QLFC: Season 10, Round 3

Team: Kenmare Kestrels

Position: Captain

Prompt: Peter Parker's two good friends Ned Leeds and Betty Brant are finally getting married, but the ceremony is interrupted when the villain Mirage bursts in to rob the guests. - The Amazing Spider-Man #156 (1976)

Word Count: 1919

Warnings:

Notes: Regency Vibes Muggle AU

Steps to creating this AU: 1. Pretend history wasn't homophobic. 2. Have just finished binge watching Bridgerton season 1. 3. Have great plot bouncers. 4. Any plot can plot if you don't care hard enough.


Saturday, 1 August, 1818

This morning marks the beginning not only of the month of August, but also the beginning of a new stage of life for Lord Sirius Black, eldest son and heir of His Grace Duke Orion of Grimmauld. Lord Black began this season as London's most eligible bachelor, but six weeks ago shocked London society with the announcement of his engagement to Viscount Remus Lupin. Lord Lupin was overlooked by this publication, and indeed most of society, due to a scandal when he was not yet five years old involving his father, the late Viscount Lyall Lupin, and Mr Greyback where it is rumored the late Lord Lupin gave up the family fortune to Mr Greyback for purposes unknown. Nevertheless, Lord Lupin's good looks and charm clearly did not escape the notice of Lord Black. It still remains unknown how His Grace the Duke of Grimmauld has taken the news of the engagement. The couple is to be married at eleven o'clock at Hogwarts Chapel in London.

ooOOOoo

Regulus adjusted his cravat, peering closely at his reflection in the mirror. Somehow Sirius had managed to convince himself that marrying a disgraced viscount with hardly two pence to rub together was a good idea, and that somehow their wedding would go without a hitch. Well, other than the intended one. He shook the crude humor from his head. What would mother think of such thoughts, he wondered.

It wasn't that Regulus didn't like Remus. He was nice enough, and somehow managed to calm Sirius' passion some, but Mother and Father were bound to have a fit! Sirius had taken their silence on the matter as a good sign. No news is good news, he would say. Regulus knew better. Sirius might not think like Mother and Father did, in terms of how to get their way and do as much harm as they could to anyone that tried to stop them, but Regulus did think that way and he was sure that the silence from Mother and Father was a sign that they had something big planned. Probably something that would give them reason not only to prevent the wedding, but to finally disown Sirius.

"Are you worrying again Reggie?"

Regulus held back a sigh as he turned to see Lord James Potter, heir to Duke Fleamont Godrick. He tried to silence the sarcastic comments that immediately sprung into his mind unbidden as James crossed the room. Perhaps it wasn't fair for Regulus to still mock him for how vocally proud he had been of his heritage when Regulus had first met him at boarding school.

"I thought I was supposed to be the one fretting over everything going right," James said.

"If I left all the fretting to you, Lord Potter, it would never be done," Regulus said snarkily. "Besides, I wasn't worrying about the wedding, not exactly."

"You were worrying about your parents," James said. It wasn't a question, Regulus had been worrying about the same thing since Sirius and Remus had announced their engagement. "You don't need to worry about that either. Last you heard your father was still in Wales, right?"

Regulus nodded hesitantly.

"Precisely! Your mother won't do anything to stop the wedding as long as he's not here. Besides, there's not much time left until the wedding, then it will be too late for them to do anything." James put his hand on Regulus' shoulder, comfortingly. "It will be fine."

Regulus let himself enjoy the feeling of James' hand on his shoulder for a moment before he shrugged it off. He didn't say it, but no matter how much he hoped James was right, that everything would be fine, he didn't believe it.

"If you don't mind wrapping this up, gentlemen, I have a wedding to get to and I think Remus would rather I not be late," Sirius said, poking his head through the doorway, his hair falling in perfect waves as always. Regulus didn't think he'd ever stop being jealous of Sirius' flawless good looks. "James, aren't you supposed to be the one keeping me on track?" Sirius continued, tutting jokingly at James.

"If you wanted your best man to keep you punctual, Sirius, you should have chosen me," Regulus said, stepping around James towards the doorway where Sirius was standing.

"And yet here you are, also making me late," Sirius said.

"Come now, Sirius," James said. Regulus rolled his eyes waiting for whatever stupid comment he was about to make. "Give him a break, he is rather young after all."

"I will remind you, Lord Potter, that I am only a year younger than you are," Regulus said, mustering as much sarcasm as he could into James' title.

"Lord Potter?" James said. He turned to Sirius. "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or offended."

Sirius laughed his usual, barking laugh. "Offended, definitely."

ooOOOoo

Hogwarts Chapel was beautifully decorated in red and gold, the colors Sirius and Remus had chosen. The midday sun shone through the tall stained glass windows making patterns across the floor, and making the rich brown of Remus' eyes seem even more dynamic. Sirius' gray eyes also seemed to have a greater complexity of color than usual, but Regulus couldn't see them as well. The entire room seemed still as the ceremony began. Regulus tried to pay attention as Bishop Dumbledore spoke, but the knot in his stomach only seemed to grow. He glanced around the chapel, but as he expected, mother was not there.

"Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," Dumbledore said.

The doors to the chapel seemed to burst open. Mother walked in, her stride purposeful, Father following close behind her. "I have reason," Mother said.

Regulus' heart pounded. He was right. They had a plan, and when Mother had a plan nothing would stop her from accomplishing it. He looked at Sirius and Remus. Sirius was, unsurprisingly, practically seething with anger. James had reached out, and was lightly holding Sirius' arm, as if that would stop him from doing anything. Remus, however, looked apprehensive. As he should, knowing Mother and Father it was Remus' reputation that would suffer, not Sirius'. Whatever they had found to stop the wedding, it would be perfectly crafted to paint Sirius as the victim and Remus as some sort of monster trying to sink his teeth into Sirius' heart.

"Perhaps," Dumbledore said calmly, "we can step into my office to discuss the issue."

It wasn't really a question, but Mother nodded in agreement. Sirius did too after glancing at Remus. Regulus went with them.

The office was small and full of various books and artifacts. Dumbledore sat down in his chair behind the desk and motioned to the two remaining chairs. Nobody sat down. The air seemed thick and tense to Regulus.

"Now that we are in a more private environment, what reason do you have that these two should not be wed, your Graces?" Dumbledore asked.

Mother smirked. "In 1805, as I'm sure you are aware, Mr Fenrir Greybeck—" Remus stiffened at the name "—coordinated a series of attacks against noble society in which several good men, women, and children lost their lives. We have evidence here that the late Viscount Lyall Lupin knew of Mr. Greyback's plan and paid Greyback off to keep his family safe."

"My father lost his money gambling, your Grace," Remus said. "There was nothing more to it."

"So you say, but there is no documentation to back your claims, and we have proof of ours," Mother said.

Regulus watched Mother closely for any signs that she was bluffing. But Mother never bluffed.

"Now that you are aware of the situation you are in, Mr Lupin you have two options. Call off the wedding and never see my son again, or I will reveal your late Father's wrong to the whole world."

"You cannot stop us from being married," Sirius said angrily, ignoring the hand Remus put on his arm to calm him. "I will not have you controlling my life, or threatening my intended."

Father stepped forward. "Perhaps not, but I will not have my eldest son and heir married to the son of a commoner and a traitor!"

Regulus' mind started spinning. Sirius would never be able to talk himself out of this trap. Mother and Father would, by whatever means necessary ensure that Remus was not connected to Sirius, or the family. In all their childhood Sirius' method of stand your ground and eventually they'll give in had never worked. Something had to be done. Something that would give Father what he wanted. Something that would give him…

"What if he wasn't your son, nor your heir?" Regulus said. His heart seemed to skip a beat as everyone in the room turned to look at him. He avoided Sirius' eyes, knowing what he would find there.

"What are you implying?" Father hissed.

It took all of Regulus' strength and self control not to flinch at Father's tone. "I am implying nothing, your Grace, only making a suggestion," he said.

It was Mother that spoke this time. "Explain yourself."

Regulus took a deep breath, ignoring how shaky it felt. "If you were to disown and disinherit Sirius, citing his wedding to the son of a commoner as your reason, then any scandals concerning him or Lord Lupin would no longer be your concern, nor would they damage your reputation. I would be your heir, and we all know I would do better at maintaining the family honor than Sirius ever could."

"Regulus, what are you doing?" Sirius hissed. Regulus could hear the hurt in Sirius' voice, but refused to look at him. He didn't have the strength to do so.

"You are suggesting," Father's voice was low and dangerous, "that I betray my firstborn son in favor of you, a usurper?" He took a step towards Regulus, who stared blankly ahead, his hands clasped behind his back to hide their shaking. "How dare you think that I would betray my eldest like that!"

"Orion," Mother said, her voice calm and collected, a far cry from what it had been only moments before.

Father turned to look at her. So did Sirius.

"He would make a good heir."

It seemed like the silence that followed Mother's words stretched for an eternity. Regulus could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He didn't want this. He wished he could scream that out loud the second he made the mistake of glancing at Sirius to see the hurt and betrayal clearly demonstrated on his face. He didn't want to give himself to them, to be their puppet, but he would! As long as it meant that Sirius was safe.

"Very well."

It only took two words to crumble Regulus' world. Father's agreement left no room for discussion. There was no going back. Sirius would be free to do whatever he wanted, the husband of a Viscount, and Regulus… he would do whatever it took to keep Sirius free.

"Come Regulus, you have much to learn," Father said. He turned to Bishop Dumbldore. "Thank you for your time, your Grace. You may proceed with the wedding." And just like that it was over.

Regulus looked at Sirius one last time, his mind screaming I'm doing it for you! but Sirius' face didn't show understanding. Why would it?

Regulus had stolen everything from him.