Chapter 4
Regulus was once again hiding behind a tree. He watched the LeStrange manor closely waiting to see any sign of movement from the windows. Unfortunately most of them were covered by curtains. He knew this was a situation he would just have to go for it. He wasn’t sure if he was even allowed in by the wards. It wouldn’t surprise him if he wasn't. Bellatrix wasn’t a very family type person.
He really hoped this didn’t go badly. He wasn’t sure what he would do if it did.
He pulled the cloak over his head making sure it fully covered him. Thankfully he was on the shorter side, something Sirius never let go and something he entirely blamed on being the result of inbreeding, so the cloak fully covered him.
He was so afraid of the cloak slipping off him. He definitely did not want to be caught here. Not only would he be tortured till he’s begging for death he also would die with the secret of the horcruxes and the knowledge that even if the Order was able to kill Voldemort he would be able to come back.
Quietly opening the front door and slipping inside he could hear Bellatrix and Rodolphus in the dining room.
Why did both of them have to be home? He thought knowing this will make it much harder.
Them both being home complicated the matter but Regulus was resolute in finding that horcrux and getting the hell out of here. At least with them both being in the dining room meant they were both busy and wouldn’t be walking throughout the house. Until they finish lunch that is.
He quickly made his way to the hall and opened doors as quietly as possible and opened only enough for him to slip in, occasionally checking to make sure the cloak hadn't slipped off or revealed his feet.
After looking through all the rooms on the first floor he was starting to hate the amount of rooms manors had.
Who needs this many rooms?
Regulus went to the stairs holding the cloak up a bit so he wouldn't trip on it and just hoping no one walked in to see his feet. He breathed a sigh of relief when he made it to the second floor with no interruptions. Now to look through more rooms.
Great.
He looked in every guest room, sitting room, library, and bathroom and had nothing to show for it. Aside from an alarming amount of curse books and dark magic in one of the libraries. He went to the third floor and continued the mundane task of looking through each room again. Finally he got to a room that was decorated differently from the rest. It had makeup and beauty potions on the vanity along with a hairbrush and some clothes in a hamper. Feminine clothes.
Unless Rodolphus is into something this must be Bellatrix’s room.
He didn’t feel the darkness. He would have thought Bellatrix would hide it somewhere close. She was obsessive when it came to Voldemort so why is it not here? He decided to search the room anyway. Maybe she hid it in a box that contains and hides dark magic. He searched in the closet, under the bed, in all the drawers, even under her pillow. Still nothing. Until he saw parchment on her desk. Grabbing it and reading the words.
"I demand more security at my LeStrange Family vault, I have very precious items in there I don’t wish to be lost. If this is not met I shall have to take matters further than this letter will allow."
Her vault. Why didn’t he think of that? It complicates matters. How is he meant to sneak into Bellatrix’s vault? Gringotts is notorious for being impossible to steal from. He’d have to do some serious planning for this to work. If he can even try to attempt. He’ll need to do a lot of research on Goblins.
He thought about it more when he heard clicking heels come from the hall.
Fuck fuck what do I do?
She shut the door behind her.
Goddamnit nothing can be easy can it.
He watched as she sat at her vanity messing with her hair and makeup.
Is this what girls do in their room? How boring.
He wanted in odd fascination as she started to pace around her room in a weirdly graceful way, almost like she was dancing. She hummed to her. He was practically begging someone to open the door so he could leave. He hated his cousin on a good day. Despised and fearful on a bad day but seeing this made him feel baffled. He couldn’t merge the cousin who would torture him for fun to the young lady dancing around her room.
He heard a knock at the door.
Yes please let me out of here.
Bellatrix turned and threw the door open. A shy house elf held out a plate of sweets.
“D-Dotty brought Mistress the sweets she asked for.” The house elf was shaking a bit holding out the plate. Bellatrix snatched it from Dotty’s hands and tasted one. She threw it at the house elf.
“This is not what I asked for! Bring me a new one!” Bellatrix pulled out her wand. “Get it wrong again and I will use this instead.”
The sight of the wand made Dotty shake more. “Yes Mistress.” She apparated away. Regulus quickly slipped through the door before Bellatrix slammed it close, also catching the invisibility cloak. He let out a breath of relief. Now all he had to do was sneak out. Which was thankfully much easier than getting out of the Malfoy Manor. He slipped unnoticed out the front door and quickly back to the tree he had hid before.
“Kreacher, time to go.” Kreacher jumped down from the tree grabbing Regulus’ hand and apparating them both away.
When they got back home he sat in one of the parlors thinking his nose scrunched up again. Kreacher brought him tea but he hadn’t touched it yet.
“Kreacher?” Kreacher appeared before him asking “Yes Master Regulus?”
“I need all the books about goblins there are at home.” Kreacher nodded and apparated away. Regulus got up and headed to the library in the house.
“Time to learn more about Goblins.”