Chapter 51: The wife
Liam Gurhein watched the couple sitting patiently in front of his desk one more time, but no: it was still odd to consider the presence of a Black – or two, by marriage – in his office at Titterington Civilis.
Families like the Blacks went to the Flints for legal matters, when they didn't have their personal lawyer at the ready. To the Parkinsons or the Oliphants, if the Flints weren't an option – or to no one, trusting only themselves, as Sirius Black had done during his trial not so long ago. Big names, all of them from or working for a noble house.
They certainly didn't go to the one legal office that focused on low prices and easy access for everyone, but could only operate within law counselling because they didn't have the means or influence to take anyone to court.
Liam looked back at the notes he'd been taking for the last half hour and exhaled.
"...Alright. To resume, you both want to make sure no one will contest your marriage on the grounds of your amnesia, Mr Black?"
The younger man – with an angry red scar on his left cheek, Liam had heard whispers about inferi dating back to the first war, and he still didn't know what to think about that – nodded after a slow glance towards his wife:
"That, and, if possible at all, a legal strategy to shut down any such attempt at..."
Regulus Black paused a moment, his face getting tenser.
"...If anyone did try anyway."
"Right, right..."
Liam wet his lips as his fingers turned through the pages of a heavy tome on wizarding marriage, laws and traditions in Great Britain.
"There are no laws against marriage to a muggle, of course, or at least not since the Old London Bridge Incident in 1754, and even that was more of a... Well, I'm sure you know..."
Liam blinked, shook his head and looked back up at the amnesic wizard he'd just addressed.
"...or maybe not?"
Regulus Black made a pained face but still managed to smile:
"I've read the story a few years ago, nevertheless."
Liam let go of the breath he'd been holding in, escaping mortification by less than an inch. He cleared his throat, forced himself to look his client in the eyes.
"Then you know that particular law was no more than the issuing of a challenge of valor for a muggle wishing to enter a wizarding family, not an actual forbidding of such a union. Of course, whenever a magical family tried to interfere with their child's choices through such a challenge, they tended to set trials that could not possibly be cleared by someone who had no magic, but that's another problem entirely. My point is, this isn't the United States in the 30s. However..."
The law counsellor pointed at the marriage rulebook with his quill.
"Someone could try and argue that you were taken advantage of. Tell me, you didn't happen to get married on a new moon, I hope?"
Mrs Black frowned confusedly but shook her head.
"No... maybe third quarter? I'd have to check, but it was on March 23rd, in 1984."
Her husband immediately added:
"Waning gibbous moon, last night before the last quarter."
Liam nodded to himself.
"Right, good. And, hmm... Was there anyone wizarding invited or present? Besides your husband himself, of course, Mrs Black. Anyone who someone could point at and say: that one knew the truth and manipulated it all!"
The Blacks shared a long, uncomfortable look.
"...No. Cad... Regulus didn't really mix back into your world at first. He'd go and visit on occasions, but he worked in the muggle world, all our friends and neighbors were muggles too, and..."
"Not Mrs Asburough."
"Right, you told me about your suspicions, but she died about three weeks after we bought the house and it wouldn't have been polite to invite ourselves to the funerals and ask if the old crone who used to cuss out anyone interested in her garden was truly a wicked witch."
The look Mr Black gave Liam was obvious enough: that particular neighbor had been of the witchy persuasion in more than one way.
Mrs Asburough, however, was hardly the subject here; Liam tapped his quill back on the book.
"If we could get back to our main point..."
The three of them spent the next thirty minutes or so discussing the various accusations and other ways someone could try to undermine the legitimacy of their union – some too far out to even matter, others... more ambiguous – before the law counsellor made to stand from his seat.
"Please stay here, Mr and Mrs Black. I have a prior, on-site appointment so I will be leaving, however you've also asked for legal strategies against such accusations. If we're talking appropriate public behavior and options, I believe one of my younger colleagues would be better able to help you. If you'll excuse me a minute..."
Liam Gurhein, law counsellor at Titterington Civilis, stepped out of the small office, leaving Regulus and Amanda Black inside. The couple relaxed slightly – while hearing there wasn't an actual law against their marriage had been a bit of a relief, going over the many ways someone might try and use related laws against them anyway wasn't their idea of a good time.
Regulus, of course, didn't quite mind the work they had to put in – it was similar enough to his last job at city hall checking the fine print – but the implications behind it all...
Amanda stretched her hands and asked:
"The Old London Bridge Incident?"
Her husband grimaced at the answer.
"Oh, that... As Mr Gurhein said, there was one law that allowed relatives to impede marriage with a muggle. The family could challenge the groom or bride-to-be to prove they were 'worthy', they were the ones to decide on the feat to accomplish. A favorite of the eighteenth century was to send the potential in-law to shoot the bridge and pick up several enchanted, anvil-heavy flowers under the arches before successfully bringing them back. That's what happened between Thaddeus and Bernice Lestrange in September 1754, I mean, before she was Mrs Lestrange, the whole family threw a fit and had that young muggle girl risk her life because they thought she'd fail. The thing is, she almost died at the last flower, and Thaddeus saved her with magic. Did it in full view of muggles, too, the Ministry had to intervene and erase the memories of a lot of people. After that... they decided this was a terrible law for the Statute of Secrecy, it got abrogated within months."
"And what happened to that couple?"
"...I think they got left alone by the family? I mean, Thaddeus Lestrange was definitely disowned, and their children weren't considered part of the family, but no one meddled anymore... I don't know, that part wasn't really important in Mom's teaching, she was more pissed about the fact that us hiding from muggles also meant mixed marriages were allowed and the families couldn't legally stop it."
Amanda gave him a long, considering look – Regulus was, all of a sudden, aware that his mother's death in 1985 meant his wife never had to meet her. He'd known that, of course, but it hadn't really occurred to him that not only Walburga Black would disapprove, but also that he wouldn't have been the only one to bear the brunt of that disapproval.
If someone from the family had known about him, back when he'd woken up without memories... His parents would have come, taken him away from the muggle hospital. He wouldn't have been alone to deal with himself, he might have gotten his memories back earlier – but he also wouldn't have gotten to know Amanda. Which also meant no Alshain.
That Regulus Black might never have mended bridges with Sirius, either.
And perhaps, perhaps... Depending on how the dark lo... on how much He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might have looked into what had happened, perhaps he'd be dead anyway.
The door to the office opened once again to let Mr Durhein in, with a younger witch on his heels.
"Here, Mr and Mrs Black, Ms Khorasani will discuss the last part of your request with you. If you don't mind, I need to get going."
And the older wizard picked up a satchel from behind his desk before leaving them with his colleague: Ms Khorasani – Yasmine, though no one had introduced her as such and it might be a bit soon to bring that particular knowledge up without reason – gave them both a professional smile.
The eyes, Regulus mused, said it all: silver, just like his, Sirius' or Alshain's – and she was evaluating them, too, definitely aware that they weren't only there for the reason they'd told Mr Durhein. Not that that reason had been a lie, but still.
She was, according to Callidora's research, a first cousin once removed of Sarah-Louise Perks: both were descended from Iola Black's granddaughters. Her parents were halfblooded, her maternal grandfather was a muggle, and Callidora hadn't found much about the Iranian part of her father's family. A second child, she'd graduated from Hogwarts – Slytherin House – in 1990, had apprenticed under an independent lawyer for three years, and now worked for Titterington Civilis.
One question of importance, as far as Sirius' request went, was the matter of Yasmine Khorasani's ambitions. Whether she could be trusted or not, if she was willing to risk working for Lord Black in these times... If being a delegate for the House of Black held no appeal to her...
"I understand you wish to know what can be done for your peace of life, Mrs Black, Mr Black?"
Regulus and Amanda both nodded – and the next half hour, at least for Regulus and his far-related cousin, was spent sizing the other up as they discussed the specifics.
Yasmine Khorasani was, for sure, cautious with her words. She answered questions and proposed alternatives without letting her own thoughts on the matter color... anything. It felt a bit like talking to Grandfather Arcturus, though without the familiarity of family and shared moments.
The only things that mattered were, here, the facts of their situation and the laws that could apply.
...Sirius would either hate it – as far as Regulus knew, his brother's relationship with their grandfather had been full of wariness and squinted eyes– or take it all in a stride, confidently building that familiarity no matter what his potential delegate could wish on the matter.
It would probably help that, this time, Sirius wasn't a moody teenager and was the one holding all the secrets close to his chest.
All in all, Regulus didn't think Yasmine Khorasani was the one you wanted to talk to for gut-wrenching – of the guilt-inducing kind, specifically – speeches and unwavering defense of the weaks, but that was alright: such strategies should be left as a last resort, and they already had Sirius for that. The witch, on the other hand, seemed to excel in keeping everything level, no matter the subject, while not caving or pandering to anyone's desires and disillusions.
She would be able to use logic as a delegate, willing to compromise for efficiency but not to bow down to unreasonable requests. Sirius could do that too – but this wasn't about finding someone to do what his brother couldn't, it was about getting a delegate so that he wouldn't have to do it all.
Besides, Sirius wasn't always in the mood to be accommodating.
Ms Khorasani's personality, from the little Regulus could see during their time together, would do. Her beliefs were another matter, one that would need a longer, more focused encounter.
As the couple stood up to leave, Regulus paused to look at the young woman – 25 five years old – smileless, but understanding:
"Ms Khorasani, my brother's offer is still on the table. You do not have to accept, however you should at least answer. A letter is all he asks if you refuse, and an agreement to meet if you choose to consider the job. Nothing more."
The witch took a moment – watching him, her silver eyes cautious and guarded.
"I... Mr Black, what is your brother's, your family's now, stance on religious beliefs?"
That particular question threw Regulus for a loop: no one had ever asked him what Sirius thought about anything, because Sirius' opinions were loud and clear and even when they weren't people made a lot of assumptions. For a long time, too, no one had asked Regulus himself what he thought on many a matter, because they assumed – and were generally right – that he agreed with pureblood rhetoric. It was different, these days, but he hadn't been back in wizarding society in a long time...
Also, religious beliefs were not the usual subject.
"Religious beliefs? Do you mean, muggle faith in general? Or... a religion in particular?"
Wizarding folks could and did believe in a lot of things, but there was no generalized religion – except in Uganda – and no real magical offshoots of muggle religions. Those amongst them who did have faith in a god or another – or several – usually followed the spirit of their chosen beliefs, if not the letter: after all, the existence and domestication of magic did change a few things there.
To be honest, religion amongst wizards and witches was a deeply personal and rather rare matter, and Regulus didn't have much of an opinion on it. He didn't think Sirius had ever voiced one, either.
Yasmine Khorasani took a deep breath – her eyes flitting to Amanda by the door, the only muggle present – and answered:
"I mean the fact of believing in more than facts, more than science, more than magic. The belief that there is more than what we can see and guess from the world. The idea that there is a definition for good and bad that we haven't set ourselves."
"Well, I... have no idea? I don't think Sirius would be against it per se, but it really depends on what that definition of good and bad turns out to be. On the requirements of judgment, too. If there's one thing he really doesn't like, it's people getting hurt because someone follows a doctrine they cannot adequately justify, regardless of the origin of that doctrine."
The witch didn't look overly convinced.
"Mr Black, I... I realize that what I've grown up hearing about Sirius Black isn't quite... accurate, considering that he was truly innocent of those crimes, but... I don't think he is that forgiving either. His beliefs might not be those I've heard about, but his ways? His reactions? Can you truthfully say the lord of your House doesn't condemn those who go against his own principles? That he has never killed or maimed for what he believes is right?"
Regulus couldn't really lie about that – or, he could, but it wasn't the point and Yasmine Khorasani wasn't stupid. His brother... could be ruthless. Not for the things their family was known for, but all the same. Sirius had principles and the power to back them up; if he didn't always try to force his way, he also did react to anything that plainly went against his beliefs – and that could get bloody.
"Ms Khorasani. That's the kind of questions you should ask him, not me. If you follow a faith or another and feel it might get in the way of the job he is offering you, if you believe that what he'd ask of you could go against your own certitudes, then you should settle that with him. Sirius is unbending, but not implacable. He will listen to you, might even agree to consider a point he didn't take into account if you present it right, and quite honestly? I think that's the kind of things you are good at. If you hear him out, he will return the favor."
The witch threw him a doubtful look.
"That's not the same thing as reaching an agreement."
"Of course not, but I assure you that, even if you two do not reach a common ground, nothing will happen to you. As long as you don't actively try something against him, Sirius wouldn't engage in more than words. I guess, in the end, it all depends on if you are willing to try for that job or not."
Yasmine Khorasani hesitated – a long pause, but for someone who always had a calm, thought-out answer to everything, it said enough – opened her mouth, passed her hand in her loose black curls – same mannerisms as Sirius, uh – and eventually spoke once again.
To Amanda.
"What do you think?
Regulus' wife looked a bit surprised, but not entirely thrown by the interest in her point of view.
The wizard did guess he could be a bit biased about his own brother – in good and bad ways, too.
Still, Amanda didn't answer right away, instead engaging with a question of her own:
"Why would you care for my assessment of a brother-in-law I've just met when you don't trust my husband's, Ms Khorasani?"
No hesitation for that one:
"You are a muggle, Mrs Black. Past the usual prejudices, especially as Sirius Black doesn't seem to care for those, there's still the fact that you have an entirely different worldview from us witches and wizards. I don't know if you believe in anything, but you've grown up around religion in a way magical folks don't. Magic isn't instinctual to you, and you haven't learned through it the way muggleborns do. I have two muggle grandfathers, I've seen the differences between them and my grandmothers, even though they've been married for decades. I'd rather have the point of view of someone who had to meet Lord Black with that particular difference standing between them."
Amanda raised an eyebrow tinted with dubiousness, but not enough for it to shoot all the way up.
"Hmm... Then I must say, I don't think my brother-in-law is hard-headed in the way you imagine him to be. He may not... respect... all diverging opinions, but from what I've seen he also doesn't mind most of them, especially if you take the time to explain why they are so. He doesn't claim to be right about everything, only he cares enough to hold steadfast on what he does believes to work best. After that... It is your choice. You might not want to risk being one of the people he actively distrusts, I could understand that desire, but the truth is, you most likely don't belong there."
The young witch looked far from convinced, but she still agreed to "think on it" as she guided the couple out of Titterington Civilis' offices.
Regulus and Amanda found themselves back in the street under a cold wind.
The wizard screwed his hat back on his head, while his wife adjusted her cape to keep the chill out.
"Heading back home, then?"
Amanda's husband didn't answer, didn't start walking towards an exit – be it the public chimney they'd taken into Carkitt Market or another way the muggle woman didn't know about – only stared ahead for a while.
Then:
"...I never realized how terrifying Sirius is to others. How scared of him some people are, for one reason or another. Or, I knew, I guess, but I didn't really notice it."
...Ah. That kind of pensive stare into nothingness. Amanda was familiar with it, it had been a classic with Cadfael when something he should have known escaped him and he'd just realized it. Sometimes it was because he'd been brought up a wizard – he may not have had the memories, but some habits remained – and had never experienced something muggle before, other times it was one of the habits he'd kept through his memory loss that suddenly didn't make any sense.
Amanda took his arm and started walking, slowly, just enough to put on a rhythm, something for Regulus to do. Letting him freeze with the thoughts of a realization was never a good idea.
She had no idea of where she was leading him, of course, but he'd regain awareness soon enough and would be able to guide them back, so it wasn't much of an issue.
As they slowly drifted down Horizont Alley, Amanda nudged her husband through his realization.
"Your brother can be intense, I suppose."
And it wasn't difficult to see why most people had an opinion about Sirius Black, one way or another – why even those who did think well of his intentions could be wary of his ways. But – her husband couldn't see that, not unless he forced himself to.
Which wasn't surprising, either.
Regulus sighed.
"It's just... I'm not as bad as him, I don't think, but it's still normal to me. All the family is... was like that. Some more, some less, but still, it's normal. Even Alshain..."
Amanda hummed.
"Our son more so than you, Cadfael."
That jolted him out of his daze – Regulus stared dumbfoundedly at her: he hadn't seen that, either.
"You think Alshain is... Of course you're right, he is a firstborn and I am not. I told you, it's normal for me, I don't even notice."
"As long as you notice what's important. There are two of us, I can handle the little things with our son, if you feel up to dealing with the more obvious problems."
A grimace.
"Puberty, right. I surmise I was a snotty nightmare, and Sirius ate rebellion for breakfast."
"Alexander was starting fights left and right, I assumed everything unfair in the world happened because people were being voluntarily malicious. I wouldn't be surprised if it led me to be unkind for what I thought was fairness a few times."
Her husband frowned, a bit of wonder in his voice:
"Really?"
Amanda shrugged.
"Teenagers."
The wizard made a face and looked around them, blinking.
"I... Well, I suppose we could stop by Auwe & Beholde, just a bit further down. Get you something... An earring, a brooch. With a protective enchantment, no, something... I don't know what could work for a muggle, but a skilled bewitcher would accept a commission. Let's walk in and ask, what do you think?"
Amanda followed her husband into a thin but luxurious jewelry store – the kind that had never been in their budget, before.
"I suppose it could come in handy."
Regulus approached the shop counter, where an older witch sat without seeming to notice the clients. Her monocle widened and tightened as she fiddled with a gold piece.
When Regulus' shadow fell on the woman and hid a shine on the golden bracelet, the jeweler paused in her work, carefully laid the bracelet down on the counter, and eventually looked up at her client – not quite with annoyance, but certainly a flawless composure which could push to think you might have gotten the wrong person.
The eyepiece's frame shuttered to the tiniest hole and a brown, mostly cataractous eye settled on Regulus first – then on Amanda behind him, before focusing back on the most obvious client.
"Appraisal or purchase, Mr Black? Historical piece, Auwe & Beholde original piece, commission?"
The older witch paused, looked once more at Amanda, and this time didn't look away.
"For yourself or your wife?"
"Is there something you can make that would warn her against active magic?"
Lips pursed, a frown on her face, and the witch tilted her head.
"A commission, then... Nothing quite as useful as what you request, I fear, not unless you mean it to be extremely wide and ultimately of little interest, like those buzzing marbles they put on accessories these days. There are, however, options. Emeralds are perfect for intuition and energy-focused enchantments, blue tiger eyes to hinder dark magic, labradorite to see the true nature, black obsidian against ill intent. Runes, of course. The usual charms wouldn't be enough for the kind of protection you are looking for, but with a powerful base we could fashion something that would react to specific magics. A comb, perhaps, since hair does have sensory properties, and we'd put enchanted gemstones to, say, make your wife more aware of what is magical and what is not. A ring of black obsidian to detect proximity with something toxic or cursed. Ansuz carved on an emerald worn over the heart, to feel attacks of all kind before they are even acted upon. A necklace of..."
Amanda patted her shortish hair – easier to move around with jaw-length hair, though it did tend to get in her left eye, even if she hadn't intended for a side fringe – and asked:
"The hair comb. Could it be made so that it'd stay put even if I exercise?"
Someone less classy than the jeweler might have scoffed – the witch only nodded with assurance.
"Of course, that's a classic demand for magical hair accessories. A comb, then. Emerald or labradorite, if we're going for awareness of magic? The results wouldn't be exactly the same, but for a muggle the feeling wouldn't differ much."
Regulus gave his opinion – labradorite, and maybe a tiny ansuz hidden under the gems – and left Amanda to discuss the styling details: his wife usually didn't wear jewelry and he'd rather not assume what she was willing to deal with on a daily basis. Also, no need to worry about the cost.
Looking at brooches for men it was, then. Or maybe wondering about the watch he'd get Alshain in a few years, that was a possibility too...
Three witches in their early fifties walked into the store – wealthy, mostly unbothered by the general atmosphere of fear that permeated Diagon Alley considering their attitude – and Regulus made sure to keep his nose down on the silver watches by the windows, just in case.
"...won't even let me visit the manor, if you can believe that, Esther! It's not her place to refuse, either, it's Malfoy property and she is only by Name."
...Right, better not look up and get recognized. Regulus wasn't sure about that voice, but he did recognize the way of talking, and the words themselves told enough: this was some high society witch, a pureblood most likely, and it was more than probable that she had a relation to Narcissa.
Or to Panacea Thicknesse, who'd married Septimus Malfoy. Narcissa's mother-in-law, Leontine Volant, had recently gone back to her family in France following her husband's death, so it couldn't be her. Panacea Malfoy or Narcissa Malfoy, one or the other, but no matter the answer Regulus didn't want to be recognized.
A quieter voice – Esther? – sound out:
"Maybe she has something to hide."
The woman-who-maybe-knew-Narcissa scoffed.
"Lucius was the one doing illegal things, not his wife. Can you even imagine her getting her hands dirty? No, she's just being pissy because my nephew is in jail and she can't do anything about it. I only wanted to show support, too!"
Definitely Narcissa, and the older woman didn't seem to mind much that her nephew – Lucius' aunt, but which one? Sirius would know – had been caught hunting teenagers for a madman. Oh, she didn't like that he'd been caught, sounded a bit peeved about it – against him, too – but it sounded like she couldn't care much about the nature of his crimes.
Typical. Regulus knew that attitude, had seen and heard it hundreds of times. People who didn't necessarily support criminals, but also didn't care about the victims.
A third voice cut in, sounding fed up with the topic.
"Azalea, what did you expect, exactly? She's a Black by Blood, they think everything asked is either disdain, pity or manipulation."
...That was unfortunately almost true.
The quiet one added:
"I mean, it is you asking, Azalea. Narcissa Malfoy would know a gossip when she sees one."
"Well, yes, I see your point, but I genuinely want news of my great-nephew, after what happened to his father. If I speak with my friends about it later, that's something else entirely."
"Cadfael?"
Regulus forced himself to stay by the watches and not jump at the sound of his wife's voice.
"Are you done, then?"
Amanda nodded, glancing shortly at the older women chatting by the earrings display, and they moved back towards the counter. A few minutes later – outlining the details, a down payment, the promise of an owl when the hair comb would be ready – the couple left the jewelry store – and its gossiping witches – intent on going back to Black Manor.
It was then that they stumbled right into the path of the very same blonde witch Regulus had wanted to avoid back when they'd turned away from Velvet Hall.
Narcissa and Regulus stared at each other without a word for at least half a minute.
She was coming from the same street they'd walked down – Horizont Alley – and had a round handbag purse, black with green embroidery, resting against her side. She looked almost protective of it – and Amanda noted that, just like most of the people they'd crossed paths with, there was a tension about the witch, even though she did her best to let nothing transpire.
Amanda, however, was married to the woman's cousin and getting to know the rest of their family.
Otherwise: high-necked white dress with puff sleeves and black shoulders that somehow did not get dirty even though it hovered right above the ground – magic, Amanda guessed – dark green buttons and embroidery around the waist. The kind of clothes that spoke of money and importance. Long blond hair – very pale, but just as straight as Regulus or Sirius' – with what looked like a braided tie back – difficult to tell from where she stood – and the three green gemstones along the curved wisp left of her forehead were maybe a bit too on the nose.
At no point did Narcissa Malfoy even look at Amanda. When she did gather herself enough to affect composure, blinking slowly at her cousin, the witch's voice didn't waver.
"Regulus. You... look well."
Her eyes flickered along her cousin's scar – aware, probably, of the others, but unable to see it right now – but she didn't comment.
It took a moment more for Amanda's husband to respond, to decide what he wanted to do here.
"...Narcissa, right?"
Amanda sighed in relief – deception, then, the real and yet fabled amnesia and the consequences that came with it – and put a hand on Regulus' shoulder.
"I'll be by that bench, dear."
She didn't need to stand by. Also, it would be easier to watch for body language if she wasn't distracted by the lies they would tell each other – Regulus because of the whole amnesia pretense, his cousin because of the general situation she'd landed herself in.
Regulus looked at his wife a moment too long – and then nodded, both uncertain with the tide of events and mollified that Amanda wouldn't get caught up in this, whatever it might turn out to be.
The next fifteen minutes, from what Amanda could see two dozen feet away, were stilted – the formal version of awkward. To her, it was obvious that her husband wanted to ask many questions, to offer comfort and reassurance, but both his cover story and their current alliances made it impossible. Narcissa Malfoy, on the other hand, looked like she was pushing herself to rekindle. Amanda didn't know the woman, so she wouldn't hazard a guess on the reasons, but what was certain was the unease between the two cousins.
Someone approached the bench she was sitting on – Amanda's focus shifted.
"Eh, I recognize you!"
Ah, no. Three "someones".
Kids, really. Barely out of school, she thought. Not even twenty years old. Three young men – "boys" might be pushing it, but that was what they looked like, children playing pretend in grown-up clothes – with a handful of purchases had wandered towards her. They didn't look well-off, more like they were one bad month away from struggling but too young and arrogant to truly care yet.
...Though that could be because of the whole "end of civilized society" bit, too.
The one who'd spoken – greasy blond hair, eyes too big for his face – had a vague sneer to him, just enough to make him seem disagreeable if not dangerous.
He glanced over at Regulus and his cousin, his big eyes narrowing in a rather unsettling way.
"Yeah, the wife, you were in the Prophet. Big bad pureblood son comes back from the dead, muggle wife and halfblooded son in tow, and a dubious claim of not knowing any of it, uh?"
Amanda watched the other two from the corner of her eye, but they didn't seem to know where their friend was leading this either. Still, they would back him up.
"Is there something I can do for you three?"
"I just want to know, what does it feel like to be married to someone like him? I mean, maybe he wasn't one of those who go around murdering muggles like you, but he did think the same way. The Blacks have a reputation, and most of them deserve it, too. What is it, did he just decide he could start again? As if nothing had ever happened?"
Amanda put a hand on her mouth – it wasn't a good idea to answer, least of all trustfully, and anyway this kid had no claim to her truth, even if his anger might be justified – and took a moment.
The young man's hand kept going to his left side; it might be where he kept his wand.
She didn't like where this was going.
"Can I ask, what kind of answer do you want, exactly? Is there one that would satisfy you, or do you only wish to see me ill at ease?"
Amanda didn't think this wizard was doing it on purpose, but it didn't change the way both his friends were glancing at him and at each other and obviously didn't appreciate the situation either.
It didn't change the hand twitching, reaching for something that could be used as a weapon.
She kept her voice low, her tone calm.
"What's getting on your nerves, exactly? The fact that he is married to a muggle, or that I am married to him? Does he deserve better? Do I? Is it a matter of shame? Mine? His? For you, there's no version of this where we are happy together, is there?"
The point wasn't to get him angrier, though Amanda doubted she could be true to herself and her marriage and not have him take it the wrong way. Maybe, still, he'd think back on her words, later.
Regulus, she could see, was looking at them now. In a few seconds he'd come over. Someone else – closer, an older wizard wearing what looked roughly like a uniform if very different from what Amanda was used to as a muggle and a soldier both – had his eyes on them too, a displeased frown on his face.
The young man took one more step towards her, his hand going – finally – to the wand by his side.
"How dare you say that?! You don't get to accuse me of anything, you are the one who married a... Abduneow!"
Before the spell could reach her, Amanda gripped the young wizard's wand and snapped the tip off: she might not have magic powers, but he was standing within reach, and breaking such a thin piece of wood was, truthfully, easy for the muggle woman.
One of the kid's friends tried to step in as the young man frothed at the mouth – the uniformed wizard Amanda had noticed a moment earlier stepped in, a hand on his shoulder and his own wand steadily pointed at her aggressor's chest.
"Easy. Thomas, this is not the first time you are getting yourself into trouble, and it will be the last time if you do not calm down now."
The so-called Thomas recoiled at the intervention, his voice shaky and his hands trembling.
"She... She freaking broke my wand, Patroller Hancock!"
The older wizard glared at him:
"She could have broken your hand instead, and how would you have liked that? You attacked first."
A measuring glance at Amanda, and the patroller shook his head.
"And a muggle, at that. Did you even stop to think she didn't have magic to protect herself from you? I doubt it. You don't even know what you're angry about, or you wouldn't be doing this."
Thomas – first name, last name, who knew? – gritted his teeth, bit his tongue not to retort something stupid – Amanda could only assume, both the current situation and his simmering anger pointed that way – and took a step back, bumping into his friend on the way.
"I need that wand and I want her to pay for a new one."
The patroller squinted at him, but Amanda's husband inserted himself into the conversation before anything more could be said:
"You were abusing your powers and my wife took your weapon away, you are the only one to blame here. As for needing a wand, you should have thought of it earlier."
Both of Thomas' friends held him back, this time.
Patroller Hancock scoffed at the kid.
"You have no damn awareness of your position here, for Godric's sake! I'll say it again, this isn't the first time you've gotten into trouble. First the Loderwicks, then Carlotta Vaix, that things with the school kids who were looking for school supplies, and I don't care if they were Slytherins! Now this. You're picking fights and harassing people on all sides, for whatever reasons you decide is worth it today! If the Blacks decide to report you, you'll be facing a fine at best, or even time in Azkaban depending on who will preside the audience. Don't you forget we've been jailing lots lately, maybe too many, but I'd rather participate in this than watch budding assholes like you get away with this shit because it's not 'as bad' as what a Death Eater would do!"
Thomas seemed to shrink on himself, finally – and Regulus winced from behind the patroller, possibly not quite agreeing with the sentiment in general but definitely not going to point it out.
"Right, hmm. If you're willing, Amanda, we could let this go?"
The hesitant tone was enough to convince her that no, this wasn't about making the decision for her – he'd go back on it if she wished so. Then her husband squinted at the younger wizard who'd just tried to start... something, whatever he'd thought this would be, and added:
"We're still not paying for your stupidity."
Amanda stood up from the bench, dusted her cape and agreed with her husband.
"We'll let this go. That said, you two..."
The friends straightened in their boots and robes, twin grimaces of unease on their faces.
"Being loyal to your friend is great, but you'd do him more good stopping him from being horrible to strangers and potentially getting hurt. Good friends don't only follow, they also guide."
Patroller Hancock glared at the youngsters half-heartedly, nodded at the couple, and stayed behind to keep an eye on the troublemakers until Amanda and Regulus were out of sight.
Narcissa, unsurprisingly, had left while they'd been busy – Regulus bit his lower lip, deep concern in his mind as they took the floo network back to Black Manor.