Just as she expected, the looks thrown her way as she entered the common room could kill. She ignored them as she made her way over to the plush couches by the fire. As a Black, Regulus was entitled to the best seat in the common room, no matter who else had been there previously.
He was surrounded by his usual gang of Slytherins, among them Barty Crouch. She was surprised to see Barty in such company, considering everything his father was doing to bring down Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Not to mention that Barty had aligned himself with Lily Evans and her Muggleborn defenders. Though Barty always had a talent for making people like him no matter what he'd done. If she herself possessed that skill her life would be much easier.
"You lost, whore?" Amycus Carrow said, while his sister snickered. Andromeda bit her tongue. The greatest part of being outcasted by her classmates is she was no longer expected to endure the Carrows presence.
"I need to talk to you," she said to Regulus, ignoring the others.
Regulus raised an eyebrow. She'd always been too close to Sirius to have a close relationship with Regulus, but pity or curiosity waved his suspicion. "Very well," he said, "what is it?"
"Alone," she said with a furtive glanced at his friends. Barty shot her a curious glance, while the Carrows guffawed.
"Anything you have to say to me you can say them, surely," Regulus said in his easy drawl.
Andromeda shook her head. "Not here," then she plead, "Please."
Something in her voice shifted Regulus' mood. His eyes darkened. He nodded, before rising from his seat.
"I wouldn't do it," Amycus said, "You can't trust her, she's—"
Regulus silenced him with a hand. "Save my seat for me, Amycus." Amycus' eyes flashed at being ordered around, and he glared at Andromeda like it was her fault. Once again, she ignored him. Barty continued to watch them, concern etched his features. There was something else in his eyes too. Something more than curiosity. He looked away before she could figure out what it was.
Once they were outside the common room, Regulus' easy demeanor shifted into something more defensive. His eyes darted around, and she had only one guess who he wasn't looking for.
"Sirius isn't here," she said, containing her smirk.
"You don't know him like I do," Regulus said. "Despite appearances, he and his band of idiots can be quite sneaky when they want to be."
Andromeda rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything. She couldn't afford to scare of offend Regulus away. Per tradition, she led him to an empty classroom and performed the Muffliato charm. She smiled as she remembered Ted trying to perform it, and then her smile grew sad. But now was not the time for Ted.
"Alright, now that you've sufficiently disturbed my Saturday morning, what can I do for you?." Andromeda was impressed. The sarcasm in Regulus' voice was so subtle she almost couldn't detect it, and she knew exactly what she was looking for.
"Not me," she said. "Narcissa."
Once again, only the slightest shift in Regulus' gaze showed her words caught him off-guard.
"And what about our most charming and elegant sister and cousin?"
Andromeda hesitated. She needed to choose her next words very carefully, or she would start several fires in her attempt to put out one.
"Her actions, against the muggleborns... they're attracting the wrong kind of attention."
This time Regulus raised both eyebrows. "Attention from whom?"
"Doesn't matter," she said quickly. "What you said to her, before, about behaving with dignity. I think it could—"
Regulus held up his hand again, and despite her mind telling her not too, she fell silent.
"Attention from whom, Andromeda?" he said again, slowly and emphatically.
She closed her eyes. She couldn't tell him, but it was clear he wouldn't help her until he knew the answer.
"Lord Voldemort," she said, her voice scarcely audible.
But she might as well shouted it from the way Regulus reacted. "And you know this, how?" he finally choked out.
She hesitated. If she didn't tell him, he might not help her. But if she told him, she would put Rabastan at risk. And if Bella and Rodolphus found out she ratted out Rabastan, nothing would stop them from going after Ted. Why did she always have to choose between the people she loved?
"I can't tell you that," she said, fear and guilt breaking her voice, "Just, please."
But Regulus' eyes lit up like she'd just told him the secret to the universe. "I can't believe it," he said, chuckling darkly. "Barty was right."
"Right about what?" Andromeda said, suddenly confused. What did Barty have to do with anything?
"You're still in contact with Rabastan," Regulus said, his eyes still glowing.
His words hit her like a curse. Her breath all went out, and she couldn't bring any back in. Barty knew she was meeting with Rabastan, but how? Had he overheard them? When? How much did he know? If he knew Rabastan was in league with Voldemort, he could take that information to his father.
She finally managed a breath. She supposed she should be grateful if that happened. She might not be able to tell the Ministry what she knew, but someone else, like Barty, could. And if they arrested Rabastan, they might be able to arrest others. They might even be able to apprehend Voldemort himself. And this whole nightmare would be over.
Except, if Rabastan was connected to all of Voldemort's and the other Death Eater's crimes, then he would be sentenced to Azkaban for sure. The image of Rabastan, huddled in the hellish place, while the dementors swirled around him, sucking out every last scrap of happiness he had until there was nothing left, made her shudder.
"Does Ted know?" Regulus asked, then shook his head. "Never mind. I don't care. So Rabastan told you that Voldemort wants to recruit Narcissa?"
Andromeda slowly nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Narcissa. She was here to save her Narcissa. She would worry about Rabastan later.
Regulus was quiet for a moment, musing. "I assume Narcissa knows nothing of this."
Andromeda shook her head. "Not as far as I'm aware."
Regulus chuckled. "Not that she would tell you anyway, I suppose." Andromeda flinched, but Regulus seemed oblivious. "So Rabastan wants to keep Narcissa away from Voldemort. Out of concern for you I imagine. Did he mention how Bellatrix feels about the matter?" He paused, then added, "Or Lucius?"
Andromeda wasn't sure if he truly knew Bellatrix and Lucius had also made themselves Death Eaters, or was just guessing. Either way she was both impressed and unnerved.
"From what he told me, Bellatrix's loyalties to her new master outweight her concern for Narcissa. Lucius seems more hesitant."
His expression didn't change from careful contemplation. Once again, she wasn't sure if that meant he already knew about Lucius and Bellatrix, or was just masterfully hiding his reactions.
"So, Bellatrix no, but Lucius, yes." He went quiet again. Andromeda wasn't sure whether she was supposed to chime in or stay silent. She chose silence.
Eventually, Regulus' lips spread into a smile. "Alright, I can work with that. Question. How good are you with inaudible spells?"
"I, uhh…" Where was he going with this. "Quite proficient, actually."
"Perfect," Regulus said, looking more alive than Andromeda had ever scene him. "Alright, here's what we're going to do…"