Chapter 14
Regulus walked down the stairs after Pandora called him down. “How much time do I have before he wakes up?” He said taking the piece of hair Pandora gave him.
“I poured enough dreamless sleep potion to last about 10 hours which should be enough time for the meeting right?” She asked while putting a blanket over Evan.
“If I brewed the potion well enough that will be plenty of time.” He said adding the hair to the polyjuice potion he had waiting in the kitchen. He stared at it for a few seconds. “What is it?” Pandora asked. “I’m nervous it’ll taste bad.” He said in reply. “Too late to go back now,” She said, pushing the glass towards his mouth.
He took a deep breath before throwing the potion back like a shot. He gagged and coughed. “Not good,” He said between coughs. Pandora just laughed at him.
Regulus waited till he felt the mark on his arm burn. “Time to go,” He said to Pandora with a grim look on his face. “Wish me luck,” He apparated away letting his mark guide him to where he needed to go.
He found himself staring up at the LeStrange Manor. Absent-mindingly rubbing his arm where the Death Mark still throbbed. He knew he had to rid himself of the mark soon. Having a dark mark branded on him was a sure fire way to be arrested and charged with being a Death eater regardless of if he defected. He just wasn’t sure how to get rid of it. He could cut his arm off but he would rather not do that. He wasn’t sure if cutting it would get rid of it or if it would just appear over the scar tissue. He wasn’t sure how deep the brand went.
Regulus tugged his rodes closer around him. Well he supposed they weren’t his robes. Kreacher had to steal them from Evan's home since Regulus was much smaller than Evan and his old robes wouldn’t fit. He hesitantly stepped further towards the house following the crowd of people walking into the doorway and standing in the large ballroom that was at the front entrance. He saw Tom Riddle standing on a makeshift stage at the center back wall of the room. He had his Occlumency shields raised; he just hoped it was enough to counter Riddle's Legilimency. If he got caught now he’d be dead and he’d go after Pandora next which Regulus refused to let happen. He’ll die before he lets his best friend, practically his sister, get harmed especially from his actions.
Regulus stood in the back looking around standing a bit on his tiptoes to view who was there. He saw hundreds of Death Eaters.
How is anyone meant to fight against this? Surely Dumbledore doesn’t have this many people to fight.
Regulus wasn’t sure. He knew there were a lot of Death Eaters, it was impossible not to when he had been a part of the inner circle for the small amount of time he was a proper Death Eater after he graduated from Hogwarts. Still he never imagined it would be this many. See it to believe it he guessed.
“Welcome, welcome all,” Tom started, “I’m sure you are wondering why I have ordered you all here tonight.” The way he said order instead of asked made Regulus uncomfortable. How could anyone follow him when it's clear he doesn’t see them as people with their own free will. Regulus didn’t know.
There were a few mumbles and whispers but when Tom looked towards them they went dead silent. The silence was held for what felt like minutes but couldn’t have been more than 10 seconds. Long enough some people began to fidget.
“We have held a back and forth stand between us and the Order for far too long. We need to make our actions clear. No one is safe from us,” The way he phrased it implied we were not safe either.
“They have protected the wizarding world enough for some to feel safe. This will not stand!” Tom Riddle’s voice filled the room. It only made Regulus more uncomfortable. He wished he and Pandora came up with a different plan but it was too late for regret.
“Come this time next month the Wizarding World will know they should fear us. That those mudbloods and blood traitors are not safe from us. That we will rid the world of disease they inflicted,” He looked around the room as if searching for someone who disagreed. He thought for a moment their eyes met and fear filled his body. He felt his Legilimency enter his mind and raised his Occlumency shields higher hoping he would pass by him. He watched Tom pause. He was holding his breath hoping not to hyperventilate or others around him know he doesn’t belong. He ducked down a bit, never before had he wished for his short height, the side effect of inbreeding, of 5 '5 instead of Evan’s 5' 11. He stared down at the floor praying he’ll advert his eyes and look at someone else. Finally after what felt like forever he turned away and surveyed the rest of the room.
“This time next month a very important thing will be taking place at Diagon Alley.” A wicked grin grew on his face making Regulus take a sharp breath. Death Eaters glance around at each other.
“School shopping,” Regulus’ blood went cold. Surely he heard wrong.
“All the happy go lucky students getting their books and quills and robes.” He said with his grin growing wider.
“The chaos will make it hard for any to get away. And any mudbloods there with their muggle parents will be easy to pick off. One by one,” Regulus wasn’t equipped for this. It was just him and Pandora; there's no way they could stop them. They were just two people. What could they do? They couldn’t protect everyone on Diagon Alley.
“Meet back here on this date next month and we will raid Diagon Alley.” Tom apparated away signally the end of the meeting. People began to walk towards the doors and apparate away jostling Regulus out of his frozen state. He looked around at all the Death Eaters and came to a conclusion.
They needed more people. And he knew where to find them.