The Prince-Who-Lived

Chapter Twenty-seven

Harry bolted upright as a scream ripped through the door. He wasn't up long when Neville thrashed beside him and pulled himself up, half-formed words spluttering as he tried to react. Harry didn't wait, and grabbed his glasses, moving quickly out the door without asking, his wand in hand. Above and below, he could hear others stirring, but the screams were drifting down from above … fairly far above.

"What's happening, Harry?" Hermione gasped from beside him.

Harry shook his head, and turned to run up the stairs. He reached the top landing with the twins, and found them in the doorway to Regulus' room. Geoffrey was struggling with Regulus, and on the other bed was Alan, curled up and screaming hoarsely. Harry didn't think before pushing past the twins and moving to Alan's bedside, pausing. He doubted grabbing him would go well, so he hesitatntly put his palm on Alan's forehead and shouted,

"Wake up!"

Alan jerked backwards and shut his mouth, staring up at him with panicked, wide eyes that quickly registered that it was Harry standing over him, that he was inside, and that Regulus was shouting hoarsely on the bed where Geoffrey was struggling to get him awoken. Geoffrey had glanced over only a moment when Harry had yelled at Alan, and Harry could see a growing bruise on his cheek. Arthur came into the room, and moved towards Regulus' bed but Geoffrey growled,

"Stay back; anyone else will set him fucking off. Regulus' a little more unstable than Alan. Alan, get over here."

Harry backed off and Alan scrambled out of bed to move beside Geoffrey and hover, not touching Regulus at all. Geoffrey was mostly just batting him away when he flailed, never grabbing him. Harry heard him curse, and then Kreacher popped into the room and wailed.

"Master Regulus!"

Geoffrey swore, and Regulus gasped, stiffened, and then went silent, staring blankly at the ceiling before he carefully ran his hand over his face. Geoffrey hovered uncertainly, and then sighed. Regulus spoke, rasping over his abused throat.

"I told you to use silencing charms, Geoffrey. Everyone get out." He growled.

Harry left hesitantly, watching carefully before he slipped out the door last. Alan quietly whispered, "Thanks," as he left. Harry barely heard him, but he nodded and went back downstairs with the others. A check of time proved it to be around four in the morning, and Harry yawned before he rejoined Neville and Ron in their room. Ron was silent until they were laid out.

"Harry … why'd you go in?"

"He was scared." Harry spoke quietly, thinking of how to explain. "Scared doesn't suit him. We're not just supposed to step in for only the people we like, Ron. You remember what Dumbledore said at the end of last year. He went through Hell. You wanna leave him to memories like that?"

"I suppose." Ron muttered. "What about his godfather, Sirius' brother? What was with him?"

"I don't know." Harry answered honestly. "It seemed like it was almost worse than what Alan was thinking, though. And he's probably been that way for a while; Geoffrey seemed pretty sure of what he couldn't do, at least."

"Kreacher managed to wake him." Neville added. "Something about Kreacher woke him up, calmed him down."

"It was weird." Harry allowed, and then yawned. "I want to sleep again. Goodnight."

The other two echoed him, and settled into their beds. Harry wondered what might be wrong with Regulus before he gave it up until he could ask Alan, and slipped back into his own -pleasant- dreams.

IIII

Breakfast the next morning was missing Regulus and Alan; Geoffrey came down late in the meal to sit tiredly at the now far cleaner table and rub his forehead until he asked Molly for a drink and a painkiller. Molly bustled to get him both, and insistently placed a plate of toast before him, pointing out the jam, honey, and other such. Geoffrey growled something incoherent, and ignored it in favour of the tea she gave him. After a few sips he also asked for coffee, which Molly sighed and set up as well. The children at the table didn't remain silent much longer after that.

"What happened?" Ron demanded.

Geoffrey grunted, and put down his cup firmly. "Nightmares. I'm sure you all know why Alan might be having them, and Regulus' are his business. Don't press, unless you don't mind being hexed. He'll have every right to do so."

"Yeah, and don't think I won't." Regulus huffed and walked in quietly, collapsing into the seat next to Geoffrey. He put his head on his arms as he lay against the table and looked up at Geoffrey with one eye. "I smelled coffee."

"Molly's making some. You can have your cup. How's Alan?"

"Fine. Just eating upstairs. Sirius?" Regulus lifted his head and eyed his brother a moment. Sirius, who had arrived that morning for the peace of mind of him and his friends, checking on the kids on his day off, looked back at Regulus with distaste. Regulus ignored it, if he was even awake enough to decipher it. "Is that mum's portrait behind the curtains?"

"Why should you care? It's not like you'll want to take it down, and you're certainly not leaving it open to yell at all of us. I won't subject the kids to it." Sirius stated flatly. Regulus' face darkened.

"I wouldn't leave it open to yell at the children, and you know it."

"Oh, you'd just let it yell at me and the rest of the adults, is that it?"

"Sirius, you're being an ass –"

"And you're the same soft moron you always were, Reggie!" Sirius yelled.

Regulus forced his chair back as he jerked to his feet, glaring daggers at his brother. "What do you know, Sirius? You haven't seen me in years, ever since you ran away from everything!"

"You certainly didn't care then!" Sirius yelled back. "You already had those articles at the head of your bed, following the Death Eaters like a good little puppy!"

"Oh, and now you bring the past into it, do you? Should I bring up the past that you never noticed Pettigrew was a Death Eater, higher ranking than your own fucking brother, and still one of your little friends?" Sirius blanched. "Three years! Three fucking years, Sirius! I was there when he started, and he did better than I did, although chances are the only important thing about him were his friends! Namely you, Remus and James, the fools you were."

"Don't you dare call me a fool." Sirius growled. From his position across the table, Harry felt a shiver crawl up his spine. This was not going to be pretty …

"Why? It takes one to know one. At least I've admitted to being a fool, Sirius, and I've corrected it. You're still trying to deny everything." Regulus forced himself to sound determinedly casual again, but he was taunting Sirius, and both of them were just waiting for an excuse to up the ante and break into a firefight. Geoffrey had dropped his head onto his arms, exasperated, and most of the kids were keeping to one side of the table and watching the dangerous banter closely.

"You're weak, Regulus. You took to anything anyone told you."

Regulus flinched; he'd hit a nerve. "I never did everything they told me to, otherwise I'd be in deeper shit than I now am. I know I made a mistake, Sirius, but was there really much choice? I was who I was told to be. I never had your courage, Sirius; so don't blame me for bending to mother's will. You certainly never gave me a chance to do otherwise. But I'm a little more grown up now, and I escaped her tyranny, even if it took me a few more years. Of course, you had somewhere to go, didn't you?" Regulus growled. His voice was bitter. "James Potter, your lovely Gryffindor friend. You could run to him, and uncle Alphard was willing to give you a way to keep yourself afloat. What did I have?" Regulus laughed bitterly. "A bunch of Slytherins who only liked me for my name, and half of them were deep into the Death Eater ideals – the other half were already marked. What did I have to make me think otherwise? I heard nothing but the good, and what bad I heard came from you, the little traitor." Regulus growled, finally, staring at Sirius' pale face. "I was never brave, and not particularly smart at the time. It didn't take more than a year for the gilt to wear off, Sirius, and then I was in too deep for it to really matter. Then the Dark Lord made a mistake, and I found out his stupid plan and his deceit. I have my own standards, Sirius, and once the Dark Lord lost those, it was downhill from there. I expected to die leaving his service. It was unexpected that I lived. And now, it's mother's stupid ideals that nearly killed me. What do you think I want to say to her portrait? Thanks for getting me killed; thanks for traumatizing me, and ruining my life? Thanks for bringing down the house of your fathers and maybe you shouldn't have married your second cousin so I could have a bit more sense without gaining it the hard way?"

Sirius was pale and silent as Regulus wound down; the children were all just as quiet, watching with wide eyes and slightly open mouths. Regulus sat back down and accepted the coffee Molly had mechanically finished as she listened and placed in front of him. Regulus gently sipped it down, and breathed before Sirius flopped into his seat. Regulus flicked a look his way, and Sirius finally spoke up once more.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"For what?"

Sirius was silent, looking around the room before sighing. "Abandoning you to … mother's tyranny, alone."

Regulus shrugged. "I never listened to you anyways. I never would've. I didn't respect you then. I was mildly in awe of you for being willing to take a chance in being other than what was expected of you, but never wanted such rebellion myself. Everything I seemed to be at that time I was, because I didn't have the first iota of sense in my Black little head. I didn't start thinking until after I killed someone who had status amongst all the dogma that had been stuffed between my ears. Once I realized that the little racial cleansing I'd so been looking forward to would be killing more than just the lower unimportant echelons called muggles and mudbloods, I got a bit of a clue and woke up to begin thinking a little outside my lovely … what did Velorian call it?"

"'Centuries old box', I believe." Geoffrey added, sitting up and sipping his own drink once more.

"Yeah, that. I only got a clue after I, well," He smiled bitterly, "got it beat into me by the Alfaerus, Sirius. Don't feel quite so bad. Now," Regulus tipped back the last of his coffee and stood, "I'm going to go have a little discussion with the originator of my little 'box'. And inform her I intend to marry an American, preferably a muggleborn so that her little experiment with inbreeding doesn't do any harm to my children."

Sirius snorted into his own teacup and then looked up at Regulus. "What, you're not going to marry a muggle for it?"

Regulus looked down at him and sighed. "I've gotten a little better on my horizons of what's acceptable and what isn't, Sirius, but I will never ever like muggles and I certainly don't want to live with one. Other people, fine. Me, no. Be grateful I got off my high horse enough to remember that muggleborns are magical too, and will do wonders for that inbreeding problem. I don't know about you, but I've grown to be a little disturbed that our lovely mother was as Black as our father."

Sirius' mouth twitched, and he stood and followed Regulus from the room when he went upstairs. Harry didn't pause before following, Neville, Ron and Hermione tailing him with Geoffrey picking up the rear, his coffee cup cradled in hand and a wry smile on his face. They stopped before the curtain where Mrs. Black rested, and Regulus shooed the rest out of sight before he opened her curtains with a curt spell and smiled indulgently as she woke.

"What filth disturbs me now, mudbloods and blood traitors all –I can't believe it." She stopped yelling, and toned her voice down to a gravel-like announcement, as though she must be heard by everyone at all times – and everyone would obey. Harry began to respect Regulus' pronouncement that his mother was tyrannical. Alan came down the stairs and Regulus smiled at him before turning back to address his mother.

"Yes mother, it's me. Regulus Black, whom you thought dead."

"Regulus, it's so good to see you! And I see none of those blood traitors and filth. Have you returned to reclaim everything? What happened that you disappeared? Why would you leave me?" Her tone was pleased, but became firm. Harry stifled the desire to snort and sighed. What a welcoming person.

"I suppose you could say so." Regulus allowed. He waved Alan over to his side. "Mother, this is my godson, Alan Prince. You remember that line, I'm sure." His tone was dry; apparently Mrs. Black didn't catch it. Alan maintained a stoic expression as he stood next to Regulus, and then bowed with the first stirrings of a smirk.

"A godson? Regulus, how wonderful. And the Prince line; I thought the last of theirs married a filthy muggle. Don't tell me this boy hails to that line. He looks so respectable." Mrs. Black sounded disappointed now, with enough vitriol within to make it clear that her disappointment was not to be trifled with.

Regulus sighed; Harry was pretty sure it was fake. "Yes, mother, she did. However, Alan's mother was a Callough, and she asked me to be his godfather to clear up both remaining lines. I don't think you're familiar with that line, but it hails directly from Slytherin. Alan is most suited to returning the families to glory, and he's pleased with that, isn't he?" Regulus gently ruffled Alan's hair; Alan frowned at him and ran his fingers through it to order it back. He then turned and smiled blandly at Mrs. Black.

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."

"It's my pleasure to see such a lovely young man myself." Mrs. Black returned. Her voice practically oozed selfish pride. Must have been the mention of Slytherin. "However, I do hope you have plans for you own children, Regulus." The tone was warning.

"Of course, mother, as soon as I find a fit woman of proper background." Regulus allowed. "There just aren't that many in the area, so it's difficult and since I still fear for my life …"

"I can't believe that the Ministry and Dumbledore's meddling are still in effect, Regulus." Mrs. Black scoffed. Regulus smiled thinly, and shook his head.

"Of course not, mother. They're not who I fear killing me, though." Mrs. Black made an inquiring noise, and Regulus continued. "I'm more scared of the returned Death Eaters and their foolish notions. After all, Voldemort," He spoke the name with obvious relish and only a faint tremor in his hands, "is a conniving bastard who is ruining more of our lines than any supposed mudbloods and muggles ever could. We're breeding magic out of ourselves through overexertion and stupidity, like marrying your second cousin," Regulus spat. "I fear the Death Eaters, for they were what nearly killed me, them and their stupid dogma, but I never would have been involved in any of it if it weren't for you."

"You blame me for your wavering faith?" Mrs. Black growled dangerously. "I didn't raise you to be scared or stupid, Regulus. Are you to be just like your filthy blood traitor of a brother, that shame of my flesh?"

"I wish I could be!" Regulus let go of Alan and shouted. "I wish I was willing to tell you that you were wrong when you were alive, tell you what lies the Dark Lord spoke, the lie of our superiority when he killed our brothers and sisters, purebloods and powerful half-bloods, those with the strength of will and character to energize the lines that were dying out of their stupidity. His lies when he himself had a muggle for a father, when he was an abomination who broke his soul to gain his supposed immortality, destroying himself and destroying his own world! Maybe if I'd spoken up before I wouldn't have had to die in order to live! Maybe I wouldn't have had to risk everything for a chance at feeling better about our world! It's your fault I'm scarred and broken, your fault I nearly died, your fault I was stupid enough to believe those lies!" Regulus paused, and Harry could only imagine Mrs. Black's face as her son regained his composure. "But I'm older now, and I can think for myself and I think that you were a selfish bitch who was willing to give too much away in order to lie to yourself that you were pure and clean and powerful." Regulus paused, and then lifted his head carefully, his composure regained startlingly quickly. "I just wanted to tell you that, and to tell you that I have every intention of keeping our line, and keeping it pure. I will never marry a muggle, I can promise you that."

Mrs. Black was heaving in deep breaths, and gasping for several minutes before she shakily growled, "At least I can rest with that reassurance that while you're throwing everything away at least you can retain your pride as a pureblood."

Regulus' mouth twitched, and he glanced over at Sirius who walked over and looked at Regulus curiously. "Are you going to inform her of your plans to find an American muggleborn, or no?"

Harry stepped over in time to see Mrs. Black's eyes bulge and her begin to scream inarticulately. Regulus laughed, clapped Sirius on the shoulder and then spelled the curtains shut once more. Sirius joined him in laughing, and when Regulus finally breathed again, he sighed and then looked between Sirius and his hand and made a show of wiping it off on his robes with a faked pinched expression. Sirius chortled and smiled honestly.

"Thank you, for that. It was nice to hear you play her like that."

Regulus smiled wanly. "It was nice to tell her what I thought. I'll have Kreacher work on getting her portrait down in one way or another. If nothing else, I could probably have Green or Amaranth come over and play with it."

Sirius looked at him curiously. "Those were the Quintelyuv brothers from the World Cup, weren't they?"

Regulus nodded. "Yeah, them. They have another brother, but he's no spell smith or Potions expert and he's usually busy." Sirius gave a curious expression, and Regulus snorted. "He's a necromancer. Usually spends his time running to trials and exorcising ghosts."

Sirius' face twitched and Harry felt a little off himself, but he finally sighed and shrugged. Necromancers were creepy, and considered dark, but after dealing with vampires among the Americans, Harry felt that maybe the British were off about the necromancers too. After all, Green was weird as Hell. His brother couldn't be all that different.

IIII

When the rest of the Marauders were able to return to Grimmauld for supper, Sirius easily told them that he trusted his brother completely now and Harry watched them grudgingly accept Sirius' judgement. There were also pleased sounds at the far cleaner house, and Kreacher's silence upon entering the rooms where the Order prowled. He was disinclined to listen to any of them other than Alan or Regulus, but it was a marked improvement from his sullen mutterings of before. As expected, the children were exiled from the kitchen. Alan disappeared into Regulus' room, which bothered none of them, and they settled into Exploding Snap after attempts to sneak an extendable ear into the room failed once more. Rolling up the fleshy string, Harry relaxed and settled to watch Ron deal. Finally, he glanced at the twins.

"You plan on talking to Prince about him giving you his winnings?" Harry asked idly.

Fred and George sighed. "Not really, no. It was an unexpected windfall, and it's really gotten us on our feet with our joke shop. He handed it over; we're not about to give it back and since he didn't say a word …"

Neville snorted. "You're just going to give him partial ownership, aren't'cha?"

Fred and George snorted, and Neville rolled his eyes before turning back to the chess game he was playing against Connor. Connor wasn't the greatest chess player, but Neville was patient in teaching him some of the tricks, explaining whenever his brother made a move that was distinctly foolish, or left his king too open. Harry had sometimes taken to watching so then he would be able to do a bit better, but he could either never remember the pointers, or Neville or Ron purposefully goaded him into making the mistakes and only reminded him afterwards …

IIII

The excitement that was the arrival of the American guests died down rather quickly. Regulus and Alan seemed to have silencing charms as they came down tired but no one heard any more screams. It was little more than a week before Geoffrey left to tie up a few problems that had cropped up back home, leaving one less person sleeping over at a time. It also meant that most of the time, it was all of the younger kids and Regulus stuck in the house constantly, without even cleaning left to do. Harry knew that Regulus was coaching Alan on a few spells they didn't teach in school, and on the working of his new gun, a Para-Ordnance LDA, something that went completely over Harry's head. However, the spells were what were interesting, and Harry could get absolutely no time alone to try and work them over with Alan and Regulus without drawing attention to how close they really were.

The twins saved him the trouble, with their extendable ears. One week after Regulus had arrived and the day after Geoffrey had left, Fred paused in his breakfast and pointed his fork at Regulus.

"You're teaching Prince spells. He's not practicing them much, but you're still showing him and talking him through theory. Can't you take it to the drawing room so we can all practice?"

Regulus shrugged and finished his drink before answering. "Some of the spells and concepts aren't legal British concepts and I don't want to have to tone it down for the rest of you."

George scoffed. "Prince is currently living in Britain. He shouldn't know those either. We're into a war; legality in what we use to keep ourselves alive shouldn't be all-important. Just let us know what is illegal, and we can decided whether to learn it or not."

"I thought you were against 'dark magic'." Regulus drawled.

Fred stuck out his tongue as George rolled his eyes. "We want to fight. And you wouldn't be teaching Prince anything unduly dark anyways."

"What makes you think I wouldn't?" Regulus returned. "Alan would never tell."

"No." Fred laughed. "But Dumbledore's in and out of this place, and if you were practicing stuff that would be dark enough to stand out, he'd notice so you wouldn't dare."

Regulus' mouth twitched, and he sighed. "Fine. We'll move into the drawing room but I'm not taking forever to explain everything if you don't get it the first time."

Nanna smiled from her seat down the table. "That's what Hermione and Neville are for."

Regulus looked down at her and sighed. "Most of the spells will be well beyond fourth year level; I'm not sure Melanie, Nanna, Connor and Catrin could use them."

Harry shrugged. "Try keeping them from attending. I dare you."

Regulus sighed, and sat back. "Probably worse then my brother, aren't they?"

"Worse indeed." Neville added. "They learned his example long before he had a chance to conceptualize how to be the worst little monster possible so they got a head-start."

Regulus moaned. "What have you talked me into?"

"Teaching." Harry smiled.

"I'm sure it'll all be wonderful, Mr. Black." Hermione soothed.

Regulus started in his seat and nearly fell backwards. "What, where? Wait." He stopped looking frantically around the room and put his hand to his forehead. Alan laughed quietly as the others looked on in confusion.

"Sorry, godfather," Alan drawled, "but your dad is long dead even if you're back in Grimmauld, so she was referring to you."

"Insubordination." Regulus muttered. "You can always go the way of Mrs. Black, you know?"

Alan kept a straight face, "You mean permanently stuck to a wall or handed over to the tender mercies of the Quintelyuvs?"

Regulus' smiled widened, and Harry snickered. Kreacher had been unable to remove Mrs. Black from the wall, despite his many efforts so finally the wall itself was removed and while Sirius, Remus and James desperately wanted to sink her to the bottom of some body of water, Regulus had given them that, or sending her to America to be experimented on to find out how the painting was enchanted, stuck to the wall in the first place, and then subjected to several methods of trying to remove her to satisfy the curiosities of a couple 'mudbloods'. The Marauders had asked for a day's recess to discuss the options, before deciding upon the Quintelyuvs and whoever else wanted to help, so long as they got full reports of what was done to her. Green had been more than happy to oblige.

"Quintelyuvs. Now, if Alan is done and I am done, then I'm going to the Drawing room and you must all come now or miss the beginning. I'm teaching Alan and you're all just tagalongs who will no longer have to resort to petty gags to listen in. Although I suppose questions wouldn't be too much of a burden, so long as they're intelligent."

"You hear that, Harry, Ron, twins?" Neville scolded. "Only me and Hermione are allowed to open our mouths."

"Hey!" Harry objected. Neville stuck out his tongue and then dashed up the stairs to the drawing room, Harry tailing him from behind. However, Neville was a fast and avid runner, and he easily outpaced Harry. Both of them were upstairs first, and in the moments before the others arrived, Harry caught up with him and pouted, "It's no wonder you're a bloody horse."

Neville just laughed.

The rest of the kids caught up quickly, and settled into a half-circle around Regulus who eyed their attention with a moment's apprehension before he smiled warmly. "I expect no parents to hex me when they see you next, alright?" He received a chorus of nods. "Right. Alan and I have been going over a few more … active defence spells. If you want to call it that." He licked his lipes, and changed gears again. "Does everyone here know the basics for the reductor curse?" Harry and Neville smiled; anyone under fourth year shook their heads. Regulus patiently went over the basics, incantation, wand motion, and what it did before he returned to his thread. "Now most people will tell you to use the reductor curse against objects. Well, please remember what it does very well because what that curse does to solid objects can easily be turned against flesh. Now, please don't use this unless you want to severely injure someone. It will do serious damage. Like …" Regulus paused and then conjured a small rubbery blob that looked like jello in a sack. He then turned his wand around and cast "Reducto." The blob shredded and rang like a bell, making Connor and the others jump and then flinch as brilliant red liquid spilled out, splashing and soaking into the carpet. Catrin looked teary eyed, but Melanie quickly comforted her. Regulus was unmoved. "That is similar to what that spell might do to someone. Be very cautious how it is used."

The room was very silent but for Catrin's weak sniffles. Melanie spoke to her a few more moments, and then sent her from the room. Melanie shrugged weakly, and Regulus nodded, and then smiled.

"Not everything I've been teaching Alan is spells, though." His grin was making Harry nervous. "Some things we've been working on are a few other small things that are within fifth year conjuring range. Some of the most obvious are knives." Regulus quickly conjured three small knives; small enough to hide easily inside a pocket, but with very keen edges. "Can you tell how I did that? Have you covered conjuring yet?"

There was a general motion of shaking of heads, but Hermione and Neville were eying the items carefully, as was Alan. Fred and George had simply nodding, apparently intent upon soaking up the lesson. Harry was feeling remarkably left out, and grateful for Ron's similarly confused presence beside him. Ron smiled shakily. "Glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't read textbooks before we've even bought them." The others heard; Neville and Hermione looked a little flushed, Neville more amused than embarrassed unlike Hermione. Alan just smirked his annoying smirk; Harry still felt like hitting him every time he did that. Ron's expression was exactly the response Alan aimed for: furious. Harry elbowed Hermione with a friendly smile, and Regulus sighed.

"Alright," Regulus allowed. "We'll go into that in a moment. Other things you might conjure would be caltrops." Regulus gave another complicated wave with a focused look and a small four-pointed item fell into his hand. Harry looked at it curiously; it looked like a jack, but larger, metal, and with each arm a wicked spike, and with one pointing straight up … Harry felt uneasy; he didn't want to know what it was for. "Anyone recognize it?" He asked mildly. The twins elbowed each other a moment; Hermione looked pale, but Neville was guardedly curious. Finally, one of the twins answered.

"They're scattered on the ground for soldiers or horses to step on. Sometimes poisoned."

Harry winced and paled, his mouth dropping open slightly. Ron swore faintly, and Neville made a surprised noise; Melanie gulped. That would go clean through someone's foot!

Regulus continued as though he didn't see the many reactions. "Conjuring them means they won't last very long, depending on one's strength. I've only ever managed about a day at best, about ten hours usually. Alan could make them last two to three days if he extended himself and was well-disciplined." Harry watched Alan blink with a blank expression; he apparently hadn't been aware of that measure of his strength. "However, they will still be functional if you can conjure them well, and serve the purpose required." Regulus grinned. "There are other fronts on which that's useful, but it should be unimportant to you.

"Lastly," Regulus handed the caltrop over to Alan and then smiled warmly again before pulling something from his pocket, "there's a small weapon that most people would label unimportant but which can be very useful to us as wizards. Slingshots." He held up the more modern slingshot, of a forked brace with elastic between for shooting the item in question. "Can anyone name what would cause the most trouble when put in here?"

Neville raised his hand slightly before speaking up, twitching a glare Harry's way at his soft snicker. "You could spread caltrops with that easily, but also if you used breakable containers you could spread potions of some kind, particularly explosive or caustic ones."

Regulus' mouth twitched. "Very observant of you. Kinda scary, really. Remind me not to get in a fight with you; you're as bad as Alan." Neville flushed a moment, and Regulus chuckled. "Anyways, you can indeed do both of those, as well as simply using hard objects which is where conjured objects definitely come in handy as the object only needs to last long enough to be shot and connect; then it's merely debris. In this instance, even the weakest of spells are effective so long as the constitution remains. So, now the question is: Do you want to learn more magical theory without really being able to practice, as your parents woulf probably fown at the subterfuge, or do you want me to show you how to aim with a slingshot and some potions which would be good for throwing at people? Show of hands for that? Alan, you don't mind?" Regulus looked around the room and smiled. "Alright. Let's get back into the basement. It's the most contained; Kreacher can take the table elsewhere, and you all can learn how to scare some purebloods shitless."

IIII

The next Order meeting came into the kitchen to find it half-blocked off with a magical barrier while a few people worked on potions just beyond. Just outside the barrier, Alan stretched once more and waited for his father to come through. Inside, several of the kids turned and waved warmly, much to James and Lily's surprise. James was silent for a long moment before Remus rolled his eyes and walked over to Alan to politely ask what was going on. Alan answered shortly,

"Your kids all got bored, so Regulus is showing them a few ways to defend themselves that don't involve magic."

James gaped for a moment longer before asking, "But why potions?"

Alan shrugged, hiding his grin behind his stoic mask. "They're undetectable by the ministry as magical experimentation and tend to be very annoying if shot in a fragile glass ball from a slingshot? They're working on Mimi's Instant Fever Dream at the moment, something even Connor can manage."

James blinked, and then did a double-take. "I've never heard of that potion."

Remus and Frank shrugged as well, and Lily rolled her eyes. "James, it's an American brew. Extremely straightforward although requiring a few rare ingredients, preparation is very easy. It's generally non-lethal, but skin contact produces instant absorption and incapacitating delirium for a period of time depending on the amount used and the potency of the particular brew. You also go into a mild-to-severe fever, which can leave someone weak even after the brew fades, as the fever doesn't go down easily without an antidote, although it will not worsen either."

Someone coughed lightly behind her, and the Marauders turned to find themselves facing Severus. He sent a smile Alan's way, who smiled easily back, staying against the wall to anchor the barrier. Regulus had wanted as strong a barrier as possible, so Alan was the one casting while he coached inside. Severus turned a faint smile back to Lily. "You seem to have completely absorbed the journal you insisted on borrowing from me, Lily. I could swear that was a direct quote." He ignored James' hostile look in his addressing Lily. Alan watched with interest.

"The potions I'd never encountered that were in there were fascinating." Lily allowed. "And Mimi's does make perfect sense. I hope they're only making them mild, though."

"They are, ma'am." Alan spoke up. "Regulus didn't have enough jabberwocky venom to make them any stronger, didn't want to waste it even if he did, and would you trust four Weasleys and the children of the Marauders with a potion that could cause havoc like that?"

Lily's mouth quirked. "No, I don't think so. However, we do need to have our meeting soon … and what happened to the kitchen table? And Alan …" She stared shortly, looking confused.

Alan regarded the space in the room a moment to hide his grin, and then shrugged. "Kreacher moved it out while we were working. He can have it back as soon as they're done, which …" Alan looked over at the glimmering wall and traced a small rune on the edge before a gentle hum built up and then went back down. Regulus, behind the barrier, turned and waved before he turned back to the children. Alan smiled. "About five minutes and it'll all be wrapped up."

"Alan, why are you maintaining the barrier?" Lily asked. James looked confused, and then torn between wry amusement and irritation. "You're underage."

Alan smiled sweetly at her. "I'm not British, though, and I've got my guardian's permission." His smile turned wry. "Neither does Severus mind. I'm not doing anything evil with it, and I'm in a house full of adults. You going to turn me in?"

James looked tempted, but as Lily wryly shook her head, Alan nodded shortly, and gave her another sweet look. Lily's attention had returned to the potions, while Severus purposefully moved closer to Alan, apparently attempting to keep the rest of the room from wondering the same thing as Lily.

"Could I have a sample kept of one of those if it's complete?" Lily asked. "I'd like to check it out for myself."

Alan shrugged again. "No problem, I'm sure." He was cut off from speaking more as a boom echoed behind him and the barrier rippled again. He slammed his eyes shut, and Severus immediately touched his shoulder, only to be gently held off. However he didn't let go, staying in contact, even while Alan turned a glare upon the room beyond where two redheads were being chewed out by Regulus, two who could only be the twins. Severus sighed, and released Alan's shoulder to step forward and trace a rune on the barrier before walking through. Alan straightened carefully and leaned against the wall, aiming a dark look through to the people beyond. The room he was currently in was dead silent, save for the floo flaring and faint sounds of the door above being opened and shut. Lily, fortunately, stepped over as well, again giving doubt upon the origin of the barrier. A small group came down the stairs, and Alan suppressed a sneer with difficulty upon seeing the Weasleys. They just had to show up after their twins were brats, didn't they? The two parents eyed the barrier with concern as they approached.

"What's happening here?"

Lily sighed. "Our children were bored, so Regulus agreed to teach them how to make a few potions that they could use to defend themselves with. Currently your twins just made a bit of a mess."

Molly looked over with concern and approached the barrier. Alan sighed and spoke up, "Mrs. Weasley, you can't pass the barrier. I don't know exactly what sort of mess they made beyond, so you're just going to have to wait out here."

Molly blinked at Alan for several moments, before straightening, though she was still shorter than Alan himself. "Excuse me, Prince, but I believe I have every right to go to my children as I am needed."

"That's lovely, Mrs. Weasley," Alan allowed with a false grin, "but as I'm anchoring the barrier for Regulus and it's completely solid I don't think you're going to get much of anywhere and I would thank you profusely to not mess with it while I holding it, alright? The backlash of breaking it wouldn't leave any of my guardians kindly disposed towards you."

James snorted. "Snape walked through just fine."

Alan didn't even have a chance to answer before Lily turned and planted her finger on James' sternum. "Severus used a compatible equation to open the barrier first which was probably aided by him being Alan's blood relative. He could walk through just fine due to that, so please don't be poking at magical phenomenon you don't even recognize, James."

James growled. "How does a kid just going into fifth year know magic I don't anyways?"

Alan repressed several possible responses that would not have left his friends happy with him. He was quite certain both Harry and Neville knew some magic their parents were clueless about, such as Neville's very impressive Favreau's Mantle. Auror level did not mean it was required knowledge. Instead, he calmly answered, "Practice. And Geoffrey. Besides," Alan lied through his teeth with a grin, "I'm just holding the barrier for Regulus. He coached me to put it up."

The sweet tone didn't fool James at all, but the addition of the American auror's name cleared his face, and he nodded wryly, still looking a bit out-of-sorts. Geoffrey and James, of all things, managed to get along fairly well and James respected his arcane knowledge. Amusingly enough, James, the Marauder, was the more stable Auror of the two. However, Alan was shortly called back to his barrier when he felt someone touch it from inside. Alan quickly looked over to see Regulus, and dropped it. The shimmering barrier disappeared and Regulus turned back to the other children.

"Fred, George, get yourselves cleaned up and then come back down." He growled. "And remember that you're not getting to participate again until you show some maturity. I will not have more tomfoolery just because you want to be complete jerks. Scram." The twins left, and Harry coughed a moment before smiling up at his parents and stepping forward after seeing that Regulus and Severus had fallen into their own discussion. Alan watched him walk over and felt a small coil of irritation at the careful set Harry had to his shoulders. He was still nervous around his father and Alan didn't even think his parents noticed. However, Nanna did reach them first, rushing to her father's arms.

"Dad!" She screeched. "Did you see? I did it perfectly until the twins made a mess and spoiled all the potions. Harry did a good job too; everyone but Connor had it right, and his failed because he wasn't quite sure how to cut everything and prepare the ingredients. Reggie said he did well for someone not even in Hogwarts yet. I'm so excited."

James laughed, and listened, and Lily pulled Harry to herself in a hug as well. Alan saw that was mostly what was happening all around the room, and felt a small pang of loneliness before he stepped from the wall to find Severus and Regulus. They were in the far corner, talking about what went wrong with the twins, but Regulus looked up and smiled as Alan walked over, waving him near. Alan went and hugged him shortly, before Regulus started the conversation again.

"What did you think of Alan's barrier, Severus?" Alan looked up at Regulus, and then turned to watch his father. Severus was giving him a considering look.

"I recognized it by some of my articles only. I'm not sure I like it; he felt it when the twin's made their little stunt."

Regulus shrugged. "It is a small failing, but it was the best barrier we could put up in this instance as the room down here is the only safe place for potion-making as Kreacher hasn't cleaned up the small labs we have upstairs. And those are also too small for all the kids anyways. We needed the barrier to come down easily, but to hold strong while up. Alan knows Franklin's Explosion Barrier really well - Green insisted upon it - and he's the strongest wizard in the group. Alan's several times stronger than I am, as you know, and the others need the practice and don't know the spell besides." Regulus grinned wryly. "You know Alan certainly doesn't need any practice with potions, and he's got that calibre."

Severus looked down at Alan, and Alan hoped he was not blushing slightly like he felt he was. Severus' mouth twitched, and Alan felt like cursing Regulus. Severus just shook his head slowly. Alan finally spoke up.

"It doesn't actually hurt to have the barrier tried; it's simply disorienting because you're feeling something you know isn't really there. It takes a fair bit of concentration to have the spell up; that's part of why I was outside it, other than for the basic needs of maintaining it and knowing what was going on so as to bring an end once we finished and you guys came back."

Severus sighed. "Alright then. Please take care of yourself. Now, unless you want to argue Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley into allowing you to stay, please head upstairs with the others."

Alan smiled up at Severus' frozen scowl and wondered just how his father would take the news that he was friends with James' son. He probably should approach him with Harry as Lily's son first; Severus was still very respectful of Lily Evans, even with her becoming a Potter.

Severus was unmoved by Alan's personal wonderings and ushered him out before the rest. Alan just sighed and moved towards his room upstairs. He devolved into a smirkinIf he could get Harry and Neville's attention, he could try and get Neville to help him with the theory for the Auror level spells he still didn't follow. But how to get them to come without including the others … Alan just grinned and kept going up the stairs.

A/N: Here we go. Another chapter. Thank you very much for reading, and double love to those who review!

Fire & Napalm