Chapter Sixty-Eight
"Severus?"
Severus lifted his head, from where he was crouched before the small bookcase in the basement, eyes finding Lily as she descended the stairs.
Upon seeing, for sure, that it was him she tucked her wand into her night robe, tilting her head to the side as she approached.
"It's the middle of the night."
"My apologies, for disturbing you," Severus said, straightening up; "I had need of something." He indicated vaguely in the direction of the bookcase; "I thought, perhaps, I'd find it here."
"A book?" Lily frowned, approaching and he nodded as she reached him, easily slipping her arms around his waist.
"Yes," he conceded, touching his lips, briefly to her forehead, before he glanced around the basement at the various books scattered here and there; "I thought you might have some of the lost works on bonds and connections that may form between minds. From your Fellowship."
"The one you loaned me?" Lily remembered, stepping out of his arms to get it; "I don't keep precious things like gifts from you just lying around, Severus," she said with a little grin.
Severus smiled, then, a little but she could tell he was more keen for the book than her presence, that night, and she unlocked the cabinet, finding it and handing it over.
"Is this about Grace?" she asked, as she eyed the title.
Mind Links: Bonds Beyond Magic.
"No," Severus said, quietly, his eyes upon it; "It is Harry." He met her eyes; "He has not yet come to you?"
"About what?" Lily frowned, immediately concerned.
"The Dark Lord. The link between them has made itself known once more. One I fear occlumency may not be enough to subdue."
"How so?" Lily asked, uneasily; "I thought you said his occlumency was good – better than you thought it would ever be – that he –"
Severus put a hand on her arm, interrupting her; "I have done what I can to lock his mind to the Dark Lord, for now, until I know more. And the Headmaster has been informed and is doing what he can, also, to learn what it is that we are dealing with."
"But you're worried. I can see it. You don't think Harry can keep him out? What more – what stronger defenses does the mind have against such attempts to enter than occlumency?"
"There is no stronger defence. There ought to be no need of one. Occlumency is resolute. It prevents access to visions, to memories, to the Imperius, even to possession. That the Dark Lord has been able … Dumbledore believes – suspects – that something may have happened the night Black was killed; that the experience bonded them, in some way, as part of the prophesized Marking."
"Bonded, how?"
"Whatever it is, I'll find it," Severus stated, assuredly, tucking the book into his robes; "Will you be attending the Opening Gala tomorrow?"
"Yes," Lily nodded, though her mind remained on Harry and what connection he may have inadvertently forged with Voldemort; "As employees, it's mandatory, isn't it? You'll be there?"
"I will. Will you be bringing the children?"
Lily got a little smile, unable to help herself at the way he said it - at the way it sounded – before she nodded; "I think so. It's safe, isn't it?"
"Indeed," Severus' lips twitched; "The Dark Lord is rather…frustrated, shall we say, by the new measures placed upon the Foundation's protections. Thus far, no weakness in the defences have been found."
"Well. At least some places are still safe," she said, before she gave him a smile; "The four of us all together in one room. You think we can handle it?"
Severus got a smile then, a real one, even if it were brief.
"We shall have to be on our guard."
"Oh," Lily grinned, shaking her head, before taking his face in her hands; "Of course."
She kissed him, deeply, and his hands came up to hold her wrists; as if to stop or hold her closer, she wasn't sure. And he got another little smile when they drew back, their faces still close as he simply looked back at her, breathing a sigh through his nose.
And then he pressed his lips to her cheek – "Tomorrow" – before he went by her to leave.
"G'night."
The Foundation was busier than ever.
Swarms of people spilled out onto the grounds either in rows or congregated in groups, waving their tickets and filling the air with their laughter and chatter, as they waited to be screened and granted access to the Gala that would reopen the facility to the public once more.
If any were concerned in light of what had happened at New Year, one wouldn't know it from the hordes of people pilling in through the gates.
Severus headed down the office corridors, making his way to Regulus' office through his own – lest he be spotted – determined to speak with him before the festivities began.
He went to their adjoining door, not bothering to knock before flinging it open, and – of course! – Regulus quickly sprung apart from the woman he'd been tangled up with, in his office, having a fine time of it while the party that he insisted be thrown was about to begin.
"Miss Bradbury," Severus greeted her, doing his best not to roll his eyes at the scene before him, as both straightened up themselves and their clothing.
"Can I help you, Severus?" Regulus asked, lifting his eyes to the ceiling with a grin on his face.
"Yes, you can," Severus said, without preamble; "Business that cannot wait."
"I'll just –" Julia indicated at the door and Regulus gave her a little smile – with the eyes of a complete idiot in love – as she made her departure.
"I thought that was done," Severus said, as he pulled up the chair opposite the desk and took a seat.
"Not so much so, anymore," Regulus said, walking almost with a bounce – not unfamiliar but it had been a while since Severus had seen it – before he took the seat opposite, on the other side of the desk, raising his eyebrows; "Is something wrong? Narcissa? Has she –"
"This is not about your cousin," Severus quickly diverted the subject, not willing to be drawn into another of Regulus' guessing games as to what the Dark Lord had assigned Draco to do – and why his cousin was losing her mind over it – turning the focus to the much more pressing matter of; "Mind links. Do you have anything on them?"
"Mind links?"
"Yes. The Research Centre is particularly under stocked on that area of inquiry; I thought you might have something on it in your personal stores."
"Is this about the information I gave to Lily? The horcruxes –"
"This has nothing to do with horcruxes nor your ridiculous quest for sainthood."
Regulus rolled his eyes, but he did not look annoyed nor nearly so agitated as he had done in recent weeks, getting a grin instead as he leaned back in his chair and indicated the bookshelf; "Everything I have, Severus, is yours. Help yourself."
Severus got to his feet, going to look and retrieve any volumes that may be of use that might explain what was going on between Harry and the Dark Lord.
"Have you heard about this movement that's rising?" Regulus asked from behind him, after a few minutes of silence, drawing Severus' eyes back over his shoulder in his direction.
Regulus was leaning back in his chair, his feet up on the desk, as he read through the paper – Elijah Greengrass' paper, in fact – lifting his eyes to Severus; "The 'One World' movement, that our colleagues have been talking about. Apparently, it has been rather inspiring. Particularly among the youths."
"I have heard nothing of it."
Regulus cleared his throat, dictating part of the passage.
"- how can one expect any different than fear and mistrust – a breeding ground for hate and violence – if we are to rely upon an enforcement of segregation, casting a veil between worlds –" Regulus cut off, with a smirk, rolling his eyes almost fondly; "Sounds like something my son –"
A knock at the door drew both their attention, and Regulus tossed the paper aside; "Come in."
Cornelia stuck her head around the door, meeting his eyes first shooting him a bright smile; "Oh, hello, Severus. Hey Boss, think there's gonna be a riot down here if you don't get up on that stage and get this thing started like, an hour ago."
Regulus chuckled, getting to his feet; "On my way."
Cornelia smiled and left, the door clicking shut behind her, as Regulus made his way over to him – slapping him on the back when he got to his side – and shot him a grin; "Ready for this?"
Severus glanced at him, and it was difficult not to smile or smirk in turn at the grin and the – entirely unexpected – return of the spark in his friend's eyes that had been absent for quite some time, now, and he inclined his chin.
"I shall forgo the opening address, Regulus. Do try not to break the stage with the swelling of your head; there's only so much weight it can take."
Regulus laughed, then, and nodded; "And you, do try and join us, sometime; don't keep your head stuck in these books all afternoon. I saw a certain three people on arrival that you'd be quite happy to see, I imagine."
"It is best that we are not seen together; not even two, nevermind the four of us."
Severus piled up the books he had selected, making his way in the direction of his own office; "I shall attend. In the meantime, you ought to not keep your adoring –" Severus rolled his eyes; "- public waiting."
Regulus snickered, as he pulled open and headed out through the door.
Regulus headed in the direction of the ballroom, a spring in his step and a smile on his lips, as he rounded the corner of the office corridors.
Suddenly he ran into another – one of many others – who were spilled and bustling about in the entrance lobby.
The person – the boy – met his eyes and Regulus' eyes widened in recognition.
"Draco?"
His little cousin looked at him, uncertainly, as if he didn't recognize him for a moment. Then he nodded; "Hey Uncle Reg."
Regulus' smile widened; "Well. Look at you!" He stepped towards him, drawing the boy in for a hug.
He could feel Narcissa's son's uncertainty as he hugged him back, as if he wasn't sure if such an act would be permitted. He was obviously under watch or orders or ranked, already.
The thought made Regulus sick, but he forced himself to maintain a smile as he drew back, grinning at him, the boy that he'd once known so well.
"Oh, you are the spitting image of your dad, young man."
Draco got a forced smile, as if he hated the comparison; "Everyone says that."
"I heard you've taken up pride of place on the Quidditch Team; Seeker. I'm familiar with the spot. Quite the talk of the game in my time, if I do say so myself."
Draco's smile got a little wider, and he snickered a little, under Regulus' easy tone and grin.
"Yeah. I know. They still use some of your tactics in the team."
"That right?"
Draco nodded.
The two of them looked at one another and Regulus could feel Draco's unease rising with each second that passed, his eyes glancing around them, as if he were worried to be noticed with him.
Regulus gave a small nod. Knowing – enough of – what was going on.
"Well. Don't be a stranger, Draco. My office is always open."
Draco met his eyes then and Regulus felt his stomach jump at the look he saw in them. So haunted and then hopeful, for the briefest of seconds, and far too familiar. He could have been looking in a mirror, fifteen years ago. Lost and terrified and nowhere to turn.
Regulus nodded, speaking more quietly but assuredly, going for that spark of hope he could see in his cousin's eyes; "For anything."
Draco drew in a breath, giving a little nod in turn – that he understood – and then Regulus caught sight of Cornelia at the door to the ballroom, waving him over, impatiently, and he smiled and nodded, waving a hand at her.
He turned his attention back to Draco, giving his shoulder a squeeze; "It was good to see you."
"You too, Uncle Reg."
Regulus headed into the party.
Harry and Malachi passed the glass of firewhiskey between them, taking a sip each, from where they were hidden behind the curtain.
The curtain that was abruptly thrown aside as Daphne appeared, coming in beside them, taking a drink from another glass as a younger girl that Harry didn't think he recognised followed her in.
"My father loved the article, Mac," Daphne said, before she pointed a finger of the hand that held the glass at the new girl; "This is my sister; Astoria."
The girl smiled at them, looking a bit shy, and eyed her sister's glass and Daphne handed it over, giving her a drink.
"He wondered if you could do another; try and put some pacifist spin on the next one. It'd fit a bit better with the paper and I think he thinks you can –" she giggled; "Turn the tide of favour against You-Know-Who with the Statute Opposers, if you get it right."
Malachi scoffed; "Yeah right. It's just kids that are reading it."
Harry wasn't so sure about that. Already, a few times today, he'd heard people – grown people – having conversations amongst themselves about it. The rising One World movement that had already been ignited by the two articles already published, the first of the peaceful demonstrations taking place that very day.
He wondered if Ron and Hermione had actually gone.
"Well, I think it's very good," Astoria said, smiling at Malachi, admiringly, and Malachi looked both flattered and uncomfortable at the girl's adoration and Harry snickered, sharing a grin with Daphne.
"Um. Well, yeah. That was kinda my point – you're – how old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"Only just," Daphne said, immediately, and her sister shot her a look to shut up at the obvious implication that she was off-limits.
"How can a Statute Opposer be a pacifist, anyway?" Harry asked, still not entirely grasping the Greengrass' whole stance on the war; "Your father really thinks he can fight a war with his paper? Sounds cushy. Someone has to fight."
"What good is it resorting to violence when half the people just end up dead, Potter?" Daphne said, sharing a look with Astoria, as if the response were obvious.
"Well, what good is it standing around with a quill when someone's pointing a wand at you?" Harry retorted, pointing out something that actually was the obvious, and Malachi chuckled, nodding in agreement, before shooting a glance and a shrug Daphne's way – he has a point.
"And, you know, it's not as if you haven't raised your wand in combat before," Harry pointed out, giving her a grin; "You did it for Malachi."
Malachi glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.
Daphne lifted her eyes to the ceiling; "Self-preservation, Potter. Zabini threatened me. And I did try to talk him down, in case you've forgotten."
"No," Harry shook his head; "Nope," he tapped the side of his head; "All up here."
He remembered it well.
The day Malachi's prissy, pretty pest of a friend had suddenly stood up and gone toe-to-toe with one of her own Housemates against the very rules – every rule, actually, that she professed to follow – just to get them to back off of Malachi.
It was…enlightening.
"And being a pacifist doesn't mean that you just stand about and let people hurt the people you care about," Daphne said, rolling her eyes; "Obviously."
"Obviously," Harry nodded, getting a grin, and he could see Malachi rolling his eyes at his side at his attempt at flirting – wait, flirting?
What?
"I'll come up with something," Malachi said, before Harry could embarrass himself further, agreeing to write another article; "Can I get it to you next week?"
"Yeah, next week is great. Meet you here?"
Malachi nodded.
By the time Severus stepped into the Ballroom, the Gala was in full swing, and he was immediately greeted by the smiles and 'welcome backs' of his colleagues, and he nodded at them in turn as he made his way in the direction of the bar where – he was certain – he would remain for the entirety of the event, for he had no wish for dancing, games or whatever else Regulus and Narcissa had opted to put on for the event.
He nodded at the barkeeper – Shaw – when he reached it; "Firewhiskey, Shaw. Double."
"Coming right up, Severus."
Cornelia approached first with a smile and a hug, a proper greeting this time, rather than the one in Regulus' office.
"Oh, it's been far too long since I saw your face, Severus."
Severus got a little smile, supposing that to be the case, for he'd spent the majority of his time since the Foundation had closed down either at Hogwarts or by the Dark Lord's side and he nodded; "Since we have seen anyone, I would imagine."
"Oh no, not all of us have been lounging around on our behinds at home, the boss saw to that."
"Well, I suppose I should count myself lucky, then," Healer Clay said, appearing at Cornelia's side; "I quite enjoyed the time off, if I do say so, myself."
They carried on in that way, others joining and leaving, as the first hour ticked on by and, as it did, Severus caught sight of those who meant just a little bit more to him than mere colleagues and acquaintances.
Lily was at a table with Julia Bradbury, the two of them laughing and talking animatedly, over glasses of wine.
Harry flitted in and out from behind a curtain at the door until, finally, he emerged completely with Malachi, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass – empty drinks glasses in hand, no less – and Grace pounced upon him, immediately, when he did and he and Malachi took her out into the gardens where the children's festivities were set up.
Regulus, he could see, flitted on by speaking to anyone and everyone who crossed his path – high on life, this week, apparently – and the women, Severus noticed, were getting particular attention from him this day, which made him roll his eyes.
"Oh, Lily!" Cornelia suddenly said, grabbing for her as she appeared on her way to the bar; "Oh, I have definitely missed this face!" she announced, pulling Lily into a much more rambunctious hug than she'd given Severus, before she shot a grin in Severus' direction.
"Well, this one, Severus, is the one to watch right now. Healer Quentin has been more than a little impressed with her findings on the new Gryffith Project we are just about to launch. Thank goodness you found her when you did."
"Oh –" Lily was blushing at the praise, waving a hand.
"Years ago now, Cornelia," Severus said, careful not to let too much pride show at Lily's success – he was, after all, only a mentor in their eyes – and he inclined his head; "I should like to work with you again, Mrs Potter. Should the occasion call for it."
"Oh, we should make the occasion call for it; you've been out of the action long enough, Severus," Clay said, then, enthusiastically – clearly keen to pull him back into the fray a bit more than the little he had been – and Severus just nodded, politely.
"When time allows."
At that moment, an announcement on stage called for as many as possible to come forth and join in with the next activity – what it was, Severus did not care – and Clay, Heart and the others who'd joined him went to do so.
Lily stayed behind with him.
She shot him a smile, taking the opportunity of being physically dragged to his side to speak to him; "You're in your element here, you know."
"Hm," Severus said, fighting a smile and lifting his glass to his lips, before he lifted his chin in Shaw's direction; "Another double and a drink for Mrs. Potter, Shaw. The house."
He said it to put him to work, Shaw's eyes having been upon them where he stood, and Lily gave Severus a smile when they were – seemingly – no longer observed.
"I see the children are enjoying the festivities."
"Oh, always. Grace, especially, is glad to be out of the house. I think the time at Hogwarts has quite ruined her, actually. She is desperate for the magic and what with…" Lily trailed off, shaking her head, as if she didn't want to think and remind them both of what had transpired earlier that year.
"Mummy!"
Lily looked sharply in the direction of Grace's voice, as Severus shifted, immediately uncomfortable – but to move away would look suspicious, now that Shaw had returned and was pouring the drinks he'd ordered – and he did his best to turn himself, as inconspicuously as possible, so that his daughter would not notice him.
"Look!" Grace held up a stick of a frozen ice treat when she stopped, right beside him, her eyes for her mother; "The lady at the door gave one to me and Harry, it's really yummy. There's ice cream, too. And frozen fruit squashies. There's a fairground outside too, you know. Oh, can we go on the horses – Hello Professor Snape!"
Her voice ended louder, higher with excitement, when she looked up and took notice of who it was at her side and it was all Severus could do not to cringe when those in the near vicinity turned – briefly, he supposed – to look with affectionate smiles at his daughter's delighted greeting. His colleagues, in particular, looked amused that a child should greet him with such enthusiasm.
He cleared his throat, inclining his head and careful not to meet her eyes; "Good afternoon, Miss Potter."
"I haven't seen you for so long! Have you had a good summer?"
"I have. Thank you. And yourself?"
"It's been rubbish!"
"Grace!" it was Harry's voice, then, and he quickly hurried up to them, looking as frazzled by Grace's presence at her parents' side – in public – as Severus felt. He put both hands on her shoulders, as if to drag her away; "I thought you wanted to go on the carousel?"
"Later, Harry," Grace shrugged his hands off her shoulder, impatiently; "Professor Snape is here and I have stories to tell him!"
"Professor Snape doesn't care about your stories, Grace."
Severus lifted his eyes to the ceiling at the extremely vocal exchange.
"Yes, he does, he's my friend! Aren't you, Professor Snape?" she looked at him, innocently, before she turned back to Harry and said; "You're just jealous because all the professors give you rows all the time for not following the rules."
"No, they don't," Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yes, they do. I heard them; remember, that time, two days before I came home. Professor McGonagall –"
"How do you know about that?"
"Because I was watching you."
"You mean you were spying."
"Nope. Not spying. You can't prove it."
"Mum," Harry lifted up his hands, looking frustrated and asking for her intervention; "Spying. It's a no, right?"
"I don't spy. I look. And observe. Like sensible people do."
Severus' lips twitched, then, unable to help himself, at what was obviously a repetition of something Grace had heard from one of the teachers at Hogwarts.
His eyes met Lily's as Harry and Grace continued to bicker back and forth – like any normal siblings would do – at their side and Lily got a small smile and he realised, when she did, that she was thinking the same as him.
That this – this – was what they were fighting for.
Severus very nearly smiled.
But then his eyes caught those of Narcissa Malfoy up ahead.
Watching them.
And Severus lowered his eyes, the warmth that had risen quickly snuffed out – instead, he felt himself go cold – and he met Lily's eyes again, could see that she'd noticed, too, and she reached out, drawing the children back in the direction she'd come from, as they continued to bicker.
Away from him and the harm that any association of being near him would bring.
Lily sent Harry and Grace back outside with Malachi, more than a little unnerved by the eyes of Narcissa Malfoy upon them earlier that day, and it took a good hour or so of jokes and laughter with Julia at the table before she finally felt herself fully relax again.
"What about St Mungo's?" Lily asked, taking a sip from the wine glass she held, glancing in Julia's direction; "Will you be going back there, now that you've turned down the Touchman Institute?"
Julia's eyes had been upon Regulus – who was hovering around the bar, having been laughing freely with a little congregation of the Counselling Staff a moment ago, and was now moving to on to flirt and wink at one of the interns – and she nodded, before shaking her head, meeting Lily's eyes.
"Eh, no. I mean. Yeah. I have a meeting on Monday; they'd already filled my spot for the duration. I can stay on sabbatical for the couple of years or if I say the word, they'll give 'em –"
She made a cutting motion at her throat, eyes lifting upwards, and Lily laughed.
Julia's eyes went back in Regulus' direction and, at that moment, he happened to glance at them – at Julia – and his eyes lingered, the playful smile he'd been offering the masses dimming, warming to something just for her, but then a woman came up, tapping him on the shoulder, and he turned giving her one of his flirtatious greetings.
Julia cleared her throat, crossing her legs as she leaned back, her eyes going over to Severus, this time, where he was a few feet away from Regulus.
Severus was at the bar engaged in conversation with Cornelia and Mortimer Littlewood not having quite the same fun that Regulus was having, no, but he looked entirely at ease – as he had done, earlier, despite what had happened – as they spoke amongst themselves. At one point he even, almost, smiled while their co-workers laughed.
"So," Julia said, her eyes back on Regulus; "Let me see if I have this right; you and I are just supposed to sit back here in the shadows, while the guys we're pretending we do not know are off having a right old good time out in the world?"
Lily got a smile, eyeing Julia out the corner of her eye, and she pushed another full glass of wine from the middle of the table in Julia's direction.
"That is the way of it, I'm afraid, Honey."
Julia took a sip, meeting Lily's eyes, and she had a little smile of her own then.
"Mummy!"
Grace hurried over, her smile bright; "Mummy, there's owls outside! For petting!"
Lily put an arm around her where she stood; "Did you want me to come out so you could see them?"
"No," Grace shook her head, smiling widely; "Malachi already took me. But I wanted to come back, now. To find Daddy."
Lily's felt her stomach flip; "Your daddy isn't here, Grace."
"He was before, did he go away?" Grace asked, innocently, eyes upon her with a look of complete trust; "Before Mr. Black took me outside – they're friends, you know, Mummy!"
Lily cleared her throat, realizing it was the memory from last year, at the Foundation, and she drew in a breath, keeping herself calm when she realized it; "What does Daddy look like, Grace?"
Grace hesitated, looking searchingly at the ceiling.
And then she frowned, shaking her head; "I don't remember."
"There you are," Harry appeared, putting his hand on Grace's shoulder; "Come on. I told you we'd go in the Carousel."
"I think you're the one who really wants to go on it, Harry. You should ask Daphne –" she blew a kiss at him and Harry rolled his eyes; "I thought Malachi wanted to do that throwing thing?"
"Malachi's with his dad," Harry said, and they all looked in the direction of the bar where the two of them were fooling about and laughing; "Come on."
Harry and Grace left, and Lily noticed Julia's eyes linger upon Grace for a second, before glancing in Severus' direction. She cleared her throat, eyes going back to Regulus and Malachi.
They were smiling widely at one another, Regulus flinging his arm around his son's shoulders to turn him, before he addressed another group that passed by and he pointed at Malachi, proudly, as he said something and one of the people – the guests – smiled and reached out to shake Malachi's hand.
Julia got a smile.
"It gets easier," Lily said, drawing Julia's eyes back to her for a moment, and when they looked back in Regulus' direction Malachi was stepping away and Regulus was quickly accosted by one of the younger researchers, who flipped her hair over her shoulder and shot him a flirtatious look.
Regulus, as he always did, easily joined in the flirtation.
"Pretty soon, you won't even have to think about it," Lily said with a shrug; "It'll just become habit."
Julia met Lily's eyes with a smile, raising an eyebrow; "A way of life?"
"A way of life," Lily laughed, giving a nod.
Though she was glad that Severus, at least, appeared to be conducting himself with far more restraint than his friend, where he was still up at the bar, having now turned away from the colleagues he'd been speaking to order another drink.
Regulus stepped up beside him, slapping him on the back and saying something at his side as he leaned against the woodwork, lifting a finger at Shaw to order a drink of his own.
Julia got a slow smile then, a mischievous one, and she lifted the glass of wine Lily had pushed her way, finishing it off in one gulp.
And then she stood up, leaning down and speaking close to Lily's ear - "Screw that" – and headed in the direction of the bar.
"You are aware, I presume, that your beloved is in the room," Severus said, conversationally – though quietly – as Regulus joined him.
"She knows how it is," Regulus said, with a shrug – in a very good mood, right now, the best he'd been in a long, long time – before he added; "Misdirection. Part of the act."
"You are asking for trouble, Regulus."
"What more trouble could I possibly get myself into?"
A finger tapped him on the shoulder and he turned, coming face to face with Julia.
He smiled, instantly, unable to help himself; "Miss Bradbury."
He attempted to do a quick mental calculation, figuring out whether or not he had flirted with enough female guests thus far that to do so with Julia, now, wouldn't draw any unnecessary notice.
"Dance with me, Mr. Black."
Regulus got a fond smile at the repeated request.
That would be pushing it too far.
He had been working, actually, with that goal in mind but she had approached much too soon, not nearly enough groundwork laid for such a risk.
"Oh. A pleasure that would be, Miss Bradbury; but I'm afraid –"
Regulus was cut off by the sudden, utterly unexpected press of Julia's lips closing over his, right there in the middle of the ballroom.
Regulus seized her by the shoulders – far too late to avoid an audience – and pulled her back, eyes wide, his playful demeanour dropping, instantly.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing, Black?"
"We – you – we can't. Anyone could see us – everyone could see us!"
And, indeed, several eyes had turned their way at what was – quite obviously – an exchange between lovers but Julia was entirely undisturbed by the fact. Rather, she rolled her eyes and said:
"Oh, let them look. I want the whole damn world to know how hopelessly in love I am with Regulus Black."
Regulus blushed to the roots of his hair, the statement not at all made quietly, and he ducked his head – "Julia" – as he glanced around at the amused eyes of the curious employees that were watching them, now, without shame.
Severus, beside him, was smirking into his drink; shoulders shaking in amusement as he lifted it for a sip.
Julia stepped towards him, her eyes entirely for him and he looked back at her, aware that whatever she was about to say – he knew – it was going to be something big.
"You told me you didn't want me to wait for you; well, fine, I'm not waiting. I'll take you now, warts and all. You and that damn cute kid of yours."
It was then that Regulus noticed Malachi in the crowd, at the bar, and his son met his eyes, getting a little smile of his own.
"You keep saying that I need the world to make me happy," Julia went on, drawing his gaze back to her, as she shook head; "But I don't. I know that all I really need is you. And I'd need you whether I'm here, or on the other side of this planet."
Regulus swallowed as, suddenly, it felt as if they two were the only two people in the room – that they were not surrounded by hundreds – and his eyes locked on her and her alone.
"I am all in. And I will stand with you, Regulus Black, if you'd still have me."
He drew in a breath, bracing himself for what he was, quite certain, was about to come next.
She didn't disappoint him.
She never did.
And her smile was small and coy and true; her voice quieter when she said it, as if she didn't already know the answer.
"Will you marry me?"
The breath Regulus had drawn in escaped him then and he looked away, quite unable to believe his eyes and his ears and that this was actually happening and he reached up, rubbing the back of his neck, when he met her eyes once more, shyly.
Shyly.
And Julia smiled back at him, just waiting. Waiting and knowing. Because she knew. She already knew the answer. She knew it would never be no.
He had – stupidly, he'd thought – asked her first.
The idea no longer felt so stupid.
They, neither of them, would do it any other way.
All or nothing.
Regulus got a smile then, one that quickly became a little puff of laughter and he nodded.
Nodded, and then shook his head in amazement at her.
His smile widened as he stepped towards her, taking her face in his hands as he drew in a breath, looking down at her.
"Yes."
He kissed her, then, right there in the middle of the ballroom – in front of all those who had stopped and come to look – and Shaw rang the bell behind the bar as whistles and cheers and thumping on the tables and the floor broke out, a din filling the ballroom above the music, congratulating his – or, rather, her – successful proposal.
Regulus and Julia laughed, their foreheads pressed together, before Regulus fleetingly met the beaming glances of his employees as he lifted his eyebrows, shooting them one of his cheekiest, cockiest grins, before he caught Julia's hand, tugging her in the direction of the dance floor.
Finally giving her that dance she had been asking for.
While she had given him something he had always – always – wanted, but never, not in a million years dreamed he would ever have.
And when the music changed, they danced another.
And another again.
For as long as the night went on.