Chapter Four: Act I, Scene IV: Ambiguity


A/N: Regulus and Beth are gonna have their ups and downs, and a certain revelation comes to light this chapter ;) As always, a huge thank you to those who take the time to review!


Beth read a select group of Muggle novels, but she had always strayed from the romance ones. She just didn't find it realistic, so different from her own experiences where she wasn't even noticed. However, over the next few weeks, it really did feel as though she was in some kind of romance novel. She and Regulus would go on more dates to Hogsmeade on the weekends. In class, he would steal glances at her or brush his fingers against hers.

After a little while, his actions grew bolder, more obvious, until no one could deny that Regulus Black and Beth Fawley were in a relationship. Phoenix had seemed reserved about it at first, as though their relationship troubled her for some reason, but she'd warmed to the idea. Beth felt very much like she was in a bubble of pure happiness. It was too good to be true, and she wondered when it was going to burst.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, her peers treated her differently now that she was officially Regulus's girlfriend. She was no longer invisible little Beth. She was included in things, people listened when she spoke and laughed at her jokes. It made her feel invigorated, even if she knew it was by association.

Amidst it all, Beth never forgot her dedication to her studies. She was determined to receive results on her OWLs that would be comparable to Thomas's, especially since their mother Jessica always raved about how spectacular he was. She didn't have Prefect duties or Quidditch to distract her like Phoenix, and she refused to let a new boyfriend be the thing that dragged her grades down.

Beth enjoyed every moment of it, though. She liked being sprawled across the couch in the common room with her legs draped across Regulus's lap. She liked the way he'd find little excuses to trace his fingers across her hand. She liked the way he kissed her, sometimes sweet and gentle, and sometimes with the desperation of a drowning man.

It was Thomas, of course, who took issue with it. He had been oddly quiet on the matter, which had confused Beth. It was her first proper boyfriend, shouldn't her brother be pleased for her? Thomas wasn't overly close with her, not the sort of brother to get annoyed and think a boy shouldn't be dating his sister. But after watching Quidditch practise from the stands, Beth realised that she had a problem on her hands.

"What's your issue?" she demanded, falling into step beside him as they marched off the pitch.

"I don't like it, Beth." Thomas didn't beat around the bush or make excuses, and she was grateful for that. He tucked his broom under his arm. "He's not the sort of boy you should be going out with."

Beth bristled. "Who should I be going out with then, since you're clearly dictating?"

"It's not like that," Thomas snapped, catching her arm and tugging her aside as the others headed back into the castle, "There's a lot you don't know about Regulus."

She raised her eyebrows. "Care to enlighten me?"

Thomas pressed his lips together in a thin line. A storm clouded his eyes, as pale blue as Beth's. Unease prickled up her spine as she wondered what, precisely, her older brother was referring to. She knew Regulus and his group of friends could be unkind toward some of the Muggleborns at Hogwarts, though no more unkind than the Marauders of Gryffindor were to Severus Snape.

"I'm not at liberty to disclose it."

"It?" Beth raked her hair back, exasperated. "Thomas, you aren't being fair. You can't say something like that, and then not give me any evidence."

Thomas inhaled sharply. "When you see him, Beth, see all of him...you'll understand then."

He swung his broom over his shoulder and marched off the pitch without another word. The cool spring air suddenly made Beth shiver, rubbing her arms as she wondered what he was talking about. Thomas didn't even really interact with Regulus. What could he possibly know about her boyfriend that made him so set against their relationship?


"So." Mitchell leaned forward, dark eyes glittering as he blew out a plume of smoke. "When are you going to shag her?"

The Slytherin boys were sitting out near the Forbidden Forest as the sun went down, passing a cigarette around. Severus and Alexander were absent, occupied by Prefect duties as was common. Regulus was sprawled on the grass with Evan, Mitchell and Isaac. This was typical, though Mitchell's question made his brow furrow.

"Why do you always have to be so crude, man?"

"Just a question." Mitchell passed the cigarette to Evan, holding his hands up as if in surrender. "Beth is...she's not Phoenix. But she's really cute."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Regulus demanded, defensive of both his twin sister and his girlfriend. Isaac and Mitchell were the worst when it came to objectifying the girls in their house. Alexander was almost as bad.

"I don't know." Mitchell shrugged his shoulders, eyes flicking to the periphery of the Forbidden Forest. "I can't really explain it to you. It's weird. She's your twin."

"You've already started down this path, might as well go ahead." Regulus swiped the cigarette from Evan, inhaling deeply. He stared down Mitchell until the other boy capitulated, raking a hand through his brown curls.

"Phoenix is like...wow. She's gorgeous. Like the sort of witch you'd see in Witch Weekly, you know? Beth is very cute. She has a sweet face. Looks like an angel."

Regulus sighed heavily. Why did it matter what girls looked like all the time? Regulus wasn't dating Beth because she was the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts, though she was very pretty and didn't seem to realise that. He was dating her because he enjoyed spending time with her, because she actually had a personality.

"Regulus won't go there." Evan swept his blonde hair out of his eyes, mischief crossing his face. "He hasn't been with a girl before."

"Like it's a big deal." Regulus frowned. "I'm not even sixteen yet."

"I'd been with a girl when I was your age," Evan stated, as though he was so much older instead of having just turned seventeen a few months before. Mitchell was nodding sagely, and Regulus guessed the same could be said of him.

"How many girls have you been with?"

Evan arched an eyebrow. "Two."

Mitchell's smile grew wicked. "Shame you couldn't make it three at Lucius and Narcissa's engagement party."

Regulus groaned as he recalled the incident with embarrassing clarity. A few of them had snuck into the kitchen and managed to down some more drinks, despite the fact they'd been all of fourteen and fifteen at the time. Phoenix had set up on the bench, legs swinging back and forth as she giggled incessantly. Evan had watched her with undisguised awe for a few moments, before he'd tried to kiss her. When she brushed him off, he whispered something in her ear, making Phoenix giggle even harder.

When pressed about what he'd said, despite Evan's pleas not to tell everyone, Phoenix had gleefully announced that he'd offered to go down on her. Regulus had been unable to hide his distaste, while Evan had excused himself, absolutely mortified. Phoenix had laughed so much she'd given herself hiccups.

"Must we talk about that?" Evan snapped.

"You being rejected by the girl of your dreams?" Mitchell was enjoying himself, voice full of glee. "At every opportunity, mate."

Evan muttered something under his breath, lighting up a new cigarette and bringing it to his lips. Regulus was merely glad they'd gotten off the topic of him and Beth. He didn't feel particularly obligated to do anything, and he certainly didn't want to make her uncomfortable or feel as though he was pushing for sex.

Regulus rubbed at his forearm, the ink of his Dark Mark not even visible through the white of his school shirt. He could still remember the horror on Phoenix's face when she'd seen them, realised what they meant. That expression on his twin sister's face had made him determined to keep it well hidden. He and Beth had been dating for over a month now, and she still had no idea what he was.

What would Beth think, he wondered, if she knew he was a Death Eater? By the mistrustful looks Thomas kept throwing him, he at least suspected. Regulus wasn't overly close with the older boy, though Evan was under the impression that Thomas might run within the same circles and could become a Death Eater, too. Who would suspect teenagers still at Hogwarts, after all?


Regulus seemed to know the perfect empty classrooms for clandestine nighttime snogging sessions, not that Beth was complaining. She didn't particularly mind where they kissed, it was just that either his friends or hers had a habit of interrupting them at the most inconvenient times. With the starlight through the window as Regulus pressed her against one of the desks, Beth felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips.

"What?" Regulus drew back, examining the amusement on her face. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." Beth didn't really know how to put her feelings into words. "This is just...it's nice. I don't exactly go around snogging boys, you know. I've never had a boyfriend."

"I've never had a girlfriend, either," Regulus admitted. She believed him, though he could have gotten any girl he wanted, really. Yet he was here with her, in the empty classroom with only the light of the moon on them.

"But I'm not the first girl you've snogged in empty classrooms," she teased.

Regulus held up his hands, grinning. "Ah, you have me there. But I've done more with you than I have with other girls."

"Things like what?" Beth asked, a thrill of daring coursing through her as she tilted her head to the side. She knew precisely what Regulus was referring to, but she still gasped as his hands travelled up from her waist to her chest. She liked the way his hands felt on her, and her pulse leaped as he pressed close against her, kissing her again.

Beth had never been felt up by other boys before. A few of them had made clumsy attempts during parties, but she'd always pushed them away, nose wrinkled in disgust. Somehow, the way Regulus touched her was different. Instead of feeling like spiders against her skin, his fingers were a warm presence. Maybe it was the way he kept asking her softly if it was okay, as his hand slithered beneath her shirt, another shifting down to rest on her thigh.

Was this love? Beth thought it was rather too early to tell, but it was certainly passion. She felt like her body was on fire, burning for him. Her mouth opened in a gasp, head tilting back as his lips worked at her neck and his hands continued to traverse her body. One of his hands rested on her hip, tugging her closer against him. The other slipped up her skirt, high enough that Beth jolted in surprise, making him draw back.

"Are you okay?" His grey eyes examined her, brow pinched with concern. "Do you want me to stop?"

"I'm fine." Beth took a deep breath. "I definitely don't want you to stop."

"Good." A wicked smile spread across Regulus's handsome features. He sank down to his knees in front of her. "Because I've got an idea I think you might like."


"Wait, Regulus went down on you?" Lorna could barely contain her excitement despite Beth's insistent attempts to shush her. Despite things having improved with Phoenix, Beth really didn't think she'd want to hear about what her twin had done, so she'd instead chosen to relay what had happened to Lorna.

"Keep it down, Lorna."

Merlin's beard, she really shouldn't have brought this up with her friend during their study session in the library. The last thing she needed was someone overhearing and word getting out. Beth didn't mind what had happened, but it was private, a matter to be shared with whoever she and Regulus chose.

"Was it good?"

"I guess so." Beth flushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She hadn't done anything more than kiss in the past, so it had been a new experience for her. Regulus had admitted it was the first time he'd done it, too. She'd enjoyed herself, so Beth surmised that it had been good. It was difficult to keep the satisfied smile off her lips.

"Ugh, at least you and Regulus aren't like that." Lorna gestured across the library to where Phoenix was with Remus. The Gryffindor boy was setting a book on a shelf while Phoenix was flirting incessantly. They both had bright smiles on their faces. Phoenix pressed a quick kiss to his lips, laughing.

"Mini Fawley!" Sirius Black slamming his hands down on the desk made Beth almost jump out of her skin, pressing a hand over her heart as it hammered in her chest. She had been so focused on Phoenix and Remus's public displays of affection that she hadn't even noticed the older Black brother approach them.

"What do you want?" Lorna asked curtly. She had always been far more blunt with Sirius than Beth, who was civil toward him out of respect for Phoenix, knowing her best friend was still on fairly good terms with her big brother.

"That is a million Galleon question, Flint." Sirius sighed dramatically, beginning to count off on his fingers. "A sense of purpose, the will to live…"

"Yes, Sirius?" Beth piped up, if only to stop him from going on one of his long-winded tirades. The older boy did love to talk, especially about himself.

"Heard that you're my little brother's girlfriend now. Is that true?"

Beth was astounded at the question, especially coming from Sirius. He and Regulus didn't even talk. What did it matter to Sirius if she was dating his brother? She was bewildered and uncertain how to answer, but Lorna beat her to it.

"What business is that of yours, anyway?" she asked primly.

"Call it curiosity." Sirius shrugged his shoulders, but Beth would bet money there was more to it than that. "Just be careful, mini Fawley. Reggie dearest might seem like a charming lad, but he's really as bad as the others."

"Oh, sod off," Lorna snapped, waving him away from their desk.

Sirius sighed heavily and mock saluted, before crossing over to sit with James Potter and Peter Pettigrew at another of the desks. Beth couldn't help but feel troubled as she watched him leave. This was the second person to warn her against Regulus. Though she had the feeling Phoenix would have said something if Regulus wasn't the sort of person to date, she also wondered if maybe Regulus's own twin didn't know something.

Highly unlikely. Beth watched as Phoenix tossed her black hair over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes at Remus Lupin, and wondered what secrets were hiding behind those grey eyes of hers.


It wasn't that Regulus had a terrible study ethic. He just had a tendency to get easily distracted, especially by his friends. Beth had made a point of spending time sitting with him so that they could go over their assignments together, and she was hardly surprised when she realised that his Potions essay was only two-thirds complete. Regulus shifted uneasily as she raked her gaze critically over it.

"This part needs to be changed." Beth scrawled some quick notes down and handed them to him, along with the essay. "But other than that, I think you've got the general points there."

"You really are the best." Regulus kissed her cheek, before drawing back and promptly knocking over his quill and pot of ink. "Oh, for fuck's sake."

He reached down to grab the quill, waving his wand and muttering a spell to dispel the dark stain of ink spreading across the rug, but something caught Beth's attention. She craned her neck forward to take a better look at whatever had caught the light. At first she thought it was spilled ink on his arm, but she quickly realised the truth. Beth's breath caught in her throat as the Dark Mark glared up at her from Regulus's forearm.

He was a Death Eater. Regulus Black was a Death Eater.

Regulus must have seen how the expression changed on her face, because he looked down and tensed when he realised she'd seen the Dark Mark. For a few moments, there was a tense silence between the pair of them. Beth silently begged Regulus to explain, to say it was a joke of some sort, but she noted the way his fingers shook as they raked through his black hair.

"You're a…" She couldn't even bring herself to say the words.

Beth was, of course, not a fool. With war brewing outside the walls of Hogwarts, she knew Richard and Jessica both spoke fervently about the Dark Lord and his plans for a pure-blood world. Many pure-blood students, Slytherins particularly, shared these ideologies. She had known that some of the Death Eaters weren't much older than her, but she hadn't suspected that any of the students she knew so well might be among them.

"Yes." The single syllable was soft, and he would no longer look at her. "Only a few months ago now. I'm not the only one, if that helps at all."

"I don't want to know," Beth said quickly, holding up a hand and shaking her head. If some of his friends were Death Eaters, she would prefer that she wasn't aware of it. Maybe she couldn't be oblivious to what he was, the reasons Thomas and Sirius had both warned her about him (had they known?), but she felt it best she knew less rather than more.

Merlin's beard, he'd seen her reading Muggle literature. If she hadn't been a fellow Slytherin, would he have cursed her for that? Her guilty pleasure was beginning to feel more like a weight around her neck, threatening to suffocate her. Regulus knew so much about Beth, but she really hadn't known him at all.

"What is this?" She gestured between them. "A distraction from your duty to the Dark Lord?"

"No, Beth," he protested, "You don't understand."

"You're right, I don't." She folded her arms over her chest and waited for an explanation, when none was forthcoming, she nodded slowly. "As I thought. You're not even going to talk to me about it."

"What's there to tell?" Regulus threw up his hands, guilt morphing into frustration. "There's a lot you don't know, Beth. After Sirius ran away, I knew I would have to make difficult decisions to protect my family. The Dark Lord's power is growing, and more are joining him. Do you think I want to see anyone I care about get hurt because I didn't join when the others did?"

"So you were peer pressured into getting a Dark Mark?" Beth asked incredulously. She really did want to understand, but Regulus's choice was beyond her comprehension. She couldn't help but wonder, despite not really wanting to know, which of the other Slytherins were Death Eaters. Wolves dressed as sheep.

"Sirius was blasted off the family tree, Phoenix insists on dating that half-blood boy…" Regulus licked his lips. "It was down to me, Beth. It was down to me to get things right."

"You call this right?" Beth pushed herself to her feet, indignant. She knew what Mitchell and Isaac had done to Mary McDonald. She knew how the other Slytherins bullied Muggle-born students, but this...the Dark Mark was something else entirely. This was no longer a schoolyard dispute, but child soldiers picking sides on a battleground.

"Ask Thomas." Regulus's voice was hard now. "Ask Thomas what choice he would make if it was for you, and for your family."

"Thomas is…" Beth felt like something had seized hold of her chest, as though she couldn't breathe.

Regulus shook his head. "Not to my knowledge, no."

"I need air," Beth stammered, striding from the common room. She was glad that Regulus didn't try and call her back, for she feared she would have turned around and returned to him. How was she meant to overlook this? Her boyfriend was a Death Eater, and she'd been completely oblivious.

Who else had known? Surely Phoenix had. She had noticed a strange distance between the twins recently, though she hadn't known the cause. Thomas must have at least suspected, and if Phoenix knew, it made sense she had probably said something to Sirius.

Beth shimmied into her favourite nook and tugged her knees to her chest, sucking in a deep breath. This wasn't the Marauders bullying Severus by levitating him in the air. This wasn't tripping Muggle-born fourth-years in the corridors between classes. This was something far darker, far more dangerous.

Beth had been naive, focused on her OWLs and her blossoming relationship with Regulus, hardly realising that things outside Hogwarts were getting more grim by the day. Now that she knew what Regulus was, could she move past that? Did she have a future with a Death Eater?

Logic pushed past her anxiety. She had to hear Regulus out. He seemed certain that he could explain himself to her, and she felt she owed him the opportunity to at least try. Nonetheless, it didn't stop the tears of frustration and anger filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.

How had she been so fucking blind?