Chapter 6: A better day but with more black
Lunas second morning of class went a lot better than the first. In Herbology today she had managed to steal the fluxweed she needed. The people of this time had no idea of the potential of this plant. Here it would only be used for polyjuice potion. Luna had been curious about the family protection that Lily had enacted to protect Harry in her research. This curiosity lead to her creating a ground breaking spell in experimental magic class with Frank. With their spell and fluxweed, they can mostly remove magic from within a house if they perform the spell inside the house. The only people who can use magic in that house are the direct family members of the person who cast the spell. This is not the only amazing thing about this plant though. If it is held under the tongue and the spell cast on the person themselves instead of a house, it protects their brain from being penetrated by others magic, so they can't be manipulated by spells that work on the brain. This is incredibly useful to defend against the imperius curse, or memory altering spells, or certain potions that work through changing how a persons brain works. She couldn't use the house spell yet because removing magic from everyone in the school except for herself Lily and James would cause and uproar. She could still protect herself from brain manipulation without people realising it though. Luna had a new skip in her step walking towards the great hall after class.
Since there were no Slytherins in the seventh year Herbology class, when Luna arrived at the great hall for lunch, she sat by a group of fifth years.
A boy with dark short hair who she happened to sit next to her turned and asked her how her first day had gone. Luna was a little taken aback. This is the first time anyone in Slytherin had actually taken a care in how she felt about something. Most had just talked about themselves to try and impress her.
"It's been a bit of a challenge adjusting to be honest. Very different to what I'm used to. Thanks for asking though. Whats your name?" Luna asked with a smile.
"Im Regulus, Regulus Black," shaking his hand Luna replied, "Luna Finnegan," with a broader grin.
Down the table, Antonin Dolohov and Jason Mulciber saw Luna chatting and smiling with Regulus and decided that they ought to be getting attention from her as well. Dolohov and Mulciber coughed to interrupt the conversation and tapped the boys quietly sitting opposite Luna and Regulus so they could give their seats away. Looking at the older boys nervously, there was no way they would argue with that level of intimidation, so quickly moved down the table. One even said sorry for sitting there.
"I heard you have taken a liking to my snake." The suggestive wink made Luna cringe. He went there. There was definitely a double meaning to that sentence. Urgh yuck she thought but tried to play it off coolly like she hadn't noticed.
"I love magical creatures. Snakes and house elves in particular are my favourite." What a good opportunity to grease up to Regulus she thought. But how to get rid of the unwanted attention?
"Really? You like the elves, that's er… interesting. You know they are just slaves right? The snakes are the real crafty creatures though."
Luna took a deep breath and decided it was time to lie through her teeth.
"Well a pure blood women's place is to be at home with the house elves and producing lots of children. The better the relationship with the house elf, the more pure blood kids one can raise and look after. Don't you agree?" Luna inwardly grimaced at the look of acceptance from the boys at what she was saying.
"People mock me for my lack of talent in class but it is a joy of a women to focus on raising her family and not worrying about things such as protecting herself. What is a husband for after all? It really does surprise me Hogwarts has muggle studies but doesn't have anything about parenting young pure bloods to keep the magical lines growing well," She said with her best Bellatrix impersonation.
Mulciber paused for a moment grinning, "I couldn't agree more. You know, you are quite refreshing Luna to be around," Mulciber said staring mesmerised at her. "Back to the Snakes though. Did you know the last time there was a parsel mouth at Hogwarts, it was the dark lord who is an heir of Slytherin. Are you also? Do you know where Salazars secret Chamber could be?"
How could Slytherins be so one track minded Luna thought to herself frowning.
"No beating around the bush with your questions is there? Well I have a fair idea." Luna replied with a sly grin and a Rita Skeeter wink, then took a deep breath. "I know what the beast is too. It goes after the Mudbloods in the school. In my opinion though, it really is terrible that we have a Mudblood Head Girl." Luna gave a dramatic sigh, "It's an embarrassment that she receives better grades than the pure bloods really. I think the pure bloods who would allow a Mudblood to get better grades than them are a disgrace and should be turfed into the Chamber to be killed by the beast first. Wouldn't you agree?" Luna looked back at the boys with a glint of amusement in her eyes at how easily the boys were lapping this up.
Regulus looked nonchalance by this statement. Mulciber and Dolohov looked shocked and their confidence became sheepishness, but they had to agree with her. "You are absolutely right and on that note we should really be getting to the library to brush up on a few things." Dolohov gave a huge nod and said, "absolutely." The swallow that followed gave away his exterior of pretending to not be scared at the idea of being turfed into some chamber.
After they were out of hearing distance Luna smirked at Regulus, "How thick could you get? From the Slytherin line or not, there have been descendants at this school for centuries and they think someone who can't even get through a charms class knows how to access the Chamber of Secrets. Honestly."
Regulus paused before answering, "ludicrous if you ask me." Regulus said in his posh Black manner.
"So is it true then. Are you a descendent of Salazar?" Regulus queried.
"Could I speak in Parsel tongue if I wasn't?"
"I don't know the answer to that, but you avoided my question."
"You know you're a lot sharper than your friends here before. Do you find it frustrating having to drop to their intellectual level every time you talk to them?" Luna questioned.
"You really don't want me to know who you are do you?" Regulus asked.
"Do you know what the problem with this house is Regulus? People only care about what your last name or blood status is. They couldn't care less that I have hardly any measurable talent. They just want to place me into their hierarchical system with a label. Here's something I can tell you about myself Regulus. I don't fit into anyone here's system. Nor will I allow them to try add me to it by giving them any information about who I may or may not be. Sorry to offend, given you are up a few rungs in the system from the oh most noble house of Black." Luna let out a breath as she finished her rant.
"Its ok I'm not offended, you know I envy you a little. There is a certain pressure with being the last heir to bring pride to the family's name and up a few rungs like you say," Regulus replied honestly.
"You know that's a wise place to be, not wanting to be at the top. Others in your position would look down at the lower rungs and completely underestimate them. Take house elves for example. They have their own unique magic. When people put up anti apparition wards, they often forget to block elves too because they don't see them as anything which is foolish. I know of many lives being saved by them actually," Luna explained
"Yes I think you're right. I do know of some upper society wizards who would do better to treat their servants with a little more respect." Regulus said as he glanced down the table at Lucius Malfoy. Luna felt a little disappointed that she had given Regulus an opportunity to open up about Kreature but he hadn't taken it yet.
"Do you have a house elf?" Regulus enquired with raised eye brows.
"You know that's quite a crafty question to try and work out my families wealth." Luna noted.
"So are you going to tell me?" Regulus asked showing the first sign of impatience.
"Nothing like a little bit of mystery to keep things interesting. You're very switched on though. I'm sure you will work it out eventually," Luna said with a chuckle.
Regulus laughed too, "I always love a challenge. I do miss having my brother around who was just as quick. It's been nice talking to you actually, given my, er, normal company that you saw before." Luna couldn't hold back the grin. Finally she got something raw and true from him that was personal. She needed to be able to connect with him if she wanted to have any hope of saving him from his previous fate. After chatting to him she genuinely wanted to as well. Not just because his name was written down as a war hero, but he was someone who was real to her now. Someone softly spoken with talent and wisdom beyond their years.
"You as well. Now tell me about your house elf." Luna pushed, not giving him a question this time. "Bold of you to assume," Regulus replied.
Luna inwardly grinned thinking how 20th century that statement was.
"Not really though is it?" Luna asked knowingly.
"Yeah we have one, we actually have all our old house elves on the wall hung up in our house," Regulus said
"And I thought I loved house elves! That's a whole new level! Luna said exasperated and started to laugh.
"Yeah I guess it is." Regulus joined in Lunas laughter and gradually got louder thinking on how crazy it was to have dead elves hung up in the house.
Sirius felt furious watching the Slytherin table. Well, furious and jealous, but fury was winning out at the moment. Sirius had pined after Luna initially for her beauty and quick wit she had shown with Gideon and Fabian. Sirius was furious that Regulus was getting what he wanted. The attention of this beautiful and funny witch. Why did she have to be placed in Slytherin? Why did she have to be evil? He could clearly see it now though. This new queen of Slytherin just dismissed the two good looking older boys for his timid younger brother. What could she possibly want from Regulus? Prestige from the Nobel house of Black? What a gold digging witch. Regulus is smart though, Sirius thought to himself. He will see right through this act. Then Regulus was laughing. Sirius couldn't remember the last time he had seen his brother genuinely laugh. Only he could make Regulus laugh like that. It took him right back to his childhood with Regulus and for the first time at Hogwarts he wanted to be over at the Slytherin table laughing with his brother and talking to this enchanting girl. He had to shake himself out of this stupor though. He reminded himself he couldn't just do that, they were all evil at that table and Luna had just manipulated her way into being friends with Regulus. He was going to get her back for this. She will have no idea what is coming for her with some of the things the Marauders have pulled throughout the years. This thought made Sirius' mood lighten considerably and he focused back to his friends and conversation directly around him.
