Serenity was in her playpen throwing blocks against the door when Regulus strolled into Malfoy Manor, he looked troubled, he offered a smile to Serenity and a sleeping Draco. "Reggie!" Serenity called out in a squeaky voice. Regulus smiled wistfully as he crouched down in front of her.
"Hey kid, you know the only person I let call me that is my brother." Regulus teased.
Serenity frowned as she tried to escape the playpen. With a sigh Regulus lifted her, placing her on his hip. "Brotha." Serenity said tasting the word in her mouth.
Regulus scanned the room for his cousin but found that Draco and Serenity had been left in the care of Dobby (who was in the kitchen making dinner). Serenity tugged on Regulus' hair as he carried her to the couch, placing Serenity in his lap. Regulus played with her hair for a moment to distract himself from the heavyweight of the locket in his pocket. "I need to talk to someone. Can you keep a secret Renny?" Serenity nodded vigorously. "Where's your daddy?" Regulus asked trying to prolong the inevitable. and Serenity frowned for a second and she looked around the room. "Guess he left you with Narcissa."
"Dumelror." Serenity said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Regulus' heart ceased beating for a moment.
"Is you daddy with Dumbledore?" Regulus asked and Serenity placed a finger to her lips, shushing him. "I'll keep your secret if you keep mine," Regulus smiled. Draco was snoring noisily in his bassinet. "If your daddy is with Dumbledore that means he's a good guy," Regulus said thoughtfully but Serenity wasn't paying attention as she attempted to put her foot in her mouth. Regulus smiled at the small child who was blissfully unaware of the war going on outside this very house.
"Serenity, I got assigned to do a very bad thing. Something I can't let happen," Regulus confessed. Serenity just shrugged not understanding what he was talking about. "I'm gonna fix this all, I came to say goodbye to Narcissa and Draco. I went to my brother you know. To talk to him one last time."
"Brotha!" Serenity shouted upon hearing the familiar word.
Regulus swallowed leaning back against the couch cushions. "My brother told me to go away, told me I was dead to him, that if he ever saw me again he'd call the Aurors on me. It's quite ironic actually." Serenity didn't understand these words and was baffled by every word coming out of Regulus' mouth. "I'll be dead soon, so can you respect my last wish Serenity?"
"OK." Serenity agreed.
Regulus smiled at Serenity's innocence. "Promise you won't grow up like these people? Promise you'll be good… be like my brother. I know you don't know him… but he's a good guy. I wish I had listened to him while I still had the chance. But now in my final act, I'm hoping he'll forgive me. Promise me you'll be good, promise you'll never be a Death Eater."
"Pwomise!" Serenity squeaked.
"Regulus, when did you get here? Narcissa asked entering the room, smiling at her younger cousin. Regulus threw caution to the wind, placing Serenity back on the floor and hugging Narcissa tightly. Narcissa blushed hugging back.
"Are you okay? What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to pop in, I- um have something to do but I wanted to see you and Draco while I was in the area." Regulus lied, but Narcissa brought it smiling fondly at him.
"Well, it's good to see you Regulus, I was just heading to Diagon Alley to pick some things up, but I'll see you Sunday," Narcissa said goodbye before disappearing in the fireplace in a flash of green light. Regulus watched his cousin disappear looking sadly at the fireplace for a long moment.
"Okay, I'm gonna leave Serenity, before I lose my nerve," Regulus gave a sardonic laugh. "I'll be dead tomorrow and this won't even matter," Regulus leaned down next to Draco and kissed his forehead. "Good luck cousin," He murmured to the sleeping baby.
Regulus went to put Serenity back in the playpen, he halted when he looked into her gray eyes, they were far more familiar than he had ever realized. They gave him more courage and he took a deep breath as he accepted his fate. "Goodbye Serenity." He whispered kissing her head and setting her down, he gave one last smile before leaving out the front door.
When Severus picked Serenity up that night he wondered where she had learned the word
'dead'
CRIES! I'm so sad because while Regulus obviously doesn't know Serenity's his niece she was still the last person he spoke to, other than Kreacher, Ugh I made myself sad. I love Regulus so much I wish he was a bigger character.
So guys! I have an idea! On the main story I do a house cup with Hogwarts houses. On this story I shall do Ilvermorny houses! So leave a review with your house and you'll get five points for your house! Starting next chapter!
Okay so what do you wanna see next? Draco and Serenity? Lester, Serenity and Fenir or Serenity and Severus! Please tell me what you wanna see! I have so many ideas but feel free to send me more! I'll do whatever you want!