Black Cathedral
Pandora put down the book she was using to record her latest experiment and opened the front door.
“There you are?” She said brightly as Regulus popped into being.
“How long have you been waiting?” He asked, completely unfazed by her comment.
“About five years.”
Regulus looked at her quizzically.
“Oh. For you. About five minutes. You’re very punctual as a rule. Tea?”
“Please.” Regulus entered the cottage as they spoke and took his usual seat in the front parlour, checking first for any of the various creatures that also visited Pandora.
“Not staying in London?” He asked as Pandora returned with her favourite teapot and matching cups.
“No. Too lonely without Lily.”
“I thought you were staying with Lily.”
“I was. But she’s gone back to work and I wanted to be where the excitement is.” Pandora beamed at the room.
Regulus stifled his laugh. The cottage was filled with its usual organised chaos of experiments at different stages. Outside the occasional bird chirped in the bare trees. It was magnificently serene. A contented rather than oppressive atmosphere.
“Lily works?”
“Of course. Not everyone has family money to support them.”
“Hey. I also have a job.”
“Staying alive and plotting the downfall of evil wizards is only a part-time hobby. Lily actually has to earn an income to afford her flat and food and stuff.”
Regulus did laugh this time. “I’ll have you know that in my family staying alive is a full time job. And anyway I’ve started taking over some of Father’s role so I really do have to use my brain for business deals rather than nefarious plots.” Regulus sipped his tea. “What does Lily do?”
“She’s a healer at St. Mungos. Specialises in healing potions.” Pandora said proudly.
“I take it you are actually dating now?” Regulus said smiling
“Yes. I wasn’t sure if she would be able to, but she wants to so we are.”
They lapsed into comfortable silence. Regulus refilled his cup twice before Pandora returned from wherever her mind had wandered to.
“Yes.” She said. “It’s an excellent idea.”
Regulus waited.
“And we should be home in time for Christmas. I wonder if Lily will come here? It should be very pretty this year. Plenty of snow. It will look like a picture book fairytale.” Pandora paused. “You could come too if you wanted.”
“If I can.” Regulus, and meant it even though he knew it would be unlikely.
“When do we leave?” Pandora asked.
“Next week. You haven’t asked a single question.” Said Regulus.
“Oh. What do I need to know?”
“Only you can tell me that. I thought you might like to come with me to Hungary and find out who’s pretending to be Voldemort.” Regulus responded
“Of course. But don’t you already know?”
“I have a very strong suspicion. I want to make sure before I take any action. The consequences are going to be unpleasant.” Regulus frowned. He really hoped he was wrong.
“What about your family?”
“Business trip. I need to go make nice and introduce myself to the Eastern European arm of the empire as my father’s heir in business matters as well as title.”
Pandora laughed merrily. “You? Make nice.? You’re going to go and frighten them into submission by being all quiet, all knowing and just a little bit scary.” She said before adding. “That’s why we love you,”
Regulus smiled. He wasn’t sure who the ‘we’ entailed but decided against asking. There were occasions when ignorance was required. Another comfortable silence. Regulus picked up a book and began to flick through it. Advanced herbology. “Sam Meadows.” He read aloud.
“Cousin of Dorcas.” Pandora said without looking up. “Forgot to give it back when I finished school. Not required anymore so I’m keeping it for Lily now.”
Regulus raised a brow but no more was forthcoming.
“What does your mother think?” Pandora asked abruptly.
“About? She knows Voldemort is dead - made sure to see the body with her own two eyes - and is furious there is an upstart riding on his reputation. She thinks she’s manipulated me into this trip so she has a spy to find out more.” Regulus heard the loathing in his own voice. He’d need to watch that it didn’t colour everything he did on the continent.
“And Miss Parkinson?” Pandora said primly. She’d decided not to like Elsbeth on principle, even though she knew the other woman was no more enthusiastic about the relationship than Regulus, and in other circumstances they may even have been friendly, if not friends.
“Elsbeth gave me a list of places to go and see and told me to ‘enjoy myself without making enemies if at all possible’ “ Regulus grinned at the shocked look on Pandora's face.
“You’ve become almost friends.” She gasped.
Regulus nodded. “It would appear that we have. She lives her life. I live mine. And we put on a charade for society when required. She’s a decent person. I think you might even like her.”
Pandora harrumphed. “The kringlesnacks agree. Will you introduce us?”
“Perhaps. After the New Year.” Regulus evaded.
Pandora gazed out the window. “Yes. That will be a good time. The rooks are still looking for their king and the knight has lost his queen. A water bath will be needed for the sapphires before the emeralds fade away.” The silence lay dormant, waiting quietly until “More tea?” Pandora said brightly.
Regulus shook his head and stood up. He was reluctant to leave but he had yet another business meeting to attend. For someone who hated food, his mother loved to combine business with dinner. Maybe it was a constant reminder to his father of how past indiscretions get resolved. “I need to go.” He said, shaking off the dark thoughts as best he could. “Thank you for your tea and company.”
Pandora rose gracefully to her feet and stepped towards him. Regulus gave a nod and opened his arms. With a happy sigh she wrapped her arms around his waist. ‘Still way too skinny.’ She thought ‘But something has lifted. Maybe this new friend will be good for him after all.’ Pandora felt Regulus put his head lightly onto hers. “You’ll always be my first and best friend Pan.” He said softly. She smiled. That was true. They moved apart.
“See you next week. Remember to bring extra socks.” Pandora said.
Regulus smiled and left the cottage before apparating back to London in search of warm socks for both of them.
—-
Ten days later Regulus and Pandora found themselves standing on a deserted street surrounded by imposing blocks of gray concrete high rise flats. A layer of ice and snow covered the empty gray-black pavements and roads. Cars were few and those they could see were all depressingly similar and beige.
Pandora took in the scene with a despondent air. “Where is everyone?” She asked, her hushed voice echoing slightly.
“How much do you know about muggle politics?” Regulus asked, scanning the streets for the magical gap he needed.
“Not much. They’ve had a couple of big wars in Europe this century, some smaller ones in Asia, and completely ignore the ones happening in Africa.” Pandora mused.
“After the Second World War Russia invaded its neighbours and formed what the politicians and history books call the communist eastern bloc. Where countries like the UK in the Western Bloc, have voting rights, free trade, a variety of entertainment and the ability to travel between countries, the countries like Hungary and Romania in the Eastern Bloc are tightly controlled by a centralist government. There is very little choice in this life but everyone has a paid job and just enough to eat not to starve completely.” Regulus explained. “Ah. Found it.”
Pandora stopped him before he could walk through a wall. “So how come you have business here?”
“Because all this “ Regulus turned slowly in a circle “has little to no impact on the wizarding world, and that’s where our current business interests lie. Other than a few corrupt politicians and senior oligarchs, the Black Empire stays out of the Eastern European muggle world. Shall we go in?”
Shaken by the abandoned streets and vulnerabilities she saw all around, Pandora followed Regulus through the magical wall. And stopped. In front of her was a thriving market place which made London’s Diagon Alley look positively provincial.
“Welcome to the wizarding hub of Eastern Europe. Two universities, one of which specialises in healing and has its own hospital. sixteen bookstores, and yes I’ve been in all of them. Gringotts of course, entertainment of all sorts, and the Black Cathedral.” Regulus said taking in the sights and sounds with what Pandora thought might even be avid interest behind his normal neutral features.
“Wait. There’s a black cathedral?” She asked
Regulus grinned. “Yep. My great great grandfather imported black marble to build his headquarters in the style of an eastern temple which got nicknamed the black cathedral by the locals. The name stuck and it’s still used by the business today. There is also a guest wing and the family residence wing all of which surround a garden and entertainment area.”
Pandora's eyes widened. She knew the Blacks were wealthy, even by wizarding standards, but this sounded too good to be true. “What’s the catch?” She asked.
“Don’t worry we won’t stay there. There are some good hotels and I have my own house, whichever you prefer.” Regulus said, steering Pandora through the throng of shoppers and market stalls. “Ahhh. The dragon auction. I was hoping there would be one today.”
Up ahead a crowd had gathered in front of an enormous stage. Pandora could hear the roar of at least three different dragons coming from behind a heavy red curtain.
“Dragon auctions are held twice a year to raise funds for the university’s magical creatures department. Whoever buys the dragon is obliged to release it back into the wild after twelve months. This way people have the status which comes with owning such a fierce creature, the dragon populations don’t suffer, and the researchers can study the impact of the program.”
Pandora thought about this for a while as they watched the excitement of the crowd build. “What is the impact?” She asked as the first dragon was brought on stage. A healthy male youngling.
“So far the team has been able to track the movements of several family groups which has allowed human populations to safeguard against raids and increase livestock. It’s still too early to see how the overall population will be affected. Another thirty to fifty years is the projected timeframe given the lifespan of the average dragon.”
“Regulus.”
“Hmm”
“Why do you know so much about the program?”
“My father brought me here the winter after Sirius left. When I turned sixteen and had control over some of my own money I started to donate to the program. Have done so every year since.” Regulus paused. The dragon stood, shook his wings and belched a ball of blue-green fire at the crowd, many of whom squealed in fright despite the warding shield protecting them. Regulus smiled faintly. “I like dragons.” He said simply. “Come. Let’s go settle into a not family-owned hotel, then I’ll take you to meet the researchers and see the department if you like.”
Pandora's face lit up. She had so many questions and now the opportunity to maybe get some answers. Regulus smiled as she slipped her arm through his, and they headed for his preferred hotel.