Persephone POV
August 9, 1995
After breakfast, Sirius and Remus keep all the house occupants at the table. Moony grabs a folder from the counter, handing it to me. Inside are a few different documents that can be filed.
"We have about three weeks to work out how to announce your engagement," Sirius starts. "We came up with two options and wanted everyone's input."
Pulling out each paper, Regulus and I look them over. There are abdication papers to give Regulus back the title of Sirius's heir, as well as a few false identities, courtesy of Fleur Delacour's father. "So our options are telling everyone Regulus is back or give him a new identity?" I ask.
"I think we should just go with the first one," Draco says. Everyone turns to give him our full attention. "It gives us a few ways to run this. If Regulus were to suddenly return from a time suppression trap, you could postpone the engagement until winter break."
"Or with how unconventional of a healer Sef is, we could say they fell in love while she nursed him back to health," Pansy adds. "With him being in an unusual situation, Sef would be the best one to treat him."
"There's a slight problem with that," Regulus tells the room. "I no longer have the Dark Mark. I assume it was a part of my body the inferi gouged out." When asked who was there for his mark, he replies, "I don't know. I was drunk."
Sirius and Harry look murderous, and granted, it does sound bad without context. He basically said, 'I became a death eater, because I got drunk.'
"Your parents were really shitty, Pads," I tell him. "Imagine getting your kid wasted, just so they could be branded a slave. I'm glad neither of you turned out like that." Sirius went from anger to disgust, then back to anger. Slamming his chair backwards, Sirius stomps to the hall. "Come on, Love. I want to watch the fireworks."
Regulus holds a hand out for me. Intertwining our fingers, we follow the family to Walburga's portrait. Remus is holding back Sirius, while Harry took his wand. "-JUST A KID, YOUR SON! HE DIDN'T WANT THAT! HE NEVER WANTED THAT, BUT HE WAS SCARED OF YOU AND FATHER!"
"Dad, I think it's our turn," I cut through Sirius's rant, as Reg and I step passed Harry. "Hello, Walburga."
"You have so much potential, so dark. I thought you were like your father, yet you surround yourself with blood traitors. You are no better than these scum," The portrait says. "He would be truly disappointed to know you've betrayed him."
"You think Voldemort is my father? He's not. Tom Riddle, the halfblood Dark Lord, is my cousin." I watch the color fade completely from her portrait seeing Regulus. "Let him find out about me, because I have a few choice spells I'd like to try out on him, spells only two people in the world could remove. After all, I almost lost some very important people in my life, including my fiancé. He should really learn his place."
Regulus slips his arm around my waist, pulling me back to lean on his chest. "I would say it is good to see you, Mother, but I know better than to lie. Come, Love, let's go to the library. We have a wedding announcement to plan, after all. Goodbye, Mother. Hopefully soon, you will see how horrid you truly are and change for the better."
The gathered teens follow us, while Remus and Sirius deal with the shell shocked Mrs. Black. "What happened to my dear Regulus? Why does he look so young?"
Sitting in the library, we return to our previous conversation. Regulus explains the full details of the marking, and Theo has a logical conclusion.
"If you only took the Mark through coercion, I doubt they would want a large audience. Your parents, Tom and possibly a witness: Bellatrix, Lucius or..."
"Snape," Remus cuts in, from the door. "Walburga is willingly to tell us everything she can, after hearing what happened to Regulus, so Pads is talking to her.. Snape is the only living witness, so the missing Dark Mark won't be suspicious."
Regulus agrees to the time capsule story, keeping his name and identity the same. The cave was drenched in stasis magic, making the story truthful to an extent. Remus and my 'children' help us make the To-Do list for our engagement.
We'll need a MediHealer to back the claim, but Aunt Andi can help there, as well as Madame Pomphrey. I'll also need to write up a list of test scans and the treatment administered, although Hermione and Draco did most of the healing. "How do we say you found him? His disappearance and return don't coincide, so we can't use a time limit," Theo asks.
Surprisingly, it's Dennis that give us an answer. "Mama Sef, does someone's magic stop when they die? A lot of Wizards died in the Azkaban breakout last month, so could we blame one of them?"
"Dennis, you just solved a major problem for us! Next shopping trip, I'll buy you whatever you want as thanks," I tell him. His little face lights up, asking if he could try to find a familiar. "Perfect. Just remember, familiars are like wands. You can't force a connection, their magic will call to yours." He nods, excited.
"Mr. Kreacher," he calls out. When the old elf pops in, Dennis excitedly asks, "Could you help me find some books please? I need to learn to care for a familiar." Kreacher tells the boy to wait until after he gets the animal, that way they know what care is needed.
Remus brings up the next question, "Do you plan on announcing your engagement now, or use Reggie's return to postpone it until Winter break?"
Regulus and I had discussed this last night, along with a few other things. "We'll go ahead with the announcement. Korre never wanted all this attention, and I know I won't just sit back and watch if someone were to try anything, better to give the school and students advance warning."
"You're returning to Hogwarts?" Remus asks with a smile. Regulus nods the affirmative. "Alright, we'll speak to Dumbledore about getting you re-enrolled this afternoon, after the Order meeting."
I ask Remus if Harry, Reg and I could join them at the meeting. "I know we haven't graduated Hogwarts yet, but all three of us have vital information about Tom. You've never had to worry about our spellwork and training with you and Siri has also helped improve our stamina and reflexes."
He reluctantly agrees, then directs us back to work. During the whole conversation Colin, Luna and Pansy have been huddled, talking, but have now stopped. Luna heads to sit in a corner, scribbling away on her notepad, while Colin drags the boys outside. Pansy leads Regulus and I upstairs. She spends a few minutes looking through the closet before pulling out a few dresses and a nice suit.
"Colin and I are doing your engagement photos. Pick a dress, get changed, then come to the garden," she tells us, running back out. Regulus goes to change, while I look at the sundresses Pan laid out, but unable to decide. A few minutes later, an arm wraps around my waist, his other hand grabbing a dress from the bed. It's dark green, knee length and strapless with silver embroidery along the top. Quickly changing, I return to a waiting Regulus before we walk downstairs hand in hand.
Outside, a picnic is laid out for us with a note.
Enjoy your date.
Shrugging, I sit down with Regulus. We eat lunch and lay together on the blanket. Snaps can be heard from the bushes, so I can only assume they did this for our natural interactions, instead of staging things. That fact doesn't really matter to me, because I get to spend time with Regulus. Mortal, Living Regulus.
We stay out there for hours, without interruption, before deciding to go back in. Everyone is gathered in the library, congratulating Luna on her well written article. When Reggie and I ask to read it, Luna hides it behind her back. "No, not yet. Daddy will publish it when the pictures are ready. You can see everything then."
August 23, 1995
Black Heir Returned, Heiress Engaged
by Luna Lovegood
July first, Lord Sirius Black held a coming of age ball for his heir, Lady Persephone Slytherin, who goes by Gaunt socially. At this ball, her search for a groom was announced, giving any eligible man an opportunity to gain her favor.
Many letters were sent in, however something happened in the family. A member, long thought dead, appeared in the House of Sanctuary, severely injured and no older than the day he vanished.
Regulus Arcturus Black, reported missing mid-January 1979 and dead on the one year anniversary of his disappearance, was actually locked in a time displacement bubble. Upon the caster, Peter Pettigrew's death during the Azkaban breakout, Regulus was released from his imprisonment. Landing in the place he'd been stolen from, the Lost Black fell into his Family library where Lady Gaunt, a well known healer of unorthodox practice, sat replying to her possible suitors. She asked the help of her Aunt Andromeda Tonks nee Black, and her healing inspiration Madame Poppy Pomphrey of Hogwarts.
After having both Healers and Sirius Black's confirmation of his identity, the Lost Black was brought back into the family, and given the option to become the Heir, upon Persephone's request.
Quoted from Lady Gaunt: "I already have a family name to pass on. As long as he agrees to keep the House as it is, then let him have his birth right."
Regulus accepted, only after finding out her Ladyship.
Throughout this last month, Persephone has been medically caring for Mr. Black, healing extensive damage from obvious torture. Unfortunately for many, something started to develope.
"It was inevitable. Everyone loves Sef in some way, whether it be daughter, sister or even a second mom." Draco Malfoy
"No mortal man was good enough for her, so Persephone found a lost soul as her true love. If necessary, they would swim through the River Styx, just to be together. It's just so romantic." Pansy Parkinson
We are happy to announce the engagement of Heir Regulus Arcturus Black and Lady Persephone Lyra Slytherin. Wedding details will be announced during Hogwarts Winter holiday, to give the couple time to plan.
"Imagine my surprise seeing Reggie give Sef the family's betrothal locket, even explaining what it meant. Less shocking was seeing her accept. Regulus has always been good at suppressing emotion, but Persephone follows her heart." Lord Sirius Black
More on page 6, along with photos of the happy couple.
Turning to the correct, I see random pictures of Regulus and I. There are the ones from the garden; a few of him in bed, wrapped in bandages with me standing by his side; us reading in the library, my head on his lap. There are even some with the whole family.
When did they get the photos of us dancing?
The main focus of the page is Regulus and I in the gardens. The Full Moon shines in the background, illuminating our silhouettes. The photo starts with us staring at the stars, before Regulus leans down and kisses me.
