Chapter Seven: Shameless

I'll call it bad luck

You call it karma

You said to hell with these games you were part of

Shouldn't have lost it over and done with

I would've given everything you need

~ Shameless; Colorblind

A/N: Warnings this chapter: mild sexual content (more like lead-up stuff than actual sex).

You may also realise I've changed the chapter titles to song titles, complete with lyrics at the start, I just felt that this fit the story better an the lyrics are generally indictive of the mood of the chapter.

A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed: Papergirlpapertownn, drwatsonn, Total Targaryen, Kam, Darth Rapture, xlittleredx, BeyondTheHorizonIsHope, and my guests.

I have noticed I don't tend to be getting many faves or follows so...yeah, I'd love if you would consider favouriting or following this story, it would mean a lot!

Sirius purchased a property within two weeks of the summer holidays, a three-bedroom apartment in London. He had even invited Phoenix to the housewarming. Though thrilled, she knew that she had to lie to her parents about where she was going - her mother would be appalled if she knew that Phoenix was going to visit her older brother. Instead, she claimed that was staying over at Lorna's.

When she arrived at Sirius's new place, she was greeted at the door by her grinning older brother. Inside the apartment, she heard the distinct pop of a champagne bottle, followed by whoops and laughter. Phoenix couldn't remember the last time she had seen Sirius so happy, and it made her smile, too.

"Come in, come in." He waved her inside, and she took in her brother's place. It was nothing special - the lounge room was crowded with the half dozen or so people occupying it, the kitchen was small and the staircase leading up to the bedrooms was very narrow. Nonetheless, it was Sirius's own place. If it had been Phoenix's, she'd be proud of it, too.

Phoenix noticed that Remus was sitting on the couch with a glass of champagne in his hand. She mouthed 'hey' at him and received a warm smile and a mouthed 'hello' in response. Sirius was in his element, clapping his hands and rubbing them together.

"Alright, tour time. You've seen downstairs - that's about it, it's not much." Sirius jogged up the stairs, and Phoenix followed, her heels clicking against the wood. Once she reached the landing, she saw it branched off into three bedrooms and a bathroom.

"Which one's my room?" she asked with a devious grin.

"Cheeky brat." Sirius swatted at her, and she ducked his hand, laughing. "So this is my room…"

Covered in posters of Muggle girls and motorbikes. Of course it was his room. The second biggest bedroom had been set up with a double bed.

"Remus is staying in this one - it's the spare room. You can share with him if you keep your hands to yourself." Sirius wagged a finger at her, before leading her on to the third and smallest of the bedrooms, where a mattress was on the floor. "James has been camping out here while he's helped me move."

The bathroom was larger than Phoenix gave it credit for, complete with a separate bath, shower and toilet. In all, it was a decent place and nowhere near as rundown as she'd dreaded when Sirius had told her that he'd purchased an apartment in the middle of London. Places were always expensive there, but she supposed Alphard had probably left him a great deal of money.

As they left the bathroom, Phoenix caught a glimpse of her reflection. She'd donned a glittery gold dress that clung to her curves and didn't leave much to the imagination. It dipped low at the front, exposing a fair deal more cleavage than she was generally comfortable with. She'd completed the outfit with black heels, her eyeshadow gold and sparkling and her eyeliner with a wicked wing just the way Beth had shown her. She'd swept her dark hair up in a high ponytail that swung with every step.

Satisfied with her appearance, Phoenix followed Sirius back downstairs, finally getting to sit down on the couch beside Remus. James and Peter were in the kitchen tossing a wheel of cheese between them, while Marlene McKinnon assembled some crackers on a plate. Lily was even there, though she lingered uncertainly in the corner. Phoenix wondered if Sirius had invited her for James's benefit.

"You look amazing." Remus handed her a glass of champagne, which Phoenix sipped at with a smile spreading across her lips. Compliments never got old when they came from Remus.

"I hear we're in the guest room." Phoenix narrowed her eyes playfully. "No funny business, Mr Lupin."

It all felt awfully grown-up to Phoenix, though she feared she would sound like a stupid kid for saying so. She was not quite two years younger than Sirius, but wondered if this was what it was like to be an adult. Sipping champagne, some wizard punk band playing over the radio, laughing with your friends in a too-cramped lounge room in the heart of London.

"What do you think?" Phoenix asked in a low and conspiratorial tone as she took in James approaching Lily. The redhead hadn't told him to bugger off yet, which was an improvement on their typical interactions. She raised her eyebrows, but there was the hint of a smile on her lips as she listened to whatever James was rambling about this time.

"Things have been a lot better between them," Remus added, shaking his head at Phoenix's mischievous grin, "Not well enough that they're going to be sharing that mattress in the spare room, Nix."

"Oh well." Phoenix flopped back against Remus, happily nestling back on him with her glass of champagne in hand. His chest was warm and comforting against her back. She could feel his heart beating, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath. He draped a lazy arm around her waist, the pair watching Lily and James as they conversed in the kitchen. Sirius and Marlene were flirting by the staircase. Phoenix didn't think she'd ever seen them exchange a word at Hogwarts.

"How's it been with your family?" Remus asked.

"The usual." Phoenix's tone was dismissive. She didn't want to talk about them. "Asking me when I'm getting a boyfriend."

"You haven't told them about me?" Remus sounded hurt, and when Phoenix turned to glance at him, his brow had furrowed. She hastened to rectify her mistake.

"No, not yet. You know my parents are crazy, I'm sure Sirius has told you. They're maniacs about pure-blood supremacy."

"But you'll have to tell them about me sometime."

"And I will." Phoenix pressed a kiss to his cheek, tapping his nose. "Promise. It just isn't now, especially since they're still winding down from Sirius and all."

"That was a year ago," Remus didn't sound convinced. The last thing Phoenix wanted was for this housewarming to result in tension. Did Remus's parents even know about her? It didn't matter. All that mattered was the two of them.

"Can we please drop it?"

Remus sighed. "Okay."

Phoenix dragged him to his feet, kicking off her heels and dancing with him in the middle of the lounge room. Soon enough, that smile she loved so much was on his face again. She noted that Remus was oddly pale and he looked tired, though she refrained from commenting. She had in the past, and it had resulted in abrupt dismissal.

When he spun her in a circle, the only feeling that mattered was the bliss she felt when she was with him. Remus was the only boy who could make her feel alive. Blood status be damned, Remus was the one she wanted in her life, and every moment she spent with him was another moment she never wanted to end.

"I'm going to change into something more comfortable," Phoenix declared after barely an hour. The dress had been a good idea at the time, but she wanted something oversized that she could lounge around in. When she headed upstairs, Remus trailed after her.

"I have a few shirts," he said, "If you want to borrow one?"

"Sure." She smiled brightly, following him into Sirius's room where he'd dumped a rucksack on the floor. She closed the door, watching as Remus rifled through his bag in search of the promised shirt. As she waited for him to find one, she shimmied out of her dress, kicking it off her feet.

"Here, I have...whoa." Remus looked up, eyes flying wide as he examined his half-dressed girlfriend. At the way his green eyes raked over her, suddenly Phoenix wasn't feeling like she needed the shirt at all. She couldn't help but grin.

"Lost for words, Remus?"

"Always when it comes to you." He eased himself up, looping his arms around her waist and tugging her close to him. There was lust burning deep in his eyes as he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with ravenous hunger. She responded with equal enthusiasm, reaching up to pull his shirt over his head. After all, Sirius had said no funny business in the guest room, but he'd never said anything about his room…

Remus picked her up and she looped her legs around his waist as he walked them over Sirius's bed, dropping her on it. He was on top of her in an instant, hot lips trailing up and down her neck as his hands roamed the curves of her body, making her squirm in delight. Phoenix undid the button of his pants, tugging them down as his lips descended on her breasts. When she moaned softly, a wicked smile spread across his lips.

"I want you," Remus said huskily, and Phoenix didn't think she'd ever heard anything sexier. She reached down to slip her undies down her legs, tilting her head back to examine him. Damn, the boy looked good, even if was a little paler than usual.

"Then shag me senseless," she responded breathlessly.

He did.

A loud yowl in the middle of the night - or more accurately, the early hours of the morning - roused Remus and Phoenix from sleep. Rubbing her eyes as she climbed out of bed, Phoenix opened the door to see that the light was on in Sirius's room. Tugging Remus's oversized shirt further down, she padded across the landing to see what all the fuss was about.

"Are you alright?"

"My bed!" Sirius exclaimed, gesturing dramatically.

Phoenix bit her lip but was unable to restrain herself from bursting into laughter. The bed had partially collapsed, and the headboard was definitely broken. When she and Remus had had vigorous sex on Sirius's bed, they hadn't actually thought they might have broken it. She pressed a hand over her mouth, but Sirius shot a glare at her.

"You did this. Where in the name of Merlin is Remus?"

"What's going on?" Remus asked tiredly from the doorway of the spare room.

"Right on cue, Moony. Come and look at this."

Remus walked over and examined the mangled remains of Sirius's bed. Unlike Phoenix, he didn't laugh. He arched an eyebrow, completely composed.

"Oh. Well, that's a shame."

"Any idea who did this?" Sirius demanded, clearly waiting for a confession.

Remus shrugged, nonchalant. "No idea, mate. It's a mystery."

The fact that Remus could be so deadpan about it all just made Phoenix laugh harder. Sirius glared between them, before muttering a spell under his breath to repair the broken bed. Remus raised his eyebrows and then headed back into the spare room, Phoenix followed close behind as she tried to stifle her giggling.

"He knows it was us."

"Oh, absolutely." Remus grinned. "Do you think he just went and jumped on it and that's what that shouting was about?"

"He totally did." Phoenix crawled back into bed, her face hurting from smiling and her stomach aching from laughing so much. Completely content, she snuggled up to Remus and went back to sleep, lulled by the soft sound of his breathing.

Phoenix took a potion for her hangover the following morning and left early, saying goodbye to Remus and telling him to pass on the message to Sirius - who'd had quite the lie-in. With a tender kiss and a long embrace, she left her boyfriend behind to return to the tension of Grimmauld Place.

The moment she heard a girl giggling, she realised something was amiss. Phoenix walked into the kitchen to see Regulus and Beth lingering there, making her pause. It wasn't unlike her friend to come and spend time with Phoenix during the holidays, but it was apparent that Beth wasn't there to see her, but Regulus.

"Oh, Nix, you're back!" Beth put down her mug of steaming tea and hurried over to embrace Phoenix. She patted her best friend a bit awkwardly on the back, while Regulus watched the pair of them with a mildly amused expression.

"Beth," Phoenix responded, a little uncertainly. It was still weird thinking of Beth as Regulus's girlfriend, even if they had been together a few months now.

"She's come to stay for the holidays," Regulus said, to emphatic nodding from Beth, "I thought it would be nice for you to have some company, since I'll be out with the boys for a while."

"The boys?" Phoenix repeated, arching an eyebrow. The hard look she got in return said everything she needed to know. By 'the boys', her brother meant all of his Death Eater buddies. She really wished she could have stayed at Sirius's for longer, but that risked her parents finding out she wasn't at Lorna's after all...a lie that would have consequences.

"It's so good to see you, Phoenix. We should catch up." Beth linked her arm through Phoenix's, steering her into the lounge room. Once they sat on the couch, Beth leaned forward, her pale eyes narrowing as she examined her friend.

"I know you weren't at Lorna's, so spill."

"What?" Phoenix spluttered, wondering how in the name of Merlin she'd been caught out so quickly. Worse, had Beth told Regulus?

"I won't tell, if you tell me where you really were." Beth's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Were you with Lupin?"

Cautiously, Phoenix risked a nod. "Not just him. Sirius bought a place - he had a housewarming and had a bunch of people over."

Beth was silent, but Phoenix could feel her judgement. After Sirius's banishment, it had become clear that he was considered a blood traitor. Her relationship with Remus threatened to make her the same, and she could only hope that Regulus held out on telling their parents until Phoenix was ready to address the issue.

"You can't say anything. You promised."

"I won't." Beth held up her hands defensively. "But...Nix, I'm worried about you. Hanging around with a crowd like that looks bad, especially considering - well, you know what Regulus is."

So Beth was aware that Regulus was a Death Eater, too. Phoenix felt a sense of relief, a weight lifting off her shoulders. She was already keeping too many secrets, and the idea that she would have to keep her mouth shut about Regulus's Death Eater status from Beth was something that would have eaten away at her.

"I know, Beth. I'll deal with it."

"You definitely should." Beth cast a look over her shoulder to make sure Regulus wasn't there, before continuing. "Before they do."

Two very official letters arrived for Regulus and Phoenix via owl, and she knew that it must be the results of their OWLs. She immediately tore into the envelope, never one to delay the inevitable, fully aware of Walburga's cool gaze on her as she watched with silent judgement from the other side of the dining table. Orion stopped eating his breakfast to watch the twins.

Phoenix Cassiopeia Black has achieved:

Alchemy: O

Astronomy: E

Charms: O

Defence Against Dark Arts: O

Herbology: E

History of Magic: E
Potions: E

Transfiguration: O

The results were better than she had hoped for. She breathed a sigh of relief, realising she had gotten good enough marks to do any of the subjects she wanted at NEWT level. Across the other side of the table, Regulus's brow was furrowed.

"Well?" Walburga asked, and Phoenix handed over the letter. She looked over Regulus's paper at his results, curious as to how her brother had done.

Regulus Arcturus Black has achieved:

Alchemy: A

Astronomy: A

Charms: O

Defence Against Dark Arts: A

Herbology: E

History of Magic: E
Potions: O

Transfiguration: E

"Well done, both of you," Orion said, a rare smile gracing his features that made Phoenix feel warm and proud. It was astonishing to her that she had done better than Regulus, and she would think it was some kind of fluke had Slughorn not already told her that she was one of the most promising students in their year.

"Hmm." Walburga inspected Regulus's results, while her son stared down at his tea in stony silence. "Not as good as I had hoped, Regulus. Defence Against Dark Arts is nonsense, but you should have done better in your other subjects."

"Yes, Mum," Regulus muttered.

Phoenix nudged him under the table with her foot. When he looked up, she offered him an encouraging smile. Orion likewise appeared quite pleased with his children, though he hurried out to work before he could offer further comment. Walburga snatched up the letters. Phoenix wondered what she was going to do with them. Show them off to other members of the family? Regulus strode from the kitchen before Walburga could say anything else, leaving Phoenix alone with their mother.

"He did well."

"You did better." Walburga's lips twisted. "Don't you understand, Phoenix? Once you both graduate, it will be Regulus who needs to get a comfortable job."

"I'm sure Dad could pull some strings."

Walburga's brow furrowed. "He shouldn't need to. I won't have it said that my son didn't get the marks he needed to make his way in the world."

What about me, Mum? Phoenix wanted to ask. You're too busy being disappointed in Regulus that you aren't even proud of me. She never voiced those treacherous words, though - she knew what Walburga saw in her future.

It became apparent something was wrong when Regulus was smoking on the balcony, a bottle of firewhiskey in his hand. Phoenix pushed open the door to join him at the railing. It was Sirius who had the penchant for cigarettes, although Regulus was prone to light up if he was stressed. For a few moments, a comfortable silence stretched between the twins. Phoenix plucked the cigarette from his hand and took a drag. She tilted her head back and breathed out smoke, glancing at her sullen brother.

"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Beth." The word was sharp, but there was nothing but exhaustion in Regulus's grey eyes.

"What about her?" Phoenix cocked her head to the side. She hadn't called Regulus and Beth as a likely couple, however she didn't see them argue.

"We broke up." Regulus took the cigarette back from Phoenix.

"Oh." There was a slight breeze, one that made the summer night a little more bearable. Phoenix closed her eyes and let the warm wind rustle over her. She couldn't say the revelation surprised her, but she could tell that Regulus was unhappy. Had he cared about Beth more than he'd let on? Had she been the one to break up with him?

"I think I just...wanted to be with her because I knew our parents would approve." Regulus raked his hands through his hair, frustration creasing his forehead. Phoenix realised that she'd been wrong - Regulus must have broken up with Beth. So why did he seem so cut up about it if he hadn't been that invested?

"But you didn't care about her."

"Not in the way I should have." His eyes met hers. "Not the way you care about Lupin."

Whatever his feelings about her and Remus, at least Regulus could acknowledge that their relationship was genuine. Phoenix hadn't seen her boyfriend since Sirius's housewarming, and she missed him. She hated that she felt the need to tiptoe around their relationship when she was home, terrified that her parents would discover the truth.

"Sometimes I miss him," Regulus said quietly.

"Who?" Phoenix asked, although she had a fair idea.

"Sirius."

The single word sat between them with all the sharp edges of a knife. Phoenix still had a good relationship with her older brother, but he and Regulus barely spoke. It hurt her that her brothers had become so estranged. Sirius and Regulus had always argued, but it had never been like. She remembered Walburga screaming at her for writing to Sirius, the way her cheek throbbed when her mother had slapped her across the face. Sirius was a sore topic in the Black household.

"Talk to him. Wait until we're back at Hogwarts."

"It doesn't work like that." Regulus shook his head. "I can't be on good terms with him while we're in school and then act as though we don't speak during the holidays. I'm not you, Nix."

The words cut. Was that really what she was doing? She didn't think Regulus had meant it in that way. A choked sob escaped his mouth, before he pressed a hand over his lips to conceal it. Overwhelmed with sympathy, Phoenix wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Regulus buried his face in her shoulder, his breaths ragged as he struggled to hold back tears. If Walburga asked, Phoenix would tell her about the break-up with Beth. She was good at lying to their mother by now.

"You'll always have me, Reggie," she said softly, "I promise."

Phoenix tended to avoid the common spaces of Grimmauld Place when Regulus's friends were over. She could still remember the way Alexander had pressed her against the wall and threatened her before the holidays had begun, and she had no wish to repeat the process. When she heard their raucous laughter and loud voices, she fled to her room. Walburga was often out socialising with friends and family, whilst Orion worked late hours. She had no desire to be caught up with Regulus and the other young Death Eaters.

One particular night, Phoenix woke with a start as she heard shouting from the living room. Her heart hammered in her chest as she listened intently. It sounded as though someone had been hurt. Picking up her wand from her bedside table, Phoenix reluctantly padded out of her room and down into the living room, pressing a hand over her mouth to stifle a cry at the sight that awaited her.

Regulus and his friends had gathered in the living room. Someone was sprawled on the couch - Evan Rosier, by the look of it. He was injured too. Forsaking caution, Phoenix moved into the living room with her wand at the ready.

"What's going on? What happened?"

Evan's teeth were gritted against the pain, and his shirt was splattered with blood. Phoenix's stomach lurched. She impatiently nudged Mitchell Avery out of the way, ripping the fabric of Evan's shirt to examine the damage beneath. Fortunately, the wounds were too severe, but if they didn't take action quickly, they would scar. Phoenix clicked her fingers, gesturing to Isaac Mulciber.

"Essence of Dittany, in the kitchen. Go and find it, bring it back to me."

These idiots boys. Phoenix didn't know what sort of trouble they'd gotten themselves into this time, but of course it was up to her to patch them up. Regulus watched from the fireplace, wide-eyed. Utterly useless, the lot of them.

Evan managed the ghost of a grin. "If you wanted me to take my shirt off, you could have just asked."

"Shut up," Phoenix snapped, suddenly aware that she was in nothing more than a flimsy oversized shirt. Now was not the time to be self-conscious - when Isaac returned with the Essence of Dittany, Phoenix began seeing to Evan's wounds. She was used to this kind of thing. When she and her brothers had been young, she had often played with their parents' potion supplies and mixed ingredients together.

Walburga had been furious when she'd caught them, and Phoenix had gotten the hiding of her life. Nonetheless, she had always expressed an interest in patching people up and considering the young Death Eaters stood around like lifeless mannequins, it was a good thing she had taken charge of the situation.

"Nix." Evan grabbed her wrist, making her flinch. "I know what Alexander said to you, the last night of exams. You don't need to be afraid of him. I'd never let him hurt you."

Phoenix supposed it must be Evan becoming delirious, because there was no way she was going to let the white knight bullshit slide otherwise. The last thing she needed was one of her brother's friends believing himself some kind of protector. If Phoenix wanted to, she could hex Alexander into oblivion. She didn't need Evan. She didn't want Evan.

"Is he going to be alright?" Mitchell asked.

"He'll be fine." Phoenix's hands were covered with Evan's blood, but she had never been too perturbed by gore. "The rest of you can stop standing around and acting like someone's about to die."

Phoenix's care of Evan was rushed and clumsy, but efficient nonetheless. When she wiped her hands on a towel, she was approached by Alexander Wilkes. She attempted to act unbothered, though her stomach coiled at his presence. He loomed over her, his expression indiscernible. She gripped the towel tightly in her fingers.

"Thanks for what you did for Evan."

"Couldn't have a Slytherin die on my watch." Phoenix shrugged her shoulders, doing her best to appear nonchalant. She had the feeling that Alexander wanted more than to just thank her, and sure enough, when he spoke again, his words were ominous.

"You know, I heard something interesting. I heard that your little boyfriend's mother is a Muggle."

Phoenix froze in horror, eyes flicking to Regulus and watching dread cloud his eyes. In truth, even she hadn't known that, although Remus only typically mentioned his wizard father. She'd known he was a half-blood, but with Muggle ancestry that close in his family, he was a prime target for Death Eaters and pure-blood supremacists.

"Is that true?" Alexander pressed, a delighted grin crossing his face. "Not even a Mudblood but an actual filthy Muggle."

Phoenix whipped her wand out, and it was at Alexander's throat before he or any of the others could move. Alexander held up his hands, Adam's apple bobbing as rage flared in Phoenix's grey eyes. She pressed the tip of her wand hard against his skin. She was not some easily intimidated little doll. She might not have Sirius's gumption, but that didn't mean she would roll over at the first sign of trouble.

"Be very, very careful." Her voice was low and cold.

Alexander's smile remained plastered on his face. "You're not usually fiery, but you do have spunk. I can see why he likes you."

"Remus?" Phoenix questioned, confused.

"No." Alexander's eyes flicked across the room to Evan, who was watching the pair of them from his position sprawled on the couch. "Can't blame him. I'd fuck…"

"Silencio," Phoenix snarled. When she was at Hogwarts, her academic performance made her believe that her future could be anything other than what it would be - married off to a respectable man. Her relationship with Remus defied that future...but for how long? She couldn't keep it hidden from her parents forever.

Phoenix didn't give a shit about whatever Evan felt for her. She didn't give a shit if Alexander thought she was worthy of shagging or not. They were all stupid boys, and her patience was done with them for the night. Lowering her wand, she threw the bloody towel at Evan before stalking from the living room. She took care to thump up the stairs so they could hear her anger.

Is that all I am to them? Phoenix thought as she closed the door to her room, sucking in a deep breath. Furious tears pricked at her eyes, because she already knew the answer. Her cousin Narcissa was happy in her marriage to Lucius Malfoy, but Phoenix doubted she could ever be happy with a Death Eater.

The headline of the Daily Prophet the next morning made Phoenix aware of precisely what the young Death Eaters had done the night before. The headline screamed up from the page: PANIC AS MINISTRY WORKERS ATTACKED. The boys had slept in the lounge room, but Alexander particularly was woken by the Daily Prophet being flung at his head. He started for his wand, only to blink and realise it was Phoenix.

"...five Ministry officials, all of Muggle-born heritage, are under care at St Mungo's…" Phoenix quoted the article, taking care to inject as much disgust as she could into her voice. "Are you fucking kidding me? You idiots went and duelled some Ministry workers?"

"Duelled implies it was on equal ground." Mitchell plucked up the newspaper. "We attacked them. Used a few curses, got them pretty damn good."

If these boys didn't end up getting themselves killed, Phoenix would certainly kill them. They had hidden behind silver masks and felt empowered by the Dark Marks on their forearms, but it had been an act of sheer cruelty and stupidity. She looked meaningfully at Regulus. She'd thought her twin, at least, was smarter than this.

"What are you doing?" she asked softly.

Regulus walked over, catching her by the arm and walking her out of the living room. Indignant, Phoenix yanked her arm from his grasp, glowering at him. She usually wasn't this temperamental, but he was a special brand of ridiculous at the moment.

"You could get yourself killed, Regulus."

"This is what Death Eaters do, Phoenix." His voice was cool, nothing like the twin she had comforted only a few nights before about his break-up with Beth. "I don't need your approval. None of us do. In fact, your vocal disapproval is dangerous and it should stop."

She opened her mouth to offer a retort, but Regulus held up a hand.

"Please, just listen. You're in a relationship with a half-blood wizard with a Muggle mother. Do you have any idea how that looks? More and more people know. They're talking about it. The words 'blood traitor' are being thrown around. Do you want to end up like Sirius?"

Phoenix thought of her older brother. She thought of the fact that he couldn't even talk to his family without repercussions. Could she really leave Regulus alone? She already knew the answer. Where you go, I go. It was what they'd promised each other as kids. They'd both been sorted into Slytherin. They'd both joined the Quidditch team. They'd both dealt with the aftershocks of Sirius's exile. If they didn't stick together, they were lost.

"No, I don't." Her voice shook as she gripped his hand tightly, desperate to make him understand that his actions were scaring her. "But you need to be careful, Reggie."

He snatched his hand away. "These are dark times, Nix. Careful isn't an option."