I tried to be as fast as possible, and still I didn't have time to edit this chapter, so this might be a bit off with timing since there's an action scene (a known nemesis of mine). By the way, I'm sick too, so this is has been quite the weekend lmao.

I posted two fics beside this one of Harry Potter that I'm still updating slowly. Do read it if it sounds interesting:

Indigo Night - Severus Snape (Golden Trio Era). This has HEAVY themes of SA due to human trafficking and forced SW, alright? So this is really triggering for some people. Careful if you read it. I'm trying to write it with a lot of tact (not explicit nor romanticised), but it can still be triggering. AGE-GAP! BOTH ADULTS. Romance isn't the first plot.

Songbird & Wolf - Remus Lupin (Golden Trio Era). This is an age-gap romance with less problematic themes, more common and cliche. Professor romance and all that. The FMC has Bipolar, which can be triggering for some people, but again I'm using as much tact as possible.

NOW, 

LEAVE COMMENTS!

Lady Potter was accompanying her husband during that meeting, much to Regulus' surprise. He couldn't look away from her as she sat beside Lord Potter, fixing her orange coloured lehenga. It looked too festive while everybody else was wearing dark plum-coloured formal wizarding robes (even if Fleatmont Potter had left his robes open enough to show part of his white kurta underneath).

"Orange," Dorian Burke scoffed beside Regulus as they walked up the stairs to the Heir-in-Training sitting area. "Horrendous colour."

Regulus didn't answer. He found a seat and stayed quiet, unable to look away from Lady Potter, trying to understand what the reason for her to wear Luna's favourite colour to the meeting was. Perhaps she was attempting to get him to talk to her afterwards, trying to pass off a message; but that was impossible, because Luna made sure that not even Euphemia Potter was aware their relationship outlasted the public perception.

"Your father seems upset," Evan said, craning his neck to the side to look at Orion Black.

That much was impossible to deny.

"He's been trying to speed up his retirement, he's overworked with all the meetings and balls he's been attending. He was never one to enjoy social life," Regulus said.

"Oh, yeah, I heard that he's the patron of a half-blood bloke. Who is he, by the way? It's said that his name if Flora or something like that, all girly shite," Evan said, crossing his arms.

Regulus bit the inside of his cheek, avoiding his true thoughts. "Florian," he corrected.

"Yeah, yeah, Florian," Evan said, moving his hand in dismissal as if swatting away an annoyingly persistent fly.

"He's just the son of somebody my father used to know, apparently he owed them a favour from their school time," Regulus lied.

The lie had been agreed upon beforehand. Patricia, Florian, Orion and Walburga were always using such a story to explain away any unseeingly question someone would ask. With Florian's career in Hogwarts already put together, he would be – by far – one of the most well-connected professors there. The networking he was being forced to do in private and public balls was certainly something that might keep him safe as a half-blood if the war continued for too much longer; connected to the Black Family in one way or another, but still not pure enough to be considered a danger to the other side, especially after Regulus had made sure to endorse Florian to Dumbledore as well during one of their rare conversations after their argument.

Dumbledore had still to call on Regulus for anything other than to request more information, which Regulus still didn't have. Even though he had climbed ranks, Voldemort still seemed to keep him away from most of the action until he could prove himself to be more useful, which was difficult when he was just being told to study and following his father around as Heir-in-Training.

"Wait... is that --?" Dorian started, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes to see better.

"It's Snape!" Evan said, surprised.

Severus Snape had a handful of papers pressed against his chest, following Lucius Malfoy (newly placed in his father's Seat) and handing him a small pouch of something before standing behind his chair, waiting for more orders. His hair was longer now, brushed methodically back, but it wasn't long enough to tie it.

"He's not Heir. What is he doing here?" Evan asked.

"Maybe Malfoy had a lapse of judgment or something," Dorian laughed.

"You could always ask them," Regulus answered.

Especially because Malfoy and Snape exchanged a few words before Snape started walking towards the Heir-in-Training area, looking sullen and pale. He climbed the stairs and sat beside Evan quietly.

"What are you doing here?" Dorian asked straight away.

Severus looked at him up and down, almost as if deciding if he was worth the saliva he would waste on answering. "A Ward can be an assistant in big cases," was all he said.

Evan's lips twitched as he turned to Regulus, trying to hold back a smile.

"Lighten up, Black. For all we know Luna might be –"

"Miss Lupin is too busy to care for politics," Regulus said, cutting Evan off.

They were no longer friends, any subject too personal coming between them would be cut off and ignored, even though Evan clearly still tried to act as if nothing had happened between them. However, unlucky for him, Regulus was always one to hold onto a grudge, vengeful and closed off as always. Evan should be grateful he received nothing other than a glare when he tried to be too friendly.

Severus cleared his throat and crossed his arms, uncomfortable.

"Miss Lupin's work in the Academy certainly leaves her little time for anything else. It's my understanding she's been attempting to graduate early," Severus said. "Not an honour given to anybody. If she is taking this seriously, she won't have time to anything besides study and work."

Dorian scoffed, leaning back on his chair and looking up at the ceiling. It was no secret that he didn't like Luna, and now that Luna and Regulus weren't an item, it meant that there was no reason for him to hide his distaste at the mere mention of the woman.

A small interaction at the very front of the room, near the entry doors, made Regulus look away from the conversation and pay attention at the grown-ups talking in low voices in a small group. He narrowed his eyes, taking inventory of the participants for some reason. Dorian's brother, Regulus' own father, Evan's father and one of Evan's uncles (that was there to help Raphael Rosier carry everything alongside Evan). For some reason, Regulus' mind took notice that Orion seemed pale, and his back was stiff, straight. Whatever it was the conversation, clearly, his father didn't like it.

As soon as they parted, Orion turned on his heels and instead of going back to his Seat, he walked straight towards Regulus with his hands behind his back and face as stoic as he could manage when he was so nervous.

Regulus stood, going towards his father to meet him halfway.

"What is it?" Regulus whispered.

"You must go home right away," Orion said. "Take your things and go home. Once you get there, write to your professor and warn him you'll need a few days off for personal reasons. I'm sending you to France for a while."

"What? Certainly you jest, Father. You need me here," Regulus said, eyes widening.

"Now, Regulus. Obey my orders, I'm your Lord," Orion hissed.

Confused, but feeling the pressure, Regulus stumbled a few steps back before nodding. He turned around and went back to his seat to get his bag. Whatever the conversation had been, his father knew something that would put Regulus in so much danger that he didn't care for being discreet.

"What's happening?" Evan asked, lazily leaning back.

"Father is telling me to go home. Something's amiss," Regulus whispered, putting the leather strap over his shoulder.

Severus raised his eyebrows, but before he could speak, he saw something in the corner of Regulus' half-open bag that made him stare, unmoving and silent for a moment. And though he didn't say a single word, everybody's eyes turned to follow his eyes.

"Black –" started Severus.

"Is that –"

"Red Storm," Severus concurred.

Quickly, Regulus reached down to fix the opening of his bag, closing it firmly and stealing a glance over his shoulder where his father was whispering in rushed tones with Raphael Rosier, who looked more confused than alarmed. Without saying anything to his friends, Regulus turned to his father and walked back to him.

Before he could say a single parting word or announce his departing, the front doors opened in a loud bang, making everybody inside turn to look.

A man stood there.

The tall, white and hairy man stood at the front doors, looking around the full room with attentive eyes. His lip was curled, face red and disgusted. He stood there in anger, not in curiosity or in need of having to say something in front of the Wizergamot. His left hand was holding onto his wand so tight that his knuckles were white, all his muscles seemed to be shaking. He wore old, dirty clothes.

Regulus knew him.

It was Konstantinos, the man that had killed one of his men.

"Hey, who do you think –" someone started.

Severus Snape was standing at once, hand reaching for his wand, but even his quick reaction wasn't enough, because Konstantinos was already aiming his wand at the closest person near the doors: Donald Burke, Dorian's brother.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he screamed.

Someone screamed before Don's body hit the ground.

Orion's hand grabbed Regulus' shoulder, pulling him behind him so harshly that Regulus' knees took a moment to follow orders. He held onto the back of his father's shirt to recover balance, hating the feeling of being protected by someone he loved from someone that was after him.

"He came for me?" Regulus asked.

But he knew it was, even if Orion was in silence.

How did his father know? How did anyone find out? Why didn't the alarm blast? Why were they taking only Regulus out of the confrontation? Was Konstantinos only after him? Was it because of the ring? Was it because of --?

"REGULUS BLACK!" Konstantinos yelled.

He didn't want to die, of course, and he didn't care for most of the people in that room, but he couldn't help but wonder if standing behind his father was putting them in more danger than necessary. The truth was that Regulus is very aware that he was selfish. While most people in his family and social circle didn't seem to mind it too much, self-preservation was somewhat common trait of personality. He was no hero; he had no wish of martyr. But he also didn't want to let everybody die because of a man that was coming after him – he wasn't coward, simply didn't put himself in harm's way without reason.

Orion, as if knowing Regulus' thoughts, reached back and pulled his arm, making sure his son stood behind him.

Around them, people were moving. Some were trying to appease the situation, some checking on Don's body, some trying to get through the angry man without being noticed so they could go home before the actual fight broke out.

"I WANT REGULUS BLACK. APPEAR, COWARD!" the man continued screaming.

Severus Snape now stood a few steps away from Regulus, seemingly trying to cover his figure with his body, ignoring the way Lucius Malfoy was trying to get his attention and discreetly summon him to his side.

"He won't leave, Lord Black," Snape said.

"I know," Orion spat towards the young man.

Konstantinos' eyes turned straight at Orion Black.

It wasn't hard to guess that Regulus and Orion were related. Though Regulus looked a lot more like his mother than his father, it was hardly outlandish for someone to know right away that Orion was his father. Especially when Regulus was almost as tall as him, and his head would appear accidently over his shoulder while he tried to hide.

Regulus didn't hear him, but he could see the lips forming:

"Found you."

His wand was in his hand within the next split of a second and he was pushing his father to the side so harshly that he fell to the ground, and where he had stood a green light exploded on the ground.

Regulus stumbled backwards, falling to his behind as Snape took a step forward, throwing simple spells to give Regulus time to get up. He shrugged his bag to the side and ran to his father, helping him up by catching his elbow and dragged him behind the stands of the Seats.

"Stay here," Regulus ordered.

"Regulus –"

"He's after me. He won't stop until he gets me," Regulus said, shaking his head. "Everybody here is in danger if I don't do something."

Someone screamed again. It was loud, horrified.

"HE'S LOCKED US IN!" the man yelled out.

Orion looked at the main doors, now closed and barred. Nobody could get in or out, not even the Aurors, that had already been called. However, when he looked back towards his son, there was nobody there.

"REG—" Orion started, launching forward.

Regulus was already in open sight, shielding himself from a curse flying his way with a flick of his wand.

"Sir! Sir, calm down! Let's be grown about this," Regulus started.

"Talking won't help! You took my creation!" Konstantinos said. "YOU STOLE FROM ME!"

"I understand why you are upset," he said. He jumped to the side to get away from a Death Curse. "Sir!" he said, sounding somewhat offended.

"SHUT UP! MY CREATION IS DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU. NO CUBS WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT ITS MOTHER!" Konstantinos said.

Regulus cringed at the news.

Konstantinos felt someone getting closer to his back and turned, throwing a few curses and hexes to keep them away, not caring that he hit one of the pillars that crumbled under the force of his anger.

Don's body was hit, crushed by the pillar. His wife, being held away from his body by Dorian, got to her knees, keening loudly while cradling her swollen pregnant belly. Her grief seemed to shake the whole room.

"You are crossing the life, sir. Understand that this is between you and I, there is no need for you to destroy the people around us," Regulus said.

Konstantinos turned to him. "Are you willing to let me kill you, Regulus Black?" he asked.

"I do not wish to die."

"Then there's no agreement."

From behind Konstantinos, Euphemia Potter was trying to deal with the door, talking to the Aurors trying to breach from the other side. Lord Potter had his back turned to his wife, watching the exchange between Regulus and Konstantinos with attention, ready to defend the people nearby if the man's attention slipped away from his main target.

"I wish nothing more than an understanding, logical and practical," Regulus said. "I'm certain that we can find –"

"It took me decades to perfect the creation of my creature. It was the first to get to adulthood. Your greed killed my work. You took a cub, its mother died and now all the cubs are dying!" Konstantinos said.

"You must understand –"

"I mustn't! I must nothing!" he continued exclaiming.

Regulus' shield was barely strong enough to hold the next wave of attacks, making him fall to the ground on his knees. He scrambled forward to get up, accidently getting closer to Konstantinos.

Somewhere behind him, Orion was screaming his name, but his general area was attacked whenever he attempted to get to his son. Konstantinos was glad to keep them apart, glad at the desperate reaction a father had to protect its cub.

"I did what I needed to do! I had no other choice!" Regulus insisted.

"LIAR! LIAR!" Konstantinos lamented in a yell. "Someone with your name always has a choice. You are everything I hate, child. You reek to relevance and faux righteousness. You are nothing! You are merely a boy. You have no idea of the damage you caused!"

Regulus roared to keep his shield.

"Sir, please, stop!"

"Not until you are dead!"

It was hard to keep up defensively with Konstantinos, who was so severely violent in his duelling. Regulus could barely stand and keep his shield in place, let alone fight back – he barely had time to breathe between waves of attack, but he knew that he had no other choice than to truly fight back, attack back, otherwise he was dead. Defence takes a lot more magic and control; its constancy during battle often leaves men exhausted mid-fight. Offense takes magic in bursts, where some spells take a lot and others take close to nothing; it was hardly as safe, but it was a good option for someone that needed to hold onto time.

And Regulus just needed to wait until the Aurors broke down the doors, when innocent people that didn't want to fight back could leave and those who wanted to fight could do so without the fear of hitting others.

Another wave of attacks made Regulus jump to the side, hiding behind another pillar.

It was cracked by the time Konstantinos took a break.

"You leave me no other choice," Regulus warned one last time.

Konstantinos laughed, euphoric at the feeling of finally getting him angry.

Regulus wasn't as fast or as cruel with his attacks, sticking to mostly hexes and jinxes that might hurt, but not maim, meanwhile Unforgivable Curses flew everywhere from Konstantinos' wand. It was clear that Konstantinos had no intention of getting out of the room free, he had come to kill Regulus without thinking of anything other than spending the rest of his life in prison for killing an Heir.

Someone screamed. Another body fell.

"NO! NO! NO!" a familiar voice wailed.

Evan Rosier was screaming.

"STUPEFY! DIFFINDO! EXPULSO!" Regulus yelled out, aiming as best as he could from behind the pillar.

"STUPEFY! SECTUMSEMPRA!" Severus added from another point more to the left of the fight.

Someone else was helping screaming spells that Regulus didn't know.

He put his head out to catch a glimpse and felt a heavy feeling in his chest to see Fleatmont Potter and Euphemia Potter fighting Konstantinos as well. Around the room, people were bleeding from the falling pieces of debris that fell from the broken pillars and part of the ceiling. Orion was at the door, doing runes and spells to help the doors to open, but he looked over his shoulder to Regulus' place all the time, barely focusing on his job. Evan was lying across his father's chest, wailing over his corpse.

The man was beyond a man, unafraid of death. Four people against him, and still he didn't stop fighting.

A loud noise made Regulus hide behind the pillar again.

Euphemia's spell had hit Konstantinos' chest, but he barely fell, already jumping up.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he yelled.

The curse hit the pillar Regulus was hiding behind, exactly where his head was just a second before.

"REGULUS?" Euphemia screamed.

"GOOD!" he yelled back.

The main doors creaked, the first ward breaking violently, sending a few of the people to the ground. Orion didn't even stumble, he continued doing his work and even helped Don's pregnant wife get up from the ground, putting her to the side while Dorian tried to drag his brother's corpse out of the debris.

For a second, Regulus allowed himself to breathe.

It was hard to be sympathetic to the losses happening during the whole situation, but he knew in the back of his mind that he would feel guilty for those lives lost for the rest of his life. He wondered if those people would blame him as well.

"AVADA KEDAVRA! CRUCIO! CRUCIO! BOMBARDA! APPEAR, COWARD!" Konstantinos screamed.

One of the Crucios hit Fleatmont's shoulder. He fell to the ground from where he was crouched, body twisting and turning in agonising pain, mouth agape without a sound. His wife pulled him out of the open space by his robes, uncaring for the rest of the fight until she could make sure he was well.

Unsure of what happened, Regulus' body moved on its own, trying to get to the man that had been so kind to him.

"REGULUS!" Severus screamed.

Something was flying towards him.

At first, Regulus thought of jumping away, but once he saw the familiar red colour he knew that he needed to catch it. He dropped his wand, jumping towards the glass flask at the right moment. He fell to the ground, hitting his chin on the marble and feeling the taste of blood, but the glass was unmarred.

"Avada Kedavra!" Konstantinos threw.

Regulus rolled to the side, getting the wand with his hand in the process.

The second ward broke, and the doors opened.

The screamed doubles, people started running out of the room while the Aurors flooded in, wands ready to fight back against the criminal, but there was no way to getting to him when Konstantinos jumped forward, pulling Regulus by the back of his shirt and using him as a shield.

"NOBODY MOVE!" Konstantinos warned.

Regulus was the first to follow the order, stilling himself.

One of the men tried to step forward, perhaps to deescalate the situation and attempt appeasing the man, but Orion held him back harshly.

"If he kills my son, you are all done for!" Orion threatened.

Konstantinos held Regulus so close to his chest that Regulus could feel his awful smell, the wand was digging against his neck so deeply that it was hard to swallow.

"I like a fair fight against my enemies, Regulus Black," Konstantinos whispered into Regulus' ear.

Regulus hummed in understanding. "They certainly won't let me fight you," he tried to say, voice shaking.

Actually, his whole body was shaking. Regulus really hated duelling – he would much rather let go of the wand and just grab the man by his neck; force him to understand the situation he had been in when he committed the robbery that seemed to have been followed by a death.

"Unless..." Konstantinos whispered.

He hated having the man whispering into his ear. It felt too hot, too uncomfortable, too close.

Suddenly, Konstantinos flickered his wand, whispering a spell in a language Regulus didn't understand. Then Regulus was thrown to the ground, face first. He was rolling in the same second, turning himself to face Konstantinos, refusing to miss any movement he made.

The Aurors opened fire. Rain of restraint spells and hexes fell upon the two, but none hit them.

Konstantinos had raised some sort of shield.

"Five minutes!" Konstantinos said.

Regulus scrambled to get up, preparing his wand, but he knew there was no way for him to win. So, with his other hand, he reached into his pocket and took the small flask Severus had thrown at him.

He knew it wasn't a fair fight as Konstantinos wanted.

He didn't care; he threw the Red Storm at the ground.

Konstantinos was a smart man. One look at the red fog spreading quickly and he knew what was happening. His eyes widened, looking at Regulus in something akin to surprise, as if he had no idea that Regulus was truly a dangerous person.

The effects were quick.

The coughing started at the same second as the fog reached their nose. The tears running down their cheeks when it reached their nose. The muscle weakness three seconds into the first breath of the acid.

"Silly... child," Konstantinos chocked out. "You killed yourself with me."

"I alongside you," Regulus agreed.

Konstantinos dropped his wand.

Something orange appeared in the corner of Regulus' blurry eyes as he fell to the ground on his hands and knees, struggling to breathe through the burning in his lungs.

Orange.

He liked orange...

He liked the way orange reminded him of Luna.

His Luna...

His Guiding Star.

Someone called him by his first name. A woman appeared in his eyesight, and she got stuck by the barrier, slapping and punching to attempt to get in. It wasn't Luna.

He looked to the side, seeing Konstantinos watching him, mouth agape to breathe, blood running down his face in the form of red tears. His eyes slowly closed, rolling to the back of his head as his head hit the floor, body shaking uncontrollably.

Regulus knew what to do if it happened... turn him to the side and wait...

If only his body was working...

Everything hurt so much, and he could barely see.

Still, he could feel her.

Luna. His Luna.

His beautiful moon.

His Guiding Star.

She stood there, watching him with a smile as his eyes closed for what felt like the last time. And, in his last second of conscience, he thought that it was an amazing way to go – under his eyes, under her care, under her love. He wished he wasn't dying though, because there was so much more that he still wanted to do.

He wanted to work. He wanted to watch her get a prize for her creations. He wanted to marry her, white dress and all pureblood protocol. He wanted to hold her close one more time. He wanted to love her one more time. He wanted to say one last time – he hadn't done it well enough last time, he hadn't said 'I-Love-You' enough times.

He smiled to himself regardless as he died.

Walburga wept.

Her son, lying in his bed in all his stillness and pallor. Even under the watchful eyes of the attending physician, he didn't seem alive – his heart still beat, his mind still worked, and his body still reacted.

The Mediwizard had told her that they just needed to wait the poison to work its way out of his system. Regulus had been lucky that he was young and healthy, because Konstantinos had lasting brain-damage and would never move again, while Regulus' body seemed to be working well enough, though they needed to wait for him to wake up to make sure his brain had nothing. But Walburga was tired of waiting.

A whole week came and went, and Regulus still received a visit everyday from physicians, and none knew what to do besides wait.

And through all that time, Regulus cried, whined and gasped for air, whispering nonsense to himself before falling back into a silent, unmoving dream. Walburga wasn't sure what she preferred: his obvious suffering and hallucinations or his quiet nothingness that gave her no sign of life besides the moving chest up and down.

"Dear, please, go to sleep. I'll sit with him," Orion said.

Walburga did not as much as look away from her son.

"I'll stay with him. If I sleep, it will be here," she answered.

Orion sighed, walking into the bedroom and standing behind Walburga, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I know you hate that I couldn't protect him, but –" Orion was the one to cut himself off.

There was nothing else to say. There was no 'but'. He, too, blamed himself for not knowing what to do, for not being able to protect Regulus. He hated his own failing, and this hatred doubled every time he saw Regulus lying there.

"I don't blame you," Walburga lied.

Orion squeezed her shoulder, unsure of how else to thank her for her attempt of comfort. He knew it was a lie. He knew that there were moments where she stared at him, unsure if she would be able to as much as look at him again if Regulus didn't wake up. He blamed himself as well if he was honest, but he couldn't help but search for comfort on his wife as well.

"I –" Orion started to talk.

Regulus whined again, breathing quickening like a child stuck in a bad nightmare. His head moved side to side, hips turning as if he was trying to get up from the bed, but his legs weren't obeying. His lips moved, forming words that didn't seem translated into a human language.

Walburga fumbled forward, nearing him and kneeling beside the bed to get her ear closer to his mouth.

"What is it, son? What do you need?" Walburga's words ran out of her mouth.

Again, Regulus mumbled and whined. His parents stayed in their place in the bedroom, not understanding anything he had said.

"Regulus, son, what are you saying?" Orion asked.

Walburga didn't even look over her shoulder towards her husband to get closer to her son, trying to understand anything – any word, any facial expression he could make. She just wanted her son back.

"...Luna," Regulus said.

Orion raised his eyebrows. Walburga pulled back, confused.

"Luna?" Walburga repeated.

"Star," Regulus added.

Walburga blinked a few times, looking around the room and finding her husband watching the scene with his expression pinched.

"Should we call for her? Send someone to fetch her?" Walburga asked, eyes widening in begging.

Orion shook his head. "No. They are no longer together, there's a distance that cannot be broken," he said.

"You cannot be thinking of protocol while your son is ill, Orion Arcturus!" she scolded, raising to her full height.

She turned to stare at her husband in the eyes, uncaring that Regulus was still whispering his delusions out to the world.

"He's hallucinating, Bria. He doesn't know what he's saying. He's lost in this delusion of his for now, and when he comes back –"

"If –"

"When he comes back," he insisted, "he'll never forgive us if we call for Miss Lupin to see to him while he's in this state."

"He's suffering.

"He doesn't want her to be involved in everything he's involved. He didn't break courtship with her because he didn't love her or because he's interested in completing his duty towards us and the rest of the House, Walburga. You are not so naïve to believe in the boy's filial inclinations, I'm certain. He's trying to protect her in the same way any person in love would try to; by putting distance between them, Miss Lupin isn't connected with him in any manner other than past. Regulus is smart enough to know that this side of the war might have a way to survive and that he might protect her by claiming her in the future, but if the Dark Lord loses, what will provide certainty that Miss Lupin wouldn't be punished for being his partner... his wife?" Orion said, vomiting the words and reaching for her hands. "I understand that you're trying to comfort him, Bria, but he cannot be comforted by anything other than his mother right now."

"He doesn't want me. He wants her."

"He cannot have her if it means hurting her," Orion said. "We don't want her to get hurt, do we?"

"We cannot afford so," Walburga agreed.

"Then what we can do is search for someone that can get us information about her so we can tell him every night while he recovers of how well she's doing," Orion answered.

And one person was obvious for such a task. Someone that has been trying to get Regulus' attention and favour for quite a while.

Severus Snape.

An untitled half-blood man that had crawled up into their world by misery and unfortunate events, leeching off the Malfoys (as per words of Druella) and attempting a senseless connection and allyship towards the Black by running around after Regulus Black during missions. Orion was certain her could use such feelings for Regulus' safety now, especially after Severus lied and said that the Red Storm belonged to him, saving Regulus from being charged with connection with unsafe chemicals (while Severus had permission due to being an honour student of the Academy, receiving nothing but a slap on the wrist).

At first, Severus had followed Regulus around because he was hesitant about the whole side of the war but had found nobody that would openly talk about it, he could see Regulus' horrible ideas crossing his mind. What Orion didn't know what that now Severus had one more reason to follow Regulus around: Dumbledore's orders to make sure Regulus would be kept alive until the end of the war and that he was telling the truth during their meetings.

"We should thank Lady Potter and Young Crouch. They were the ones to break the barrier in time to save him," Orion said, attempting to move Walburga's mind to lighter subjects.

"I owe that woman both of my sons' lives," Walburga said, voice small.

Orion pretended not to hear as he took a step back. Walburga pretended not to think of what to write in the letter.

I hope you all liked this!

LEAVE COMMENTS AND OPINIONS ON CHARACTERISATION HERE! (I'm insecure about this chapter lol).