Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warning: Some language
Chapter 67 – Family Reunited
The Great Hall was ablaze with light as thousands of floating candles hovered over those gathered there. The sound of hundreds of students, missing over the long summer holiday, reverberated around the room. Though most present would heartily deny it if asked, there was a sense of 'home' in their return to Hogwarts Castle. First years duly sorted and welcomed into their new Houses, welcoming speech delivered, the platters and serving dishes filled and everyone tucked into their dinner.
From his new place at the High Table, Alphard Black covertly observed two young men at opposite sides of the room. Regulus, seated at the Slytherin table, was quite obviously engaged in animated conversation with the silver-blonde wizard to his immediate left – a position that gave Alphard a clear view of the boy's face. Fork held loosely in his hand and forgotten for the moment, Regulus was focused on making a point to Lucius Malfoy. The latter gave the appearance of listening equally intently, but his eyes were firmly fixed on the Gryffindor table.
Following his gaze, Alphard discovered with no great surprise that object of Lucius' visual interest was Sirius. After hearing about some of the volatile encounters between the two over the summer, it was unrealistic to expect their behavior to be less so now that they were back in school. Alphard shifted his gaze back to the Slytherin table before returning to his great nephew. While Lucius' expression reflected his typical haughty disdain, Sirius' was a curious mixture of anger, apprehension and resignation. Alphard sighed. For all his bluff and bluster about his family, the older wizard knew that Sirius cared for his younger brother; seeing Regulus in conversation with Malfoy would not be welcomed.
"I received an owl from Walburga; she'd like to meet with me to discuss something of concern to her," Albus said quietly. Alphard turned to see the Headmaster's gaze fixed on Sirius.
"You're not going to actually allow that woman to come here?"
Alphard turned to his friend. "I've no real choice, Alphard; her children attend our school." Seeing the other wizard's frown deepen, the Headmaster added, "I've asked that Orion accompany her."
"He's just as bad," Alphard's tone was bitter.
"His most recent encounter with Sirius leads me to believe otherwise. No, I think Orion Black has realized exactly what his past behavior – and his wife's continued actions – has cost him."
"and Sirius…"
"and Sirius," Albus confirmed sadly.
"When will you meet with them?"
"I've asked them to arrive just after lunch on Friday."
Alphard nodded appreciatively. "Sirius will be in my classroom at that time."
"Curious how these things work out, isn't it?" Albus smiled.
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"Padfoot, at the rate you're going, you should just get up, take your plate over there and eat with the Slytherins," James said, reaching across the table and stealing a crusty roll from his friend's plate.
Sirius tore his gaze from his brother long enough to lock on the hazel eyes of his friend. "Very funny, Prongs." The dark-haired wizard looked over at Regulus once more. "I can't tell if he's really in with them or not."
James looked over his shoulder and saw that Malfoy and the younger Black had their heads together. It appeared that Regulus was listening raptly to whatever Lucius Malfoy had to say. Turning back to Sirius, he shrugged. "Hard to say. Rather than drive yourself 'round the twist over it, maybe you should just talk to him. You said Regulus wasn't buying what happened to you this summer, right? You haven't really communicated with him, have you?"
Sirius shook his head. "No chance to, really. I've certainly no intention of visiting him at Grimmauld Place and my mother wasn't about to let go of Reg any earlier than she had to. After all, he's her last chance at keeping the Black name pure, isn't he?" Sirius' attention focused back on the wizard in question. "I wish I knew if she'd managed to get her claws into him now that she's got rid of me."
Remus leaned toward his friend. "Talk to him. Ask him. Do it tonight, if possible; if not, try to catch him before first class tomorrow morning. No matter what's happened between you and your parents, he's still your brother and obviously cares for you. After all, Regulus defied your mother and contacted your father on your behalf the night you left home."
"That was a long time ago, Moony; it's just as likely that everything's changed," Sirius put his fork down and sighed. "Maybe I can catch him before he heads off to his dormitory."
It wasn't long before Dumbledore called the Prefects to lead first years to their houses and dismissed the remainder of the students to their common rooms. With a tense nod to his friends, Sirius rose and crossed the room in an attempt to catch up with his brother. As he approached the queue of Slytherins moving slowly toward the entrance, Sirius quickly located Regulus standing on the outer edge of a gathering that included his cousins, Narcissa and Bellatrix. Before Sirius could speak, however, his way was neatly blocked by Lucius Malfoy. Self-important smirk firmly in place, eyes narrowed to chips of blue ice, the Slytherin sixth year stared down his Gryffindor counterpart. "Black," he drawled. "What on earth brings you over to our side of the hall? Change of heart, perhaps?"
Sirius fought to maintain a neutral expression as he shifted his focus to a point over the blonde wizard's shoulder. "Hi, Reg," he said quietly. "Wonder if I might have a word?"
The younger wizard cast a sidelong glance at the two witches to his right; Bellatrix and her sister watched Sirius as they waited for Regulus to answer. He didn't get the chance.
"Come along, then," the Slytherin Prefect's voice boomed out. "You're blocking the way for everyone else." Sirius glared at the heavy-set young wizard but his attention was soon diverted as he watched Bellatrix and Narcissa move to flank Regulus and shepherd him toward the door.
"Oi, Reg!" Sirius was gratified to see Regulus turn and walk toward him, sparing Lucius the barest of glances as he passed. The trio of Slytherins attempted to step out of the throng of students, but was unsuccessful as Professor Slughorn swept them along with him, nodding to two brothers as did so. Sirius couldn't resist a triumphant smile at the expression on Malfoy's face.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Sirius turned his attention back to his brother and was surprised to see that the boy was at least a half-head taller than he was when Sirius last saw him.
"You've gotten taller," Sirius blurted out.
"You called me over here to tell me that?"
Sirius returned his brother's smile. "Prat; no, that is not the reason. You have, though. Grown, I mean."
"You haven't seen me in a while."
Sirius looked sharply at his brother's face, but there was no malice to be seen; just, it seemed, a sense of sadness. "It wasn't because I didn't want to see you, Reg," he began.
"I know that," Regulus hastened to respond. He looked around. The hall was emptying quickly.
"So, want to come up to Gryffindor tower for a while?" Sirius wasn't quite sure where that came from and Regulus' expression reflected his own surprise.
"I don't think…."
"Hello, boys," Alphard Black spoke from behind his great-nephews, both of whom had been so engrossed in their own conversation that they had never heard him approach. "Catching up, are you?"
Sirius looked over at Regulus and nodded. "We were thinking about heading up to Gryffindor's common room for a bit."
Alphard's eyebrows rose appreciably at that news. He turned to Regulus. "Courageous, that – very courageous, indeed. A serpent in the lion's den; perhaps you were sorted into the wrong house." He smiled at the nephew he had not seen in many years.
For his part, Sirius held his breath, uncertain how their great-uncle would be received. It seemed that Regulus shared his hesitation as he appeared to consider his response for some time. Finally he looked up. "I don't think my parents would have been happy with two Gryffindors in the family."
Alphard smiled. "I suspect not. Listen, why don't the two of you go up to my sitting room? Sirius, you know the way. You'll have your privacy; I've got some business to discuss with the Headmaster before I retire for the night."
"Thanks, Uncle," Sirius said, turning to Regulus. "Let's talk, yeah?"
XXXXXXXX
"How are you, Reg?"
The two brothers were seated before the blazing fireplace in Alphard's parlor. As desperate as he was to know where Regulus' loyalties now resided, Sirius found himself reluctant to ask the question. Let's start with something more generic.
"I'm well, Sirius," the younger boy answered politely then rolled his eyes. "We sound quite formal; like we hardly know each other." He paused for a moment then slid to the floor, crossing his legs beneath him and leaning back against the sofa. "Better," he declared, his expression more relaxed as he lifted his chin in Sirius' direction. Sirius smiled and joined him. "Better."
Regulus allowed his gaze to sweep over his brother and his expression became more child-like – more in keeping with his age. "Are you? Better, I mean."
"Better than last you saw me? Yeah, but that wouldn't be hard, would it?" Sirius smiled softly. "Thank you for owling Father. That took courage."
Regulus shook his head. "I was afraid."
"You had every right to be." Sirius looked squarely at the other boy. "Did she do anything to you after I left?"
Regulus shook his head, but his smile was bitter. "Mother … retired … to her room after you left. I didn't see her again until the following morning, and then not for very long; she left with Father later that day." He paused. "They didn't help her very much."
"So I heard." At Regulus' questioning look, he added. "The night I left Grimmauld Place, I went to Kate's. Her mother took me in, let me stay with them until we joined the Potters in Brighton. I went wandering around London one afternoon and wound up in Diagon Alley. Father was there and we spoke. He told me – or tried to tell me – about Mother's condition and his attempts to have her treated in Paris."
"She's sick, Sirius," Regulus said. "Father explained it all to me and…"
"…and you believed him," the other boy finished, his voice bitter. "That must have been some explanation."
"Since you weren't there for it, you don't really know, do you? And if you won't shut up and let me actually finish a sentence, you never will," Regulus spat.
Sirius' mind traveled back to similar, angry statements exchanged so recently with Remus and he swallowed hard. Time to apply what I learned. He exhaled sharply. "You're right. Go on, then."
Regulus' expression relaxed a bit. "Father said that when he first brought her to hospital, Mother was … difficult. She didn't want to stay there, didn't want anyone to examine her. Father said that she didn't feel there was anything wrong with her." Regulus paused as if expecting Sirius to break his silence with more caustic commentary, but the elder Black held his tongue. "Father said that the Healers told him that her magic was registering in a strange way; it was like it had become fragmented at some point and when it came back together, it wasn't in the same way. He said it was inconsistent with the way it was before."
"It didn't feel inconsistent the last time I saw her," Sirius muttered, gaze fixed on the fire.
"I said something of the sort to Father," Regulus smiled thinly at the look of surprise on his brother's face. "Funnily enough, he said that the incident with you might have contributed to it."
"Brilliant! Another thing she can hang on me."
Regulus shook his head. "Well, not successfully at any rate; it would appear that you were the last straw. Mother's problems were always going to happen, according to the doctor she saw last."
Sirius' eyebrows shot up. "Doctor?" The change in term wasn't lost on the wizard.
Regulus nodded. "Yes. The Healers didn't think that whatever was wrong with her was based in magic; they thought that her behavior and inconsistent magical impressions were caused by something that was already a part of her. Something magic couldn't touch."
Sirius exhaled sharply. "Father took her to a Muggle hospital?"
"Not exactly. There's a center associated with the magical hospital in Paris and they've got Muggle doctors on staff. It's for special cases," Regulus shrugged.
"And Mother agreed to go?" Sirius' tone was incredulous.
"Well, she didn't really have much choice. Father didn't give her one." Regulus paused. "He also didn't tell her about the Muggle doctors who would be treating her."
"That must have gone over well," Sirius allowed himself a small smile and shook his head. "How long did it take her to suss it out?"
"Not long," Regulus replied. "The absence of robes and wands seemed to be the first clue."
"What happened?"
Regulus turned toward the fire and Sirius saw the younger boy's face harden. "Did you know that Mother requires neither wand nor voice for her magic?"
Sirius felt a chill wash over him. He had known, of course, that Walburga was proficient at wandless magic; his experience the night he'd left Grimmauld Place for the last time had reinforced that knowledge. But silent magic? To have no warning of what was about to be unleashed? In hindsight, he realized that he should have known but perhaps, at the time, it was a concept too horrible to imagine.
"She hit the first doctor with the Reductor curse and had turned toward the second before the Healers arrived and managed to restrain her." Regulus turned back to his brother. "She didn't react well to the Full Body Bind."
"I can imagine," Sirius exhaled sharply.
"By the time Father came back into the room, the Healer had managed to put the doctor right. They refused to release Mother from the Bind, though. They took Father aside to speak with him and he returned alone some time later. He told Mother that the doctor whom she had attacked was prepared to press charges against her. If this happened, the incident could not be concealed and would most certainly be carried back to our social circles in London."
Sirius' eyes widened. "Did the doctor…"
Regulus shook his head, "No. The Healers managed to convince him that her reaction to him – and his colleague – was potentially due to the same malady that brought her to the facility in the first place. As long as the Healers dealt directly with Mother, the doctor agreed to coordinate the Muggle portion of the testing, including the analysis, behind the scenes." He gave his brother a wry smile. "Given Father's earlier speech, Mother was inclined to cooperate, after a fashion."
"'After a fashion'," Sirius repeated. "She didn't try to attack them again, did she?"
"No, no," Regulus reassured him. "Nothing like that. She was…well, she was Mother; I suppose that's the best way to describe it. You know how she gets: cold, silent."
"Yes; I know. You'll understand if I say that I found that preferable to her other behaviors, won't you?" Sirius looked pointedly at his brother, knowing that their shared memories would reinforce his statement. The boy's nod confirmed it. After a few moments, he took up his story again.
"When all the Muggle and Magical testing came back, they came to the conclusion that Mother suffers from a nervous disorder of some kind…."
"A nervous disorder?" Sirius' tone was incredulous. "That's it? That's how they explain the things she does? She's nervous?"
"She has a nervous disorder, Sirius; one that informs her personality when her emotions are running high," Regulus explained, brow furrowing as he strove to recall all that Orion had told him. "It has something to do with the chemicals in her brain. There are Muggle medications that she can take that will put that piece right, but…"
"…she won't take them."
"No; she won't take them," Regulus concurred. "The fact that she's magical makes it worse – that, and the brandy." The young wizard's face reddened a bit at that statement. "Mother wouldn't listen to anything the Healers said after they'd told her what was wrong and how they proposed to treat her. Because she's refused treatment, the Healers told Father that there wasn't anything they could do for her and that it would be best if he took her home."
Where things will continue as they've always been – with one exception: I won't be there to take it from her any longer. Sirius found small comfort in that thought. While he would no longer be subject to Walburga Black's mood swings, this put Regulus squarely in the line of fire – literally.
"And since she's been home? Has she…are you all right?" Can't avoid the question forever, I suppose.
"She hasn't done anything tome, if that's what you're asking," Regulus spoke softly. "But she hasn't had much of an opportunity; Father hasn't left the house very much since their return. When he does need to leave, Cissy or Bella come to stay with us. I've not been left alone in the house with her."
Sirius felt an odd mixture of relief and resentment. Although Orion's choice of company for his wife was far from appealing to him, at least he seemed to finally realize that his wife posed a threat to their children – a realization that had not come in time for Sirius; he could only hope that it spared his brother the treatment that had informed his own childhood.
"I'm glad, Reg," he said sincerely. "I wouldn't want you to go through what I did – not any of it."
"She still talks about you, you know," Regulus shared quietly. When he observed that his brother's face paled slightly, he added, "Sorry."
Sirius shook his head. "Nothing to be sorry for, Reg. I reckoned she would; I got away, after all. Can't imagine she'd be pleased."
Regulus took a breath as if to speak, then exhaled sharply and remained silent.
"You don't have to do that, you know," Sirius said. "It's fine to talk about it. It's probably better, actually. No surprises."
Regulus remained silent for a few moments as if considering his brother's words. Then, with a small nod, he made up his mind. "She knows what you did over the summer – where you stayed and with whom."
Sirius shrugged. "I don't care that she knows and it doesn't surprise me. I saw Father in Hogsmeade that one day, after all. If he didn't mention anything to her, I've also seen Malfoy, Bellatrix – and their lot – several times. Malfoy's mother saw me in Paris. We live in a small world, Reg; I didn't try to hide from anyone, and any of them could have told her."
Regulus nodded. "She knows about the fight in that … bar … in Brighton, that you're still seeing Kate Morgan; she knows about Edgar Bones' son and what you did to Bella in Diagon Alley," Regulus' face reflected his discomfort at sharing this additional news with his older brother. Sirius, however, was quick to reassure him.
"Reg, we all know how many people are only too eager to make my transgressions known at Grimmauld Place. Lucius Malfoy and his friends were part of the brawl in Brighton – in fact, they instigated it. Those Muggle boys were gay, Reg; it's not a disease, but to that crowd it was. The only thing David and his friends were guilty of that night was bad luck. They were pawns in Malfoy's latest scheme to discredit me to the Blacks – and they gave those Slytherins an excuse to attack Muggles. Bellatrix disarmed Edgar Bones' 11 year-old son, Ted, and was terrorizing him simply because she could and because she took a perverse pleasure in doing so. I did what I did because it wasn't a fair fight; that kid had no idea who or what he was up against and less of a clue how to get out of it. Come on, Reg; you've been around Bella often enough to know what she's about – what she's capable of. Ted Bones never had a chance against her. I did what I had to do and I would do it again," Sirius paused. "As far as Kate Morgan is concerned, who I see is of no concern to them; it's my business and none of theirs."
Regulus stiffened a bit. "They are our parents, Sirius."
"They are your parents, Reg. They are simply biologically responsible for me – nothing more." Sirius lifted himself up from the floor and sat heavily on the sofa. "Look, it's not like I'm alone in how I feel about them. They disowned me, Reg. She's blasted me off the family tapestry! You just don't walk back into the house and sit down for a family dinner after something like that happens!"
Regulus was silent, his gaze trained on the fire. Sirius waited for a few moments, but Regulus still did not speak. "Look, Reg, I meant it when I said that I didn't care what they thought of me. I do, however, care about what happens to you as a result. I want you to be safe. I don't want you to go through what I went through just because I'm no longer there and you're the designated heir."
Regulus turned back to Sirius and for the first time the older wizard noticed that his face had changed. The rounded cheeks of the child were beginning to show signs of yielding to the sharper planes and angles of the man to come. More telling was the boy's expression, which was very somber, indeed. "There's nothing you can do about it, Sirius; I am the 'designated heir', as you say. Mother and Father are beginning to pursue a marriage arrangement for me – just as they did for you."
Sirius shifted impatiently. "You don't have to go along with it, Reg," he protested. "You should be able to choose for yourself. You should…"
"I should what, Sirius? Do what you did? To what purpose?" Regulus shook his head. "Look, without you there, I'm all they have, right? I'm the only son at home; I'm the heir. They won't do to me what they did to you." In a move ironically reminiscent of James, the boy ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "You and I are the last males in the Black family line. You've left. I am the last son who can keep the line intact."
"You sound just like her," Sirius looked away, his heart beginning to sink a little as he listened to his brother. To his surprise, Regulus wasn't defensive. Sirius wondered if he imagined the hint of resignation in the younger boy's response.
"Parts of it did come from 'her'," he acknowledged. "I reckon it makes sense." He paused then asked curiously. "What will you do now? Where will you live when you're not here?"
Sirius looked at his brother appraisingly. "Who's asking?"
It took Regulus a moment to realize what he had been asked. When it finally dawned on him, his face flushed in anger and he made to stand. Sirius' hand on his shoulder detained him.
"Sorry," the older boy said. "It's just…"
"I'm not their spy," Regulus bit out but he settled back onto the floor again. "I asked because I wanted to know."
"Sorry," Sirius said again. After a slight squeeze to Regulus' shoulder, he removed his hand. "I have one or two options," he continued. "Other than just staying here, which I've been told I can do."
"The Potters," Regulus offered.
Sirius nodded. "Yes; and Uncle Alphard has also mentioned that I could stay with him."
"Sirius, Mother and Father are not happy about Uncle Alphard's 'interference' with you. I don't have a lot of details, but when mother found out that you'd connected with him in Paris, she was livid." Regulus closed his eyes and recalled Walburga's tirade. While he had been separated from her by the study door, Regulus had, nonetheless, been fully aware of her temper. "I don't think it would be safe for you to stay with him."
It was Sirius' turn to show his own anger. "What did you hear?"
Regulus slid a bit away from his brother. "I told you: I don't have a lot of details!"
"'Not a lot'", Sirius repeated. "Tell me what little you do know."
Regulus sighed. "I don't know much and can't be certain of everything I've overheard…"
"Why not just tell me everything and we'll go from there?" Sirius' voice was quieter now, but it was pure steel.
"He's being watched," came the reply. As he saw Sirius take a breath as if to interrupt, Regulus held up his hand. "I don't know who's been watching him in France."
Sirius' mind went back to his last visit to his uncle's flat – and to the circumstances surrounding Alphard's assignment to the Hogwarts' staff. "Have you ever heard the name Thomas O'Hanlon?"
Regulus nodded. "Father knows him."
Sirius fought to keep his expression neutral. "Ever seen him? Has he come to Grimmauld?"
Regulus shook his head. "No. I've only heard Father mention his name. I think he's a business associate."
"Anything else?"
"The Malfoys know him, I think," the younger boy's brow furrowed as he struggled to recall. "I believe Lucius' father spoke of him when they came to dinner a couple of weeks ago."
Timing's right, Sirius thought to himself. He closed his eyes for a moment. If the Blacks and Malfoys have convinced O'Hanlon to join the team, they could have been behind the visit to Alphard's place.
"At least he's safe here," Sirius wasn't aware that he'd spoken aloud until his brother responded.
"Perhaps. I don't know who's watching him; I only know that someone is – or was. It may be over now that Dumbledore's brought him here." The boy stopped and considered what he wanted to say to his brother. "Listen, I told you that Mother was in a strop about you connecting with him. Combine that with all that she's heard about your summer activities and the fact that Dumbledore has brought Uncle Alphard here as a member of staff for the year and her anger has hardly abated."
"I can't imagine why she'd bother with me, Reg," Sirius said. "Dear Mum's run me off, hasn't she? Said I wasn't a Black. Doesn't seem too likely either of them would give a rap about anything I'd do."
"Sirius, you don't understand. Mother is not someone who enjoys losing to or being embarrassed by anyone, much less her own children – and you've bested her. Cissy and Bella have been spending time with her and Lucius visits as well - with the girls and with his father. It wouldn't surprise me if Mother had them watching you as well as Uncle Alphard," Regulus clarified. "Sirius, you've done exactly what she never expected or believed that you would do. You've gotten away."
The exhilaration that typically filled Sirius when he realized he'd escaped his family did not come. Instead, an odd anxiety settled over him and he recognized it as the sensation he'd always carried with him until he finally had broken away. "They can't touch us here," Sirius said. "Neither of us."
For awhile, there was no sound apart from the crackle of the fire in the large hearth before them, each brother lost in his own thoughts.
"You didn't answer me before," Regulus' quiet voice broke the silence. "Will you go and live with Uncle Alphard during holidays?"
Was that a trace of envy I heard? Sirius couldn't be sure but decided to respond as if he was correct. "What if I did?" he asked. "Would you come with me?"
For a moment the younger wizard's expression waivered, then…
"You know that's impossible," he replied.
"Nothing's impossible when you make up your mind."
"I would say that it's rather been made up for me."
Whatever Sirius might have said in response was lost at the sound of the office door clicking open.
"I apologize for the interruption, gentlemen," Dumbledore said kindly. "Alas, curfew is almost upon us and a loss of House points is a poor way to begin the new term, yes?"
"There will be other opportunities for you to spend time together," Alphard chimed in, coming through the doorway to stand next to the other wizard. "We can see to that, if you like."
Sirius looked at Regulus out of the corner of his eye, but the boy said nothing.
"Come, Mr. Black," Dumbledore beckoned to Regulus after a moment. "I shall accompany you to your common room. I suspect that I might be able to intercede on your behalf should we encounter any of our new prefects. Professor," he nodded at Alphard, followed by the barest glance toward Sirius. "Sirius, good night to you both."
"Good night, Professor," Sirius said. "See you, Reg."
Regulus gave his brother a faint smile. "'night, Sirius."
"Are you going to accompany me to my common room, Uncle?" Sirius' voice was light enough, but his expression was tense. As the door closed behind his brother, Sirius thought of all that he wished he'd asked, wished he'd told his brother.
"If you like," came the response. "Your conversation didn't go well?" Alphard followed his great-nephew's gaze, noting the set of his jaw.
"I wish I'd had more time with him," Sirius turned to face the older wizard. "He thinks you're being watched here; he thinks there's a chance that I am, as well."
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised. Your mother didn't take well to your defection, a fact which shouldn't surprise you," Alphard motioned to the couch. "Let's sit for a moment. I have something I want to tell you."
"Your mother has been in contact with the Headmaster," Albus began. "She wants to meet with him and Albus has agreed."
Sirius felt his heart quicken. "Why?"
"I'm not certain; she has only stated that she wants to discuss something of concern to her." Alphard paused. When Sirius said nothing, he went on. "There has been no mention of you joining them, son."
"Them?"
"Albus has stipulated that your father accompany her."
"Regulus told me that Father doesn't leave her alone with him; Narcissa and Bellatrix come to stay with her when Regulus is at Grimmauld and Father has an appointment that he cannot miss. I can't imagine he'd let her out of the house alone – particularly if she was coming here." Sirius thought of all that Regulus had told him about Walburga's behavior in the hospital and his suspicions that his Slytherin cousins – and their friends – could be spying on them for her. The fact that O'Hanlon's name had come up in conversation reminded him exactly how far-reaching this new Darkness had become. He made up his mind.
"I want to be there when they come to meet with Dumbledore."
