Chapter 28 - Grimmauld


OoO


The moment Izzie stepped into Grimmauld place, she felt a shiver run down her spine and she didn't seem like she could warm up. Walburga and Orion were their icy, regal selves.

"Miss Miller." Orion Black started grimly, she tried not to flinch at the name. "I appreciate your punctuality."

"Of course, Mr Black. I wouldn't disrespect you after welcoming me to stay here." Izzie bowed her head slightly.

"Let's send your trunk to your room." Walburga at least tried to offer a strained smile as she waved her wand. Her trunk disappeared up the dark steps. "Regulus is in the library. Why don't you to get reacquainted and Kreacher will get you when lunch is ready."

"Thank you." She offered them a smile as they let her pass. She wanted to run to the library, to get to the one thing that made her feel safe and warm in this house, but she steadied her pace. She didn't want the Blacks to know how she was feeling. She turned the knob of the door; the door wasn't even fully open when Regulus crashed into her.

"Isabelle." He whispered as he hugged her tight.

She breathed in his familiar scent, feeling the curls on her cheek. "Oh, Reg. I can't believe you live in this house. I'm here for mere minutes and it feels like bugs are crawling over my skin."

"You get used to it." He said grimly as he pulled back. "How are you?" He asked as he tugged her in the library before closing the door behind them.

"Good. Lily's parents surprised us with a trip to Spain. We arrived back last night."

"Oh, that's why you are so tan." A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. They sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace.

"What about you?" Izzie frowned as she looked at the anxious teenager.

"Okay, been trying to keep a low profile around the house. Father is usually gone before breakfast, just like mum. Been mostly me and Kreacher, so that's good. You being here... it's giving me mixed feelings."

"How so?"

"I'm so, so happy that you are here. That I have you as company this summer. But I also hate it. I hate that you are forced to live in this dark place, with my parents. That they are still fixed on marrying us off as soon as possible. I hate that you're stuck in this because of me."

"Hey." She cupped his cheek, leaning forward to catch his eye. "I would do anything for you. Even if you push me away, drag me out screaming, I will still come back. I will still marry you if that means you won't get hurt."

"Isabelle..."

"No, I won't hear another word of it, you hear me? You are my brother, and I love you. You're not getting rid of me." She took the envelop from Remus out of her pocket before he could respond. "Your boyfriend asked me to give this to you." She whispered with a grin. She watched how his eyes lit up and the corners of his lips twitched up. He was beaming, it made her think of Sirius. You love him. She thought to herself, even though she wanted to scream at him. But she knew he wasn't the most open person about his feelings. Just as she stood up, wanting to give him some privacy, her whole body warmed up. Sirius.

"I'll give you some privacy." Izzie said as she walked over to the other side of the library and took an old grey dusty armchair near the window. Regulus just hummed in reply as his fingers skimmed the envelop. With a smile, she took the twin book from her bag and flipped it open.

My dear little Charmer,

You nearly gave me a heart attack when I read the first ritual, I really thought you had gone over to the dark side. But I did as you told me, the book is only for me to read. You magic, it felt amazing. I felt my whole body warm up. It felt like - no, I'm not going to say that, it's too sappy. This book – along with those fire messages are brilliant, just like you. I can't, but really I can, believe that you invented this.

Anyway, I'm so sorry I missed you. The healer came in late, and I was too nervous to apparate so I went side along with James. Who then, apparated a block from Lily's place, the idiot. I saw you disappear before my eyes. I missed you so much and now that I didn't get a chance to talk to you, to hold you, I'm even more worried for you being trapped in my parents' house.

Write to me the moment you're alone, I need to know that you're safe.
And how's my little brother doing?

Love,
Sirius

She quickly searched for a quill in her bag, ready to write back. She glanced over to Regulus who was still reading the letter, a small smile on his lips. With her own smile, she turned back to her book. She read Sirius message again, and her heart warmed when he said how her magic had felt for him.

Sirius,

I'm okay. Your parents let me and Reggie be alone, we're in the library now. Reg says they are more away from home than they are here, so that's a good thing. That way they won't talk about the wedding too much. It's okay that you weren't there to see me, I understand. Remus told me what happened to James's dad, I hope he is on the mend. I wished I had a chance to talk to you but c'Est la vie, I guess.
Reggie's - Reggie is okay. I think me being here will help him cheer up, I do seem to have the effect on some of the Black's.
How has your break been so far?

She glanced back to Regulus, who was frantically writing on a piece of parchment. A reply to Remus, if she would take a guess. She let her hand rest on the page as she watched Reggie. He looked so young and innocent. His hair was hanging like curtains in front of his face, but she could see the smile tugging at his lips. To be young and in love, she mused to herself. She glanced back at the book in her lap. Her feelings and emotions were conflicted when it came to Sirius. She believed that he loves her, she believed that he truly cares for her but still there was something holding her back. The trust issues. Her whole body ached for her to trust him again, but her heart needed time. Her fingers went unconscious to her lips. Remembering how it felt to have his lips against hers, how his body felt flush against her, how he tasted. It all made her head fuzzy. She had never felt like that with anybody, and this was only a kiss.

She was just about to close the book when her body warmth up again.

Merlin, Izzie!

You weren't kidding when you said I didn't need to look at the book to know you send me a message, again bloody brilliant, love.
I'm happy to hear my parents have kept their distance and that Reggie's okay. I just hope it stays that way now that you're there.
Break's been okay so far. Pretty boring without you here ;-) But you caught me, James and I have been mostly glued to our broomsticks. But I promise we'll lock them up in storage if Remus or Peter comes over.

Thank you for letting me hear from you so quickly. I was wondering if there was a possibility for us to meet? Or are you stuck to the house?

Love,

Sirius

She closed the book and tucked it in her bag before going over to Reggie. He was rereading the letter he wrote, a frown between his eyes. His knees were drawn up to his chest as the letter rested on his legs. She placed a hand on his knee.

"What's wrong?"

"Mother checks everything I send out." His frown deepened. "I can't send this to Remus, she will know."

"I have an idea." Regulus looked up hopeful. "Do you trust me?"

"Always." He nodded and without thinking he handed her the letter. She winked at him before waving her wand over the letter, he saw it burn up in front of him. "What did you do?" He nearly shrieked.

"I send him a fire message." She shrugged, hiding a grin.

"A fire message? What the fuck is a fire message?"

"Watch your tongue, mister." She couldn't stop the grin anymore. "It's something of my own invention. Trust me, Remus got your letter."

"You need to teach me!" He said excitedly, he suddenly looked like an excited six-year-old. "And you are bloody brilliant, Isabelle."

They are more alike than they think. Izzie mused with an internal chuckle. "Thank you." She smiled shyly. "I will teach you when we're back in Hogwarts, I promise. For now, I will be your personal deliverer. I taught Remus the spell yesterday, and he knows to wait until we send a message first." She glanced around the dark library. "Are we restricted to the house?"

"Officially no. Unofficially... I'm always 'encouraged' to stay indoors the first month of break. To reflect on what I did 'wrong' for the past year." He scoffed. "Nobody is allowed to visit. Once my school letter arrives, we go to Diagon Alley the next day and I get part of my freedom back. I can meet up with friends or they can come here, but they never do. Not that I blame them." He eyed her for a moment. "Do you want to see Sirius?"

"And Remus." She added, pushing down a blush.

"I'm sure they are going to let us out in a few weeks, but meeting Sirius or Remus is dangerous. My parents have spies everywhere."

"Yeah, I know the feeling."

"Have you heard anything from your father?"

"No, nothing." She frowned. "But also no disinheritance papers or something like that. It's weird." She mused. "I think they're up to something."

"Maybe because the wedding is still on, he thinks you are still on the right 'path'. If he finds out about you and Sirius-"

"There is nothing going on between me and Sirius!"

"Right." He said slowly, not believing a word. "Just be careful if you're planning to meet someone. Lily isn't safe either."

"Yeah, figured as much." She sighed letting her head fall on the back of the couch. Then a loud crack made her jump, Regulus just casually turned his head where his family house elf popped up.

"Kreacher has come to collect you for lunch, master Regulus, miss Miller."

"Thank you, Kreacher." Regulus said, and the elf disappeared again with a loud crack. He looked at Izzie as she clutched her heart. "You get used to it." He chuckled lightly before gracefully stood up from the couch. He offered her his hand. She took it smiling but pulled back once she was up.

"Hold on." She held up a finger as she quickly wrote a message and send its on its way. "Told Remus not to answer until tonight after we send him another."

"I didn't think he would answer quickly, my letter was rather long." He offered his arm and they walked to the kitchen together. "But good thinking, don't want him to answer in the middle of lunch."


OoO


But if they did, they didn't have anything to worry about. Both of his parents were out of the house. Regulus found it mildly strange since she was their guest and it was her first day here, but they didn't complain. Kreacher was a good cook and after serving them lunch, he went upstairs to clean.

Izzie's room was on the second floor, next to Reggie's and across from Sirius's old room. The door was shut, and she could feel wards over the door. She frowned at Sirius' closed door before she followed Reggie in her room.

"They locked it the day he ran away, I've never been able to get in. I tried once... they found out." He said evasively, looking at a black vanity against the wall.

"What did they do?" She asked, coming to stand next to him as he turned. Regulus was silent for a moment, and she let her gaze wander around the room. It had dark grey walls, green curtains and black silk bedcovers.

"The usual, burn marks." He shrugged. "Sirius probably told you about it."

No, he didn't. She thought to herself, as her heart clenched. She just hummed, her eyes at the grey, dull nightstand.

"I wish I were that brave." He said so quietly, she nearly missed it.

"You are brave for staying here, Reggie. It takes a lot of guts to stay in a place like this."

"But I don't want to, but I don't have any place to go." She heard his voice tremble and pulled him in a hug before she could see the tears.

"It's okay, I don't either. Yes, I have Lily and Remus, but I can't live at their place, a few weeks maybe but that's it." She caressed his hair softly. "The most important thing now, is that we have each other."

"James once offered me to stay at their house." He mumbled against her chest. "But I was too afraid to say yes; too afraid my parents would come after me and..."

"Shh, it's okay." She said in hushed tones. "I'm not leaving you. I'm off age now and once we have the whole marriage thing sorted out, you'll come live with me, and you don't have to come back here. If that is what you want, I promise you, you will never have to see this place again."

Regulus was clutching his hands on the back of her shirt, holding on to dear life. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Izzie just held onto him until he eased away on his own.

"So, this is your room." He gestured around us. "Since my folks are old fashioned, we'll be sleeping apart until..."

"I have enough sleeping draughts with me." She nodded, ignoring the subject of marriage, just like him.

"Still trouble sleeping?"

"Yeah, I still need the potion, or I need you or Remus."

"I'm sorry." He whispered and he reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly.

"I know you have them too, Reg." Reggie paled at that and stared at her wide-eyed. "How many times did we sleep in the same room? How many times did we sleep together? I know, Reg. There is nothing to be ashamed of."

"We're quite the pair, aren't we?" He chuckled dryly.


OoO


Regulus parents came home right before dinner. They were now all seated on the table. Izzie next to Regulus and his parents across from them.

"Miss Miller, I would like to go over our house routine."

"Of course, Mr Black, but please call me Isabelle, we're going to be family soon." She put on a fake smile.

"Isabelle." He smiled back, sending a shiver down her spine. "You can call me Orion. Walburga and I have a rather busy schedule, so we wanted to apologise for being away so often. It's not courteous of us."

"It's okay, Orion. You shouldn't have to drop your work and important meetings just for me. Regulus has been good company and I've brought my books to keep me busy."

"That's sounds lovely." Walburga's eyes flickered between me and Regulus with a smile.

"So, about our schedule. Walburga and I leave every morning at seven thirty and are mostly away for the day. In the weekends, the chances of us being home are slightly larger."

"That means the weekend are the best for planning the wedding."

"That's sound great, Walburga."

"I saw your father a few hours ago." Orion commented lightly. Izzie stiffened and Regulus placed his hand on her knee under the table, trying to sooth her. "He was wondering how the wedding planning was going and how you are doing. Your uncle was there too, and he wished for me to forward you a message." He held out a sealed envelope. She forced a smile as she accepted it. "I told them we officially start planning this summer and once the Hogwarts letters arrive, we'll go to Diagon Alley for your things and get you both measured up from your wedding robes."

"That sounds good, father." Regulus said with a stiff voice.

"And Isabelle-" Walburga started. "We would like for you to stay inside the house for the rest of the month. It's the best way to get to know our Regulus without any... distractions. You are allowed in the garden of course."

"I think that's a-" A warmth spread through her body, Sirius wrote her another message. She had forgotten to write back. "a great idea, Walburga. I think it's really important to get to know my future husband. I will not correspond with my fellow classmates until the month is up, so I can focus solely on Regulus."

Orion and Walburga seemed rather pleased with that, a smile on their dark faces. She was playing the part of devoted fiancé rather well, she thought to herself. "It seems that everything I heard about you is indeed correct. Your father was praising you immensely, but now I can see why."

"And you don't need to worry about the wedding too much, dear." Walburga said. "It's going to be a traditional pureblood wedding, so nothing I haven't thrown together before. You just enjoy getting to know our son."

"I'm looking forward to it."


OoO


That night, Izzie was sitting on her bed, her back against the headboard while Reggie sat at her feet, leaning against the bedpost. Both were writing, and every once in a while, she waved her wand to send Reggie's letter on its way. Regulus respected her privacy and never asked what she was writing or about her expressions when she read something of Sirius on the page.

I: I'm sorry, I couldn't answer before, first lunch then your parents. We can't get out of the house for the rest of the month. They want me and Reg to get to know each other before the wedding.

S: If they only knew how much you know each other already.

I: Yeah :) I also promised I won't correspond with my friends. But they don't know about this or my fire messages ;)

S: Did I already say that you are brilliant? Doesn't matter, I'll say it again. YOU ARE BLOODY BRILLIANT, IZ! How did it go, you know, with my parents?"

I: Okay, talked about the wedding a bit. Your mother is going to plan everything, said it needed to be a traditional pure blood wedding. We're going to Diagon Alley, the day after our letters arrive, not only for books and such but for ... wedding robes.

The space beneath her last words, stayed empty for a few minutes. She hated to talk to him about it, but she didn't want to hold anything back and wanted to tell the truth of what was going on.

S: Can't you just apparate the both of you here?

I: You know I can't. They won't let Reg just go, not now that he's the sole heir. If I disappear with him, the whole pure blood community will look for us.

S: I know, I – I just hate this.

I: Me too. She sighed loudly, making Regulus look up from the letter from Remus that had appeared. I'm going to bed, just drank my sleeping draught. Goodnight, Sirius.

S: Goodnight, love. Talk to you tomorrow. I wish I was there with you.

She breathed in deep at his last sentence before closing the book. She took her sleeping draught from the nightstand and drank it in one. She glanced over to Reg, who was scribbling down something. She took a piece of paper and wrote her own letter to Remus. To let him know about her day and that she was fine, and that she was now heading to bed.

"I just wrote to him that we're turning in." Regulus blushed as he handed her the letter.

"Oh, I think there is more in this than just a goodnight." She chuckled as she burned the two letters.

"Oh, shut up." He nudged his foot against her with a shy smile. "Goodnight, Isabelle." He kissed the top of her head as he climbed out of bed.

"Goodnight, Reggie."