Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter or the Good Witch series. This was written for November 2021's first Regular challenge for Froday Flash Fiction, the word being Uncomfortable. This is also part of my NaNoWriMo 2021 word count.
It should also be noted that certain things have changed regarding the Good Witch timeline/canon.
- Middleton is relocated to Great Britain.
- Grace and Nick both turned eleven during Regulus final year at Hogwarts
- Nick and his father Sam moved to Middleton because of unexplained events happening around Nick.
- Brandon is twenty-five and Lori is twenty-three, give or take when their birthdays are.
- Cassie is forty-four.
For this story, I'm going with Regulus going into the cave during his winter school break and him not actually having yet turned eighteen.
Upside Down Mirror: Nightingale Mirror
Restless
"So he's a wizard. A real-life wizard?"
"Uh-huh."
"Wow."
Regulus Arcturus Black was supposed to be resting and one of the children currently staring at him while he lay on his cousin's couch was supposed to be letting him rest. Instead, Grace Russell decided to bring over a couple of her friends to ogle at him.
He closed his eyes when Brandon left, still perplexed that Cassie's stepson who was obviously a Muggle actually knew about Dark Marks and such. Also on his mind was how Cassie picked up on the fact things weren't right between him and Sirius, but her bringing that subject up was just one of the many uncomfortable things going on, including the voices in his head.
At least the couch was comfortable, even if he found himself unable to sleep.
Being awake meant Regulus heard the faint sound of the children attempting to approach him quietly as he lay on the couch, his eyes shut tightly.
Quiet, they were not, not when one of Grace's two friends said in an overly loud whisper. "I don't think we should be doing this. Nick's going to get both of us in trouble."
"It's okay, Anthony," Grace said, not bothering to whisper as she walked closer, almost as if she knew he was awake and not whispering—she was, after all, Cassie's daughter, so it made sense she could sense things people normally didn't.
He hated when it happened to him, always keeping mum, yet the memory of Cassie placing him in her lap and whispering something about understanding what it was like to feel things so acutely—yet, he never remembered her ever struggling to deal with the emotions.
Regulus' mouth twitched as the children grew closer, which was when her friend Nick piped up. "So he's a wizard. A real-life wizard?"
"Uh-huh," Grace muttered as she leaned forward in a manner that let Regulus feel her breath on his face.
"Wow," Anthony said despite having said something about getting in trouble, yet…
"Don't," Regulus said, not wanting to be poked by the inquisitive finger coming his way. "I'm actually awake."
"You're supposed to be resting," Grace said in a sing-song manner, almost as if she came in because she knew he wasn't sleeping. "Mom said so."
"Trying to rest and actually being able to do so are two very different things," Regulus muttered, keeping his eyes shut.
"He must be. I mean, he could tell without…"
"Excuse me, but what did Cassie say about not bothering Regulus?"
He didn't recognize the voice, but kept his eyes closed shut, trying to ignore what was going on around Cassie's place. Regulus still didn't understand how he'd managed to end up there, of all places, after being in the cave.
"Now, you three head on out. See if grandpa has anything that you might help with so that the three of you will stay out of trouble."
Regulus' mouth twitched as he heard the three children running away. "You're female."
"Are all magical people…"
"No. And we don't talk about it when we are," Regulus muttered.
"Well, you're not very nice."
"So I've been told."
"Or should I brush it off as you being grumpy because you're trying to rest? Still, if you need anything."
"Thank you, but not right yet."
"That surprises me a little."
Regulus opened his eyes and turned his head so he looked up at a young woman with blond hair. He couldn't read her—he couldn't read emotions like he could read other things, such as the fact he was approached by a female, or how he knew the right way to approach someone without being noticed. "Why?"
"No reason. And I think I'm a bit old for you?" She smirked at him.
Regulus felt a heat spread across his cheeks. "I wasn't…"
"You were staring, but you're seventeen and I'm twenty-two."
"I'm eighteen this summer, but there's a four-year age gap between my parents. Not that I was thinking of it."
"Because I'm a Muggle." She still smiled, but there was something about the way she looked at him that made him think of negative feelings.
"Because you look like Cissy."
"Cissy is?"
"Another one of our cousins," Cassie said. "You're supposed to be resting, Regulus."
"It keeps getting interrupted."
"As blunt and to the point as always, but just as charming I see," Cassie said. "Rest now. That is what Gray House is for."
"I guess." There was that little inkling deep down, the feeling that he liked the fact he was for once not being ignored and someone was actually worrying about him, only for him to quickly brush it aside. He continued lying there, not much of anything going on.
And then it happened.
Her voice was loud, painfully so. Regulus winced, his eyes shutting slightly.
"Cassie! Why is there a half-naked young man on your couch!"
"Hello, Martha," Cassie said from nearby while Regulus attempted to ignore the commotion.
"Oh my! Would you not do that! It absolutely creeps me out when you sneak up on me like that!" Martha said. "And who is this young man? Why is he half-naked and bandaged up like that?"
"This is my cousin Regulus and he'll be staying with us."
"For a while? For the time being."
"I'm thinking of a more permanent nature."
Regulus turned his head and looked at Cassie, taking in the bright clothing of the rather large woman standing next to his cousin. For some reason, this Martha fascinated him, as she dressed as he might expect some witch pretending to be a Muggle might dress.
"So, he's a Merriwick?"
"Actually, he's a Black," Cassie said, walking over to pluck a blanket from a nearby chair before draping it over him so that he was more decently covered. He didn't respond and simply looked up at the ceiling.
"Black? Say-what?"
"That would be my father's family."
"So, he isn't magical."
"Actually, he definitely is."
"But your father couldn't do magic. Only your mother."
"Squib," Regulus muttered.
"Squid?" Martha asked.
Regulus turned his head, wondering how a witch wouldn't know what a Squib was.
"Someone who can't do magic," Cassie chimed in.
"Another word for Muggle then?" Which meant Martha was a Muggle and shouldn't know about the things going on, yet Regulus brushed it aside, thinking that was the least of his worries.
"Not quite," Cassie replied. "A Muggle doesn't have magical parents, while a Squib does."
"I see. Is he gifted like you?"
"I'm not gifted," Regulus chimed in, although he did know that there were the odd feelings he got at times. Something told him Martha wasn't quite referring to that, though in some ways she was.
"Oh, Regulus is quite gifted even though he doesn't himself believe so. In fact, I'd say his gifts in both departments are stronger than mine. After all, he's never been in Grey House before, yet in his time of need apparated right here, to the place he'd be most safe."
"We'll need to have a welcome party then!"
Regulus cringed at said thought, not liking to interact with anybody.
"It will have to wait until he's rested and healed some more," Cassie said, not saying no to Martha despite Regulus wishing she would.
"Of course! Of course! I'll be leaving now. I…" Martha paused. "I was here to let you know…"
Regulus didn't hear what else was said as they were both walking away. He did feel Cassie come and sit down moments later on the edge of the couch. "So…"
"I'm sorry for being a trouble."
"You're no trouble. As I said, you came here you'd be most safe. Also, you've grown a lot since I last saw you. You were like, what? Four years old?"
"I guess," Regulus felt her brush a lock of black hair away from his forehead. His eyes closed as she leaned in suddenly, amping up his discomfort levels.
"Well, here's a magical kiss to help you sleep, sweet boy." She placed the kiss on his forehead, but the last thing he remembered was her leaving the room.
He was asleep.
Asleep to dream about the Infiri, the lake, and the voices.
Regulus sat up straight, clawing the air, tears falling down his face. What he saw around him was a strange place, but the person who rushed over was a complete stranger. They reached for him and he panicked even more.
How Brandon got him into his lap, rocking him back and forth while whispering that everything would be okay, that Cassie would soon be there, Regulus didn't know, though he did know he felt rather indignant being in such a position as Brandon, Cassie's stepson, wrapped his arms around him tightly.
Cassie hurried in and sat on the other side of the couch, placing a hand on his knee. "Regulus. Reggie, sweat heart?"
What came out of his mouth was nonsense and his hands tried to continue to claw.
"I don't know what's wrong. He had a nightmare. He…" For some reason, Brandon stopped.
"Yes. It's definitely tied to what happened to him, though I don't know…" Cassie frowned. "Regulus. Reggie? Could you tell me what happened to you?"
Regulus' hands slowed, his body trembling.
She took his arm and held it up. "Let's start with what clawed at you like this."
"Infiri," Regulus said, remembering now how easy it was when he was little to speak to Cassie, but nobody else. "Infiri. Infiri, Infiri."
"Cassie, what is an Infiri?"
"Reanimated corpses."
"Reanimated…" Brandon didn't finish, but instead held on tighter with one arm while the other reached out, grabbing onto one of Regulus' arms which tried to reach for something. "You're safe. You're safe Regulus."
Cassie tilted her head. "It's okay. This is what Brandon's always done for his younger siblings."
Regulus swallowed, his mind thinking of Sirius.
"Sirius huh?"
"Cassie, who—never mind."
"Regulus older brother."
"And you picked up that something happened between them?" Brandon murmured. He then said, "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."
Regulus choked, the voices in his head, one of them being Walbuga's and the other being Sirius' not going away, the potion still having a hold on him.
"Regulus. Is there anything else that happened? Please be honest, though to be honest you never were the type of child to lie."
"Potion."
"What kind of potion?"
Words spilled out, a mixture of English and French. Cassie nodded her head, while Brandon spoke from behind Regulus. "You think you can do something?"
"Yes, though it will take a bit. No…" Cassie smiled. "I think tea might help, at least until I can get a potion brewed."
Which was how Regulus found himself sipping tea, shaking, slowly progressing away from sitting in Brandon's lap. Not once did Brandon stop plying him with the tea, but then Cassie brought a potion. "Here. I think this will make it easier for you to rest."
Regulus chugged it down, wanting the voices to stop, thankful that the tea had done its job. Soon, he fell asleep sitting between Brandon and Cassie, his head resting on her shoulder and his feet strewn across Brandon's lap, all the time knowing he wouldn't forget how vulnerable - how indignant he was acting for someone in the house of Black.
