Regulus was thrown to the ground by the Portkey. It was much stronger than any other he had ever taken before. After all, it was going further than the others. Looking up, he saw that his father had had the foresight to catch Sirius
(like he actually cared.)
before he fell. Regulus was grateful
(of course you are.)
to his father. After all, that wouldn't have been pleasant for Sirius if he had hit the ground roughly.
(because of the injuries father gave him.)
The injuries that father healed, Regulus corrected. His not-thoughts snarled, but didn't actually reply.
Slowly, Regulus stood, looking towards his impatient father.
"Where are we, father?" he questioned.
"The German International Portkey Site. From here, we will Apparate to a… museum… of sorts. It is in the muggle world."
(muggle? i didn't know father could say that word without sneering.)
"But father," Regulus said, ignoring his not-thoughts. "We're not in muggle clothes." A glance at Sirius proved that he was also confused, and he was clearly surprised that they were going into the muggle world.
"I'm going to cast Notice-Me-Not charms on us. None of the muggles will see us."
(ah ha! i knew father couldn't actually mingle with muggles.)
Personally, Regulus wasn't sure if he or Sirius could blend in, either, but he decided to not try and argue with… himself? He still didn't know if the not-thoughts were his
(they are.)
and that scared him a bit.
Regulus nodded, but Sirius looked confused.
"Won't they run into us, then?"
"No, Sirius," father said, looking slightly annoyed at what he perceived to be a dumb question. "Notice-Me-Not charms work by making a muggle think or something they need to do or see whenever they get close to the person using the charm. No muggles will bother us."
(gotta love his 'greater than thou' attitude.)
Regulus nodded. He had known how the charm worked, but it was nice to hear his father actually explain something.
(don't get used to it.)
Sirius and Regulus watched as their father pulled out his wand and casted the charm around each of them. Then he told them both to grasp his arm.
(not a good idea.)
Regulus's not-thoughts seemed annoyed again, but Regulus would not listen to them. They were wrong.
Immediately, their father Disapparated.
Regulus felt his head spin as he felt like he was forced through a small tube and spit out again. When they landed, Regulus doubled up, hardly seeing Sirius's greenish face beside him.
(that was terrible.)
For once, Regulus agreed with the voice in his head.
He didn't see his father look on, annoyed at the show of weakness. It didn't matter that none of the muggles saw. Blacks could not show weakness. Had he not still been playing the 'good father' role, he would have promised punishment. Now, however, he only averted his eyes, as if unable to deal with his sons' flaws.
After a few minutes, Regulus straightened up. Sirius did the same, mere seconds after his younger brother. Both looked towards their father, wondering where they were, but their father nodded towards something above them. Looking up, they saw a tall arch-like structure. Stepping back, Regulus saw the words written on it.
'Arbeit macht Frei.'
"What does it mean?" Sirius asked quietly. The dark gate spoke of something seemingly sinister. Where were they?
Regulus had never expected something like this. He had certainly not thought of this when his father said it was a museum.
But… maybe all muggle museums were like this.
(i doubt it.)
Regulus had to agree with the voice again. This was too strange and seemed to dark for a museum, muggle or not.
"Labour makes you free," Regulus's father said quietly.
"I – I don't understand," Regulus said.
"We are at a place called Auschwitz. Around thirty years ago, a muggle named Adolf Hitler ran this place. He killed countless people here, muggles and wizards alike. It seemed that none could stop him. Come."
Regulus and Sirius followed their father, eyes wide.
"But father," Sirius protested. "How could one muggle do that? Especially to wizards?"
"He had many followers on his side. They would overpower a wizard – or muggle – before they had a chance to defend themselves. Once they were taken here or to other places such as this, they were stripped of all belongings, including wands."
"Why?" Regulus asked hoarsely. He could see somber muggles make their way in front of them. Many were dressed in all black, and a few even had tears in their eyes.
"Because, to Hitler, they weren't perfect."
(no one's perfect.)
"No one's perfect," Regulus said, hardly even noticing that he had spoken his not-thoughts.
"We know that," their father said. "That muggle did not. Never, in Wizarding history, has someone killed so many for an unworthy reason. That is one of the many reasons muggles are beneath us."
(and there's the true reason for coming.)
The not-thoughts confused him. After all, he'd known that muggles were beneath wizards. Why had their father gone out of his way to prove something Regulus knew? Unless, he was trying to convince Sirius, and he wanted to show him the error of his ways.
(no. he wants to make sure you think that.)
"Wait!" Sirius protested. "Muggles aren't beneath us! What about Grindelwald?"
"Grindelwald did not kill nearly as many as this one muggle did. He also had a noble reason."
(to make muggles serve wizards isn't a noble reason.)
"To make muggles serve wizards isn't a noble reason!" Regulus cried out, horrified at the thought of so many deaths. No reason would make that okay. He hardly noticed that, once again, he had repeated the not-thought's exact words.
His father shot him a glare, but for a moment, Regulus thought he saw a slight bit of fear in his gaze.
"Regulus! He was following Salazar Slytherin's noble cause!" their father rebuked. "Well, if Salazar Slytherin wanted that many people – including witches and wizards! – killed, then I don't think I even want to be a Slytherin!"
"That's good, Regulus," Sirius said. "Because you'll be a Gryffindor for sure." Sirius shot a glare at their father.
"How dare you say that!" their father spat. "You are a blood-traitor, Sirius! Do not think that being in Gryffindor is okay! If I ever hear you say something like that again, then you will be thrown out of this family. Do you understand, Sirius?"
(who even wants to be part of this family?)
"Yeah," Sirius muttered angrily, refusing to look their father in the eyes.
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Orion thought desperately. This trip had been a disaster. Not only had it not convinced either of his sons that he was right about muggles, but it had also made Regulus question his 'beliefs' even further.
Orion wasn't an idiot. He could see the signs of the memory charm crumbling. Regulus looked confused and hesitated whenever something was mentioned of his 'beliefs.' Now, he had said something that he shouldn't have even been thinking about.
The charm was breaking.
Both of his sons would be blood-traitors.
However, it wasn't over yet, and Orion wouldn't give up. It was time to take them back home.
He needed another plan to get his heir back.
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Hey, guys! I am so sorry! It has been forever since I updated! I promise it won't ever take that long again!
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