Chapter 17
October began, and with it, Regulus' least favorite sport: Quidditch. Yes, he had been on the Slytherin Quidditch team, but he had badgered the previous flying instructor and Quidditch coach into putting Cushioning Charms on the Bludgers. He had also only been on the team because Sirius had badgered him into joining.
Bloody Blacks.
His Fawn still wanted desperately to play the stupid sport, so Regulus, again, argued the Quidditch coach, a no-nonsense woman named Madam Hooch, into re-casting the Cushioning Charms on the foul balls. Harry went to the Slytherin tryouts a week later and got Seeker. Draco, Cissa's son, got Chaser.
Regulus didn't really care about Quidditch, once he made sure it was safer for his son. He was more anxious about the upcoming ritual.
Slowly, Samhain approached, bringing with it the promise of Tom's return.
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"What's wrong, Fawn?" Regulus asked.
It was the twentieth of October. The two of them, along with Remus and Sirius, were sitting in Regulus' quarters, enjoying dinner. Harry's expression was morose.
"I forgot that the Dursley's didn't sign my permission slip to go to Hogsmeade," Harry said resignedly.
"I'm your guardian, Harry -- I sign it, not the Dursleys," Regulus said gently. Harry looked embarrassed. "Give it to me, I'll sign it. Accio Pen!"
"Why are you using Muggle stuff, Reg?" Sirius complained. Harry looked startled.
"A pen doesn't run out of ink for several months, Sirius," Regulus retorted, catching the pen as it shot towards him. Harry pulled a scroll of paper out of his bag and handed it to Regulus. He signed it messily as he added, "And pencils last even longer, depending on how often you use them. Mechanical pencils are refillable, making them permanent, unless you break it -- and magic can fix it, so, it's permanent."
"Sirius, why don't you like Muggle inventions?" Harry asked nervously.
"They're-" Sirius began.
"You never believed Mum when she talked about those in the LGBTQ+ community, Firstbloods, halfbloods, and 'Blood Traitors,'" Regulus interjected. "Why would you believe her about Muggles?"
"I met some," Sirius said weakly. "And -- and the Dursleys."
"Have you met every single one of them? Did you meet more than ten?"
"No, but-"
"I have met far more Muggles than anyone in this room," Regulus said sharply. "They are far more complex than some Dark Purebloods tend to believe."
"How?" Remus asked curiously.
Regulus sighed, setting aside his Shepherd's Pie. "I didn't just babysit and tutor Death Eaters' children. I also scouted the Muggle Underground."
"Raven," Sirius breathed, stunned. "You -- Dumbledore-"
"What lies has that idiot spouted about me?" Regulus said irritably. "I just scouted. The Muggles weren't aware of my presence. The Dark Lord just wanted to know if there were any Muggles powerful enough to notice the several deaths that were happening. What I found was... astounding."
"What?" Remus asked.
"There are a few in the Muggle Underground -- the higher ups, the ones with the most intelligence and followers -- that are aware that wizards and creatures exist," Regulus said bluntly. "They don't know everything, but they know. They just watch us. They realize that the only weapon they possess that can destroy all of us, should we become a threat, is a weapon to terrible to use, and it would also destroy Muggles."
"An atomic bomb?" Harry guessed, looking nauseated. Remus went green, but Sirius looked confused.
"Imagine a Bombarda Maxima that can level half of Britain, and within a several mile radius around that, a poison curse that causes several health issues," Regulus said flatly.
"Muggles can't create anything like that!" Sirius choked. "Can they?" he whispered.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I learned about it in History. They created it a really long time ago, during one of the Muggle World Wars. I don't remember a lot or which one, but... it was horrible, what I do remember."
"World War II," Remus said quietly.
"Why would they do that?" Sirius rasped.
"They thought it was the only way to defeat their enemy," Regulus answered flatly. "Adolf Hitler. Imagine Gellert Grindelwald, but... much worse. The good side -- America, Britain -- were desperate to protect people."
"So, they decided to-" Sirius didn't finish.
Regulus nodded. "But Muggles are capable of more than that. They are also capable of kindness, and forgiveness, and service. They are human beings, just like us. They can be good or bad. The only difference between us and them is they do not have magic -- at least, not the type of magic we use. They call their magic science."
"Huh," Harry said thoughtfully. "I guess science is kind of like magic."
"So... I should start using pencils?" Sirius asked. Remus and Harry exchanged exasperated looks.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Regulus said, amused. "They are more efficient than quills, though."
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The day before Halloween, Sirius cornered Regulus. "I want to take Harry to see his parents' graves tomorrow," he said quietly.
"I want him back by dinner," Regulus insisted. "And he should spend some time in Hogsmeade."
"Why can't I take him after dinner?" Sirius asked with a frown.
"Harry and I have an outing planned," Regulus said bluntly. "Father and son. You're not invited."
"Rude," Sirius pouted. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Why noooot?"
"I'm flashing back to sixth year, with a certain boy, and a certain broom cupboard," Regulus said coldly.
"I said I was sorry!" Sirius cried. "I can keep a secret now, ask Remus!"
"No."
"Aw, but Raaaaveeeeen-"
"The more you act like a child, the less I want to say yes."
"I'm not a child!"
"Right."