Persephone POV

I sit on the couch, feeling six pairs of eyes on me. Sirius breaks the silence, asking, "Where did you find that?" Remus sits beside him, a strange look on his face.

"It was hiding under a floor board, in a bag of jewelry I found last night. I'm sorry," I tell him. It's true, to an extent. The staring continues. "I wasn't expecting to be made heir. I thought I could give it back, just hadn't gotten the chance." I can't let them know about Regulus, not today.

After a minute, everyone looks away. The two men exit the room, leaving me with my underage house mates.

"Do one of you want to explain what that was?" Theo asks.

"Sef had the Heir ring before entering Gringotts. Sirius is freaking out because the last owner was his dead brother Regulus," Harry explains. Draco turns pale, staring at me again.

"It's been a long day. Why don't I walk you to your room, Persephone?" I nod, taking his outstretched hand. When we reach the fourth floor, he stops outside my room. "Okay, what are you hiding?"

Looking around, I shove him through the door, shutting it behind me. "Hello, Korre. How did the meeting go?" Regulus calls from his portrait.

"Reg, I need to talk to you before you meet Sirius. But first, there's someone else here to meet you," I answer, walking around the bed with Draco. "This is Draco."

"You have his portrait? Does Sirius know?" Draco asks in bewilderment. I shake my head, explaining that I was supposed to tell him after Gringotts, but something came up. He nods, heading to the door. "I won't say anything until you're both ready."

As soon as the door is shut, I break down crying. "Hey, what's wrong? Did Sirius react that badly to the ring?"

"Not too terribly, considering the ring is rightfully mine now, as the newly appointed Heiress Black. It's something worse." Taking a deep breath, I tell him, "You have reason to hate me now. Voldemort is my cousin."

"I know, Mon Cheri. Voldemort lorded it over everyone that he was the Heir of Slytherin, so any sub branch would still be connected. I told you, nothing will change how I feel about you," Regulus reassures me.

"He was never the Heir, just a member of the bloodline. When the ring is cleansed of dark magic, I'll become Lady Slytherin. He was an imposter, and when I turn seventeen, I'm going to make sure everyone knows it."

"That's my girl. Now, are you going to take me downstairs or not?" Letting out a teary laugh, I walk up to his painting. "On the wall by my signature, there's a small indentation for your ring. That should release the Sticking Charm on the frame."

Doing as he instructs, I pull his painting from the wall. Thinking it over, I lay the portrait on the bed and put on one of the shirts Regulus let me keep. If I'm going to tell Sirius about him, I may as well go all out. When I pick Reggie back up, he smirks at my outfit. "If you really want to mess with my brother, I could help." I eagerly nod. Someone should get pay back on the Marauders. "Wear the necklace you found on my desk. It's a family heirloom, and yours now."

Clipping the rose locket around my neck, I shrink Regulus, then head down to the others. In the kitchen, Padfoot is nursing a drink. "She'll be fine, Siri. Our cub is smart. She wouldn't do anything reckless now that she has others to care for."

Feeling like an intruder, I knock on the door frame. "Sirius, could we talk?" I ask him. When he looks at me, he seems absolutely devastated. He nods, pushing out the chair beside him.

"What's wrong, Petal?" I hug him, apologizing again. "Petal, I'm not mad that you kept his things. It's just painful, never getting to see him again."

A small voice escapes my hands. "I wasn't apologizing for keeping the clothes and jewelry a secret. They were gifts. I'm sorry that I kept him hidden from you. I'll leave you three alone to talk." Enlarging Regulus's portrait, I set it up in a chair facing Sirius. As soon as I know he won't fall, I run.