Regulus must have fallen asleep lying like that as he awoke fully clothed to Kreacher prodding him. He could see from the bright light shining in through the window that it was morning.
"Master Regulus. The mistress sent me to get you up for breakfast."
Regulus groaned, "right."
"My Mistress said you must come at once; Miss Cissy and Mister Malfoy are here. Mister Malfoy has a message for you."
At this information Regulus jumped up and rushed over to his giant closet and reached for the nearest robe. He knew a lot of wizards wore muggle clothes at home but the Black family honour dictated that he should dress like a wizard for guests. He changed quickly and was at the door before he remembered the soot stains on his shirt. If his mother saw it would be obvious he hadn't spent the evening reading quidditch player's autobiographies.
He turned to his house-elf; "Kreacher, you must get the mark off the white shirt but you mustn't, under any circumstances, let my parents see."
"Of course, of course Master Regulus!" Kreacher said trying to shove him out of the bedroom door, "Now hurry!"
Regulus rushed down the stairs and into the dining room they only used for guests. He opened the door to see his father sitting at the head of the table, his face hidden behind that morning's daily prophet . His mother sat on to the left of his father, her dark hair tied back in a tight bun. Across from her sipping tea from delicate china cup sat his cousin Narcissa. Narcissa's fiancé Lucius Malfoy was standing staring out the window.
His mother looked up "Regulus, there you are. What has gotten into you?" turning to the others without allowing him to answer she exclaimed proudly; "he never sleeps late! He is such a good boy"
"Good morning Mother," Regulus said as he reached his mother's side and kissed her on the cheek. "and you too Father" His father grunted in response. Regulus grabbed a slice of toast from the rack of the table before bowing slightly to Narcissa and Malfoy. "Cissy, Lucius. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I believe you have a message for me."
Lucius who had continued to face the window until Regulus addressed him rejoined Narcissa at the table. "Yes, Regulus. The Dark Lord has sent me here with instructions for you."
"Instuctions?"
"Yes, for what to do upon your return to Hogwarts."
He glanced to his side to see his mother was swelling with pride. Even his father had set down the Daily prophet and was listening intently, a fact which was well hidden by the expression of absolute boredom on his face.
Lucius continued; "The Dark Lord sees the Black family as a valuable ally. Your pure blood line makes you, Regulus, an honourable servant for our Lord. And he hopes that your magical skill and your popularity shall allow you to recruit your peers for the Dark Lord's service."
"I am sure it will. Regulus is a most wonderful and talented boy." Gushed his mother.
"Indeed," Lucius continued; "He also believes that your eldest son Sirius has or soon will align himself with the Order of the Phoenix. The Dark Lord is reluctant for that to happen. He wishes for you to reconnect with Sirius and bring him round to the… er… right way of thinking."
As Lucius finished his speech Mr Black slammed his cup down onto the table with unprecedented force. They all turned to look at him only to see him rise from the table and leave the dinning room.
"Excuse my husband." Mrs Black said also rising from the table. "We all struggle with the shame of Sirius's actions." She excused herself and smiled sweetly at their guests before leaving the room.
Lucius had no more instructions for Regulus but him and Narcissa remained there for more than an hour after Regulus's parents had left them. Narcissa harped on about her plans for their wedding while Regulus feigned interest in the colour of the invitations and listened patiently while Narcissa complained of her most serious dilemma; chicken or fish for dinner.
When they eventually left it was almost lunch time and with little else to do Regulus returned to his room to fetch the book he should have been reading the night before. He took it down to the Kitchen where Kreacher was cooking soup.
"Master Regulus." Kreacher bowed as he entered.
"Hey Kreacher, need a hand?"
"No thank you most kind master Regulus."
Regulus sat at the table and read, listening to Kreacher sing to himself as he added spices to the soup. When twelve thirty arrived and the soup was ready Kreacher promptly set a bowl of it along with a small mountain of bread in front of him. "Am I not eating with my parents?"
"No Master Regulus. The master is in his study and asked not to be disturbed and your mother went out."
Regulus tucked into his lunch rather mournfully. It was on days like today when he missed Sirius, who could have always been relied upon to provide some entertainment but then Sirius was also the cause of his parents acting like they were in mourning his name was mentioned. After eating lunch with only Kreacher for company Regulus returned upstairs to find Kalliope had returned with a note from Hannah.
Regulus smiled to himself as he read her reply, agreeing to meet him. But to his dismay he realised it was written on lined paper and not by a quill but by one of those muggle pens. If his parents found this they would be suspicious. They would correctly assume he was communicating with a muggle, a mudblood or a blood traitor. He contemplated burning the note but worried that the smell of smoke might draw the attention of his father down the hall he decided to hide it.
He ventured to the room down the hall which used to belong to Sirius. It was much larger than his, something that had always annoyed him when they were children and Sirius had still been the favourite. It had once been grand but Regulus couldn't help but feel its appearance was detracted by the extensive Gryffindor banners and the muggle posters of thing he thought were called motorbikes. He chuckled slightly remembering his parent's reaction at the muggle posters when they had first seen them. His father's usually inexpressive face and looked utterly appalled. When Sirius had left their mother had spent hours fighting the posters and trying to remove them. Much to her frustration she had failed and so the room had become an object of shame which they closed off to the rest of the world, Kreacher didn't even bother to clean it anymore. Yes, Regulus concluded. Here was the perfect hiding space for it. No one ever came in here and if they did they would pass it off as belonging to his blood traitor brother. Regulus was determined not to share his brothers fate and loose his family over this girl, but he couldn't deny his desire to see her again, so a secret their relationship would remain.