Lyrics and summer school work, Regulus dived into them, and with that, his feverishness quelled, although the feelings involving Sirius taking off, becoming a—

"Blotch on the family name, blotch on the family tapestry," Adrian sighed. "Definitely can not go into the lyrics of any song at this point because there aren't that many pure-blood families with tapestry, and the Black family is the only one to blast family members off the tree."

"They're quite unique things, "Regulus responded on that particular visit, when—

"Regulus. I've come to fetch you."

Regulus blinked, confusion setting in as he sat at the table, helping Adrian revise his homework as he looked at his grandfather. He glanced over at Adrian, "But..."

"You can help me revise later," Adrian said, his mouth twisting into a frown as he watched the older Black. "This is about Regulus now being the Black heir, Orion's heir, isn't it?"

"And you know this because?"

"Aunt Lucretia and Uncle Ignatius asked I be supportive, are all," Adrian said, packing up his bag. "I've not any worries about this, having older brothers as I do, but I hope nothing ever becomes of them."

"Perhaps Ignatius should be preparing you in case something bad happens to them in this war?"

Regulus cringed, packing up his own books. "You really did walk into that one, Adrian."

"Yeah. No. This—I've other plans. Plans that..." Adrian paused. "Plans that will certainly change the world, I think." He took off, heading to their aunt and uncle's fireplace and flooring away.

"It's good that the two of you are speaking again."

"I guess," Regulus said, looking at his grandfather. "I didn't know something like this was in the plans."

"For starters, I do not want your mother to know. Second, I don't want your mother interfering. Third, I don't want your mother to know."

"That seems like—the first and last are just the same thing, but isn't it all just a matter of not involving maman."

"Oh. She will not be involved. Goodness knows she managed to ruin one of my grandsons already. I won't be having her ruin the next one as well, but you and I are going to visit one of the family businesses."

Regulus tensed. "Wait. You mean I have to deal with people?"

"Yes. As future head, you will have to deal with people Regulus, even though this is outside your comfort zone. You may take notes as you wish, but I'd rather think you do not need them with that brain of yours. And that would mean Walburga can't go digging through finding out what I'm up to."

"If it's something scandalous that..."

"We're Apparating, so prepare yourself."

"Regulus felt the familiar tg, preparing himself as requested. They landed in an unfamiliar place, near a small park. The man. "So. Do you know where we are?"

Regulus looked around, then said. "Among Muggles?"

"Why, yes, dear boy." His father chuckled. "Among Muggles, because we Blacks have many very profitable businesses in the Muggle community." He held out his arm. "Care to walk an old man across the street?"

Regulus frowned, knowing full well his grandfather's cane served a more ornamental purpose than something Arcturus Black used for getting around, yet the man with his salt and pepper hair put on a show of using the cane. At the same time, Regulus helped him across the street from the alleyway.

They stepped inside the place, the bell clinging as they did, and Regulus closed his eyes, taking in the smell of old books, a particular sanctuary. He didn't notice his grandfather letting go of his arm until the end of the cane was placed in the center of his back, pushing him forward, causing Regulus nearly to stumble into a bookshelf.

Regulus turned, rubbing the back of his head, frowning while Arcturus—the look on the man's face reminded Regulus of Sirius, resulting in him looking away. "Of course, he does because anything and everything seems to remind me of him. Grandfather isn't the sort to plan something like Sirius, though, and cause trouble, so..." He took a deep breath. "What am I—well?"

"Use full sentences, dear boy," Arcturus said, using his cane to work his way over to the armchair. "This old man is going to take a nap, but treat this like any other bookshop you've been in before, and have fun picking out some books for me to purchase."

"But..." Regulus didn't get a chance to say anything to the man, such as, "Maman will throw a fit if I bring Muggle books home. She'll literally burn them." Letting out a sigh, he left Arcturus to nap in the chair of his choice and started down the aisles, fingers on the books, his head quickly spinning from all the options, the names of the books already getting his head churning and burning with curiosity.

"Can I help you?"

Regulus backpedaled his finger on a set of books, resulting in the books crashing onto the floor. He gasped as he looked at the girl with brown hair and brown eyes. "Sorry! I am so sorry!"

"It's alright," she said, picking up the books.

He quickly bent down, intent on helping her out, only—

"Oh!" She held her hand to her head.

"Sorry. So, so sorry!" He muttered.

"I've got this, so don't be so flustered, sir."

Regulus felt his cheeks turn red while the girl returned the books on the shelf. She turned and looked at him, smiling. "And what kind of books are you looking for today?"

"Irk!" Regulus felt his throat tighten, his body stiffen, his arms go ridged at his side as if he were one of those toy soldiers that his mother loved setting out at Christmas time.

"Well, my name is Olivia, which is from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night," the girl said.

"That one," Regulus blurted out, "Uh, I think that one?"

"Yes. My grandfather does keep Shakespeare on stock, as it's a major part of the school curriculum, has been for a hundred years, and isn't going away in a hundred years, or so he says." Olivia waved for him to follow, and he followed her over to a shelf, where she handed him a paperback copy. "Anything else?"

"I-uh?" He took a deep breath. "Uh, music?"

"Oh. What kind?"

"Mug—what? Uh—that kind we're not supposed, uh," Regulus muttered.

"Oh! Your parents are not into the whole rock-n-roll thing?"

"It's, uh—gift?" Regulus muttered. "Maybe for Sirius, though I doubt that is what grandfather meant."

"For a girl."

"No. No girl, um, I..."

"So you don't have a girlfriend?"

"Not that lucky," Regulus said. "They all think..."

The girl laughed, motioning for him to follow, finding him books on Sirius' favorite music while Regulus wanted to vomit; the idea of sharing the books with his grandfather—

"I-uh."

"I actually prefer a guy who likes books over sports."

"I do both," Regulus said. "But the sports thing, nobody notices me." He looked at the books, freezing. "Three, uh, oh."

"Oh. Three books I'd recommend?" The girl tilted her head. "Hold on. I'll be back." She headed from there, calling out, "Lettie!"

"She's got a boyfriend who works here?" Regulus wondered. "And why am I curious about that, of all things? Why is my chest—because I'm buying books mother would flip out on."

"So, my older brother, here are the three he recommends. Are you starting a band?"

"Friend is," Regulus. "No. Family member is. Mispoke. I'm not good at this."

"Well, here are the books," Olivia said, handing them over.

He took them, then paused, glancing up but not in the eye. "Uh. Lettie? He's your brother?"

"Yup," the girl said, tucking her hands behind her back, apron hanging over her Muggle clothes.

"I—uh. See my grandfather now. To, uh, purchase. Um."

Regulus walked away, holding the books and keeping his eyes closed. He remembered the bookshop layout already, but nothing lay on the floor to trip him. He took a deep breath. "I found some books."

"You did?" Arcturus said.

Regulus stiffened, prepared to show his brother the contraband he discovered.

"Then here is some money. Bring me the change."

"You're not going to look at them?" Regulus asked.

"What? You didn't pick out porn, did you?"

"Grandfather!" Regulus felt his face heat up from embarrassment, his eyes darting in the direction he'd last seen the girl while a young man with brown hair looked up, frowning.

"We don't sell that here, you know."

"I'm allowed to tease my grandson, you know," Arcturus huffed. "Doesn't your grandfather do the same, Lettie?"

"My grandfather, let alone my parents, don't ask about any porn collections stuffed under my bed if that's what..."

"I'm not Sirius!" Regulus blurted out. "And I'm sure..." He clapped a hand over his mouth. "Bee, but that!"

"Yes. I know about your brother's posters. Please tell my grandson you were joking about porn under your bed. His brother gives him enough of a scare, plastering his bedroom walls with girls in bikinis."

"And what if that would be a lie?"

Arcturus reached out, poking Lettie in the ribs, glaring at him. "I'll tell your grandfather to be rid of them, that's what!"

"I don't! I don't!" Lettie said. "It would be absolutely embarrassing for a younger sister to find them, for one thing!"

"Go and purchase your books, but be sure to keep them out of sight of that mother of yours, and you know why?"

"Uh, yes, sir," Regulus said, going over to the counter.

The man looked at the books. "Shakesphere and..."

"For someone," Regulus muttered.

"Not for..." The man let out a hum. "A hard time, he said. That loon. Never mind."

Regulus paid for the books and then headed back home, but not before glancing at the girl right before they left the shop. He walked Arcturus back across the way so the man could Apparate them again. When he arrived home, he quickly hid the books under his bed, telling Kreacher not to tell his mother any secrets there, that it was otherwise clean.