A Bit of a Setback
It was dark outside, when Harry’s eyes begin to droop for the first time that day.
So Regulus picks up the baby and moves with a tender grace, the flickering candlelight casting warm shadows across the room as he gently guides Harry upstairs.
Harry's energy had begun to wane a while, his laughter gradually softening into contented sighs, and his thumb beginning to be continuously popped into his mouth to suck on it, in a semblance of comfort.
Two years olds were too old for pacifiers, right?
At least Regulus assumed so, from his little knowledge on infants. At the thought, he instantly has Kreacher buy him as many parenting books as possible.
As Regulus tucks Harry into bed, the plush pillows cradle his head like clouds, and the soft blankets cocoon him in warmth and safety. Harry's eyelids flutter, his breathing slow to the steady rhythm of sleep. With one last tender smile, Regulus leans down to press a kiss to Harry's forehead, his heart swelling with adoration for the sleeping child before gently leaving the child in his new room.
Regulus had only left Harry alone for a solid ten minutes before screams and wails could be heard all through the manor.
Regulus's heart constricted with worry as the piercing cries shattered the tranquility of the night. Rushing back to Harry's room, he found the once peaceful scene transformed into chaos. Harry was thrashing wildly in his crib, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks as he flung anything within reach at a worried Kreacher, who was desperately trying to calm the distraught child.
"Harry, what's wrong? What happened, love?” Regulus's voice was laced with concern as he approached the crib, careful not to startle the already agitated child. He approaches cautiously, having to dodge quite a few flying objects.
But Harry's cries only intensified at the sound of Regulus's voice, his tiny fists clenched as he continued to hurl objects in their direction. Pale cheeks were blotched red with anger, tears and sweat, and Regulus was kind of freaking out.
The room was a whirlwind of flying toys and scattered blankets, the air thick with Harry's anguished screams.
Regulus reached out a trembling hand, his heart breaking at the sight of Harry's distress. "Shh, dear heart, it's alright," He murmurs soothingly, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Harry's cries continued to echo off the walls.
Desperate to calm the child, Regulus swept Harry into his arms, holding him close despite the flailing limbs and tear-streaked face. "It's okay, Harry, I'm here," He whispers, rocking the child gently in his arms as he tried to soothe the storm of a baby raging in his arms.
Regulus winced as Harry's tiny fists pounded against his chest, the force of each blow a painful reminder of the child's anguish. Tears streamed down Harry's flushed cheeks as he kicked and screamed, his cries echoing through the room like a haunting melody.
"Reggie... you... LEAVE me!" Harry's voice cracked with emotion, his words punctuated by sobs as he struggled against Regulus's grasp. The raw pain in his eyes tore at Regulus's heart, the weight of his accusation heavy with betrayal.
"I'm here, Harry, I'm right here," Regulus whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he tightened his hold on the thrashing child. But Harry's cries only grew louder, his desperation echoing off the walls like a primal scream.
Regulus's chest constricted with guilt as he held the sobbing child close, his own tears mingling with Harry's as he struggled to find the words to ease the pain in his heart. "I'm so sorry, Harry, I never meant to leave you,” He chokes out, his voice breaking with remorse.
Because of course Harry had abandonment issues. And Regulus hadn’t thought of that when he’d left Harry alone.
But Harry's cries showed no signs of abating, his small body wracked with sobs as he continued to lash out against Regulus with all the strength he could muster. His anguish poured out in torrents of tears and sobs that seemed to shake the very foundations of the room. Each lash felt like a dagger to Regulus's heart, the weight of Harry's pain a burden too heavy to bear. Regulus's heart ached with helplessness as he held the trembling child, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears.
"I won't leave you again, I promise," Regulus whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he held Harry close, his heart breaking with the knowledge of the pain he had caused.
"Kreacher, fetch me a calming draught," Regulus instructs, his voice tight with emotion as he struggles to keep his own composure. The elf nods, disappearing in a flash as he hurries to obey his master's command.
As they waited for Kreacher's return, Regulus continued to hold Harry close, whispering words of comfort and reassurance into the child's ear.
It took but a second for Kreacher to hand the potion to Regulus and for Regulus to quickly spell the correct dose into Harry’s stomach. “Thank you, Kreacher. That will be all. Tell Madam Bianca that we are alright, yes?” He tells the elf who nods immediatly and Regulus goes back to caring for his ward.
Regulus holds the baby close, rocking the two of them until Harry's sobs start to fade into quiet sniffles as exhaustion finally overtook him.
"I don't want you to leave me,” Harry sniffs, his words choked with emotion. "Everyone leaves me!"
Regulus's heart stutters at Harry's words, the pain in the child's voice piercing through him like a knife.
"I'm not going anywhere, Harry," Regulus whispers, his voice soft but firm, hands stroking Harry’s hair, as the baby trembled against him, hands clawing at his shirt, refusing to let Regulus go. "I promise you, I'll always be here for you. I might have to leave for work sometimes, but I’ll always come back to you.”
But Harry's sniffles only intensify, much to Regulus’ panic, and his tiny, tiny fists clench tightly as he continues to wail inconsolably. "You'll leave me like mummy and daddy did!" He cries, his voice choked with fear and despair.
Regulus felt a sharp pang of guilt pierce through him at Harry's words. He knew he couldn’t erase the pain of the past, but he'd be damned if he ever let Harry feel abandoned again.
“Harry, your parents never wanted to leave you,” Regulus murmurs, “They loved you more than life itself.” He insists, his own voice wavering with emotion. “James, your father, would have done anything for you,” Regulus whispers, and Harry’s sniffs grow quieter, the baby looking up at Regulus in awe.
“Really?” Harry asks, struggling to sit up and Regulus picks him up and draws the child into his arms. He stands up, carrying Harry over to his bed and then plops, ungracefully on top of it. They both end up bouncing and Harry’s unexpected giggle was a soothing balm on the irritated wound in Regulus’ heart.
Regulus proceeds to tuck both of them in bed, and he holds Harry close to his heart, drawing calming circles on the baby’s back.
Regulus could feel the tension slowly draining from Harry's small body as he nestled against him, their breathing falling into sync like a gentle lullaby. The weight of Harry's head against his chest felt like a balm to Regulus's soul, the warmth of the child's presence soothing the ache.
"Yes, Harry, really," Regulus whispers, answering Harry’s previous question, his voice barely more than a breath as he presses a kiss to the top of Harry's head. "Your parents loved you more than anything in this world. And even though they're not here with you, their love will always be with you.” Regulus points to Harry’s heart and then points to his own heart.
“They love me? No lie?” Harry asks, his breathing still shaky from his melt down.
“No lie, love. No lie,” Regulus murmurs, planting a couple more kisses on Harry’s head.
Harry's breath hitched in a soft sigh, his tiny fingers curling around the fabric of Regulus's shirt as if seeking reassurance. Regulus tightened his hold on the child, his heart overflowing with a love so fierce it threatened to consume him.
"You're not alone, Harry," Regulus murmurs, his voice a gentle murmur in the darkness of the room. “You never have to be alone again,”
And as Harry's breathing steadied and his eyelids started to droop with sleep, Harry’s eyes fill with panic trying to get as close to Regulus as humanly possible, "Don't weave me, Reggie," Harry murmurs sleepily, fighting not to sleep.
Regulus's heart shatters at the desperation in Harry's voice. He gathers the child into his arms, holding him close and murmuring soothing words in a futile attempt to calm his fears.
“Sleep, Harry,” Regulus promises, his voice soft and reassuring. “I’ll be here when you wake.” He vows the baby who instantly goes slake at the promise and then softly, Regulus starts to hum Harry to sleep.
“More mwahs,” Harry demands sleepily and Regulus’ lips twitch up in a smile, struggling not to laugh. He presses kisses to Harry's forehead, his cheeks, anywhere he can reach, hoping to offer some measure of comfort in the face of Harry's overwhelming fear.
The room was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting dancing shadows on the walls as they swayed gently to the rhythm of Regulus's hum. With each note, Harry's eyelids grew heavy, his breathing slowing into the gentle cadence of sleep. And slowly, gradually, Harry's fear begin to subside, his breathing evening out as exhaustion claims him once more.
It didn’t take much longer for Regulus to end up asleep as well.
Regulus woke to a foot in his face.
He sighs, his lips twitching in amusement as he gently moves the small toes so they don’t end up stabbing him in the eye.
It ends up waking Harry up instantly.
Light sleeper.
Regulus wondered who on earth could force a baby into being so on guard all the time.
What type of person they had to have been to abuse a baby…
Regulus honestly wished they’d suffered more.
“Reggie?” Harry murmurs and Regulus lets out a hum to reassure Harry of his presence. He sits up and stares down into a delightedly relieved green stare.
“You stayed!” Harry cheered and Regulus smiled.
“I promised didn’t I?” He muses.
“No one has ever promised me something and kept it,” Harry beams at Regulus like he was an angel.
Regulus plants a gentle hand on Harry’s head, ruffling his hair. “Making promises and not breaking them is basic human decency, love. Those muggles you were with, your aunt and uncle-” Regulus explains upon Harry’s confused look, “-were terrible people. You shouldn’t have been treated like that.” Regulus tells Harry who stares at Regulus like Regulus was telling him about the invention of invisibility cloaks.
“So…so there is nothing wong with me? I’m not a bad boy?” Harry asks Regulus.
“No. Nothing is wrong with you. It’s your aunt and uncle who were wrong. They were wrong to hurt you and wrong to treat you like that,” Regulus says firmly, allowing his eyes to meet Harry’s head on, so the child could perhaps trust him more.
“Oh,” Harry murmurs but looks away, his eyes blinking sleepily. But somehow those eyes were a bit lighter than before.
Harry kicks his little foot up in the air and Regulus snorts, gently grabbing the foot. He gives the bottom of his heel a light tickle.
Harry giggles, pulling his foot away, “Up Reggie,” Harry sits up and makes grabby hands at Harry who kisses Regulus’ cheek, “Mwah!” He exclaims and then points to his own cheek, tapping it twice. “Reggie give mwah too,”
Regulus, of course, could not refuse.
“Well come downstairs you two, Kreacher made us breakfast and we have a long day ahead of us,” His Oretta storms into the room and swoops in to steal Harry away from Regulus.
“Etta! Hi!” Harry giggles and then proceeds to give her all of the mwahs, demanding that Bianca give him kisses as well.
And his mentor absolutely folds, her eyes softening, and she proceeds to spoil her student’s new child.
Regulus doesn’t mind, he lets Harry go, blabbering away to Oretta as he prepares for the day. He trusted that his mentor would be able to dress Harry.
Today, however was the day that his Oretta was getting Sirius out of Azkaban.
Because his brother was innocent.
And Sirius had suffered enough.
Bianca Dreswell kind of wanted to burn the whole place to the ground.
Her eyes narrowed as she approached the desolate fortress of Azkaban, her heart heavy with determination. The poor little bean had instantly formed a very unhealthy attachment to Regulus, so her student had to watch over his new ward. And besides Bianca would never let Regulus come here. Not so soon into her student’s own recovery.
The poor man looked like he’d been through the wringer. First with his assumed death, then there was the whole time lapse thing, the death of one of his would-be bondeds, the betrayal of said would-be bonded and then the whole ending up raising said bonded’s child. Bianca personally didn’t feel like James deserved her Regulus’ loyalty, but perhaps her information was biased given that it had been Kreacher and Walburga giving her all of the supposed tea.
Besides she just wanted to get home to Nevarah and away from this dreaded realm.
Earth was seriously getting on her nerves.
It didn’t help that Regulus and her student’s new baby needed severe health checks. And that scar Harry had was seriously scaring her.
It had the same energy of that Horcrux in the attic.
The cold, imposing walls of Azkaban seemed to leer down at her, the very essence of despair and suffering seeping from its stone foundations.
As she stepped out from her portal and onto the grounds, the air grew thick with the stench of decay and misery, a tangible reminder of the horrors that had unfolded within these walls. Bianca gritted her teeth, her fists clenched at her sides as she pushed forward, her resolve unwavering.
She couldn't help but feel a surge of rage at the injustice of it all. Sirius Black, her student’s brother, had been wrongfully imprisoned in this hellhole for crimes he did not commit. Earth’s justice system was a fucking joke and she was pissed.
Bianca strode forward with purpose, her long, flowing robes billowing behind her like a cape caught in a gust of wind. The fabric, a deep midnight blue, swirled around her form as she moved, imbuing her figure with an air of mystique and authority. She was used to it after all, considering her rank.
As Bianca continued her advance, a chilling sensation washed over her, sending shivers down her spine. The presence of the so-called Dementors was palpable, their soul-sucking aura enveloping her in a suffocating embrace of despair and darkness. It was as if a cold hand had reached into her very being, draining her of all hope and joy.
Bianca had been told that they were soul-sucking abominations. And indeed, the creatures reeked of necromancy. It made Bianca wrinkle her nose in disgust.
She sighs a little but goes forth with her plan. Bianca needed to sneak in, and to do that… she needed a distraction.
Amidst the bleak expanse of Azkaban's desolate grounds, a crackle of energy sliced through the air, followed by another and another, each heralded by the distant rumble of thunder. From the midst of this ethereal display, a swirling orb of white-purple light coalesced, gradually taking form until eight sinewy legs stretched outwards.
As the thunderous crescendo reached its peak, Bianca stood amidst the pulsating energy, her expression was grim and determined. Without a word, she urges her familiar forward and she portals away from the attention Arachne was causing.
Arachne, a creation of her own making, prowled around the prison grounds, the spider’s movements purposeful and deliberate.
The air sizzled with electricity and the Dementors hesitated, momentarily ensnared by the lightening dancing around the spider creature before them. Bianca seized the opportunity, and urges her familiar, Arachne to attack.
Evan in Nevarah, her most intriguing companion had always been her spider familiar, a creature of shadows and lightening and silk that danced at her side. With its delicate legs and piercing gaze, Arachne was both eerie and elegant, a silent sentinel that watched over Bianca with unwavering loyalty.
As Arachne surged forward, the air thrummed with tension, every movement a symphony of power and grace. Bolts of lightning crackled around her, illuminating the darkness with their brilliant arcs of energy.
The Dementors, their dark cloaks billowing around them, hissed and moaned as they recoiled from the onslaught. They lunged forward with ghostly claws outstretched, seeking to ensnare the formidable spider creature in their icy grasp.
But Arachne was swift and agile, evading their advances with fluid movements. With each strike, she unleashed torrents of lightning, each bolt striking true and driving the Dementors back with crackling fury.
The battle raged on, a fierce dance of light and shadow amidst the desolate landscape of Azkaban. With each passing moment, Bianca's determination fueled Arachne's relentless assault, driving the Dementors back further and further.
And so Bianca took advantage of the Dementors predicament and she moved.