For the first time, Regulus disappeared while Draco was wearing his ring. Potions class had been going smoothly, if not a bit boring until James freaked out.
"Regulus?" James asked, panicked. Draco looked slyly over, and he couldn't spot Regulus either. Quickly, he checked the ring's fit on his finger, but it was securely positioned as always. He tried to stay calm as Slughorn made his rounds to everyone's potions.
"What happened? Where is he?" James almost shouted and started walking around like he'd find Regulus hiding under a table.
After only a few more seconds, Draco caught motion in the corner of his eye. James's relieved "Thank Merlin" was all he needed to know that Regulus was back.
"What happened?" He heard Regulus ask from beside him.
"You disappeared. Draco didn't touch the ring," James said, worry leaking into his voice.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm bloody sure."
The two discussed while Draco rushed through the potion, trying to get out of class as fast as he could. Lately, when he put on Regulus's ring each morning, Regulus often appeared slower than Draco expected, but he had never just disappeared before. If this was progressing, they needed to move up their timeline. Regulus needed to be brought back and soon.
He called over Slughorn the moment he finished his final stir. Slughorn, disappointed, gave an Acceptable, stating Draco should have been more patient. All while Draco mentally scoffed, he'd like to see Slughorn have patience in his position. Just as he was leaving the classroom, Regulus started yelling.
"What the fuck are you talking about!"
"Calm down. This was the plan all along. We are getting you your body back, that's what's important," James said.
"I am not coming back without you," Regulus stated firmly and then got a few steps ahead of them into the hall and turned. "Draco, what is he talking about?"
Draco gritted his teeth and slid out into the hall, waiting for the door to shut behind him. "I don't even know what you are talking about," Draco hissed.
"James says you are getting me out of the ring," Regulus said angrily.
Draco blinked. That had always been the deal. "And?"
"You aren't getting James out."
Draco frowned. It's not like he didn't want to save James; Harry deserved to have a father, but Regulus had always been the focus. "If it's possible, we can try to get him out -"
"If it's possible? What the hell have you two been planning? I thought it was for us both."
James jumped in, "You are literally disappearing! Sorry if you seem like the priority."
"I won't come back unless James does," Regulus said firmly. Draco narrowed his eyes in frustration, but James looked downright touched by the sentiment.
"You're being foolish," Draco said.
"No, I am being stubborn," Regulus said. "I am telling you, it's both or none."
Draco's fury rose. It was like Sirius all over again. He was not about to let Regulus kill himself over an over-righteous mindset. "Sorry to break it to you, but you don't have a say. I control the rings." Draco flashed his hand at them both. "I promised to get you back. I'm not saying James is screwed. I am saying we need to get you out first."
Regulus was upset for the remainder of the day, but it sparked a newfound interest in helping get his body back. Draco knew he didn't truly believe that he would get out of the ring, hence why he had been focusing his efforts on Harry and the horcruxes the past few months. Now, though, realising how much he'd missed by ignoring James and Draco, he started to contribute to their efforts, ensuring they were consistently thinking about James.
As always, Regulus was a genius. And paring a genius with whatever the hell James was made a bloody brilliant combination.
Within days, they had a plan. It hinged on one major point - getting access to the Room of Requirement. They needed the vanishing cabinet. Quickly, they learned that they couldn't get out of Hogwarts easily since someone had sealed the secret passages, and they weren't desperate enough to talk the Carrows into using their floo. If the cabinet still worked, they could get out of Hogwarts. If they got out of Hogwarts, they could get Regulus's body. Once they had his body, they could evaluate how much work it would be to get his corpse into a working state, and then, finally, they could start to get him back.
Despite having a plan, it took another week before they were able to get Weasley alone to question her.
"Weasley!" Draco shouted at her from across the empty corridor. She paused, looking furious as Draco stalked right up to her. "What will it take to get into the room?"
"I am not letting you in, Malfoy," she spat, hand on her hip.
His anger flared, but James stepped in front of him and gave an encouraging nod. He had Draco rehearse being nice, so Draco clenched his jaw and said, "Please?"
She snorted. "No."
He clenched his jaw tighter. He wasn't cut out for James's 'try to be nice' method. On to Regulus's 'bribe her.' He straightened his posture and said, "I'll have the Carrows cancel detention."
"You can do that?" she asked, doubtful.
"Sure." Draco figured with another thinly veiled threat that they'd do just about anything for him.
"Then why haven't you done it sooner? If you were any sort of trustworthy person, you'd have done it weeks ago." She started to turn away.
"What do you want then?"
"I'd like Who Know Who dead," she said bluntly.
If only she knew. "Then let me into the room."
She laughed. "As if it would do me any good. Tell me why you need it so badly."
"It shouldn't matter to you. I am offering to get you and all of the other insufferable Gryffindors a break. I suggest you take it. You won't get another offer as kind as this."
Her fist tightened around her wand, but she bit out, "Get detentions called off till the holidays, and I'll try to get you in. You can have a few minutes."
He could sense Regulus relaxing next to him; Draco could handle negotiations. "I'll get them off for a week, and you'll give me a full day."
"A month, no detentions. You get an hour," she rebuttled.
"Two weeks. Overnight."
She paused, still frustrated, but said."Fine, deal."
"Deal," Draco said with a relieved nod.
The next day, Draco had gone to the Carrows, stating he needed a break from detentions to 'focus on critical undertakings for the Dark Lord' and that he didn't want students thinking he'd done soft, so they'd better stop assigning their detentions as well. They were unwilling until Draco mentioned that the next time they met should be up in the Astronomy tower.
Frustratingly, Weasley refused to give him access until his end of the deal was upheld, so in those painfully long two weeks, they made a detailed plan of what to do with the night they had in the room. Obviously, they would confirm Ravenclaw's Diadem was still there. They had no means of destroying it yet, but considering Harry was still hunting down the others, they had time. James wanted to get Regulus's body and haul it back to Hogwarts, but they couldn't guarantee access to the Room of Requirement and hiding a corpse in his dormitory sounded like a disaster. It was Regulus who had the most promising idea: Using 12 Grimmauld Place. He was confident that he could get Draco into the Black family house safely, and since it had been compromised for months, neither side would find it particularly interesting.
So the night that Weasley reluctantly led her group out of the room, permitting Draco inside, Draco confirmed that the diadem hadn't been touched and made his way to the Black ancestral home. The cabinet was still fully functional and brought him to Malfoy Manor. He disillusioned himself and snuck through quickly. He didn't cross another soul, and thankfully, the Dark Lord was absent. Draco had no doubts that he would have some secret sense telling him when someone was sneaking nearby. At the apparition point, he took a full minute to prepare himself and then focused on where Regulus described.
He swallowed down the nausea and took in his surroundings as James and Regulus did the same. "It's so," Draco paused, finding the right word, "muggle."
"They wanted to look down on others as frequently as they could," Regulus said coldly. "Besides, wizarding communities were a bit too festive for my parents." James hummed his agreement.
Draco walked up to the front door. "Now what?"
"We thank your mother for being a Black. Cut your hand. Grasp the door and say, 'Toujours Pur.' It'll open regardless of whatever enchantments the Order tried to put on it."
Both James and Draco grimaced, but Draco did as he was told, and the door opened widely for him. He was only a few paces inside when his heart stopped.
"Severus Snape?" a voice hissed. Draco's tongue curled into the back of his throat, gagging him, as James and Regulus let out sounds of surprise.
A figure straight from Draco's nightmares appeared. A disfigured, ghostly Dumbledore glided towards him. It reached out to Draco, mouth open.
"Draco, move!" Regulus shouted. Draco stumbled backwards, but it still followed him. Its fingers looked like they would claw into him and drag him straight to hell. He'd caused this. He'd made this thing.
"I didn't want to!" Draco cried, but the ghastly figure didn't stop its approach. Draco pulled himself into a room off the front hall when he practically tripped over Kreacher.
The elf gripped his wrist before Draco could escape further into the room and said, "Says you didn't kill him."
"I didn't kill you!" Draco shouted just as the figure got within arms reach, and the figure exploded into dust, leaving nothing behind. Breathing heavily and cursing the Order for such a vile trick, Draco turned to the elf. "Thank you."
"Of course," Kreacher said with a bow. "What is Mister Malfoy wanting from here? Does Master Regulus need something?"
With guidance from Regulus, Draco quickly explained that they were going to be using Grimauld as a hideout, and Kreacher looked like he could burst from excitement with his nonstop mumbling about how the house would finally be returned to glory and used for a proper purpose.
They trekked through the house, Regulus acting as a guide. The Order had cleaned out almost everything, much to Regulus's disappointment. Many of the useful books and magical objects had been stripped, and even some of the portraits had been taken off of the walls. No wonder Kreacher had been so eager to use Draco as storage, outside of the furniture, the place was barren.
When they reached upstairs and Draco noticed copious amounts of mould growing up the walls, he asked Regulus, "Did you really grow up here?"
"It was kept better," Regulus said, his lip also curling at the decay. "Kreacher was younger."
"But it has always been depressing," James added. "Remember the one time I came to visit after my second year?"
"I try to forget it," Regulus mumbled.
"Yeah, I should, but I'd never been in such a magical house before! How was I supposed to know that the walls would try to kill me?"
Regulus guided Draco to his bedroom, saying there wasn't much point in checking the others. Draco entered and was again struck by how young Regulus really was. Slytherin house colours lined the room and on his desk was a photo of his Quidditch team. He'd barely graduated when he was thrust into this.
Regulus had frozen the moment the door was opened, so Draco turned to him. "What is it?"
"It's nothing. Just strange to be back," he said sadly.
James teased about the contents of the room, calling him a psychopath for the number of news clippings he had collected, which was simultaneously concerning and also the exact type of research Regulus would get lost in. Draco took a final glance, feeling satisfied that this would serve their purposes and turned back towards the hallway.
"Draco, we need to discuss something." Regulus stood stiffly in front of the door with James at his side.
Draco groaned. It felt like he was about to get lectured. Since the two had been able to communicate, they had been constantly conspiring, chatting here and there without Draco's explicit knowledge of what they said. It made him wildly insecure. He was happy for Regulus; he looked happier than he ever had in the last few years, and Draco knew it was good for him to have another companion, but Draco couldn't help but feel excluded.
Regulus didn't acknowledge his indignation. "Under my bed, there's a loose floorboard, try to find a black box."
Draco did, interest piqued. There were plenty of knick knacks Regulus had stashed, but only one box. He opened the gold latch and gasped. Stacked on top of a pile of letters was the Black Heir ring, and it was beautiful. It was silver, engraved with vines and filled with green and black gemstones. Draco swore he could feel the power thrumming through it. He gently pulled it from its resting place.
Draco stated, surprised, "But I haven't graduated."
"The deal was to help Harry, which you have exceeded any, and all, of my expectations. Besides, you did something beyond belief when you connected our rings. You deserve it." James's smile grew wider as Draco stayed shocked.
"Are you serious?" He stared right at Regulus. This would be a cruel trick if he yanked this offer away now.
"No, that's his brother," James said cheekily.
Draco didn't even glance at James, looking right at Regulus. "What happens after I put on the ring?"
"Theoretically, you just have to put it on and say the house words. If you are deemed more worthy than the current heir, then it's all yours."
Draco couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. His priorities had shifted since he'd first made the deal, but being the Black heir was still something he desperately wanted. The position was ripe with money and influence, even if the house had mostly dissolved in the last decade, his mother would be thrilled. She always had pride in her Black heritage.
"Kreacher will be thrilled to serve a pure family once more," the elf croaked eagerly.
Draco froze his movements. "What about Harry?" He asked Regulus. "Will Kreacher still be tied to him?"
"No," Regulus admitted, and Draco frowned. "But we both know Harry isn't going to call him. He thinks it's all been compromised."
Draco turned the ring between his fingers. Kreacher could only come to him now because Harry had ordered it and Draco had agreed, but if he became heir, Kreacher wouldn't be able to find Harry, ever. Draco had wanted this since the first time Regulus mentioned it, and it was beyond his wildest dreams as a kid. His parents would be beyond proud, and yet he knew he shouldn't do it. He could barely voice the words that came out of his mouth.
"I can't." Draco closed his fist around the ring. "Harry is the Black Heir."
Regulus stayed frozen as James said, "I hate to admit it, but you're a more fitting Black Heir than any Potter would ever be."
"But I would be stealing his inheritance," Draco protested. "Kreacher is my last hope of hearing from Harry."
Regulus stepped forward. "First, it's an inheritance from a man that isn't even dead. Second, with it, you can reset protections on the house. Having access to Grimmauld is more important than the small chance you could communicate with Harry. We can find another way to get to him." He looked at Draco and said, "Put on the ring."
It felt wrong, but Draco trusted Regulus, he was giving his express permission to be selfish. Slowly and guiltily, he unclenched his hand and slid the ring onto the middle finger of his right hand.
Immediately, the ring began to burn, not enough to hurt but enough to jolt him. "Toujors Pur," he said, and the magic weaved its way up his arm. With a final glow, it faded.
"Congrats, Heir Black," James said with a mock salute.
"It suits you," Regulus said with a hint of a smile.
Kreacher cackled happily, eyes never leaving the ring.
Draco cast some wards according to Regulus's instructions. They were completely set up to have Grimauld as their base and come the winter holidays, they would be fully prepared to start collecting corpses. Draco returned to the manor and then Hogwarts, knowing they'd made good progress and knowing he should be thrilled at his new position as Black Heir, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just stolen something significant from Harry.
Draco was called into the headmaster's office just days before he was supposed to go back to Malfoy Manor. As headmaster, Snape was rather hands-off. Outside of the time he had confronted Draco after he missed the first day of class, Draco had barely seen the man, let alone talked to him.
Composing himself, Draco climbed the steps up to the office. He had been there once before when it had been Dumbledore's, and Draco hated to think about anything relating to the old man. Unlike the previous set-up, Snape's aesthetic consisted of books and a small brewing station. Thankful for the difference, Draco walked further in and then promptly froze.
He'd forgotten about the portraits of the previous headmasters. Behind Snape, Dumbledore met his gaze and smiled. Draco felt sick. It was the same expression he wore before Draco had killed him.
"Draco," Snape barked, and Draco tore his eyes away from the portrait. "Sit. We need to discuss your return to the manor."
"What is there to discuss, headmaster?"
"Firstly, your mother has requested that you return via the floo network. I have already arranged it with the Carrows. You'll report to them the night before the holidays. Secondly, I have been able to keep you from having to attend meetings with the Dark Lord, however, he insists on you returning for the holiday."
"Have you seen the Dark Lord?" Draco asked, surprised.
"Of course. Now -"
"Why haven't I?" Draco demanded.
"Do not interrupt. Your mother and I did not see it prudent," Snape said. "He will ask your progress. I assume you don't have any?"
Draco scowled. He'd made plenty of progress, just not the kind the Dark Lord wanted from him.
"You're lucky that I do. Recent patrols were sent to the Weasley's dilapidated hut, and Nagini is now at Godric's Hollow. I am comfortable attributing those ideas to you. I recommend that you also encourage the monitoring of the Tonks, Lovegood, and Longbottom families."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because I do not think you will be able to capture Potter, but I do not wish to see you punished again."
Before Draco could defend himself, one of the previous headmasters said from his portrait, "Severus, I have news."
"Dismissed," Snape said firmly, but Regulus took an inquisitive step towards the portrait that had spoken.
Giving Regulus a moment to investigate, Draco slowly raised himself from his chair and walked towards the spiral staircase.
"Today, Draco," Snape snapped, and Draco picked up his pace, hoping Regulus got what he wanted. Once they reached the corridor downstairs, Draco gave him a questioning look.
"The portrait that spoke, it was Phineas Nigellus Black," Regulus said, and when neither he nor James found that particularly interesting, continued, "He used to have a portrait at Grimmauld. It was one that was removed. As far as I know, that was his only other portrait."
"Are you saying he's spying on whoever stole it?"
"I do, and I think there is a good chance it's Harry."
Draco almost said 'Harry wouldn't be that dumb,' but that was a lie. He probably had no idea that Snape could be spying on him. The real question was what Snape was planning on doing with that information.
"The slimy git," James said bitterly.
Regulus huffed. "But Snape wasn't wrong. It's going to be dangerous going back." He turned to Draco. "I have ideas on how to get the blame off of you."
"And why haven't you told me?"
Regulus frowned. "I'm not sure I should say."
"Why?" James asked.
"Draco won't be wearing any rings when he meets with the Dark Lord. It's too unpredictable. I don't want him to reveal any information that we rely on, intentional or not. I would like to avoid another taboo situation."
Draco repressed his shiver. "So what should I do?"
"Do you trust me?" Regulus asked simply, but the question felt much more complicated. Of course, Draco trusted him. Regulus had taught him more than he could have ever dreamed of, he was alive because of Regulus, and he would have never been friends with Harry, but this felt different. Regulus was asking for blind trust, a kind of loyalty Draco had shown no one before. It was something that could and would get him killed if it was misplaced.
"Yes," Draco said steadily, meeting Regulus's gaze head-on. Despite Regulus's flaws and his maddening obsession with keeping James and Sirius alive, he trusted Regulus to keep him alive too.
The tension fell from Regulus's shoulders. "Then listen to me. If the moment arises, do what I tell you first and question it second. I tell you to say something, say it. Run? You run. Curse someone? Curse them like your life depends on it because it very well might. Before you meet with the Dark Lord, I'll coach you on what to say, but for now, we can just use what Snape has laid for us."
Draco nodded and tried to act satisfied with that, but he felt exposed. He was relying on Regulus to keep him alive, and despite his trust, it was bloody terrifying.
It was a tense few days waiting to return to the manor. Despite knowing the risk, the promise of making real progress was compelling. If they got Regulus back, then they were one step closer to saving Harry.
When the night finally arrived, he nabbed a Calming Draught, wanting to appear confident when he returned home. It felt odd to not return by train, but he didn't relish the idea of spending time with his housemates in an enclosed train. They all treated him like a different breed, even if they stopped spewing as much nonsense about how great the Dark Lord was.
Draco walked into the Carrows' office and was shocked to find Amycus physically restraining the batty Ravenclaw girl that Harry liked.
"What's she doing here?" Draco asked with a scowl.
"She's going on holiday with you," Alecto said.
"No, she's not," Draco stated.
"Oh yes, she is. At least until her father learns his lesson about supporting traitors."
Draco hadn't paid much thought to the Quibbler until this year. He knew it was run by a Lovegood, and it was notorious for nonsense. Recently, it had focused on Harry, but Draco had stopped paying attention when it became clear that he knew nothing useful about what Harry was up to.
"What am I supposed to do with her?"
One shrugged while the other said sinisterly, "Whatever you please."
"I don't care for her."
"You will do as I say," Alecto said and Amycus added, "Or I'll curse you."
"Do you know who you are talking to?" Draco demanded.
"A boy too afraid to hold a proper detention," Alecto said and, seeing Draco's frustration, continued, "We questioned your students after you called off the detentions."
Draco's grip on his wand tightened.
"Don't," Regulus warned, catching the movement.
"Why not? Draco could take them," James protested.
"It's two against one. It's not worth blowing your cover," Regulus continued, ignoring James.
"She's an innocent girl!" James yelled.
Regulus spun on him. "And is it worth Draco getting found out? What about the horcruxes? Harry? Draco is one of the single most important people in the world right now, and she is not worth his cover."
"I forgot how heartless you can be," James snapped, eyes dark.
"Well, I didn't forget your eagerness to get those close to you killed," Regulus said venomously.
Draco held back a wince at that, but James didn't. His face went from furious to pained instantly. Draco had decided that he would trust Regulus, so he stepped forward and grabbed Lovegood from Amycus. She didn't even try to fight.
"Don't worry, I know you have too many Nargles," she said airly. It almost sounded like she was comforting him, which made his stomach twist with the wrongness of it.
With a final glare at the Carrows, he brought Lovegood through the floo and to the manor. Before he could even dust himself off, she was immediately yanked from his grip by a Death Eater he didn't recognise. His mother watched unhappily as they dragged the girl off, but didn't interrupt.
After a brief greeting, his mother guided him to the kitchen, offering dinner and asking about school. Both James and Regulus sulked throughout the whole conversation and Draco answered blandly, exhausted and finding himself unable to carry a discussion with her. She was expressionless as ever, but something in her seemed different. It felt like she wanted Draco to feel comfortable, something she hadn't bothered with in the past.
Taking the chance, Draco said, "I need your assistance with something."
"What for?" She asked, eyebrows raised.
"I need another portkey. I am moving the vanishing cabinet."
"Where?"
"Elsewhere, obviously."
"Tell me," She demanded, but after a pause, amended her statement. "Please, Draco, let me keep you safe."
Draco debated, knowing that it was wiser to keep her out of his business, but his instinct to prove himself to his family was too strong. He fished out the Black Heir Ring and put it on for her to see.
"Where did you get that?" She said, grabbing his hand and holding it up to get a better view.
"I went to Grimmauld. It accepted me."
"Of course it did. It was a disgrace that it even went to a Potter." She couldn't take her eyes off of the ring. "You are moving the cabinet to the Black House," she stated.
"It's not safe in the manor."
She paused and then stood up straight. "I'll go tomorrow."
"Thank you," Draco said, something like hope filling him.
He had an uneasy night's sleep before the Dark Lord welcomed Draco back the following morning. According to the plan, Draco relayed Snape's orders, and the Dark Lord accepted it, seemingly preoccupied with other things.
Following the meeting, his mother left, true to her word in getting a portkey. Her absence meant he was left in the manor with much more unsavoury company: his aunt and father, both of which were more resentful than ever. He had avoided them until he heard screaming and reluctantly went to investigate.
Both were facing each other, wands drawn, and insulting the other. The moment Draco got close to the doorway, Bella spotted him.
"Draco, the moment I see the weakness I see in your father, I'll put you down like a dog," she said, anger flaring.
His father growled. "Weakness? I wasn't locked up in Azkaban. I did something to bring back the Dark Lord. You just sat around and twiddled your thumbs."
Bella laughed, "You think you helped? You gifted his prized possession to a blood traitor, at least mine is still safe. I think you'll find the Dark Lord much more appreciative of that."
Draco froze. That sounded like the horcrux Harry had told him about. His father had given Weasley before Harry had destroyed it, and now, it sounded like Bella had one as well.
His father snarled and stormed out of the room. Draco was still frozen, but something urged him on. He had to know if his suspicions were correct. He could feel James and Regulus encouraging him on even though they didn't say a word.
"What are you keeping safe?" He asked her trying to sound casual. "I wouldn't want to repeat my father's mistakes."
She sneered at him. "It's something the Dark Lord trusted me with. His most loyal. You don't get to know."
"How can you keep anything safe?" Draco asked quickly. "They used to say there was no safer place than Hogwarts, but we proved them wrong."
"Draco, don't be dull. Do you know what lengths the Goblins have gone to at Gringotts? I expect no higher level of security. Unlike your simpleton father, I won't disappoint the Dark Lord."
Draco nodded, keeping his face straight, but his heart was racing.
He had just found another horcrux.