Sev could not believe his luck. Finding the second black brother , ready to tell on Selwan? Whoever was up there, was on a good mood today. Now Regulus was eying him with a curious look, as much as Severus did not like that particular look on his face, because it made him too much like a mini Sirius, he knew he had to warm his way into his heart. Without his help he had no idea how to find Andromeda to get her blood. He knew he had to stand his ground upon facing a Black, or he would be out of their favour soon. He locked his eyes with the younger boy, and maintained eye contact, daring him to go first.
As he suspected, Regulus spoke first.
" are you really as smart as they say?"
And here went his chance. Were these guys trained to be a pain in the ass from crib?What was the kid thinking? Didn't small talk contain weather and clothes and mundane things? Asking about his intelligence, a simple and innocent looking question with no suitable response. He was damned if he said yes, because no one liked a braggart ( cough- lockhart- cough)whatsoever. Also damned if he said no, because it made him look like an idiot who lacked self confidence. Fucking Blacks and their ability to slytherining something as stupid as small talk. He was not the master spy, professor snape was. He still froze when he saw blood. So his only option was…
" what do you think? Do I seem like one?"
Regulus chuckled, "you've got brains, or you would've doomed the answer and I would never give you anytime of my day, but it was a good move, answering with a question again. and I am not sure, papers do love exaggeration, and I personally do not consider marveling in school subjects as a sign of one's intelligence. You can ace defence, but go numb at the face of danger, like a real demeantor, I've had heard lots of silly kids going to auror academy and leaving there with tears in their eyes. Or healing halls of saint mungo's. Plus you could be just a nerd who has a really good memory. Also Quiddich , and becoming the youngest seeker does not automatically make you the perfect seeker. But there is usually some ration of truth in what people say, so I give you the benefit of a doubt.
Severus was tempted to say he was as smartas fucking Dumbledore thank you very much, also who are yoy to say acing school subjects means shit? He admitted Regulus did have a point there but he had became the youngest seeker for a reason! Severus also know he needed his support, if only for Andromeda's sack. He also was whole heartedly saddened to be saddled with the wrong Black brother, this one was much more promising. ( and seemed less likely to be in the habbit of offering people to his mangy wolf pet as dinner). He restrained his anger, plastered a polite smile on his face;
" I do not consider myself a resurrected Merlin too, but I do have my moments too. I agree that school subjects are not a good evaluation of one's strength, one could look no further than professor binns, or dare I say alfard black, also Molly prewatt. All promising as youngesters, but dim in their adult years. But forget about me, do you mind telling me why you were crying because of your cousin in law to be? He is rumored to be a …decent wizard"
Regulus paused , he had some nerve comparing his uncle to binns or that failure prewatt girl was. But it was the truth, he could admit as such. He then deliberated the question, to tell or not to tell? He was a half blood, so if something went wrong or he tattled, it was his word , the second Black heir, against him. He was smart, and cunning, it was obvious from the way he answered his simple question with another question, so may be he could offer a solution. He had saved Bones and Longbottom kids at the expanse of his health, perhaps noble too. he was a puff, and he did not seem the blackmail type. Samuel is a creepy kind of guy. He could help, couldn't he?
" he … Sylwan is a weird guy, and don't get me wrong, not weird in a good way like eating ice cream in November, or wearing jeans type of guy. He is polite and proper, never misses an appointment. Never laughs out loudly, never speaks out of turn or interups people. He is modest and always has a smile plastered on his face even if you kick him in his shin and curse him. But…there is a … I .. you must understand that I only know this because kree.. can you promise not to divulge this to anyone? Not even my delinquent of a brother?"
Severus regarded the kid in front of him, the kid who saw wearing jeans a freakish thing. what was it that made this ultimate snake shake? He was just dying to know
"I know this must come as surprising for you, the prince to be of slytherin, since I know your..unique method of conducting relationships, regarding this special matter I can assure you that I am trustworthy"
Regulus was deep in thought, maybe trusting, and gaining an ally out of slytherin would turn out to be useful in his future, Merlin knew with his joker of a brother, how many upset heirs and heiresses he had to console upon entering Hogwarts, not to metion how many would love to get a piece of his younger brother, probably to retalieate.
" alright, kree is my, our house elf, but he is particularly fond of me.( severus read between the lines, and I am fond of him) He heard gossips, elves gossips , that once, about ten years or more ago, Selwans were in too much trouble. Their financial matters were quite hush hush- but for elves. Their matriah- Absolom- was a gambling baboon, and his sons had to pay for it. The younger- Salvatrix- died shortly around that time, with no word as an explanation. The older was promised to … how would I put it, a widow- Adriana- who had lots of money, with a son – Adolphus-to boost. The 18 year old Samuel Selwan was engaged while in Hogwarts. It took people by surprise when 6 monthes later, her son died and she followed his suit. Absolom Selwan , died of pox a month before, so Samuel Selwan became the sole heir of Adriana. Samuel went abroad to avoid the gossips around him, when he returned he was changed. He had lost that scared look; and manner, and turned out to be a charming guy with money bags so deep you wont belive. "
" Regulus, may I call you Regulus? I don't get what you are trying to comply, the deathes are , to be blunt shady. But why are you so afraid of him?"
" he… he looks … his gaze.. he always wants to be alone with kids, young kids. Maybe 10 and 9 years old. My parents don't take me serious. I mean he has not even touched me, but there is this hunger in his stare, like… like.. and I don't want to have to endure him all the time. If he marries Andy.. I love andy but I can not… I will not…"
Oh, Severus was saying the wrong spell all the time. He was running himself ragged with searching for a clue about Selwan being dirty, but all he had to do was reach out to his old? New? Future? Slytherin Black ally/ somewhat friend.
A few days later, while he was enjoying himself , what with reading a book on pure blood families and relationships ( given to him by Regulus Black of all people) he had not seen even in his memories of future , in Bones family manor, while drinking his chocolate milk spiced with cinnamon, he retelled all his conversations to twins and Amelia. Although Andromeda was not in that damned party for them to extract her blood ( for the artimancy equasions), he had somewhat bonded with Regulus.
( he had also recived a copy of old rituals from lady Prewatt , given to him by Fabian, he had no idea why the grim lady would send such things to him, maybe it was a good thing? He must have impressed her?)
After mentioning his interest in getting Andromeda help ( not that he wanted to help ted, nope, not at all), to break the engagement, Regulus became much more helpful. Surprisingly enough, Regulus had sent him letters everyday after that, not by owl, but with said Kree.( also Regulus said he would pass Andy his letter, if he ever wanted to write to her)
"master dirty half breed must answer the noble and most gracious heir Black, at once."
Apparently, Regulus told his elf to call him master, but the sodding elf nonetheless found ways to insult Severus anyway. Severus knew that Blacks would not tolerate another of their sons go down ( meaning a possibility of their second son not going to Slytherin too), what with talking to someone as lesser as Severus with a disgraced mother and a muggle father to boost. They barely permitted half bloods- with a pure father and a mudblood mother- to even touch their robes, let alone talking to one. So Severus tolerated the elf and his scatching remarks. As soon as Severus wrote back to him, the boy opened up like a chatter box. He wrote to him everyday, once twice a day even, plotting strange bordering on crazy plans to get Andy out of that marriage conteract. Severus did not reveal he intended Andy to marry a muggleborn, he was not a lunatic to throw away Regulus somewhat friendly help- regardless of his annoying chatter- and possibly a chance to turn him away from joining the ranks.
Amelia said he was playing a dangerous game, and suggested he stop it.
" from what I understand, Samuel Selwan is a hazard. You will find yourself in a lot od trouble if you try persing him. I don't think there is any hope for Blacks to turn him down and accept Ted. Selwan has lots of people in his pockets. So far we have what? Word of a 10 years old and an elf? I gather there is something not right, his brother, father, finace and her son? All dead? But with no proof, this is all speculation."
Fabian and Gideon were in league with her this time.
" we all wanted to help Severus. But we have to admit we failed. Even if we present Blacks with the result of Ted and Andy marriage, that a metamorph will be born "
Severus was not going to do such a thing. He was fuming at mouth, the whole party was to help Ted, but of course the stupid gits would fall in love further and want to stay out of trouble. How could he explain to them that no matter how they act, there will be a war raging in less than a decade. A war Severus had no clue how to change, so he did not become a spy and die at 38. He only wanted to save himself and lily. Now with all these people he cared about? It was neigh impossible to avoid. He had thrown himself into Hufflepuff for preventing that. Severus could not allow that marriage, Andy would not marry that guy and would rather run and become a nobody like his own mother, disowned even. The problem was that he could not say that he was aware of what to come. He did not fancy being chained to a chair and having to deal with unspeakables, aurors and Albus Fucking dombledore trying to discover how he ended up like this. A half kid ,half adult with memories of future to come.
He would rather eat one of hugrid's rock cakes than to admit defeat, and leave Nympahadora to marry a werewold. So he would plan himself, let this lovesick couple stay out all they wanted.