Deceit
August 1978
Regulus straightened his robes, a sigh leaving his lips as he looked at his reflection in the glass of the door before him. He looked pale and worn down, older than the seventeen years he actually was and he felt much older too. No longer able to hide behind his young age.
His hand raised to knock on the ornate and tacky door of the Fawley Manor, eyes looking up at the dark stoned manor that was much large than Grimmauld Place though smaller than Malfoy Manor. Yet, other than their large house and status, they were nothing compared to the Black’s – not many families were, and it was an honour that he was even calling on them.
An honour that he was forced into by his parents and his second cousin with a pure heart who was turning madder than Bellatrix by the second.
With that in mind, he knocked on the door and forced the charming smile that he had learnt from Sirius onto his face and waited, letting the smile drop as an elf opened the door and blinked up at him. “Mister Black.”
“I am here to see Miss Fawley.” Regulus spoke back dryly, looking away from the filthy rags the elf was wearing and the big eyes.
“She will be most pleased, please come inside while I let her know you are here.” The elf mumbled as he pulled the door open wider and stepped aside to allow space for Regulus to enter before he disappeared with a familiar crack.
The inside was just as tacky as the rest of pureblooded homes, paintings on the walls and elegant dramatic furniture and curtains draped over seemingly everything. At least they lacked the heads of their elves on the walls like his own home, and their colour scheme wasn’t dark and depressing.
“Mister Black.” A soft voice called from the stairs. Lady Selene Fawley could be considered a beautiful young woman, with a traditional aristocratic face that was pale, soft and symmetrical, slender and graceful as she descended the stairs, her beautiful green dress trailing behind her. A picture of perfectly bred elegance.
Once, he would have appreciated it more, wouldn’t have thought twice in wooing her or following her into a bedroom but times had changed and pretty prefect little purebloods were no longer his type. He preferred golden skin and icy eyes, a witty humour and brutal honesty. He preferred a pureblood who put loyalty and love before anything else – who would fight for what was right.
Still he forced a smile on his face as he reached out to help down the last few steps. “How lovely to see you again Miss Fawley, you look as radiant as ever.” He bowed, placing a gentle kiss onto the back of her hand as she sighed.
“Thank you, as do you.” She answered back with a small giggle as he stepped back with a polite smile. “I am so glad you called on me, I was hoping we could speak over tea and biscuits.” How utterly boring but he nodded his head and continued the forced smile.
“It would be my honour.” He answered, gesturing for her to lead the way.
She did with a wide smile, leading him into a small conservatory where their little tea party was all set up and her elf stood in the corner almost waiting for them. “I hope you don’t mind, but mother and father would feel far more comfortable with Dorry watching us.” She seemed embarrassed, only smiling slightly as Regulus pushed her chair back towards the table and sat across from her.
“Of course, I would never want to disrespect you or your family.” Regulus spoke softly, cringing internally as her eyes flickered with disappointment.
“That is very kind.” Selene smiled slightly, reaching across the table to grip his hand. “I am so very happy that our mothers fought fit to arrange this meeting for us.” Her eyelashes fluttered as Regulus stared at her, not focused enough to even recall the colour of them.
He pulled his hand back with a polite smile, using it to reach for his tea and taking a sip. “As am I.” He hated this whole thing, the boring politeness and stilted way of speaking. He had forgotten just how pretentious the whole thing could be. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, Miss Fawley, how old are you?”
“Selene, please – and I am nineteen.” She answered her cheeks turning pink as Regulus raised his eyebrows, a small laugh leaving her mouth as she straightened her back and gave him a wide smile. “Only two years older than yourself, or really a year and a few months.”
“That is not an issue.” Regulus mumbled more to himself than her. He had no problem with an older woman. Especially if they were fiery and bold, and oh so Gryffindor.
“Are you looking forward to your last year at Hogwarts?” She asked softly after a few seconds of silence.
Regulus wanted to groan, to get up and leave this boring conversation that offered nothing more than a girl trying her best to attract him, instead he smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he spoke. “I imagine it will be full of studying and preparing for the real world, but if we are being honest I am ready to leave and start making a life for myself.”
“Oh it is fabulous to be in the real world, my mother has been teaching me spells, ones that they no longer teach at Hogwarts.” Selene clapped her hands as she spoke, leaning onto the table and lowering her voice as though she was going to tell him a secret. “Ones that any future wife would need to know.”
Regulus amused her, offering a slightly more daring smile and asking her more questions, even as his insides swirled with guilt. This would be the extent of a relationship between them, sitting and drinking tea while she spoke of travels, gossip and social functions. They would attend balls and come home and have nothing of sustenance to offer.
There would be no sneaking around to the Astronomy Tower for late night romps, no opinions that would make his family die inside and make him feel all sorts of things. There would be no friends that barely knew him but seemed just as eager to get him out of what he put himself into. There would be no brother offering final words of comfort.
Selene would never be Marlene, and Regulus would never be interested. She would always be the heiress that rehearsed her answers and tried to offer herself up for marriage like a meal on a plate.
Marlene, however, would curl her lip and call him a dick if he even tried to speak to her like he was with Selene. She would refuse to take a ring from him, would refuse to bend to normal traditions and she would grin while doing it and Regulus would love her all the more for it.
He could almost picture her face now, rolling her eyes and changing the conversation into something more daring with a cheeky grin on her beautiful face. She would say something that got his heart rate going and his palms sweaty and then he would follow her wherever she wanted to go and smile while doing it.
Selene laughed at something, delicate and gentle, her hand covering her mouth as she brought Regulus back from his thoughts, not noticing as he faked his own laugh.
Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about Marlene or what Selene meant, it wasn’t even the time to focus on his parents orders but instead the cousin that aggravated and fascinated him. Hermione’s voice was almost whispering in his ear as he set down his cup and offered a smile.
“Forgive me, but I can’t but notice…” His voice trailed off slightly as Selene blinked at him before he settled on the brooch on the top of her breast. “...that brooch, it’s quite exquisite." He offered her a more daring and charming smile as he pointed it out and her cheeks turned pink.
Her pale hand reached up to touch the fairly boring piece of jewellery. "Oh, thank you, it’s a family heirloom that my mother gave to me."
Regulus smiled as he reached out, fingers stopping before the brooch as he gave her a look that had had Marlene blushing a few times and swatting his arm. “May I?” He asked softer, lowering his voice and making it smoother as Selene nodded her head eagerly.
His hand reached forward and brushed over the brooch, Selene’s cheeks turning even darker as she looked at his face. He moved his hand away and up to her shoulder, brushing her hair backwards and plucking a couple of pieces of loose hair off of her dress before he pulled back, curling them around his fingers and pushing them into his charmed robe pocket.
Selene was breathing almost heavily as she watched him under hooded eyes and Regulus pushed the guilt away as he smiled. “I hope I wasn’t too forward.” He spoke with a sheepish smile. “It’s just...I’ve often had a love of fine craftsmanship, and well...your hair was blocking the view.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice again. “Plus this way I can see your face better.”
A staggered breath left her mouth as her face flushed bright red and her lips curved into a sneaky smile. “I did always like a man who knew how to be bold.” Regulus laugh, even as he winced on the inside.
…
Regulus cursed as soon as he appeared in Godric’s Hollow. It had been stupid to come but he hadn’t wanted to wait any longer, except he was blind as to where the house was supposed to be. Well covered from anyone who might have questions except maybe Muggles. Stuck on a street with large houses and no clue where to go.
He could go to the village, ask around, he could go knocking on doors or screaming Hermione’s name in hopes that she would hear, but he guessed the neighbours would talk and he would either be seen as crazy or a love struck fool when he was neither.
A sigh left his lips as he prepared to leave only to stop when he saw a familiar head of golden hair heading up the street.
“Marlene.” He breathed out with a sigh of relief, her head snapping up as she looked at him with wide eyes before all but running at him, her arms wrapped around him in a second and his eyes tearing up. How many weeks had it been since they had seen each other? When was the last time he had held her like this?
“Regulus.” She breathed out as she pulled away to kiss his lips before stopping, her hands gripping his face. “What happened? Is everything ok?” She asked worriedly, checking him over.
“Nothing – no, I’m fine – I just...I need you to give this to Hermione.” He answered as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the couple of strands of hair, winding them around his finger so they would be easier to see and trying not to cringe as Marlene frowned at him.
“Oh, hair, how fascinating.” She replied deadpanned. “Do I get a present too or is it just Hermione?”
“I’ll buy you a million presents if you give that to her and asks her any questions you want to know.” He teased, an easy grin on his face as he looked over her. She hadn’t changed, though her hair was a bit longer, touching the tops of her shoulders and her eyes seemed wary but she was still his Marlene, fiery, beautiful and he had missed her so much.
“Or I could just invite you inside and you could tell me while we make up for lost time?” It was a tempting offer and one he wished he could take.
“I don’t think the Potter’s would be too happy to find me in their house after all they went through all that effort to make sure their wards were strong enough to keep the likes of me out.” He answered softly as he brushed her hair away from her face and tried not to feel guilty at the sadness in her eyes. “When I go back to Hogwarts it will be easier, they’ll be less people watching our backs.”
“Watching your back, I’ll still have to sneak around.” Marlene answered softly.
“Shouldn’t be too big of a deal for an Auror.” He joked back as he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose while she huffed out a laugh.
“Give me the hair then, but be prepared to answer any questions I have once whatever it is the pair of you are doing is over.” Marlene scowled at him as she held out her hand and grimaced down at her palm once he placed the hair there before her fingers tightened around it and she glanced back to the house he couldn’t see.
“Tell her I’ll owl her soon.” Regulus muttered as he pulled her close once again and tried not to feel the sadness that was leaving her for the next few weeks.
“And will I get an owl?” She asked against his chest as he leaned his head on top of hers and sighed.
“Thousands of them.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
...
Day of the ball
Hermione paced around her room, the polyjuice potion sat on her desk. She had a few hours to get in, search and get out before anyone noticed anything odd. It all had to be timed perfectly, nothing could go wrong and no one could know that she wasn’t Selene Fawley.
A sigh left her mouth as she moved towards her desk, foot tapping on the floor as she looked over the potion, her hand ready to grab the goblet only to pull back as her door was opened, with both James and Lily frowning at her.
“Can I help you?”
“What’s this we’ve heard about you sneaking off somewhere with a couple of hairs and a bottle of dads polyjuice potion?” James asked, sounding much like their mother when one of them was in trouble, and looking exactly like their father as he stalked further into the room while Lily closed the door behind them.
“Exactly what it sounds like.” Hermione answered seriously as Lily let out a deep breath and James raised his eyebrows.
“You’re not going anywhere, young lady.” He hissed out. Hermione rolled her eyes, reaching for her glass and checking she still had the hairs, tucking them into her pocket along with the destination she had memorised a thousand times over.
“Actually, I think you’ll find I am.”
“What does Regulus have to do with this?” Lily asked before Hermione could do anything, stepping forward and seeming much more calm than James. “Marlene mentioned it – I just...you’re going after one.” She whispered, her emerald eyes going wide as Hermione swore under her breath.
“After one? After one what?” James asked before it dropped for him too. “No.”
“How else are we supposed to get them if you’re not going to let me go?” Hermione tried to joke as she gripped her wand in her hand, twirling it through her fingers and trying to smile, the destination clear in her mind.
“We figure something out together just like we...Hermione!” James snapped as she began to turn in the air, reaching for her and dragging Lily along, the three of them squeezed through a too tight tunnel.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Hermione snapped harshly as she glared at them both once they landed, checking them all over. “We could have ended up splinched!” She all but shouted as she glared at her brother who was breathing deeply and Lily who looked a little pink in the cheeks but otherwise alright.
“How the fuck did you just do that?” James gasped out, clutching his side.
“A temporary bending of the wards to allow me out so no one would know I left the house except now they will...so thanks for that.” Hermione snapped, looking around and frowning at she found the house she had been looking for.
“You didn’t have to disapparate!” James hissed back throwing his hands in the air as she walked past him and towards the gate. "Hermione."
"James."
“What are you doing? Where even are we?” He asked as he pulled her arm back so she would face him, glaring down at her in fury as she shook his off.
“The Fawley Manor – I’m going to take this, you two are going to go home, and then I’m going to make sure Selene Fawley is asleep for the rest of the night while I take her place at Narcissa Malfoy’s ball.” She explained as she shook the bottle before him, moving it out of his reach as he lunged for it.
"No, no and no!" James hissed out, shaking her slightly and watching as she rolled her eyes. "Are trying to get yourself killed?" Hermione tilted her head and prepared to speak but James wasn't done yet, he just carried on, making sure to shake her once again like that would make her understand what he was saying. "You think you can just walk into their house like it's nothing!"
"Yes because I have this." She waved the cloak in front of his face as she spoke, shoving his hands off her shoulders and taking a step back which was hard on the small path that they were both stood on, their shoulders almost knocking into the gate.
"Which you didn't even ask for by the way, no ever asks for it which is beside the point. Hermione this place is dangerous and most probably warded!” He hissed out at her as she looked back at the house and squinted her eyes like it would tell her exactly what was there.
It worked for a second, the buzzing of magic around her, familiar to her own home but less than Potter Manor, perhaps people who supported the pureblood regime didn’t care for much protection. “Barely, it doesn’t stop people from coming in and out – just adds a bit of protections which is stupid if you ask me.”
"I don't think that makes them stupid, I think the person who is attempting to break into their house is the stupid one – especially when they already have what they need." James spoke slowly like he was speaking to a child, Hermione stopped what she was doing and turned to glare at him.
“I’m not breaking in but making sure this plan doesn’t fail, there is no point me taking polyjuice potion if she is still going to turn up.” She explained back slowly.
“Then why even ask Regulus for it? Hermione -”
“Let her go, James.” Lily spoke, stepping between them both and giving Hermione a look that told her she wasn’t finished with what she had to say. “Besides, she won’t be doing this alone.” She added with a smirk that would make Sirius proud.
“She won’t?” James asked just as Hermione questioned. “I won’t?”
“Selene has parents, doesn’t she?” Lily spoke as though it was obvious and Hermione was ready to thump both of their heads together. “I think it’s better to go with two extra eyes to watch your back than by yourself.” She groaned but knew there was no point fighting either of them at this point, they were running out of time.
...
Malfoy Manor
Malfoy Manor had outdone itself. Elegantly decorated and for once brighter than usual as people strolled around in their formal clothing, laughing between groups or dancing around. Narcissa stood beside him, greeting guests as he nodded his head and tried not make his smile look too much like a grimace. Any minute now she would be here and this whole thing would be a facade.
“Cousin, why don’t you go enjoy yourself?” Narcissa gently whispered to him, placing a gloved hand on his arm and offering him a soft smile that made her look less pretentious than usual.
“I thought I might wait for Miss Fawley.” He muttered with a soft smile as Narcissa raised her eyebrows and nodded approvingly. It wasn’t unusual for members of the extended family to greet guests but it was rather worrisome that he was taking Lucius place while the prat showed off somewhere else in the house.
If he had a favourite cousin, then it would have been Narcissa. Lean and elegant looking with pale hair and eyes that had her standing out from the rest of the Black’s and fitting in perfectly with the Malfoy’s. She had once been lively, with a wide smile but now she remained almost as stoic and cold as the house she lived in.
A declining disappointment in their family’s eye as she failed year after year to produce an heir, or fully join the cause like Bella had. Nothing to offer but a pretty face and a pureblooded maiden name, and married name.
“Oh...here she comes, she’s lovely, is she not?” Narcissa whispered to him with a slight smirk as she pointed out Selene – perfectly dress and pureblooded like everyone would have expected.
He worried for a second as she made her way up the stairs behind her parents that it wasn’t who he thought it was as she fluttered her lashes at him and gave him a shy smile, but then it turned into a smirk and a wink and he knew without a doubt who was walking up the stairs.
“Lord and Lady Fawley, how glad I am that you could attend.” Narcissa spoke softly, holding out her hand to Lord Fawley and raising an eyebrow as he stared at it for a second too long, giving his wife a quick look before he bowed and offered a kiss to the back of her hand.
Lady Fawley frowned as Regulus raised an eyebrow, watching blush take over her face as Hermione/Selene gave her mother a look and gave a dramatic curtsey that her mother copied rapidly just as Narcissa turned to look at them.
“Thank you so much for having us, Lady Malfoy – your home is beautiful and it is such a joy to be able to spend the evening with Regulus and your family.” Hermione mimicked Selene perfectly, down to the blush and fluttering eyelashes sent in his direction that had Narcissa smiling softly and Lord Fawley rolling his eyes.
Narcissa turned to look at him expectantly, a forced smile taking over the narrowed eyes as he moved forward to kiss ‘Selene’s’ hand. “I speak for all of us when we say it is an honour to have you here.”
Hermione fluttered, a hand pressed against her chest and her cheeks even redder as he let go of her hand and did the same to Lady Fawley who cringed slightly while Lord Fawley frowned. Idiots. They were all idiots.
“Say, Cissa, do you think I could show the guests around for a bit – before I have to introduce them to mother and father?” Regulus asked, hoping that Narcissa would be able to see what he was really trying to avoid.
Her mouth curved into a knowing smile as she nodded her head. “Of course, I would do it myself but I must see to the arrival of the rest of guests – but I will see you in the ballroom soon.”
Regulus grinned as he held out his arm for Hermione/Selene to take, which she did gingerly, rolling her eyes as she allowed him to lead her away, her ‘parents’ following closely behind them as he took them through the twists and turns of the manor – pointing out places and portraits as they went and smiling as people passed them.
He stopped at a large door, knocking his hand against the wood and sighing when nothing was heard inside before he dragging the three of them in and turned to glare at them once the door was shut.
“Nice office – I guess it belongs to ‘Lord’ Malfoy.” Hermione taunted, the grin on her face looking out of place with Selene’s soft demeanour. Her parents followed, looking around with matching frowns as Hermione ran her hand over the old dark wood, floor creaking under her heeled feet.
“What are you all thinking?” He finally snapped, Hermione didn’t seem surprised but her ‘parents’ did. “Do the three you have contests on who can be the biggest idiot?” He looked at them all as ‘Lord Fawley’s’ mouth fell open and Lady Fawley scoffed.
“You didn’t think we were going to let her walk into this alone, did you?” The woman, who he guessed was Lily Evans asked, raising her brow and narrowing her eyes at him.
“It’s hard enough to stop her from outing herself but at least she’s aware of what she’s doing.” He spat out, pointing a finger at Hermione who rolled her eyes as he glared at the couple. “What do you think will happen if they find out they not only have two blood traitor Potters they want in their midst but a Muggleborn too?” He asked, running fingers through his hair and then combing it back down.
“How did you know it was us?” James whispered as Regulus rolled his eyes and shook off the hand Hermione placed on his arm.
“Relax, Regulus, we don’t plan on being here the whole night, nor did I really plan on bringing them but it’s a bit hard to keep secrets from the people you live with, believe me, I’ve tried.” She tried for a joke but it fell flat.
“And what about the rest of your gang, should I expect the other three to show up as some other family in the middle of everything?” He could picture it now, his brother strutting in with some unknown face, Remus and Marlene disguised behind him – only to give themselves away because Sirius couldn’t keep his mouth shut or something went wrong.
“Remus knows what we’re doing, he’s keeping Marlene occupied at his and Sirius’ place.” James and Lily looked over at Hermione shocked but she kept her eyes on his, assuring him without words that Marlene would be kept safe.
Regulus let out a breath of relief. “And my brother, is he going to turn up?”
“Unlikely, I have no interest in telling him anything I do.” Hermione answered, face tinged with anger that almost made him feel bad for her but he didn’t doubt that her reckless ways had put her in said situation.
“Do you – could you give us some privacy?” Regulus asked, his frustration waning as James opened his mouth to speak, the blazing expression familiar even on an unfamiliar face.
“Jamie, it’s fine, I’ll be out in a minute and we can start looking.” Hermione soothed, offering her brother a small smile as he turned to look at her while Lily shifted slightly.
“I’ll give you five minutes and then we come looking.” James answered, holding out a hand for Lily to take before leading her from the room and closing the door softly behind him. Regulus waited, listening for their footsteps to fade before he turned back to Hermione with a glare that would make a normal person flinch.
“What is it you’re doing, Hermione?”
“I told you -”
“You told me shit – and the Hermione I know would never put her brother or friend at risk like this.” It was cruel and he knew, even as her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched. “You’ve let them walk into a vipers den with minimal protection – you’ve risked the Fawley’s- ”
“I will protect them.” She snapped harshly, a burning fury that almost made him want to back down. “And we’ve got the Fawley’s covered, by the end of the night they’ll be none the wiser about what happened and they’ll think they had a good time instead of spending the better part of the night sleeping.” She spoke as though it was nothing and it saddened him.
They weren’t close, they never really had been but he knew her, or at least he thought he did. Over the years she had become more twisted, more vengeful and secretive. Her eyes, which had once been so warm, were hardened and dark, the easy crooked smile she gave was more bitter and even the way she carried herself…
She was no longer the young girl who protected and aided but instead a fury of a woman who had seemingly been scorned too many times over. For a second he wanted to wrap her in a hug, offer her the comfort she clearly thought she wasn’t getting and then shake her until she was herself again.
“I can’t protect any of you if this gets out, you know that, don’t you?” He whispered gently as she softened slightly, a sad smile on her face as she rested a cold hand on his arm.
“I don’t need you to protect me.” She whispered back, just as soft as the features of her fake face.
“You don’t -” His words drifted off as Hermione frowned at the door. The handle jiggled under the weight of whoever was outside, their voice carrying as they told some dramatic story to people who chuckled like it was the most amusing thing they had ever heard. Regulus let out a stuttered breath, a plan forming in his head. “Lucius, shit.”
“How do you -” Hermione cut herself off as he gripped her cheeks tightly in his hands, her eyes turning almost comically wide. “Don’t.”
“I’m sorry and don’t tell anyone about this – especially not my brother.” He hissed out just as the door began to open, crushing his mouth against her own as she let out a noise of protest.
How Sirius could stand this was beyond him? It felt like kissing a sibling or like kissing a cousin, which made sense but also made him want to vomit. It wasn’t like with Marlene who was soft and smirking, Hermione was almost limp before him, hands weakly perched on his shoulders and lips nothing more than a faint pressure to make it look like she was kissing him back.
It went no further than that. No tongue, nothing which would sell it if someone look too closely but enough that Lucius wouldn’t suspect twice about what was happening in his office.
“So as I was – Regulus, what are you doing?” Lucius’ outraged voice carried across the room as Regulus pulled away from Hermione and plastered a cheeky grin on his face as he looked to his cousin-in-law and Hermione hid behind him.
“Sorry, Lucius, we wanted to talk somewhere a bit more private, didn’t even realise it was your office, to be honest.”
“Well now you do, you can leave.” Regulus nodded his head and held out his hand for Hermione to take as she ducked her head and followed him out of the room, scurrying on ahead as Lucius gripped Regulus’ forearm to hold him back. “And next time let your parents choose a girl with a bit more class – the ones who open their legs for anyone don’t make good wives.”
Regulus tried to smile as he nodded his head, watching as Hermione reunited with James and Lily, the three of them playing the Fawley family perfectly as they doted over the girl with frowns and patting hands.
...
Hermione would need to scurgify her mouth out a hundred times when she got home, but nothing would ever rid the horrific memory of Regulus’ lips on her own.
Marlene was going to kill her when she found out and Sirius…well it was no longer his business on who she kissed, but she doubted he would be jumping for joy at the idea of her and his brother...she was close to vomiting at the thought of it. Which reminded her she was going to have to teach Regulus a lesson on consent.
A shiver ran up her spine as she threw back another champagne and tried not to cringe away from the memory as her ‘parents’ watched her closely, Lily reaching out to rub her arm.
“Do you want to tell us what happened in there?”
“No.”
Hermione shivered again as she looked around the ballroom, taking in the crowds of people and the shining chandelier. It was beautiful and cold, and the people spoke in complicated riddles that seemed to mean something to each of them but nothing to anyone who might be listening.
The better part of her evening had been her trying to escape only to be stopped when people came to speak to her about something or another, satisfied with her nodding head and sweet smile before they moved on to someone else, only for the whole thing to start again or she was forced to dance.
They were running out of time.
A sigh left her mouth as an opening appeared, her instinct to get through it as fast as she could only to be spoke by Narcissa and her large smiled. “Miss Fawley, I was hoping to run into you again.” She spoke kindly, but like her eyes, it was cold and made Hermione’s smile falter slightly.
“And I, you, Lady Malfoy.”
“I would like to introduce you to my sister – Bella! Bella, come here a moment.” Narcissa shouted before Hermione could even blink.
Her whole body froze as Bellatrix sauntered forward, dressed beautiful in blacks with her wild hair pinned back and her hooded eyes watching Hermione like a lion about to play with its prey. It made her feel sick, even more so when she opened her mouth to speak. “What is it, Cissy?”
“This is Miss Selene Fawley, Regulus’ companion for the evening – isn’t she just darling?” Narcissa cooed as though Hermione, or Selene, was just a little bird to fawn over. No doubt she wanted someone around to ease the boredom that must be living in a big house with Lucius and surrounded by megalomaniacs.
“Fawley – that’s a Pureblood name, is it not?” Bellatrix’s lip curled up into what could only be a menacing smile. Hermione wanted to frown, to pay her back for what she had done, but she could only smile meekly.
“Yes, Lady Lestrange, my family are one of the scared twenty-eight.”
“And where is your family?” Bellatrix asked lowly, looking around the room at mingling and dancing people.
“They are socialising out there somewhere – they really are having a splendid time.” Hermione smiled as she turned back to Narcissa who smiled back, almost looking human for a second. “You are such a good host, Lady Malfoy.” She added another curtsey as the woman blushed and placed a hand to her chest.
“How kind of you.” She muttered, almost seeming misty eyed at such a tame compliment. It was almost sad that a grown woman was almost lapping up attention for a lesser family.
Except...it wouldn’t be a lesser house if they married a Black. The most noble and purest family in Wizarding History, not even Malfoy’s could claim that. And Regulus was the head of the house, or he would be, and if Selene were to marry him then she would be the Lady of the house with a lot of influence and Regulus’ two cousins below her.
Narcissa knew this, and perhaps Bellatrix did too, not that she cared, but it was obvious Narcissa did and sucking up to ‘Selene’ might be worth her while.
Hermione took a deep breath, giving a warm smile and cutting off Bellatrix before she could even speak. “Pardon me, but...well, I was hoping to step out for a bit of air.” She gave a girlish giggle as she looked over her shoulder to where Regulus was dancing with some girl. “Your cousin really is...lovely, but I struggle to keep up with him on the dance floor.”
“Regulus has always been a bundle of energy, I’ve always had difficulty keeping up with him.” Narcissa agreed, placing a hand on Bellatrix’s arm. “Well, don’t let us stop you but please do come and find me on your way back in, I would love to talk with you more.”
Hermione nodded her head and have a soft smile as Narcissa and Bellatrix passed by her, before picking up the skirts of her dress and all but running from the hall.
The sound of music and talking grew quieter as she moved through the halls, trying to recall the steps Regulus had shown her. It didn’t take her long until she stood before the same large wooden doors of Lucius study, unlocked like his arrogant arse couldn’t believe that someone would even try to enter despite the fact that he had found Hermione and Regulus in there.
It was well organised and she did her best to keep so as she riffled through draws and bookshelves, searching every nook and cranny that she could get her hands on in hope it would be here. It seemed futile, nothing turning up or nothing that she could remember, a sigh leaving her mouth as she looked around before frowning.
Like Muggles had their safes, most Pureblood offices had things to hide away, family heritage things, documents or even gifts from their murdering Dark Lord.
Voldemort may had believed in hiding things in plain sight, but his followers were more careful than him. The Aurors had eyes on them, and the ability to check things if they wanted to. A Horcrux on a shelf, whether Lucius knew what it was or not, would be too obvious – too easy to find. And what is a Slytherin if not conniving and secretive.
Hermione sighed as she searched around once again, time running out faster than she would like. Merlin, she wished Lily was here – able to tell her all about secret hiding places that she would have used as a child.
Her fingers searched over the fireplace, running over the marble as she looked over the small portrait that hung above. While it wasn’t usual for not bigoted families to have non moving portraits in their houses, it seemed strange that such a family like the Malfoy’s would have one hanging in their office.
With a careful hand, she gently pulled the frame away from the wall and reached her other hand behind, groaning slightly as she felt something softer, like leather stuck. With one mighty tug she pulled it out, elbow knocking into a vase and sending it flying to the floor with a loud crack.
Hermione swore under her breath as she quickly scanned through the pages, smiling as she came across T.M.Riddle engraved into the back of the first page before shoving it into the small bag she kept tied to her arm with her dance card, and placing a duplicate back where she found it. She would check the diary later, but for now she needed to clean up her mess and get out of the office before anyone came looking.
Her wand flicked lazily, the cracked vase coming back together and landing on the shelf with a soft thud just as the door opened and Hermione turned around.
“Lord Lestrange.” She squeaked as he raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same...Miss Fawley, wasn’t it?” Rodolphus Lestrange spoke, his voice like honey as he shut the door behind him and gave her a large grin as he stepped forward.
She might have called him handsome if her whole body didn’t feel frozen to the spot, if he wasn’t the husband of Bellatrix, or staring at her with an equally sinister look that his wife also possessed. Her hand gripped her wand as she kept to the wall, trying her best to step around and get to the door.
“I...uh...I though this was the bathroom – I realise I am mistaken...so I’ll just…”
Rodolphus stepped to the side, blocking her from moving further and looking down at her with a smirk. Alarm bells sounded loudly in her head, a voice so like her own and yet so different screaming ‘danger’ at the top of her lungs rang in her ears and her heart pounded beneath the thick material of Selene’s dress.
His large hand caught her before she could move again, almost pushing her back into the bookshelves before it ran almost tenderly down her arm.
“See, I don’t believe you.” He spoke softly, leaning down slightly as Hermione cringed away from him. “Miss Fawley is many things, a true beauty and as pure as they come, but she is not you.” He whispered as he reached up a hand to stroke her face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hermione whispered back as she tried to keep her voice strong and a plan to escape, grab her brother and friend and leave before someone else suspected something.
Rodolphus laughed before tutting and pushing her further into the bookcase. “Do you think we let anyone just walk inside without taking a few precautions?” He grinned again, leaning down further. “The Fawley’s are asleep at home, and your little impersonation is up – I can’t imagine the pain Regulus will feel when he realises his companion was a fake all along, the Dark Lord will not be please.”
Hermione growled as she thrashed against him, trying to raise her wand only for him to pin her wrist down. “Regulus had nothing to do with this.” She hissed, trying to hide the shock as his other hand pulled on a piece of her loose hair, it was darker than it had been before and was curling around his finger.
“Potter.” He hissed back, free hand dropping her hair and moving to her throat.
His grip was tight, cutting off her air as she tried to fight him back, nails only managing measly scratches and breaths nothing more than choked sounds before he hissed in pain and she was dropped on the floor.
She drank in air greedily as she tried to get to her feet as he stumbled on his own before his fury focused on her. “You little bitch!” He all but scream as he charged towards her, instinct taking over as she aimed her wand and sent him flying back with a loud bang.
His head clattered into the desk and his eyes closed as the door opened and she spun around, preparing to fight whoever else came in only to meet bright blue eyes.
...
"Man, your grandfather is pretty cool." James all but cried as he stood next to Regulus, an amused grin on his face as he watched Pollix walk away with a wink.
Lily rolled her eyes and pushed her hair away from her face, laying a gentle hand on James’ arm. “Maybe tone your voice down a bit, dear, we don’t want people to think we are uncouth.” A toothy grin took over her face as James’ nodded his head seriously.
Regulus ignored them as he scanned the room, family members, Deatheaters and purebloods mingled, but there was no sign of Selene’s face anywhere in the crowd.
“Where’s your sister?” Regulus hissed to James, his back straightening as he looked around the room, concern lined into every inch of his face while Lily gasped, walking forward like she was prepared to go into the crowd and search for Hermione only for Regulus to hold her back. “Get your cloaks and get to the exit, I’ll find her and send her out.”
He didn’t give them room to argue as he slipped through the people, not even checking over his shoulder that they had listened to him. He’d protect them if he could, because they were Marlene’s friends – his brothers friends, and despite everything they were good people, but there was only so much he could do without putting himself in shit.
No one paid any mind as he headed towards the back rooms, opening doors and sticking his head inside only to come back out when he found them empty.
A crash echoed down the halls, his feet moving before he could stop them and his hand slamming open Lucius’ office door with a bang.
Selene, or rather Hermione, stood staring at Rodolphus who was slumped against Lucius desk, her eyes were wide and her wild black hair seemed to be growing...wait...Selene didn’t have wild black hair. Hermione turned to look at him as he moved further into the room and shut the door behind him.
“What did you do?” He hissed as he stood above the man.
“What did I do? Your little friend tried to feel me up and then strangled me!” Hermione spat as Regulus turned to frown at her, bending his head to look at the slightly purple marks around her throat. “He knew I wasn’t Selene – he knew it was me.” His stomach dropped as he straightened his back
“How? How did he know that?” Regulus asked, feeling stupid as she raised a darkening eyebrow and pointed to the half curled black hair on her head. “You need to leave.”
Hermione ignored him, moving closer to Rodolphus and frowning down at him. “What...what’s that on his hand?”
Regulus frowned, bending down to look at Rodolphus’ hand and frowning. A rune had been burnt into his skin, a Y with an extra line between the prongs – one that looked exactly like the stone necklace that had slipped out from under her dress.
“Your necklace...it must have a protection – this isn’t important right now, Hermione!” Regulus snapped, pulling back his hand from where he had almost been reaching for the charm. Whoever had given her that had probably saved her life, but now wasn’t the time to focus on that.
“Is he alive?” Her voice wavered and Regulus let out a sigh.
Hermione could be cold sometimes, she could even be heartless, but she wasn’t a bad person. Someone like Rodolphus might deserve a brutal and vicious ending, but Hermione would never take pleasure from it, she would never not feel bad about ending someone if she had to and it was obvious to see in her wide eyes.
“Yes, bleeding from his thick skull but he’ll live.” Regulus answered lowly as he lifted the man’s head carefully, blood forming a crusty surface on the thick hair before he let the head drop with a thump that he didn’t feel guilty about. “Did you at least get what you wanted?” Hermione nodded her head and watched as he stood. “You need to leave, like right now.”
“And what do we do about him? The moment he comes back around, he’s just going to tell people I was here.” Her argument was valid, and Regulus was sure she could figure out a way to keep him silent but she would only risk herself further.
“I’ll deal with him, but you need to go before Bellatrix realises her husband is missing and finds you here.” Her eyes widened and he saw genuine fear flash through them. “You don’t have long left before the polyjuice fully wears off.” He pointed to her hair and then gestured to her face.
“You’re right.”
“Here, take this and go straight towards the doors, I’ll handle Lestrange and the excuse of why you all left but get out of here no before someone finds your friends.” He shrugged off his outer robe and threw it to her, watching as she put it on and pulled the hood over her head before offering one last smile as she left through the door silently.
...
Zach had always prided himself on being observant, always noticing small things that others often overlooked – even those who were far more intelligent than himself. And he knew, that 9 times out of 10, that there was always something more to what he had seen or heard and to never act rashly.
Acting rashly had gotten him in trouble enough.
Yet, acting against being rash had left him in a difficult situation. See, he had kept his mouth shut the night he watched Hermione and Regulus speak, despite suspicions, he had said nothing to Dumbledore or even to Hermione. He had done his best to trust her, because despite everything he cared for her and he knew her to be a good person.
It had come back to slap him in the face in this instance.
Malfoy Manor were having a ball and Zach had been put on duty, without Hermione, and instead with Benjy. The pair of them watching as people entered and left within a few hours, big names and families. They were unable to see anything but who entered, their names written down on a long list to be researched and decided who was a Deatheater.
His gut twisted as he watched another family leave, hooded and hurrying down the path. Black curls wiped around a pale face, and for a second he forgot to breath. Facing Bellatrix was something he never wanted to do.
Except Bellatrix’s face was sharper, her eyes deranged – and the girl before him had softer features and less madness in her eyes. His stomach churned and a sigh left his mouth as his suspicions turned into something much more dangerous.
“Don’t.” Benjy hissed, sticking out his invisible arm and holding Zach back. No doubt he had seen the same thing. Hermione dressed to perfection and hurrying out of a ball with two more people that he could guess belonged to their little group of six.
He felt sick. He felt wrong. But mainly he felt betrayed. His ex girlfriend had been partying with Deatheaters and they were all blind to it.
…
The next morning
"Benjy?"
The usual cheery grin was gone as he stood on her doorstep, eyes looking her up and down as a sad smile took over his face and he nodded towards the street. “Mind taking a walk with me.” It was no question and Hermione opened her mouth to protest, looking down at her pyjamas before he spoke again. “We need to talk.”
“Sounds like you’re breaking up with me.” Hermione tried for a joke as she stepped out of the house, closing the door softly behind her.
The euphoric feeling she had had all last night and the moment she woke up in the morning disappeared as she stepped onto the street with him, her wariness growing with every second and her wand clutched tightly in her hand, her feet stopped on the path and her wand raised.
“Why did we meet at Hogsmeade?” She asked suddenly as he turned back around to face her, rolling his eyes as he held up his hands.
“Which time?” He asked. “When I met you for the first time? When you told me to take polyjuice potion so you could give me something you needed keeping safe? Or when I could warn you about the deatheater attack while I was working?” He listed off like it was nothing, and maybe someone could have known all of that if they paid enough attention but Hermione lowered her wand.
“Ask me something.” She muttered as he rolled his eyes and a small smile stretched across his face.
“What were you doing at Malfoy Manor last night?” Her mouth fell open as she looked over her shoulder and back at her house while Benjy let out a small laugh. “And don’t tell me it’s because you like partying with your evil cousins.” He added as he took a step closer to her.
“I -”
“You don’t need to tell me everything but you have to tell me something, Hermione.” He whispered as he took another step closer until he stood nearly toe to toe with her, pleading for something that she wasn’t sure she could give. “It’s important that you say something that isn’t ‘I’m joining the deatheaters’ or ‘I stupidly thought I could get intel.’”
“It’s neither of those.” Hermione whispered back, her throat feeling tight.
“Then you need to get your story straight before this gets back to Dumbledore.” Benjy all but hissed out, running a hand through his hair as Hermione fought back the betrayal at his words.
“Your going to tell him?” She asked through watery eyes and a lump in her throat. They may have not been the best of friends, but she had thought they were close enough to have some kind of bond that meant they wouldn’t spill on the other.
“No...not me.” Benjy whispered, shaking his head and giving her another sad look as she frowned at him. “I wasn’t alone last night, Hermione, you know we never do watches alone.” It was almost like he was pleading with her to guess, to know the answer without him saying it.
There weren’t many people who would watch her so closely, whose confessing would hurt her as much as Benjy seemed to think it would. A light went off above her head as she tried to blink away tears. “Zach.”
“He already saw you speaking to Regulus Black and now he’s convinced that you’re...he thinks you’re doing some shady shit.” Benjy explained as Hermione scoffed and wiped her eyes, “So I need to know that you aren’t, because I can’t help if you can’t tell me what the fuck I saw last night.” He reached out to her, pleading once again.
Her tongue ran across the back of her teeth as she tried to think of a way to tell him without telling him her secrets. “I needed something that the Malfoy’s had.”
“Something like what was in the box you gave me?” He asked, sighing when she nodded her head. “And how does Black play into this?” He added with a frown and an obvious question that he clearly didn’t want to ask.
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Hermione.”
Regulus had done a lot for her, and if all went well then no one would be looking for her head after last night, no more than usual anyway. Despite the trust she might have with Benjy, she wasn’t going to betray someone who had had her back.
“Just – just know there is so much more than meets the eye with me, with Regulus and – and just trust me, please.” Hermione whispered, almost begging him to understand.
“I do – if I didn’t then I would be with Zach telling Dumbledore everything I saw.” He spat out, stepping away from her and shaking his head. “I tried to stop him, I did, I told him to speak to you but…”
“But he wasn’t going to be stopped.” It hurt more than she thought it might.
Zach and her were no longer friends, or in a relationship, there was nothing more between them than suspicions based upon what he had seen but hadn’t asked. She could no longer trusted him like she might have once. Everything between them had frayed and snapped, laid at their feet and unable to be mended anytime soon.
“We need to come up with something that makes this whole thing look better than it did.” Benjy spoke, breaking through her thoughts as he ran his hand once again through his hair.
“A blatant disregard of the rules and a total confidence in my abilities should suffice for now.” Hermione chuckled out, plus a few sprinkles of lies and maybe some threats towards Dumbledore would be enough to make him back off. “Did you see anyone else when I came out last night?” She asked, biting down on her lip as she looked back to her house.
“Two other people who we assumed were your friends, but nothing that can be pinned on them.” Benjy explained softly, giving her a small smirk.
“Ok...alright, that’s good.”
“Hermione?”
The two turned as Sirius walked up the road, hair dishevelled and silver eyes narrowed as he looked at them both. He tucked his wand into the pocket of his jeans and titled his head to the side as he looked Hermione up and down, something flashing behind him eyes.
Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest as he came forward and reached out a hand to move the collar of her jumper to the side. “What happened to your neck?” He asked, voice tight as Hermione drunk him in and let out a small watery chuckle.
Both men stared at her as she stumble forward, flinging her arms around Sirius’ neck and pulling him down into a hug as she all but sobbed into the collar of his faded shirt.
Despite everything between them, he didn’t hesitate to tenderly wrap his arms around her waist. It wasn’t the same as it would have been once upon a time, where he would have pulled her closer and off her feet, chuckling into her ear as she squealed and giggled into his, but they were old memories, and frankly just being this close to him was enough to send her sobbing.
“I don’t forgive you but I do want to thank you.”
“Yeah, not a – Hermione, what’s wrong?” He mumbled into her ponytail as he ran one hand gently down her back. She could feel Benjy watching them both, but she didn’t pull away, only tried to hug him tighter and inhale the scent that was Sirius Black.
“You saved me last night, and I just – thank you.” She muttered into his chest, sure he heard the words as his arms tightened for a fraction of a second before he was pushing her away gently and looking over her face.
“Saved you from what?” He hissed before he frowned as her hand came up to touch the necklace she had never taken off, not even when they had broken up. His eyes widened slightly and his mouth opened to ask another question only for Hermione to place her hand on his chest.
She cast a quick look to Benjy who looked away, and then looked back to Sirius – silently asking him to leave it for now, a sigh left his mouth but he nodded.
Hermione gave him one last smile as she pulled away, feeling the cold in a second and feeling her own annoyance and anger come back as she looked away from him. Everything was a confusing mess.