Chapter Twenty-Seven: On the Right Path?

Dear Reginold Black,

Your mother and I hope you are faring well and staying out of trouble. You must uphold the honorable name of Black as your older brother is making a mockery of it. Your mother heard from Elsie Rosier's mother that he was dancing with his friends. I do not know what is worse; that they were also boys or that their blood status is appalling, blood traitors and a half-blood. What is your brother thinking? I only know that he will be the death of my sister-in-law. However, I am not entirely unconvinced that he can't be reasoned with, especially since Narcissa has informed me that so far he has not broken his agreement with her in order to see you. My sister-in-law is blinded by her rage which I can understand as she has been the talk of the pureblood families. This scandal with your brother has even gotten an official reprimand sent from a rather important pureblood to your mother about her getting that boy straightened out. I do believe you are the one able to make him see sense. If he does not attend Bellatrix's wedding it will be a scandal all over again and your mother has just gotten the last one to settle down. Honestly a Black in Gryffindor! I knew that boy was trouble but I never imagined he would stoop so low just to get a rise out of your mother. At least they have you to be the sensible one.

Surely you are intelligent enough to see the benefit of having your brother behave this summer. I hate to find out what the physical toll on your mother will be if he doesn't. You must talk to him and get him to agree to at least try to behave. You work on your brother and I will work on Walburga. Both of them have such a temper, they are more similar than they know though they would hate to hear it. I trust you will not let them know of my interference. It always falls on the more logical members of the family to bring order. I know you are still young but from what Narcissa writes you are shaping up to be a dignified young man. Perhaps some of your good influence can rub off on your brother. Just do not let the reverse happen. You must be the stronger influence for the sake of the Black family. I hope your studies have been going well. I have included some chocolate frogs as I hear they are quite the trend nowadays. I have also gifted you fifty galleons as means of encouragement so that you will continue to behave yourself and not make your mother ill as your brother has taken to doing.

Best of luck,

Druella Black

Regulus stared at the first letter he had received from his aunt before opening the newest letter which was much shorter and briefly stated that Aunt Druella had gotten his mother to give Sirius a chance provided he behaved himself. Regulus groaned over his porridge then quickly straightened as Narcissa cleared her throat pointedly. He had to be a 'young gentleman' because Sirius wasn't. How was Regulus ever supposed to get his brother to agree to behave? He would have a better chance at convincing a dragon to become a vegetarian. Regulus shot a rather nasty look at the fifth-year Gell's dragon which had taken to stalking the common room and biting people's ankles. Regulus, who hadn't gotten one himself, couldn't wait until the dragons disappeared after the second task. At least that was what the rumor was, then the enchantment would end, and Toady; the recently renamed Napoleon could go back to feeling safe in his home without risk of being roasted.

Regulus glanced at the Gryffindor table which meant he had to not so smoothly turn around in his seat to find Sirius gesturing wildly and looking as if he was having a biscuit he was holding fight one that James was holding. They were such morons. Regulus turned back around and stared at his porridge feeling rather empty. Even if his aunt hadn't all but bribed him Regulus would have still wanted to convince Sirius to behave over the summer. He just had no idea how to go about it, he had already argued with Sirius in passing as he had taken to seeking out Sirius himself now. This was both in an attempt to get Sirius to write to their mother to let her know he was sorry and would behave better and because he was hoping Sirius had found something useful since he and his friends had not. They had split up into two groups to investigate the two schools but had only discovered that most of the Abraesalts students liked the wizarding band Backwards Broomsticks and were horrible singers and that Digore students had a rather crude sense of humor that made Regulus go red with embarrassment just thinking about it. He supposed he should be grateful Sirius seemed as content to avoid the other schools as most of the stuck-up Gryffindors otherwise he might have been returning home with a wide new collection of swears that would not end up well for him.

"Regulus...psst Regulus..." came an eager voice from behind him pulling him out of his thoughts.

Regulus turned around surprised to find Emma, his pureblood Ravenclaw friend, standing there with an excited gleam to her eyes. He had told everyone to keep him updated but he honestly hadn't expected much out of them. He got to his feet quickly before Emma could blurt out something that would draw the attention of his cousin. Thankful that Emma was pureblood, Regulus walked out of the Great Hall with her motioning for Lucinda and Gregory to follow. The two joined them and Emma walked quickly away from the Great Hall into an empty classroom before turning to Regulus with an excited squeal and bounced on the toes.

"You won't believe what I found out!" Emma began happily, glowing with her usual radiance when she was the center of attention and keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

"Well, what did you find out?" Regulus asked expectantly, crossing his arms across his chest as that was a position his mother seemed to successfully take when she wanted to make it clear she did not want her time wasted.

"Well, I..." Emma began then was cut off quickly as three foreign students appeared looking stern.

"There she is," shouted an older student, who Regulus would guess was from one of the visiting schools. She was talking slowly and followed by two other students who entered the classrooms and glared at the four fourth years, "That's the one who stole my wand," a dark-haired girl exclaimed harshly, pointing an accusing finger at Emma. Regulus wished the foreign students were wearing their distinguishing school robes and tried to figure out what school they belonged to based on their accents. Regulus felt Emma bristle and interjected quickly with all the haughty authority he could muster.

"I am going to presume you don't know who you are talking to. That is quite an accusation. You should leave now." Regulus declared wishing he was taller than the older students who towered over him. He hoped it wasn't too obvious his knees were shaking slightly. He grew pale as the other two students blocked the doors.

"I know all about you Regulus Black and I know all about your snooping. I won't warn you again to stay out of it." a gangly boy threatened darkly, his shifting face hard to focus on. Regulus realized they were purposely keeping an accent out of their tone, that's why they were all talking so slow. He also realized as he tried to place a face to a name or at least find some sort of distinguishing feature that the students must be using some sort of enchantment as he physically could not get himself to remember more than the generic outline of their face.

"Accio wand," the girl called firmly, and much to Regulus' dismay her spell was answered by a thin shape shooting out of Emma's bag that she attempted to grab but slipped through her fingers. The girl added a stinging spell and Emma yelped in pain, leaping back.

"Hey! Leave her alone. We know you're cheating somehow," Regulus began but was silencio'd quickly.

"And...and his brother knows about it!" Gregory blurted out, backing away slowly with his hands in the air.

"You moron, expellia,..." Lucinda began but was quickly cut off.

"Silencio," called the third foreign student with the amusement most older students had when faced with a first-year who dared think they could face them.

As unfair as four first years against three...at least fourth years was Regulus' cheeks still burned with shame, unable to utter a word like his three friends. He focused instead on trying to decipher anything from the students feeling elated at being right. He wasn't even considering what these students might do, he was just so justified in being right.

"Now let's make quick work of this. We have more important things to take care of."

"Shouldn't we find out what they know?"

"Don't be ridiculous, you don't actually think they know anything."

"Tsk, I guess not. Aguamenti Maxima."

The next thing Regulus knew he was being flown back by a jet of water. It took him a few seconds to shake off the shock and get to his feet, his sopping wet robes weighing him down. In that short amount of time, the older students were gone and a gushing fountain of water was still going off, slowly filling up water in the classroom. Regulus rushed to the door, the constant outpouring of water already up to his ankles making a panic flutter inside him. Surely older students wouldn't go as far as killing younger students...would they? As Regulus tried the door handle and found it locked he looked back to his friends who were all looking at him expectantly in sopping uniforms as well.

"Why...aren't you opening the door Regulus?" Lucinda asked in a high-pitched voice, her eyes extremely wide. Regulus wanted to cry but he was the leader, he was a Black. He fumbled for his wand scolding himself harshly for not even trying to use it against the older students.

"Alohomora." He tried the handle again, rattling it desperately, nothing. "Bombarda," he shouted and in normal circumstances, he would have been delighted at how well such an advanced spell worked. But instead, he just felt dread weighing him down even more than his wet robes. The spell had worked, leaving large cracks in the wooden door but the students must have enforced that as well. They were actually trying to kill them...

"Regulus...come on quit playing around..." Gregory attempted, sounding just as scared as Emma burst out into tears.

"Shut up! This is all your fault. Shut up Emma," Lucinda screeched at her covering her ears. They were already up to their wastes in water. Regulus blinked back tears feeling ill. Think...think!

"Kreacher," he called desperately but of course he didn't appear. His mother had made sure he wouldn't be able to summon Kreacher as it was dangerous for him to become too friendly with 'lesser beings'. "Can any of you summon your house-elf?" Regulus asked planning to sound calm and in control but instead sounding as high-pitched and terrified as the rest of them. Two blank faces stared at him and Emma was crying too hard to be comforted. "THINK!" Regulus shouted angrily and both of the cousins shook their heads.

"Ti...Tibby...I think...Tibby!" Gregory shouted clearly but nothing happened. Regulus groaned glad Narcissa wasn't around to scold him for such unruly behavior. Tears pricked at the edges of his eyes and he almost started laughing hysterically because if Narcissa was here they would never have been in this mess. Regulus found it hard to swallow as he remembered Sirius warning about it being dangerous. With a burst of motivation and energy, Regulus paddled his way back to the door and shouted Bombarda once more and attempted to do so again but ended up swallowing a mouthful of water. So instead of saving the day like any member of the House of Black should have been able to, Regulus just ended up coughing and crying. Useless as ever.

"We're going to die, ... I don't want to die," Lucinda wailed and tried to cling to her cousin who was already doing his best to keep himself and Emma above the water as it seemed she had passed out.

"I'm sorry I never should have gotten us involved. My brother was right I'm sorry," Regulus sniffed as the water continued to rise, forcing them to press their faces against the ceiling. Then Regulus heard a whooshing sound and all four of them followed the burst of water that tossed them this way and that before they all slid into the hall which was covered in a thin layer of water.

Regulus quickly wiped his eyes ready to convince anyone it had been water and not tears in his eyes. The figure of their hero began to come into view when they heard a very stern voice call out to them.

"What do you four think you are doing? I would have expected this out of your brother but not you," Prefect Liam snapped and it took Regulus a few seconds to realize that the Gryffindor prefect that Sirius had bragged to him over the summer about annoying wasn't on the ceiling, rather he was upside down. Regulus pushed himself off of Gregory who groaned and coughed a few times apparently just coming to.

"It wasn't us sir. It was Ryan." Lucinda retorted quickly. That was when Regulus realized the one who must have opened the door was Ryan. Regulus knew that Lucinda was blaming him because he was an easy cape goat, because there was no way some prefect would believe the truth, and because Ryan was seen as lacking as far as the other Slytherins who mattered were concerned. Understanding the logic still didn't stop the guilt from settling in. Regulus even found himself briefly catching Ryan's eyes and looked away quickly feeling awful. What did Ryan expect him to do? It's not like he even had much of a choice!

"Is that true Mr. Black?" Liam asked suspiciously since Gregory was unconscious and Emma who was shaking quietly was known throughout all of Hogwarts as a liar. Regulus nodded, not looking at Ryan. It wasn't personal; he just couldn't afford to get in trouble.

"Very well. Twenty points from Slytherin and you will be following me Mr. Gordon to your head of house to discuss your detention.

"Yes, sir," Ryan stated politely, not sounding surprised and not even trying to deny the accusation. This made Regulus feel even worse.

"He also tried using an unforgivable curse on us sir," Lucinda cut in no doubt seizing the opportunity to get rid of the "plague of the Slytherins" as Narcissa and Lucius called him. But even Regulus had his limits.

"That's not true, Prefect Liam, sir. Lucinda is just upset because Gregory passed out because of the spell. It wasn't meant to be malicious." Regulus cut in as Liam had grown from stern to pissed, going so far as to point his wand at Ryan, only seeing a Slytherin when he looked at the saddened boy. A Slytherin and therefore a threat. Sure, Regulus, Gregory, and Lucinda were all Slytherins but he had realized early on that everyone at Hogwarts saw the "first year' part before the Slytherin. Ryan gave Regulus a grateful look which just made Regulus feel worse.

"Ms. Pucey, I don't care if you are upset, that is a serious accusation to make. Five more points from Slytherin. Mr. Gordon follow me." Liam scolded, waving his wand and whispering a spell that made all of the water disappear. He must have still seen Slytherins, or maybe it was because he was Sirius' brother, because Liam had "accidentally" forgotten to dry off Regulus' robes like he had the others.

"Is he gone now?" Gregory asked from the ground. "Oww, what the hell LuLu," he added as Lucinda punched his shoulder.

"You were pretending to be unconscious. Don't do that, you moron!" Lucinda cried angrily, assailing her cousin with a flurry of punches.

"Stop punching me, LuLu. I was unconscious at first but I figured it was best to stay that way until everything was sorted out. Why didn't you go along with the lie Regulus?" Gregory asked, sounding confused. They were all looking at him with confusion, except for Emma who was still staring at the ground as if she might never get up.

"Because that would have led to an official investigation. They would have checked his wand for the last spell he used," Regulus explained quickly, having already come up with a second excuse to refute Lucinda's lie, well part of it, in regards to Ryan.

"Hang on, was that why you had the wand, Emma?" Lucinda asked angrily.

"What spell did you find?" Regulus interrupted, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. Deep down he knew that blaming Emma wouldn't do any good but it was really hard not to hold her at least partly responsible for this mess. Not only had she stolen an older student's wand but she had gotten caught! At least they knew they were in fact on to something though.

"...I couldn't figure out the spell...I heard them...talking about how...she had figured out the spell that would be the key to their mission during the tournament," Emma explained in a small unsure voice, her usual excitement and outgoingness gone.

"We can't give up now," Gregory spoke up first, daring to voice what they had all been thinking about.

"But we almost died. I won't ask you to look into this further if you don't want to," Regulus protested weakly, personally not knowing what he would be able to do by himself if his friends decided to call it quits.

"Those arseholes almost killed them, if we don't foil whatever scheme they are cooking now then we don't have any right to call ourselves purebloods!" Lucinda declared passionately and when Emma didn't protest Regulus nodded at them feeling his respect for his friends grow.

"That's that then." Regulus decided, having no idea where to go from here but feeling better now that it was officially none of them would be giving up.

"See Sirius, it's not only Gryffindors who are brave," Regulus thought to himself rather bitterly, already deciding he would keep the near-death experience out of what he would tell his brother...whenever he saw him next. Although Regulus was beginning to realize he didn't actually need his brother's help after all.