Regulus walked around the Forest of Dean for several hours after his conversation with Thomas. He was trying to figure out what to do. Thomas had been right in his guess, Regulus was sure that the only way he could counteract everything he had done wrong was to work to bring an end of Voldemort.

He knew Voldemort was powerful. He knew he was evil. He knew Voldemort would be hard to kill. Trying to hurt Voldemort would be a dangerous task. But all the obstacles were nothing if the Order of the Phoenix member was right about Voldemort creating a horcrux. That changed things desperately. He would have to destroy the horcruxes. That mission in itself could claim his life.

He sighed as he paced round the forest.

He had gotten in too deep with the deatheaters so there was no way out without risking his life. But he couldn't face the evil anymore and he wanted a future with the girl he loved. While he started to plan how he could find out about the horcruxes the sun began to set. Darkness had almost fallen before he realised and decided to go home.

When he arrived back at the flat he saw from the door of his bedroom that Hannah was packing her suitcase. His spirits dropped even further, he had forgotten she was leaving the next afternoon. After a few minutes she turned around and reached for her hairdryer. It was only then that she noticed Regulus standing in the doorway.

"Oh hey Regulus. How was work?" she looked at him properly and saw the pained look on his face. She found herself taking a step towards him and reaching her arm out to touch his. "Regulus what's wrong."

He stared at his feet and mumbled, "nothing." He could feel the warmth of her hand through his fleecey hoodie.

She stepped closer to him and whispered, "I know that is a lie. Please tell me what is wrong."

Regulus raised his head to look into her dark eyes. He stayed that way for a moment. He felt comforted that they were filled with concern. "Honestly it's nothing." He tried to make his face expressionless, "what's for dinner? Take away or shall I cook?" he smiled as widely as he could and turned to leave the room. Hannah stood looking confused and upset but eventually replied that she was happy to cook.

"Great. We need to buy food."

"Well there's a supermarket a few streets away."

"I'll grab my wallet."

When they got outside it had started raining heavily, "Not unlike the day we met" Regulus thought, they huddled under Hannah's bright purple umbrella and walked slowly. Too busy concentrating on staying dry to talk.

Regulus had never been in the Supermarket before. Kreacher usually did his groceries but it appears his mother had been keeping the elf too busy. When they reached the supermarket Regulus let Hannah take the lead. He pushed the trolley around after her as she threw in food.

"looking at the four cheeses she had thrown in he asked "What are you making me?"

"Steak, cheese and onion pie."

"Sounds great."

Regulus watched as she enthusasitcally rushed round the supermarket deliberating over ingredients. At one point when she appeared to be wandering aimlessly around the spices aisle and he asked her "do you know what you are looking for? You don't have an ingredient's list?"

"No. I am making the recipe up as I go along." He just nodded his head, he was sure that was not how people normally cooked but he had tasted enough of her food to trust her judgment.

They reached the till and found themselves queueing a check out behind an old lady. Regulus was rather disturbed by the beeping noise and spent several minutes' subtlety looking round to find the source of noise that no one else seemed to notice. Meanwhile Hannah had engaged herself in a conversation with the old lady in front of her. They had been chatting about the weather, and Regulus wasn't paying attention until the old lady said "and you make such a handsome couple. Look at him pushing the trolley for him. Hold on to that one dear. My daughter's boyfriend won't do a thing for her. You have got a good'un there."

Regulus kept loading groceries on to the magical black moving thing that brought them to the shop worker at the till and tried to hide the fact that he was blushing. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hannah blush as well but look pleased.

Hannah leaned forward towards to the old lady and spoke in a lower tone, Regulus strained to hear her but was frustrated to find out that he couldn't make out her mumbling. Regulus was disappointed until he heard the old lady's reaction.

"You mean he is your ex and he is that helpful to you…. He must like you very much dear." There was a pause as Hannah said something else which was followed by the old lady staring over at Regulus and saying in a lower tone, that he could just hear, "Well if that's the case darling, fight for your man. The way he looks at you… well you may not even have to try so hard."

Regulus was pretty sure he could have done backflips at that moment. Hannah wanted to fight for him. It was something that was entirely unnecessary, he would do anything to be with her. That was clear from the fact he was willing to risk his life for her.

After they had paid for the food they battled back through the rain. Inspite of the umbrella the strong wind and an unfortunate incident with a bus and a puddle mean that they arrived back at the flat soaked. Regulus left the food on the Kitchen table and fetched them two towels so they could dry off. When he arrived back so was organising their purchases and weighing the ingredients for the pastry she was going to make. After they had dried off Regulus sat at the kitchen table and watched in awe as she moved around his kitchen, turning ingredients into something amazing with so little effort. He had to stop himself imagining her there in his home doing that everyday.

When she finally put the pie in the oven she sat down in the chair opposite him and looked at him seriously. "Are you going to tell me what is wrong now?"

He was taken back by the question, "no." he wanted to tell her though, but that was impossible so he lied, "not yet."

She nodded her head and leaned back in her chair and forced him to talk about his day. He told a few lies about his non existent day at work, trying to ignore the guilty feeling.

"Why were you back in the middle of the day?"

"I… what? I wasn't."

"Yeah you were. You put a blanket over me when I feel asleep."

He stared at her embarrassed to be caught in a lie. "yeah. I had been at my mother's for lunch and called in for a minute to see you after."

"how as lunch at your mothers?"

"awful."

Hannah appeared to suppress a smile. She knew his parents were an obstacle to them being together so she was no fan of his mother. "How come?"

"She had invited a girl to set me up with."

"Did it not go well?"

"No. Talking to her was as interesting as watching paint dry." Hannah's smile grew wider. He told her about Nanette, about her strange French accent and how his mother had shoved them together so blatantly. She nodded, laughed and sighed in the right places and Regulus admired her ability to listen to him.

Just as he was finishing their conversations the buzzer went off and Hannah rushed to the oven to retrieve their dinner. They tucked in and Regulus was sure it was the most perfect dinner he ever had. When he said as much to Hannah she nodded her head and simply said of course.

They followed their main course with strawberries and ice cream in the living room. Regulus leaned back on the sofa contented and at ease. He was still thrilled from his interpretation of her conversation with the old lady, but his happiness was multiplied when she leaned into his shoulder. After a few moments he body lifted his arm and put it round her as she curled up closer to him.

They sat like that for a long time while until Regulus fell asleep, still under the weight of his worries. Hannah remained awake enjoying being close to him.

The arrival of Kalleiope into the living room awoke Regulus about half an hour after he had drifted off to sleep. "I fell asleep." He said stupidly.

She giggled at him and he looked at her his forehead rested against hers and he found himself unable to stop himself from kissing her.

When they finally broke away she stared up at him, Regulus wrapped his arm tightened his grip around her, not wanting her to be any further away. After a few seconds Hannah started to pull away but he wouldn't let her, he grabbed her hand and kissed it and was pleased that she gave in and rested her head back on his shoulder.

"Regulus. What is this? What we are doing?"

Regulus thought for a second. He considered shrugging, saying he didn't know, but instead he decided to be truthful, swallowed his nerves. "Well I can't say for certain but I am pretty sure this is me being in love with you."