Chapter 13
The stars look beautiful tonight, thought Regulus while laying on the roof of the Slytherin manor. His family had always had ties to them, naming their children after stars and constellations. Nobody knows where the tradition of star names came from but it has been in the Black family since it’s beginning.
Unlike his family who mostly only care about the stars as far as their names, Regulus loved them and he has loved them since he was a little boy learning about how he was born during a celestial event and what constellations covered the night sky. It went onto Hogwarts where astronomy was his favourite subject.
The stars became his comfort zone, they were always there. They can’t run away from him, hurt him or yell at him. That’s what he loved the most about them, they were constant and couldn’t hurt him. They brought him peace of mind and calm when needed. Regulus Black’s safe place is with the stars.
When he was stressed he went to watch the stars, when he needed to think he went to watch the stars, when he was overwhelmed he went to watch the stars. Regulus Black relied on the stars and went to them for comfort and help.
And his soulmate who prides himself in knowing everything about him, knows this.
“I knew I’d find you here” came Marvolo’s smooth voice. It started Regulus out of his thoughts about the meeting that had happened a few days ago. Ever since the meeting he has had a lot to work through and think about.
“You have been ignoring me” Continued Marvolo. ‘I’ve been ignoring him to not hurt his feelings’ thought Regulus internally but shook the thought away as his Love laid down next to him on the roof, after casting a few warming and cleaning charms of course.
“Now you are going to tell me what is bothering you and why you have been avoiding me.” Said Marvolo after getting settled next to Regulus. He didn’t get a response, instead Regulus just shuffled closer to him and snuggled into his side while still looking at the stars. Releasing a sigh of defeat Marvolo wrapped his arms around the other and tugged him even closer.
They spent a while like this, enjoying each other's company and the silence while admiring the stars. Though Marvolo was mainly staring at the Leo constellation, more specifically the heart of the lion, it was his favourite star, had been for a while now.
Meanwhile Regulus, who was glad for the fact that Marvolo wasn’t pressing him for answers, had gathered all the bravery one slytherin can have and decided to have a talk about what he had been thinking about for the past few days. Sighing, he peeked upwards from his position and saw that Marvolo was already looking at him, quickly turning his gaze back down.
“I wasn’t trying to avoid you” mumbled Regulus, figuring that making that clear would be a good conversation starter. He was right, the moment he finished saying that he felt the other’s muscles relax under his cheek.
Both of them were aware that they love each other and that there is nobody else out there for them, but some fears will always remain with us. Abandonment is one of the fears that both men shared.
“I got thinking at the meeting” During the part where death eaters made their announcements was left unsaid but they both were thinking about it “about us and our future. About what I want from my future and if you want the things I want”
The meeting went well, their followers were ecstatic to know that they would now have an opportunity to win this war without half as much bloodshed as they had anticipated. The only one not happy was Bellatrix and well everyone had learned to ignore her by that point. After Marvolo and Regulus had finished their announcements, they gave the turn to their followers.
The first ones to take the floor were Bellatrix's husband Rodolphus, who announced that he will be looking into blood adoption and left the reason unsaid though everyone knows that Bellatrix refuses to sleep in the same room as her husband. What was weird was that Bellatrix openly showed that she will not be supporting her husband in acquiring an heir, that made everyone in the room suspicious of her.
Next came several different followers who announced things like bethrotals, bondings, blood feuds, divorces, deaths, the progress of the war and pregnancies.
Much to everyone’s surprise the last ones to take the floor was the Malfoy couple. Everyone wondered what they would talk about as they were happily married and neither had relatives who could have died. What was left unsaid was that Maloy family had an incredibly difficult time reproducing , it had taken Abraas 15 years to get his wife pregnant with an heir, so nobody expected it when Narcissa stepped forward and said “The Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy is expecting a heir in the beginning of June of next year.” With that they left the floor and went back to their places where everyone congratulated them.
After that everything went as a blur for Regulus and after the end of the meeting he had fled as fast as socially acceptable to go gather his thoughts.
Which brings us to the conversation Regulus and Marvolo are having now, in the middle of the night, on the roof of their manor. “I want a child” Regulus blurted out, deciding this is the best course of action instead of dancing around the topic.
Marvolo was stunned speechless and before he could say anything Regulus started speaking again “So I have been thinking about this since Narcissa announced her pregnancy, obviously neither of us need a heir because we are immortal but I want a child to raise of our own. I’m 20 years old, so I’m old enough. I thought we could use a witch surrogate because male pregnancies are dangerous and have around a 50% mortality rate, neither of us are willing to die, even when it’s technically impossible for us. And us being pregnant would paint an even bigger target on our backs, so hiding a surrogate would be easier for all of us. I keep imagining a baby with your looks and my want for a baby only increases. And I understand if you don’t want a child, I would understand and accept it, I just figured that coming clean about it would be the best decision” When he finished Regulus was panting for air and had an urge to facepalm himself for ranting like a gryffindor.
Marvolo was speechless, he had never even fathomed actually having a child. Sure it was his biggest dream to be a parent but he had given up on it a long time ago. And after finding Regulus, he didn’t think he would want a child after everything he went through in his childhood. Though he has to admit that he too has imagined what a child of theirs would look like, though his version has Regulus’s silver eyes and curls and cheekbones and ....basically a mini Regulus.
Snapping out of his thoughts Marvolo looked at Regulus who had slid off his chest and back onto the roof and was staring at the stars with a blank face. Burying his emotions not to get hurt, Marvolo knew exactly what the other was doing and it hurt him to see the other like that so he decided to ease his turmoil.
“I imagine our child would look more like you, Stella mea.” Saying that got him the exact reaction he wanted, Regulus’s head snapped towards him within milliseconds, so fast Marvolo was afraid he might snap his own neck. “Though we have to speak more in detail about the methods of acquiring said child, my dear. But let’s do that later as it is” Marvolo looked at the sky for a second “approximately 2am right now and we have things to take care of tomorrow, so I suggest we go to sleep and talk about a child when we find time” Proposed Marvolo, trying not to sound dismissive but also not wanting to deal with an emotionless and overtired Regulus Black the next day.
Nodding in agreement Regulus rose from the roof, you could hear his bones cracking, signifying just how long he had laid there. Marvolo rose after him and together they made the journey to their shared bedchambers.
When both were under the covers, Regulus fell asleep almost immediately, Marvolo however remained awake just admiring his soulmate and imagining their future child while he too fell into Morpheus’ realm.