CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A Quiet Funeral
June 12th, 1979.

     Mallory's head felt like it had been hit with a mighty hammer. Her head kept pounding and pounding at every little noise, and she could barely open her eyes. That was due to the alcohol from the night before. Regulus and her thought it would be wise to share a drink—but a drink turned into multiple ones. And before they knew, both had passed out on the sofa upstairs in each other's arms.

There was a good reason for drinking: the funeral. Today, Mallory had to wear her blackest dress and accept condolences from people invited. But she did not want to hear anyone or anything. She wanted to be left alone, in her room with a bottle of firewhisky.

"Mallory," Regulus' groggy voice reverberated through the manor as he leaned against the doorframe, watching her put on earrings. He rubbed his temple, earning a chuckle from her. "What is it?"

"Is Regulus Black hungover?" She teased.

"Well," he started, clearing his throat. "After all we've drank, I reckon I am."

"I thought you could handle alcohol a bit better, Reg," she teased once again as he rolled his eyes, keeping a smirk on his face. "Is it time?"

He looked down at his watch, nodding, "Sadly, yes. Are you positive that you want me there? I can wait here and help Pilm in the kitchen."

"Of course I want you here," she said with a frown, looking back at him. "Besides, Pilm will never let you near the kitchen. She thinks you might steal her job after all."

Quietly, Regulus agreed and offered his arm for her to take. His mother's owl had reached home the night before in which she wrote her deepest condolences and wished Mallory all the goods in the world. If Regulus was not mistaken, his mother was head over heels for Mallory Abbott and so was he. If he recalled, multiple people who loathed him would be there–the Prewett, Sirius, the Potter and Remus Lupin. All her close friends.

Reaching the graveyard a bit early, he walked her to the hole where her parents' bodies would be laying soon and let out the silence surrounding them. Regulus had always been taught to keep it quiet in graveyards as a sign of respect, which Sirius found weird.

"Mal, hiya," Remus Lupin's voice echoed behind Regulus as his cologne got stronger while he walked past to hug Mallory tightly. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Remus," she whispered back. "Dumbledore told me it was war and I had to move on," she then told her friend.

Remus wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head, "Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what grief is, Mallie."

Then Sirius showed up, he gave Mallory a hug as well and bowed his head to greet Regulus. Thankfully, none of them questioned Regulus' presence and he was thankful. Sirius must have told them about the mission, he couldn't keep his tongue tied for too long anyways. But then Fabian and Gideon showed up, and it seemed that his presence was now a problem.

But Fabian kept his anger to himself for now, refusing to cause a scene here. Instead he watched with hatred as Mallory made her way back to Regulus, and held his arm tightly before laying her head on his shoulder. Regulus dried her tears throughout the whole funeral and even walked upfront with her as she said a few words. It was rather tough to ignore her friends but Regulus managed it perfectly until they reached her manor.

Regulus hurried in the kitchen where he felt safe due to Pilm being there, even though he suspected her to only talk to him because Kreacher had told her about him. But nevertheless, he felt at ease in that room because he didn't have to face Fabian, Sirius or James Potter.

"There you are," Mallory's soft voice echoed behind him and he opened his eyes, looking up at her. If he was quite honest, the drinks from the night before were catching up to him and Regulus wanted to collapse on the counter. "I was looking for you. Figured you might be in here."

Regulus hummed with a little smile, "I thought you'd like to spend time with your friends, after all you've been unable to see them for a while because of me."

"Well, you are my friend too," Mallory argued, her hand rubbing his back up and down. "Come in the living room with us."

"No, thank you. I'd rather drown myself again in the firewhiskey bottle we have left than facing Fabian or Sirius. They despise me, Mallory," he muttered, burying his head in his hands dramatically.

"Don't be a tosser, Reg. Do it for me please," her voice was soft and he found himself unable to say no. Once again. Clenching his jaw, he rose to his feet and headed to the living room with Mallory by his side.

But as soon as he reached the living room, Fabian sighed loudly enough for everyone to hear and rose to his feet as he asked Mallory to talk. Regulus casted an unsure glance as they left his sight.

"Well, hello Reg," Gideon's familiar deep voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he offered a tight smile. "How have you been?"

"Pretty well, thank you for asking," Regulus answered. "How are you? You held them in high regard, didn't you?"

"Sure. They were like a second family to us," he told him. "How is she doing?"

Regulus glanced in the previous direction she went in, hoping to catch a glimpse of her before answering, "I think she is doing good. I have been staying by her side ever since they found the bodies. It soothes her to be there, in her room."

"Good," Gideon said, nodding his head along Regulus' words. "Eddie told me she wanted you to come. You two have grown closer, haven't you?"

"Well, surely," Regulus answered. "We have to spend all of our time together or it might look suspicious. Besides, I do consider Mallory as a friend."

As they talked, Mallory and Fabian sat in Anthony Abbott's office. Mallory knew exactly the reason why Fabian wanted to talk and that reason being Regulus Black. It killed Fabian to see Regulus here, by Mallory's side. And she understood him a little.

"Why is he here?" Fabian finally asked, breaking the silence as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's your parents' funeral, Mallory. It's okay to send him away for a bit."

Mallory scoffed, "How pretentious can you be, Fab. He is here because I asked him to. I didn't want him to go away," she said.

"Please!" He exclaimed with a scoff. "Are you sure you are alright, Malloy? Did he give you something to drink or eat while he was there?"

Despite the sadness living within her for the past few days, Mallory felt the need to laugh out loud at his statement. Was he implying that Regulus could have slipped a potion in her food or drink? Because Mallory Abbott knew Regulus Black like the back of her hand, and she knew that he would never do that.

"He did not. Pilm was the one cooking as usual," Mallory answered.

"How are we sure that you've not been compromised, Mal?" Mallory gaped at him in shock. How could he say something like that? "Don't look at me like that. It's a possibility! The old Mallory would have never let Regulus Black, a known death-eater, sit in her living room on the day of her parents' funeral."

"Don't!" She shouted, threatening him with her index. "Don't you dare bring my parents into this, Fabian. The old Mallory does not exist anymore. I've changed. And I do want Regulus near me."

"Why's that then? He is an awful person who's killed people. Innocent people! Doesn't that count for something? A good, well headed Auror, would have never let him get that close," Fabian ranted as Mallory felt her blood boil with each word he said.

"I bloody like him, alright?" Mallory blurred out as the palm of her hand hit her mouth as soon as the words came out. Clearing her throat, she continued under Fabian's confused stare. "I enjoy his presence and he is good to me. I know he is still a bad person but when he's with me, he is not anymore. He's a nice gentleman."

As Fabian asked a question, the realisation settled in–she fancied Regulus Black. As if everything fell into place. The missing puzzle piece had been found. Mallory fancied Regulus and that was a scary thought.

A sudden noise caught both of their attention as they snapped their heads towards it–if this wasn't Mallory's worst nightmare yet, it was about to be. Regulus stood there, all colour from his face had disappeared and his mouth was slightly open. Mallory truly pondered running away.

"I am sorry–" he breathed out, trying to loosen up the collar of his shirt. Why was it so hard to breathe all of a sudden? "Pilm came to me and said she needed me in the kitchen. I overheard and–oh, Salazar. I'll let you two talk, once again I'm sorry."

Now it was Regulus' turn to feel awfully ashamed and he wanted to run as well. He had no idea if he was strong enough to face Mallory after what he had heard. Surely, he had realised himself that he fancied her a long time ago. But he never thought she could reciprocate it.

"Pilm!" He hushed, rushing into the kitchen where she stood by the counter.

Pilm wore a smirk, "Master Black has heard then," she said, content with herself.

"You knew all along?"

Pilm shrugged, "I is a very intelligent creature, sir. Master Black makes Mistress Abbott happy and laugh. Master Black had to know."

"B-but what if it ruins everything, Pilm? Mallory and I were on good terms. She cared for me and I cared for her," he sighed, taking a seat. "Now, it is going to be cold and distant because I overheard something that I should have not."

"I is not sorry," Pilm told him after a while as she slid a bowl of hot soup under his nose. The smell brought him back to his senses as he was hungry. "I is very good at taking care of her family."

"I know, Pilm."

"Pilm knows that Mistress Abbott is very happy with Master Black and after the tragedy, it is all that matters. Happiness," she explained wisely.

Regulus had no idea how an elf could have such wise words. Kreacher was all about mumbling and groaning in annoyance–but he was kind with Regulus and let him stay in the kitchen. As he savoured the soup, he tried to think of what to say if she ever came to him–which he doubted really but still he needed to be prepared. His mind was telling him to deny what he had heard because that was the easiest thing to do and then his heart was telling him to spill it all out.

Regulus didn't leave the kitchen even when he heard the front door close which meant they were now alone in the house. He was thankful that she did not come to talk or else he'd have avoided it. For now he sipped on his drink that he had taken the time to serve himself from the only bottle left. One question reigned in his mind: how could Mallory fancy him? Regulus was far from being worthy of her adoration and love.

"Regulus," Mallory's voice suddenly echoed behind her and he froze at the sound.

Clearing his throat, he turned around to meet her as he clasped his hands together, "Shall we go sleep?"

Mallory opened her mouth to say something but closed it, and instead nodded, "Right."

Regulus and Mallory climbed up the stairs side by side and stayed quiet. None of them dared to speak. Regulus refused to talk about what Mallory had said earlier. So quietly, in the dark bedroom where only the moon was a light, they laid in bed with their backs facing each other. No words were uttered. And Regulus waited for the moon reflected down on the pair and that Mallory's soft snores were heard in the room to fall asleep with his mind full of questions without answers.

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authors note, it's been a while since i've updated origami and i thought why not!!! so here it is 😍😍 we are getting closer to mallory and reg 🥰😍🥰😜💅