I Walk Alone,
Chapter 22, The Fab Four Of Slytherin
When everyone headed from The Great Hall for their common rooms after the feast, Regulus tagged along with Severus, Heather and Raislen. "It's so brilliant meeting other people so soon who also hate my elder prat of a brother," he gushed. "And the fact you all appreciate rare books is another huge plus." Fancy being considered one of the cool kids, Severus thought in bemused amusement.
"Pleased to be of service," he quipped and Regulus laughed.
"Regi! Come along with me for a bit. I'm showing all the first year Slytherins about so you lot know what's what!" The call came from Rabastan Lestrange, Slytherin's head boy. Regulus flushed from his neck to the tips of his ears.
"Do. not. call. me. Regi." As he spoke, he turned to glare darkly at Rabastan.
The tall, lanky youth was nonplussed, merely grinning and giving a shrug. "It's easier and faster to say, so you're going to have to learn to live with it. There is only so much time in the day, after all, and I won't be taking up all of mine saying REGULUS all the time when I could just as easily say Regi."
"Go ahead," Severus told Regulus. "We'll just be reading in the common room. You can catch up with us there."
"Thanks," Regulus said, giving a hasty bob of his head. It was clear that he was still embarrassed by Rabastan calling him Regi. Severus supposed he could relate. He'd not be at all pleased if anyone were foolish enough to try calling him Sev. Rabastan and Regulus appeared to know one another very well. As the Blacks and Lestranges were both very old wizarding families, famed for their purist values, it was no surprise. Regulus hurried off with Rabastan, and Heather, Raislen and Severus headed for the Slytherin common room. Severus was glad for the moments alone with his friends. It gave him the opportunity to share his thoughts on Regulus. As soon as the three were seated in their favorite knot of three chairs before the fire, Heather turned to Severus, speaking before he could. "Soooo..." She arched her brows enquiringly and waited.
"I plan to keep him around. He's alright save for the dislike of Muggles bit, and perhaps I can use him some day. He's Sirius Black's bloody brother and he hates him too! Sirius will hate that we're friends, and we could work together against him." He had to admit to a rush of glee at the very thought of having an ally against Sirius and his lot. While Heather and Raislen were more than happy to help Severus pay the Gryffindor gits back for their gitnesses, they did so out of loyalty to him. It was touching if embarrassing at times. When it came to Regulus, though, things were different. Severus relished having someone on his team who, like him, had personal reasons to hate Sirius and his lot.
Heather's mouth gaped. "But isn't the dislike of Muggles bit a rather big bit? She was clearly confused and incredulous. Severus looked to Raislen, certain the other boy would understand, but Raislen just looked oddly worried. He remained silent, listening as the conversation unfolded.
"I want to make HIM sorry for what he did, and you know it. Knowing people like Regulus shall only make that easier," Severus murmured. As he spoke, he glanced around furtively to be sure no one else was within earshot. Obviously Heather and Raislen would know who (HE) was.
"And you don't have plans for how this will happen yet," Heather asked. "Carrying out such a plan shan't be easy...or safe either for that matter."
Severus shrugged. "I won't be rushing into anything without planning it out carefully. I just want to do what I can to put an end to someone that many people don't want around for good reason. I'm sure I shan't be alone. Besides, there is nothing I can do now but gather information, and people like Regulus can be useful in such an endeavor."
Heather spared a quick glance for Raislen, who remained stoically silent. Huffing a sigh she shrugged. "Whatever. Just please be careful."
"Obviously," Severus said. "I'm not into self-sacrifice."
"Good to know," Raislen said with a short laugh.
"Someone's got to stop him," Severus said, not liking the odd way Raislen was behaving on the matter.
"Yeah and that's what Aurors are for," Raislen said. "I'm for keeping me and mine safe."
Severus frowned. He didn't want to be an Auror. "Well the Aurors aren't succeeding, are they? How many shall die while we wait about for that?" Raislen opened his mouth, then shut it again. Severus was enjoying his small victory when Regulus hurried in, clearly peering about for them as he entered.
"Over here," Heather called, waving at him.
"Hi," Regulus said brightly. "At least that didn't take long. Hopefully now I shan't get lost trying to find my classes."
"Don't count on it," Raislen said with a chuckle. "It's not you, though, it's the castle. I think it likes to play about."
"What does that mean," Regulus asked. As he spoke, he pulled another chair over to join their little cluster by the fire.
"You'll see eventually," Raislen said cryptically. "If you do get lost, in a way that seems to have no logic to it what so ever, nearly like you're dreaming and things got all wonky, just remember this conversation." He chuckled. "There is usually someone about to ask for directions, or at least a ghost or portrait. If not, the castle will right itself eventually. In that case, the dream switches back to normal, and things are suddenly once more where you thought they were."
"Ah. That nearly makes sense," Regulus chuckled. Leaning back in his chair, he regarded the ceiling thoughtfully. "Do you know if it's intentional, or if the castle is so full of old magic, new magic, and enchantments running constantly that it's gone a little wild?"
"We don't know, but I'm betting on the later," Raislen said. Severus liked the way Regulus thought. He was nearly as smart as Severus himself was at his age.
"So do you and Lestrange go way back, then," Heather asked suddenly.
"Oh sure," Regulus said, straightening up in the chair so that he could properly regard her. "He's Rod's little brother, and Rod is married to my favorite cousin Bellatrix. I knew the Lestranges long before that, though. They're old family friends, and Rabastan was always about with Rod who was always about with Bella, who was my favorite cousin, I was always about with whenever the families got together." He grinned suddenly. "Did you manage to follow all that," he asked Heather, good natured amusement dancing in his blue eyes.
She returned his smile. "Yes, actually."
"Do you know Rabastan well," he asked. "I mean I assume you know him some, being in the same house."
Heather shrugged. "He's older and runs with older kids, so not really. He's never bothered me, though, unlike this one." She shot a pointed glare at Raislen who smirked back.
"Well has Rabastan Lestrange ever allowed you to borrow his rare books?" As he spoke, Raislen snatched the book Heather was holding from her hands. It was, of course, one of the new ones he'd brought with him that very day. He'd gotten it on his summer travels.
"Hey," Heather protested, snatching the book back. "I didn't say I liked him more or anything. He just doesn't call me Heather toy."
"You don't speak, so how can he call you anything," Severus pointed out.
"Yes." Heather nodded.
Raislen sighed and shook his head in resignation. "Girls are weird," he told Regulus. "Be careful of that."
"You...Are calling me weird," Heather exclaimed incredulously. "I think my head is going to explode."
Regulus cleared his throat. "Well, if your head is going to explode, you won't be able to read that book, so may I see it?"
Heather blinked at Regulus, then down at the book of Raislen's that she held. Laughing, she passed it to Black after glancing to Raislen for permission.