Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,
Chapter 28, Philosophy is a walk on the slippery rocks
Kreacher Apparated Regulus back to the Slytherin boys' dorm just before everyone else started heading back to the school. Though Severus would've liked to spend more time looking at potions supplies in Pippin's, he did manage to find two older potions books, before Raislen hurried them along to the joke shop. After buying said books, nearly all of his meager funds were spent, but he had no desire to shop for jokes anyway. While Raislen and Heather looked around, he waited just inside Zonko's flipping through one of his two potions books. He loved finding older books like these, because he'd found that in many cases older was better. Knowledge got lost over time, and older books still had it while newer potions texts liked to cut corners that he felt should not be cut. Weaker ingredient substitutions were made if the herbs were more affordable or accessible, for example, but what was the point when the potion lost part of its potency? When Heather and Raislen were ready to go, they approached Severus, each carrying a small bag. Raislen's expression was satisfied and Heather's excited. "It's going to be so difficult not to get my revenge too soon," she breathed. "So very difficult. Because I found the perfect thing!"
"So did I, and I don't have to wait for any sort of revenge timeline," Raislen said.
"What did you get," Severus asked, glancing eagerly from one to the other.
"No," Raislen said. "We decided not to tell you. When it happens, you'll truly be as shocked as anyone, so you won't be implicated. They'll look to you first, after all."
Heather nodded. "Yes. And trust me, if you did know what either of us have brewing, it would so show on your face, because it's that good!"
"But will I know when it happens," Severus asked. Though he supposed he understood their reasoning, he was nonetheless disappointed.
"Oh you'll know," Raislen promised firmly. "You shall most definitely know!"
As they headed back to the castle with everyone else, Severus took the opportunity to speak to Heather and Raislen about Regulus's people. Their little group was surrounded by loudly chattering students who weren't paying a bit of attention to them. Even better, Rabastan Lestrange was no where in sight, so it was safe to speak without being overheard.
"Regulus's lot," he began. "They almost seemed alright, you know, if they weren't, you know, doing what they're doing."
Raislen gave him a sidelong thoughtful look and nodded. "Yeah. It's a shame. Most of them will probably end up dead or in Azkaban."
Heather nodded, her expression one of mild regret. "It isn't as if you can ever talk that lot out of it either," she said sadly. "It's why I'm so careful about the friends I make. I don't want to see decent people going down a road they won't come back from." Knowing that he had plans to pay Voldemort back for killing his father, and that those plans may lead him down some uncomfortable paths out of necessity, Severus glanced away from his friends. Staring off into the darkness as they moved onto Hogwarts grounds, he hoped he wouldn't be one of those who couldn't come back from whatever he had to do.
He hardly saw how this could be the case for him, considering he was on the side of right and would be a part of taking Voldemort out no matter what it took. He would be bold enough to do what even Heather and Raislen didn't wish to do. At least they hadn't ever expressed a wish to be a part of taking him out.
"Of course not every Death Eater is decent," Raislen said. Though everyone in their vicinity was laughing and talking loudly among themselves, still charged from their time out on the town, he kept his voice pitched low, careful not to be overheard. "Some of them are just mean sadistic bullies who are glad of the free ticket to hurt and kill people that their leader oh-so-happily provides."
"Yes and that lot won't deserve any mercy or pity," Heather said. "It's the ones who truly think they're helping the wizarding world that I can almost feel sorry for. You know those like Regulus or Narcissa, I suppose. I mean they do have historical reason to think somewhat as they do. Just they should see that this bloke isn't the right person to take them there, or even a decent person at all."
"You have to wonder how well he hides that bit, though," Raislen said thoughtfully. "I mean if people who aren't just sadistic bullies could believe that he shall lead us into a better place as it were when it comes to how things are with us and Muggles, he has to come off as far better than he is when he's around them. Severus learned first hand who the monster is, and we get the news as it truly happens from those friends of our parents in law enforcement at the Ministry, but I bet his lot is fed an entirely different sort of news report."
"For sure!" Heather nodded her agreement. "And it isn't as if they'd listen if we tried to talk to them to share what we know. That's the frustrating bit. Muggles may have hurt wizards, but because of monsters like him, more wizards shall be getting hurt." Severus knew that Heather meant that Voldemort's misinformed followers would be getting hurt, but he thought of his dad. Tobias Snape, an innocent Muggle, had also been hurt by Voldemort. Hurt to the point of no return, and for that Voldemort would pay. "You're being unusually quiet, Kid," Heather observed. "What do you think about all this?"
"I think you are both right," he replied honestly. "Voldemort must be stopped." They entered the castle on that note.
"Well hopefully the Ministry will pull its head out of its own nut sack and get to that really soon," Raislen said tightly. "It honestly frightens me that we have such a literally incompetent government."
"And if they don't," Severus asked. "If they are somehow unable to stop him, then what?"
"I... I don't know," Raislen said. Severus was pleased to see the frown of concern on his face, though. It meant that he was thinking about it at least.
"I hope they do, though, because no one else is equipped to stop him," Heather said, a tight underlying fear in her voice. "If stopping him was so easy, he'd be stopped by now, so they'd better do something! What's a government good for anyway if not to stop people like him? They should have resources that we don't, and if that is not the case, we are so in for it."
"That's true," Raislen murmured. On that oh-so-hopeful note, they walked in silence the rest of the way down to the Slytherin common room.
"So what did you think of Kreacher," Regulus demanded as soon as they entered. Surprisingly, they were some of the first few back. The place was nearly empty as most of the younger kids who couldn't make the Hogsmeade trip yet had already retired to their dorms for the night.
"You're asking about the elf over the proud Death Eaters," Heather asked, lips twitching. Raislen shot her a warning look but she merely shrugged.
"They're just normal people with decent values," Regulus said. "I love my family but Kreacher is my best friend, and you lot are my friends, so I wanted to know what you thought of him," he pressed.
"If we didn't like him, would that matter," Raislen wondered curiously.
Regulus considered for a moment. "Yes. I wouldn't like you anymore, which is inconvenient considering we all agree on the important things like Sirius's utter and complete gitness!"
Raislen chuckled. "Unfortunately I had no time to speak in depth with Kreacher, but he seemed interesting. I haven't met a lot of elves in my long fifteen years of life, but he does seem unique for his kind."
"Oh he is," Regulus said, face breaking into a smile. He glanced expectantly to Severus and Heather.
"He seems very nice," Heather said. Severus shrugged and nodded. He didn't dislike the elf so he supposed he was alright.
"I think I like the fact that you'd have taken umbrage if we didn't like him," Severus decided. "It's loyal of you." He valued loyalty, though he'd never thought of it in those direct and specific terms before.
"Well the trait doesn't belong exclusively to Hufflepuffs, you know," Regulus told Severus with a chuckle.
"Speaking of Hufflepuffs," Raislen said. "I have a Hufflepuff friend that I need to go ask for a favor. I'll be back." He hurried out of the common room with the small bag he'd carried out of Zonko's still held loosely in one hand. Heather stared after him with a pleased smirk on her lips and a sparkle in her light brown eyes before flopping down into the nearest chair. Severus settled down on the sofa beside Regulus and opened the potions book he'd been reading while waiting on Heather and Raislen to finish up with their shopping in Hogsmeade.
"I wonder what that was about," Regulus said of Raislen's departure.
"Nothing at all," Heather said firmly. Severus knew then that it was clearly about the revenge Raislen had planned for the Gryffindor Gang of Gits. "What did Kreacher think of us," Heather asked Regulus suddenly. "You asked what we thought of him, but it should cut both ways. I mean if he hates me I may just be afraid to sleep tonight." She laughed. "Elves have some impressive powers, after all, and Kreacher did not give me the impression of being someone a person should trifle with."
Regulus gave her a thoughtful look. "Kreacher has a heart of gold, but I am certain he would appreciate the compliment. He thought that all of you seemed of sound family stock, and he likes you for hating Sirius. He trusts you because the rest seem to think you're alright. This is the first time that Kreacher and I have had new people in our lives, so he may take a bit to get to know you, but he is open to meeting up again." Severus could tell from the grave and thoughtful way in which Regulus spoke that he highly valued Kreacher's opinions.
"The dynamic of the rest is interesting," Heather said. As she spoke, she bounced up in the chair, a curious expression in her eyes as she glanced over at Regulus. "Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers didn't seem impressed with Lucius Malfoy, but they're hanging with him?"
Regulus shrugged. "It's just how it is. Family sticks together even if Narcissa insists on marrying an insufferable bore. Narcissa and Bellatrix are sisters and they love one another." His mouth tightened."They're lucky. I have an evil sibling, while they get to be friends." Glancing down at Severus's book, he asked, "Did you get that in town?" He seemed eager to change the subject from having a rubbish brother to something more interesting like books. As Severus approved of the sentiment, he nodded and passed it over.
"You can look, but don't lose my place."