CHAPTER THREE
The Safe House
January 19th, 1979

          Regulus had been here for almost a week now, he had been allowed to send owls to his mother saying he would be missing at home for a little more time as he was in Scotland. Walburga had sent back a letter, stating she was shocked that he did not say a word but nonetheless wished him to spend a good time, which surprised Mallory. This was a proof that Walburga Black—maybe—wasn't so cruel with her sons and that she loved them, in her own wicked way. Parts of her wondered if he had felt any different by her words, but if he did, she hadn't noticed anything. Regulus was slowly but surely getting along with Gideon more than Fabian, but at least he had someone to talk to; though he did spend a lot of time in the bedroom. Most of their conversations were about Quidditch, even Mallory found herself participating in some of them.

Mallory and the twins had felt rather peaceful these last few days, there hadn't been any Order meetings or missions, it was a relief. Mallory had seen Lily and Alice a few times, she even had the time to catch up with Edgar Bones and his wife, Samira. She had learned that the couple had joined the Order too, apparently Albus Dumbledore had begged them for hours to join as he stated that Edgar was one of the most talented wizard he knew. Sadly, she hadn't seen the others, all of them busy with their lives. All she knew was that Remus had been sent away for a mission and still hadn't returned.

As usual, it was Sunday morning and these mornings were made to be spend in utter silence. Fabian was out, Gideon and Mallory in the living room as they read the Daily Prophet while Regulus was still in his bedroom. Oh, one thing they had learned was that Regulus Black was a late sleeper. Quite like Sirius actually.

"Reckon we should wake him up?" Gideon asked as he looked at the clock, right above Mallory's head. "It is getting late and breakfast is getting cold."

Mallory snorted, "You worry too much about Black, Gid," she answered, folding the paper. "I am sure he is fine, if he's hungry he'll come out," she added as Pen jumped on her lap, asking for pets. "Pen is always begging for pets as soon as I put this bloody newspaper down."

"Because it loves you," Gideon replied. "Have you read what Skeeter wrote in this?"

She let out a sigh, "Rita gets on my nerves, if I stumble upon her, I'll hex her," she muttered. "All her articles are rubbish and full of lies," she said. "Using her stupid pen to write about Voldemort and Death Eaters as though it was silly joke."

"Pen, go wake up Regulus," ordered softly Gideon as the kneazle instantly jumped off her lap and hurried itself to the door. "I love kneazles, they are so intelligent," he said dreamily.

Mallory rolled her eyes with a chuckle, "How is Molly? I haven't heard from her in a while," she queried.

Molly and Mallory shared a close relationship, probably because she had been friends with the twins ever since she stepped foot into Hogwarts. Nevertheless, Molly seemed to really love Mallory.

Gideon smiled, "The twins are coming soon. She's probably too knackered to even send an owl. Besides, there are still Bill, Charlie and Percy to take care of...and with Arthur working at the ministry, I reckon she has a hard time managing it all," he explained with a small smile. "But, I'm sure she will be happy to receive an owl from you."

"You know, you should help your sister more," Mallory started, pouring. "I mean, I feel bad for Molly. We should take them for a night or two, allow Molly and Arthur to have a nice peaceful night," she proposed. "Though, I'm taking care of Charlie."

"It is not because Charlie is your godson that you have to only take care of him!" Argued Gideon.

Mallory smirked, "Is it jealousy that I hear, love?" She teased as he clenched his jaw, letting out a sigh. "I know my godson is your favourite too," she added.

"Godson?" Regulus' voice echoed as they all turned to look at him. His hair were messy, his eyes were half-open and he was holding Pen in his arms. "Who is your godson, Abbott? You don't have any siblings."

"Charles Weasley," Gideon replied proudly. "My nephew, but also Mallory's godson."

"Nice to finally be out of the bloody bed," Mallory shouted as she heard his footsteps going to the kitchen. "You could say hello, it won't kill you!" She groaned, standing up and heading to the kitchen, "Can you at least be polite? I thought your mum had raised you better than this, Black."

Regulus sighed, "Can you not shout so bloody loud?" He demanded, biting into the pancakes. "Where's the other twin?"

"None of your business," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "You claim to be well-raised because you're a pure-blood but you have no manners, and you behave like a five years old," she muttered under her breath, staring at him.

"Is that so?" He questioned, looking up at her. His eyes took a second to scrutinise her face, she was rather pretty. "I do have manners but considering I have been captured, I don't really feel like having good manners," he explained.

Mallory sighed, "You're so stubborn," she told him.

Before any of them could say anything else, the alarm went off meaning someone had used their floo network. Going to the living room with Regulus trailing behind her, she looked at Moody who seemed to search for her in the room.

"Ah, there you are!" He exclaimed, walking towards her. "Are the twins here?"

She shook her head, "Only Gideon, why? Is there something wrong? Did someone..."

"No, of course not," he cut her off. "For your safety, you have to move into a safe house," he admitted lowly. "Albus wants this."

"A safe house? What for?" She exclaimed. "We are perfectly able to protect ourselves," she added, pointing a finger at him. Regulus could have sworn Alastar Moody shrank a bit.

He sighed, "It's not only you, Mallory. Albus wants the twins, Bones and his wife, also Black."

Regulus snorted, sighing loudly afterwards, "Do you ever plan on freeing me? My Mother might be looking for me as we speak," he muttered. "This is not right."

"Technically, it is," Mallory answered, glancing at him. "You're a Death Eater, we are Aurors. We have all the right to bloody capture you, Black."

Moody's cane hit the floor, making them both look back at him, "Now is not the time to start a fight. You go pack your bags and I will wait," he ordered. "Off you go. You too, Gideon!" He shouted. "Black, Abbott, hurry up. We still have one thing to discuss off."

...

Regulus felt stupid to not feel capable to escape the Auror who was trailing behind him, but parts of him were shouting to not do something rubbish. If he tried to leave, Moody would simply kill him and if he didn't, Mallory would. Pushing the door of Grimmauld place, he prayed Salazar that no one was home because he wouldn't be able to leave again. Thankfully, none of his parents were there.

"Master Regulus is back!" Kreacher squealed and Regulus thought he had never seen him so happy before. "Does Master Regulus wish for delicious food cooked by I?"

Regulus shook his head, "Thank you Kreacher, but I am just here to take some clothes and leave again. Do not tell Mother I came back."

"Yes, yes, of course," he replied.

With a shaky breath, he climbed upstairs and pushed the door with his initials on it. He had almost forgotten how suffocating he found this place, it was so much darker than the twins and Abbott's flat. He grabbed the first bag he saw, charmed it and stuffed as much as he could in it. He didn't know how long he would be staying there. He also took some books, he had read everything Gideon had in his room and didn't know if this house would have books somehow. Probably not? Safe house weren't meant to be comfortable? Merlin, he didn't know.

As he walked downstairs, Regulus couldn't help but glance at Sirius' bedroom. He hadn't stepped foot in it since his older brother had fled the house, and never planned to go into it. His Mother had went a few times, especially right after she learned he was living with the Potter, she had trashed the whole bedroom and screamed until her voice was too raw. Then, with a flick of her wand, she had put everything back in its place and had walked out of the bedroom. Sometimes, Regulus suspected his Mother to miss Sirius as much as he did but she would never admit it.

"I will see you soon, Kreacher," Regulus spoke as the elf stared at him.

He swung his bag on his shoulder, and walked towards the same corner where the Auror had captured him a week ago or so. To nobody's surprise, Alastar Moody was waiting for him against the wall with a cigarette between his lips. Surprising, Regulus never thought Moody smoked.

"Finally," he groaned, taking hold of Regulus' arm. Without any warning, Moody had already apparated back to the safe house, well really it was a cottage. And a lovely one.

Regulus turned on himself to look around, it was probably a few acres, way more than the vacation house he had in Scotland. The cottage was surrounded by a dense forest and endless grass. He loved it. He really did. Trailing behind the auror, they finally reached the house and he could hear the loud laughters from inside it. Who was there already? Mallory, the twins...and the Bones?

"Mallory! Where is she?" Moody mumbled to himself as he walked through the house. "Prewett, where is Mallory?"

Fabian sighed, "In her room," he explained. "Don't forget to knock, Moody!" He shouted as he watched the man stroll towards the stairs. "Meeting in two minutes, come downstairs please."

Regulus cleared his throat, walking in the living room. He sat down and watched as Gideon put a hand on the man's shoulder, as though he was trying to hold him back. The woman stared at him with squinted eyes, almost as if he was a complete alien.

"Regulus Black, isn't it?" The woman said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Samira Lestrange, well...Bones, now," she gave him a smile, holding onto her husband's arm.

Regulus looked at her. She did look like a Lestrange, he had seen a few of them at Bellatrix's wedding but hadn't paid attention correctly. He had heard a few conversations about a Lestrange marrying a Bones, but once again hadn't listened. He bowed his head with a soft hum, and moved his eyes on the husband.

"Edgar Bones," he introduced himself. "Funny to see a Black here. Did you deflect?" He asked, sitting down in the armchair.

He clicked his tongue with a small chuckle, "I did not, no, Actually, I have been captured by an Auror," he explained. "If I listened correctly to the past conversations, Dumbledore needs me for one of his plan."

"I think you meant stupid plan," Mallory said, walking in. "Oh, you found your way back. I kind of hoped you wouldn't," she pouted at Regulus.

He sighed, shrugging, "Trust me, I wish I would have lost the way too," he responded sarcastically. "It would be nice if someone could explain to us why we are here."

Samira chuckled, "Dumbledore thought we were in danger," she replied. "Besides, he reckons we will be out in a few weeks..."

"We will still go on missions, right?"

Moody hummed, "Not you," he said, pointing at Mallory. "You will have better things to do. Dumbledore and I will come visit in a few days. Mallory, behave," was all he said before leaving the house.

As soon as he stepped outside, Edgar snorted, "So, Mal, I've heard you were quite the Auror," he started. "The ministry says you're mental for using blades."

Samira shrugged, "I think it makes you look badass," she added with a chuckle.

"Thank you, Sam," Mallory said. "Oh, and I am mental for using blades, what can I say? They're practical."

"And sharp," Regulus added under his breath.

Edgar looked at him, "Did she? Oh, she did not!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "She threatened you with her blades? Wicked."

"Well, it is not pleasant."

"Who cares? It's bloody great," he replied with a laugh. "I fear we are going to have a good time, Black," he then said, rising on his feet as he kissed his wife on the forehead and walked away.

Gideon smirked, "It seems like you've made a friend, Black."

"Barely," he muttered. "Bones is not my friend. None of you are..."

Samira rolled her eyes, "You really are a Black," she told him, shaking her head. "I might warn you now, Eddie has a thing for strays and considering you are one...I reckon you might have entered your own personal hell," she said gently.

"Trust me, I've entered my own personal hell a week ago," he replied, clenching his jaw.

Mallory scoffed, "That is definitely not a way to treat your hosts. I mean we cooked for you, Black and Pen woke you up almost every morning," she argued.

Fabian reached for her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "Calm down, Mal. You can't expect him to be kind, can you?"

Regulus smirked at the sight of it, realising one thing. Fabian Prewett fancied Mallory Abbott and she didn't seem to know a thing about it.

"Ah, this is going to be lovely," he said still smirking as he rose on his feet, and walked up to his bedroom.

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authors note, finally an update! and i just love the whole chapter, i have nothing else to say. thank you!