Meeting the relatives
12/07/1996 (10:20 AM)
Regulus opens his eyes to listen to the noise that had startled him awake. There on the door he catches the eyes of a very fat boy who make a run as if he had seen a monster. Regulus who is suddenly fully awake and remembers that he is at Potter's house, sits up and try to understand what has the rude fat child so worked up and finds nothing out of place.
He had just fallen asleep after Potter had left the bed around seven in the morning. Before that he did'nt catch even a wink of sleep. He checks time using tempus and decides to leave Potter's house and head to Leaky cauldron. Not wanting to overstay his welcome.
He gets ready in yesterday's clothes after cleaning and straightening them with a quick charm and then casts a cleaning charm on the clothes potter lended him for the night and folds them .
He tip toes to the staircase, not sure where Potter is and remembering the intructions from Potter to keep quite and to make a run if his uncle is there. Now that he thinks about it, it does not make much sense. Why would Potter not want his uncle to see him. As far he knows Potter's uncle is a muggle, its not as though he will know who Regulus Black is. Shaking his head, he makes his way downstairs.
"....don't lie to me boy. My dudikins tells me that you have got a boy in your room." He hears while softly steping down.
There a fat man with huge mustache is crowding over Potter, seeming to threaten him. Also a thin, horse faced woman with long neck is petting the rude fat kid's head who is eating a lot of food.
"He is just aaauuhmmm a friend." Potter stutters out.
The large man's face is turning red with anger he supposes.
He is just going to announce his presence when the man grits out, "Is he a freak like you ?"
Okay now he is just plain confused, what does the man means by the F word.
Potter shakes his head though it is clear to everyone that it is a lie. Typical Gryffindors, can't lie to save a life.
"What is another Freak doing in MY Home ?," The giant man thunders, "are you a poof, calling other faggots to your room?" the man grits out as if disgusted.
Again whats is this with strange words, is muggle dictionary so different than the wizarding one or are new words added in the last 17 years when he was gone.
If he had'nt seen any other muggles before, he would have thought that Mother was right about muggles being violent people wanting to hurt wixens seeing this hippo man. Fortunately he had observed them and came up to the conclusion that muggles are normal people without magic but with too many technology and machines.
"was told to keep one freek for two months." The man continues his shouting.
He takes pity on poor Potter who appears to have been steaming in silent anger, ready to burst out any second and clears his throat to gain there attention.
All four of them turns towards him, staring with wide eyes.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Dursely, I am Harry's friend, Regulus Black. I am so sorry for turning up unannounced last night. An emergency came up at my family home and Harry was kind enough to let me stay for the night. Please do not get angry on him, he was just aiding a friend in need. I was just leaving now. Much thanks for your hospitality.". He says in his posh tongue, smiling politely, using his years of pureblood training.
The Dursley's seems caught off gaurd by his sweet, respectful words and blinks at him. Potter takes advantage of there momentary stupefication and makes his way over to Regulus and beckons him to follow him upstairs to the room.
"Boy, you come here or I will lock you in room for the rest of the summers. No one from your freaky world will come and save ........." The mans voice follows them.
"Hurry up. Lock the door." Potter asks him as soon as they enter the room. He does as he asked to.
"Now you apparate and go to the Leaky. We will meet after Ron, Hermione and I have talked to Neville and Tonks."
"What about your aunt and uncle.?" He asks .
"Ohh uhhm, They will cool down in a couple of days. " Potter reassures him.
"You can come with me." He offers. Suddenly feeling wrong footed. Potter frowns, eyes a dull green.
"No, I have to stay here. You go, we will meet soon." He smiles a little which comes of as a grimace.
"Will they really lock you here ? " Suddenly he understands Potter's curiosity from last night.
"I thought the deal was to keep personal questions out of our business." Potter answers with a litle edge in his voice.
He stares at Potter. Trying to see the person beneath all the layers of information he has read about the boy. This 15 year old reminds Regulus of his brother. The same want to do good, the same pain behind smiles, the same courage beneath all the terrors they have faced, the same strength despite all the unfairness. At that time he never understood his brother, thinking his parents had it right but today looking at the almost similar scene from another perspective, he understood his brother's pain, resentment and distrust a little more.
He resolves to do right by this 15 year old and not to repeat the same mistake that he did with this brother.
He nods his head. "I am sorry." He repeats the boy's words from last night then cast charm to change his appearance as the last time Kreacher has done it and apparates away without waiting for a reply.
Hoping that the boy will be alright.