Author's notes: Thank you to my beta 62442alMan (from the Chamber of Secrets forum)
Lilybet Edyvean- I'm glad I managed to clear up your doubts about the time line. Thank you for the review, I'm pleased that you're enjoying my story and that you like how I portray the characters.
Chapter three: Research.
Upon waking the following morning, Amelia was determined to discover who her dream admirer was. She took out an album of school photos, remembering his query of whether they had attended school together.
On many of the pictures, Amelia noted how awful she looked, seeming out of place surrounded by people that you'd have never have guessed were still at school if it were not for the uniforms. Every person seemed happy and full of life, while Amelia could always be seen reading a book. She also observed how close all of her friends looked. On many of the pictures, they were hugging or had their arms around each other. Amelia, however, could be seen peeking in to the photo at the sides, giving the feeling that she was not really part of the group.
Eventually she found a photo that had her mysterious man in it. He could just be seen sitting in a lonely corner, his nose in a book. He, too, appeared a friendless outsider. Amelia felt a warm tingle inside, as she admired his sleek black hair and penetrating eyes. Staring at the photo, memories flooded Amelia's mind, and she recalled him being a year older fellow Slytherin. Amelia also had a hazy recollection of seeing him in Diagon Alley, with Lucius and Narcissa's sister Bellatrix. Bellatrix, she remembered, had been beautiful like her sister, but also a very hard face woman who scared Amelia a little.
Nevertheless, she still couldn't make the connection, who was this Slytherin? Her Aunt, Uncle, and Bellatrix seemed to know him. Why was he at the house? Surely, someone of about eighteen would not have business with Lucius.
For the following few days, images of this unknown person filled her thoughts and Amelia waited with the hope that he would return. Many times Amelia considered asking Narcissa who the mystery man was, but self-consciousness got the better of her.
Still not being able to work out who this person was, and too afraid to ask Narcissa, Amelia hoped her aunt may have some photos that would shed some light on his identity. Finding her aunt in her usual afternoon spot in the drawing room, Amelia knocked and entered.
"Good afternoon Millie," smiled Narcissa.
"Good afternoon Aunt Cissy. I was just wondering if I could take a look in some of your old photo albums. After what you did for me last night I am determined to make the best of my looks, and wanted to look at some pictures for inspiration," Amelia lied.
"Oh, that is a great idea. Go ahead dear; all my albums are in my bedroom in the writing desk."
"Thank you. I will be sure to put them back, when I am finished.
Amelia left the drawing room, and went to her aunt's room. Finding the photo albums in the bottom left drawer of the writing desk. She took them out, and returned to her own room to browse through them.
Many of the pictures were of Narcissa and Lucius, some from their school days and many since they graduated and married. There was also a large collection of photos from Narcissa's school days, in every one Narcissa looked effortlessly beautiful. She was constantly surrounded by smiling, adoring friends and admirers.
None of these pictures, however, contained the unknown dark-haired male Amelia was searching for.
The very last album was solely devoted to pictures of Narcissa and her family. The pictures dated from Narcissa's birth, right through to the present day.
Narcissa could always be seen pictured with her blonde mother and raven-haired father, or her two older sisters. One sister was obviously the hard faced, yet beautiful Bellatrix. The other however was a woman Amelia had neither seen, nor heard mention of.
Next, Amelia came across a picture that appeared to be a large collection of Narcissa's family. Her parent's, sisters', and numerous other relatives could be seen waving in the grand hallway of a large stately looking house.
Amelia's eyes were quickly drawn to a black-haired man, with deep grey eyes. Again, the feeling of familiarity returned to Amelia, but something about the man seemed odd and she was sure he was not the man from the garden.
Still unsure of whom she was looking for, Amelia turned to the next picture. This one was of a ghastly looking woman who bore a striking resemblance to Narcissa's father. She was sitting with two young boys, who were obviously brothers, and quite possibly twins. The boys were both black-haired, with penetrating grey eyes. One seemed full of life, and had a mischievous glint in his eyes. The other looked withdrawn and reserved. Amelia was sure the quieter looking boy had to be the stranger she was searching for, and quite possibly Narcissa's cousin.
What Amelia really needed was more information about the boy pictured, but where would she get this information? She dared not ask Narcissa, as it would lead to too many awkward questions, and Amelia was quite happy to keep her obsession to herself. The confused girl considered looking through back issues of the Daily Prophet, but why would a person barely older than herself be in the newspaper?Feeling lost of new ideas, Amelia thought she might as well put the photo albums back, before she forgot and they got lost.
Placing the albums back in the writing desk, Amelia noticed a large regal looking, claret leather-bound book.
Embossed in gold lettering on the front read the words Toujours pur. Along with a majestic crest, depicting a shield with greyhounds rampant charged with a chevron, two five-pointed stars and a short sword. Amelia opened the book, to find a prologue that read,
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
Herein lies the family records of the prestigious pure-blood aristocracy.
Dating from 1845 to the present day.
Amelia flipped to the next page, there was a picture of a haughty looking man, with black hair and dark eyes. Above the picture, in gold lettering was the title, Sirius Black I: 1845- 1853.
Amelia guessed that Sirius Black the First must have been the founding member of the family. Obviously if Narcissa and the man she was looking for were in this book, they would be nearer the end, so she flipped forwards ten pages. The next portrait she found was of a man named Arctrus Black the second, dated 1901-present. It was still too far back, so she flipped to the last few pages. The next photo she saw was of someone she recognized, Bellatrix Black. On the opposite page to Bellatrix, was a woman Amelia recognized from Narcissa's pictures. Amelia had only seen the sister in her aunt's albums. Her name was Andromeda Black, and she had been disowned from the family for marrying a muggle-born. Again, Amelia turned to the next page. Here was an image of Narcissa she looked flawless as always. The photo on the page next to Narcissa was of a familiar raven-haired man. The title bore the name Sirius Black III: 1959- present. He had run away from the family. Amelia doubted Sirius Black was the man she was looking for, why would Narcissa be in contact with a family member that had run away. However, she guessed he might be one of the two boys from the picture she had discovered earlier. Amelia turned to the next page, hoping that Sirius Black did indeed have a brother. True to her suspensions, Amelia found the photo of Sirius Black's brother, and the man she had been searching after. Regulus Black dated 1961-present. Regulus Black was indeed the man she had met in the garden, and had been looking for ever since. She began to read the information on him.
Regulus Arctrus Black, born to Orion and Walburga Black, on the 26th July 1961. Younger brother of Sirius Black. Attended Hogwarts, in Slytherin house between 1972-1979. Cousin of Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa Black.
So, Amelia now had a name to the face and it was Regulus. He was Narcissa's younger cousin and had indeed been in the year above Amelia at school. Sighing, she placed the Black family record book in the drawer, and returned to her room to ponder the new found information.