When Regulus heard the sharp clink of high heels he expects the worst. If it's Bellatrix Regulus might actually consider stabbing himself in the eye with his wand just to have an excuse to avoid her. The women taunts him enough about Sirius in public, Salazar forbid she have a chance to torment him in private.
If its his mother Regulus might actually be more relieved. She's been much more quiet these past weeks ever since Sirius ran off, and besides she's hosting a party, she can't beat him because people would talk. Regulus can't guarantee she loves her children but he can guarantee she loves her reputation.
It turns out to be one of the last people that came to Regulus' mind.
"If anyone were to discover you, you'd be as good as dead Regulus Black." Narcissa says as she lowers herself with grace, sitting in the grass next to him. "I'm already good as dead." He mutters ruefully under his breath. Narcissa clicks her tongue lightly, "So angsty." She then brings forward a bottle of champagne and presents it to him, "Take it."
He looks at it with suspicion before grabbing it and kicking it back. Taking a long and deep swig. He winces as the alcohol burns down his throat. It leaves his mouth sour and somehow makes him more miserable than before. Which is saying a lot.
"Does it ever stop hurting?" He asks. She knows he's not talking about the sting of the champagne
Regulus knows her answer before she says it.
"No." She answers softly.
Regulus sighs, before tilting his head up to look up at the dark sky. Stars glitter the skies but Regulus keeps his eye out for one particular star. He won't find it though. Sirius has long left him.
"Mother wants me to take the mark next summer. She says it's my responsibility as heir." He hasn't told anyone this. Its like if he spoke the words aloud it'd make everything real. He doesn't want it to be real.
"You should run." Narcissa whispers the treacherous words so easily. As if it isn't something that weighs him down. Like hands dragging him down into the depths of dark water and drowning him.
He doesn't reply, instead taking another sip of the sour champagne. They both know what that means.
"Why don't you?" He says, shifting the conversation away from himself to her.
Now it's Narcissa's turn to stay quiet. She looks out into the distance as the wind whistles in their ears. Until finally she opens her mouth and the words spill out. "I want a family." She says softly.
Regulus is only slightly surprised. He couldn't originally imagine Narcissa even considering being a mother after seeing first hand what family does to a person.
"It's dangerous." He settles on.
She refuses to meet his eyes, continuing to look out across the grass field. "Yeah, I know, but I guess I'm just selfish like that."
"We're all selfish, its a family trait." Regulus chuckles slightly.
"Do you think that's why they ran?" Narcissa asks distantly as her eyes glaze over slightly.
"Maybe. Call it selfishness, they'll call it bravery." Regulus says. Stupid Gryffindor bravery. When Regulus was 10 after Sirius got sorted he tried to convince himself the sorting hat made a mistake. Because all he was ever told was that Gryffindors were too stupid and self righteous for their own good. To get into Gryffindor was to fail. In Regulus' eyes Sirius couldn't fail. Though eventually as the years went on Regulus has come to accept Gryffindor truly is the house Sirius belongs in. Regulus wishes it wasn't true, but he knows lying to himself only makes the burn worse.
Regulus goes for another sip.
"I'm thinking Draco Regulus Malfoy." Narcissa says with a small grin, interrupting the aching silence.
Regulus chokes on the drink, "Please no that'd be horrible." He splutters.
It seems to shake a laugh out of Narcissa as she throws her head back in amusement. "Better than Draco Lucius Malfoy?" She says teasingly.
"Merlin Cissy, either one is absurd." He winces.
She laughs again and Regulus decides he likes this version of Narcissa better than the one he's come to grown used to. For everyone else in the family she's nothing but polite and quiet and painfully reserved. Though to be fair the family must find him the same way.
They both lay down in the grass, fully facing the sky. The air is cold, but they both don't wish to go back indoors.
"I want you to be the Godfather." She says as she shifts to face him. "I feel you'd take good care of them. If something were to happen to me and Lucius. You'd be good with kids if you were to have them."
He shifts as well and smiles softly at her. "I'd be honoured to be the Godfather for any of your future children. I'll make sure to spoil them rotten. Though I believe you will already have that covered."
She reaches out for his hand and he takes it tightly. "Make sure to live to the day where you'll get to hold them." She squeezes his hand slightly, "Promise me."
He smiles, "I promise."