professors looked worried and the other students shook their heads. They didn't know her as she had probably come to teach after they left school, but this didn't sound good at all. They hoped, somehow, someway, even though they knew it was useless to hope, that the woman made it out.

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James: "They're not. In fact they are better than some of you. We all have our little flaws, we just have to learn to live with them."

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Severus (mutters): "If only I could. Even if I tried there was no way she would make it out alive."

Regulus shifted uncomfortably. He didn't much like this aspect of the Death Eaters either. But if you joined, you couldn't just pick the stuff you enjoyed about it. You had to take the bad with the good.

Dialogue set

Lily: "And what's wrong with that, I would like to know."

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Sirius patted Severus on the arm. There was nothing he could do about it, but it was obvious that he wished there was. He couldn't believe the changes that had taken place in this man since they had started reading the books.

Dialogue

Everyone sighed and the women burst into tears.

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The people from the future shook their heads. That would give anyone nightmares and they were sure that Draco had needed to go to Madam Pomfrey many times that school year for dreamless sleep potions.

End of chapter

Hermione let out a small scream and dashed to the bathroom where she could be heard retching and sobbing.

Ron stood up but Lily placed a hand on his arm and said softly: "I'll go."

Albus: "Was Hermione in her class?"

Harry (nods): "In third year. But after the school year she decided she had too many classes and went to Professor McGonagall and decided to drop the class. We never knew what happened to Professor Burbage. The papers said she retired, though no one really believed it, and she was never heard from again. I guess we now know why."

Professor McGonagall was trying to comfort a crying Molly and Alice. Severus was wondering how he could be so unfeeling in the future. Arthur was holding Molly and Frank was doing the same for Alice. Regulus was just feeling uncomfortable and wondering if he would make it out of this room alive before the end of the book.

*No, Regulus does not feel jealous because he has feelings for Severus. I don't have anything against people who are gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender. But he feels jealous because really Severus is his only true friend and he can feel that he is moving away from him.