Chapter 32 – We can't tell them

Izzie slept for two days straight; her magic was completely drained. Regulus wasn't much better. He never felt so weak before. He had slept an entire day next to Izzie in his locked room. His parents never made an appearance, nor did her father or uncle. That was a good thing at least. Kreacher brought them water and stale bread, that he left mostly untouched. It was the night before Hogwarts and Izzie was still sleeping next to him. He was afraid she wouldn't wake up; he hated feeling powerless. Even if he had his wand, he was too weak to contact Remus. Oh, Remus and Sirius must be besides themselves. It was three days since their afternoon in the park, three days of not hearing from them. Which was unusual, since they exchanged messages every night.

Kreacher popped in with a plate. Regulus looked over and saw that it was more than stale bread and water. "Mrs Black needs more nutrients, master Regulus." He bowed until his nose touched the floor.

"If it is something my mother send, you can take it away." He snapped at the elf.

"His mistress doesn't know." Regulus eyes widened but the elf didn't look up. "She needs to drink this, or she won't wake."

"Kreacher-" He started but the elf disappeared with a loud crack. Regulus was afraid he would hurt himself or worse if his mother found out. He grabbed the tray and picked up the bottle to inspect it closely. He recognised the smell from somewhere, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He dipped the tip of his pinkie finger in it and let one drop fall into his mouth. He didn't want to give it to her unless he knew it was safe, even if that meant it would kill him.

But it didn't. He felt his magic grow stronger and he felt less weak. He quickly hovered over Isabelle, tugging her chin down with his thumb until her mouth open slightly. He tipped the entire bottle into her mouth and waited until she swallowed it. He saw the colour on her cheeks return almost instantly and her ragged breathing evened out. He tucked her close in his arms and took a few berries from the plate.

"Please, wake up, Isabelle." He whispered.

For the first time in days, he heard footsteps come to his door. He quickly hid the tray underneath his bed and wrapped both of his arms protectively around her. The doorknob turned slowly, then his mother stepped in.

"We already informed the school about your nuptials. You will leave this house tomorrow at ten, you will see your way to the platform yourself. The door will unlock a few minutes before, and your things will be ready. You will bring back honour to this family, even if it is the last thing you do." She cocked her head to Isabelle, and his grip tightened. "I hope she'll wake up soon." She turned back to her son. "You'll need the consummate the marriage soon or the future will look bleak for the both of you." She turned to head out.

"Mother-"

"I'm not your mother! Not until you have proven to be a loyal son." She snapped and closed the door.

"I will never be your son." He sneered. He looked down when he felt Isabelle move, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Isabelle."

"Reg, I don't feel well, I feel weak." Her eyes fluttered open.

"Do you remember what happened?"

She frowned until she grasped his shirt. "Basement, your parents, my uncle and father... we – we're married."

"I'm so, I'm so sorry." He pulled her against his chest. "I knew they were up to something -"

"We're alive, that's all that matters. We- we-" She was too tired to speak.

"It's okay, rest. What they did, it took a lot out of you."

"Tell me -" She breathed in deep. "Tell me everything you saw."

And Reggie knew what she was talking about, the runes. The runes that covered the walls. So, he described the ones he saw. Not wanting to forget anything as he didn't have paper to drawn them. He kept talking about the runes, the candles, the blood. He kept talking even though she had fallen back asleep. But at least the colour on her cheeks was back and her breathing was evened out.

The next morning, two piles of fresh clothes were sitting on the end of the bed next to a tray of breakfast. Reg had pulled Izzie up in a sitting position as he placed the tray on his lap. He dropped berries in the yoghurt and started to scoop up sugar in it.

"That's too much sugar, Reg." She managed a smile.

"You need to strengthen up." He handed her the bowl of yoghurt. He kissed the side of her head. "Please, for me."

"Anything for you." She whispered and started to eat the way too sweet yoghurt. "Are they going to let us out?"

"In about an hour, Kreacher will apparate us to school."

"And what? They just want us to go to school?"

"They want me to bring back honour to this family." He snorted. "Probably starts with us finishing school at the top of our classes. I'm done with this, with this house, with this family." He took her hand in his. "You are my family now. I won't let them get near you again."

"Good." She smiled weak. "I won't let them near you again. You'll never go back here, Reg. I'll make sure of that. We'll never let them take you away again."

"I'm still underage, Isabelle."

"I'm not so sure." She frowned. "I won't know for sure until I researched at school but what they did, how they made you marry me. I think with the ritual, the blood and the runes, it made you off age before you turned seventeen. If I'm right, they can't force you into anything."

"What will I do then? I still have two years of school left."

"We'll figure it out. Maybe we can find a flat and move in together."

"You would do that for me?"

"I would do anything for you." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. "We should get ready."

"Yeah, you up for it?" He asked as he looked at her.

"I think so." She stood up slowly and looked at her clothes. They started to change into their wizarding robes. When she leaned down to tug in her boots, her head felt dizzy. Regulus was besides her in seconds, his arm curling around her waist holding her up. "Just a little dizzy."

He guided her back to the bed and sat down next to her. "Here, eat a bit more before Kreacher comes for us." He handed her another bowl of yoghurt.

An hour later, they arrived at the train station. Kreacher had apparated them on the far end of the platform, away from prying eyes. The house elf was ready to pop out when Regulus reached out and touched his bony shoulder.

"Thank you, Kreacher. And be careful."

The elf nodded at Regulus. "Master Regulus and his wife need to finalize the marriage as soon as possible." He said mysteriously before he disappeared.

Regulus straightened up, wrapped his arm around Izzie's waist and guided her to the train. They didn't speak about Kreacher's last words, but it replayed in both of their heads. They found an empty compartment in the back, and he slowly lowered her on the seat. After he placed the trunks on the rack above them, he locked the door and tugged her close.

"What do we tell the others?" He asked, it was the first time he brought it up as he didn't want to upset her more. "They haven't heard from us in 3 days, they must be worried sick."

"We can't tell them." She shook her head.

"Isa-"

"No! We need to do our own research first, see what they did to us." Her hands shook. "We'll just tell them they took away our wands and our things when they figured out, we didn't go to Barty's."

"I don't think that's going to be enough.",

"It has to be, for now." She glanced at the trunk above her. "Can you hand me the leather book in my trunk, please?"

Regulus didn't wait or ask more; he had seen her scribble down in it the whole summer. He clicked her trunk open and searched for the book. He took the book with blank papers out of the trunk and handed it over. She was already skimming through the pages as he sat down next to her, his eyes went out the window as more students arrived. There weren't many messages from Sirius, one had appeared late last night and three this morning. But nothing from the days she has been unconscious. She ignored his words. She didn't want to see what he had written. She flipped over the page and jotted down.

I: We are on the train, don't worry. I will see you in the great hall.

His response was almost immediately, like he was holding the book open in his hands.

S: Don't worry!? You are joking, right? I haven't heard from you for days, nor did Remus hear from my brother. - Izzie, the pages turned black! Tell me where you are. Please.

I: I can't now. Your parents have eyes everywhere, we'll talk later.

She closed the book and stuffed it in her bag, ignoring her body warm up from another message. She pointed her wand at the door and a shimmer fell over it.

"What did you do?"

"Just a glamour, so nobody can see the door."

"We'll have to talk to them." He said but he pulled her head into his lap. "But you need to rest now."

"I'm fine." She muttered but her eyes were already closing, within seconds she was asleep.

The train was moving through the green scenery. Reggie's book was left unread on the table as his eyes scanned trees move past him. Izzie was still asleep on his lap, once in a while she flinched or cried out in her sleep, and he gently caressed her cheek until she calmed down. His head snapped to the door when he heard two familiar voices.

"Where are they?" Remus voice filled with worry. The moment Reg heard his voice, he wanted to jump up and pull the door open, but he stayed seated. Izzie wanted to wait and how much it pained him, he would listen to her wishes. "You said that Izzie said they were on the train."

"She did! She sent me note." Sirius exclaimed, but Reg could hear the fear in his voice. He truly did love her.

"Let me see it." Remus demanded.

"I- I can't." Sirius sighed. Regulus frowned as he looked from the door to Izzie. Has is something to do with the book? "Maybe Lily and James have more luck on the other side of the train."

Reg didn't see his brother's face, but he heard it in his voice. He didn't believe it himself.

"What else did the note say?" Remus asked sceptically.

"That they were being watched by my parents and that she will find us later."

"That does seem plausible." His boyfriend mused. Or was it secret lover now? "I'm worried, Pads. It isn't like them to not let us know anything for days. Even when she was in Spain, she sent a message daily."

"I've been practicing with my Patronus, I think I can make him track her."

"I don't know." Regulus could imagine Remus's face. Biting his lower lip as he frowned. "Let's wait until we arrive at Hogwarts." He sighed. Regulus heard them walk away. "I'll send them a fire message -"

That was the las thing he heard, and a few minutes later, two fire messages appeared in front of them. Reg plucked them out from the air.

Please, tell me you are on the train. I'm worried sick about the both of you. This isn't you, Reg. And it is certainly not Izzie. I know you can't answer me yet, but let Izzie send a message back.
I need to hear from you.

I love you.

Remus

He couldn't answer through a fire message, but he did take out his wand and breathed in deep. He couldn't conjure a Patronus, only a few whisks that's all, not even to send a message. His favourite memory now was Remus telling him that he loved him, but the happy memory was overshadowed by the last couple of days. So, he wrote down a quick note.

It's Regulus. Isabelle and I are on the train, truly. She's asleep right now, we will see you in the great hall. Sirius, Walburga and Orion are watching us, they have spies everywhere, you know that. We'll find you later.

With that he put a putting a notice-me-not spell on it before letting is fly out the door. Hoping it would fly to Remus. He promised Isabelle not to say anything and he didn't, but he knew when he spoke directly to Sirius and used his parents' names instead of mother or father, he would know something was up.

Isabelle slept all the way to the castle. When he saw the lights of the castle in the distance, he nudged her awake. She rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Are we there yet?"

"Almost." He eyed her, she was still so tired, it made him worry. "We better change."

They changed in their compartment and helped each other with their ties when a Patronus leaped inside. He thought it was Remus or Sirius', but it was a cat. Regulus frowned as he thought who'd the cat belonged to. But he didn't have to wait long.

"Mr and Mrs Black." McGonagall's voice filled the room. "You will stay on board the train until Professor Slughorn comes to collect you. You will not talk to anyone else." And the cat disappeared.

"That was weird." Regulus scowled and fell back in his seat, Izzie followed suit.

"You said Walburga informed the school, maybe it's about that?"

"Maybe." They both saw the castle coming closer, the lights shining through its windows.