Hello everyone!
Sorry for the late update. Some of you might be wondering why I've updated one-shots and collections, rather than ATOTS. The reason is that ATOTS takes a lot more thinking and energy - I have to be thinking about it all day. So when my boyfriend visits, I tend to avoid writing, because we don't see much of each other as it is. Even though he'd be understanding (and has been in the past), I feel like I'm not completely there if I'm with Regulus and Emma. I'd never abandon the story in favour of one-shots!
So, now that that issue has been addressed, I'd like to move on to thanking everyone for their support. I know this is what I do every 10 chapters, but it feels fitting to say this as our characters are leaving Hogwarts. I say ours, because I think if you've got this far, then you probably feel as close to Regulus and Emma and James and the others as much as I do. Thank you so much for following and favouriting - it's encouraged me to write more and write better, and if you hadn't then this fic would probably have been abandoned as soon as it got hard to write.
Next, thanks so much to summersaults16 for making a cover picture (twice!). I was very particular about Regulus's portrayal, and even though Skandar Keynes is the closest to what I imagined, you'll just have to add on the Regulus characteristics we all know and love (i.e. smoothing down his hair, his grey eyes) as well as Emma's midnight hair. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did if you take a look at it! If you're not too happy, I'll write in a link to the specific photos of the actors that managed to capture the two actors. I'll do it now, actually (remove spaces, turn the dot into a "."):
Emma - metrouk2 .files. wordpress dotcom/ 2012/08/article-1346445619543-14c49fee000005dc-822862_ .jpg
Regulus - deepanddepp .files .wordpress dotcom/ 2008/05/copia-de-normal_3799 .jpg
Ignore if you gave them a completely different portrayal!
Next, thanks so much to my beta: VidereLux. She's suffered through my rants and misgivings and supported me, so I couldn't do it without my grammar queen!
Finally, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed this week: The Kawaii Neko, ThePhantomismyLove, Teddy0407, Sarah, fanfictionfan1990, One Smart Waffle, Senyuu, Cae-Leigh Anne, lizyeh2000 and Nik1804. I'll reply straight after posting!
The boat ride back to Hogsmeade was a bittersweet journey.
Emma had wondered whether they'd all be able to fit inside the small vessels - first years seemed so tiny compared to when they had first arrived - but it appeared that some sort of magic held the boats together. The students left in groups of four, the way they had arrived.
Emma noticed her brother immediately get in with the other three Marauders and she was glad that he had found such steadfast friends. She smiled upon seeing James and Sirius fight to get the best seat and smiled. Some things never changed.
She looked back at the doors to the Entrance Hall - probably for the last time - and thought back to when she had arrived. She had been so sure, and yet so uncertain at the same time. She had expected to learn magic, and instead she had learnt so much more.
'Emma?' Regulus asked from behind her.
Suddenly, Emma realised that they were alone on the platform. The boats had steadily moved out of the harbour; the last of them only still there because Rabastan was hanging on to the mooring.
'Sorry,' she replied, with one last look at the double doors. 'I guess it's harder to leave than I thought.'
She stepped after him into the boat and Lucinda hung their lantern at the prow the way Hagrid had on their first day of school. The boat took off, and all too suddenly they had passed through the hanging ivy underneath the cliff face. The leaves made a rustling noise as they moved, sending tiny droplets of morning dew raining down on their hair.
Out of the cave, Lucinda craned her head to the side, evidently trying to commit the entire castle to memory. The sun had barely risen over the horizon, leaving them plenty of time to get to Hogsmeade in time. As a consequence, the castle's shadow arched over the lake, cutting an imposing figure in the half-light.
Rabastan lay back against the side of the boat with his head pillowed against his arms, enjoying the quiet ride. Regulus trailed his fingers in the water of the Black Lake, sending small ripples alongside the larger waves caused by the boats.
As Emma twisted around to get one last look before the morning mist obscured the castle for good, she thought she saw a large shadow pass beneath the water.
'Was that…the Giant Squid?' she asked.
Just then, a large tentacle shot out of the water, spraying them all with droplets before collapsing back into the lake. The water rushed towards the boats, but instead of soaking the former students, it pushed the small ferries towards the Hogwarts jetty, giving them the speed necessary to arrive at the Hogwarts Express on time.
'Well,' Rabastan said, locating the apartment with their luggage in it. 'That was a bit…anticlimactic.'
They had arrived at the station an hour before the other students were due to get in. Emma guessed that it was to give the seventh years time to say goodbye to one another and to the castle itself. Having made her peace in front of the Entrance Hall, she had got straight into the train, enjoying the choice of compartments. Rabastan, too, had decided against the sentimentality.
'Give it a couple of years, Bast,' Emma said, settling into the window seat opposite him. 'When you have kids, you'll be regretting your idle days at Hogwarts.'
'Idle?' Rabastan snorted. 'You mean when I have kids I'll be telling them about all the close shaves we had with Bones, the difficulties of balancing school and…other activities, and the way their godmother forced me into her cousin's robes.'
'The way...' Emma trailed off, a lump coming to her throat.
Stop being silly, she told herself crossly, blinking rapidly. Rabastan isn't going to be having kids anytime soon.
'You might not think the same way in five years,' she resumed, turning the conversation to their usual banter.
'I will,' Rabastan replied seriously, his green eyes staring directly at her. 'I'll make sure whoever I marry will to. There's no one I trust more than you and Regulus. I would trust you with my life, and that extends to the lives of my children too.'
'I...' Emma stuttered, too overwhelmed to perform a coherent thought.
'Just say thank you,' Rabastan teased as Regulus and Lucinda found their compartment.
'Thank you for what?' Lucinda asked curiously.
Rabastan smirked, but his eyes remained trained on Emma's. 'Nothing,' he replied, with a wave of dismissal. 'Just managed to make Emma speechless for once, that's all.'
At King's Cross, Emma half expected to see her parents waiting for her on the platform. Even though they hadn't been there the year before, the Slytherins had spent the entire voyage reminiscing about their best and funniest moments at Hogwarts. For half a second, Emma was ready to burst out of the train, talking a mile a minute about her newest adventure at Hogwarts.
But that wasn't to be. It had never been, in fact.
Instead, Lucinda hugged her tightly; the scent of her floral perfume and face powder engulfing Emma like a duvet cover when there was a Boggart beneath the bed. For the second time that day, tears threatened to spill out onto her cheeks, and Emma held Lucy tighter than necessary for a few more seconds.
'Promise to write, no matter where you are,' Lucinda whispered, kissing Emma's cheek. 'No matter where, do you hear me? The boys never listen, but I know you will.'
Emma nodded, wondering at when they had become so close. It seemed like only yesterday and yet a lifetime ago, that they were all holding each other at arm's length, prowling in circles in the hopes of uncovering a weakness.
Rabastan was more himself. He gave Emma a jovial wink and a wave, meaningfully tapping against his left forearm as he left with his parents in tow. Rodolphus was noticeably absent in person, and yet his face was plastered all over the walls in wanted posters.
Emma turned to Regulus, but he had already disappeared. Looking around, she spotted him next to Kreacher, who was attempting to carry both of their trunks, along with Fluffy and Wronski's cages. Regulus's owl had his feathers ruffled in annoyance, and Fluffy was meowing as though his life depended on it.
Kreacher... Emma thought, shaking her head, but she couldn't help the smile forming on her face. With a slight spring to her step, she swiftly walked over to help the poor elf.
'Kreacher,' she said gently. 'You don't have to carry everything yourself.'
'But Kreacher must,' the house-elf said. 'Mistress says that Kreacher is getting old. Kreacher must prove usefulness to Mistress!'
'You don't need to prove anything, Kreacher,' Regulus said firmly, putting a hand on the house-elf's shoulder. 'Now, you take Fluffy and Wronski to the house. I'm sure they're starving, so they're more important than the luggage. Can you do that?'
'Yes, Master Regulus,' Kreacher said eagerly, diving into a deep bow before rushing off to do as told.
'Grimmauld Place is safer than your apartment,' Regulus said to Emma simply.
She nodded once to show that she understood, and dragged her trunk towards the magical barrier and the town car that awaited them beyond.
Though she would have much preferred to return to her flat in Diagon Alley and avoid the drive, she knew that Regulus's childhood home provided the security they needed in order to accomplish their goals.
Still, the knowledge didn't stop her from tensing up as the driver revved the motor. She gripped the seat next to her, only to have her hand meet Regulus's. She looked up to see her boyfriend give her one of his no longer rare smiles. He laced their fingers together for the entire drive through London.
Looking out of the window, Emma wondered what the summer would bring. They had potentially placed themselves in one of the most dangerous positions - they were Death Eaters of the highest order, feeding a known Order member information, and searching for the Dark Lord's horcruxes all without the protection of Hogwarts' walls. Emma could only hope that the old bricks of Grimmauld Place were sturdier than they looked.
Regulus stared out of the window as they hit a traffic jam. Not entirely unexpected, but what could you do in Muggle London? He glanced back at Emma, but she seemed to be doing fine. She usually felt carsick in journeys like this, but he supposed that they weren't moving fast enough to qualify for that.
Her raven locks tumbled from their makeshift bun as she stretched her neck, cascading down to her waist. If he looked at her like this, without seeing her face with her lips quirked up in their permanent smirk, she resembled the Grey Lady.
Of course, the ghost could never be mistaken for Emma from the front. She looked too much like an aristocratic pureblood, with her haughty features and straight nose not unlike Regulus's own. Emma... Emma was an aristocratic pureblood, and at the same time anything but.
The Grey Lady had shown him a photo of Tom Riddle in the trophy room before he had left Hogwarts. Regulus had been shocked to see the Dark Lord in such a mundane situation. He had also been surprised to see just how much Voldemort had changed.
That's the price of horcruxes, he thought to himself, shuddering. No amount of heating could thaw the chill in his bones at the mere thought of placing a part of his soul in a lifeless object.
'Are you all right?' Emma asked, interrupting his musing.
Regulus started and let go of her hand. He had been squeezing her fingers so tightly that he could see the white marks where the blood circulation had been cut off.
'Yeah,' he replied, his voice strangled. He hurriedly cleared his throat before attempting a second time. 'Yes.'
'Good,' Emma's mouth twitched into a grin and she raised her eyebrows slightly. 'We're here.'
Regulus took a deep breath, paying the driver with the fragile paper money Muggles seemed to prefer. By now, the man realised that Regulus had no use for change, so he drove off immediately after they had retrieved their luggage.
'After you, milady,' he gave her a short bow and motioned towards the materialising house. He knew that humour would be needed to cut the knife-like tension awaiting them in the house.
Emma dropped into a fake curtsy and walked up the steps, hesitating for a fraction of a second before knocking.
'You could have just walked in,' Regulus reminded her, following her up.
'It wouldn't feel right,' Emma replied. 'I want your mother to know we're here before entering.'
'It's not as though she prances around the house in her underwear, you know,' Regulus pointed out, just as Kreacher opened the house.
'Master Regulus, Mistress Emma, Mistress is expecting you,' he said, bowing and scraping as low as the hinges on the door.
Regulus glanced at Emma, who looked grim. Whenever Kreacher acted overly formal, there was trouble up ahead. Part of him wanted to run up to his room, to cower as Kreacher had done until Walburga's mood had abated. This time, however, he had no choice but to weather the storm.
His brother was no longer there to bear the brunt of the burden.
'Regulus?' Walburga called, walking into the hallway just as Regulus and Emma hung their coats up.
The blonde witch stopped short upon seeing they had company, visibly composing herself.
Too bad I've already seen you through Regulus's memories, Emma thought snidely, before immediately feeling guilty. This woman had always welcomed her as if she were her own daughter, giving her a place to stay without asking anything in return. Still, she felt her blood boil at the way Walburga had treated both of her sons. Though there was little love lost between Emma and Sirius, she would never forget the rain-soaked boy standing on the Potters' doorstep.
As Emma dealt with her conflicting inner emotions, Regulus stepped up to greet his mother, his face impassive.
'Mother,' he inclined his head. 'I did not expect you to be home at this time. I thought you were visiting Uncle Cygnus?'
'That is what I usually do, yes,' Walburga replied stiffly. 'But I wanted to be here to greet you in person. During one of my visits with Uncle Cygnus, I was informed of a recent development within our family. More specifically, with you.'
'Mother, I-'
'Do not "mother" me, young man,' Walburga's voice rose and she pursed her lips before continuing in a more controlled manner. 'I understand the need for secrecy, Regulus, I do, but your own mother?' her voice took on a hint of hurt. 'You could not even trust your own mother with the information that you were engaged to be married?'
'Madame Black, Regulus isn't to blame,' Emma started, but Walburga hushed her with a perfectly manicured hand.
'Hush, dear, I did not mean to suggest that you were an unsuitable match. Quite the opposite, in fact,' Walburga flashed her a brilliant smile. 'Regulus, have I not been telling you to make a marriage contract for years with the Potters?'
'Yes,' Regulus mumbled, his face flushing a rare scarlet as he glanced at Emma.
Emma felt a smirk growing on her lips, spreading as far as it could go without turning into an unseemly grin. She would never get tired of hearing about Regulus's feelings towards her, feelings that she had no idea about until the previous year.
'Well then,' Walburga huffed a sigh. 'I will forgive you this once, Regulus, since you have seen fit to do good by your family, unlike another I could mention. Come, the both of you. I have had the elf brew some tea.'
Emma glanced again at her boyfriend, who met her gaze apologetically before following his fearsome mother into the kitchen. Quickly, she slipped Regulus's ring off of her necklace and onto her finger before following.
Somehow, she thought it would help calm Walburga.
Five minutes later, she was proved right. After the shortest of scoldings, Walburga noticed the ring - prompted by Emma raising her tea cup with her left hand rather than her right.
'Oh and you have the family ring!' she cooed. 'I remember this from when I was young. Of course, it went to Druella, because Cygnus was the elder, but how I am glad to see it find its way into our branch of the family.' She paused to look sternly at Regulus. 'You did the right thing in appealing to your grandfather first, but I want to be fully appraised of all wedding plans in the future.'
'Of course, mother,' Regulus smiled, though Emma could tell that it was strained.
She marvelled at how she was able to notice the cracks in his facade now, hints of emotion that she hadn't been able to grasp at whilst they were merely friends. She felt a sudden urge to kiss him, but curbed her instincts. Something told her that Walburga wouldn't appreciate it.
'Now, if you'll excuse us, mother, we need to attend to some…business,' Regulus gave his mother a meaningful look.
'Of course, we must not keep the Dark Lord waiting,' Walburga replied immediately, humming as she rose from her seat. 'Oh, you are such a pride to the family, Regulus, wait until I tell Druella all about it!'
And with that, she fanned off into the dining room and the nearest Floo connection.
'She seems…lively,' Emma commented as they went back upstairs.
Indeed, Walburga was a far cry from the shell of a woman she had been at Christmas - ever since the death of Orion.
'I told you,' Regulus said, dragging his trunk into his room with a grunt. 'She's overjoyed at the prospect of a wedding.'
'You're really good to her,' Emma noted, and it was true. She didn't know many sons who would have acted as Regulus did. If only Walburga had been more deserving of her son's attention.
'Yes, well…habit,' Regulus replied with a grimace, opening his trunk and taking out his journals and papers on the Dark Lord.
'Hold on,' Emma said, taking the papers from him and putting them on the desk. 'The Dark Lord can wait for a minute or two.'
Regulus's brow creased into a frown. 'What could be more important than removing his invincibility? If your brother... and mine…have even a chance of defeating him, we don't have a moment to spare.'
Emma simply grinned, shaking her head at him.
Ever since the Dark Lord had told them to simply concentrate on their studies, she had felt almost like a normal student again. Regulus, however, had thrown himself into his research on the Dark Lord - research that she hadn't been much help with. As a result, Regulus was wrapped up in their fight, whereas Emma had been content to throw the future to the winds, taking a break from her plans for once to appreciate the people around her.
So instead of replying, she took both of his hands in hers, pulling him to the balcony where they had confessed so many things over the years.
Regulus bit his lip, looking back at the papers on the desk, but in the end his curiosity won and he allowed himself to be led outside.
Emma carefully reached past him to close the door, bringing their bodies closer.
'We have a moment to spare for this,' she whispered, tangling her hands in his lengthening hair, bringing his head closer as she raised her heels to kiss him.