55

Regulus' Discovery

St. Mungos:

Severus listened as Stephens and Grimsby, whose first name was Nate, chatted like old friends, despite the two year difference in their ages. When they had first started visiting the badly burned boy on the weekends, Grimsby had been silent and shy, but eventually once he figured out that the Potions professor and his student weren't there to pity him or gawk at him, and actually wanted to help him recover and be friends with him, he became a lot more friendlier. Severus often brought new potions for him to try that relieve the constant pain of his burned irritated skin and healed him faster.

His face was now seventy-five percent healed, and he had removed all but the bandages about his head, which was still bald and patchy. Thanks to Snape's Skin Restorative potion, he did not look like some sort of reject from a monster film, though the potion was slow to heal other portions of his body, and Grimsby would most likely still have scars over the worst places. "But that's okay. I know I'm lucky I'm still alive and not a lump of fried dough," he'd said on one visit.

Stephens had taken to bringing along a chessboard and a deck of cards or a book. Sometimes they played Wizard Chess or some kind of card game, Stephens knew many Muggle games because he was a Muggleborn and he taught all of them to Nate. Occasionally, Snape would join them for a hand of rummy or bridge. Sometimes he would read aloud from Stephens' book of adventure tales, which had excerpts from such classics like Gulliver's Travels, Tom Sawyer, Robinson Crusoe, and The Odyssey. Nate enjoyed that as well, for Severus had a wonderful way with mimicking voices and the stories were brand new to him. Stephens also would tell him the latest news at school, and funny stories of spells miscast and pranks played upon unsuspecting first years.

Nate actually laughed for the first time in months after a joke Stephens told him, and the Head Nurse for the ward, Miss Dawkins, declared that the two wizards were miraculous and the best medicine ever for the lonely injured child. Today, Nate smiled at them when they arrived, and soon both boys were discussing Quidditch teams and players and whether or not they would make their House teams. Stephens was Gryffindor and Grimsby was a Hufflepuff.

The two had been visiting Grimsby for weeks now and the boys had become fast friends, though at first the injured boy had been suspicious of Stephens and Severus, asking them why they would care about him, he wasn't Slytherin or Gryffindor and he had never even been Snape's student. "Why would I matter to you?"

Stephens had answered honestly, "Because if it were me, lying there in that bed day after day, hurting like that and thinking nobody cared, I'd want someone to visit me, even if it's only for an hour. Your best mate's here too, isn't he? How come he doesn't come and see you?"

"Marty?" Grimsby laughed bitterly. "He's all messed up in the head, he isn't allowed to see me, far as I know. The Healers think it'd be bad for me to see him, that I hate him or something."

"Do you?"

Grimsby shook his head. "No. We were both stupid, fooling around with potions that way, and we both paid for it. Sometimes . . .sometimes I wish . . .I could tell him that. That I don't blame him . . ."

"Perhaps I could tell him for you, Mr. Grimsby," Severus had suggested.

"That would be grand, Professor Snape."

Severus had kept his word, visiting Marty that same day and having a long conversation with the guilt-ridden boy about accidents and forgiving oneself and learning from one's mistakes. He did not know how much it helped the young wizard, but he hoped it had done something for him. Marty had been relieved to find that Nate did not hate him for nearly killing him. Severus visited Marty every other week, usually spending an hour with him and also Nate as well. He thought it was ridiculous that the two boys had been kept away from each other, thus fostering more anxiety and guilt and hindering the healing process.

Severus had told Lily of his visits, and expressed the hope that he could get the two children to eventually return to school and attend potions classes again. From what he learned from Marty, the two had been excellent potions students before the accident, and had been experimenting with a potion of their own making when the cauldron exploded. But now, the two were handicapped by guilt and fear, and no one was doing anything to address that little problem except Severus.

Lily approved wholeheartedly of Severus' decision. "I'm glad you're doing something for those poor kids, Sev. It's a shame that no one thought of this before, they might have gotten better sooner."

"If it weren't for my class misbehaving and your sister and Annie bringing us to that ward, I never would have known about them. It was a fortunate coincidence."

Lily smiled. "Perhaps."

The two hour visit was almost up when a house elf popped into the room. "Professor Snape sir!" Winken bowed to the tall wizard. "Headmaster Dumbledore requests that you return to Hogwarts immediately with Master Stephens. He wishes you to see him in his office, both of you, sir!"

Severus raised an eyebrow at the elf's agitated tone, wondering what new catastrophe had gone on in the dungeon while he was away. "Very well, Winken," the Potions Master said, recognizing this particular elf as one of Dumbledore's personal servants—he had three, named Winken, Blinken, and Nod, from the famous nursery rhyme. "Mr. Stephens and I shall be along shortly."

Winken bowed again and vanished. Severus rose and went to fetch Stephens, explaining that the Headmaster wished to see them.

Arthur looked up at his teacher uneasily. "What for? I didn't do anything wrong, sir."

"I am sure it is not due to some misbehavior, Stephens." Severus soothed. "Sorry to cut this visit short, Nathaniel, but we must be going."

"Goodbye, sir. Bye, Arthur."

"I'll see you in two weeks, okay?" Stephens waved at him before taking Severus' arm and allowing the professor to Apparate them to the gates of Hogwarts, where they could then walk back to the castle.

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The minute Severus saw Albus' face, he knew something terrible had happened. The old wizard's eyes were dark, the ever-present twinkle banished from them, and his face was grave. He took a seat at the Headmaster's request and so did Stephens. "You wished to see us, Headmaster?"

"Yes. I am afraid I have some very unfortunate news." Albus said. Then he looked at Stephens. "Arthur, there is no easy way to say this, I'm afraid. So I shall just speak plainly and hope you forgive my bluntness. There was a raid on a Muggle house by Death Eaters last night . . .your house. The Aurors tried . . .they tried to stop it, but . . .they were too late. Your family . . .is gone, my boy. You have my deepest condolences, Arthur. If there is anything I can do for you . . ."

Stephens was rigid upon his chair, his face pale in stunned disbelief. "They're all dead, sir?" he repeated in a monotone. "Even my baby sister?"

"I'm afraid so, lad. Aurors Potter and Black confirmed it."

"But why? Why would they do it?" whimpered the boy, his eyes filing with tears. "My mum and dad, they weren't wizards . . .they barely knew anything about magic, only what I told them . . .my sisters too. Why would the Death Eaters hurt them? What did they ever do to them?"

Dumbledore looked extremely uncomfortable. "My boy, I wish I knew why they do what they do. But I cannot answer that."

"I can," Severus spoke up, irritated at the Headmaster for dodging the question. "The Death Eaters target Muggles and Muggleborns because of an irrational superiority complex they have. They believe that anyone not a wizard is dirt and can be killed whenever they choose, like you would kill an insect. They targeted your family because they could, and they don't need any more reason than that. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is the truth."

Stephens began to tremble violently, struggling to contain his raging grief, horror, and anger. "I understand, sir. But . . .it's not fair! They weren't insects! They were people! Just like us! How dare they? How dare . . .?" His voice broke then. "If I ever see one, I'll . . .I'll hex out their eyes, I'll boil them alive in a cauldron of hot oil . . .I'll . . ." He trailed off as the rage gave way to a terrible grief and loss. He started to cry.

"Arthur, is there anyone I can contact, any relative you have . . .?" asked Albus, handing the poor child a handkerchief with lemon drops printed on it.

Stephens shook his head. "No . . .there's no one . . .mum and dad were only children . . .I can't believe they're all gone . . .I wish I'd been there . . .then maybe I could have protected them or . . .something . . ."

Severus moved and laid a gentle hand upon his student's shoulder. "No, Arthur. If you had been there, all you could have done is die with them. You couldn't have saved them."

"I wish I had! Then at least we'd all be together."

"Arthur, would your mother have wished that?" began Dumbledore.

"I don't know!" wailed the boy. "I just want them back . . .I want them back . . ."

He turned suddenly and clutched Severus about the waist, sobbing hard into his middle.

Severus was startled at first, but he gently began to rub the boy's back. He didn't bother with the usual platitudes, knowing that nothing save time could ease the boy's pain. He looked at the Headmaster. "Albus, he cannot go back to Gryffindor Tower like this."

"No. He is far too distraught, poor boy."

Severus nodded. "If you'd like, I could take him to the house Zoey and I are renting. He can have privacy to grieve and comfort from my wife and me."

"Yes, you are right. I shall inform Minerva," Albus said heavily. "What a tragedy!"

Severus bent down and said quietly, "Arthur, listen to me. I am going to take you to my house, all right? You may stay there as long as you like."

Stephens nodded, and allowed Snape to pick him up and use the Floo, traveling from the school to his small house in Hogsmeade in an instant.

Lily was not at home, she was still at work, so Severus was able to get Arthur settled in the extra room, Transfiguring his clothing into sleepwear and giving him a Calming and mild Dreamless Sleep Draft.

"Professor Snape? Will you . . .stay with me until I fall asleep?" Arthur asked plaintively. He still had tear tracks upon his face.

"I will," Severus answered, and then handed the boy a warm washcloth and sat down in a desk chair beside the bed.

In about five minutes, Arthur was sound asleep, and Severus left and went downstairs to wait for Lily to arrive home.

"Oh, Sev! That poor boy!" she exclaimed sadly when Severus told her what had happened. "What will he do now with no family?"

"I don't know, Lily. He'll become a ward of the Ministry, I suppose. They'll place him in a foster home or something."

"What if . . .we asked to take him in?"

"Lily, we couldn't! Not because I wouldn't want to, but . . .what about our cover?"

"What about it? I could keep the Glamour on me and be Zoey till this bloody war is over."

"And what happens when we get called to Death Eater meetings? I can hide it during school, but what about afterwards? How will we explain our sudden departures to him?"

"Easy. You tell him you have a staff meeting with Dumbledore and I'll . . .I'll say I am a member of some witches potions society or something. That will keep him from growing suspicious. I'm hoping that we have a breakthrough soon and this damn war will be over!"

"Me too. We just have to keep our eyes and ears open. So far, Voldemort hasn't spoken to me about anything else pertaining to immortality." Severus sighed. He had managed to win the trust of the Dark Lord, but the canny wizard had not revealed anything to him of any weaknesses he might have, magically or otherwise. Severus was sure he had them, all men did, but Voldemort was hiding them very well.

"Sev? What about Arthur?" Lily prompted.

"If the Ministry agrees, and Arthur agrees, he can stay," Severus said.

"I hope they will. I can't bear to think of the boy sent off to stay with a family who may not even want him around. That would be a travesty, and he deserves better," Lily said. Then she pulled Severus to her and kissed him.

When Arthur woke up several hours later and came down for supper, which he ate hungrily even though he was still grieving, Lily introduced herself and they told him of their wish to make him their ward. "I know I can never replace the family you lost, but I would like to be a sort of . . .big sister to you, or at least a friend. Sev wishes to be your mentor and big brother," Lily told him. "Would that be all right?"

Stephens stared at her for several long minutes, before replying thickly, "That would be better than all right, ma'am. I'll try not to be a burden to you." Then his brow creased worriedly. "But will the Ministry let me stay?"

"That's what we're going to find out." Severus said firmly. "Until then, you may stay here, due to your tragedy, the Headmaster has allowed you to remain here, so you can make yourself at home. I'll discuss rules and so forth tomorrow. And speak with the Headmaster, both about setting up guardianship over you and having a service for your family."

"Thank you, sir." Arthur said quietly.

"You're welcome, Arthur. One other thing. At home, you may call me Severus and my wife Zoey."

"All right."

"Good, now finish your dessert." He gave the boy a tentative smile. He just hoped that the Ministry wouldn't give them a hard time with the guardianship.

To his surprise, Arthur managed a small smile in return.

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Borgin and Burkes

A week later:

Regulus was dusting the back shelves of the shop, where some old and ancient magical objects were on display, such as a Hand of Glory, widely used by thieves to aid them in breaking and entering well-warded houses, and a cursed opal necklace which rumor had it already killed eighteen Muggle owners. One of Regulus' duties, besides keeping the shop neat and tidy and making sure each object was displayed to its full potential, was persuading the people who came in to part with their valuable magical objects for "the right price", also known as dirt cheap. Most of those who came to the shop were looking for a fence for stolen goods, or needed to get rid of a questionable dark heirloom before the Aurors discovered it. So they'd quibble, but eventually agree to sell the item for far less than it was worth. In turn, the shop would re-sell the item for far more than they'd bought it for, like any good retailer.

Regulus actually didn't mind relieving these wizards of those questionable objects, because it gave him a chance to pinpoint those wizards of rich families or influential ones as possible Dark followers, and send special notes to the Aurors in Magical law Enforcement to raid their residences. He had helped to catch many families who otherwise would have gotten away with illegal funds or possession of a Dark object. Even so, Regulus didn't feel as if he were doing quite enough for the cause, he knew that Severus and Lily risked their necks every month at the meetings, or brewing potions for the Death Eaters or accompanying Bella on her insane attacks against Muggle and Mudblood families. Regulus wanted to make his cover worthwhile, and not just by nabbing a few corrupt wizards here and there.

He was going to marry Cindy Graves in a few weeks time, it was going to be a small ceremony and reception, despite his mother's wish to have some huge gala. He was only inviting a few close friends and family to it, though he knew somehow the wedding would make it into the society pages of the Prophet and Witch Weekly. Regulus figured the lower profile he kept, the better it would be. Cindy had already sent out the invitations and everyone should be getting theirs within a day or two.

He was excited for the wedding, he had loved Cindy ever since that long ago day by the lake at school, and was thrilled that she had been willing to wait a year for him. That was true devotion. He only prayed that his duties as a spy would end soon and then he could reveal all to his family and not be forced to hide his agenda. One would have thought he'd grown used to keeping secrets for years, but the truth was, he had always hated lying to his family, and hoped that Voldemort would reveal some weakness so that the Aurors could kill him.

He had opened a glass display and removed a Lamp of Spirits, which was a lamp that when lit with a black flame candle, summoned up vengeful spirits from beyond the grave to attack anyone the summoner directed them to. A very dangerous object, one which Regulus polished with gloves on. Also in the case was the opal necklace and a Flute of Insanity, guaranteed to drive anyone who heard its haunting melody insane.

As he rubbed brass polish into the base of the lamp, he heard the door open to the shop. He heard Lem Borgin begin his usual patter and then halt and say in a very obsequious tone, "Of course, my Lord. No charge for you. Just let me find what you request. I have had that item a long time, as I'm sure you know. And the ring too."

Regulus inched up behind the next displayed object, a large vanishing cabinet. Voldemort was here in the shop? What could the Dark Lord possibly be buying? Or taking, as the case might be? The young wizard peered around the top of the cabinet and saw Lem going to a long jeweler's cabinet at the back of the shop and unlocking it.

From where he was standing, Regulus had a prime view of the objects in the case that Lem removed. They were a ring and a locket with the Slytherin crest upon them. Regulus gasped. The famed locket of Salazar Slytherin and his ring had been here all the while? It had always been rumored that they had been stolen or lost long ago.

No wonder Voldemort wants them. He says he's Salazar's direct descendant, and therefore the rightful owner of them. And it's rumored that they both have powerful charms on them.

Borgin carried the items back to where Voldemort waited, bearing them upon a black velvet cloth. "My Lord, here they are! May I say I am honored to be of service and reunite these ancient heirlooms with their rightful owner at last?"

Regulus crept closer and saw Voldemort staring at the items hungrily, his eyes bright with desire. The Dark Lord reached out and stroked the locket with a fingertip before drawing it over his head. The ring he slid upon his third finger.

Then he gave Borgin a pleased smile. "You have done well, Lemuel. Perhaps I shall return if you obtain another Founder's heirloom for me. Say, perhaps, the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw?" Voldemort purred.

"Are you trying to collect them all?"

Voldemort chuckled, a truly frightening sound. "You could say that. I am collecting them and turning them to my own purpose. They will be receptacles of my power."

"Execellent, my Lord. I shall keep my eyes out for it." Borgin bowed, nearly going down on his knees to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robe, a practice which had always made Regulus ill.

Receptacles of his power? Regulus mused. What could he mean by that? Why would he want to store his magic in them? Or is it more than that? I need to re-read the Universal Book of Dark Magic and see if there's a spell that can store one's magic or something else. That doesn't seem like the kind of thing Voldemort would do. He craves power, why would he risk losing it by locking it up?

He watched Voldemort sweep out of the shop, his dark robes swirling, and then quickly turned back to his polishing, setting the lamp back when Borgin called him. "Black, come here quickly! You'll never guess who was just in here!" he hissed, beckoning Regulus over. He bent and whispered in Regulus' ear, "The Dark Lord himself was here! In this very shop! Looking for Slytherin artifacts, which I just happened to have . . ."

"That's marvelous, sir," Regulus pretended surprise. He was relieved that it was nearly the end of his shift and he could go to visit the Malfoy library and read the Universal Book of Dark magic copy that was there. Lucius had given him an open invitation to study the books there any time he chose.

Borgin was so delighted and impressed that Voldemort had come to patronize his establishment that he let Regulus go home early. Regulus thanked him and Apparated over to Malfoy Manor.

He was met at the door by the Malfoy house elf Dobby, and shown into the library. Dobby brought him a plate of chocolate fudge biscuits and tea and then left him alone. He told Regulus that the Master and Mistress were out and would be back soon.

Regulus nibbled on a biscuit and sipped tea while he flipped through the book. Then he recalled that you could ask the book to show you certain types of spells. He tapped the cover with his wand and whispered, "Show me spells for placing your magic inside an enchanted object."

The book began to flip pages, finally coming to rest upon a page titled Receptacles of Power and Horcruxes.

Regulus froze. He knew a little about Horcruxes, they were the darkest of dark rituals, involving murder and splitting your soul in two. Could this be what Voldemort intended? And if it was, who would he murder in order to make the Horcrux? Chills ran down Regulus' spine. If his hunch was correct, Voldemort would commit murder not once, but twice, in order to activate the Horcruxes.

He read further, and discovered that the creation of a Horcrux would damn one's soul to eternal darkness. Regulus supposed Voldemort didn't care about that, since he intended to live forever. What could he do to stop it? He supposed he could report it to the Order, but then what? Regulus knew that Voldemort undoubtedly already had victims aplenty lined up, there were at least ten hidden in his secret base that could serve that purpose. Regulus knew there was probably nothing they could do about stopping Voldemort from killing, he used the Killing Curse as easily as breathing. But once the Horcruxes were made, what would Voldemort do then?

Hide them, of course. Hide them in places no one would think to look. Because if anyone found them and destroyed them, his immortality would be lost. For that was the one drawback of any magic of this kind. It made the wizard both immune from death and yet vulnerable to it at the same time. Which was why most wizards today didn't practice it. But Voldemort was no ordinary wizard, and Regulus knew he would stop at nothing to cheat death. The name he had chosen to be known by literally meant "flight from death".

Regulus grinned to himself. He had discovered Voldemort's fatal weakness—his obsession with death and immortality. Now if only he could also find where Voldemort had hidden the Horcruxes, they might have a chance at killing the sneaky bastard once and for all. This was the chance they had been waiting for.

Regulus felt his heart start to race in anticipation. I have to tell Sev and Lily about this. And then . . .then I have to get close enough to Voldemort to figure out where he's going to hide those objects. I just pray my hunch is correct. Then he grimaced. What kind of person had he become, wishing for a dark wizard to commit murder in cold blood? He had become a spy to try and save innocent lives and fulfill Lily's vision. But somewhere along the way, he feared he was losing himself.

Severus. I have to talk to Severus. He quickly shrank the book and stuffed it in his pocket. Lucius would not object to him borrowing it. Then he returned home to Grimmauld Place, where he owled Severus and asked if he might come over to discuss something of grave importance. The wording of that last phrase would clue the Potions Master in that Reg wished to talk about Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

Brighteyes took off and winged his away north. Regulus settled down to wait for a reply. Please Merlin, let me be right. We need this breakthrough so badly.

Hope you all liked this chapter! Sorry it's so late in updating but my holiday schedule is really busy and I don't have a lot of time to write.

Please leave a review letting me know that you're still reading and interested in this story. Thanks!