Chapter Nineteen
Remus POV
It was dead silent in the cupboard. Iris and Lyla was gaping open mouthed at Regulus forearm where black ink wriggled like a dying animal in the shape of a snake and a skull.
I wish I could be more surprised. Regulus Black was nothing if not calculating, determined, and cunning.
“What?” Iris shrieked, stepping closer to regulus. Inside the confines of the small closeted their bodies where practically pressed together.
I glanced at Lyla who was recovering already. I could practically hear the gears in her head turning, working how to get the cup. She sure was persistent.
“What on earth were you thinking?” Iris cried. “You…you…you…” She stuttered over her words, emotion coloring her face.
Lyla grabbed her sister’s elbow and pulled her back. “I know you’re scared Rissy, but we need to focus.”
“I’m not scared, I’m angry,” Iris mumbled, but Lyla resolutely ignored her instead facing Regulus.
“Do you have a plan yet on how to get the Cup?” She asked, hand reaching up to tug at the wand jammed into her bun. “Some sort of strategy?”
“No.” Regulus was frowned, not having taken his eyes off Iris yet.
“Well, where would Bellatrix keep something important safe?” Lyla asked, her voice climbing in pitch. I reached for her, rubbing my hands up and down in her back in an attempt to calm her anxiety.
My own was causing my heart to beat rapidly. It reminded me of the nerves I felt finding the diadem. Danger, danger! my senses screamed, and I tried my best to ignore them.
“Her vault,” Regulus answered immediately. “It used to be her mother, Druella, and it’s rumored to be one of the safest in Gingotts. She even put her enchanted wedding ring from Rudolphus in there.”
Despite missing the significance of Bellatrix’s ring, I could her the certainty in Regulus’s voice. Evidently, Iris did too because she focus in on the task at hand.
“How on earth are we going to get into Gringotts?” She asked, frustration and fear turning her tone sharper than I had yet heard it. “It the safest place in the wizarding world.”
“Maybe we won’t have to break in,” Lyla said thoughtfully. She glanced at me considering. “Who does Bellatrix trust?”
Regulus shook his head, dark curls sweeping across his forehead. He locks eyes with me, grey irises burning with something I couldn’t decifer.
“It used to be Sirius,” he said slowly. “They were both the oldest—the heirs to the name. Both wild.”
I had know this already. I had heard Sirius’s version of the story were Bellatrix stopped being his favorite cousin and Andromeda, the only other one who got away, disowned after marrying Muggleborn Ted Tonks, had replaced her.
“Now, he’s dead to Bella,” Regulus said, snorting without humor. “I’m sure she would kill him if given the opportunity.”
“Anyone else?” Lyla practically begged. I leaned down towards her ear.
“Breathe,” I whispered. “The four of us together can do this.”
“I don’t know!” Regulus rubbed his forehead. Iris reached out, imperceptibly brushed against the sleeve of his cloak. This touch seemed to strengthen him greatly.
“I mean, she was close with her sisters before Andy left,” he said.
“Narcissa?” I asked. “Are they still close?”
“Cissy is…complicated,” Regulus said slowly. “She’s not crazy like Bella, but she’s not pro-Muggle like Andy. She…she is my favorite Black.”
He said this last part like a secret and I realized the full gravity of what he was doing for us, what he was revealing. This was his whole life, his family. I admired his courage.
“Oh!” Lyla gasped, starting to hop up and down. Regulus eyed her with a mix of exasperation and fondness.
“I’m assuming you have a plan?” He said. Lyla bobbed her head up and down.
“Narcissa is engaged!” She exclaimed like it was a solution to all of their problems. “I saw it in the Prophet! It’s to a Lucas Malfoy or something—a pureblood.”
“Yes,” Regulus said, brow furrowed in confusion. “That happened over Christmas Holidays. Why?”
“Well,” Lyla glanced at Iris conspiratorially. “I’m sure the sisters would love to compare wedding rings.”
I smirked. My girlfriend was an absolute genius.
“If Narcissa is your favorite, Regulus, I’m betting you are hers too,” Lyla continued, her body quivering in excitement. “And you said she’s not totally pro-Voldemort, right? Do you think you can convince her to get the Cup for us?”
We all turned to look at Regulus. He frowned thinking and running his fingers over his wand. Slowly, a smile crept on his lips.
“Yes,” he smirked. “I believe I can. Afterall, Blacks are capable of anything—for the right price of course.”
Regulus glanced around are small group, the dim light of the closet and his pale face casting the illusion of ghosts sharing secrets in the afterlife.
“Come prepared,” he ordered. “We are going to have to bargain.”
Lyla POV
Despite the freezing snow falling around us at Hogsmeade, my palms were sweating profusely. I tried to discreetly wipe them on the inside of my robes without anyone noticing.
Regulus was walking proudly ahead of us a little ways down the path so as not to attract rumors of him being friends with Muggleborns. His head was held high, snow creaking white polka dots on his dark curls.
He looked confident, undaunted. I wish I could feel that way too. Remus also looked composed as always. He smiled easily at those we passed and kept a light conversation up with me.
Even Iris, who we’d parted ways with this morning, was calm. I thought she would at least be somewhat anxious; the last Hogsmeade trip had resulted in Mel’s injury.
The ban on students entering Hogsmeade had been lifted for only today—Valentines’ Day.
Regulus had managed to contact Narcissa and set up a meeting with her at Hog’s Head today. That was the easy part. Now we just had to convince her to abandon her beliefs to help us take down one of the most powerful evil wizards ever.
Piece of cake. At least, everybody else was acting like it.
Sensing my discomfort, Remus squeezed my hand. I squeezed back and he leaned down to talk to me.
“Hey, Brains, it's gonna be alright,” he assured me. I nodded my head.
“I don’t forget,” I told him. “We have to leave here by four to get back to the castle. That way you have time to get to the shack before the moon rises.”
I had urged Remus not to go. I had told him he’d be more comfortable spending the day resting, but he adamantly refused to be left out of this important discussion. After having been forced to realize Remus knew the second most about the black family from stories told by Sirius, I had relented.
Now, Remus was leaning heavily in my side and wincing every other step.
“We’re almost there,” I encouraged him. It was true. Through the flurry of snow I could make out the worn sign of the Hog's Head.
After a couple more slipping and sliding steps across the icy path, we made it to the door.
Regulus and Iris were already sitting at a large table in the far corner of the shop, five butterbeers steaming in front of them.
We went to them, I made sure Remus was comfortable before sitting down myself. I was on one side, Remus on my left and the empty chair for Narcissa on the right. Iris sat across from me and Regulus next to her. We thought it best he faced his cousin straight on.
“Anybody see you come?” Regulus asked, his voice low and lips barely moving despite the emptiness of the store.
“No, you?” Remus replied.
“Of course not.”
We didn’t have time to say anything else to each other, or prepare anymore because the door to the Hogs Head burst open, sending a gust of chilly air sweeping around the room.
Although I had seen her picture in the Prophet, I still gaped at Narcissa and her natural beauty.
Her blonde hair was tied in an elaborate braided bun and a dark velvet cloak was draped elegantly over her shoulders in her left ring finger, a dazzling diamond glimmered for all to see.
She made her way quickly over to us, heel boots clipping in the silence.
“Hello, cousin,” she greeted Regulus, ignoring the rest of us. Regulus stood and pulled out her chair for her, waiting for her to settle in it before pushing it back in.
“You called me here for a favor?” She said, voice haughty and dripping with sweetness. “Reggie, dear, you know how I hate giving out favors.”
“Call it a bargain, Cissy,” Regulus countered, raising his chin. “We came here to negotiate.”
“Then by all means start,” she offered, sweeping her hand out in front of her and finally looking at the rest of us. “What is it you ask for? Better connections perhaps?” Her eyes darted towards Remus.
“I didn’t expect you to ever befriend one of Sirius’s so-called friends.”
“Fear not, Cissy. We are not friends. We want something from Bella’s vault,” Regulus eyed his cousin cautiously.
Narcissa laughed, tittering like a bird. “Oh cousin, dear, you know how particular Bella is about her belongings. You’d sooner fight a dragon then be let into her vault.”
“They may be true for me,” Regulus admitted. “But I doubt the same can be said for her sister.” His eyes darted to her hand. “What a lovely ring, Cissy.”
Narcissa wiggled her fingers admiring the diamond. “Yes, Lucius spared no expense for me. It’s quite lovely. And quite expensive.”
“Bella has her engagement ring in her vault, does she not?” Regulus asked, leaning back in his chair, the picture of ease and calm.
“She does,” Narcissa agreed.
“Perhaps you would like to see her ring, yes? Compare their beauty?” Regulus smirked slightly. “Of course, you’d have to go to her vault to do this, and, maybe while there, you could…nab something for your favorite cousin.”
“Now, Reggie,” Narcissa tutted, blood red lips pulling upwards. “What is this item you are so desperate for? Desperate enough to keep…unsavory company?”
“A cup,” Regulus answered without hesitation. “Helga Hufflepuff’s house artifact.”
Narcissa studied her cousin through narrowed eyes. Her gaze swept across all of us.
“My dear cousin, I wish I could,” she said standing, brushing imaginary dust off her robes. “But there is really nothing you can give me that I want. And I never do anything for free.”
She stepped towards the door. “I have a date with Lucius soon. Expect an invitation for the wedding soon, Reggie. Good-bye.”
“Come now, Cissy,” Regulus’s posture was the same as before but his tone revealed urgency. “There isn’t anything you want?”
“No.” Narcissa opened with door.
“Wait!” I cried, standing up. Narcissa did, inspecting me like I was an annoying feather stuck in her coat.
I may not know purebloods or politics, family heritage or great fortunes, but I did know sisterhood.
“We do have something you want,” I insisted.
“And what is that, dear?” Narcissa asked like she was entertaining a small child.
“Your sister,” I said. “Andromeda.”
Narcissa closed the door.
I sucked in a fortifying breath and continued. “You miss her, I know you do. You want to talk to her. To write to her. We can make that happen.”
“How?” Narcissa spat. “You know nothing.”
“Sirius.” This came from Remus, his expression pained but resolved.
“Sirius writes to her every week,” he continued. “He can pass on your letters to her, and Regulus can pass on hers to you.”
Regulus nodded his head in agreement. Narcissa stayed frozen to the spot.
Her eyes slipped closed and she sucked in a deep breath, shoulder shaking. After a moment she opened them again.
“Collect the Cup at Easter Holiday, Regulus,” she said, opening the door again. “If you don’t keep up your end of the deal, you will be sorry.” I could hear the truth dripping from her tongue like acid.
“Thank you, Cissy,” Regulus said, softly.
Narcissa closed the door behind her without saying another words.
I sat slowly back down in my seat shaking slightly from adrenaline. Five cups of untouched butterbeer sat in front of me.
“Alright,” said Remus after a few more seconds of unbearable silence. “That went well. Now all we have to do is convince Sirius.”
Regulus let out a low growl from where he was sitting.
I reached up a hand to my forehead, rubbing the headache that was beginning to form behind my eyes.
This was going to be difficult.
Regulus POV
I felt a pang of regret to see Narcissa go, despite the task looming ahead of us. She was one of the few people who actually understood me and what it was like to still be a part of the House of Black, while not entirely conforming to it.
In the past, her romantic notions had occasionally bothered me, but even then, she had always had this quietly confiding nature that drew me to her. It had taken me a while to realize that her girlish romance did not negate her strength, but once I did, the floodgates had opened. I wasn’t a terribly vulnerable person by any stretch of the imagination, but when those rare moments did surface, it was always a result of her.
I supposed I’d have to tell her that after all this was over.
The four of us rounded the bend of Honeydukes, the one that bordered the forest, and Lupin shot Lyla an adoring glance as she rattled on about her Astronomy test. I was about to bite out something about Lupin and Lyla getting a room when the strangest expression came over his face. He had just thrown back his head to laugh at some snarky remark she had made, when his gaze gaze caught on something over my shoulder and he froze.
I whipped my head around just as a bloodcurdling scream broke out. Four figures in dark robes, the matching set I had seen hanging in the front closet of Grimmauld Place, emerged from the snow.
The contrast between the crude robes and the pink and red decorations lining the streets felt ominous and wrong. I couldn’t see their faces underneath their robes, a small mercy given that I didn’t think I could handle seeing my parents murder my classmates in cold blood. It was a selfish comfort, but I couldn’t help it.
We needed to get out of here now. Even if it wasn’t my parents, if it was Bella, or even worse, one of my overeager, newly initiated classmates, they could easily call me over to join the fun, anonymity thrown to the wind. I could not see Bella right now.
A fear breiflely popped into my head that logistically, Cissy could easily be one of those cloaked figures, but I shoved that thought away. She was obedient, but not bloodthirsty. And it’s not like she was high enough in the ranks anyway to be included in this sort of attack. I only hoped that she would be able to disappear fast enough before one of them recognized her and started asking questions.
The tallest cloaked figure raised his wand to shatter the windows of Zonkos and I grabbed Iris’s arm as another chorus of screams sounded. People had started running and adults were disapparating.
I saw that old, surly owner of the Hog’s Head come running out of his bar, but instead of disapparating, he raised his wand to spell the closest Death Eater. She turned on him, and I figured he’d be dead within the hour but I didn’t stop to see his fate.
The four of us bolted around the corner and Lupin started darting into the woods. A smart move, as it would offer us the cover we desperately needed. The trees came right up against the back of Madam Puddifoots and we darted into the underbrush.
We had barely made it for steps when an ear shattering explosion sounded directly behind us. I barely had time to register the ringing in my ears or the bricks showering down around us when everything went suddenly and absolutely black.
Iris POV
I woke with a cough as thick, smoky air assaulted my lungs. As I peeled my dry eyes open I was greeted with more darkness. Was I even awake? I had no idea where I was. The back of my head started to throb and I felt dizzy as I gingerly reached back to touch it. It came away wet and my heart began to race as I raised my hand to my face and sniffed. Definitely blood. Then it hit me. The death eaters and the explosion. Had I really been knocked out by it? I had to have been, right? And the others…
I jerked around in the dark, grabbing my wand from my pocket with relief as I illuminated the scene around me. Regulus lay next to me, and Remus and Lyla not far ahead. They were all deathly still on the ground and my heart stopped. I leapt towards Lyla and shook her, trying not to give in to hysteria.
“Wake up, wake up,” I whispered, no idea if the death eaters were still around. I let out a cry of relief when her dropping eyes slowly opened and crushed her in a hug. “Thank Merlin.”
“Iris? What’s going on?” she asked, then took in Remus next to her and shot to his side.
I went back to Regulus, praying he was okay. I felt the back of his curly black head and there wasn’t a bump or gash, thank Merlin, but he did have a few cuts on his arms and back.
“Reg,” I whispered, the old nickname slipping back onto my lips of its own accord. “Reg, wake up.” I cradled his curly, dark head in my lap as I gently shook him with one hand and brushed the hair of his forehead with the other. “C’mon.”
A moan escaped his lips and my heart clenched as his eyes blinked open and he sat up. I shot into his arms, forgetting about everything hanging between us in that moment. When I pulled back, he was blinking at me in the glow of my wand light.
“Are you alright?” he asked hurriedly, running his hands up and down my arms as if feeling for injuries.
“Yes,” I told him. “It’s just my head, but it’s not a big deal.”
His hand immediately shot to the back of my head and when it came back slightly bloody his already pale face went even paler. “We need to get you to the hospital wing now,” he said urgently, shooting to his feet and then swaying on the spot.
“I’d love to, and you can join me,” I said as Lyla and Remus gathered around us. “Just as soon as we figure out how to get there. Do you think the death eaters are still here?”
“Doubtful,” Regulus said. “They usually leave immediately after an attack and clearly we’ve been here for hours.”
“Lucky no one found us,” Lyla said, then stopped at the look on Remus’s face. “What is it?”
“I’ve gotta go,” he said urgently, already starting to stride away from us. Horror dawned on Lyla’s face. “I’m really sorry but I’ve got to go.”
“What-“ I started to say, then cut myself off as Remus stumbled slightly, clenching his fists. “Are you okay?”
His hands began to shake and his gaze darted to Lyla’s in fear, just as the clouds moved and the full moon illuminated his gaunt face. I’d never seen him look so terrified. “Run,” he urged, but it was too late.
I watched, frozen in shock, as he stumbled again and this time when he rose from the underbrush, his arms and legs were lanky and his clothes were splitting at the seams. What was more alarming though was that his pupils had completely dilated and an animalistic gleam shone in them.
Then he tossed his head as the rest of his face completely evolved into a pointed snout and sunken, waxy skin. His ears pointed and grew, and his hair thinned and sprouted all over his now bare back. As his clothes fell to the ground in shreds, he hunched into all fours and let out a blood curdling howl.
A werewolf. Remus Lupin was a werewolf.
I stumbled back into Regulus who was startled into action, ready to run, but Lyla had already planted herself firmly in front of us, wand raised. The look on her face was terrified, but not surprised. She had known, I realized.
I stood there, torn between my fight or flight instincts and instead just freezing like a moron. I watched in horror as the werewolf-Remus sniffed the air once, then turned his wild eyes on us. He took one loping step towards us, then two as I fumbled for my wand.
All at once he leapt towards the trio of us. One of us let out a scream-I couldn’t tell who- but just before we should have been met with greasy fangs, a giant black form flew out of nowhere to collide with Remus.
It was a dog. A huge, snarling dog who stood directly in between us and Remus. They both growled at each other, poised on their haunches and ready to fight, but before either of them could make a move, both of their ears perked and heads swiveled towards the sound of galloping to our right.
Out of the underbrush emerged a stag, enormous in size, its antlers only adding to the effect. It blinked once at the three of us, and I could have sworn the gesture felt almost human. Then it turned its attention to the beasts and began to circle the pair of them, antlers lowered and ready to be used.
I didn’t know if this sort of fight normally broke out between woodland creatures, but I couldn’t help thanking Mother Nature for their timely appearance. I grabbed Regulus and Lyla’s arm and hissed, “Let’s go,” seizing on the distraction. As I pulled them away from the fight, my foot landed on something round and I nearly rolled my ankle. The round ball squeaked, it turned out to be a mouse, and then, to my absolute astonishment began to grow.
Then I was sure I must be dreaming because as it grew, it became more human-like by the second until it was a human. A human I knew. “Peter?” I asked, blinking like the madwoman I surely was.
“No time to explain,” he squeaked out. “Follow me.”
To my horror, he started heading towards the fight. The fight, that I realized, was crashing farther and farther away from us. Every time Remus sprang at them, the two animals always defended themselves, but never attacked back. Instead they seemed to be corralling Remus in a certain direction.
“C’mon,” he beckoned. “I know a way back to Hogwarts, would you just hurry?” he asked, and his eyes darted around the forest as if he couldn’t wait to be anywhere but there.
It’s not like I particularly knew the boy, especially after this most recent revelation, but the marauders seemed to trust him and that was enough for me. That must have been enough for Lyla and Regulus too, or else they just didn’t see another alternative because they followed without protest. Once he realized he had our obedience, Peter began racing through the forest, directly in the wake of the destruction and broken branches the animals had left. We ran after him, our legs and arms getting cut up by branches as we went. Finally, we crashed out of the forest and to my shock, came face to face with the Shrieking Shack.
Peter dashed from the trees to the front door which was hanging open of that haunted house but the three of us paused. Unmistakable howling was coming from one of the upper rooms of the Shack, accompanied by barking and growling, sounding like a symphony of pain. When he realized we weren’t behind him, Peter turned back.
“No need to worry, it’s perfectly safe,” he weaseled.
“I somehow doubt that,” Regulus answered.
“Well, not perfectly safe, but it’s not like you’ll be with them. There is a secret passage in the basement that leads directly to the Whomping Willow. It’s your best shot to get back to Hogwarts undetected,” Peter said.
I looked at the other two and shrugged. “It’s not like we have another choice.”
I gulped as I crossed the threshold and noted the fresh blood trailing down the hall as we headed for the staircase and Peter held the basement door open for us. Lyla must have too because she suddenly asked, her eyes darting upward, “Will Remus be okay?”
“Course he will,” Peter said, like it should have been obvious. “James and Sirius are with him.”