Unlikely Allies, Chapter 18,
"I don't want my dad to know about any of this," Marlene confessed. She'd just tossed back what was left of her brandy, and the fiery liquid courage in her stomach had floated the honest words to the surface. "I didn't even tell him about this newly discovered psychic ability of mine, because I didn't want my family to somehow become tangled up in this. If they get involved, danger could find them. I can't worry about helping everyone else and put my own family at risk. I need to know they're safe and out of it, then I can freely focus on everyone else. Only my sister knows about this, and I'm not even sure why I told her."
"Probably because you needed at least one person close to you to know," Bellatrix said after several seconds. Marlene nodded, flushing as she realized she'd just spilled all that to Regulus's bloody family. She gave Kreacher a grateful look as he refilled her glass along with everyone else's. He was using a charm to do it, so she could only assume his hands were no longer steady. That was alright, though. Were she Kreacher, she'd be drinking too. He had to be under such a vast amount of personal stress, the poor little bastard! Not even free to love who he wanted without guilt and shame and fear...Oh shit! It hit Marlene then that she must be drunk, because otherwise she certainly would not be feeling that sorry for Kreacher. He was a git and a half, after all. Lifting her glass, she took a deep drink.
"We shall respect your wishes," Walburga told her. "We shan't tell your father. While Orion and I do not condone children keeping secrets from their parents, in this particular case your intentions are good." Walburga cast a firm look in her husband's direction before going on. "That means keep your mouth shut about all of this when around him, Orion." Orion frowned, but nodding, made no comment. His gaze went from his wife to Marlene, before returning broodingly to his brandy glass.
"When are we going to see Dumbledore, then," Regulus asked, tone resigned.
"The very concept of that still makes my head explode," Bellatrix groaned. "Are you certain that's the only way?" She glanced to Marlene as she voiced the question and Marlene shrugged.
"No, but it's all I've got for now. I shall certainly inform you should things change."
Bellatrix's dark eyes narrowed, obviously uncertain if Marlene was being sarcastic or not. As Marlene wasn't even sure herself, she made no comment, merely downing the rest of her drink. She glanced across the table to see Rabastan smiling at her. His smile was contagious, and she smiled back. Where Rod was like a strong shouldered supportive leader or big brother, Rabastan seemed like the fun one who never took things too seriously. Well except for Horcruxes. He did seem to take those seriously, which was good.
"So when are we going to see Dumbledore," Bellatrix muttered into her empty glass.
"I'd say when no one expects it," Marlene spoke up hastily. She didn't know if Bellatrix was asking her or Walburga and Orion, but she had an opinion on the matter. "Also when the least amount of people are at Hogwarts. So tomorrow could be good. You know, before term starts up. And no time like the present to get a move on this."" As she spoke, her gaze wandered to the Black elders, wondering idly if she'd had a hard time seeing much about Walburga or Orion because she'd seen them dead...Had that messed with her head or something, making it harder to see more about them when she'd tried to scry? Or was it because they may die anyway? She squeezed her eyes shut at that thought. It was too dreadful to contemplate, because it meant that all this could be for nothing. In that case, what was the point of having her gift anyway?
"Well if it's about going when the least amount of people will see us, plus as soon as possible, how about fucking now," Rabastan asked.
"Rabastan," Orion Black said. "Language."
Rabastan arched his brows in seeming incredulity, but made no comment.
"Tonight could work," Marlene said slowly. She smiled at Rabastan as the idea got better and better in her mind. "Brilliant idea, actually. With it being so late, it will be easy to avoid being spotted by anyone other than Dumbledore if we're careful."
"Elves can get around the Antiapparation wards," Regulus spoke up. "So Kreacher can apparate us directly into Dumbledore's office. Then we can be certain no one but him shall see us."
"Kreacher has never been to Dumbledore's office," the elf muttered peevishly. "How does Master Regulus suggest he find it."
Regulus nodded. "True enough. Just get us inside, and we'll manage."
"It may be wise if we weren't seen," Bellatrix said. "I mean especially Roddy, myself and Rabastan. We're not precisely trusted by the blood traitors and Muggleborns who are likely staying at Hogwarts over the holidays. No one with a decent family stays at school for the holidays. The three of us can hide under one of Uncle's invisibility cloaks. If Regi is seen visiting with his parents, they can simply claim it's about some of his classes or some silly rubbish like that."
"What about me," Marlene asked.
Bellatrix nodded. "Good point. You'd better hide under the cloak with us."
"It's a double date," Rabastan told her with a wink, and she blushed.
"A double date at Hogwarts with Dumbledore watching on. What I've always wanted," Marlene fake simpered."How ever did Santa know?"
Rabastan laughed appreciatively. "Santa is just a smart motherfucker like that, don't you know?"
"Rabastan," Orion said tiredly and Rabastan muttered an apology or at least something that passed for it.
"Should we at least have one more drink for fortification," Bellatrix wondered plaintively. Everyone agreed that was a good idea. After one more glass of brandy, Orion went up stairs to fetch the cloak of invisibility. Everyone sat around the table in silence with their own thoughts until he returned. When he entered the dining room, he tossed the gossamer fabric to Rodolphus.
"Has anyone come up with a logical reason that Walburga and I, as Regulus's parents, feel the need to speak with Albus Dumbledore about his classes so late at night," Orion wondered dryly. "Just in case anyone does happen to encounter us in the halls of Hogwarts, we should have a plausible story."
"You have insomnia," Rabastan suggested and Walburga gave a short laugh.
"We are quite busy, and this is the only time we had a moment," she offered.
Orion nodded at his wife. "As creative as Rabastan is, I prefer your suggestion, Burga."
"Good then," Walburga said briskly. "Now that we've gotten our story straight, let's get this done and over with." She rose smoothly to her feet, her baring regal like that of a proud queen.
Regulus nodded, rising as well. "I'll certainly rest easier and worry less once we have a safe and firm plan of action." He reached for Kreacher's hand as he spoke. Marlene rose and approached the Lestranges who were just getting to their feet as well.
"Let's get invisible together," Rabastan told her with a mock leer that made her giggle. He slipped an arm around her waste as Bellatrix moved close to Rodolphus, placing her arm around his waste in a similar pose. Looking drained, she rested her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes, waiting for what was to come. Once Marlene and Rabastan were close enough, Rodolphus tossed the cloak over all four of them. In a flash, the ground seemed to be moving under her feet and suddenly they were near the library of Hogwarts. Kreacher had obviously apparated them, and Marlene was struggling not to feel sick. She'd never drunk apparated before. Probably because though she'd had a few drinks, she'd never truly gotten drunk before. That brandy must have been strong because the blasted hallway was spinning in wide slow circles. She tightened her arm around Rabastan's waist and clapped her free hand to her mouth just in case she accidentally groaned or something. Orion, Walburga, Regulus and Kreacher set off in the lead, and the four under the cloak silently followed them. Regulus led the way to Dumbledore's office. No one said a word as they went, which was appropriate behavior for those not wishing to attract notice. As Marlene had expected, the halls were empty and quiet.
"There it is," Regulus said, gesturing at the moving staircase as they stopped walking. "Kreacher, do you want to just apparate us inside" It would save needless explanations being spoken out here for anyone to hear," he murmured, and suddenly they were inside of Dumbledore's office. Marlene hadn't expected the old Headmaster to be there. She'd expected him to be in his private chambers, and for them to have to sort out where that was, but no. He sat at his desk, regarding what appeared to be nearly naked pictures of some pretty lady. The caption above her head read Farrah Fawcett, so Marlene assumed that was her name. It sounded properly magical. "Is she your girlfriend," she wondered. He'd turned to face them, blue eyes startled momentarily at the sound of Kreacher's apparation, but at Marlene's question, he whirled back to the picture on his desk. His expression quickly turned to one of horror as his face went scarlet. Hastily he snatched a large book from a nearby book case and placed it over the photo. "Is that Marlene McKinnon," he asked, tone struggling hard for calm rather than the high state of embarrassed that he was obviously feeling. "Why ever are you invisible and what do you all want? Also I wonder, has knocking gone out of fashion?"
"We apologize for that, Sir, but we didn't wish for anyone to notice us," Regulus explained. As he spoke, Marlene dragged the cloak from herself and the three Lestranges. At sight of them, Dumbledore's eyes widened in open shock.
"We aren't here to crucio any of the Mudbloods who remained at school over the holidays, I assure you," Bellatrix drawled.
"Good to know," Albus murmured pleasantly and Bellatrix's lips twitched up into what was almost an amused smile.
"We are here to sort the best way to fight against...Him," Marlene said. She'd not used His bloody name this time! Yea for progress! Had the brandy helped out with that, she wondered idly, then had to bite back an amused titter at the idea of brandy helping one to keep mindful.
"Ah," Dumbledore said carefully. Marlene did not miss his slow blink at her words of explanation.
She chuckled. "Don't worry. They haven't placed me under any dark curse in order to learn your plans." Yep it had to be the brandy, she decided. Otherwise all of this shouldn't be so damned funny!
"Yeah," Rabastan Lestrange agreed, nodding at Dumbledore. "If you're all you're cracked up to be, you'd surely look for that and we'd be out of here in a matter of minutes. That or we'd all have to try killing you, and either way shit would just get messy." He sighed, shaking his head in mock regret and Marlene chuckled again. To her slight surprise so did Walburga Black.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "I think you'd all better start at the beginning," he invited. To his credit, his expression was only mildly bemused. Glancing briefly down at the nearly covered picture of the nearly naked woman, he flushed in embarrassment again. "And I think I need a drink. Does anyone else want one?"
"Yes, please," Everyone said, practically in unison.