Hope you all enjoy this chapter and are having a wonderful week! The plot with Regulus is going to start coming into focus from here on out, so I hope you're all prepared for some twists and turns.

Dissyblack: I am going to be sticking to canon for the most part, at least regarding the separation. There will be some canon divergence with timelines, but that won't have much of an impact on what happens with Sirius. As far as the separation goes though, I'm actually really excited about that (well specifically the reunion). I can't wait for Vivian and Sirius to rediscover their relationship later on...so basically my point is that I'll make it worth the heartache once we reach Season 3. They'll fall in love all over again :)

Chapter Twenty Nine | Radix malorum

[The root of all evil]

Howling wind. Burning eyes. The scent of salt heavy upon the air. Lurching limbs, one step and another. A gnarled, pale hand reaching out, further and further…

This time, the deadened fingertips brush over her cheek, but she cannot move any further back than she already has. Her shoulder digs painfully into the jagged rock behind her, cutting against the thin robe she's wearing. Too thin to offer any protection from the frigid wind that tunnels through the darkness. She shivers intensely, but it is not because of the wind itself…

"Are you alright?"

She jerks her eyes away from where they had been locked across the clearing, sightless and blind to the rest of the gathering. An iron grey gaze meets her own. One brow is raised slightly, pulled in just so in a faint impression of confusion and concern.

Vivian rearranges her expression and responds, "I'm fine."

The fingertips are cold, freezing even. She knows why. They belong to a dead man.

"Are you sure? You look a bit sick," Regulus murmurs, studying her carefully as he stands at her side. His hands are politely clasped at his back, but he looks like he seconds from reaching out to steady her.

She swallows and quietly clears her throat beneath her breath to ensure that her voice is smooth. Unfortunately, the action doesn't entirely remove the slight shakiness that perforates her words when she denies his suggestion.

"I'm fine," she says again, this time with a touch of impatience. She looks away from him, returning her eyes to the clearing of darkly cloaked figures. The night sky above is clear and bright with the full moon. In the back of her mind, she wonders how the boys are faring. They'd all met up earlier that afternoon to gather at Remus's house to assist with his monthly transformation. He's due to continue his mission with the werewolf packs soon, but for now, he's in England carrying on with his life.

Another shiver buzzes through her. This time it is because as she remembers Remus's transformed state, the image of his yellow eyes transforms too, to burning orange…

"Vivian, you can't afford to be distracted tonight," Regulus mutters to her, inching closer so that his voice doesn't carry. He eyes her for a moment before glancing to the circle of robed figures gathered in a half-circle atop the small hill some twenty paces in front of them. If he's being honest, he's surprised that she'd even managed to secure an invitation to this particular event. It certainly isn't like the other parties and dinners she's attended over the last few months.

In a low voice, he whispers, "You need to keep your wits about you."

The quiet chanting coming from the group of figures rises in cadence, louder now. Regulus keeps his eyes firmly planted on them as he hovers over Vivian, his taller frame positioned slightly in front of hers. No, this is nothing like the usual dinner parties. This is a ritual involving magic of the darkest kind, and given how Vivian's position among the Dark Lord's followers hasn't yet solidified, he can't imagine why Voldemort had given her leave to come here and bear witness to it. There's only one reason he can think of, and it isn't something he wants to consider.

But why else would Voldemort wish for Vivian to come, if not to extend an official invitation to join his inner circle? The thought is jarring even as he thinks it. It doesn't sound completely right. It seems sloppy to make such an offer when so much hangs in the balance, and the Dark Lord is anything but sloppy.

Vivian doesn't seem to appreciate his reminder, for she sends him an annoyed glance and mutters back, "I'm fine, Regulus. Stop pestering me."

But she isn't fine. Her mind keeps jumping back to the dream she'd had only a few nights ago. She can still feel the cold fingertips drag down her cheek and curve around her neck. It had only been a dream, but the way they had clenched around her had felt so real…

At her side, Regulus nudges her impatiently, his sharp elbow digging into her side. She keeps drifting into some thought that seems to distract her from the situation at hand. No one else seems to have taken notice, but Regulus is more observant than most, especially when it comes to her. He ignores the next irritated glance Vivian shoots him in favor of hissing, "You're not fine. Something's wrong with you."

She pulls her mouth down and falls silent, watching the ritual taking place in front of her with closer attention as she forcefully pushes the dream out of her head.

"It's nothing. Just a nightmare I've been having," she mumbles to him, keeping her voice low enough so as not to be heard by the other witnesses gathered around them. Only those who have the Dark Lord's utmost favor are taking part in the ceremony, but that doesn't mean the rest of his followers haven't joined to watch. Regulus is right, as usual. She does need to pay more attention. With any luck, she'll be able to recognize some of the faces of the lower-ranked followers and bring the information to Dumbledore. If only they weren't all wearing such dark cloaks and deep hoods…

Her and Regulus are dressed much the same. She hadn't planned for it. Regulus had all but thrown the cloak at her when she had arrived at the meeting place wearing a set of dress robes. She had assumed that they would be attending another social event of some kind. It certainly wouldn't be an understatement to say that she'd been surprised to learn that she was way off the mark.

She doesn't yet know just how far off the mark she'd been, though. The purposes of this ritual are hazy to her. She hadn't been told, precisely, what it is that they're doing. Regulus has said something about a magical artifact on their way, but he hadn't had time to explain it all to her. All she knows is that, whatever it is they're doing, it involves a lot of dark magic. She can feel the sinister force of it from where she stands, her own innate magic easily picking up on the feeling. Unfortunately, she can't hear their words clearly enough to be able to ascertain what's being chanted, but Regulus will surely fill her in once they have a moment.

Regulus hasn't left her side since they'd arrived an hour or so before. He's been a constant presence, and she's grateful for it despite her current irritation with him. Had it not been for him, she's quite sure that Adrian would've swept in to claim her attention. As it is, Mulciber is currently standing a ways away with a group of other cloaked figures. She's already reached the conclusion that the group most likely contains the likes of Malfoy, Rosier, and his other old school friends, though she hasn't seen their faces to know for certain. The only reason she's aware that Adrian is among them is because he had turned to send her a leering smile when her and Regulus had apparated here.

"A nightmare?" Regulus quietly wonders, drawing her focus back to him. He doesn't look at her directly. His eyes are drawn to the ritual being performed upon the hilltop, but she can tell that he's watching her in the periphery of his vision. His head is turned just so in her direction even as his attention is being split in two.

Vivian holds back a sigh, cursing herself for having brought it up. She should've just made up some sort of excuse. There's plenty to be had, after all. The fact that she doesn't particularly feel comfortable being in the middle of a dark ritual performed on Voldemort's behalf, for example.

"It's not a big deal," she murmurs to him. "Just a dream I've been having."

He doesn't seem overly concerned about the subject. Not yet, anyway. Atop the hill, the chanting increases, and they both watch closely as one of the robed figures steps into the center of the group to take up something that had been placed on a stone they're standing around. They're too far away to see what it is, and in any case, the object is too small. It seems to be made of metal, though. The torches being held by several members of the circle reflect off of it, hinting at some sort of chain that hangs down from it, which the glinting light vaguely reveals.

"What is that, anyway?" Vivian whispers to Regulus, drawing her cloak tighter around her body to ward off the night's chill.

Regulus doesn't seem to have an answer, though. He merely whispers back, "I wasn't told the specifics…all I know is that the Dark Lord needed it to be prepared for something."

The chanting grows louder. This time, Vivian is able to catch a few of the words, her knowledge of Latin and experimental charms coming in handy as she strains her ears.

Munda

Tenebrae

Apponere

She frowns. None of the words make sense to her. She knows their meaning, but the purposes behind it eludes her. They are cleansing the object somehow – preparing it, as Regulus had said – but for what?

"And you don't know what its being prepared for?" she asks, keeping her voice low so only he can hear.

Regulus's only response is to jerk his head to the side. She holds back another sigh. She supposes she shouldn't be surprised that he doesn't know. He's not part of the Dark Lord's inner circle, at least she doesn't think he is. True, their alliance isn't completely solid – there are things they don't speak of, truths they keep to themselves – but she's sure he would have told her if he's managed to secure Voldemort's favor to a point of being allowed to sit upon his council. Dark Mark or not, Voldemort doesn't let all of his followers that close.

"About these nightmares," Regulus murmurs as they watch the ritual, "do you want to…er, talk about it?"

Vivian almost rolls her eyes at the hesitant way he asks it. Things are still a little awkward between them despite the fact that they've been attending these gatherings together for a while now. Whenever a personal matter is concerned, neither of them quite know how to act around the other, it seems.

Atop the hill, another figure steps up to the center of the circle. Vivian immediately recognizes the person as Bellatrix Lestrange on account of the dark curls that even her deep hood cannot contain. They spill around her shoulders as she raises her wand to the object and swishes it in a graceful figure-eight movement. The tip of her wand glows brightly for several seconds before she steps back, shuffling reverently back into her place as another cloaked form steps up and repeats the action, moving his wand in a similar pattern. This continues down the semi-circle as each figure waves their wand over the object that's being lifted up.

Furrowing her brows at the sight, Vivian distractedly murmurs, "It's nothing, Reg. It's probably just my conscience getting the better of me."

She's focused on watching each figure perform the spell, trying to work out whatever it is they're doing, so she doesn't think much of the way Regulus repeats, "Your conscience? Is this about the Halloween Night Gala?"

They must be imbuing the object with power, but why? For what purpose?

"I keep dreaming about the Inferi I created," she slowly tells him, not paying much attention to her words. "I'm always in this strange cave, and the Inferi is coming after me…like I said, it's just my conscience acting out…"

It's to cleanse the object. She had heard that word being chanting, before. But what are they cleansing it of? More importantly, what is it being prepared for…? Something important, no doubt, otherwise the Dark Lord would have given the task to his lesser followers…

"A cave?" Regulus whispers. His voice sounds oddly strained.

She hardly hears him. She's too focused on the ritual. The last member of performing the spell now, waving his wand in the same figure-eight movement over the object. The tip of the wand burns brightly like the others before it fades and the man steps back to retake his position in the circle.

"Vivian," Regulus says in an urgent tone, "you've got to tell me exactly what – "

But the lasts of his sentence trails away when suddenly the circle of figures all lift their wands as one and, together, they loudly say, "Avada Kedavra!"

Green light bursts forth from their wands. Combined in such a way, it is so bright that it makes the entire hill glow with the blaze of the spell. Vivian watches in silent horror as the killing curse hits the man standing at the center of the circle, who had taken up the object. The spells collide, warping around him body, delivering an immediate and painless death. It is so bright that Vivian catches sight of the man's face for the first time since he had stepped forward, and though she doesn't recognize him, she can see that his expression is almost peaceful as he tips his head back as if he's embracing the curses. He must have known full well what was coming for him; an honorable sacrifice.

Vivian's breath catches as she watches him fall. The others don't step in to break the fall. They merely watch as his now-lifeless body hits the ground with a thud, his fingers loosening around the object as it tumbles into the grass, out of sight.

It is not the first time she has seen death, but like the times before, it is not an easy thing to view. She stares at the body of the man, forcing her features into an impassive mask even as her heart beats louder in her chest. Whatever ritual they had been performing must have been of utmost importance if it required a sacrifice of such caliber. Only the darkest forms of magic utilize such things.

Regulus is silent now as he focuses entirely on the ritual, though the sense of urgency still wavers from his body as he edges closer to her. They both watch as the semi-circle begins to disperse, the final spell completed. A loud cheer sounds from Mulciber's group. It is soon followed by more. Vivian feels her stomach drop at the celebratory nature of it.

Regulus's hand encloses around her back, his fingers clasping around her arm as he tugs her closer to him. In a low voice, he whispers, "We should leave."

Several others are already disapparating along the periphery of the hilltop. Those that are not an immediate part of the ritual, who have only come to bear witness to it, do not need to linger. Regulus is probably right – annoyingly, he usually is – but Vivian finds herself shaking her head as she watches Bellatrix step forward into the circle once more, her head bent to the ground in search of the fallen object hidden by the darkness.

"Wait a moment," she whispers to Regulus. She needs to know what the object is. Dumbledore will want to know exactly what has happened here tonight…

"Vivian," Regulus warningly mutters, clenching his fingers around her arm tighter. He seems hesitant.

Bellatrix stoops over to pick something up. To Vivian's dismay, her fingers hide whatever it is from view, but the glinting light reveals the chain that hangs from it once more. It must be an amulet of some kind. Vivian narrows her eyes, trying to see through the darkness, trying to get a better look –

"Don't you two look cozy," a voice suddenly says, and at her side, Regulus tenses.

"Decided to rejoin polite society, Blair? It must be so trying, being in such close proximity to blood traitors," Malfoy's smooth voice adds, his tone perfectly snide.

"I'm surprised you were even invited," Rosier's low-pitched voice sounds as the group steps towards them. "Personally, I don't believe your little story about spying for the Dark Lord. I think you just lied to regain his favor once you realized you made a mistake."

Malfoy chuckles and agrees, "Mmm…if you ask me, you should just join us and be done with it. I'm sure the Dark Lord would have a better use for you here."

Vivian finds herself shuffles closer to Regulus as she turns to eye the others. Adrian stands amongst them, silently studying her. He doesn't offer up any snide comment of his own, but she can tell that he's got plenty of them from the way his eyes flash into hers. He sends her a quiet smirk and eyes the way Regulus has his arm positioned around her.

"I think she's just got a think for the Noble House of Black," he sarcastically says, much to Regulus's ire.

Vivian lifts her chin and sneers, "It's not really any of your business who I've got a thing for, Adrian."

He only smirks wider and shrugs, "No, I suppose it isn't. If Regulus is alright with you playing with his brother on the side, then that's on him."

The others snicker at this. Rosier's eyes glint with dark amusement as he moves his gaze over Vivian's figure and drawls, "I don't really see it, myself."

Vivian grits her teeth at his perusal of her figure, though she isn't overly uncomfortable by it given the fact that there's not much to see right now. Her black cloak shrouds her from view. Rosier had merely been trying to get on her nerves.

"Well no one asked you," Vivian snarks at him, and reaches around Regulus to clasp her hand into the back of his robes, unseen by the others. The action has Regulus clasping his own fingers tighter around her arm, too, as if in response.

Adrian hums out a low, chortling laugh before nudging Malfoy and saying, "We should leave. We have plans, remember?"

Something about the way he says this gives Vivian the distinct impression that said plans isn't exactly something that one talks about in polite conversation. Not that this is anything of the sort, of course. She glances over at Adrian with suspicious eyes, but he only lifts his eyebrows at her in response and smirks wider, looking faintly amused at the fact that she's got no idea what he's going on about.

With a huff of laughter, he drawls, "Why don't you run along to your little blood traitor and keep his bed warm? That's all you're really good for, isn't that right, Reggie?"

Regulus narrows his eyes at him, but Adrian is already backing away, nudging Malfoy once more and jerking his head to indicate that they should leave. Vivian tugs Regulus's robes back when he opens his mouth to issue a retort. It's better to let them go. The situation is already caustic enough without needing to drag it out.

"Oh, and Vivian," Adrian calls, turning to glance back at her. "I expect you to come in early Monday morning. We've got a full day's workload ahead of us and I don't want to be stuck there after hours."

He quips her a leering grin, looking all too smug at the way Vivian's jaw clenches at him in turn. As he takes his leave, she swallows back the retort that wants to spring from her tongue and instead mutters, "Merlin, he's such an arse."

Regulus doesn't respond. He steps back, dragging her with him, and mumbles, "Come on. We need to talk."

She lifts an eyebrow at him.

"I should be getting back," she argues.

He doesn't seem to hear her, because Regulus merely tugs her against his side and promptly disapparates away, giving her no warning before he pulls her into the void. She's a bit annoyed with him when they reappear. She drags his arm away from her and looks around, trying to locate where they are even as she snarks, "I told you, I need to be getting back – where the hell are we, Reg?"

"A few miles north of London," he swiftly responds, then just as quickly says, "Look, about this nightmare – "

Impatient now, Vivian groans, "You dragged me here just to ask about a stupid nightmare?"

"Yes," he urgently replies. "Tell me exactly what happens in it."

She glowers at him and mutters, "Why should I? It's just a dream."

He doesn't give her a reason, though. Instead, he just says, "You mentioned a cave."

The prompting makes her huff at him, but she reckons he won't let her walk away until she gives him the details, so she grumbles, "Yeah. I'm stuck there somehow. I can't move or see through the darkness, but I can hear the sound of footsteps coming towards me. It's always the Inferi I created. He appears and chases me down, then I wake up."

Her expression turns strained, though, when she suddenly mutters, "Though, the last dream I had was a bit different."

She'd already written to Gavin about it, but she has yet to hear a response from him. Honestly, she'd only done so because he wanted to know if anything changed in it. She isn't sure she believes that the dream is anything but a dream – just her conscience getting her back by haunting her with the reminder of what she had done.

Regulus seems to think otherwise, though.

"Different how?" he asks, eyeing her closely through the darkness. They're standing near the bank of what must be the Thames, if he was correct in saying that they're just north of London. The trees around them are a bit too thick to see the river, but they can just barely make it out through the trees. The moon is bright tonight and reflects off the water.

Vivian slowly responds, "This time, he touched my face."

Regulus goes completely silent. She decides not to tell him that the Inferi was seconds away from choking her. That had been new, too.

A moment passes before Regulus is muttering something beneath his breath and springing into action as he paces in front of her. Vivian watches him with a furrowed brow, not used to seeing him so strung up. He's always so calm and collected, so careful not to show his emotions on his face. But here, now, there is an anxious quality to his eyes that she can see even through the darkness.

"Regulus, what are you doing?" Vivian asks, crossing her arms as she follows his movements. At this rate, he'll make her dizzy just looking at him.

Her question seems to shatter whatever thought had captured him, for he turns on his heel and stares at her. She can't quite read his expression. It's confused but fearful, nervous and perplexed, as if there's a mystery in front of him that he cannot solve; some vague conclusion that exists just beyond conscious thought, which he knows without a doubt is there but he cannot yet see it in full.

"Vivian, I don't think you're dreaming," he tells her, his eyebrows pulling down into a deep frown. There a strange solemnity to his voice that confuses her.

"…What do you mean?" she asks, her impatience now transferring to gravity. A part of her wants to brush off his words, but there are too many coincidences to justify it. Gavin's apprehension, for one. The fact that her last dream had felt frighteningly real, another. She swears she can still feel the trace of those cold fingers brushing over her neck.

Regulus stares at her for another long moment before she frowns at him and prompts, "Just tell me already, for Merlin's sake."

He runs his hand through his hair again, hesitating. In a stilted voice, he says, "The Dark Lord is planning something. Something involving the Inferi. I've been trying to figure out what it is, so I volunteered Kreacher's services when he asked for the assistance of a House Elf. I've got a bad feeling about it and I – I think I – "

He cuts himself off here, much to Vivian's annoyance. She impatiently demands, "You what?"

In a rush, Regulus hoarsely admits, "I think I made a mistake, Vivian. I shouldn't have joined Him. Lately, I've been…involved in things that I want no part of, but I can't back out now."

And just like that, Vivian's growing impatience scatters like the wind. She stares at Regulus's vulnerable expression and swallows it back. She's never seen him like this before. And to hear him admit such a thing…to say it out loud…she doesn't know what to think, at first. He was so adamant, before, about joining the Dark Lord despite her own opinions on the matter. Even more recently, he had told her that no matter their alliance, he won't allow her to get in the way of his position. But now, to hear this from him…

"Go ahead, tell me you think I'm an idiot for having joined up in the first place," he mumbles, turning away as running his hand through his hair again. His voice is almost scratchy, full of that anxious quality that seems so wrong in him. He shouldn't sound like that. He shouldn't look so vulnerable.

A tentative silence crashes through them, but it's broken when Vivian quietly murmurs, "I would never tell you that."

He shoots her a look that makes the corner of her mouth quirk up, though there isn't any trace of humor in the action. Still, she amends, "Not right now, anyway."

Regulus sighs. She steps up to him and takes his shoulder, her fingers clenching down around the fabric of his cloak as she whispers, "Regulus, what's brought this on? What's he making you do?"

But he only shakes his head and mumbles back, "I can't tell you that."

She frowns. "You can."

"You won't look at me the same if I do," he hoarsely admits, glancing over at her. He swallows thickly and lifts a hand to run it over her cheek, his thumb trailing along her jaw. With intense eyes, he adds, "I don't think I could bear that."

She doesn't move away from his touch. Some part of her – the part deeply buried, which rarely has reason to resurface these days – feels a strange sort of ache thread through her when his hand drops away. She knows that there is a piece of her that loves him. It is her old self. The version of her before her transformation. The Slytherin prefect who had existed in that shallow comfort zone for so many years before Sirius had pulled her so far out of it that she hardly remembers it at all. And yet she can remember it now, here with Regulus. It's there along the edge of her, tripping over the jagged path she has since moved off of. But she still recalls each stone of it. She still remembers every arch and every bend, and as she lifts her eyes to his, she can see that path reflected so starkly in his eyes. It is the path that he is walking, but she is not on it.

And yet as she looks at him, she wonders if perhaps she is still on it after all. If she only took a short detour away from it. If she will find herself tripping over those jagged stones again in a not so distant future…because if what Regulus has told her is true, then there is something at work here, and whatever it is, it doesn't sound good.

"…Did you find out the Dark Lord's plans, then?" she haltingly asks, her hand still resting on his shoulder. She can feel the warmth of him seep through the fabric, and she's reluctant to let go on such a cold night.

Regulus purses his mouth and looks away from her as he responds, "No…not in full. He took Kreacher to a cave. I don't know what for, all I know is what Kreacher told me when he returned."

A cave. She frowns. "And what did he tell you?"

Silence falls, before…

"That the cave was full of bodies," Regulus whispers, returning his gaze to her and staring at her solemnly.

She stares back, not breathing.

Regulus turns to her fully and urgently says, "I don't think you're dreaming, Vivian. I think you're being transported there, somehow. And if that's the case, then you're in more danger than you realize."

Finally, she takes a breath. The cold air stings.

"But…I don't understand," she admits, "why would I be transported there?"

He doesn't seem to have an answer, to her dismay. Regulus's perplexed expression returns, and he replies, "The only explanation I can think of is because you were the one to create the spell."

Vivian frowns deeper and refutes, "That doesn't make any sense, though. I don't see why that would matter."

He just shrugs, "I've no idea, Vivian. But we've got to do something about it."

Anxiety crowds through her. She thinks back to the various sleeping potions she's tried over the last few months, none of which worked, and grits out, "What on earth could we possibly do? How can I defend myself against a dream?"

"You need to practice blocking it out," is Regulus's immediate response. Clearly, he's already given this a bit of thought, because he looks as though he knows precisely what action to take. The resolution in his voice quells some of her rising nervousness, but only just.

She blinks at him, then frowns again and incredulously asks, "Occlumency? Regulus, that will take months to learn, years even. Besides, we don't exactly have time to practice, let alone a place where we can meet up."

He sighs, "Can you think of another option?"

She can't. Not really. They could try some sort of protective charm, but she doesn't know of any that works specifically for dreams. Growing impatient once more, Vivian steps back with a grumble. This time, she's the one who starts pacing.

"None of this makes any sense," Vivian snaps. "Why is Voldemort filling a cave with dead bodies, anyway?"

Regulus frowns and shakes his head, murmuring, "I'm not sure. But I suspect it might have something to do with the ritual we witnessed tonight."

This makes her pause mid-step and turn to eye him. He sighs, steps towards her, and says, "I think he's planning on taking Kreacher there again. He said as much to me." He falls into a short silene before adding, "We're going to figure this out, Vivian."

The little pep talk doesn't exactly make her feel any better. She sarcastically mutters, "And learn Occlumency while we're at it, I suppose?"

He sends her a vague smile that doesn't reach his eyes and sighs, "Let's meet up towards the end of the week. I'll try to do some research in the meantime…see if there's any other protection spells that might work."

Given the circumstances and her own fear of having another dream involving the Inferi reaching out to choke her, she promptly agrees.

"Where, though?" she asks, wracking her brain to come up with a decent location. It can't be Muggle London. They'll need privacy for spell work, and room for whatever research materials might be required. Somewhere away from her usual haunts with Sirius and the Marauders, but within the Wizarding community to avoid being seen by a stray Muggle…

Regulus glances at her, catches her eye, and suggests, "How about my house?"

Vivian's contemplative silence extends into one of incredulity.

"Your house. As in, your parents' house."

He shrugs, "They won't bother us. Besides, we're supposed to be in love anyway, right?"

He says this with just enough blithe humor that Vivian considers kicking him.

"I can't just go to your house," she says instead, frowning at him.

Regulus rolls his eyes. "It's the only place that makes sense. My father's got a huge library with a whole shelf dedicated to Legimency. Plus it's quiet."

She opens her mouth to argue this point, but Regulus cuts her off with a low, "Besides, you really should make a point of coming over at least a few times, seeing as you've told the others that you're in love with me and all."

This shuts her up. She snaps her mouth closed, eyes blazing with wildfire, and then grumbles, "…I didn't phrase it quite like that."

Regulus purses his mouth but doesn't respond to that. Instead, he just murmurs, "If you're worried about my brother, he doesn't have to know. It's not as if we're doing anything…er."

"Scandalous?" she offers, lifting a pointed eyebrow at him.

He shrugs. It's too dark to tell whether he's blushing, but from the embarrassed sheen to his eyes, she'd bet several galleons that he is. She doesn't call him out on it, though. She's a little too busy thinking of what on earth Sirius would say, if he found out that she was meeting with his younger brother behind his back.

"I don't think this is a good idea," she says, deciding to just come out and say it. Her relationship with Sirius has recently grown deeper. They've reached a turning point. She's never felt closer to him, in fact, and the thought of keeping this from him just seems wrong. If he were to find out, he'd definitely take it as a betrayal, and she isn't sure she could bear that.

And yet…

The memory of those cold fingers grazing over her throat makes her hesitate.

"…Think about it, then," Regulus mutters, looking distinctly awkward now. He runs a hand through his hair and adds, "Owl me later this week. If you don't want my help – "

"It's not that," Vivian sighs, "It's just…"

She trails off, peering up at him with a frown. Regulus releases a huffing breath and smiles wryly at her, though there's no trace of humor to be found in the expression.

"You're in love with my brother. I know," he says, filing in the blanks. "But you're also in danger, and I think your life is a bit more important than worrying about what Sirius would think about us spending time together."

She doesn't respond to that. Regulus is always so annoyingly right.

"I'll…owl you, then," Vivian haltingly says after a beat of silence, not wanting to immediately agree to his suggestion before she gives it some thought. After all, there may be other answers out there that will help. Other ways to block the dreams. Magic isn't limitless, but its uses are vast.