The Locket
MID Feb 1979
“That’s your plan?” Hermione asked, putting her head into her heads and rubbing them over her face before she looked back at Sirius. He sat on her sofa, looking far too comfortable and proud of himself. “James’ cloak, some polyjuice potion and a bit of luck?” She repeated as he shrugged. “Have you finally lost the plot?”
“I know it’s a bit reckless -”
“No, it’s incredibly reckless and not to mention stupid and not at all a plan.” Hermione snapped back, shaking her head before standing up and heading towards the kitchen to make a fresh pot of tea.
“Well, it’s not like you’ve got one.” Sirius said as he followed behind her, leaning against the wall as she gave him an unimpressed look. “It’s simple and -”
“It’s still stupid.” Hermione hissed out, slamming down her mug. “Or did you forget the Thief’s Downfall?” She asked with a raised eyebrow as he shifted and shook his head. “This isn’t breaking into Honeydukes, Sirius, this is Gringotts with unmatched security and spells, we can’t afford to be reckless.” Hermione reminded him.
And then she wondered when it had become a ‘we’ thing. She had been trying to figure out ways to get in and out alone that didn’t involve potions, getting caught and having to escape on the back of a dragon – which is what her dreams had been about since Sirius said he had a plan. She didn’t bring that up, trusting he might find some way to use the dragon.
It wasn’t like she didn’t appreciate the help he was trying to give, but Sirius wasn’t a planner and she shouldn’t have entertained this at James and Lily’s wedding or let him come into her flat when he knocked on her door half an hour ago with a smile.
“I do have other plans.” Sirius spoke suddenly as he reached around her to grab the tea she had automatically made for him without thinking before he was heading back to the living room.
This time she followed after him, waiting to see what he was going to say but instead watching as he sat back on her sofa and stretched out his legs with a small smile.
“Say something then.” Hermione snarled as she sat herself back down.
Sirius seemed to hesitate, his smile falling slightly and his eyes focused more on the liquid in his cup. “Maybe...Regulus could be useful.”
“No.”
“You can’t just say no.”
“Yes, I can.”
Hermione looked away, jaw clenching because she had thought about Regulus helping time and time again, in different ways, but it was too much to ask. And she might need him for something else.
It made her feel manipulative, but she needed Regulus for the locket and she could only hope that he had heard enough of her hints to come to her when the time came but if he didn’t, then...then there would be other obstacles to overcome and a whole load of shit. Which is why she wasn’t going to be pulling him into this, not just yet.
“Look, Mi’, I don’t like it either but we have to consider how he is pretty much playing both sides, and that he spends just as much time here with Marlene as he does playing Deatheater – if we ask…” Sirius trailed off as Hermione narrowed her eyes.
“It does make a difference, he’s not going to be able to get any more than we can.”
“No, but he does have the ability of getting a Lestrange.”
“So we ask him to kidnap one of them and then what…?”
“Not kidnap, but if he can use the imperius or we can -”
Hermione coughed over her tea, her eyes wide. “You want us to imperius a Lestrange?” She asked as Sirius blinked at her as her tea slammed against the coffee table and she leaned forward. “Need I remind you that it’s not only illegal but that you are an Auror.”
“And we’re in a war.” Sirius reminded her. “Believe me, I’ve thought about every option a million times – I even thought about trying to do some raid, but it’s not as easy as it seems and it’s only going to bring attention to everything – not to mention our hands are somewhat tied in the Ministry these days.”
Hermione stared at him for a few second, almost in disbelief. He really had gone through every option, maybe more than once, had formed a couple of plans, despite her saying she didn’t want his help. He hadn’t let her turn him away and she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.
“More Deatheaters in the Ministry means more watchful eyes.” Hermione muttered before slumping back into her seat. “I’m not saying yes, we still need a plan c to z, but I’ll think about it – we have time.”
Yet it didn’t feel like they did. It felt like the clock was slowly counting down these days, that the more time they waited and planned, the closer they got to everything going wrong.
Sirius opened his mouth to say something when the front door open and Marlene came in, golden skin more pale and hair dishevelled. She didn’t look like the usually put together girl that they all knew, she looked like she had just rolled out of bed.
“Hey, Mar.” Hermione called as icy eyes turned to look at her and Sirius, and once she would have made a comment but now she looked like she wasn’t sure what to say. “Where have you been?” Hermione asked softer as the girl blinked.
“Erm...check up.” Marlene muttered back.
“Oh...did they figure out what is wrong?” Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows as Marlene turned even more pale and nodded her head. “Well, what did they – alright then.” Hermione blinked as Marlene moved to her room, slamming the door behind her.
“What’s wrong?” Sirius asked, head turned towards Marlene’s room.
“No idea.” Hermione muttered back.
…
Hermione couldn’t help but watch Marlene as she placed dinner on the table. Somehow Sirius had convinced her to let him stay for food, and now Remus was joining them. The four of them sat around the small table with Muggle takeaway before them.
“Feeling better, Mar?” Sirius asked around a bite of food as the blond looked up from where she was picking at her own food.
“Yeah...just…just needed to lay down.” Marlene muttered, not meeting their eyes.
“Are you going to tell us what the Healer said?” Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows when Marlene stopped, fork near her mouth and gulping slightly.
“Yeah, just not yet.” Marlene said, offering a slight smile.
There was more going on there, but Hermione wasn’t going to push her or make her talk. People were entitled to their secrets, Hermione knew that better than anyone. Her own had been revealed and slightly forced and she wasn’t going to do that to Marlene.
The boys seemed to have the same idea, as they nodded their heads and remained silent. Hermione knew Remus wasn’t an issue, but she was surprised to see Sirius nod his head and leave it at that. How annoying of him.
The continued to eat in semi silence before Remus frowned, sniffing the air slightly and looking around, before leaning closer to Marlene.
“Why are you sniffing me?” Marlene asked with wide eyes as she leaned away from Remus.
“You smell...different.” He answered as though that was enough before he was sniffing her again, head tilted to the side and a frown on his face.
“Wow, thanks.”
“Not bad, but...did you change your perfume?”
“No.” Marlene snapped before pushing his face away from her. “Can you stop?”
“Sorry.” Remus muttered, flushing slightly and shaking his head but it wasn’t hard to miss the way his eyes drifted to Marlene every few seconds or how he seemed even more confused as time passed by.
…
A couple of days later
Why the fuck was someone knocking at her door at 3 in the fucking morning?
Hermione glared, grabbing her wand from her bedside table and getting up. She didn’t care that she was in her pyjamas, old sweats and a jumper from either James or Sirius, it didn’t matter. She moved silently through the apartment as the knocking grew louder, sending a quick glance to Marlene’s closed door and no signs of her friend stirring.
Though with the knocking growing louder she wasn’t sure how much longer that would last. Hermione glared at the door before reaching for the handle and swinging it open with her wand pointed at the person.
Bright blue eyes and messy black hair pushed past her, not even caring about the wand pointed at his face as she stumbled to the side. “Took you long enough.”
“30th of June 1976 – what happened?” Hermione asked as he blinked at her and then the wand still pointed at his face as she closed the door behind her.
He sighed, rolling his eyes and holding up his hands. “I sent you a letter to meet me at a Muggle park in order to discuss getting Sirius out of my family’s house – I wore one of Sirius’ t-shirt, Black something and you asked if he knew I had stolen it.”
Hermione lowered her wand but still kept her eyes on him as she moved further into the room, while he sent a quick look to Marlene’s room. “Why are you here, Regulus?”
“I need your help.”
Hermione let out a scoff and raised her eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Funny, every time I’ve offered my help or advice you’ve gone and done the exact thing I said not to do.”
“Yet, every time you’ve come to me looking for help, I’ve been there or need I remind you who helped you sneak into Malfoy Manor a few months ago?” Regulus hissed as he took a step forward, towering over her with angry blue eyes and gritted teeth.
In that moment he never looked older and haunted. Everything about him seemed gaunt and sharp, he had been skinny before – unhealthy, but now he looked like a deranged version of his older brother and it was vaguely terrifying but also concerning.
He was scared of something, he was like a dog backed into a corner wanting help but warning people to stay away, and he had come to her. For whatever reason he had come to her.
“Regulus, what happened?” She didn’t move away, didn’t jut out her chin or tense her jaw but instead softened as she looked over his face. “If you want my help then I need to know.”
Regulus sighed and moved to the living room, sitting himself down on the sofa as Hermione followed. He didn’t seem comfortable like his brother did but unsure and scared. Gone was the older look and replaced by that which made him look like a young teenager.
“He needed an elf, I didn’t know what for at first so I offered Kreacher, told him to go help the Dark Lord and then come home.” Regulus began explaining, and Hermione’s brain itched, that familiar feeling of Deja Vu taking over her again. “He did but...Merlin...I’ve never seen Kreacher so terrified in my life.”
“What happened?”
“Some cave in the middle of fucking nowhere, the Dark Lord made Kreacher drink this...this potion and then Kreacher said things got a little funny but there was this object, a locket -” Hermione stiffened as he said the words but Regulus didn’t seem to notice. “Dark magic and the Dark Lord left it there and left Kreacher there, I bet he doesn’t even know Kreacher came back home.”
Hermione let out a stuttered breath. “Regulus -”
But it seemed Regulus wasn’t finished, like a million thoughts were pouring out at once. “And then I started thinking, the Dark Lord had always made hints about objects or something – so I researched in the library at home instead of going back to school and I think I found an answer.” He took a deep breath before looking at her. “Hermione, what do you know of Horcruxes?”
“More than you think.” Hermione answered, Regulus’ mouth falling open as he looked at her and she took his stunned silence as a chance to speak. “Regulus, there’s more going on than you release and I get that you want to help but -”
“But nothing.” Regulus snapped as he stood up. “What he did to Kreacher – the plans he has for the lot of you and Horcruxes -” He shivered at the word. “I can’t stand around and do nothing.”
“But you already have.”
“No...not any more...I can’t…” His eyes drifted towards Marlene’s door as he gulped and Hermione frowned, following his eyesight as he sat back down. “I can’t let him...I don’t want this anymore.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Hermione whispered as she watched him while he placed his head in his hands. “Regulus, this isn’t as easy as getting the locket – this is defection and I doubt he will take that lightly.” She added even softer as he looked at her.
“What are you saying?” His eyes were wild but she knew deep down what she was getting at and she didn’t want to be the one to spell this out for him.
“He puts the locket in a secret place only your elf knows about and then suddenly it’s gone the next time he checks, he’s going to know who to turn to.” She said instead as he flinched and rubbed a hand over his face.
“I was going to put in a fake.”
“His soul is attached, a copy may pass a quick glance but if he needs to move it – then…” Hermione cut herself off, shaking her head. “Regulus, if you do this then you aren’t doing this lightly.”
“What other choice do I have?” Regulus asked as Hermione tensed her jaw.
“Let me go – bring Kreacher here and to take me…”
“And let you go alone, no.”
“The others -”
“There are more?” He asked before he scoffed, slumping against the sofa and shaking his head as though something had just clicked for him. “Malfoy Manor…”
“It doesn’t matter, any others going missing or being made into copies can’t be tied back to us but this one can with you.” Hermione pointed out. Voldemort wasn’t going to think she was involved unless someone told him.
“Hermione, I’m not letting you go alone.” Regulus whispered and it should have been sweet but instead it just made her roll her eyes and purse her lips.
“Then you need to die.”
“Seems a bit extreme.”
Hermione rolled her eyes, moving around the room to grab a parchment, some ink and a quill, placing it down in front of him, well he blinked at her. “Not literally, I won’t let that happen.” Bright blue eyes sinking under the lake filled with dead grabbing hands.
“So, you want me to fake my death?” Regulus guessed, gulping slightly and looking back towards Marlene’s door.
“We need the locket – and I’ll explain why after we have it – but either way your dead, why not make him think you actually are?” Hermione asked, though it wasn’t really a question and she was feeling guilty for even suggesting it.
“And then I do, what? Go into hiding? What about my family? My friends?” Regulus asked as he stared at her as though she was crazy.
“Once Voldemort is gone you’ll be free, I’ll make sure of it, but for now – almost everything is going to think...think you died.” She whispered as he sighed, blinking misty eyes.
“So what’s the pen and paper for?”
“What’s death without a goodbye note.”
…
"To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B"
Hermione had seen the note in her dreams, but it was one thing to see it in Regulus’ hand as he tucked it into the copy of the locket while staring down at the basin. His hand was wrapped in a piece of fabric that was slowly turning red and his mouth was set in a tight jaw.
Soon he would be dead. Or people would think he was.
He would hide in a house somewhere, he wouldn’t finish school and he wouldn’t be able to come out until the war was over unless James felt nice enough about offering his cloak. Regulus Black would be nothing more than a faint memory to everyone who thought he was dead.
“One of us needs to drink the potion.” Hermione muttered. “The other one needs to make sure they finish it – and none of them can touch the water.” Hermione added as she sent a look to Kreacher who with twiddling his hands.
“Not him.” Regulus hissed from beside her as Hermione nodded in agreement.
“Not him.” She whispered before she was reaching for the small cup and tipping the potion down her throat while Regulus let out a strangled yell.
Her body felt like it was one fire, but she managed to bring another two cups to her mouth before she bent over with a gasp, closing her eyes against the headache that had formed and somehow managing to drink more before her knees gave out.
Somewhere in the distance she could hear Regulus’ voice, feel the potion slipping down her throat, but all she could see were the blurry figures before her, and hear their whispered voices. Harry drifted in and out between them, stopping before her to say something she didn’t hear.
Then there were bangs, fights, spells going left and right, and the potion was still being tipped down her throat – but there was a man, a young one, with red hair and blue eyes – he had a kind smile and she knew him. It hurt that it had taken this long to see him, to remember him – hated that she could see him laid on the ground with glassy eyes.
“I came running after you! I called you! I begged you to come back!”
“I know. Hermione, I’m sorry, I’m really -”
“Oh, you’re sorry! You come back after weeks – weeks – and you think it’s all going to be all right if you just say sorry?...Weeks and weeks, we could have been dead…”
Ron. She knew Ron. And Ron had died...and her and Harry...they had mourned. But they had mourned so many people, and those people stood blurry in front of her, dropping beneath rocks or green lights. Then there were the screams and the pain of something being carved into her arm and the her body shaking like she was under the cruciatus curse again.
The top of her like felt wet and sticky and Regulus was drifting in and out of view with concerned eyes as he tried to make her finish until it was over and her body felt like it was being assualted by torture and memories all at once.
“Can you stand?” Regulus asked, his voice distance as he used his robe to wipe her top lip while she let out a groaned sound, trying to push herself up only to crumble. “Alright, ok – let’s...just lean on me…”
He reached under her, pulling her to her feet, his voice fading in and out of view as he shook her, her name on his voice but she couldn’t barely make it out as her body tipped to the side and her vision began to blur.
…
She came around briefly when her feet landed on the floor of her flat with a crack and to Regulus shouting for Marlene, a figure bathed in golden light coming forward with questions that were too far away to even focus on as she groaned and nearly tilted again while Regulus tightened his grip on her and said something else.
She was aware of being dragged to the sofa and two other voices joining with loud questions but she could barely focus on it when Regulus lowered her onto the sofa and she let the darkness take over her, the voices fading into nothing.
Gangly limbs, a long nose covered in freckles, a wide grin that made his blue eyes seem even brighter and a mop of red hair. It was all Ron. Her Ron, before the war and through the distant memories, the Ron she remembered when he was young and happier.
He was tall, even in his early teens, pretty much her height and she knew he would get taller. She knew those eyes would darken and something would stir within him, she might not remember every detail. She might not even remember his last name, but she remembered him and that was enough for now.
“Hiya, ‘Mione.” He muttered as she wrapped her arms around him with a sob before pulling back to look over his face and then hug him again as he patted her back with a chuckle. “Long time no see.”
“I’m sorry – I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright – it wasn’t your fault.” He twisted out of her arms and gave her that lopsided grin that really let her know everything was fine. Yet, it didn’t ease the guilt. Because it wasn’t fine, and this wasn’t really Ron, she was aware of her dreams by now, the subconscious filling in the gaps.
But she could pretend he was stood before her and there wasn’t years between them, that it was some strange overlap in time and not all in her head. “I didn’t...I should have remembered you.”
“You got there eventually.” He replied with a shrug.
“Ron…”
“You’ve been busy, nearly got them all now – Harry’s going to be happy.” Ron said as he began walking, Hermione struggling to keep up with his long legs. “Just two more and you can take you-know-who down.” He gave her a grin that made her feel teary.
“It’s not that easy.” Hermione muttered back as she looked around, there was nothing but fog, yet Ron moved as though they were going somewhere, as though he could see ahead.
“Maybe, but you’re Hermione, if anyone can do it then it’s you.”
“You have too much faith in me.”
“No, I just know you – your hair may be different and you may be stronger, but you’re still the Hermione I knew and loved, the same one who saved mine and Harry’s life over and over again – who figured things out before we could even blink.” Ron explained as though it was obvious and there were flashes in her head, moments that she couldn’t truly make out.
“I could use some of her wisdom then, because it doesn’t matter if we have all the horcruxes if we can’t destroy them.” Hermione sighed, four down and two to go and no step closer to getting them out of the little box in her bedroom.
“You know how to destroy them.” Ron said to her.
“Both are incredibly dangerous.” Hermione replied back.
“Then you need a good strategy.” Ron explained, hands slipping into his pockets. “Giant snake you can’t look at or uncontrollable fire, why not just use both?” He added a slight smile as she rolled her eyes at the thought.
“Because I don’t feel like facing a giant snake and setting the school on fire.” Hermione retorted, though in all honesty she wouldn’t mind if it meant the end to the war, but she didn’t want to have to burn a thousand year old castle if it was unnecessary.
“You wouldn’t set the school on fire, but you would be taking on two problems at once.” Ron sighed as Hermione sent him a look. “You’ll figure it out, I know you will.”
There was so much more she wanted to say but there were other voices flooding in and Ron was walking away without looking back and she could only hope it wouldn’t be the last time she saw him.
A groan left her mouth as she came around, a pain deep within her bones and a headache behind her eyes as she tried to move and tried to figure out how to ease her dry throat and why she was still laid on the sofa instead of in her bed.
“Oh good, you’re awake.” A voice, much too loud said as Hermione squinted her eyes, letting out a groan as she was pulled into a sitting position and a glass of water was forced to her throat. The water easing the pain, but not the worry she felt when she looked into the hazel eyes glaring at her.
“Morning.” Hermione rasped out as James let her go and placed the empty cup on the table. “What’s wrong?”
What’s wrong?” James laughed out bitterly as Hermione frowned at him in confusion. Noticing Lily stood behind him nervously. “What’s wrong is that my sister is clearly out of her bloody mind!” He hissed out as Lily shuffled around him, waving her wand over Hermione and humming.
“Not yet.” Hermione muttered back as Lily took a cautious step back and looked to James who was pursing his lips.
“Not – no, no, you are because what other reason would you have for disappearing with Regulus Black and coming back looking like this?” He exploded, gesturing wildly at her, anger palpable on his face as he stood up.
“Jamie, I don’t need this right now.”
“Oh, you don’t need this?” James repeated mockingly and she knew there was no stopping him now, she could count on her hand the amount of fights they had had, and none of them had been too pretty. “You know what I didn’t need – finding out my sister had come back from somewhere with Regulus fucking Black, out of her mind and both of them refusing to say what happened.”
“Bit hard to talk when you’re unconscious.” Hermione sassed back as she turned her aching body to put her legs over the side.
“Don’t even – what the fuck were you doing running off to Merlin-knows-where with a deatheater?” James hissed before throwing his arm to where Hermione now registered the other people in the room. Four of them, and all of them looking like they wanted to be anywhere else.
“He’s not...he’s not a Deatheater.” Hermione tried to explain but she winced as everyone turned to look at her.
“Oh, really? Could’ve fooled me with that mark on his arm.” James hissed and Regulus winced, opening his mouth and closing it.
“James.” Lily interjected, stepping forward and looking between them both.
“What were you doing?” James ignored his wife to glare at his sister instead who glared back just as annoyed. “What stupid thing did he get you into?” He asked, gesturing towards Regulus.
“Nothing stupid – we knew what we were doing.”
“That’s rich – you knew what you were doing? Have you taken a look in the mirror?”
“You don’t understand – we had to do it.”
“Oh you had to do it!”
“Can you stop repeating what I’m saying and just listen to me?” Hermione shouted, her voice raspy and aching, but she needed to get her point across before James blew up even more. “I know how it must seem but this was all part of the plan -”
“This was part of the plan?” He gestured to her again, a fire behind his eyes and she knew he was ready to lunge, probably not at her but Regulus.
“Yes.”
“One he decided, no doubt!”
“No!”
Lily took a step forward, her voice soft as she spoke and looked between the siblings. “Can we all just take a breath -”
“It doesn’t matter, Hermione, because clearly you’re one another reckless path -”
“Because you’re one to talk about being reckless, James!” Hermione snapped as she pushed herself up from the sofa and despite the anger, James held out his hands in case he needed to steady her. “Standing there like a hypocrite who never did anything reckless in his life.” He didn’t move his hands but he did glare at her.
“Pranks in school! I wasn’t running around with 'reformed' Deatheaters!” He hissed out, and she had half the mind to bite her tongue before she brought up Peter and everything that happened there, because she doubted it would be helpful.
“Well, this is different and I knew what I was doing!” She settled for instead.
“Bollocks! You could have died, Hermione! Do you understand that?” His voice cracked slightly and Hermione felt guilt hit her hard as his voice softened. “Do you have any idea what that would have down to me – our friends – our parents? To what it was like coming back and seeing you like this?”
They stared at each other as she gulped. She could imagine feeling the same if she saw him laid on the sofa, hearing from friends about how something had happened and they were passed out, how she would blow up and feel angry.
She would curse everyone in her path if the roles were reversed and so she couldn’t be angry at James for this but she could feel annoyed. She could try and explain the situation, make him understand.
James’ jaw clenched and he looked away from her, towards their friends as Lily came to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist. “And none of you thought to stop her?”
“I wasn’t exactly awake to question what was happening.” Marlene hissed out.
“And it wasn’t like she told us – but believe me, if I’d have known, I’d have dragged her back inside before she could even think of doing whatever it is they were doing!” Sirius snapped, turning to glare at his brother. “But what a fucking surprise that you were involved in this!”
“You have no idea what happened, or what needed to be done.” Regulus remarked coldly but Hermione could see the worry behind his eyes, that drifted between everyone.
“Because you’re so fucking noble all of a sudden.”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” Regulus snapped, jaw tightening and hands clenching into fists as Hermione sighed.
“Yes, you do, you need to explain to all of us what was so important as to drag her into your little scheme and why she came back looking like death warmed over!” Sirius shouted, moving forward to tower over his younger brother. “We’re supposed to trust you, Regu-”
“I never forced her to do anything, least of all force her to drink that potion -” Regulus cut himself off but the damage was done. There was no way to explain anything calmly when everyone in the room turned to look at Regulus with frowns as they all spoke in unison.
“What potion?”
“It – it doesn’t matter, Hermione made a choice and I trusted her enough to respect those choices, and visa versa.” Regulus backtracked, but only Marlene seemed to accept that.
“No, no – it fucking does matter.” Sirius spat out before he turned to Hermione, pointing a finger. “What the fuck did you drink?”
“I’m fine -”
Sirius ignored her, turning back to Regulus and pushing his chest, the younger man stumbling backwards slightly and glaring at his brother. “What the fuck have you dragged her into? I thought you weren’t supposed to be like them but -”
“If I were like them then she wouldn’t be standing here – she’d be dead or with the Dark Lord.” Regulus hissed, and it was the wrong thing to say.
Sirius lunged, Remus grabbing him around the middle before he could land a punch and James was pulling out a wand, all but shoving Hermione and Lily behind him.
Chaos kicked off, with Sirius shouting as he struggled in Remus’ grasp and James snarling something as he pointed his wand at Regulus, like they hadn’t known him for years and seen just whose side he was on. It was like everything good had been thrown out of the window and they were back to thinking Regulus was completely on the wrong side.
“Stop it!” Marlene shouted suddenly, stepping between Sirius and Regulus just as Sirius got free, making Sirius stumble in his steps and halt himself.
“Move, Marlene.” Sirius hissed out.
“No. No, you want Regulus then you go through me.” Marlene snapped, holding out her hands as Sirius looked over her like he was contemplating it before he thought better of it.
“How? How can you stand there and protect him after everything?” He asked, lowering his voice as he looked over the blond.
“How can you not hear him out when you’re his brother?”
“Because I know -”
“You know nothing because you won’t listen and you never do, none of you do!” Marlene snapped, Regulus rubbed a hand up and down her back. “He’s not evil, I know that and you know that – and if Hermione went with him then she knows that too!” Hermione nodded her head in agreement.
Sirius sent her a quick glare before looking back at Marlene. “He may not be evil but he’s -”
“He’s the fucking father of my baby.” Marlene whispered but it was loud enough for everyone to here and look at her in shock.
“Excuse me? What the fuck did you just say?” James asked, his mouth hanging open.
“I’m pregnant.”
It was silent, not a person but Marlene and Regulus moving in the room as the rest of them tried to catch up with the information that had just been dumped on them.
“I need to sit down.” Hermione muttered, gripping her head and letting out a deep breath.
“Family meeting.” James suddenly said as Hermione waved her hand.
“Sure – yeah – in like an hour…” Hermione waved off as she laid down on the sofa, rubbing her temples and letting her eyes close. She felt exhausted and it was only seven in the morning.
…
A quick nap and suddenly she was sat at her dinning room table, the seven of them squished around, shoulders touching. Lily shifted beside her and Sirius shifted on the other side, and Hermione wished she could just go climb into her bed instead of having to deal with this.
James was glaring at her, and she glared back from where he sat between Lily and Remus. Sirius was glaring at Regulus from where Marlene had placed him between herself and Remus, as though the werewolf would offer protection but he just looked as tired as Hermione felt, like he was done with the whole day and forced to be here.
Which they were because James had locked the door and blocked the floo access.
The ‘family meeting’ felt more like being locked in a small flat and forced to talk and try not to kill each other while only two of them reminded level headed.
“I’d love to know why I’m in a family meeting when I’m not a part of this ‘family’.” Regulus drawled out, air quoting and ignoring the direct relation to him that was still glaring.
“You weren’t, but congrats, you impregnanted Marlene, so now you’re a part of this fucked up mess and stuck with us.” James said back with a fake grin as Regulus tensed his jaw.
“Wasn’t intentional.”
“That doesn’t help.” Sirius hissed at his brother.
“None of you are helping.” Hermione muttered back, rolling her eyes and leaning back in her seat as Lily fussed over her, pushing a drink into her hands.
“Which is why I am calling this family meeting to order.” James said, the fake smile still on his face as his eyes twitched and he continued staring at Regulus who looked slightly unnerved. “So, Regulus – what the fuck did you drag my sister into and why?”
“I didn’t drag her anywhere, I asked for help and she agreed.” Regulus explained with a slightly bored tone.
“Because my sister is the type to just wake up and decided that nearly dying from some potion for you is the way to go.” James sarcastically cried out, clapping his hands, still not blinking and looking more insane than he did five minutes ago.
“I wasn’t dying for him.” Hermione muttered as James turned to look at her.
“That makes it so much better, Hermione -”
“Glad you agree.” Hermione said flatly.
“I do not agree -”
Hermione looked down at her nails and scoffed, before smirking as James’ eye twitched again. “You don’t listen either.”
“I do too.”
“You do not.”
“You don’t get to act like this when you are running around with deatheaters!”
“I wasn’t running around with Deatheaters, James, for Merlin’s sake -”
“With someone who can’t fully trust then.” At least he was coming around on the deatheater part.
Regulus let out a sharp sigh. “You do realise I’m sitting right here, don’t you?” He asked, raising an eyebrow as James glared at him. “Is this how family and friends normally deal with their issues?” He looked between Marlene and Remus, who sighed and shook his head while Marlene rolled her eyes.
“I don’t care – Hermione could’ve died!”
“James, I volunteered -”
“That doesn’t make it better!”
“I think it does.”
“That’s because you think throwing yourself in danger is the answer for everything.”
“Maybe if you actually listened to what we have to say then you would know we weren’t throwing ourselves into danger and we knew what we were doing.” Hermione hissed, slapping her hands on the table. “I’m not some idiot who needs your protection.”
“Well, I think you do!”
“Oh fuck off!”
“Can we please focus on the issue right now?” Lily sighed out, looking between the siblings and slapping her hand against the table as Sirius and Regulus glared at each other.
“I’ve been trying.” Hermione sighed, glaring as James mimicked her. “If you’re going to behave like a child then you can leave and let the adults speak.” She hissed as he pursed his lips and looked away from her.
“As I said, I didn’t make Hermione do anything, I came to her for help.” Regulus spoke, looking down at the table and running his fingers over the wood.
“Why her? Why not Marly, or one of your other friends or me?” Sirius asked and just like that it was clear why he was hurt. Not just because of Hermione, but because Regulus had skipped him, hadn’t come to his big brother for help.
Regulus looked up, regarding him carefully before speaking. “I wasn’t aware that you would want to help me.”
“I told you last year that I -”
“Yeah but you also caused a lot of problems and ruined half of your relationships so what was I to think?” Regulus snapped out, hurt on his own face as Sirius gulped and looked away.
“This isn’t helping.” Hermione mumbled before speaking louder. “Regulus came to me because he found out about a Horcrux that Voldemort had made, and because he couldn’t stand by any more.”
“Don’t think your Dark Lord just lets people walk away, Reg.” Sirius commented, as though talking about the weather or what they were going to do on their day off.
“He’s doesn’t.”
“What’s a Horcrux?” Marlene asked suddenly, looking between everyone as they looked away, her jaw clenching and her hands resting on her lower stomach where a baby was growing. The thought was mind boggling.
“I’ll explain it soon.” Hermione promised as Marlene have her a sharp nod. “Anyway, the Horcrux was in this cave, in the bottom of a basin with this potion and in order to get it out, one of us had to drink it and the other had to make sure they finished it.”
“And I bet he asked you to do that without second thought.” Sirius nodded towards Regulus who rolled his eyes.
“If you would just listen, you idiot, I started drinking it before he could do anything.” Hermione hissed, moving her elbows so she caught him in the stomach and tried not to smirk in satisfaction at the groan he let out.
“I wasn’t happy about it but when she started collapsing, I knew one of us had to stay sober enough – so she drank and I made sure to make the exchange.” Regulus explained, looking back down at the table.
“Bet that was hard for you.” James sneered.
“It was.” Regulus said, ignoring the tone. “I don’t know about you, but listening to her scream and see things that aren’t there while her nose bleeds like a leaky tap – well, it wasn’t the highlight of my day.” He added a sardonic smile to the end.
“But as you can see, I’m fine now – Kreacher drank it before and he’s fine.” Hermione explained, gesturing to herself and trying not to wince at the aches that had settled in her bones.
“You look like death warmed over.” Sirius commented, rubbing his stomach.
“And you look like an arsehole.”
“Sorry for being concerned.”
“Enough.” James hissed out, glaring at the both of them.
“Oh, you don’t get to say enough when an hour ago you were screaming at me without knowing the whole story.” Hermione snapped at her brother, leaning around Lily to see him better.
“I’d like to know the whole story.” Marlene added.
“A horcrux is a part of a persons soul that they -”
“Not just that – I’m talking the whole thing.” She continued, cutting off Regulus before he could explain, focusing on Hermione. “The secret you’ve been keeping from me, it’s tied to all of this and not that Regulus is ‘dead’, it’s not like you have to worry -”
“Excuse me – what do you mean he’s dead?” Sirius asked suddenly, panic in his voice as he looked over his brother as if expecting to see a ghost.
“Think I could go and steal a piece of the Dark Lord’s soul without consequences?” Regulus asked with a slight smile. “He only showed Kreacher, which means the locket going missing would have been pinned back to me, so we need some contingencies, a fake, a note and -”
“Oh, that’s great – because a note is going to change that slimy Kreacher and the tapestry knowing you’re alive.” Sirius hissed out but there was a hint of relief that clearly came from knowing his brother wasn’t a spirit sat before him but human and faking.
“The tapestry can be altered, and will have been hopefully by now, and Kreacher has been ordered to tell people he saw me dragged under the water and that he never saw Hermione.” Regulus explained with a wave of his hand but Hermione could see through it.
He couldn’t go back home, not now or anytime soon, couldn’t go back to Hogwarts. Everything he had or wanted was put on hold – except for the baby his girlfriend was growing, and even that wasn’t the good news most people would think it was.
Sirius frowned, shaking his head. “The tapestry can’t be altered.”
“If your mother can burn you and anyone else she hates off of it then it can, and Regulus will have a nice little death date if Kreacher has done his job right.” Hermione explained with a small smile as Sirius scoffed and leaned back in his chair.
“Can’t trust that rat looking mother -”
“Shut up for a minute!” Marlene demanded, glaring at Sirius who just rolled his eyes before she looked to Hermione. “Just please...tell me what is going on.” Icy blue eyes thawed and Hermione opened her mouth to speak before shutting it.
“It’s a long story.” She muttered.
“And one that doesn’t need to be shared while he’s at the table.” Sirius hissed out, glaring at Regulus who shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable.
“Sirius.” Hermione hissed out as he turned to look at her with wide eyes. “They both deserve to know and they will both be told.”
It was an order, a command. It was Hermione’s secret to share and while some of them might not agree, Sirius and James, clearly, and while she know they were doing it to protect her after this whole day, it wasn’t their decision. It was Hermione’s.
It had always been Hermione’s choice.
Sirius still pouted, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “Well, I’m not telling them.”
“You’d probably butcher it anyway.” Hermione said, rolling her eyes as he pouted more. She cast a quick look to James who much like Sirius was pouting before she sighed. “Lil...Remus…” She sighed out as they looked to her before looking to each other and nodding.
Marlene frowned, leaning further on the table. “No offence, but I think I’d prefer to hear it from you.” She said, looking straight at Hermione.
“Unfortunately, Mi’ is physically unable to say anything.” Remus explained with a sigh. “Her tongue was tied when someone threw a tantrum and started shouting at Dumbledore.”
“I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
“Must be something big then.” Regulus muttered out as he frowned at the people around the table. “Then how do you lot know about whatever this is?” He asked.
“Loophole, Hermione told us three before, we told Sirius – it forbids her from telling anyone but if the people who already know share her secret then she can talk to them.” Remus explained as Marlene nodded her head and Regulus’ frown deepened.
“And what’s to stop the rest of you from telling her secret?”
“Loyalty – might be a foreign concept for you -”
“And I’m guessing this is the secret you nearly told Marlene while nearly outing the pair of us?” Regulus asked, cutting off his brother who looked shamed. “I don’t know what more I can do to prove I’m trustworthy, I am here with my girlfriend and our unborn child, I have defected from a powerful man, and I am going into hiding – so when will enough be enough?”
“That’s all for Marlene.” Sirius mumbled but there was doubt in his tone and even on his face as he refused to look at Regulus.
“Who is loyal and has trust in all of you, which means I do too – even if it seems stupid right now.” Regulus snapped back, rolling his eyes and leaning back on his chair. “Can we just get on with this?” He added before Sirius could say anything else.
Remus heaved a deep breath and Lily folded her hands on the table before the pair of them began to lay out facts. Hermione knew there was a reason she trusted them to do this. They both had the story memorized backwards and forwards, added little details that answered questions forming in Marlene’s and Regulus’ eyes.
They knew what to hold back and elaborate on, flew over missing details that Hermione couldn’t remember yet and laid everything out like a beautiful story wrapped in a neat bow so that the holes and minor defects wouldn’t be too noticeable.
Yet, no matter how honest the two sounded, the story itself still seemed impossible and that’s why Hermione could understand the disbelief and confusion on the couples face.
“You...that’s impossible.” Regulus whispered, staring at Hermione with wide eyes,
“I assure you it’s not.”
“Not the time travel, though coming back however many years seems unlikely, but the fact that two versions of you exist – wouldn’t your future self be aware of your past self?” Regulus asked, furrowed brow and a million thoughts and ideas flying through his eyes.
“If they never crossed paths, I can’t imagine so – as far as I am aware and how much I can remember, they didn’t know me or of me.” Hermione explained.
She frowned as she tried to push on the wall in her head, to find answers but only getting blurry ideas of things and whispered voices. The memories she did have not helping in the slightest. She gritted her teeth against the oncoming headache.
“Hey. None of that.” James’ hand was on her arm, reaching around Lily to pull her out of her head and frown at her with concerned hazel eyes.
“Sorry.”
“What’s happening?” Marlene asked in concern as Hermione pushed away the memories and sagged back into her chair with a sigh.
“She’s trying to remember something but most of the time forced remembering ends in her passed out and a bloody nose.” James scolded as Lily rubbed her arm and summoned a glass of water to put in front of her, urging her to drink with emerald green eyes.
“Like after the potion?” Regulus asked, blinking as Hermione nodded. “Their side effects of what Dumbledore did to you?” Hermione nodded again, sipping the water. “Yet, you keep pushing.”
“Sometimes – most of the time I remember through a dream and sometimes nothing happens but a bit of dizziness.” Hermione explained dryly, the water doing little to help the headache or the dryness in her throat.
“But it’s dangerous.” Everyone looked at him and back at Hermione, it was something they had all said when they had seen the side effects. “You’re pushing against, what I’m guessing, is a wall of magic in your head, made to contain something – and you’re trying to break it down and hurting yourself in the process.”
“I refuse to let him keep things hidden.” Hermione drawled out, rolling her eyes.
“Hermione, it’s all well and good to think you can break it down brick by brick but that’s not how it works – if you’re not careful, you’ll break down the whole thing and end up overwhelmed by memories and by magic.” He seemed concerned, which was sweet and so not like him.
“But I’ll remember.”
“Which is no good if you end up unstable or dead.” The rest of the room went silent at his words, and it wasn’t anything that hadn’t been said before but it was different coming from him.
“Then I’ll just make sure that doesn’t happen.” Hermione replied evenly, sighing and straightening her back. “Now enough about me, we need to figure out where to hide the pair of you.”