What You Can't See
Says Fate

"Sirius says I can't visit him anymore."

"What?" Orion Black looked up from the desk in his study, looking at his youngest. "Why would Sirius say that? He was in a good mood the other day when I said I was allowing the two of you to see each other. And he knows," Orion sighed. "He knows and agrees with some of my reasoning behind allowing it." The man frowned, tapping his fingers, before saying, "Regulus, what did you do?"

Regulus startled. " Maybe I shouldn't have come to papa as Sirius suggested. "

He shuffled from one foot to another, unsure what to say to his father. Orion let out a sigh, taking note of the way Regulus shuffled from one foot to another. "Regulus, take a seat so we can talk."

"You did say if I wanted to talk, that you'd be in your study," Regulus said, walking over to the chair in front of his father's desk slowly, his head turning to look at the flames flickering in the fireplace.

"That I did," Orion said. "But something tells me you're not thrilled about talking to me. Or perhaps you don't know where to start?"

Regulus frowned, looking now at the rug. "So, do you remember me babbling about failed spellwork?"

"Yes," Orion said. "I honestly had no clue what you were babbling about, to be honest, but am I going to get an explanation now?"

"I guess," Regulus said, taking a deep breath. "Question?"

Orion let out a sigh. "Ask."

"If one properly casts both Invisibility Spell and Disillusionment Charm, a Muggle shouldn't be able to see someone, right?" Regulus asked, still looking at the floor.

"Nobody should be able to see you," Orion said, sighing. "Which means your spell work wasn't working."

"Except I know it was working." Regulus swallowed, grasping the front of his pants, his fingers turning white.

"You can't know that."

"I know that because Sirius once sat on me, but so did her friend. Because of the spell," Regulus said, looking up at his father. "So why is this girl the exception? Is it because her grandfather's possibly a Squib, so she has some trace of magic in her?"

"Regulus," Orion said, staring. "Why are you asking me this? Actually, what are you talking about? What girl?"

"The one on the bus. I was taking Muggle transportation so maman wouldn't find out," Regulus said. "I did pay. With Muggle, money grandfather gave me, in case…."

"That's not what the money was," Orion closed his eyes. "Never mind. Never, never mind."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean," Regulus looked at the ground.

"What does this have to do with Sirius not wanting you to visit him anymore?"

"Is it true?" Regulus asked. "What Sirius said?"

"Regulus, what did your brother say?"

"That Death Eaters kill Muggles?" Regulus asked. "Meaning they're not creating a world where we no longer have to hide who we are, a world where Muggles and our kind can get along." He glanced at the floor. "Because I mean. I know," and then his eyes closed. "I didn't mean to agree to a date when her friend asked me to take her on a date."

"Regulus, what have you done?" Orion said.

"I don't know," Regulus said, keeping his eyes closed. "I don't know what I was thinking. I don't know what I'm feeling. And she could see me, despite the spellwork. I don't get any of this. Why do I feel like I'm being pulled in so many different directions, between what I want, what the family wants, and—everything." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'll take any punishment, but please don't involve Olivia."

"Olivia?"

"The Muggle girl. It's not her fault. I should have been more careful. I'm a Black, so…."

"Regulus, stop." What Orion said was accompanied by a sigh. "First, you're not in trouble, but if your brother told you that you can't date this girl, he's right."

"Because I'm a Black, or because I'm a Death Eater?" Regulus said. "She could perceive my magic."

"And I'm guessing the way you feel, and you don't care if you get blasted off the tapestry?" Orion asked.

Regulus remained silent, knowing getting blasted off the tapestry was one of the ultimate punishments in the Black family, that Sirius had been blasted off the tree.

"I'm not saying we're going to," Orion said. "More of, I'm asking how you feel. Are the feelings for this girl that strong that you'd risk your mother doing to you what she did to Sirius?"

He felt his lip tremble, then said, "Yes. And I don't get it."

"Yes, well," Orion sighed. "Squib?"

"Her grandfather, possibly?"

"And why do you think that?"

"Because she said something about her grandfather telling her stories of magic, I think of us growing up. If her father's a squib, then it explains why she can see me?"

"Well, that's one option," Orion said.

"And the other?" Regulus asked. "I can't think of any other."

He heard Orion stand up from his desk and walk to another part of the study before saying, "Come over here and sit with me, Regulus. On the couch."

Regulus sighed and got up. He sat on the other side of the small couch, feeling his father touch him on the shoulder before reaching out and pulling him into a hug. Even though Regulus felt good being hugged, the young wizard tensed, finding it strange.

"I'm sorry, so sorry," Orion said, his breath hot in Regulus' black hair.

"Why are you apologizing?" Regulus asked.

"Because you deserve better than this fate dealt to you, but unfortunately, you are a Black," Orion said.

Regulus narrowed his eyes. "I don't follow."

"Perhaps it is better to say if we weren't in this bloody war," Orion sighed. "This wouldn't be a problem. I'd see that things would improve so you could be happy. But that's not possible, dear boy."

"What's going on?"

Orion took a deep breath. "There's another possibility, one more likely. But how to put this." His father reached up and ruffled his hair. "And I'm so sorry. But, there's a story called Romeo and Juliet , dear boy."

"I've not heard of it," Regulus said.

"That's because it's written by a Muggle named William Shakespeare," Orion said. "And perhaps one day, once you're an adult and your mother has less say, your grandfather might introduce you to his works."

"Twelfth Night," Regulus said, letting out a deep breath.

"What? Where did you hear of that particular play of his?"

"Olivia's name comes from Twelfth Night," Regulus said. "But what about the other one? Romeo and Juliet?"

Orion took a deep breath. "The work is a tragedy, often mistaken by Muggles as simply a romance, but a tragedy nonetheless. A tragedy about two young ones who were star-crossed lovers."

"Star-crossed-lovers?" Regulus asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Effectively, imagine two people who fate cruelly keeps apart even though they're meant to be together."

"Together?" His eyes closed. "I'm not following."

"Together, like your mother and I, your Aunt Lucretia and Uncle Ignatius. Like my mother and father, my dear child," Orion said.

Regulus shook his head, not pulling away from his father. "What does this have to do with her seeing me?"

"Because I think," Orion said, "the Muggle girl can see you is that she's possibly your one, the one you're meant to be with, but the two of you can't be together."

"Because?" Regulus said, his voice quaking as he already knew the answer.

"I told you, my dear boy. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. The two lovers die in the end. Do you understand what that means?"

Regulus swallowed. "Yes."

"And what are you going to do?"

He thought for a bit, grateful the study was the one place Walburga had never ventured, but finally, he said. "Yes. I've got a plan on how to deal with this."

"Wait. On your own?" Orion asked.

Regulus pulled away, trying to smile. "Of course. I'll be able to use magic soon without the ministry tracing me, right?"

His father ruffled his hair. "Well, that is true, but be careful. And I'm so sorry if she is indeed the one. I know you'll do what's right."

"I hope so," Regulus said. "And, once I can Apparate myself," he swallowed. "I can visit Sirius without using Muggle transportation."