Chapter 19
November 7, 1975
Regulus
D-Day is getting closer and closer, basically hovering over Regulus, and he thanks Merlin it’s Friday night and both his roommates are gone. He stretches his back, takes his notebook from under the pillow, and sits himself comfortably on the large windowsill next to his bed.
For the first time in months Regulus resorts to journaling.
His quill can’t keep up with the flow of his thoughts as he scribbles increasingly distorted and obscure letters on yellowed sheets of paper. Sirius, James, Bella – he doesn’t spare a single detail about the objects of his recent worries and concerns. The ink bleeds like a river that is about to plunge into the endless ocean and fall into oblivion, and Regulus gradually loses himself in the whirlpool of his own feelings, unaware of the two pairs of eyes, watching him steadily.
‘Reg, we need to talk.’
Regulus nearly has a heart attack.
‘What?’ he turns around sharply, only to see Remus and Dorcas sitting on the edge of his bed.
‘Oh, it’s you two,’ he says. ‘I assume it’s about the schemes you’ve been plotting behind by back?’
His friends look at each other briefly before Dorcas mouths a quiet ‘sorry’.
‘You know the Greengrass’s, right?’ Remus gets straight to the point.
‘It’s like asking whether I know that the sky is blue,’ Regulus says. ‘Of course I do, Remus. What do they have to do with anything?’
‘Well,’ Remus starts, ‘I was thinking about what you said about “Secrets of the Darkest Art”. That’s the book you need, right? The one in the Blacks’ home library?’
Regulus nods. ‘Yeah, but I’m not sure it’s actually there. And I couldn’t get through the wards now even if I wanted to.’
‘You don’t have to,’ Remus grins. ‘Dorcas?’
Dorcas clears her throat. ‘So, I may or may not have dated Gareth Greengrass last year,’ she says. ‘The Greengrass’s family library is the second biggest after the Blacks’, so Remus thought I could try my luck by flirting my way into getting Gareth to talk,’ Dorcas bites her lip and turns her gaze from Regulus to Remus.
Regulus raises an eyebrow. ‘Go on.’
‘So, this tactic may or may not have worked, and I may or may not have the book on me right now,’ she finishes.
Regulus blinks once. Twice. Thrice.
‘You’re kidding me.’
‘M’not,’ Dorcas replies.
Regulus locks his eyes with Remus.
‘But how? I mean, let’s assume that you really dated Greengrass-’
‘I really dated him,’ Dorcas cuts in.
‘Let’s also assume that you got him to talk about his book collection. How did you make him give it to you?’
Remus sighs. ‘You’re not going to like this part,’ he warns.
Regulus processes his words for a few seconds before realisation hits him.
‘Oh, Remus. Don’t tell me you used an unforgivable on him.’
Silence follows. Regulus covers his mouth with his hand and shakes his head in disbelief. Dorcas pretends to enjoy the view out the window and Remus sits still as a statue, all eyes on Regulus.
‘Never mind, forget I asked. Where’s the book?’ Regulus says finally.
‘You’re not mad?’ Remus asks confusedly.
‘I’m surprised and a bit terrified, to be honest, but no, I’m not mad. You didn’t hurt him, did you?’
Remus and Dorcas shake their heads no.
‘And you wiped his memory, right?’
Remus and Dorcas shake their heads yes.
‘Wonderful. We’re all set. So, where’s the book?’
Dorcas grabs her bag from the floor and takes out a massive black volume with ‘Secrets of the Darkest Art’ written in cursive on its cover.
‘You actually did it,’ Regulus murmurs. ‘You can’t imagine how much this means to me, really. But why didn’t you tell me anything about your plans? I would’ve helped.’
‘It was a long shot, and you’ve had other things to worry about, anyway,’ Remus says. ‘Besides,’ he turns to Dorcas, ‘Meadowes needed a distraction. And she’s an awesome partner in crime.’
‘No better than me, I hope,’ Regulus says.
‘Actually, much better,’ Dorcas replies. ‘You didn’t date half the school, my love, but someone had to. And look where it’s got us.’
‘Don’t tell McKinnon that, or she’ll completely lose her mind,’ Regulus shakes his head.
‘We aren’t talking anyway,’ Dorcas bites her lip. ‘Whatever. She’ll come around.’
‘She’s a Gryffindor, they’re all like that,’ Remus pats her on the shoulder. ‘Ungrateful brats, that is,’ he clarifies.
Regulus snorts.
‘First-hand experience, Lupin?’
‘Something like that.’
‘Okay, lads, it’s all fun and games, but let’s focus on something more important than Gryffindors. How about you finally tell me why you needed this book in the first place?’ Dorcas points to the volume on Regulus’ knees.
‘I didn’t promise her any explanations,’ Remus says to Regulus. ‘It’s all up to you.’
Regulus weighs his options for a minute. If he lets Dorcas in, he’ll put her in danger - the same thing he did to Remus. It’s exhausting enough to fear for Remus’ life, how could he handle fearing for Dorcas’, too? If anything happens to her because of him, he will never forgive himself. He will let the guilt consume him, he will let it bury him alive, and of what use will he be to Sirius, then? Of what use will he be to any of his friends?
‘I can’t, Dorcas. I’m sorry. I don’t want to put you at risk.’
Dorcas clicks her tongue. ‘I’m already at risk after stealing a book on dark magic and witnessing my friend imperio another fellow student,’ she says. ‘But I knew what I was signing up for, and I have zero regrets, because you’re my friend, and you did some reckless shit for me, too,’ Dorcas adds.
‘You mean the snitch,’ Regulus smiles.
‘Yes,’ Dorcas smiles back at him. ‘And I will always be on your side, Reg, whether or not you’re being a stubborn brat. So cut the bullshit and tell me, what is going on?’
Sometimes Regulus hates his friends for actually being his friends. It would be so much easier if they were all spoiled and pretentious – exactly the way Walburga and Orion prefer their social circle – but no. No, no, no. Regulus just had to befriend the most sincere, genuine, and caring people in all of Hogwarts, if not the magical world, and has to pay the price by being honest with them.
‘Before I start, I need you to swear you won’t ever talk to anyone about it besides me and Remus. Not Pandora, not Barty or Evan, and definitely not McKinnon. Got it?’
‘Reg, I’ll agree to an unbreakable vow if it helps you sleep better at night. And yes, I got it.’
‘Meadowes, it’s not for my safety, but for the safety of all of you. I can’t have your blood on my hands, I will never forgive myself if anything happens to you or others.’
‘Nothing will happen, Reg. Just tell me what’s going on, I swear I’ll keep it a secret.’
Regulus looks tiredly at Remus and gets his approving nod.
‘It all started with a letter from my cousin…’
They are sitting on the floor in Dorcas’ room, surrounded by dictionaries, old books, scattered tarot cards, and parchments.
‘I think I finally came up with the incantation,’ Remus scratches the back of his head.
‘For the Cup?’ Dorcas clarifies.
‘Yes,’ Regulus confirms and with rapid movements tries to find the right card among the many necessary and not so necessary things that cover the black linoleum.
‘Accio Two Cups!’
‘Thank you, Remus.’
Regulus places the card in the center, so that both Dorcas and Remus have a good look at it.
‘So, basically, what we need to do now is wave the wand correctly and say…?’
‘Inclusum repono,’ Remus finishes.
‘And how do we take it out?’ Dorcas asks again.
Remus and Regulus look confusedly at each other and then at Dorcas.
‘Why would we take it out? The goal is to hide it,’ Remus simply says.
‘Obviously,’ Dorcas rolls her eyes. ‘But if your cousin,’ she looks at Regulus, ‘decides to get a hold of it one day, how will she do it?’
Remus locks his eyes with Regulus and dives straight into the English-Latin dictionary, occasionally tasting the words on his tongue.
Suddenly a brilliant idea strikes Regulus like a lightning.
‘What if we lie to Bella about the whereabouts of the Cup?’ Regulus thinks out loud.
‘You want to deceive your cousin?’ Remus raises an eyebrow.
‘I mean, why not,’ Regulus shrugs his shoulders. ‘This wretched bitch is asking me to do the dirty job for the Dark Lord and expects me to be the exemplary death eater I’m still not, she would never believe that I lied to her. Not to show off or anything,’ he adds.
‘You understand she will kill you if she ever finds out?’ Remus asks.
‘She won’t,’ he replies. ‘Find out, I mean.’
‘Wait,’ Dorcas cuts in, ‘what did you mean when you said you were doing You-Know-Who’s dirty job at Bellatrix’ request?’
Regulus starts laughing.
‘My dear Dorcas, don’t tell me you were thinking this whole time that it’s all about Bella?’
Dorcas just shrugs her shoulders.
‘It’s much bigger than Bella, or me, or Remus, or you. I have no idea what the Dark Lord is up to, but I can promise you it’s nothing good. And the sooner I find out what this whole masquerade is about, the better.’
‘You’re not on his side?’ Dorcas asks quietly.
‘Are you?’ Regulus asks.
Dorcas purses her lips. ‘I’m not.’
‘Neither am I. Glad we’re on the same page here.’
‘Neither am I, if anyone’s wondering,’ Remus clears his throat.
‘Amazing. Now, Remus, how about you tell us the incantation you’ve been working on?’
‘Inclusum repono,’ he says. ‘Basically means “enclose, replace”. I think it’ll work.’
‘Sounds good,’ Dorcas says. ‘Not that I can question your Latin knowledge, of course.’
‘As for the wand movement,’ Regulus intrudes, ‘I was thinking…You know what some muggles do when they go to church? This hand movement in the form of a cross? Maybe we could apply it to the spell.’
‘Alright,’ Remus says. ‘Shall I try it?’
‘Do us the honour,’ Regulus points at the card in front of them.
‘That’s a lot of damn responsibility,’ Remus murmurs. ‘Cas, can you hand me your glass, please?’
‘Sure, here you go.’
‘Thanks. Okay,’ Remus takes a deep breath in and out. ‘Are you ready for it? Here goes nothing.’
Regulus crosses his arms on his chest as Remus closes his eyes in concentration. Dorcas nervously chews her cheek, her hands lying unsteady on her shaking knees.
‘Inclusum repono,’ Remus pronounces clearly as he outlines a cross on the card of Two Cups. Without taking his eyes off the card he carefully takes Dorcas’ glass and inserts it into the depth of the cardboard.
No one dares to break the silence for a second.
‘WE FUCKING DID IT,’ Regulus shouts at once, followed by Dorcas’ extremely loud ‘FUCK YEAH’ and Remus’ even louder ‘AAAAAAAAAAA’. The group starts dancing, stepping on decaying books, crumpled parchments, and torn pieces of paper. Remus messes with Regulus hair, Dorcas jumps on Remus’ back, and they keep on shouting ‘WE DID IT’ while having the time of their lives.
‘Okay,’ Regulus breathes out, his cheeks red and his hair tousled. ‘Let’s get the glass out of there. May I?’
‘’Course,’ Remus hands over the tarot card. ‘Just give me a second, I need to double check the reverse incantation.’
Regulus and Dorcas wait obediently.
‘Reveneo,’ Remus says finally. ‘The wand movement is the opposite to the one I did.’
‘Obviously,’ Regulus grins at Dorcas.
‘Reveneo!’ he exclaims, drawing the cross backwards and extending his left hand to the depth of the card. He carefully takes out the glass and puts it on the floor next to Dorcas while lowering his wand.
‘I think it’s time to celebrate,’ Dorcas claps her hands.
‘I agree,’ Remus yawns.
‘Let’s get fucking wasted,’ Regulus sums up.
With that, the trio clean up the mess they’ve made, grab the books they’ve stolen, and go to Remus’ stocks of firewhisky in good conscience.