The Search Is Over,
Chapter 138, Finally Getting Clean
"So where do we do this," Regulus asked, ready to have it over with now that all was properly explained to the healers.
"We can do it here. We brought anything we may need, and our current infirmary is too small for you to be comfortable there," Gara said.
Her twin shot her a look.
"Current?"
She shrugged.
"Well if we make it a habit, this working on special humans that Griphook doesn't hate for lots of gold, we may need to upgrade to a bigger one."
Grub nodded.
"That's a thought."
"Here...as in right here or will you want a bed or something," Regulus asked, feeling a bit awkward at the sudden realization of precisely how unconventional this was about to get.
Grub shrugged.
"I mean we aren't going to stretch you out on the floor, but the sofa should do fine."
"Indeed, if we're opening you up, we won't want you on the floor. It seems crass to risk getting blood on your carpet," Gara agreed.
"I hope you aren't charging for your bedside manner," Regulus said, lips twitching as he rose from the love seat on which he and Kreacher had been sitting to approach the sofa. The three occupying Lestranges rose from it and stood to either side looking mildly uncomfortable. That made four of them, Regulus thought, almost amused at the overly unique situation.
"We're just going to do it right here," Bellatrix asked and Gara shook her head.
"No. You aren't going to do anything. Leave it all to us."
Bella glared.
"You know what I meant."
Regulus sat nervously on the sofa and glanced down at the dark green dress robe he wore.
"I'll have to get undressed then?"
"Yes," Gara said simply and with a sigh Regulus tugged the robe up over his head.
"Are you just going to cut him open," Bellatrix demanded.
The scowl she gave the goblin said that she was affronted by the very idea, but Regulus would be surprised, to say the least, if it didn't come to that.
"We are going to perform a magical scan first, but if it can't detect what we're looking for, yes, we will have to cut him open because we can't see through his bloody skin," Gara snapped.
"If we can detect what we seek with scanning charms, we will apparate the poison or toxins, if you will, directly from his system without opening him up. Honestly, though, I'd prefer to have a good look inside regardless just to be certain we got it all."
Which brought Regulus's mind back to the topic of the goblin healers admitted inexperience with vampires.
"How will I be put to sleep through this? Or if you can't do that, could you numb me at least, because I don't think I can be still even if I try very hard, with you cutting into me. I'm no expert, but even I know my involuntarily thrashing about won't help anything to say the least."
Gara nodded.
"Smart wizard, you are," she said, almost sincerely.
"We can definitely numb you, and as I doubt we can put you to sleep considering you respond to sunrise for that, we'll just make sure you don't feel a thing. Is this acceptable?"
Regulus nodded. Though going to sleep then waking to hear the verdict had its appeal, part of him wanted to be aware through the entire thing for reasons he couldn't even explain to himself.
He lay down, feeling his entire body go rigid with tension. This was maddening! He'd calm down, then they'd inch a bit closer to the moment of truth, and he'd get himself all worked up again! As he watched, Gara drew a crystal wand from a pocket in her sleeve and flicked it over Regulus's torso. It was green crystal that appeared to have been made by Mag. He felt his body filling with a warmth that spread from his neck to his hips, and he sighed as his muscles relaxed.
"There. Now you're all numbed up," Gara said.
"We shall begin the scans and they won't take more than a few minutes."
These goblins hardly changed expression as they spoke, which could be calming, but it also made Regulus wonder if they'd even bother to look alarmed if something wasn't going properly so he'd have a bit of warning.
Kreacher moved to the side of the sofa and took his hand. Bella moved around to stand at the back of the sofa, resting her arm along it and dropping her hand to rest comfortingly on his other shoulder.
"It will be alright," she soothed, and Regulus smiled reassuringly at her.
Right now he was feeling relaxed enough. This was likely to change when they began cutting into him, but he was enjoying the inner peace while it lasted. It was still nice to have the family present for this, though, and the support helped. After about four minutes had passed, the goblin twins left off staring at Regulus's stomach, and exchanged a look.
"The scans are picking up something, but what, precisely is unclear, so we will need to open you up as I believe we all suspected would be the case," Gara said.
Regulus gave a small nod.
"Right."
As Gara said, they'd all suspected as much.
"Remember you won't feel a thing," Grub assured.
"I advise not looking down, though, just in case the sight of your insides disturbs you."
Regulus nodded again.
"Yes. That sounds like a good idea."
Kreacher's thumb moved in slow soothing circles on the back of Regulus's hand and Bella's fingers tightened on his other shoulder as he stared intently up at the ceiling.
"Are they cutting now, Kreacher," he asked.
"Ur...Yes, they already have," Kreacher replied.
The elf sounded relatively calm save for a bit of tension in his voice.
"Does it look nasty," Regulus asked and Bella gave a short laugh.
"It looks more human than I expected. Perhaps a bit less blood in there, but it's still red and your organs look healthy."
"Thanks, Bella, and how many people's insides have you seen anyway," Regulus couldn't help but wonder, actually glad of the distraction.
"Don't you usually just use Avada Kedavra?"
"I mean sometimes we like to shake things up," Bellatrix drawled, and Regulus heard Rodolphus and Rabastan snicker from somewhere off to his left behind Bellatrix.
Grub might have smiled, but then the fleeting expression could've also been a muscle spasm.
"Bro, I see your heart beating," Rabastan shared unnecessarily.
"It's slow but it's beating...which is interesting to know. I mean I never really wondered how a vampire's heart beat or anything, but still..."
"Kreacher doesn't see any green or black liquid, though," the elf observed, and Regulus felt said heart sinking in disappointment.
"But we do," Gara said.
"We see it inside the ventricles of the heart and inside the large intestine. It's the green, no black."
"Which is rather what I expected we'd find," Grub said in a tone of pleased satisfaction with himself.
"The black could've been challenging, but to be honest I don't mind not having to trifle with vampirism mixing with Inferi potion," Gara added.
That idea was disturbing, and Regulus had to struggle not to shudder.
"How will you get it out of me," he asked.
"Oh we'll just evaporate it," Gara said in a nearly careless tone.
It might finally be alright! He might at last finally be free of all of this...at least as much as one could be free with one's parents dead because of the family's dealings with a monster.
"Ready," Gara asked, glancing to her twin who nodded.
"On three then," she said.
"One, two, three!"
Regulus felt an odd pulling sort of vertigo from deep inside, and he struggled against the desire to breathe faster in response lest it interrupt the process. As the sensation increased, the familiar combination of self hatred and misery raised their heads with a vengeance, and he felt his face twist as he struggled against it. Bellatrix must have read something dreadful from the expression for she let out a short sob.
"God...Regi," she said, voice cracking.
"I'm so sorry! You were our favorite, but we led you into this...you were the baby and we could've known better...I'm so so sorry!"
Her hand tightened on his shoulder and he wanted to lift his own to cover hers in comfort, but was afraid to disrupt the healers if he moved.
"It's alright, Bella," he assured.
"None of us could've known better. He was that good and he told us what we wanted to hear. None of the older generations were ready for Grindelwald's defeat and we grew up on that. Had we managed to take back what we deserve, things could've been glorious and we knew it. We all wanted to believe he could take over where Gellert Grindelwald left off. We were wrong, but how could we have known? There were no red flags until it was too late and you know it."
"Master Regulus should recall those words the next time he wishes to blame himself and somehow decide that for him, it is different," Kreacher warned testily, and Regulus felt his lips twitching into a small smile.
"I promise, Love," he said, squeezing Kreacher's hand to seal the deal.
"Good," the elf muttered darkly.
"Can someone bring us something to put this in," Gara asked.
"I'd like to study it if that's alright."
Regulus glanced up to see a sheet of brilliant green water hanging over him, nearly as long as his stomach.
"If you'll share half of it with Severus Snape, because he'd like to study it as well," he said, and Gara nodded.
"Yes, that's fine."
"Piper," Kreacher called and with a crack, the elf stood beside the sofa.
Regulus made a small sound of dismay as he watched the poor elf's jaw dropping in horror. Piper had no warning about what he was popping in on...Leave it to Kreacher not to feel that was important. The thought caused Regulus to smile in spite of the situation.
"Sorry," he told Piper hastily.
"I'm alright...We should've warned you."
"Please bring two flasks," Kreacher said, beautifully unapologetic as usual.
Piper bowed and apparated away at once.
"We're closing you back up now," Gara informed.
"Everything looks fine and the green is all gone. It may be good for you to get some more blood into you soon just to flush everything very well, but it's gone."
"Thank you," Regulus said, lifting his eyes back to the ceiling again.
Though he hadn't glanced down even once at his opened torso, he still didn't wish to risk accidentally seeing it closing back up.
"How are you feeling," Bella asked, and only then did Regulus realize that the misery was all gone. In fact he felt happy and far lighter than he had...perhaps since childhood!
"I feel clean," he said, and Kreacher smiled in understanding and relief. That smile was beautiful, and Regulus smiled back.
"I can sit up and dress now," he asked and Gara nodded.
He was pulling his robe back on when Piper apparated back in with a flask in each hand. The elf looked relieved to not see Regulus's insides.
"Really sorry about earlier." Regulus couldn't help apologizing once more. "It won't happen again."
Gara smirked as she took the flasks and allowed the green liquid to flow into them.
"Yes. Hopefully that's only a once in a lifetime sort of thing."