Chapter 46, Necromancer

Ballan moved to sit near Regulus as Hydra's band began to play, seemingly more at ease by being near another vampire. Regulus gave him a reassuring smile, glad to keep him company, but at present thoroughly distracted. Though Salazar Slytherin was currently out of sight, having moved back into the kitchen of the Hog's Head, Regulus Black found himself staring at the bar where the Hogwarts founder had stood talking to them. "I still can't believe it's real," he called to Albus over the music.

Albus gave a bemused smile, shrugging. "It is a strange world in which we live, my boy. A strange world full of wonders that can still surprise me even at my age. Perhaps the world needs someone like Slytherin right now. I can only hope so after all the blood she has spilled. Of course I cannot condone such, but there is nothing to be done for it now." He sighed.

"She does not appear to be after bringing anyone else back from the dead, and having her in Azkaban will solve nothing. No one ever cares what I think or feel about morality anyway," Albus complained darkly. "Just like others, I am certain that Ariana felt it was for the greater good." His lip curled momentarily, and Regulus did not need to look into the former Headmaster's head to guess that he was thinking of Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald had saved them from Delphini, though, so he had something right as far as Regulus was concerned. Not to mention he was a personal friend if a bit annoying at times.

Regulus wasn't going to pretend to care about the spilled blood of Muggles, for surely Salazar's life was worth more than that of most Muggles. With only his bones remaining, he supposed it only stood to reason that Ariana would have had to expel a great deal of magic to restore life to bones and spirit so long dead. Slytherin's clear physical weakness was a bit disconcerting, but the fact that he even lived again at all was honestly quite the marvel.

"You tell your parents that I won't be doing that for them, so they are not even to bother asking." Regulus nearly started at the sound of Ariana Dumbledore's voice hissing into his ear. For all his heightened vampiric senses, he hadn't even heard her approaching. Granted his focus had been elsewhere. Salazar Slytherin being alive again provided plenty of distraction for even him. "No amount of gold or bullying shall change my mind. Salazar is a secret. Were the wrong people to learn of it, things would get out of control fast. If your parents were to suddenly return from the bloody dead people would actually recognize them where no one will even know who Salazar is. Do we understand one another?"

Regulus nodded as he slowly turned to face her. "Indeed we do. The thought had not even occurred to me, though perhaps it would have occurred to my parents. I am no fool, Ariana. I understand that it would be too unsafe to return everyone to life who wishes to be returned. Were too many people to learn of Salazar, some could attempt to strong arm you into resurrecting others, and that could lead to a lot of trouble for you here as well as beyond the veil."

Ariana's face softened as she gave him a smile. "Thank you for understanding, Regulus. I could be facing Azkaban for resurrecting Salazar were the wrong people to learn of it. And I don't mean your Minister. I mean other powerful people who may be threatened by Salazar's power or mine. He wishes to live a quiet life here. He does not wish to repeat his past deeds in any shape or form. No starting a magic school, and no warring against the Muggles. He just wishes to enjoy his second chance at life and begin his family line a new."

"And how shall you do that if you are not planning to announce that he is who he is?" Regulus wondered.

Ariana gave a fleeting smile. "We plan to simply claim Salazar to be a descendant of Slytherin. Trust me after Voldemort, everyone will be more than pleased that another has turned up. It is fortunate that Godric played such a nasty trick with his chocolate frog card, because now no one truly knows how Salazar really looks." Regulus nodded. It appeared they had everything well thought out, but that was no surprise.

"How do he and Aberforth get on," he asked with a small amused twitch of his lips.

Ariana chuckled, lifting her slender shoulders in a small shrug. "As well as can be expected, which is not very well most days," she admitted. "They are two very different men, and to be honest, i often feel caught in the middle." She dropped her voice on that bit to a quiet murmur that no one other than a vampire could've heard over the loud music.

The band was currently playing an old number called School's Out, and Albus Dumbledore was actually up on his feet dancing almost like a happy child. "Father is of course unhappy with what I had to do in order to have Salazar here with us again, but I had to, Regulus." Her bright green eyes were intense as she leaned toward him. Regulus simply nodded as no words seemed to be required. "We have a connection, Regulus. You know you would do anything to keep Kreacher close to you." He nodded again. She gave a short laugh but the expression did not touch her eyes. "Leave it to me to fall for someone a thousand years dead."

"Them's the breaks of being a Necromancer, I suppose," Regulus quipped, and this time the smile did touch her eyes. He got the impression that his support meant something to her. Considering the mistakes he'd made, this was a bit disconcerting, if touching for all that. Before either could say more on the matter, the door to the Hog's Head swung open, letting in Kreacher and the three Lestranges.

"Excuse me," Regulus said, rising and giving her a parting smile. "I'd better fill them in on everything. Of course they will keep your secret, considering they'd be the first to understand your choice. They have a low opinion of Muggles and a high opinion of Slytherin."

She nodded and headed back to the bar. Regulus turned to tell Ballan that his food was outside, and couldn't help smiling at the focused expression on the elf's face as he watched Hydra happily banging out rock chords on her little piano while Mag and Greybo sang, 'School's Out Forever!" "Your food is out back," Regulus called to him and Ballan nodded, rising reluctantly to attend to his dining needs.

Pausing he turned to the Lestranges and Kreacher. "Thanks," he called, lifting a hand before turning toward the bar's back door.

"Sure," Rodolphus called back, giving Ballan a friendly grin as he lifted a large blocky hand in response. As Ballan went to enjoy his dinner, Regulus approached Kreacher and the Lestranges. Before he could speak,the scent of savory stew suddenly wafted through the room. He knew he would have greatly relished such a scent were he still mortal and able to enjoy that type of food. As he was not, it caused him to feel a bit ill.

"Damn, that smells good," Rod enthused. "I'm going to go eat." He pushed past Regulus before he could say that he had news. Bellatrix and Rabastan hurried after Rodolphus, looking nearly as eager as he did for a bowl of whatever it was that they were smelling.

"I have something to tell you that you are never going to believe," Regulus told Kreacher. "And I missed you! It felt as if you were gone for ages." Reaching out he embraced the elf who enthusiastically returned the gesture.

"Kreacher missed Master Regulus as well. What news has he to tell, Kreacher wonders?" Leaning into Regulus's side, he tilted his head curiously, peering up so that their eyes met. For an instant, Regulus was distracted by the way the bright light spilling from the shiny crystal chandeliers that Ariana had installed in the Hog's Head spilled over Kreacher's face, causing the soft skin of his cheeks to nearly seem to glow. When Regulus had first returned home, Kreacher was haggard and aged by grief and lack of self care, but after a few years of good eating, he had filled out nicely and the glow of health had returned to him. Regulus had insisted that Kreacher see to his health before becoming a vampire, else he would be trapped in his former emaciated state of grief for eternity.

"I do not know how to say it, so I shall just say it. Salazar Slytherin is alive! Ariana resurrected him back when she summoned his spirit to ask him about the elves for us before the children were even born. He is actually living and working here. He made the food the Lestranges are about to eat!"

Kreacher simply stared for several seconds before chuckling happily. "That was a good one! Master Regulus is quite funny."

Regulus frowned. "Are you drunk?" He wasn't one to have Kreacher on, after all. Practical jokes were more the Lestranges' style or Gellerts.

Kreacher grinned. "Perhaps a little. He had to make certain that Ballan's food was drunk enough and flavored properly, after all. And besides, it is a party. Kreacher's babies did it! They are all grown up now, leaving Master Regulus and Kreacher free to do as they like whenever they wish. We could travel and," Kreacher slipped his arms around him as the torrent of words spilled forth, causing Regulus to smile.

"I am not having you on, though."

Kreacher blinked, for an instant silent as he contemplated. "But how could Ariana Dumbledore possibly manage to Resurrect someone as old as Slytherin? Is Master Regulus saying that Slytherin is some sort of zombie?" He stared up at Regulus as dawning shock began to show on his face.

Regulus shook his head. "Not at all a zombie, but he does look... weak... perhaps a little ill, or as if he is recovering from an illness. He is rather thin, not at all like his chocolate frog card," he warned.

Kreacher's lips twisted up into an ironic grin. "Well after he has been dead for several centuries, the fat would be gone, so of course not.""No!" Regulus laughed. "I mean he looks entirely different. Facial structure. Hair. That is he has hair. He said that Godric Gryffindor spread around fake portraits as a final jab when Salazar died first. I suppose it worked out as no one shall recognize him now."

"Kreacher supposes not," the elf agreed. "So how did Ariana manage it?"

Regulus quickly explained how she'd sacrificed many Muggles in order to have enough blood to work the magic to resurrect someone as long dead as Slytherin to full life, or as much life as he technically had. "He is weakened on many levels now," he concluded. "It's one reason he did not help with Delphini, his belief in Gellert's ability to handle it being the other."

"Kreacher must see him," the elf said eagerly, round blue eyes wide with fascination now that he was completely certain that Regulus was not having him on. "Ariana must be even more powerful of a Necromancer than we first assumed."

Regulus nodded. They had always been aware of the fact that Ariana Dumbledore was an extremely powerful Necromancer. She had demonstrated her top notch skills more than once in recalling Regulus's parents from beyond the veil and binding them to #12 Grimmauld Place, summoning Kreacher's parents back for a few visits, and assisting them to have the twins by revitalizing vampiric sperm. The Dumbledore family was full of powerful magic users, so Ariana's abilities were no true surprise, though they continued to impress.

"Come and sit with us, Freaks," Bellatrix called out imperiously.

"Always so sweet is our Bella," Regulus said with a chuckle. He glanced over to see her waving at them from where she sat at the bar with the other two Lestranges. Each had a large steaming bowl of Salazar's stew before them along with a glass of some strong drink or other. "Come on. Let's go tell them about Salazar. I can't wait to see their reactions." He smiled.

Salazar was the hero of all Slytherins. The Lestranges fanboy/girled out over Gellert Grindelwald. They were completely going to lose their shit upon discovering that Salazar Slytherin lived and that they could actually speak to him. Kreacher grinned and took Regulus's hand to approach the Lestranges, equally as eager to see their reactions. "You will never guess who made that stew," Regulus said, perching on a stool beside Bellatrix. He scooped Kreacher up and sat him on his lap. A lot of people were up dancing to the music, so there were plenty of places to sit, but Regulus and Kreacher often shared a seat simply because they enjoyed a good cuddle.

"Aberforth," Rodolphus replied. "He's the cook around here." He glanced over at Regulus as if he believed him to have gone daft.

Regulus smirked. "No. Not Ariana either. You will never believe who made it."

"Well just tell us, then," Bellatrix snapped.

"It's not something you are going to believe," Regulus warned. "Salazar Slytherin." He allowed himself a pleased smile as all three Lestranges gaped at him in shock.

"Bullshit," Rabastan drawled.

"Kreacher thought the same," the elf said. "But Rabastan should know that Master Regulus isn't one for playing jokes as a rule." Regulus told of how Ariana had resurrected Salazar as they all listened in rapt attention. "Before you all get your hopes up for some new shiny Muggle rebellion, he isn't interested," Regulus concluded. "He just wishes to live a quiet life and give his blood line a new start by having children with Ariana, though they haven't managed a child yet."

"Son of a bitch," Rabastan swore unhappily. "Just like Grindelwald, he doesn't want to better the world because he's bloody nesting. Hell Bella and Rod can nest and still do their part to fight the good fight, so what gives?"

Bellatrix tossed her cloud of black hair, nodding smugly. "We know, right?"

"Yep," Rodolphus agreed as he scraped up the last bite of stew from the bottom of his bowl.

"They simply learned what did not work, and they are attempting to adjust," Regulus said. Bellatrix made a derisive sound. "Well hopefully they can help if the shit hits the fan with the elves," she said after polishing off her drink and waving Ariana over for another.

"When do we get to meet your man," she asked the red head eagerly.

"I'm glad that people are here who understand how amazing he is," Ariana said warmly. Her German accent was a little thicker than usual, showing a charming slip of control when she spoke of Salazar. Regulus knew that he and Kreacher were more than obvious with their fondness for one another, so he could always relate to the same in others. "He is resting now, but he never stays down for long, so I am sure he will be out soon."

"Well when he's up and about, do tell him that his biggest fans are here, and that he makes the best stew ever," Rodolphus said. "I am quite certain that I could eat an entire pot of it."

Ariana chuckled."How about another bowl for a start?"

Rodolphus grinned happily. "Excellent!" He downed the rest of his drink and pushed the glass across to Ariana along with his bowl.

"What about you two," she asked, arching a brow first at Bellatrix, then Rabastan."More food?"

"No, just the drink, thanks," Bellatrix said."If I ate like this one, I would be as big as a manor!" She playfully nudged Rodolphus in the ribs and he grinned, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm full, thanks," Rabastan said."But it was amazing."

"Of bloody course it was," Rodolphus said enthusiastically. "Salazar Bloody Slytherin made it, didn't he?" The door to the Hog's Head opened then and Finna Flitwick strolled in, dressed for the evening in flowing green dress robes with her long red hair streaming down her back, a small crown of oak leaves atop it, Druid style.

Her gaze swept the room, and she made a beeline for Filius, a warm smile on her face. She was tall and ethereal, often commanding attention that she did not usually want with her very presence. Filius placed his drink on the bar, then reached his hands out to her in welcome. The band began to play Star of the County Down. It was a song Filius often sang to his wife, and his eyes lit up as he spun her into a dance.