The summer sun shone brightly in the sky as Regulus settled down in one of the wooden chairs outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
"What do you want?" Grandmother Irma asked him.
"Chocolate!"
"All right, one chocolate coming up. What about you, Sirius?"
"I don't care."
"Come on, a little more cheer! Your cousin has graduated."
Sirius scoffed. "People graduate all the time. It's nothing special."
"We're getting ice cream," Regulus whispered, "why aren't you happy?!"
Grandfather Pollux left to get the icd creams. They were all together – all five of them – for the first time since his birthday. That alone should be cause for celebration!
When he returned, the attention shifted to Bella. "So, what do you plan to do now that you're out of Hogwarts?" he asked.
"I've been thinking... You know how I've always said I wanted to be a career woman? You know the family life just isn't for me. I despise children, men, needlework, gossip—all that stuff. On the other hand, the Ministry has always held my interest; a way to fight for what is right and make a difference in this world. But now... now I'm not so sure any more."
"Why? What changed?" Grandmother Irma asked.
Bellatrix looked at him, and his brother, then back at the adults. "Well, there have been certain... rumours lately..."
"What are you saying?!" Narcissa interrupted.
"I'm saying I want to find that man."
"You think the rumours are... true?" she asked.
"I know they are. I can feel it. I want to find that man, and offer him my allegiance. If there's a chance for us to get back what is rightfully ours, I want to take it."
Grandfather Pollux let out a heavy sigh. "It's dangerous. I understand you think yourself all grown up, you want to play your part, but it's dangerous."
"I know that. But this world needs someone to stand up and fight for what is right. If it's not me, then who?"
"Leave it to the men, they are better equipped for such battles-"
Bellatrix got up from her chair. "I will not sit idly by and watch this world go up in flames just because I'm a woman, Grandfather. There is no-"
"You're hardly a woman!"
"I'm seventeen. Eighteen soon. I am an adult and therefore old and wise enough to decide what I want with my life, and in any case, it isn't yours to decide."
"You'll be up against men who are twice as powerful as you!"
"I was the top of my class in school, yes, better than my male classmates as well, because magic doesn't discriminate!"
"That's school! A school setting is hardly comparable to-"
But she didn't let him finish. "I will find this man, and I will show you. I will show all of you that I have what it takes. I will restore our power, mark my words, I'll be the greatest witch that ever lived, and everyone will remember my name for eons to come!"
And with that, she stormed off, into the crowds of Diagon Alley. And Regulus was left there, thoroughly confused about what he had just witnessed.
They went back home (to their grandparents', where they were staying the week) quickly after, but Bellatrix was nowhere to be seen, and she hadn't returned to her own house either—Aunt Druella and Uncle Cygnus hadn't heard of her, and were worried to hear what had happened.
He doubted the effort the grownups were putting into finding Bella—by the time Andromeda and Narcissa had only a week left before their return to Hogwarts, they still hadn't found her! He was starting to lose hope when Bellatrix's head suddenly appeared in the sitting room fireplace at his cousins', just as Regulus was visiting and playing a game of chess with Narcissa.
He was the first to see her. "Bella!" he called out. "Bella is that you?!"
Narcissa rushed over to the fireplace. "Bella! Come here, oh please come here..."
But Bellatrix ignored her pleas. "Are Mother and Father home?"
"They were outside earlier..."
"Go get them. Quick."
She got up and hastened out of the room, leaving him behind. He looked at Bella. It was hard to see, though the green flames, but she seemed healthy enough. And she was obviously still alive, which was also very good news, yes, very good news indeed. So why didn't she look pleased? Why wasn't she happy to see them again?
"What are you looking at?"
He shrugged. Wasn't it obvious? She'd been gone for nearly two months!
"I'm about to tell your aunt and uncle something amazing, even if they may not think so. Your aunt and uncle are a bit silly when it comes to that, but, they remain my parents and as such..." she trailed off.
"What do you mean?"
"Trust me, Regulus. You've got to trust me."
That wasn't an answer! "I trust you," he said. Please, would she say what was going on?
"This man I mentioned before, he's gathering followers-"
"You found him? Who is he?"
"I haven't found him, not exactly... and his name, well, I cannot tell you that either. But he's gathering followers, Regulus. This is my chance."
But before Regulus could ask her what on earth she was talking about, Uncle Cygnus stormed towards the fire. "You better come home right now, or-"
"Or what, Father? I'm eighteen. I'm old enough to make my own choices, you know."
Uncle Cygnus was visibly furious, and slammed his fist against the fireplace. "Do you have to ruin everything?!"
But Bellatrix's head had disappeared. Uncle Cygnus hit the fireplace once more, letting out a string of curses as he did.
Aunt Druella sighed deeply and turned to Regulus. "Did she tell you anything more?"
He nodded. "Something about a man... she said you wouldn't like it..."
They shared a few knowing looks. "Regulus, I think it's time to go home."
A few days went by. A few weeks. Bellatrix had disappeared once more, and nobody knew where she was. By the time November came around, he was pretty sure Uncle Cygnus had chased her away. Permanently.
And that just wasn't fair, because now he didn't get to see his cousin any more, simply because his uncle (and before that, grandfather) had angered her!
But none of that mattered now. Regulus sat next to his brother in the drawing room because Father had asked them to be there. He wanted to talk to them. For a moment, Regulus felt very important. Then, Mother had started talking.
"We can't let them ruin everything!" she had yelled, "we just can't let fucking Mudbloods of all things take over-"
"Little late to start worrying about that a full year after we got rid of Leach, isn't it, dear?" Father interrupted, looking up from his newspaper.
"Get your nose out of those papers and look around you! Leach could be dealt with—it's those... those... those idiots we need to watch out for."
"Is this a rather late reaction to Dumbledore's appointment to Hogwarts, then?"
"Don't tempt me."
Father shook his head. "I wouldn't dare. So what is this about?"
"Mudbloods-"
"Yes, yes, Mudbloods and Mudwallowers at it again. But what's so important you have to raise the issue now of all times? In front of the children, no less."
Regulus shifted awkwardly in his seat as Mother looked at them both for the first time since they entered the room.
"Well, they deserve to know," she said (and he couldn't agree more!).
Father glared at her for a few moments, and she glared back. "If you don't tell them, I will."
"OK. OK, I'll tell them..."
Father got up from the table and put down the newspaper. "So, boys... The world outside is becoming more and more dangerous every day, unfortunately... It is a tale as old as time. As I always say: don't feed the dragon; it will come back for more. And what happens when you have nothing left to give? It will burn down your house. Do you understand?"
Regulus shook his head.
"What dragon?" Sirius asked.
"Not a literal dragon. It's figure of speech, see? It all started when some Muggle-loving imbeciles decided it was a good idea to spread their ridiculous views around-"
"What views?" Sirius interrupted.
"They believed Muggles to be our equals. Imagine that! They view us and them as the same species, as if there is nothing wrong with them, when there very clearly is-"
Mother – who had been pacing up and down the drawing room the entire time – took over: "That filth might try to get rid of us, to dismantle everything we hold dear, but mark my words—they'll face the consequences of their actions soon enough! Oh, yes, if these stories are true..."
"Walburga, dear, I was speaking."
"Oh, we all know it's high time someone actually did something about this!"
He just glared at her, and she sat down at the table Father had sat before, picking up the newspaper as Father turned his attention back to what he was saying.
"This group of Muggle-symphatisers gained some popularity, now keep in mind this was far before you were born—even I am too young to know the specifics. All I know is that by now, it has become somewhat normalised to think that way."
"FOOLS!" Mother bellowed. "They are all fools to underestimate us, to think those riots were the worst we have in store for them! But they won't underestimate us for much longer, certainly not!"
"Dearest-"
"You know those riots were a necessary show of strength, but they were obviously not enough!" she continued. "Those filthy gnome-brained Muggle-mingling..."
"Walburga!"
"...will NEVER back down unless we show them what we are truly capable of!"
"I am trying to explain the situation and you aren't helping!"
Regulus looked to his brother. It was strange to see them quarrel like that. Not that they were always on the same page, but they never got into these kinds of arguments—at least, not in front of him.
Father cleared his throat. "Back to the story. All right. So they decided that simply putting Muggles in a less negative light wasn't enough—no, they sent us to contaminate our precious pure blood with that scum. And that is where I draw the line, that is where anyone ought to draw the line. It is also where the (figurative!) dragon comes in; those kinds of wizards and witches are like dragons. You don't feed them. You don't compromise. If you do, they will stop at nothing to weaken us. They will stop at nothing to destroy us. And that is their ultimate goal: to destroy the wizarding world."
"But-" Sirius started, although he didn't get to finish.
"Silence! You mustn't be swayed by misguided notions of tolerance and compromise!"
What a joyful afternoon that was.
Bellatrix showed her face again on the day before Christmas. This time, however, it was at 12 Grimmauld Place where she stepped out of the fireplace, grinning widely. There was something different about the way she looked around, something different about the way she spoke—but Regulus couldn't place it.
"I've found him!" she exclaimed. No warning, no explanation.
"Found what?" Father had been reading the Daily Prophet (as always) when she came bursting in, but seemed to give her the attention she desired. Not that he could easily get out of that, with how Bellatrix ran up to him, tearing the newspaper out of his hand...
"That man! The Dark Lord!"
"Lord what?"
"I'm not to say his name, Uncle. Neither are you—he is the one who will restore our true power and greatness! He is greater than a silly name!"
"How are we supposed to know who he is if he doesn't have a name? He didn't think that through, did he?"
She seemed to consider this for a moment, then whispered something in Father's ear.
"Lord Voldemort?" Father repeated, out loud.
"How dare you speak his name!"
"Calm down, Bellatrix, you're causing a scene. Now, who is this 'Lord Voldemort'? What do you know about him?"
"The Dark Lord is the greatest wizard of all time, Uncle," she spat, "it would be a good idea to address him as such."
"If I ever see him, I'll make sure to remember it," Father grumbled, and reached for the newspaper.
Bellatrix (still holding the newspaper) took a step back. "No! You shall remember it now!"
Regulus wanted to run. To hide. Bellatrix was obviously fuming with anger, why wasn't Father trying to de-escalate instead of whatever it was he was doing now? It seemed he was only making it worse. Oh, how he hoped she wouldn't go for him... had she even seen him? He sat in the corner trying to copy things down from a book, but he wasn't exactly hidden...
But to his great surprise, Bella didn't lash out at all.
"The Dark Lord is a wizard unlike any other—it is true, Uncle, it's all true. I know you heard the rumours. He is that man. He is the Lord Voldemort that's come to rescue us all."
"But who is he?"
"I just told you, our Lord-"
"Bellatrix, I know what you said, but that tells us nothing about who he is. What kind of wizard—no, not in skill. In personality. Do you even know anything about him?"
"Uncle, I've seen him. I've seen the power he possesses! I've seen, I've felt the loyalty he inspires and the strength, the protection, the opportunities he can provide for us to shape the world according to our standards! He will not allow us to be pushed to the fringes of society any longer!"
Oh, if only he could make a run for it. But to get to the door was to pass Bellatrix, and that would surely make her notice him. And she might not be lashing out now, but Father was a grownup. He was not. He stood no chance against her, and she knew it.
But above all, he was absolutely terrified not of her anger, but the feverish devotion she spoke with. She seemed ill. And if Father didn't trust that man she spoke so proudly of, then she probably was ill.
"Tell us, Bellatrix. What is it this 'Lord Voldemort' requires of his followers?"
"Do not say his name!" she called out, anger rising to the forefront only to calm down moments after as she calmly spoke: "He desires our loyalty and our unwavering devotion to the cause. He needs us to purge the world of those who contaminate what is right. Those who disagree... they will learn. My Lord will make sure that those who oppose us face the consequences of their actions. Nobody will ever challenge us again!"
Father studied her for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Are you sure about joining this Lord Voldemort?"
"Oh, I already have joined him! And mark my words, we will be unstoppable!"
"So what do you want from us?"
"Join him! Make the wizarding world the way it used to be, the way it ought to be. Make a difference, join Lord Voldemort!"
"What do your parents say about all this?"
She let out a shrill laugh, although it hadn't been funny. "They don't know, of course."
Father shook his head. "Bellatrix, I'm not your father; Walburga is not your mother. We can't stop you. But for fuck's sake—listen to yourself!"
"You are blinded by ignorance," she said sharply.
"You are young. You are blinded by empty promises! Don't you see that, girl? It is admirable you are willing to do something about the situation, but you need time to think this over and consider the consequences."
"The Dark Lord is greater than any 'consequences' any of us might face! Admit you are a coward-"
"Bellatrix!" he interrupted her. "I think you should go."
The 60s were coming to an end. It was the last day of the year 1969 and Regulus spent it perfecting his chess skills. His opponent? Sirius. And he was so going to win—really, this was his chance. His brother had really just let him move all the way across the board? Really?! He'd expected his brother to try and take him out; instead he had free range.
"I win!"
"Checkmate."
"No, I have checkmate!"
Sirius put his head in his hands. "That's what I'm saying. You're supposed to say checkmate not 'I win'.
"We've got to do something!"
The doors to the drawing room flew open and Mother and Father ran in, discussing something so heated they didn't even seem to notice Regulus and Sirius sitting by the fire.
"We can't just sit back and watch," Father continued, "not any more. Have you seen the papers?"
"Everything was fine a few days ago," Mother retorted.
"That's because it was! Everything's changed now, everything is different! And I know you think it's nothing. A few disappearances here and there—so what? 'Nobody will miss a couple of miserable Muggles', right? WRONG! It's not just Muggles; Bellatrix has signed up, and she's not the only one who sees potential in this self-proclaimed Lord, and he is not just after Bellatrix. He's after us, too."
"So what?! What do you want us to do, Mr. I-Know-Everything?"
"I don't know. But we've got to be cautious-"
"It could end in disaster either way, so what does it matter?! And think of our reputation!"
"I prefer to think of the children, Walburga," he replied shortly.
It was as if this made them realise that they had children in the first place, and they both turned to look at the boys, staring at them for a moment. Mother sank into one of the chairs, defeated. Father fumbled with the newspaper he'd been holding.
"You can't deny him. We can't deny him. If what Bellatrix says is right, then he can help..."
"You can't seriously be considering supporting this man, Mother?" Sirius asked boldly.
Ha! As if he knew what they were talking about! Sirius and his stupid comments all the time... part of him thought that maybe he commented these things because he believed what he was saying – secretly he knew that to be true based on conversations they'd had in the past, about leaving, about blood purity, about... everything – but he pushed that feeling away.
Sirius was nothing more than a troublemaker. And this was his way of causing trouble.
"Do you remember what I told you, about the dragon? The world needs people who can tame this dragon, who can turn it into a harmless little pet. And if not—execute them. That is how we deal with dragons."
"But these aren't dragons, are they? They're people..."
"Muggles aren't people, Sirius. Muggles are the dung that clings to your feet because people forgot to clean the streets. So now, we must clean the streets. This man will help us with that task."
"But-"
"Why don't you take your brother and go upstairs," Father said, looking at Regulus. "Your mother and I need to talk."
Regulus nodded and stood up, taking Sirius' hand, who slapped it away. Helplessly, he looked back to his father.
"Get upstairs, Sirius. You're too young to understand."
Sirius got up at that and they both left the drawing room. "Come on, Reg," he said as they were halfway up the stairs.
Regulus followed him up to the topmost landing but yanked his arm away as soon as they got to the door leading to Sirius' room. He didn't have the patience to be with his brother anymore, he just couldn't keep calm.
"Why do you have to keep doing this!" he yelled as he backed away from him.
"What do you mean?!"
"You're ruining everything with your stupid comments!"
"I can't just keep quiet and let them-"
"Let them what?! They're not doing anything wrong."
He let out a laugh. "Not doing anything wrong? I see how it is."
"How what is?"
"Dromeda warned me about this, you know. Said you're a little sneak. Told me to watch out around you. You see and hear everything and never speak up. Telling me to just be quiet like that's even possible!"
"Well, why not?! It would make everything so much better! Don't you see what you're doing to me? To Mother, to Father? To yourself?!" He couldn't hold it anymore. Couldn't he see that with this behaviour, they soon wouldn't have a family anymore?
"Whose side are you on, really?"
"What do you mean by that?!" Why was he talking about sides? Side this side that, all he knew was that he was on his family's side, but what side was that if Sirius was questioning him about it?
All this talk about sides made his head hurt. A lot. He had to lie down.
Sirius had already stormed into his room when Regulus decided to make his way over to his own bedroom, all alone, and feeling worse than ever.