The Search Is Over,
Chapter 113, Mumma Don't Preach
For several minutes, Walburga chatted with Ariana about families. Dumbledores, Blacks, other old wizarding families. It seemed that Regulus's mother was as proper in death as she had been in life when it came to the appropriate social niceties. It was always easier when she found a person interesting, and it appeared Ariana met that requirement. Orion, Regulus and Kreacher remained politely silent as the two women chatted.
As the physical contact with Ariana was no longer necessary now that the spirits of the parents were present, Kreacher and Regulus held hands, for once able to do so in front of family without fearing a reprimand or worse. Regulus was more than sorry that this was finally the case when the family could no longer live together in the same realm. That thought brought a question to his mind and waiting for a lag in the female chat, he turned to Ariana.
"Now that we've established contact, are we able to do this often?"
He beamed at Orion and Walburga, who both wore expressions of eager interest. If they could transverse death to have family gatherings, how wonderful that would be! All eyes were on Ariana as the necromancer hesitated.
"I don't usually recommend it," she said regretfully.
"It can be problematic for those who have already crossed over, causing them to miss their mortal lives far too much, making their life beyond, discordant. It can also cause the living to fall deeper into grief, being unable to completely let go."
"But we don't want to let go," Regulus insisted.
Kreacher nodded.
"I want to see my family," Orion said.
"We have already missed so much time together."
"We take any and all responsibility for any discordant problems," Walburga asserted haughtily.
"But we wish to see our son...and Kreacher."
Ariana frowned.
"It can make things difficult if you are suddenly no longer able to see one another."
"And why would such a thing happen," Walburga demanded, chin suddenly in the air as her eyes narrowed into her trademark piercing glare that meant anyone on the other end of that look had better do what she wanted and fast.
"If either or both of you reincarnate into another life before Regulus and Kreacher die, there is likely little advanced notice, and you will not be able to say a final farewell. They will be left to grieve your loss all over again while your spirit begins a new life, uneasy from not having allowed yourself to let go of this one. It can cause psychological problems," she insisted, seemingly unmoved by Walburga's glare.
"And as they're both vampires, I don't think they shall be dying any time soon."
"THEY'RE WHAT," Walburga shrieked.
It was then that Regulus realized that Orion could not have told his mother EVERYTHING, simply because he did not know it. The vampirism situation was most definitely part of the explaining he'd known he had to do to his parents. With his mother already so very familiar with everything else surrounding the Voldemort situation, he'd somehow forgotten that she couldn't know about that bit. Orion would've had no way of knowing of Regulus's choice to become a vampire to avoid Voldemort's vengeance. He was already dead when Regulus made the decision.
"Yes...Well I chose to become a vampire when I was relatively certain that Voldemort wouldn't allow me to live if I remained as I was, a weak mortal all too easy to strike down with a killing curse. Considering what he'd done to Father, I knew well that I hadn't a chance if he wanted me dead. I knew vampirism would give me an edge...Several actually."
Walburga's eyes bugged and her mouth worked silently. Were she not already dead, Regulus would fear for her well being.
"That was a smart move, actually," Orion said, expression quietly impressed as well as proud as he regarded his son.
For that support, Regulus wished more than anything in that moment that he could embrace his father.
"I've always been proud of you, Regulus. I wanted to handle the situation for you, save you from the mistake we all made that was Voldemort, but you saved yourself and did far better than I could have, for I never would've considered vampirism! It is a pity that it alters you so much, but under the circumstances, the decision was a necessary one and you chose well."
Regulus gave his father a tremulous smile. So many emotions were churning within his chest at that moment, that he had trouble expressing even one of them properly.
"Approval on the matter from one of the greatest wizards I've ever known means the world. Thank you Dad. It was so hard...With so much already lost and ruined, that I didn't know what to do. It...it was bad. I was just trying to get as creative as I could, to go out side of the box as it were, in order to keep Kreacher, Mum and myself safe. It was my intention to do so, at least."
Next he knew he'd have to explain just why that hadn't worked out considering he'd never returned to his mother and Kreacher before Walburga's own death. Of course his mother would not have known what to suppose had befallen him.
At that, Walburga's speech was at least partially restored to her. Only partially for when she spoke, her words came out in a near strangled hiss as she glared indignant daggers at her husband.
"You...are...proud...of...him, Orion?!"
Orion sighed as he turned to his wife.
"Yes, Burga. I am. He is still alive," he said flatly.
"That is good, because now Kreacher is a vampire as well," the elf said brightly, smiling proudly at Orion.
"WHY," Walburga nearly wailed.
"Well Kreacher did not wish to leave his dear Master Regulus, and with him being a vampire and Kreacher being mortal, this would have happened inevitably," Kreacher explained patiently.
Were it anyone other than someone for whom he had high regard, the elf would not have been quite so patient, Regulus knew. Walburga didn't seem to appreciate that fact, however.
"I keep telling him not to call me Master Regulus," Regulus said, nearly frantically attempting to change the subject.
They'd made their decision,and no parental displeasure could change it, so he saw no point in dwelling over...spilled blood as it were.
"I even gave him co-ownership of the manor, but he refuses to call me Regulus, at least most of the time."
He couldn't help but recall the times Kreacher had used his name without the honorific Master' in front of it. Those moments had been some of the most heated and deliciously impassioned the two had ever shared. They, however, were not suitable topics of conversation for his parents! Not even as a distraction.
"What are you smiling about,"Walburga demanded, jabbing an accusatory finger in Regulus's direction.
Well he certainly couldn't tell her that, now could he?
"Just it's so bloody good to see you both, even if you are a bit angry with us at present, Mother. So much has happened, and I am afraid you don't know all of it, because it happened after father's passing. I...I may have kept Voldemort from killing me, but I made rather a mess of everything else. So seeing you...it's a bit healing, I suppose."
Walburga's face softened momentarily.
"Well I'm glad of that, my darling boy. Although, I quail in my soul to speculate on what else could have befallen you...Can I even handle knowing," she wondered dramatically, casting her gaze heavenward.
"Well I don't have to go into it," Regulus said hastily.
"It is all over now, after all."
He couldn't help but hope she'd just not wish to hear any more.
"Of course you shall go into it, and you shall do it now," Walburga said firmly.
And just like that, his hopes were dashed in an instant. So much for her softer side returning, Regulus thought with an inner sigh. He hated the prospect of upsetting his mother yet again. It wasn't a thing to which he was at all accustomed.
He was always the one with whom she was pleased. He and Kreacher, both, it seemed could never do wrong back in the good old days. Of course they'd always tried to do right, or at least their very best. At least in this, she should still be pleased with Kreacher, aside from the vampirism bit.
Drawing in a deep breath, Regulus began to tell his parents of what had happened after Orion was killed by Voldemort, beginning with what the Dark Lord had done to the minds of all three Lestranges.
Walburga listened with her hands pressed to her mouth in horror as Regulus described the scene. For his part, Orion nearly looked as if he would be ill. Could spirits even do that? Could they throw up ectoplasm or something? Why did he bloody have to think so bloody much, Regulus silently chastised himself.
"All three of them are alright now...basically," he hastened to assure his parents, eager to ease their minds on the matter.
"It just took a lot of hell to get there."
Well he had to be honest, because Orion and Walburga would have no less and he knew it. Walburga nodded.
"You are speaking, at least in part, of Azkaban I assume."
He nodded, and she gave a bitter little laugh.
"When I believed you dead, Regulus, I brought the family together to tell them. I only did so when I was quite certain that you and Orion were never coming home again. You should've seen Bella, Regulus. She cried as if her heart was torn out. I can't help but wonder how much she could've remembered of...well any of it, all that you all went through...The poor girl."
Orion moved closer to put a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders and with a sniffle, she leaned into him as she dabbed at her eyes with a sleeve of the dark green dress she wore.
"I told them all then how fortunate I believed Gellert Grindelwald's mother was, if she still lived," she continued.
"Her son was still alive, after all. Shut away behind prison walls, yes, but still alive all the same. Then the Lestranges were put into Azkaban, and I am not so certain that Druella drew any comfort from the idea. She worried over Dementors getting their souls...But as you say they are well now, I assume that was not the case."
"They all made it out without being Dementor touched," Regulus assured.
"And I used my vampiric powers to ensure they were given a job working black ops for the Ministry!"
"Good thinking, Son," Orion said.
Regulus smiled, ever pleased to have his father's approval.
"Thank you, Father."
Turning to Walburga he added, "So you see, Mother, vampirism is more than a potential family blight. It adds new dimensions to my abilities, making me an even stronger wizard."
Regulus had to struggle to keep the shock from his face at Walburga's nearly imperceptible nod.
"And speaking of Grindelwald," Kreacher chimed in.
"He is free now as well, and we are even friends with him. Kreacher has even made enchanted items with him!"
The elf beamed as expressions of astonishment spread over Orion and Walburga's faces.
"Kreacher has made many wizarding friends after my return, and now he has more social connections than I," Regulus said, grinning proudly at the elf.
"Did you free Grindelwald as well," Orion asked his son, and Regulus chuckled, shaking his head.
"No. Some other very interesting dark wizards who chose not to serve Voldemort did that, but they are now friends of ours, so we know how it was done."
"What of Voldemort, though? Is he finally defeated, then," Orion pressed.
Regulus and Kreacher nodded in unison, and together told the fascinating yet nearly simple story of Voldemort's end and the role each had played. Ariana listened with as much attentive interest as Orion and Walburga.
"Seven Horcruxes," Walburga breathed, when the two had finished.
"Just imagine! And we thought one was horrific enough! It turns my stomach that we could support such a monster and never know."
Regulus nodded.
"He was good, at least up until the end. Rodolphus said he began slipping near the end, even lashing out at his supposed favorites. Though considering that he always kept in mind the fact we were all trying to kill him, that isn't so much of a surprise in itself."
"The Horcruxes had to have unraveled his stability a bit nonetheless," Ariana chimed in quietly.
"When our essence is not fully with us to such a vast degree...seven times again, it leaves us with little."
"Such things are unthinkable," Walburga said with a shudder.
"But you, Regulus. Why did you never return to us," she asked, turning demandingly to her son.
"That is a bit more difficult to explain, but we did remain on topic, as it relates to the Horcruxes, at least in part," Regulus said.
He drew in a deep breath, knowing he was stalling out of pure discomfort. This bit was always difficult to explain or to make others properly understand.
"The black lake water, along with the green potion, and perhaps the Horcrux itself twisted my perceptions of everything to the worst possible outlook, and when I couldn't get any letters to Kreacher, I believed neither of you wanted me," he murmured, glancing away to avoid meeting his mother's gaze.
"I know how dreadful that sounds, Mummy! I swear it is what I believed, though. I thought I'd done enough harm, ruining everything I touched with stupid blunder after stupid blunder and if the two of you had finally come to your senses and realized you were better off without me, you deserved to be safe. I wasn't even angry, because you were right."
"Right for something that we never would've felt," Walburga asked.
Regulus did not need to look at her to hear the shock in her voice. Fortunately, he could not read their minds. Perhaps ghostly minds were too different or perhaps if they were, in part still behind the veil, he simply could not reach their minds. Either way in this case, it was a relief.
"I was concerned that the shields I'd placed around the house deflected you," Orion said.
"Of course I protected against all dark entities, vampires included, never presuming you would be among their numbers."
Regulus chuckled.
"Well, the wards did play a part in things, actually. My letters were unable to reach Kreacher."
Orion frowned.
"How, though? You weren't the owl carrying them! The fact they were written by a vampire shouldn't have mattered."
"No, but a black death phoenix came to me and as a favor, he carried the letters."
"Really," Orion said.
"You have a black death phoenix? I've read of them, but never had the pleasure of actually seeing one other than in a book as an illustration. My wards protected against one of those as well? Fascinating. Had it not caused so much heartache, I would be impressed with myself."
"You see," Walburga demanded, glaring about at everyone.
"Men make stupid choices, therefore requiring women to guide them."
"We're sorry," Kreacher, Regulus and Orion said in unison.
Though Walburga's lips twitched, she did not quite allow herself a pleased smile.
"You can meet my phoenix," Regulus said hastily, then called, "Mortis!"
The black bird coasted into the room, radiating dignity. He circled the two ghosts, nodding with a stately gesture of his head before gliding over to land on Regulus's shoulder.
"You are a lovely bird," Orion said, tone nearly reverent, which was only proper.
"He is a wonderful friend, and it is an honor to have him in our lives," Regulus said, lightly touching the black phoenix's glossy feathers.
"I still can't believe you believed we would not wish for you to come home," Walburga huffed.
"I know, Mother. I know and I am more sorry than you can ever know."
"Kreacher is always glad to hear that," the elf murmured, not bothering to hide his satisfied smile.
Regulus rushed ahead, explaining in as few words as possible, their belief that the black lake water as well as the potion had effected him somehow, perhaps even due to his vampirism. He felt his face flushing with shame as he struggled to put into words the soul crushing depression that had been a constant in his life. His mother wept as he spoke and it was difficult not to join her.
"I wanted to take you and Kreacher away to safety, but when I believed that it would be better for you if I stayed away, I remained with my maker," he concluded.
"Miss Dora is very kind," Kreacher said.
"She likes Kreacher quite a lot and made him promise never to leave Master Regulus's side ever again."
"What else have we missed," Walburga asked.
Regulus couldn't believe she wasn't giving him more hell over believing she and Kreacher would not wish for him to return! The fact she seemed to understand, to a degree, what he had gone through was humbling.
"Kreacher has done some amazing things," he answered, glad to move on to brighter bits of news.
"He is even a published horror author!"
Regulus was so proud of Kreacher that he couldn't help bragging.
"Why Kreacher, that's wonderful...and quite impressive," Orion said, smiling proudly at the elf.
"I remember how interested you were in the process of writing as a young child. You asked what I was doing when you saw me working at my desk and when I explained it, you were so intrigued, that I taught you your letters. I'm so pleased to know I taught a published author!"
Kreacher squirmed in delight, grinning from ear to ear.
"Kreacher's first horror story was about Master Sirius," Kreacher enthused, and Walburga chuckled.
"Now that's fitting if anything ever was!"