Chapter 46, When In Doubt, There Is A Chicken For That.
"He really does not want us to know Lupin's bloody secret," Regulus mused. As he spoke, he moved across to a large four poster bed draped in silver and green. As a matter of fact, the entire room was silver and green from the heavy curtains on the windows to the thick green carpet underfoot. On the wall just above the bed was a ragged collage of newspaper clippings.
Sharply Severus recalled Regulus carefully tearing out the story about Voldemort's murders of homeless and criminal Muggles from the front page of the Daily Prophet a few months back. Then he'd mentioned something about adding it to his wall. "One has to wonder if it is that juicy of a secret, or if he simply wants to withhold something that he knows you want to know," Regulus continued, flopping down onto the bed. "With Sirius, it could truly go either bloody way."
"Well Lupin is hiding it, so it must be important enough, else why make it a secret at all." As he spoke, Severus glanced about for his own things. He spotted his trunk in a corner of the room beside a small child sized bed with an ornate wooden frame. It wasn't quite as fancy as Regulus's own more sumptuous bed, but it was trying its best. He would likely feel cramped in it, but he did see Kreacher's point so he would make do.
"My bathing chamber is through that door there," Regulus informed, pointing off to the right of his own bed. "Not every room has its own, so at least you won't have to go out in the hall to relieve yourself or brush your teeth. So what do you think Lupin could possibly have to hide? He never seemed that interesting to me. In fact, I always wondered why such rambunctious gits as Sirius, James and Peter would even like him. It always struck me as rather odd."
"He's got something interesting enough to make the others keep his secrets," Severus mused, wandering over to his own bed. "Perhaps this fact indicates something about his secret. If it makes him valuable, perhaps he has some sort of power or influence." At Regulus's incredulous look, Severus hastily added, "His family I meant, not specifically him. But he must have some amazing perks for the others to care. If we could figure it out, I know it would give us leverage over them, and they would have to leave us alone."
"Indeed, and they know it, so it shan't be easy," Regulus said around a yawn. "Hopefully we shall eventually sort something out, though." The two got changed into their pajamas, and to Severus's relief, though the bed was narrow, it was comfortable and just large enough for his slender build. "Kreacher is amazing," he murmured sleepily, as he snuggled down into the soft mattress.
"I know," Regulus agreed proudly. "Best ever! It's grand to have a friend with such brilliant magic that actually understands anything I want to talk about. Are you ready to have the light off now?"
"Umhm," Severus replied. He hadn't realized just how tired he was until his head had hit the pillow.
"Nox," Regulus said, and the room descended into darkness. As Severus drifted off to sleep, he wondered two things. The first was how Heather and Raislen were enjoying their respective summer trips. Talk of friends who understood anything one wished to talk about, of course, brought them sharply to mind. The second thing Severus wondered was if Kreacher had put a sleep charm on the pillow, because he never fell asleep without reading for at least half an hour first.
When he asked Kreacher the next morning, though, the elf shook his head. The three of them were in the library after having a delicious sausage potato and egg breakfast which Sirius had been mostly quiet during. "Kreacher would never," the elf proclaimed, giving Severus a frown of mild disapproval. "It would not do to have Severus Snape too deeply asleep to respond properly if Master Sirius came in to prank him and Master Regulus while they slept."
"He does think of everything," Regulus said with a proud smile at Kreacher.
"As does Master Regulus," Kreacher said, smiling fondly back.
Regulus chuckled. "With Sirius, one has to." Turning eagerly to Severus, he added, "I once made a trap of ropes just inside my room, and after he fell and broke an elbow, he stopped sneaking in to torment me in my sleep."
Severus laughed. "He broke his elbow? Truly? Brilliant!""
Regulus nodded."Mum had to take him to Saint Mungos to see a healer. She was livid, of course, as he would not have hurt himself, had he not been after causing trouble."
"It is all he truly knows how to do, Kreacher believes," the elf muttered darkly.
"Speaking of that, if indirectly," Severus said, closing the healing book he'd begun with the previous night. "I believe I have finally gotten what I wanted from this book, so whenever your chicken will allow me to practice on it, Kreacher, I am ready."
Kreacher spluttered with laughter at the idea of a dead chicken kindly allowing Severus to put it through more trouble. "Severus Snape is amusing! If he wishes, we can go and put the chicken through its paces now."
Severus leapt up excitedly. "Great! And thank you."
Kreacher looked mildly surprised at the unexpected thanks, then shrugged. "Severus Snape is welcome. Though Kreacher won't be doing anything, and the chicken is not busy."
Regulus tittered as he followed Kreacher. "You are allowing me to practice magic in a safe space away from the prying eyes of the Ministry," Severus reminded. "Not to mention kindly allowing me the use of your chicken." He just hoped he didn't do anything to said chicken that would make it unfit for consumption. This hex was literally still a work in progress, after all. Not wanting Kreacher to change his mind, though, he wisely kept his mouth shut on that point.
When they stood in the ancient looking vast stone kitchen, Kreacher placed a raw chicken on the large granite looking table in the center of the room. The chicken itself rested on a large wooden cutting board. It appeared to be fully intact save for its head and feet. Severus drew his wand and stared at it, thinking of the small cuts he wished to make on its surface.
For some time, the nearly exploding pillow which was his failed attempt at Hogwarts kept coming into his mind as well. He knew he could cause the chicken far more damage than he wished if he kept this image in his thoughts while casting his hex. Instead he had to focus on small neat cuts. Small and neat. He focused until he began to get a headache behind his eyes. "Cut and bleed a little," he said at last through gritted teeth, flicking his wand in small, rapid cutting motions at the center of the chicken. He used the wand as if it were a dagger that could cut the air, and thus the chicken by proxy.
"It's working," Regulus breathed, snatching at Severus's arm in excitement as small cuts oozing red suddenly sprang up on the chicken. Severus let out a crow of delight at his victory, then tried again. This time the cuts were deeper. Deeper as in... the chicken was entirely shredded in less than five seconds.
"Well," Kreacher said briskly. "Kreacher was going to do that, but Severus Snape has done a fantastic job!"
Severus's joy fell right into his feet and sinking stomach. He'd had it! For an instant, he had had it. "You are just trying to make me feel better," he accused the elf darkly.
Kreacher chuckled. "Not mostly. Severus Snape has the understanding that he needs to perfect this intriguing hex. He only needs to practice it more when he is emotional. When he succeeded, he was calm. It was when he allowed his excitement to carry the spell that it went too far. If he is dangerously angry, for example around someone like Master Sirius who can bring out true anger in a saint, the spell could go just as dangerously amiss as it just did.
Kreacher believes much practice under high emotions is necessary to exert proper control over this particular hex." While Severus knew that Kreacher was one-hundred percent correct, he was frustrated to no end because he wanted the hex to work properly now! At least by the time term began so that he would have something to use against the Gryffindor Gang of Gits! "The problem is that I am not emotional as a rule. I will not have a chicken and your kitchen on hand whenever Sirius gets to me so I won't be able to practice much at all!"
"We can find something with similar enough consistency before it is time to return to school," Regulus said. "Perhaps thick tough leather of some sort with stuffing inside. Something tougher to get through than a pillow. "Trust me, those gits will give you plenty of practice opportunities when term begins. Just go practice every time they annoy you, and your lovely new hex will sort itself sooner than you think."
Severus tried to feel better as he considered Regulus's words. He knew his friend was right, but, "I wanted it before bloody term started up again!" He said, not bothering to hide his frustration on the matter.
"Well old chap, we all want ice water in hell," Regulus quipped with a cheerful grin as he slapped Severus on the shoulder. While they spoke, Kreacher took the neatly shredded remains of the chicken over to a large pot that was already simmering on the stove.
"There you are," Bellatrix's voice suddenly came drifting into the room. "Are you ready to go shopping for products that will terrify your parents?"
Severus chuckled. "It takes a lot to fret my mum," he said.
"I take that as a challenge, and so should you," Bellatrix said with a maniacal cackle that made Severus grin in spite of himself.
"That is an intriguing concept, I suppose." As he spoke, he turned to see the three Lestranges standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Once again they put him in mind of himself with Heather and Raislen, and he missed his friends. Lucius nor Narcissa was with them. He was uncertain how he felt about that until he decided that he did not care either way.
Malfoy could be an in to Voldemort's inner circle, but so could Regulus. The more the merrier and all that, but he knew he would see Malfoy again. Today he just wanted to enjoy a day out and not have to try posing for the normals. By the standards of Dark wizards, Lucius and Narcissa were normal while no one present truly was, himself included.
"Thanks for coming to take us," Severus said, directing the comment to all three Lestranges. Bella and Rodolphus shrugged, but Rabastan grinned.
"How else are we going to influence you over to the Dark side," he asked with a good natured wink. A look of hurt disappointment flickered over Regulus's face and Rabastan gave the younger boy a look of true surprise.
"I was playing, Black. You're all already Dark as fuck. Stop being so sensitive. You're family and we had nothing better to do than to help you and your friend fuck with your parents heads. Besides, we want to see what new items are in at Borgin and Burkes as much as you do."
"We can go directly after lunch," Kreacher said.
Bellatrix scowled. "I don't wish to eat with bloody Sirius. I am perfectly happy never seeing him. Seeing him makes my wand hand itch. I want to eat out."
Kreacher looked disappointed, but only shrugged. "Fine. Everyone can go and Kreacher will remain behind. He must still serve lunch to Master Orion and Mistress Walburga, and unfortunately to Master Sirius as well."
"God damn it," Bellatrix swore darkly. "Why can't we just bring them a late lunch from where ever we eat," she demanded.
"Because Kreacher has already begun cooking this pot of chicken," the elf said reasonably.
"I hate you so much right now," Bellatrix said, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Kreacher knows." The elf's tone was almost kind as well as almost amused. "But he must deal with Master Sirius daily as must Master Regulus, and we have both managed to learn to control our wand hands."
"Because Regulus has to due to stupid Ministry rules, and you don't use a bloody wand," Bellatrix shot back.
Kreacher snickered. "All the same."
"You know we won't leave you," Bellatrix said peevishly. "Regi won't come along without you and I know you want to see what Borgin and Burkes has in as much as we do. I suppose we should've settled on a time on which we could all agree rather than just coming over when we had a few free bloody hours."
Kreacher smirked, turning to wave a wooden spoon in Bellatrix's direction. "Yes. Kreacher believes that would have been nice." He returned his focus to the stove then, and the wooden spoon back to stirring the pot of simmering chicken. Severus opened his mouth to tell the Lestranges how and why he had actually shredded the chicken but decided against it at the last second. Bellatrix would likely be critical of his failing which would not help. It just seemed like her way.
"Well let's go into the library and have a drink while we wait then," Rabastan said with a bored sigh. "If we're too drunk to Apparate by the time it's all over, Kreacher can get us to and from Borgin and Burkes."
"It's too early to drink," Bellatrix protested, frowning at Rabastan.
"Not even lunch yet," Rodolphus chimed in.
"It's midnight somewhere," Rabastan reasoned.