Chapter Thirty-Four

"Expecto Patronum!"

The massive silvery dog burst forth from the end of his wand, instantly, vivid and bright as it bounded throughout the Defence classroom.

It wasn't the first time Harry had done it, but it was definitely the easiest. He had only to think of the memory, the precious memory of his father and his mother, together with him, in a moment so perfect, more than anything he could have hoped for.

It was a peace that Harry had never thought he'd be able to find when it came to James Potter.

He had his dad to thank for that.

He had Snape to thank for that.

"Excellent, Harry!" his Uncle Remus – Professor Lupin – beamed, proudly, as his patronus bounced around him in a swirl, before vanishing from sight.

Harry smiled, widely, unable to help it if he tried but only shrugged, almost bashfully, at the obvious pride on Remus' face.

Remus came over, grasping him by the shoulder as he continued to smile; "It must have been a happy memory, indeed, to have brought about such a powerful patronus."

Harry nodded; "It was my dad."

Remus' eyebrows lifted in obvious – and pleasant – surprise; "Your dad?"

Harry found himself eager to tell, turning to his Uncle Remus fully; "Yeah. He was there, and I was just a baby. Mum was making him go fishing with her dad – my grandfather – and someone called Vernon – I have to her ask her who he is – and he was totally hopeless at sorting all the stuff out. It was brilliant. And he held me up and…I could really feel him, Uncle Remus."

Remus was still smiling at him, but it was almost sad now, as he squeezed the shoulder he still held; "Did you see all that in a dream?"

Harry frowned, wondering if Remus thought it was all just a fantasy he had made up in his mind – like something Grace would do! – and he shook his head; "No. Snape found it for me."

"Snape?" Remus repeated, looking totally bewildered, before he cleared his throat and composed himself; "Forgive me. That's Professor Snape, to both of us."

Harry's lips twitched, not bothered by the scolding, especially as it was included for Remus, himself, at the slip. Frankly, Harry was quite happy to show respect, admiration, gratitude – you name it – to Snape – Professor Snape – here on out, until the end of time, for what he had done for him that weekend.

"You don't like him, do you?" Harry finally asked, pretty sure he knew the answer.

Remus frowned, looking thrown; "Oh. No. Harry, I wouldn't want you thinking that."

That was a pretty weird response.

"Why would it matter if I thought you don't like him?" Harry asked, just as bewildered as Remus had been when Snape had been dropped into the conversation in the first place.

Remus cleared his throat; "Because he is your teacher. And a mentor, considering his current teachings of you regarding the Occlumency lessons –" he hesitated, realisation seeming to come to him; "I wouldn't want your opinion of him and, by extension, your education affected by mine and Professor Snape's history. Am I right in thinking he pulled up this memory for you during your private lessons?"

Harry shook his head; "No. It was different. Malachi found something about how he can find lost memories. So, I asked Professor Snape if he could find me some memories of my dad. That's the one he found."

Remus was looking at him, no longer surprised or bewildered or, even, with him, his mind seeming to be totally elsewhere, and his expression was entirely unreadable.

"Malachi and me, we've been looking at some books about fishing. What we can find, anyway," Harry said, his tone becoming more disappointed as the words went on; "It's a muggle thing, so we can't really find much."

Remus was back; "Ah. Fishing. My own grandfather used to take me often. It's a lovely way to spend the time."

Harry brightened, eagerly; "You know how to fish? The muggle way?"

"That I do. I can even get some books to you two boys, if you're so inclined to read them," Remus said, smiling when Harry quickly started to nod before he'd even finished up his sentence.

"Yeah!" Harry agreed, eagerly; "And, maybe you could take us? Me and Malachi? At Christmas?"

Remus chuckled, ruffling his hair; "Easter would be a far better time, rather than shivering out on the banks in the height of winter, if you can muster the patience. I have some pictures of your dad – and Sirius – if you want them in the meantime."

Harry nodded.

He had already sent an owl to ask his mum – he knew she must have some – but he was keen to get his hands on anything, now that he had become more than just a stranger who people had always insisted was his dad.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"But, for now, we had better carry on," Remus said, adopting Professor-mode, and his hand dropping from his shoulder.

Harry nodded, lifting his wand once more; "Another Patronus Charm, Uncle Remus?"

"Hm. I think you've got that one pretty much down for now. Let's try something else."

Harry shrugged, in submission, not fussed what Remus had in mind for the rest of the lesson.

His mind still far, far away, back in a little house he didn't know, with two people he finally, after all this time, did know and loved, just as he should.

A memory that Harry had locked up tight in his heart, never to be forgotten again.

They stumbled across the threshold, back into the safe confines of the little cottage – their most romantic hideaway, as it was beginning to seem like, even if they were in the 'final hour', so to speak – in peals of laughter, the door clicking shut behind them.

It felt good to laugh.

It felt good to get out.

Everything felt good when he was with Julia Bradbury.

"Ice cream for breakfast," she said, laughingly, as she took a bite from the roll she had picked up for herself from the café they had visited – each morning, since the day she had coerced him into leaving these confines – before she raised her eyebrows; "Are you twelve?"

Regulus took a lick of the small amount of ice cream remaining on the top of the cone, unabashedly, with a smile; "Goodness, you sound like my son."

That only made her laugh more; "I know your son. I can well believe he's the daddy in this relationship."

"He's just so damn responsible, he certainly doesn't get that from me," Regulus grinned, taking a bite from the cone; "His mother's –" he hesitated.

Julia met his eyes, looking at him, expectantly.

Regulus cleared his throat, averting his gaze when he finished up what he was going to say; "His mother's influence, no doubt."

There was a quiet.

"I met her," Julia said, drawing his look back to her; "I can well believe that, too."

Regulus smiled; ever amazed at how she could just take it, anything awkward or uncertain or entirely foolish that he cast her way.

Julia went to the sink, washing up her hands; "And so ends our little week on the Coast."

"Hm. Duty calls, as they say."

Julia smiled, approaching him; "That it does, Mr Black," she wrapped her arms around his neck; "It's been a blast."

Oh. Was this goodbye, then?

Regulus wasn't sure.

Wasn't sure whether it was and wasn't sure whether he ought to protest otherwise.

To do so would imply a commitment that he wasn't sure – as much as he should wish it – that he'd be able to hold up.

He and Julia may have been sleeping together for years but they had never really talked until now.

As much as Regulus had eagerly gobbled up any and all things that Julia had started to reveal about herself to him these past few weeks since they had – and she was just as incredible, just as delightful as he had always imagined she would be when he had held himself back from ever getting this close – Regulus really didn't want her to know anything more about him than she already did.

Nothing would crash this whole thing down any faster than that.

It was just something Regulus could never do; to be open, like that.

Sirius had tried with him, in those short weeks before he had been killed and, obviously, there was Evelyn before him, who had tried and tried, so very hard to understand, as well. Both dying for his mistakes, in the end, as this bleak, twisted world would have it.

And now there was Malachi, always pressing, always getting just a little too close. Regulus longed for that closeness with his boy - in his mind, yes – the closeness that a father ought to have with his son but when it came down to it he just couldn't bear it. He couldn't let people see him and come inside into dark. Especially not the innocent, bright boy that was his son.

Nor could he do so with this woman, who was so utterly untouched by all of this; bright and laughing and alive and loving it.

Regulus Black did not love life.

It was only his son – whom he would never dream of willingly leaving to face this bitter, dark world alone – that anchored him to it.

But sometimes, often actually, when he lay in Julia Bradbury's arms he couldn't help the thought that death – when it should eventually, finally come for him - was not quite as appealing a state as it had always been since emerging from the other side of the war anymore.

Regulus' darkening thoughts made him turn away.

He should be turning her away, lest he taint her with all of this. He wasn't naive enough not to know what was happening here; he knew people well enough to know where this was going and how it was going to hurt, so very much, as much as it felt so very good right now, when the bubble burst.

Julia's hand on his chin drew him back to her, to face her, and he opened his mouth, going to make an excuse, an implication that, yes, this was goodbye then. It had been lovely, oh yes, but now it was over, and they could just be happy with the little time together they had had.

Regulus didn't get the chance to say a word.

Julia's lips pressed to his, kissing him deeply, and it all just melted away.

Regulus remained close when their lips parted; "Hm. You know where I live. The door is always open, Miss Bradbury."

"Is that right?"

"Certainly. How could you possibly resist the beautiful view and ice cream for breakfast?"

She chuckled.

"The beautiful view and ice cream for breakfast," she glanced at the window, nodding - as if actually considering the silly statement - before she met his eyes once more and tilted her head ever so slightly; "And are those the only reasons for me to come back?"

Regulus was entirely still.

He did not want her to go.

But, then, he couldn't ask her to stay.

A stalemate that was so very familiar – Regulus could never let Evelyn go, either, and that had been so very unfair – and so he just stood there, wishing things were different, and entirely sure that if he didn't give her a good enough reason to come back that she wouldn't.

Julia was not someone who wasted time.

Julia leaned in, touching her lips to his once more, before she drew back with a smile; "Later, Black."

She turned and left without another word.

Regulus simply stared at the door, heart heavy, and wondering if he should have said more. Should he have tried harder? Got his crap together and just swore he could do it and that she could come back – please do – or was this him, finally, doing what he had never been able to do before and actually letting something go.

Of course, it would be now, when he finally had something good, that he would get it together and set it free.

He didn't get to dwell much further than that.

A bright silvery doe – a patronus – swept into the room only seconds after the door had clicked shut behind her, as if it had been lingering there all along.

The cold, harsh reality of life not wasting any time.

Severus downed the potion in one gulp.

A calming draft.

How degrading.

It had been years since Severus had been reduced into taking one for himself, not since long before the Dark Lord's first fall, when he had struggled to keep his emotions from getting the better of him in the aftermath of learning his intentions to hunt the Potters.

He quickly felt the potion get to work, as he capped the phial and shoved it, carelessly, into the drawer of his desk.

He glanced at the timepiece, expecting Regulus' arrival imminently, and the sooner he did show up the better, lest his mind continue to dwell upon James Potter or Remus Lupin or Lily or Grace or the entirely grim reality, as it was becoming, that things were just not as they should be and, probably, never would.

That such tangible evidence of Lily and Potter's happiness should come so quickly on the heels of Lupin's theatrics and declarations that he could never give his own family what they deserved was just fantastic.

As if he did not have enough to dwell upon, with the Dark Lord's summons due at any moment, as well as his inevitable move against Harry; now, he was to be ever-haunted by the picture-perfect image of Mr and Mrs James Potter, fawning over their offspring, in a way that he and Lily had never had a chance to do.

Even when Grace was a baby, their life had been a careful choreography of planned park visits for Harry with Lupin or overnight stays and a Fidelius-protected home and an ever-present knowledge that Severus couldn't stay no; that only came years later, when Harry had gone to Hogwarts, and, even then, it was not the life that Lily or Grace or Harry deserved. Not at all.

And with time ticking on by – and Remus-Bloody-Lupin's need to douse them with the cold, harsh reality of their circumstances at every turn – Severus was losing hope that it was something they would ever be able to grasp. The longer it dragged on, the less time they would have together, and that was only if Harry proved them all wrong and could deal with it all emotionally – which Severus doubted very much – and also had the ability to protect and keep the secret from those who would do them harm – which Severus doubted even more!

He was just about to get to his feet, ready to work up a pace, when the door to his office opened and Regulus strode into the room, looking even more alarmed than what Severus felt.

"What do we know?" Regulus asked, immediately, without preamble.

"Peterson, Westbourne and Warren vanished, consecutively, throughout the course of last week. Butterman and his family were held under siege last night – from the little information the first responders were able to gather – before being murdered in their home."

Regulus shook his head, turning away, as he digested the information he would have already heard in the patronus message Severus had been driven to sending his way that morning; for it was the eighth consecutive day that Regulus had not turned up at the Foundation and this could wait no longer.

"Dammit," Regulus' voice was a whisper, his hand pressed to his forehead, before he turned back to Severus with an air of better composure; "Why them? What's the connection? They're all in separate departments. I'd bet they're barely acquainted enough to even be considered friends."

Regulus was, though. He knew them all. His employees. All dead, they were both certain.

"We are well aware what the connection is, Regulus," Severus said, not beating about the bush, for it was obviously him – or, rather, the Foundation – and he pushed on with the matter at hand; "I have managed to identify the addresses of them all within the Winfried Files that were documented last month."

Severus lifted the parchment in question as he said it, holding it out to him.

Regulus met his eyes, sharply.

Severus gave a single nod of concession; "It seems the information was leaked from within the Foundation."

Regulus let out a harsh sound that could have been a laugh, before he looked away, eyes darkening as he thought on the information. He strode towards the door of the office; "I want every person in the Administration Department – everyone who has even passed by that office within the past month – screened, twice over –" he pulled open the door; " – Shaw!"

Shaw was there in an instant; "Sir?"

"Get the Department Heads in here, would you?"

"Right away, Mr Black."

The runner was gone in a flash, Regulus closing the door firmly behind him, as he made his way back in Severus' direction; "We need to get everyone on that list relocated and under Auror protection right now."

"Already done. A meeting was held this morning for those concerned. They are awaiting their relocation notices."

"Thank you," Regulus said, his voice almost a sigh, as he lifted the parchment Severus still held out. He glanced at the names; "I should have been here."

"Yes, you should have. I hope she was worth it."

"It won't happen again," Regulus bit out, jaw clenching and not meeting his eyes, before he tossed the parchment back onto the desk; "Why did you wait so long? Why didn't you just come and get me? You knew where I was."

"And risk being identified by whomever it is you've been losing your mind over these past two months?"

"I haven't been losing my mind," Regulus growled, looking irritated; "And it's done with, in any case."

Severus was sceptical. Regulus still seemed particularly affected, from what he could see; "Nonetheless, I could hardly burst into your secret hideaway and reveal myself; who knows who this woman is and whether or not she can be trusted."

"It's Julia."

Severus pursed his lips together.

Oh, how wonderful.

Severus could hardly wait until that little situation completely blew up.

He could just imagine the earful he'd be getting from Lily when it did.

"What does the Ministry say about it?" Regulus asked, as if the words were never spoken; "Have they got Auror personnel ready?"

"Ah. No. With Crouch driving Scrimgeour so forcefully on the Dark Lord front, the Auror Headquarters are currently tied up dealing with the Death Eater activities in the South. As such, the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol will be taking on the case."

"You're joking," Regulus was incensed; "Scrimgeour cannot seriously think this has nothing to do with Death Eater activity?"

"As is, he is not entirely convinced it is not the work of Eugene Hopkins."

Regulus pursed his lips together and Severus noticed his hands shook, before he finally composed himself and said; "If it were Eugene, he would surely be arrested, and this would be done and dusted without fuss."

"Yes, if. But you and I both know Hopkin's motives lean in a far more focused direction and he would not violate the terms of his conditional release to take action only to toy with you. He'd want you dead."

Regulus gave him a dry smile; "Thank you, Severus. That's a great comfort."

"I try," Severus leaned back, crossing his arms; "Scrimgeour has issued instructions to gather evidence to present to the Magical Congress in the States regarding his possible involvement but thus far have come up short."

"Well if those at the Ministry aren't going to get their finger out and assign proper protection to these people, we'll just have to go through the Security Agencies," Regulus stated, as he sat down on the other side of the desk and drew over a quill and parchment; "I'll see to the expenses."

"Also gathered," Severus pushed the parchments he had acquired earlier that morning in Regulus' direction, having known that would be Regulus' course of action following the failure on the part of the Ministry, and Regulus took them and glanced over them, briefly, not even reading over them completely before he signed off on the legalities at the bottom and pushed it back in Severus' direction.

"And here was I thinking you'd protest the special protections," Severus remarked, as he stashed the parchments into his robes.

Regulus looked up from his quick scrawling, with a frown; "Special protections?"

"Two guards, outside your office at all times –"

Regulus opened his mouth to protest.

" – a second search and drill post, on entrance to the main building, and an additional presence in the Tonks Facility, on access to the Learning Centre."

Regulus hesitated.

Then he drew in a breath and went back to his writing.

"Not the Lab, too, Severus?"

"I thought that might be pushing it."

Regulus got a wry smile but only shook his head, continuing to write, quickly, until he finished up and stashed the quill, pushing the parchment in Severus' direction.

"Press release?"

"Yes," Regulus nodded, just as a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter," Severus called.

Heart walked in, followed closely by the other Heads of Departments, and Regulus drew in a deep breath, getting to his feet to greet them.

Severus got to his feet, also, finally feeling the welcome effects of the calming draft he had taken prior to Regulus' arrival wash over him.

A temporary solution.

It would take far more than a potion, after all, to sort out this mess.