Starfall

Spring, 1892

Grandfather Arcturus, 

I know it may come as a surprise to hear from me as you most likely thought me dead, but I am very much alive and have been in hiding with one of my close friends from school since 1979. 

I write to let you know that not only have I reclaimed the Black heirship in October, 1980, but that I wish to meet with you and inform you of several discoveries that I made while in the service of the Dark Lord Voldemort and during the years I have been thought to be dead. Let me know if, when, and where you would like to meet, and I will be there.

R.A.B.

~

Chateau Black, Monday, 1

Regulu glanced back down at the note he had received three days prior, before glancing up at the large building he stood in front of. It was two floors, with arched windows and beautiful stonework detailing around the foundation and doors.

He saw the familiar balconies that he had loved to sit on with a book in the spring or summer when he was younger, the doors with vines engraved on them that Regulus had walked through and spent hours running his fingers over—at least when none of the adults were nearby and could chastise him for ‘wasting his time.’

The Chateau had always been Regulus’ favorite of all the black homes, as it held none of the poor memories he had of Grimmauld, and it was situated in a nice stretch of woods that shaded the grounds quite nicely.

He took in a breath, snapping himself out of his recollections, before opening the gate with the same pattern that it had always been—a poke of the wand to the center, then complex motions that formed runes that made the password to the gate.

It opened with a loud clang, and Regulus stepped through, the hood of his cloak still drawn over his head. The path to the front door had flowers of all colors planted along it, creating a kaleidoscope of color.

He reached the door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. It opened, revealing a house elf.

He smiled at her. “Hello, Tippy. It’s been a while. It’s good to see you again.”

“Oh, young master Regulus is too kind, come inside, Master’s grandfather waits in the parlor.”

Regulus nodded to the elf as he passed by, before making his way through the halls of the old building towards where he knew his grandfather was waiting. Technically, Chateau Black had three parlors, one upstairs and two on this floor, but Regulus’s favorite was the one near the back of the house that had large windows overlooking a stream outback, and he knew that this would be where his grandfather would meet him.

When he entered the room through the arched doorway, Regulus immediately spotted his grandfather sitting in an armchair facing the window, watching as a few birds flew around through the trees.

The room was brightly lit, not just by the large windows on three of the four walls, but by a delicate rose gold chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. The walls were cream colored, but the trim and furniture was all in a dusky green color that complimented it nicely. The floor was dark wood, but had a large, dark green rug with intricate leaf patterns sewn on in golden thread. 

Regulus sat down in the chair beside Arcturus. It was the same chair he had always sat in when visiting and spending time in the room.

“Grandson. I must say I was surprised to hear of your continued survival.”

“Yes, it must have come as a great shock, I hope I didn’t alarm you too much, Lord Black.” Regulus spoke formally, uncertain how the man would react to everything he had done.

Arcturus chuckled. “Call me grandfather, you are my heir after all.”

“You have no issue with me taking the heirship once more without notifying you?” He spoke slowly and carefully.

The other man waved his hand. “Of course not. I chose you over Sirius to be heir,  I was glad to hear of your survival, though I must admit I wonder how it came about. Last I heard you defected from that madman and died.” 

“I… did defect. I saw the error of my ways. I discovered something about him… it’s black magic, grandfather. But it would explain so much…”

Arturus looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

“I… he made a horcrux, grandfather.” Regulus shuddered as he explained.

He watched as a look of shock rushed over the older man’s face. “He made one of those? How dare he?! That goes against all that we hold holy. Regulus, you must tell me how you discovered this.”

And so he did. Regulus told his grandfather of how the Dark Lord had requested an elf, and he had volunteered Kreacher, but feeling that something was off he had ordered him to return as soon as Voldemort completed whatever it was he needed the house elf for.

He told the man of how he had requested to be taken to the cave, of the potion and the locket, the inferi… 

And of how Kreacher had pulled him out and brought him to an old friend of his that was already in hiding, and who he stayed with for several years.

“…But with his downfall last October, I figured I should tell you that I was alive.”

“Who else are you planning on telling?” Arcturus’ grey eyes stared into his own eyes.

“All our family, Andromeda, Severus Snape, and anyone else who may need to know.”

“That’s an… interesting list. Tell me, why did you separate Andromeda from the rest of the family?” Regulus turned away from his grandfather, looking out the window his armchair sat in front of.

“Andromeda’s disowned, isn’t she?”

Arcturus took a sharp breath. “No she isn’t. Your mother may have blaster her and Sirius off the Grimauld family tree, but only Lord Black can truly disown members of the House of Black. I never disowned either of them. I encouraged your cousin to stay away for some time, but with your mother and Druella’s actions I can see why you may think they were disowned.”

Regulus’ mind was reeling. Andromeda and Sirius weren’t disowned? His mother had lied? But then his mind caught on one small inconsistency in what the Arcturus had told him.

“If Sirius isn’t disowned, how come I’m heir?”

His grandfather gave him an amused smile as he turned back to him. “I chose you to be heir. Sirius may not be disowned, but he might as well be, giving in to Dumbledore and joining his vigilantes. Not that I approve of you and your cousin’s willing decision to join Voldemort, however.”

Regulus startled slightly at the name, before frowning. “I never wanted to become a death eater. Mother forced me into it, it was why Sirius ran when he was sixteen, mother tried to make him take the mark. Bella, however, went willingly. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to sleep with him.”

Arcturus' brows furrowed more and more as Regulus continued his explanation. “If Walburga and Druella weren’t already dead I’d kill them myself. Bellatrix on the other hand… she can rot in Azkaban for all I care alongside your brother.”

Regulus winced, and he knew Arcturus had noticed from how his gaze sharpened. “About that… I don’t think Sirius was a death eater.” Regulus raised his hand as the other man made to interrupt. “No, hear me out. I never saw him while I was part of the de- of them, so that leaves two years when he could have plausibly joined. Also… I would believe it more if it wasn’t James Potter that he is said to have betrayed.”

“Why does it matter that it was Potter?”

“Sirius told me on more than one occasion that James Potter was more his brother than I would ever be. He left me behind and ignored me in favor of him.” Regulus spoke with disgust in his voice, and Arcturus looked thoughtful. 

“I will… look into it, when I have time. At the moment, we have no proof, and it’s unlikely to be allowed with the fact most people see him as disowned, and with Dumbledore being Chief Warlock… Sirius was part of his alliance, if anyone knew he was innocent it would be him. Not that I trust the old man, but I doubt that if he didn’t let Sirius go free then that he would do any different now.”

It… made sense. However much Regulus wanted to get his brother out of that awful prison, he couldn’t do anything at the moment. Everyone thought him dead, and if Dumbledore was truly as involved as his grandfather implied… he didn’t want to think about it.

“Now, if that is all… I must take some time to ponder on what you have said, grandson. Keep in contact, I will try to set up a meeting for you with Narcissa, but I will call a family meeting as soon as you have spoken to her and Andromeda. I assume you want to tell them privately?”

Regulus nodded. “I would like to be able to tell them privately, yes. And goodbye, grandfather, it was a pleasure to speak with you once more.”

With those parting words, Regulus stood, making his way back to the door then out to the gate before apparating using Pandora’s wand. He still didn’t have his own. He would need to get a new one at some point.

~

The next few years seemed to fly by. He met with Andromeda and Narcissa a few months after his meeting with Arcturus, and was quickly introduced to their individual families. 

Nymphadora had been fascinated when she learned he was an animagus, and while Regulus had originally been hesitant to meet with the Malfoys he found that he got along quite well with Lucius.

The Malfoy family had been doing what they thought was best to keep themselves alive for centuries, and since Abraxas, Lucius’ father, had apparently gone to school with the man who would later become Voldemort, had agreed that Lucius should join. Neither of them knew at the time just how insane the man had turned out to be.

In 1884, three years after the end of the war, Regulus confronted another old friend. Severus Snape hadn’t been a part of his main friend group, but he and Regulus had studied together on multiple occasions and bonded over their shared hatred for James Potter.

Regulus apparated to the end of the dingy street, making his way down it towards where he knew Severus’ house was. After a minute, he arrived, knocking on the door sharply.

The door swung open, revealing a man who was unmistakably Regulus’ friend from school. It had been years since he last saw him.

“Can I come in?” Regulus spoke softly, and the other man froze.

“Regulus?” He questioned him. Regulus nodded almost imperceptibly, his cloak hid his features but Severus had recognized his voice, having heard it almost every day for six years.

Severus stepped aside silently, allowing Regulus into the room. It hadn’t changed much from the last time he had been here, the same hallways and tall bookcases full of books and journals.

Severus led him silently into a room with a couple armchairs, and they both took a seat. They sat in silence for a few moments, before Regulus broke it.

“It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.”

Severus glared. “That’s all? ‘Good to see you, missed you?’ It’s been five years since you disappeared. Five years, Regulus. Where have you been! I thought you were dead.”

Regulus sighed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t really feel safe until now. As for where I’ve been, I lived with Pandora up until about a year ago, before moving into one of the old Black family homes.” 

Snape still glared, but some of the heat had left his face.

“Why? Why did you leave, Lily died, Regulus. She was my sister and I loved her and she died. Our old Master- ” He spoke the word like a curse, “-killed her.”

So Regulus explained. He explained the horcruxs, the cave, Kreacher saving him, his defection, Pandora, and reuniting with people over the past few years, before speaking about the final thing he wanted to talk about.

“Pandora named me godfather to her daughter.”

Severus looked curious. “I fell out of contact with her after school, you were always the only one of your group I really had contact with. What’s her name?”

“Luna. I thought you might want to know, we’ve introduced her to Draco and they love each other, so you’ll probably see her around soon.”

Severus nodded. He already knew that Regulus had met with Narcissa and her family recently, so it made sense that they would meet each other semi-regularly.

“I… need some time to think this over, but I will contact you when I would like to speak to you again and ask you any questions that may come to my mind.”

Regulus nodded once more. “That’s fine with me. If that’s all, I think I will be on my way. I was planning to visit the Tonks’ this evening.”

Severus nodded in turn, and Regulus stood and exited the house with a simple ‘goodbye’ to the older man.