Lunch was strange and full of tension. They could fell all the others students' glances. To them, to the Maraudeurs and to the Slytherins.

Harry and Mary had always thought the Maraudeurs to be a noisy, popular group. However, the group was ushering, obviously trying to be as discreet as possible. Remus was the most embarrassed.

When her friends were midway through desserts, Mary - who hadn't eaten - went to the Slytherins. She didn't miss the dirty-blond hair ravenclaw watchful eyes. They were following her every steps, which was unsettling. Like Harry, she didn't like being the center of attention. She purposely ignored the group and went straight for Theodore, Marcus and Dahlia. Inviting the three to join them in their Quidditch break.

Regulus, Evan, Barty and Pandora decided to find a spot at the library so they could share everything they learnt with Pandora. They, however, never made it to the library. Barty abruptly turned around wand out and spite, "Why are you following us ?"

The girl, Hermione, looked spook by Barty's movement but quickly found her balance. It wasn't the first time she had a wand pointed at her. She was alone, outnumber if something went wrong. She seemed indecisive for a second but her voice wasn't. "Don't you want us to show you ? I thought it would be better if we did it without the others."

Pandora gave her a weird look, the boys hadn't yet filled her in. They were motionless, which meant they knew what the girl was talking about, and they were interested. She searched the girl for malice but find none. She braced Barty's wand-hand and nicely spoke, "Lead the way, we will follow."

The group diligently walked behind Hermione to the castle's seventh floor, in the left corridor and waited while she started to pace in front of an empty wall. They exchanged a look and Barty - always so patient - started to reach for his wand. His movement came to stop when they saw a door merged out of the wall. "This is the Room of Requirement. It reveals itself only when someone needs something and provides them with their desired item. Come."

The room was vast, surrounded by pillars and a chandelier. In the middle, stood a Pensieve. Not at easy, surrounded by Slytherins who were Death-eaters in her time, she reached the Pensieve as soon as she opened the door, avoiding any conversation. Her wand went to her temple to grasp the memory and poured them into the basin. The Slytherins not keen on small talks braced themselves and divided into the memory.

Hermione and Ron were in the same room, standing in front of the Pensieve. Ron was clutching the vials and trying to convince Hermione. "Come on, nobody is going to know we watched them."

"Ron, we don't know him and they are addressed to someone, it feels wrong. Maybe we should talk to Harry about it, he was Sirius' brother."

"Well, Harry's been out of it since Sirius died. And Harry doesn't know Regulus Black any more than us. I'm doing it either way, with or without you."

Hermione sighted but let Ron drop the first vial and plunged her head.

They were in a large room, with grand windows and a massive fireplace.

Regulus immediately recognized the drawing room at home. For his friends, it was the famous tapestry of the Black family tree that gave the place away.

They saw Regulus, drenched in sweat, laying on the red carpet floor, clutching the edge of the couch to try to get up. "Why isn't it crying ?" Regulus voice was dreamy, and his eyes dazed, unfocused. His robes, pulled up to his thighs, revealed bloody streaks. Evan kneeled before him at the sound of his voice. "Hey Reggie, don't worry, she is fine. You need to lay down a bit, I'm going to give you some potions." Evan's voice was full of tenderness. He gently rose Regulus' head and managed to pour one of the potions he had.

Regulus roughly pushed Evan away before gripping his shirt. "Why isn't it crying ? It's supposed to cry." He demanded, weeping and enraged at the same time.

"Kreacher, pinch the baby." Evan ordered while to force more potion down Regulus' throat. Kreacher was a few feet away, near the door, carrying a bundle of clothes - dark blue blanket with sliver constellations- in his arms.

"Kreacher will not. Kreacher refuses to hurt Missy."

"You do has I say. Pinch the baby." Evan pursed threateningly. Regulus was too tired and bewildered to understand his daughter was safe. It was a matter of seconds before the baby's cries resonated in the house. Regulus' head jerked up at the sound, his misty eyes searching his child.

"We will let you hold her once you have taken the potions." Continued Evan, potions in hands. Regulus eagerly drank the two remaining potions and looked expectantly toward the noise. The potions were immediate effective, his gaze started to focus, and he was able to distinguish Kreatur's advancing form. Regulus instinctively stretched out his arms, eager to feel the weight, the warmth and softness of his child.

As soon as she was cradled in his embrace and he laid his eyes on her, his heart constricted achingly in his chest. His ribcage felt too tight enclosed, the pressure threatening to blow the organ to smithereens. Regulus had a sweet and radiant smile and spoke with tenderness "Hi" the baby yawn and he let out a chuckle "yeah, this was quite the effort." He said while gently stroking a small tuft of black hair. "You can sleep, I will watch over you, always. I love you, beyond pain, beyond wrath, beyond fear, beyond death."

Evan carefully took place on the ground, next to Regulus, and glanced fondly at the two. He placed on the child a reindeer-shaped stuff toy. "What's my niece's name ?" Regulus looked at her adoringly and reply "Astrée. Astrée Cassiopeia Black."

The room and faces started to blur before vanishing and they were out of the Pensieve. Barty tightly seized Regulus, none of them were going to show anything to Hermione. Whatever Regulus wanted to do, shout or cry, it would have to wait. Luckily, the girl seemed to be too ashamed to care about them. The deadly silence didn't help soothe her nerves. Hermione's gaze was focused on the ground when she spoke. "They are others vials, we didn't watch them since it clearly has nothing to do with the Horcruxes. We didn't know what to do with them, so I have been caring them. I have them, in my bag. That's if you are interested." Evan sneered at her, she turned a slight glare at Regulus.

"We, we didn't just pry, I mean we did but without evil intention." Yes, you did. Was Regulus' thoughts. Those were ordinary memories, feelings had been shared through them. Those were very private and personal. They had been left in the vault with purpose, his future-self wanted to let his daughter know she had been loved.

"Anyway - we looked into Hogwarts' registry, three years above and three below, no Black child has been registered. There doesn't seem to have been a Black since you and Sirius." Hermione was hesitant, they hadn't breath a word and their faces were blank canvas. She knew, thanks to Mary, that it was part of a pureblood upbringing; emotions were intimate and to be shared around a private circle. Still, it added to her discomfort. After a few minutes of tense silence, Hermione decided to walk out of the room.

As soon, as the door disappeared within the wall behind Hermione, Regulus released and felt his knees' wobble. He reached for the closest wall, and pressed his forehead against the cold stone. He let out a shaky breath, "I am to take the mark this summer, I will write to my family and take it earlier."

Pandora carefully moved toward him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, giving it a slight push to make him turn around."Regulus, this is madness. I understand the urge to protect the child but the Dark Lord is not someone you can easily dupe."

Yes, the Lord wasn't someone you could easily deceive but Regulus wanted it. Now, that he had seen the child and his love for it, he could not ignore it. He wanted it, wanted her. She was his chance to a brighter future. And he was not going to let her die. He turned around to meet his friends' eyes, he had no idea what to say to them. Was he surprised ? Yes. Was he happy ? Yes. Was he scared ? Yes.

Fortunately, Barty decided to speak with his usual teasing. "If Evan is the uncle, I'm obviously the godfather. Who got the privilege to shag the Black heir ?" Pandora clicked her tongue and reprimanded him. "Now is not the time for jokes Barty." She turned her head. "Evan, tell Reg he is being unreasonable."

Evan shrugged and looked at Regulus meaningfully before answering. "I can't... I agree with Reg. If we want to save the child and give them a chance, at least one of us has to. We have to pledge alliance to the Dark Lord and gave the newcomers information on Horcruxes."

Relief is evident in Regulus' expression as he straightened himself. He glanced at Barty who gave him a stiff nod. They were doing this together. Pandora will come around, and eventually be their moral support.