Deciding to look for Regulus in the most obvious place first, Sirius apparated to a small copse of trees near Evan Rosier's old apartment. The 'pop' made by his apparition disrupted the relative quietness of the London Street. Sirius immediately crouched down and watched as an older man who had been walking past looked up in alarm at the noise his arrival made. After a moment the man gave up on finding anything and scurried around the corner as quickly as his cane and arthritic limbs would take him.
Relieved, Sirius immediately darted inside the complex and took the elevator up to the eleventh floor. As usual, the building was quiet, which only served to make the noise from the elevator seem even more intrusive than normal. Not expecting anyone apart from maybe Regulus to be in Rosier's apartment, Sirius didn't bother with trying to be stealthy.
He entered the flat and immediately began fumbling his way towards the light switch on the wall. As he felt around for the switch to flip on, he thought it better to announce his arrival in case Regulus was there rather than risk being cursed into oblivion.
"Regul-" he began to call before being hit by the familiar red light of a silent stunner.
"What has the cat drug in this time?" A deep voice drawled from somewhere behind Sirius as the room became illuminated by the overhead light. Sirius recognized Evan Rosier's voice, which was clearly annoyed at having been woken up.
He did seem to cheer up marginally after finding Sirius in the rather compromising position of reaching for the light switch on the wall. Naturally, Sirius wanted to punch the smirk off his face.
"You know, when I said Regulus could use this place, I never actually thought he would stay here more than a few nights. I certainly didn't think he would keep you keyed into the wards. What are you doing here anyway? Besides robbing me of my finest liquor?"
Sirius knew that Rosier knew he couldn't answer his questions until the stunning spell wore off. That didn't stop Rosier from watching him with a look of would-be innocent expectance instead of casting the counter-curse to the stunning spell and saving them both time.
Finally the spell wore off enough that Sirius could answer. Not that he was in the mood to give useful information to a death eater.
"A stunning spell, really? What did I do to deserve such mercy?" he asked sarcastically.
"Fortunately for you, I thought you might have been Regulus."
"I could have been a muggle-"
"In that case you should be thankful I only stunned-"
"You really are disgusting. Do you know that? You would just kill a muggle without hesitation-"
"Well if it was breaking into my flat in the middle of the night-"
"It? You would actually refer to a muggle as 'it'?
"Why not? They have as much magical ability as a common animal, I see little difference between them."
"You're just saying that to piss me off. You can't be that ignorant."
"Maybe, but as it is unlikely that the two of us will have many deep conversations in the future, you'll never know. Why are you here?"
"Well it wasn't because I wanted to find you-"
"You were looking for Regulus. Why would you look for him here?"
If there was any chance that Rosier believed Regulus left the country, Sirius wasn't going to tell him any differently. It was a ruse worth trying.
"I actually only wanted someplace to crash. I didn't think anyone else would be here."
"And you thought sleeping in the flat of someone you know to be a death eater was a healthy option?"
"Regulus told me you offered to let him stay here, because you would be gone. Since Regulus is gone too I thought it to be as good of a place as any-"
"You would save us both a lot of time if you would stop lying. I already know Regulus didn't leave the country," Rosier interrupted impatiently.
"How would you know?"
"I've spoken to him- Marcus- whatever it is he goes by now."
Sirius was incensed. Why did Regulus bother with a disguise if he was going to tell death eaters about it?
Rosier smirked, "He didn't tell me. I figured it out on my own. It was pretty obvious actually."
"Did he tell you why he was remaining in the country?"
"I didn't ask," Evan answered unconcernedly. "I'd imagine we are all better off if I don't know the details."
"Doesn't it bother you that you helped him leave and he didn't-?"
"What part of 'we're all better off if I don't know the details' surpassed your level of comprehension?" Evan asked irritably.
"You aren't going to at least try to prevent him from staying?"
Instead of answering, Rosier brushed past him and into the kitchen. Unwilling to give him a chance to create a trap, Sirius followed him. He was relieved to find Rosier hadn't actually gone to spring an ambush, and was instead pouring himself a drink.
Evan downed the contents of his glass and poured himself another before looking up to see Sirius watching him. His expression was just as annoyingly expressionless as Regulus' nearly always was, which made it impossible for Sirius to tell whether Rosier had expected him to follow him into the kitchen or leave. Either way, Sirius thought he should at least offer him a drink as anyone with common decency would have done.
Apparently accepting that Sirius wasn't leaving anytime soon, Rosier answered,
"Your brother may be willing to go along with some things he doesn't entirely agree with in order to keep the peace… but he isn't nearly the pushover you seem to think he is. If he hasn't left the country by now he has no intention to."
"He's going to get himself killed."
Something akin to surprise flitted across Rosier's face briefly, "Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?"
"You don't have to tell me, I already know."
"And you've told Regulus your concerns too I presume?"
"More or less… Not that it matters, he never listens to anything I tell him."
"Well, he's never actually liked being told what to do. I'd imagine no longer being a death eater or known as a Black has only intensified his desire to do whatever he wants."
"Right, which means he's going to get himself killed!"
"Why are you telling me this as if I don't already know? It's why I've told him to leave the country from the beginning. I don't know what you want me to do about any of it."
"He listens to you. Far more than he's ever listened to me-"
"Reg listens to me, maybe, but he still does whatever he wants to do. Nothing I say will change his mind any better than anything you say could."
"He doesn't listen to me at all," Sirius said a bit whinier than he had intended.
Rosier's mouth twitched before resuming its somber expression, "That's not my problem."
"That's it? You went through all of that trouble to help him and now you-"
"I don't know what you think I can do, nor why you think I would do you any favors-"
"It's not a favor to me! I want you to talk to him again, for his own good! You know how this is going to end otherwise."
Rosier set his jaw and for a moment Sirius thought he was going to draw his wand, though his hands never moved to do so, "Your chance to protect your brother has passed. He is capable enough now that he doesn't need your protection- he can take care of himself. If he is out of the habit of listening to you, then you have no one to blame but yourself."
"But-"
"You are far more like the rest of your family than you realize if you see nothing wrong with telling him how to live his life. He is an adult now, why should he do as you or anyone else says?"
Sirius ran his hand through his hair but didn't respond. He realized he wasn't going to accomplish anything by arguing with Rosier and wasn't even sure having him in contact with his brother was such as great idea anyway.
Giving up, Sirius turned to leave. Just before he exited the kitchen he heard Rosier say,
"I expect you will have replaced all of the liquor you have stolen by the next time I come here."
"What makes you think I am the one who even drank it?" he asked irritably. Evan gave him an ironic look as Sirius amended, "I wouldn't exactly call it stealing."
"What would you call it then if not stealing? You took what wasn't yours. Did you ever plan to replace it?"
"You stole my brother for like eight years. I think we're even," Sirius answered bitingly. He still hadn't forgotten that curse Rosier hit him with the last time they met. Not to mention he had spent his school years disliking Rosier almost as much as he hated Snape. Even now when he could no longer blame him for Regulus' joining the death eaters, he still found Rosier to be infuriating.
Rosier, was clearly content in being hated by Sirius. It was particularly aggravating when he seemed to think he knew Regulus better than Sirius did- especially because he was right.
Rosier chuckled, "Oh right. I stole him from you. How terribly rude of me."
"What else would you call it if not stealing?" Sirius mocked.
"Obviously Regulus wanted to upgrade and traded you in for me."
"No one would ever consider you an upgrade for me. Are you always this obnoxious?"
"You're the one trying to continue this ridiculous conversation. Go find Regulus and ask him to come here if that's what you want. I will gladly talk to him if it means getting rid of you."
"Talk to him about what?"
"Did you miss the conversation we just had-?"
"No, but you were completely against it before. What has changed?"
Evan let out an exasperated breath, "If you want my help this is your only chance."
"Fine," Sirius said standing up to his full height which would have put him only slightly taller than Rosier, had the latter not remained seated, "but if I bring him here to talk to you, it is for you to convince him to leave the country. Not for you to try to convince him to re-join the death eaters, or to engage in battle. If you try to lure him into a trap, I will ensure it is the last thing you ever do."
Evan chuckled, "Is this you fulfilling your brotherly duty and threatening me? At least when Regulus bluffs he makes it believable."
"What makes you think I'm bluffing?"
"If your oh-so-dark brother doesn't have it in him to torture someone, I hardly expect you do either."
"What do you mean Regulus doesn't have it in him? He was a death eater for like two years, he had to have hurt a lot of people."
"You don't really believe he was a rampaging murderer as a death eater, do you?"
"Of course not, but-"
"As for him re-joining the death eaters, any opportunity of that happening was most definitely destroyed last night."
"What did happen last night anyway? Regulus never said-"
"You do realize that you and I aren't friends, don't you?"
"Fine, fine. Wait here and I'll try to find him," Sirius said as he walked towards the door leading out of the apartment. He was more than happy to part ways with Evan Rosier.
After halfheartedly looking for Regulus in various places in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, Sirius returned to his Uncle Alphard's house. It still looked as though it hadn't been inhabited in over a decade. Unless Regulus was being stowed away somewhere by Cassie Greengrass though, Sirius couldn't think of anywhere else his brother could be.
Hoping it wouldn't prove disastrous, Sirius sent a patronus to his brother. He was relieved that the patronus headed straight towards his uncle Alphard's house.
Decaying arms wrapped around his torso, arms and legs. Decaying teeth gnawed at his clothing and entangled in his hair.
"Come outside," a dog said to him from somewhere to his right. 'Dogs can't talk,' Regulus thought dumbly as his brain continued to grow hazier due to his 'lack of oxygen'.
"Wake up and come outside!" the same dog commanded, though this time Regulus recognized the voice.
'I'm losing my damn mind,' he thought to himself as he sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He felt as if something had been different in his dreams that night, but after finding himself in the same state as he had every other night since his near drowning, he thought it must have been his imagination.
He quickly disentangled himself from his sheets and performed the well-practiced spells he used to clean away the sweat from his skin, hair and bed covers. He then pulled on the first clean clothes he could find and went outside, pulling on his cloak as he went. He had ignored all three of the additional messages that his brother had sent to him in the meantime.
"I'm glad I wasn't dying considering how long it took you to get out here," Sirius greeted.
"If you are ever dying you should go to the hospital and not worry about finding me first. What's going on that it couldn't wait until the morning?"
"Rosier wants to talk to you."
Regulus' eyes widened slightly in alarm as he looked around them to ensure no one else had heard him. Of course no one had though- any sensible person was asleep at this hour.
"Where is he?" Regulus whispered.
"He was at his apartment- though for how long before he is called into serve his master, I couldn't say," Sirius mocked.
Regulus grabbed Sirius' arm and disapparated unknowingly to the same copse of trees that Sirius had gone to previously.
Seeing an old man walking nearby, Regulus crouched down so as to not draw the muggle's attention any more than his apparition had already done. To his confusion, Sirius stormed out of the trees and grabbed the elderly man, before throwing him against the brick of the building.
"Good heavens," the elderly man declared looking at Sirius before his eyes locked on 'Marcus'. Regulus hardly noticed the man's focus, so surprised he was by Sirius' actions.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"Why have you been creeping about here all evening?" Sirius demanded of the stranger.
"Have you lost your mind? He probably lives around here."
"I should have known this was a trap."
"What are you talking about?" Regulus demanded, grabbing Sirius' arm.
Regulus was more concerned that Sirius would refer to Evan in such a public area, than he was worried that Sirius would actually cause bodily harm to an elderly muggle.
"He was here the last time I came by too, he has been stalking the area."
Regulus looked the man over more closely. There was something familiar about him. He had heavily lidded, blue eyes that were partially concealed by glasses. The man stood straight now, though he had previously been stooped while walking with his cane. He was also now clutching his cane as if it were more of a life-preserver than for balance. He was actually holding it similarly to how some of the more eccentric wizards did when they opted to carry their wands inside canes.
At that realization, Regulus looked again to the man's face and found him staring back at him as if anticipating the moment when he would be recognized. But how could the man expect to be recognized by Marcus unless he knew who Regulus really was?
"As your friend said, I live nearby-" the man said in a passably innocent tone.
"Why are you out so late and on a night as cold as this?"
"My son did not come home. I thought I should look around for him in case he had any trouble."
"Any son of yours must be old enough to look after himself," Sirius said rudely, though with obvious hesitation to be more forceful with the man, "Why bother looking for him if he is an adult?"
"Age does not matter when it comes to one's children. Should you be lucky enough to have your own one day, you will understand that."
Apparently having decided no death eater would ever make such a sentimental proclamation, Sirius released him.
"I'm sorry I stopped you, sir, have a good evening," Sirius said as he backed away enough for the man to regain his bearings. The man nodded to each of them, his eyes lingering on 'Marcus' briefly before he began limping around the corner.
Once he was out of sight Sirius remarked, "I think your paranoia is catching."
"There are worse things to be," Regulus answered, watching the direction the man had gone.
"Right, well, after you I guess," Sirius said as he pulled open the door and held it open for Regulus to walk through.
Once they were both inside Regulus remarked, "I think… it would be best if I go up alone."
At Sirius' look he added, "I'm not going to tell him anything that would harm the Order. It's not even like there is much I could tell him in that case-"
"What is going to be said that I can't overhear then? You can't go back to the death eaters-"
"As if I want to! Please, Sirius, if there is any hope of Evan changing his mind… he isn't going to do it with you around. I'm actually surprised he didn't remove your access to his apartment the moment you left-"
"He probably only left me in so I can replace the damn alcohol he thinks I drank-" Sirius answered derisively.
"As you should-" more as a courtesy than because Evan actually needed it.
"What if it's a trap-?"
"It's not," at least not one that Evan is in on, Regulus thought to himself.
"If you actually think Evan Rosier is going to change sides in the war… you at least realize you are beyond delusional, don't you?"
"I guess we'll find out."
"Come to my house as soon as you're done, you have a lot of explaining to do," Sirius remarked. At Regulus' quizzical look, he added, "Like about how you escaped yesterday, what you found out from Dumbledore and why in hell you saw it fit to tell Evan Rosier you were remaining in the country," he added gruffly before storming back outside.
Regulus walked out as well and watched him disapparate. Seeing no sign of the 'old man' or anyone else outside, he went back in, relieved that at least one of them had escaped a potential ambush.
As he rode the elevator, Regulus contemplated the elderly man they had just encountered. Regulus was all but certain he was a wizard, though he had made no effort to defend himself when Sirius grabbed him.
It was his eyes that most reminded Regulus of someone. Though they were lighter in color and hidden behind glasses, they were familiar. They were more heavily lidded than most other wizards that Regulus knew. He realized now who the man had reminded him of: Evan's father.
Even the story of what he was out doing would have made sense in that case. What made less sense was how he could know where Evan's flat was. Regulus knew Evan wouldn't have told him.
Had his father really expected that Evan could be in trouble or was he trying to catch him doing something he shouldn't be- something like consorting with members of the Order, perhaps? He had made no effort to fight them though, and was even content to be believed a muggle. Regulus knew the elder Rosier despised muggles. It would have taken a lot for him to want to portray one.
Why did he seem more concerned that 'Marcus' would recognize him rather than Sirius? Regulus hadn't seen Durant Rosier in nearly a year- not since before he had been locked up in Azkaban. He hadn't been among the death eaters that participated in the attack on the Hogwarts Express.
Was it his proximity to Sirius that gave him away? Or did Voldemort already know too? And if Durant Rosier knew his son was meeting with members of the Order, what did that mean for Evan?
Regulus knocked lightly on Evan's door before walking in. Not entirely surprised by it, he immediately had to duck in order to avoid a spell sent in his direction.
"It's just me," he said, his hands up as if in surrender.
Evan nodded at him before falling back into his seat on the couch. Judging by the multiple bottles of alcohol in varying degrees of empty on the coffee table, Evan was slightly drunk. Also unsurprising. Regulus thought it best to ease into a conversation before springing the potential stalker outside on him.
Regulus sat in the chair across from Evan, stating, "Sirius said you wanted to talk."
"He's lying. He came here in the middle of the night looking for you and somehow managed to convince me to talk to you rather than doing it himself."
"Talk to me about what?"
"It seems he has become quite fond of you again… feels the need to protect his poor, defenseless baby brother. I'm sure that will prove helpful now that you're eighteen years old," he said sarcastically. Taking another pull from his drink he added, "To be fair, you are a defected death eater. You could use all of the protection you can get."
"I can take care of myself."
"Can, maybe. But will you? You only survived the death eaters as long as you did because of me. Anyone else's loyalty would have been questioned long before yours was. I even ensured you would have the chance to leave the country. You could have begun a life somewhere away from here. Do you actually want to die?"
"Of course not, but-"
"Unless you want the fate you deserved years ago-"
Regulus clenched his jaw, "No one would deny I am living on borrowed time-"
"All the more reason you should leave. You know, just because your patronus form has nine lives doesn't mean you do."
Regulus' building temper eased slightly at that comment, "That was… bad. I think your sense of humor has been affected by your increasingly corroded liver."
"Alcohol induced damage to the liver is a disease for muggles. I can charm mine back to its former purity."
"Only if you know how, otherwise you could-"
"Why should I bother to know how with you around? Your staying out of harm's way in the war could save both of our lives."
"Is that really your argument? You were slightly more convincing before."
"Only if the health of my liver means that little to you."
"It means about as much to me as it does to you. Which is to say, not much. Are you done pushing Sirius' cause now?"
"For once, your brother is the one making sense, but yes, since I know it is pointless, I am finished."
"Good. Does anyone else know you have this place?"
"I told you and you took it upon yourself to tell your brother. If there is anyone else, you tell me."
Damn, he was going to have to tell him and about James Potter.
"Well, no one else has access-"
"You brought someone else here? Who?" he demanded.
"I brought Cassie to the building, but she was never actually given access to come inside."
Evan visibly relaxed, "Oh, well if Cassie wants to visit that'd be okay," he answered with a smirk. Noticing Regulus' expression he burst out laughing, "I'm kidding. You know, the only thing that might get you riled up faster than talking about your family is talking about your women. Anyway, Cassie is far too high maintenance to worry with."
Evan was drunker than Regulus realized if he was referring to him having plural women when it had been months since he had had even one. He had also never really thought of Cassie as being high maintenance. Apparently picking up on his confusion Evan elaborated, "She always wants to talk about feelings, you know... She doesn't seem to understand that I don't actually have any."
"Well, you're right that she doesn't believe that," Regulus sniggered, "It was because of you that she figured out I was alive. Apparently the news of my murder didn't leave you properly devastated."
"Yeah," Evan smirked, "I'm sure that's how she figured it out."
"Anyway, Cassie didn't come up because we ran into James Potter outside-"
"James bloody Potter knows I have an apartment here? Why are you just now telling me this?" he demanded.
"He actually believes it's my flat, and that isn't even the worst of it. When Sirius and I got here, there was an old man walking around out front. I didn't think much of it, but Sirius did... According to him that same man had been walking around out there earlier too."
"Who was it?"
"Sirius believed him to be a muggle. I'm not s-"
"Do not tell me you didn't bother to find out!" Evan said standing up.
"I think it might have been your father. What was I supposed to do? Sirius would have never just let him leave if-"
"It couldn't've been. He doesn't know where my flat is."
"Could he have followed you?"
"I don't see how, it's not like I walked. Why would you think it was him? What did he look like?"
"Well, he had your father's eyes… only blue and with glasses-"
"So nothing like them then."
"They had a distinct Rosier quality to them, despite the modifications. I never said it was him for sure-"
"It sounds highly unlikely. What makes you think it was even a wizard?"
"He had a cane, which he seemed to be clutching more as a weapon than as a means for balance-"
"Well as far as muggle weapons go, a heavy wooden stick is about as good as anything else, isn't it? Evan snickered.
Regulus scowled, "He said he was looking for his son who didn't come home. Apparently he was worried about him. Sirius pointed out that any child of his was likely old enough to take care of themselves. The man said that if we had kids of our own we would know you never stop worrying about them, no matter how old they were," Regulus answered feeling incredibly foolish.
Evan fell back onto the couch laughing, "Does that sound like anything you have ever heard my father say?"
"No, but-"
"Tonight is a record then. I have never before agreed with your brother on so many things. The man probably was a muggle, he certainly wasn't a death eater. None of them who have children would ever say anything like that, least of all in public."
"It's worth looking into-"
"To a creeper lurking outside my apartment? Maybe, it would be, but it hardly matters now. Even if Potter believes this apartment is yours I won't stay here. He likes you about as much as he likes me last time I checked… Although if I portkeyed in and out, there wouldn't be much anyone could do anyway. Not unless they wanted to use fiendfyre on the entire complex. I'd imagine killing that many muggles is probably against the Order's protocol though."
Regulus didn't agree with his blasé attitude about the situation, but knew arguing would be pointless. Evan's opinion was nearly impossible to change when he was sober and only more so after drinking. Unfortunately changing Evan's opinion was, among other things, exactly what Regulus wanted to do.
"As is the use of fiendfyre," Regulus answered affably before asking, "So how have you been, anyway?"
"Just peachy," Evan drawled sarcastically and to Regulus' annoyance.
"That's vague," Regulus answered.
"What am I supposed to tell you, Reg? Are you asking me how the fight against your people is going? Do you expect me to divulge secrets for you to repeat to your new master?"
Regulus ignored the insult with relative ease. He didn't consider Dumbledore to be anything short of a nuisance at the moment,
"No, I expect you to tell me how you've been. As far as what I expect, I expect you to do whatever it takes to survive. Divulging secrets to me isn't your best option if your plan mirrors mine."
"And what is my best option then, all knowing one?"
"Either continue as things have been as a death eater, or leave them entirely."
"Damn it, Regulus, you know I can't do that!"
"Because of your father."
"Don't pretend you wouldn't do the same in my position. I doubt I will be able to continue as things have been for much longer."
"Yes, you can and you have to. Do whatever it takes to survive-"
"And if my actions cause your death?"
Regulus shrugged, "I'd be dead already if it weren't for you. You don't owe me anything. Just do whatever you have to do for now. If you decide later that you want to leave the death eaters, summon me. I'll help you no matter what else happens between now and then."
"You know I won't. There would be nothing more shameful to-"
"If it is a choice between your death and defecting, I've no doubt your father would prefer that you live, whether he ever tells you that or not. Your mother would certainly prefer it."
"Why do you seem to think you know my father better than I do?"
"I don't, but think about how loyal you are to your family. You had to have inherited that from someone, didn't you?"
Evan scoffed, "In that case, who did you inherit your sense of loyalty from? I notice you haven't bothered to tell any of your relatives apart from Sirius that you're alive."
"Maybe my father was simply more loyal to my mother than he was to Sirius. That's irrelevant now though, my first priority has to be keeping my mother safe. She doesn't have anyone else. No one else that I trust anyway. She is safer believing I am dead, and she is infinitely safest if everyone else believes I am dead too."
"It's not entirely irrelevant actually. Do you think your mother would prefer to know that you defected, or believe you are dead?"
When Regulus didn't answer immediately, Evan added, "And you think my father, an actual death eater, would feel differently? I doubt it."
"Do you ever have dreams?" Regulus asked after a moment.
Evan looked at him in surprise at the subject change, "Not usually… you know they have invented this thing called dreamless sleep-"
"-which is addicting."
"-but effective," he chuckled, "I'm sure I have some here if you need it."
"That's not why I asked. Before Sirius woke me up earlier, I was dreaming about our initiation. Do you remember it?"
Evan scoffed, "Vividly."
"Yeah… where was that anyway? I think your father said it was near where the Dark Lord grew up, but it looked so… muggle, didn't it?"
Evan fixed him with an indecipherable look, one that clearly told Regulus that he knew he was asking for reasons beyond making regular conversation. Regulus' heart rate sped up with anticipation for how Evan would react. While he didn't know the details of what Regulus was doing, Evan had to know that he was doing something against Voldemort. Despite knowing that, after a moment he answered.
"Little Hangleton."
Regulus tried not to look as pleased as he felt by the revelation. If they found a horcrux in Little Hangleton, then it would be on Evan's information that they found it. If he were ever put on trial as a death eater, that would have to count for something, wouldn't it? Regulus was determined to ensure it did. If he lived long enough.