He was dressed in tailored day-robes that accentuated his tall, lithe figure. Raven hair waved gently around his flushed face. His breathing looked a bit labored, like he had been rushing there before his mother had even called for him, and Sophia's eyes were drawn to his lips. She had the incredible urge to kiss those lips.

And then she didn't know why.

It was like waking up and wanting desperately to remember the night's dream, but the harder you try to draw on it, the more the memory evades you. Recognition came for Sophia and Regulus, but that – along with the memories they held onto for years – slipped away from them in a matter of seconds, like the dreams they were.

She's so beautiful. And so familiar. What in Merlin's name is happening to me? He recalled reading the article about her family, and his disgust over his mother's thoughts on it, but that was it. His heart was beating erratically, and he couldn't remember what had him so excited that he was tripping over himself to come here a moment ago. Black's didn't fumble. Could it be her? But that wasn't right. He'd never been caught up in the absurdity of youthful romance. But she's worth it, a small, sappy, almost happy part of him voiced in the back of his mind. Even as he struggled internally to make sense of it all, he stared into her eyes and experienced the most intense draw he'd felt toward anyone.

He wanted to protect her from the man beside her who, by his recollection, was a perfect gentleman. Even so, he was sure there was some danger there that made his magic flare up aggressively.

He also felt the urge to reach out and touch her. Even at a glance, he simply knew she would feel right. Like she was his home, his future.

But he wouldn't touch her. She wouldn't kiss him. They were strangers.

So they stood there, each face carefully blank. How could they share the confusion they both felt? How could Sophia tell this boy, to whom she hadn't ever spoken a word, that he made her head and heart ache with a memory that she could not recall? How could Regulus tell her that she felt more familiar to him than his own family?

The mystery of it all only increased when Sophia tried to find the answers in the mind beyond those gray eyes. She hyper tuned herself to him, while blocking the rest of the Alley out, but, there was nothing. Not a surface thought. Not a memory. Not an impression of emotion. It was like his mind was a room with no windows or doors. She even got pretty forceful, but he didn't even seem to register that she was trying to see his thoughts. She would never put her full power into the venture, not in front of a street full of people, but she got an extremely unsettling feeling that it wouldn't do anything to him. He's a natural-born Occlumens..

They were pulled from their trance when Walburga Black hissed, "Regulus, are you just going to stand there, or are going to introduce yourself?"

He quickly glanced at his mother and could tell she was seething over the sight of him unkempt. He quickly righted himself before giving the heiress his most charming smile. "As my mother has indicated already, I'm Regulus Black. Ms. Peverell, my deepest condolences on the loss of your family."

"Thank you." The mention of her family was enough to bring her back to her senses, even as her stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice.

"Regulus is going to be in your year at Hogwarts. Isn't that wonderful?" Walburga's thoughts fluctuated between violent urges directed at everyone and greed at the notion of future marriage between the young couple, making the interaction all the more awkward for Sophia.

Regulus knew he'd have to keep the encounter brief, otherwise his mother would ruin any chance he might have. He didn't know what it was that he felt for the young witch, but he sure as hell wanted to figure it out. Even though he knew harsh punishment would be awaiting him for it, he interjected. "Yes, and I do hope to spend time with you at school. Before then, even. But we won't interrupt your outing any further. Perhaps we can arrange something at a later date," he shifted his eyes to Abraxis then, "chaperoned, of course."

"I'd like that very much," Sophia said with a soft smile. As keen as she was to get to know him, she needed time to reflect on the strangeness of it all.

"Now that you mention it, I'm planning to invite some guests to the Manor tonight, and I believe your presence would be most welcome, Regulus. I'll owl the details and apologies for the short notice," Abraxis said with a secretive undertone, intentionally excluding Walburga from the invitation.

Regulus knew the guests he spoke of. He'd been waiting on bated breath for over a year to be invited to a meeting of the Knights of Walpurgis, to finally meet the Dark Lord. Except instead of elation, there was extreme dread that he couldn't understand. Somehow he knew it was wrong. They were wrong, and extremely dangerous. When he looked back at Sophia, her smile had faded, her brilliant eyes flashed subtly, and he knew she felt the same.

Abraxis didn't speak much after the two departed from Diagon Alley. His thoughts revealed that he was giving Sophia time to process and voice any objections she may have to his surprise gathering. Even as he sent the letters out, she said nothing. She knew it would happen eventually, so instead she used the silence to plan a course of action. It was a pretty straightforward plan. Don't get killed.

She wasn't ready or willing to think about stormy gray eyes and raven hair and the first mind she'd come across that was closed to her. But that didn't stop him from popping up over and over as she ate lunch with Abraxis in the large dining room at Malfoy Manor.

When they stood from the table after Dilly cleared the remnants of their food, she started with a benign question. "Where is Lucius?" The young Malfoy irritated her. He was whiny and thought very often that he was superior to most. Sophia was glad he had already completed his schooling two months prior, and would not be joining her September first, at Hogwarts.

She didn't even bother asking about the Malfoy matriarch. She'd barely seen the woman since she arrived, and during those seldom appearances, Sophia discovered madness within her mind. Not the unstable madness that was Walburga Black's, but the sad kind, where she forgot who she was at times.

"He's gone to visit his fiancé, Narcissa Black. He'll be back in time for our guests to arrive."

Well, at least I don't have to worry about him butting into this conversation.

She was silent for a while and then, "Mr. Malfoy, there have been proposal contracts sent here for my hand. That's what you and Mrs. Black were talking about, wasn't it?"

He glanced down at her at that as they moved to drawing room and sat down. "I'm sure it seems very strange to you. Typically, we would arrange a meeting with potential matches before a contract is ever drawn. You're a bit famous now though. It's made some families more eager as a result."

"I'd like to accept Regulus."

It was out of her mouth without hesitation, and as she said it she felt a sense of rightness. She told herself that her response was due to her conversation with Dumbledore. This was required to play her part. Gray eyes flashed in her head again.

The confusion in Abraxis prompted an explanation from her. "If your son is marrying a Black, they must be a respected family, and he is quite handsome, but if you disagree with the choice-"

"I think it's a fine choice, my dear. A very powerful family to align yourself with, too. In fact, we can announce it tonight, if the guest of honor agrees. I do need to prepare you for the gathering, and then I'll ask the elf to bring the contract."

She already gleaned all the information she needed to build her mask. The Knights of Walpurgis were pureblood fanatics led by Voldemort, otherwise known as the Dark Lord. He was a legilimens, too. Abraxis had already told her about the organization, but the rest she had gleaned from his mind. As pointless as it was she prompted, "what do I need to know?"

"The leader of the Knights is going to be here tonight. He is an extremely powerful wizard, and should be treated as such. You are only to speak to him when spoken to. You are only to address him as 'My Lord' or 'the Dark Lord' in reference. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. This is a formal gathering and it's a great honor to have him here, so you should dress in your finest robes, regardless of the . . . era of your wardrobe. Luckily for you, he seemed to find your fashion choices amusing when I mentioned it to him." Sophia forced a joyful smile at that statement and it was easier when internally she said, I don't give a fuck what he thinks about it.

"Alright, now that that's out of the way – Elf! The Black contract." Dilly popped into the drawing room with the contract in hand. Abraxis snatched the parchment from the small creature. "Now go prepare the Manor for our guests."

With much trepidation and unexplainable excitement, she placed a freshly-inked quill to the parchment of intent. Don't expect a prince. No one can save you but yourself. This is a means to an end. A whisper of a thought came. You can trust him.

.

"If it weren't for the invitation in your hand, I'd curse you within an inch of your life! You heard Abraxis! We weren't the only family to send a proposal! You botched it, you filthy ingrate!"

His mother's voice almost drowned out the tapping on the window, but Regulus was so used to tuning her out that he caught the sound almost immediately. She followed him over to the owl, not even noticing the beast or the delivery until he held the opened parchment out, in front of her face, for her to see.

"She's accepted."

The change in her emotion was immediate, but no less crazed. "This is wonderful! At least she recognizes greatness when she sees it! I knew as soon she met you she'd know you were the right choice! I'm going to floo over to tell Cygnus and Druella the good news!" She was gone then, and he began walking up to his room with the contract in his hand.

Sitting down on his bed, he fingered the looping letters of her name in shock. She accepted. She was going to be his wife. He knew it wasn't going to be soon; traditional engagements lasted years, and they were only fifteen, but still. It would happen one day. Unexplainable unadulterated joy hit him for a few seconds before confusion and panic set back in.

He didn't truly know her. He shouldn't trust her. Her soft smile played back in his mind. But you do. The questions burned inside of him as he got up and began to pace. What made me run to greet her when I saw her walking out of that store? Why can't I remember? Why did Abraxis make me uneasy? Why does the thought of the Dark Lord terrify and enrage me? Am I a blood traitor now? What can't I remember? What is she to me? The unanswered questions weren't doing him any good. He'd have to come up with a plan for the time being, and figure out the rest later. He reached for his stationary to write down possible plans and scenarios when he heard another tap on his window. It was a different owl this time, and the envelop it carried was blank. He tested it for curses before opening it to find a few words written in a scratchy, familiar hand. It just read:

Potter Place. Come alone.