Chapter 1
"Unca Weggie?"
Reg looked down at Theodore Nott Junior, who was gazing at him curiously. "Yes, little Teo?"
"Wew's Mumma and Dadda?"
"They went on a date," Reg lied.
"Wazza date?"
"They want to go somewhere alone to smooch and talk all lovey-dovey," Reg deadpanned.
"Ew!" Theo giggled. Reg winked at the two-year-old, who giggled harder, then went back to his blocks.
"Unca Weggie?" he asked after a while.
"Yes, little Teo?"
"Does you go on days?" he asked.
The image of a very attractive Slytherin with lovely amber eyes and a penchant for Parseltongue flashed in his mind involuntarily, and he blushed before he said, "No, I don't have anyone in my life that would want to do that with me."
"Why did yous cheeks be wed?"
"They're not," Reg said quickly. "They're the same color they've always been."
"Okay," Theo said with a shrug. He went back to his blocks.
A few hours later, when his parents returned from the mission, Theo was safely asleep in his bed (and no longer asking Reg any embarrassing questions).
"How was he?" Elena whispered as Theo's father just sniffed and headed upstairs.
"A perfect angel," Reg promised.
Elena handed him a few Sickles. "Are you sure you don't want more? We can definitely afford it."
"I don't babysit children for money," Reg insisted. "And I'm a Black, remember? I don't need it. I love children, spending time with them is payment enough."
"What did you tell him we were doing?" she asked carefully.
"I told him you were on a date," Reg explained.
She laughed. "And he lost interest immediately, I assume."
"And then asked if I go on dates," Reg said dryly.
"Are you courting anyone?" Elena asked in surprise.
"No," Reg replied, raising an eyebrow at the rather prying question.
Elena apologized, and they said their goodbyes. Reg was just about to Apparate back to his apartment when a familiar werewolf Patronus dove out of the sky and stopped in front of him.
"Reg, I need you to babysit Fawn, Bellabitch has done something stupid again."
Reg sighed exasperatedly, then Disapparated.
He reappeared in a dark alleyway just down the street from the Potter cottage. Sirius was waiting, looking angry and panicked.
"If Lord and Lady Potter are in danger, why do they keep going on dates?" Reg said irritably, casting his Hunter Black glamour over himself.
Sirius hesitated briefly before saying, "I really have to go-"
"You're not in the bearded fool's order, are you?" Reg demanded in alarm.
"How do you know about the Order?!" Sirius panicked.
"Maybe because ninety percent of you are reckless, idiotic Gryffindors," Reg deadpanned. Sirius sputtered indignantly, and the two headed towards the cottage. "Who else knows I babysit Fawn?"
"Lily and Remus," Sirius admitted. "I can't keep a secret from them."
"Because Lily is Lily and you have a giant crush on Remus," Reg teased, making his brother turn bright red.
"Shut up," Sirius muttered, and Reg cackled.
They headed inside the cottage. Harry was on the floor with Remus, playing with blocks. He looked up and beamed when he saw Reg. "Unca Way!"
"Ray?" Remus asked curiously, giving Reg a nod in greeting.
"He still can't say 'Raven,'" Reg shrugged. "It's, uh..."
Sirius grinned. "His crush calls him that."
"It's a codename!" Reg said quickly.
His brother jumped. "Wait, do you have a crush on Voldemort?"
Remus' eyes widened.
"No," Reg insisted. It was technically true. He had a crush on Tom Riddle, who only appeared when there weren't any meetings or raids going on. He only trusted four of his Inner Circle -- Severus, Lucius, Regulus, and Narcissa -- enough for that.
"Well, who else-?!"
"Unca Way!" Harry interrupted loudly, holding his arms out for Reg.
"All right, Fawn," Reg said with a laugh, picking up the little boy. Harry hugged him tightly and snuggled into his neck. "Don't you have a Bellabitch mess to clean up?" he asked.
Sirius bolted out of the room, cursing under his breath.
"Don't swear in front of the baby!" Reg yelled sharply, earning a laugh from Remus and a delighted giggle from Harry.
-------
A month later, on Halloween, Reg was adding the finishing touches to Noir Novels when the Dark Mark suddenly lost power. He blanched and yanked down his sleeve.
The Dark Mark wasn't gone, so Tom -- his master wasn't dead. But it had faded, meaning the Dark Lord was in a weakened state.
A werewolf Patronus suddenly flew into his bookshop and Sirius' voice cried, "Peter's gone! The little bugger told Voldemort where to find Fawn, Doe, and Stag!"
Reg laughed brokenly. "Expecto Patronum." His kingsnake Patronus slid out of his wand. "I'll head there in a minute. Don't do anything stupid!" The snake shot out of the shop just as the werewolf disappeared.
Quickly, he cast several Protection wards, Disillusioned himself, and Apparated directly to Potter Cottage.
It had practically exploded. The entire second floor was gone, leaving only a crib and a crying Fawn. Reg caught sight of something fiery red on the floor beside Harry's crib and choked off a sob.
"Mumma! Mumma!" Harry wailed. Reg quickly rushed over the rubble.
He heard another crack behind him and spun around, only to lower his wand when he saw Severus.
"What are you doing here?" Reg demanded, making Severus jump.
"I could ask you the same question," Severus rasped.
"Looking for our master, and protecting Fawn," Reg retorted.
"Fawn?"
"Harry, Lily's son," Reg replied. "Sirius isn't the most responsible, unsurprisingly, so I babysat whenever he couldn't. James didn't know, obviously, but Lily was fine with it." He climbed onto the second floor and removed the Disillusionment charm.
"Unca Way!" Harry sobbed. "Mumma! Dadda!"
"Oh, don't tell me James is dead, too," Reg panicked, picking up the boy. He turned to see Severus kneeling beside Lily's body. "Oh, Sev."
"He promised," Severus whispered, angry and despairing. "He promised to spare here."
Reg caught sight of some Runes underneath Lily's feet. He crouched and gently moved the body. "I think he did," he said slowly, pointing out the Life-for-Life Runic Ritual.
Severus' breath caught. "She -- she sacrificed herself for -- with Dark Magic?"
Reg smiled painfully. "Good old Doe."
"We need to leave before Dumbledore gets here," Severus said quietly after a long pause, getting to his feet.
"Why would Dumbledore-?" Reg frowned.
Severus looked embarrassed.
"What did you do?"
"I told him that the Dark Lord was after Lily's son," Severus admitted quietly.
"Severus!" Reg cried, outraged. "You know how manipulative and evil Dumbledore is! Are you insane?"
"No, just in love," Severus snapped.
Reg sighed but let it go, because he understood. "Fine. But I'm going to check up on Fawn as much as I can, because fuck Dumbledore."
Severus let out a raspy laugh.
Reg gently placed Harry back in the crib and cast a few Protective Charms over the child, as well as a Warming Charm. "It'll be okay, Fawn," he whispered.
"Unca Way," he whimpered.
"I'll see you soon, hatchling."