A/N: This chapter is shorter than usual... but there is some Killian/Regina. And Cora.
Thank you all, as always! :)
x
Regina jolted awake and looked around nervously. With a sigh she realised she had fallen asleep in her armchair in front of the fire and sat up slowly, rolling her neck to work out the kinks from sleeping with her head at such an angle. Guessing that her earlier conversation with Henry about knowing some of his teachers while she had been a student at Hogwarts had contributed to the fact she had dreamt about their school days, Regina stood up and stretched her limbs. She felt uneasy for some indefinable reason and looked around her chamber as though expecting someone to be lying in wait for her.
Crossing to the cabinet on the opposite wall, she poured herself a generous helping of Firewhisky, draining the glass in one gulp, before refilling it. Regina settled herself in the armchair once more and sipped slowly at the liquid that burnt a trail down her throat and settled heavily in her stomach.
Without warning, the fireplace seemed to admit a strange glow. Knowing what it meant, having been subjected to the phenomena countless times in the past, Regina clutched her glass more tightly and waited for her mother's head to appear in the flames.
"Regina, darling." Cora crooned, her features become more visible as the spell settled properly. "You're looking well. Teaching suits you, it seems."
"Yes, Mother." The younger woman nodded. "I am enjoying it immensely."
"Good… How is my grandson?"
Regina was confused; she had been expecting yet another tirade about how teaching at Hogwarts, doing the Ministry's bidding, following Dumbledore's rules, was below her as a member of the Black family. The fact that Cora had apparently come to terms with her daughter's new position did nothing to calm the nerves that were unsettling Regina. If the older woman was happy about a decision Regina had made without consulting her first, it was never a good thing; the younger witch had learnt that the hard way.
"Henry is fine. He's in bed." She answered shortly.
"Such a shame; I would have loved to speak to him." A smirk settled over Cora's face and Regina's heart sank slightly. "Perhaps tomorrow? There is a trip to Hogsmeade, is there not?"
Regina blinked at her. "I… how did you know?"
"Draco, of course. He mentioned it in his last letter."
"Draco's writing to you?" The Professor frowned, unable to believe that the fifteen-year-old boy would willingly be writing to her 65-year-old mother. What could they possibly have in common, even if she was his grandmother? It couldn't be anything good, that was for certain.
Cora scoffed. "Do not be ridiculous, darling. Draco writes to Narcissa and, as my other daughters are living with me at present, Narcissa informs me of the contents of her letters."
"Bella and Cissy are living with you? Why?"
"Since Lucius was sent to Azkaban, Narcissa doesn't like being in the Mansion on her own. Bellatrix has been living with me for some months; as you would know if you took the time to stay in contact with your own family."
"Sorry, Mother." Regina cringed at the accusatory tone. "I have been incredibly busy with–"
"I am sure you have." Cora cut across her, not listening. "Therefore I think you should be more than willing to meet me in Hogsmeade tomorrow. I will meet you at the Hog's Head at one o'clock. Do not keep me waiting, Regina."
Before the younger woman could say anything more, her mother vanished from the fireplace and the yellowy-orange flames licked at the stone surrounding once more. Regina downed the Firewhisky in the glass clutched in her shaking hand, before filling it for a third time.
Regina made her way towards Hogsmeade carefully the next afternoon. The permanent ice and snow that covered the village chilled her through her thick robes and cloak and caused her to shiver violently. In addition to the cold, which she would have preferred to stay out of, the thought of seeing her mother was not one that filled her with a great deal of joy.
She knew that, while Cora wasn't strictly on any of the Ministry's wanted lists, meeting with the woman in public would do far more harm than good to her reputation. Meeting her mother in the Hog's Head rather than allowing her know the password that would let her travel to her chambers in Hogwarts via the Floo Network was vastly preferable, however, so Regina just hoped that most people would have chosen to visit the Three Broomsticks instead.
"Hey, Professor Mills!" One of the third year Hufflepuffs called cheerfully as she made her way along the snowy main street.
Waving reluctantly, she sent the boy a weak smile, before raising the hood of her cloak and bowing her head slightly. It was partially to protect herself from the weather and partially to avoid drawing attention to herself.
Reaching the dingy pub at the end of the road, Regina lowered her hood before pushing open the door. Shaking the snow from her clothing and hair, she made her way towards the bar, her gaze focused down on herself.
"What can I get you, love?" A horribly familiar voice asked. Looking up slowly, Regina locked eyes with Killian Jones. At once he smirked and leant casually against the bar, letting his eyes wander lazily over her form. "Regina Mills… The girls told me you were teaching at Hogwarts… never thought I'd see you in here."
"I'm meeting… someone." She replied, her tone a mixture of irritation and discomfort.
"So what can I get you?" He asked again. Then he leant closer and winked. "And that offer I made you… several times… is still open you know."
Regina looked confused. "Offer?"
"You, me, a couple of meads…"
"No, thank you." She snapped. "I'll have a Firewhisky."
Killian arched an eyebrow in surprise at her choice of drink, but reached beneath the counter for a glass anyway. As he slid the newly filled glass towards her, accepting the coins Regina shoved at him as payment, the door opened once more. Without turning round the witch knew that her mother had entered the building and immediately tensed. If she hadn't been able to sense Cora's presence, the wide-eyed expression on Killian's face would have given her a hint.
"Regina, darling."
"Mother." The younger woman's smile was tense and forced. "It's lovely to see you."
"Of course." Cora responded, not returning the sentiments. She signalled for Killian to bring her a Firewhisky as well, before leading the way to a table in the corner where they were less likely to be overheard. "So, tell me more than the bare minimum; how is my grandson?"
Regina was loathed to admit that Henry was currently in the village as well. "He is fine, Mother, thank you. He was made a Chaser on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and Horace Slughorn has inducted him into his little club."
"Hmm…" The older woman sniffed in response, before she nodded at the barman who placed her drink on the table and scuttled away hastily. She looked after him for a moment before arching an eyebrow at her daughter. "What happened to Killian's hand?"
Glancing over her shoulder and catching sight of the hook glinting where his left hand had once been, Regina shrugged. "Perhaps someone had a particularly violent reaction to one of his attempts at a chat up line."
"At least he was a Slytherin." Cora hissed.
"One I vividly remember you branding a Blood Traitor." Regina snapped back, her mother's implied barb against her late husband sparking her temper.
"His poor parents… Abraxus and Sybil were right to disown him. Imagine… a common barman… They do have another son, though. Finnegan is a far superior wizard in every respect. Sybil and I were hoping you two would marry, but you soon put paid to that idea… At least your lapse of judgement was easily dealt with."
Regina squeezed her glass so hard that it smashed. As Cora tutted in disapproval, her daughter pulled out her wand, tapped at the remnants in her hand and muttered 'reparo' under her breath. She stared at the newly-repaired glass as her mother began talking, not having any idea what the older woman was saying. It was only when she heard her son's name that Regina looked up.
"What?"
"Really, Regina… It's 'pardon', not 'what'." Cora chastised her. "I was just saying that perhaps it might be nice if Henry were to go and stay at Narcissa's house with Draco over Christmas. The boy spends far too much time with you."
"He is my son. Children are supposed to spend time with their parents, Mother."
"Not all the time, my darling. Henry has no male authority figures in his life." Sensing Regina was about to argue, she waved a hand. "I hardly count Severus."
"Whose fault is it that Henry has no father?" The younger woman hissed furiously. "You murdered my husband in front of me. You killed Daniel. It's because of you Henry has no father."
Cora simply shrugged. Then she stood and pulled her cloak on, fussing with the fastenings. "So it is settled, then. Henry will spend the holidays with Bellatrix, Narcissa and Draco. You will come to the Mansion as usual. I believe the Jones' will be in London; perhaps it is not too late for you and Finnegan after all."
"But… no! Mother! You can't–"
"Do not disobey me, Regina." Her mother threatened, her eyes flashing dangerously. She leant on the table, her face inches from the brunette's and her mouth twisted into a cruel snarl. "You know what happens when you disobey me."
Neither noticed the inn door opening and the volume levels rising dramatically as laughter and chatter followed the group of people towards the bar. Cora nodded once at her daughter, the pleas dying on Regina's lips, before striding out and slamming the door behind her. Regina buried her head in her hands, forcing herself not to cry. There would be plenty of opportunity for that when she was alone in her chambers later.
"Regina?"
The brunette's head snapped up to glare at whoever dared to address her. She sighed as her dark eyes met blue-green ones that were sparkling with concern. Before she could shoot a caustic comment towards the blonde who was standing over her, Emma took the chair Cora had recently vacated and looked at her curiously.
"Killian said that was your Mother."
"He was correct."
"Are you OK?"
"I'm perfectly fine thank you, Professor Swan."
As Regina made to leave, gathering her cloak and pushing her chair back away from the table, Emma reached out and grasped her hand. The brunette barely stifled a gasp as a jolt of electricity shot up her arm from their point where they were touching. Blinking in bewilderment, Emma didn't protest as the older woman snatched her hand back and cradled it against her body.
"Listen, Regina… if you want someone to talk to… I'm always here, OK?"
"I do not need anyone…" Regina replied stiffly, standing and making her way towards the door.
"I didn't say need, Regina… I said want." Emma pointed out in a low voice. Regina almost shivered at her tone and the expression in her eyes.
