Chapter 33 – Where Are They?
OoO
Twenty minutes later, Izzie and Regulus were sitting in the headmasters' office, with Professor Slughorn on Reggie's left and McGonagall on Izzie's right. Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him on the large desk. McGonagall frowned a little as she looked at both of them.
"Are you two okay? You look rather pale?" She asked worriedly.
"We're okay. We didn't get much sun this summer." Izzie said quickly and the professor shot her a look that said she didn't believe a word of it.
"We don't have much time. Professor McGonagall needs to escort the first years in soon." He started calmly. "Both of your parents arrived at my doorstep yesterday morning. They informed me that you two got married a few days ago."
"Yes, sir." They chimed quietly, looking down. Both teachers beside them gasped softly.
"Was it willingly?"
Izzie and Reg looked at each other, communicating silently. With an internal sigh, they turned back to the headmaster. "No, sir."
"How is this possible? Mr Black isn't off age yet." Slughorn asked shocked.
"They found a way." Regulus muttered. Izzie reached over and took a strong hold on his hand.
Dumbledore's eyes flickered between them. "I see." He frowned. "You know that both of your parents have great influence in the Wizarding world. They asked me, since you two are married that you get your own private quarters."
No, no, no, then everyone will know.
"I wanted to say no, but they were quite persistent. I know the marriage was against your will, but I can see you care a great deal for each other. So, living together wouldn't be so bad.
"But then everyone will know." Regulus spoke her thoughts out loud.
"I'm afraid they will find out soon anyway, son." Slughorn spoke. "They probably send out formal letters to all pureblood families. I'm sorry, but the whole Slytherin house will know in a few days, if some don't know it already."
"Can you tell me about the ceremony?"
"Uhm." Izzie glanced to Regulus. "I don't think I'm ready to discuss that, Professor. I'm sorry." I want to research everything first.
Dumbledore looked disappointed but nodded anyways. "We are here if either of you want to talk. We won't do a formal announcement in front of the school. But -" He looked at Izzie. "If you want, we can call you Mrs Miller or Mrs Black during class?"
"I don't want to be called Miller, not ever again." She shivered and it was now Reggie who gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Maybe just Izzie or Isabelle, until -" Word AKA gossip spread around.
"We can certainly do that, Isabelle." McGonagall offered her a smile. "I should go round up the first years." She nodded at Dumbledore and Slughorn before looking back to Izzie and Regulus. "If either of you need anything, anything at all, you know where to find me."
"Thank you."
"I'm afraid there isn't more we can do for you. But like Professor McGonagall said, my door is always open." He smiled. "Your trunks are in your new quarters, Professor Slughorn will take you there. You are both still welcome in your common room, of course. Here are the passwords." He slid two pieces of paper over. "And my guess is that you two don't want to barge in the Great Hall during the sorting, so the elves prepared a private feast in your quarters."
"Thank you, headmaster." Regulus bowed his head slightly before he stood up. He helped Izzie to her feet, and they followed the Potions professor out of the room.
The hallways were empty as the professor guided them to the third floor. In the far distance, you could hear the chatter of the Great Hall. Izzie wobbled a little on her knees and Reggie wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.
"Are you okay, miss – Isabelle?"
"Just been a while since I've eaten something."
The professor eyed her sceptically but didn't say anything else as they stopped in front of a portrait. In the portrait was a large fruit tree, but instead of one type of fruit, it was dozen different ones. He tapped three fruits with his wand before the portrait slid open.
OoO
Remus and Sirius were watching as the carriages filled up and made their way to the castle. It was starting to rain.
"Maybe they were in one of the first ones." Lily offered from her spot under James's arm but didn't sound like she believed it herself.
"Let's head to the castle. If we can't see them there, we'll talk to Minnie." James said, guided Lily to the last carriage. Remus and Sirius looked at the empty train for one last time before stepping in the carriage behind Peter.
The carriage ride was quiet, even Peter, who usually couldn't read the room, was silent. James was rubbing Lily's arm reassuringly. But nothing could calm her down, Sirius thought to himself because he and Remus were truly panicking right now. The carriage ride seemed like it took twice as long as it normally did. When the carriage finally came to a stop, Remus and Sirius jumped out and ran up to the castle. The screeched to a halt in front of the loud great hall. Their eyes scanned the Gryffindor table first. Nothing. Then moved to the Slytherin table. Nothing. For good measure they checked the other tables.
"And?" James asked once he, Lily and Peter arrived behind them.
They turned around and their look said everything. Then something clicked in Sirius head. "The map! Check the map!" He didn't realise he just spilled the secret of the map to Lily, but she was bound to found out soon.
"Map? What map?" Lily asked.
But the others didn't answer as they all moved out of sight of the great hall. James searched his robes for the map, he held it out and quickly muttered. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
Five sets of eyes scanned the paper, then Peter pointed on the far right. "There!"
"They're in Dumbledore's office?" Sirius frowned.
"Izzie isn't on this." Lily frowned.
"No, she may have a hand in the map." James smiled sheepishly. "And her one condition was that she didn't show on this."
"So, we can assume she's with him. But why with Slughorn and McGonagall." Lily frowned.
"McGonagall seemed to be leaving." Remus said as he saw her name move from the room.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Sirius looked to Moony. "First they didn't write to us for days and then the bo-" He stopped himself.
"No time to keep secrets, Black. Spill." Lily snapped.
Sirius run a hand through his hair. "Fine." He took the book out of his robes. "You've seen me writing in this, yeah?"
"All summer. I thought you started a diary or something." James chuckled, but it sounded forced.
"Not a diary." He tapped the leather cover. "Izzie got this for me. This book has a twin, she has the other. We can write messages to each other, if I write one down it appears immediately in the other. She made them and we're the only ones who can read the messages, it's connected to us." He saw all of their eyes widen, and he knew if it was any other situation, they would want to know how she even thought of this, let alone invented it. "But that night, after the park, the pages of the book turned black. It only turned back to normal yesterday evening. And I – I felt fear. I think I could feel her fear. So, with the lack of messages, the book, not seeing them on the train and now both of them in de headmaster's office, something definitely happened."
"But what? They are here, that's a good sign. They are not in the hospital wing, another good sign." James offered, hoping to point out the positive signs.
"They are moving." Peter suddenly said. Everyone looked back down at the parchment. Peter was right. Regulus and Slughorn, probably Izzie too, were moving but not towards the great hall.
"Where are they -"
"I would assume the five of you would be in the Great Hall already." McGonagall's voice came from behind them. James quickly stuffed the map in his robes. They were all so focussed on Regulus's name, they didn't see McGonagall come their way. Before they could bombard her with questions, she continued, her eyes flickered between Remus and Sirius. "They both arrived at the castle safely. They are with Headmaster Dumbledore right now."
"Why?"
"I'm sure they will tell you when they are ready."
"Are they okay?" Remus asked with a trembling voice.
Something flickered in the professor's eyes which made Sirius even more on edge. "They didn't need to see Madam Pomfrey." That statement didn't make anyone feel better. "They won't join you for the welcoming feast, not wanting to make a grand entrance. You can talk to them in the morning."
"In the morning?" They all chimed.
The professor looked over her shoulder as she heard the first years come in. "Now you better hurry inside. I need to get the first years sorted." She nudged them to the great hall before she walked away. All eyes in the great hall fell on them, but nobody paid them any attention.
"That wasn't at all the slightest reassuring." Sirius muttered.
"I know. But at least we know they are both here."
"But what was the thing about the morning? Won't we see them after the feast?" Lily whispered as they sat down.
"I don't know." Remus sighed. None of them paid attention to the sorting, nor there was much eating except for Peter of course. Once the dinner was over, the practically ran to the tower. Remus and Izzie headed to their dorm when they saw that the common room was empty. But to Sirius horror they came back down alone.
"Her things aren't here." Lily wringed her hands nervously. "What does that mean?"
Sirius didn't answer, he just dropped down on a chair in the corner of the common room and opened his book. The others gathered around him but didn't pry as he leaned down and started writing.
OoO
Izzie and Reggie were eating dinner in their private quarters. It was a spacious room with a three-seater and two armchairs in front of a fireplace. On one side of the room was a door that led to their bedroom and a bathroom. On the other side were two desks planted between a large bookcase. They were sitting close together, so their knees touched. It made them both feel better. Izzie felt her body warm again and threw the book across the room.
Regulus looked up from his plate with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going explain that-" He waved to the book on the other side of the room. "To me?"
"I write messages in it – to Sirius. Sirius has the other book." With Regulus confused look, she explained the book to him and how they are connected.
"That's amazing, love." Regulus beamed before going over to pick up the book and flipped through it. "And nobody but you can read it?"
"Nope." She smiled a little.
"I wish Remus and I had one." He said a little forlorn as his fingers traced over the book.
"I'm sorry. It took me while before I managed to make this one. The hard part is that the books need to be made by the same person with the exact same utensils, the paper has to be from the same tree."
"Where did you find this then?"
"Antique bookstore in Spain, just a spur of luck, I guess." She reached over to hold Reg's hand. "I'll keep my eye out for another set."
He smiled. "How do you know he has written you a message?" He said, flipping through book again.
"Well, you can't see it, but that book is full of messages already."
"Figured as much, at how much you've had your nose buried in this over the summer." He snickered.
"But besides the fact that I can see a new one appears, I can also feel it."
"Because your magic is connected to it." He said. Izzie loved how smart Regulus was, he knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Yes, and he's been writing constantly for ten minutes now."
"Why don't you answer?"
"And say what exactly?" She groaned and fell against the coach, closing her eyes.
"Yeah, guess you're right." He leaned back also and put his arm in the back of the coach. She leaned her head against his chest. She breathed in deep as she felt her magic buzz in contentment. She didn't gave it another thought though, her mind on Sirius. Thirty minutes later and constant messages from Sirius, a fire message appeared in front of them. Regulus picked it out of the air and held it in front of them.
Izzie, Regulus
Can either of you just answer us? We are besides ourselves and Sirius is ready to throw the book in the fire - yes, he told us about the book – We all know something happened, just – we need to know you two are safe. Izzie, your things aren't in the dorm, are you leaving school? Or are your parents forcing you to do something, Reg?
Please
Just - answer us.
Izzie pushed herself up and wiggled her hand, showing Regulus to hand her the book. He handed it over and leaned towards her. She flipped open the book and as she wrote, she dictated to Reggie what she was writing.
I: We arrived at the castle just like you guys with the train, but Dumbledore wanted to speak to us when we arrived. Yes, something happened... after the park, your parents found out we didn't go to Barty's, so they locked us up in our room and took away our wands.
S: I don't believe that's all that happened. And it still doesn't explain why your things aren't at your room.
I: I can't get into that now; I'll tell you later. Reg and I are okay. We are together and we will see you later. I'm rather exhausted and really need to sleep. I promise I'll explain everything later. Please tell everyone not to worry and tell Remus, Reg is with me. Don't try to find Reg on the map, the place where we are is not on it.
S: Izzie, you're making me nervous. What ever happened, we'll get through it. I love you and I won't let you go, how hard you try to push me away.
She closed the book with a sigh and leaned back against Regulus. Reg had been quiet the whole time and was rubbing his hand over her shoulder.
"I'm going to the library first thing in the morning. We need to know more before we talk to them. But you're staying here."
"What? Why? Two is better than one."
"They have a way of finding you, outside this room. I don't want them finding us right now. I'll go to the library and pick up the books and head back here, so we can go through the together, alright."
"Fine." He said begrudgingly. "We should head to bed." He said hesitantly, glancing to the bedroom door.
Izzie smiled a little and she accepted his hand to stand up. "Reg, nothing is different. We slept together dozens of times and changed in front of each other."
"Except we're married now." He said as they stepped into the bedroom. Their trunks were placed neatly against each other at the end of the bed.
"We'll find a way out, or how to deal with it, Reg."
"I know." He squeezed her shoulder before they went to their trunks to change. The moment, they weren't touching, they both felt weaker but neither of them noticed, not even when their strength reappeared once they crawled into bed and held on to each other.