"Today is the day." Regulus thought as cheerfully as he could, he was determined to distract himself from the nerves and dread he felt about his dinner time meeting with the Dark Lord, where he would for the first time try to use occulmency and work on a plan to bring him down. Regulus gulped; "I don't want to do this." He then spent the rest of the walk from the place his port key arrived to the Lestrange's manor house, where the meeting was, trying to think of the exciting event that would happen tonight after his meeting.
As he recalled the events of last week he couldn't stop himself from grinning. He was sure he looked like an idiot but he remembered the joy he felt and the way his heart had leaped when he had woke up on the sofa a week earlier, stiff from sitting upright all right with Hannah in his arms. He smiled as he remembered how they had fallen asleep after talking late into the night about their relationship, why they had broken up and the obstacles they still had to face. (He did not disclose all of those obstacles and certainly none that involved deatheaters and the dark lord). His grin broke out to a full on smile as he thought about how she had told him that she loved him back even after everything they had been through and all the time that had passed.
No, Regulus was resolved that he would make it through this meeting and back to his flat in time to welcome his girlfriend into their home. When they had decided to get back together they had agreed to move slowly but it made sense for her to live with him, she knew noone else in London and there was nowhere more convenient for her near her new shop. So after much discussion he had redecorated the spare bedroom for her, bought a tv and hid everything to do with magic.
She would be arriving tonight, with her business opening in two days' time. He had talked to her earlier that day on a telephone (he had bought and learnt how to use one of those, figuring if he was going to pretend to be a muggle, he had better do it right). She had been excited about moving the first of her stuff down. He was excited too. So much so he could just skip. He doubted the Dark Lord would react well to having him skip into the meeting.
He could see the manor house in the distance and felt nerves well up in his stomach again. He distracted himself for what he was about to do by listing all the amazing things about Hannah's smile in his head. He knew he was a cheesy idiot but he couldn't help himself. The Lestrange's manor house was in the middle of the moors, it was eerily quiet and calm, the anti-muggle spells meant there would be no one for miles around except the other deatheaters.
Just as he approached the walls that surrounded the manor house he bumped into Priscilla, she was wearing a long black dress and dragon skin boots, her skin more tanned than normal from her trip abroad.
"Here for the meeting?" he asked.
"Naturally. How are you Reg? It's been a while."
"I'm good. How was your trip?"
"It was good. Real good in fact. I have some news actually."
"Really? Anything you want to share?"
"Yeah. I am getting married to the guy who I went with."
Regulus stopped walking, he was surprised. Priscilla was wonderful but she never did things suddenly, only after careful consideration. "What? Are you kidding? Congratulations Prissy!"
"Yeah. This time six months I will be Priscilla Crabbe."
"I am so pleased for you. I didn't know you were dating Crabbe."
She looked down, "I wasn't. I mean…. I am…. We weren't exactly dating. You see my parents suggested it. They figured it was about time I married a good pure blood guy. Stopped messing around…"
"yeah, sounds like the same things my mum has been telling me. But as long as your happy."
"Yes. I am very happy." She said and smiled forcefully back at him.
Priscilla chatted about her wedding plans the whole way to front door. They knocked the snake shaped door knocker before being let in by a house elf who was wearing a tea towel dress so grubby Kreacher wouldn't have let it in the house.
The house elf bowed low to the ground, her nose touching the ground. She led them into a large dining room, much bigger than the size of the Black's, but much more unpleasant as well, at least in Regulus's mind. It was dark, lit solely twelve tall thin candles, six on each wall. They took their seats around the long dark table. Regulus was pleased to see he was seated away from the head of the table. He hoped against hope that he could get through this just absorbing information and without having to speak. After about ten minutes of small talk with cousin Bella who was proudly boasting about the painting of her husband's great great grandfather who had discovered some magical beast in the rainforests of the Congo, the double doors at the opposite side of the room were opened and Lord Voldemort himself walked into the room.
We all stood together and bowed to him as he stood at the door glaring at his most noble followers. He was tall, and his evil distorted what could have otherwise been an attractive face. He swept over to the finely engraved wooden chair and sat down on it.
"Runcorn." His voice was it's usually smooth self, but now, instead of inspiring awe, Regulus now felt a shiver of fear slide down his spin. "How are the negotiations with the goblins going?"
Runcorn paused looking nervous, "Your Lordship. I have talked with some of them, the head goblin seems reluctant to talk. I have been sending him goblin made weapons and jewellery as gifts to gain his trust but I believe the Order of the Pheonix have been doing the same."
The Dark Lord hissed in anger, Regulus had to stop himself from recoiling back in his chair. Runcorn flinched looking nervous. "I am not happy Runcorn. You are clearly not trying hard enough."
"I am trying hard my lord."
"Do you want to displease me?" Voldemort accused looking violently dangerous.
"No Lord. No, I am trying my best to do what you want. It's the order of the Pheonix and Dumbledore- he is always a step ahead."
"Are you saying Dumbledore is a greater wizard than me?"
"No my Lord, No." Runcorn replied panic obvious in his voice.
The Dark Lord lifted his wand and the fellow death eaters watched Runcorn shake and scream in pain as he was hit with the cruciatrics curse. All the colour in Regulus faced drained and he leaned back trying to ignore what he was witnessing.
When he had finished Runcorn slumped unconsciously on the table and the Dark Lord smiled cheerfully.
"Regulus." The Dark Lord said loudly, Regulus jumped at hearing his name come from Voldemort's mouth, he turned to look at the Dark Lord. "Do you hear from your older brother much."
"No. Not at all my Lord."
"Then you will be interested to hear Karkaroff's report then." The Dark Lord turned to Karkaroff, "regale of us of what you have seen of the blood traitor."
Karkaroff nervously started to talk. "Sirius, has been working as an auror. Most of what he does is with James Potter. Much of it is dull. He is in regular correspondence with Dumbledore, meaning there is no doubt in my mind he is a member of the order of the pheonix. He was in Hogsmeade for a few days meeting with the headmaster no doubt, he spent much of his time with Aberforth Dumbledore, who we know is working with the Order of the Phoenix. Following him has meant that we have found the location of one of the Prewett brothers. I believe with a little time we will be able to break through the protective spells and get into their home."
"Well done. And do you think you can soon dispose of Sirius?"
"Yes my Lord." Replied Karkaroff, "but for the moment he is leading us to other members of the order."
Bellatrix spoke up for the first time since the meeting. "My Lord, if it would please you, I would like the honour of ending the life of my blood traitor cousin."
The Dark Lord looked at her and a smirk crossed his face. "We shall see Bella. Maybe your other cousin wants the honour. Hmmm, Regulus?"
Regulus tried to hide the horror he felt at thinking of murdering his brother, "My Lord, if Bella wants that particular honour I would be happy to let have it, when the time comes."
"hmmmm…" replied Voldemort, leaning back in his seat and pressing his fingertips together.
The rest of the meeting passed without Regulus once again being called upon. Most of the meeting concerned the use giants and a progress reports on plans to infiltrate the ministry. Voldemort lamented of his desire to infiltrate Hogwarts and turn young witches and wizards to the right way of thinking, a pursuit that would be impossible while Dumbledore was head master. At the end of the meeting Regulus had his attention caught when Voldemort asked, "Before I forget. I need a house elf."