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“Are you sure you want to do this?” Regulus could already feel the sweat forming all the way down his back, the palms of his hands, and his neck. He knew in the back of his mind just how crazy doing what he planned on doing was, that it would certainly not go over well with the family, the person he was bringing as his plus one to his Aunt Lucretia’s yearly dance party. She was, after all, a Muggle.
“I was going to ask you that,” she said, smiling at him calmly, not batting an eye, her hand reaching out for his sweaty hand and taking it.
Regulus closed his eyes, mentally going over everything—of what they were doing, of not hiding and facing the whole thing head-on, particularly after having gone to Dumbledore about the Horcrux, which in turn resulted in the war ending, in Bellatrix the most major threat being locked up in Azkaban so that she wouldn ’t be an actual threat—although there was still that fear of a family member killing the two of them for revealing their secret.
“We decided to do this because we didn’t feel we could keep our relationship hidden,” Olivia said, taking her other hand and placing it on top of his. The action made him calm, letting out a deep breath. “And if something happens to us, they won’t find out about her. My parents will keep their promise of taking care of her.”
“This way, it’s only us,” Regulus said. Left unsaid was that it would take place under the noses of the Prewett family, meaning there was a chance the rest of the Black family would be less likely to react to finding out the news. He’d simply find himself blasted off the tapestry as Sirius was, thus freeing them, yet at the same time, Regulus knew full well he was the family’s last chance not to die out. He hooked his arm through hers, briefly preparing her for Apparating to the Prewett family estate, the entire time his body tensing, making him think he would be the one to splinching himself.
Yet, nothing of the sort happened, and they arrived just outside the door. He took a deep breath, and Olivia tightened her grip. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t….”
The door opened, Regulus ’ eyes going wide as his aunt hurried out, smiling at him. “Regulus! Sweatheart! I thought you’d have arrived with your parents.” And then her eyes blinked, her mouth remaining in a smile. “You didn’t tell me you’d be bringing a plus one, Reggie.”
“Sorry, Aunt Lucretia,” Regulus said, putting on a smile he knew was fake, yet he hoped his Aunt Lucretia wouldn’t pick up on his nervousness.
“Uh-huh,” she said, crossing her arms, her smile fading, a rare sight. “I take it your parents don’t know either.” He felt the corner of his mouth twitch while Olivia cleared her voice. “Of course, they don’t know. Why else would you not have shown up with them? What are you up to?”
“Up to?” Regulus felt his eyes blink. “What do you mean?”
“Reggie, dear, you’ve never been good at lying. At least not to me.” Lucretia said. “What is going on?”
A few snowflakes started to fall, and Regulus finally let his smile drop while Olivia tried smiling, trying to put on the best impression despite knowing the family would disapprove.
She sighed. “Come on in. Before your parents arrive and see you,” she said, motioning for them to come in. “I’m not looking forward to your mother finding out you’re dating….” There came a pause. “Someone the family wouldn’t approve of.”
Regulus stared, then, “How did you know?”
She tilted her head slightly, still frowning, “If your girlfriend was a Pureblood, you’d have already introduced her to Orion and….” Lucretia’s mouth twisted slightly. “Her.” She took a deep breath. “So, what is your blood status?” To which Regulus and Olivia looked at each other. “Reggie?”
“I know this isn’t how you’d have wanted to find out,” Regulus said, “But I wanted a chance to say goodbye. Rather than just walking out as he did.”
Lucretia frowned, then said, “Regulus, you do know I’m still in contact with Sirius, right?” She said, “And you can use his name in front of me.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Yes, well, speaking of names, you’ve not introduced the young lady you brought with you.”
“Olivia,” Olivia stammered out. “Olivia Granger.”
Lucretia still watched, frowning. “You’ve also not said what her blood status is. How bad is it?” He felt himself tense, his gray eyes looking down. “What I mean, what do I need to prepare myself for? How bad is the situation the two of you are in?”
“She’s….”
Lucretia held up her hand. “Hold on. Your Uncle Cygnus just arrived.” She stepped away from where they were standing in the foyer and opened the door, only for Cygnus to hurry in.
“Have you heard from my sister? They aren’t able to find Regulus and are in a panic,” Cygnus said, not seeing Regulus’ or Olivia, who were behind him.
Lucretia ’s eyebrows went up.
“Don’t do that. You know full well he disappeared for a bit last holiday season,” Cygnus said. “And then he was at Hogwarts, in the infirmary, yet he hadn’t taken the train back. So it’s not as if we shouldn’t worry, Lucretia. We could have lost him.”
Regulus swallowed, unhooking his arm from Olivia ’s so his fingers could entwine with hers. He felt guilty, his head hanging down.
Lucretia frowned. “Cygnus, where’s your wife?”
“Druella is with Walburga, trying to get her to calm down,” Cygnus said. “But you know the one who’s most worried is your brother.”
Regulus cleared his throat. “Uncle Cygnus?”
The man turned, “Regulus. What were you….” And then he stopped, looking at Olivia. “Who the fuck are you?”
Regulus felt the color drain from his face, and he swallowed, his fingers tightening around Olivia ’s.
“Isn’t it obvious, Cygnus?” Lucretia said, holding her chin high.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Cygnus turned to look at her. “He’s acting as if she’s if they’re—but that doesn’t make sense. If Regulus finally decided to start courting someone…,” he said, making Regulus take a deep breath at his uncle’s choice of words. “Surely, he would have told Walburga and Orion. He certainly would have told them. Why wouldn’t he?”
“Why indeed,” Lucretia said, making Regulus rub the back of his neck. He watched his uncle Cygnus stiffen, and then he turned.
“We need to talk. Now Regulus.”
The next thing he knew, his uncle Cygnus was dragging him away. He opened his mouth to protest.
“Don’t argue with me,” Cygnus said, pulling him into Uncle Ignatius’ study before pushing him against the wall. “What is that girl’s blood status, Regulus?”
“What, girl?”
Cygnus turned at the sound of Ignatius ’ question, making him realize there were others already there in the study. Regulus tensed upon seeing both of his grandfathers, Pollux staring at him with his jaw dropped while Arcturus acted as if nothing was going on. Cygnus let go, backing away.
“Cygnus, what’s going on?” Pollux finally asked.
“This little imp brought a girl with him,” Cygnus said. “One that his mother and father don’t know about while they’re in a state trying to figure out where he is. Which is where my wife is.”
“But what do you mean—why are you asking him about the girl’s blood status? Isn’t she a Pureblood?”
Regulus took a deep breath. “No, she’s not.”
“Bloody Merlin,” Pollux muttered. “This is something I’d expect of that older brother of yours.”
“Why?” Arcturus said.
“Because he’s always been so quiet,” Pollux protested.
“And it’s the silent imp that you need to beware, not the noisy one,” Arcturus said.
“Bloody Merlin,” Pollux repeated. “Do you understand what you’ve done?”
“I’ll end up being blasted off the tapestry,” Regulus said.
Cygnus shook his head. “Really? Do you think that’s the worst thing you have to worry about? The family member with the personality closest to your cousin Bella is your mother, but I can’t protect you from her. Your father can’t protect you.”
“I’ll deal with your sister,” Pollux said. “But I advise breaking up with this girl of yours and getting over this phase.”
“It’s not a phase.”
“Bloody Merlin,” his grandfather sputtered out.
“Ignatius, would you let Orion know where his son is, please?” Arcturus said.
Ignatius turned his head to look at his father-in-law. “Are you sure?”
“Better to get this finished before your family arrives.”
Regulus grimaced, hoping the Prewett family, like Gideon and Fabian, would be there. He let out a deep sigh as his uncle Ignatius left the room. His uncle Cygnus lifted his hand, gently touching Regulus ’ cheek before leaving the study. Pollux let out a deep breath. “Of all the things.”
“Can I go now?” Regulus asked, pointing at the door. “I’d rather….”
“Lucretia can take care of Olivia,” Arcturus said. “No, knowing my daughter, she will definitely take care of her, but she can easily go toe to toe with your mother if she needs to.”
Regulus felt the color drain from his face before squeaking out, “Wait? You knew?”
“I am head of this family, am I not,” Arcturus said.
“And you didn’t intercede?” Pollux shook his head. “And Regulus. Really? Picking a woman unable to go toe to toe with the women folk in this family? But I guess that’s the result of her not being Pureblood, isn’t it.”
“That’s an interesting take,” Arcturus said, not revealing that Olivia couldn’t do magic, that she was a Muggle. Worse, he seemed amused, much like Sirius would get at times.
“Really? You find this amusing.”
“Perhaps.”
Regulus took a deep breath, standing there, looking at his feet, the sweating starting up again. His head darted up when the door opened, his ears discerning his mother's yelling as his father entered the room. Orion looked pale for once. “Regulus.”
He didn ’t stay still, darting out of the study, quickly stepping between his mother and Olivia in his aunt’s drawing room as his Aunt Lucretia and Uncle Cygnus tried calling Walburga down. There was a spark in her eyes as she looked at him. “Why are you standing in front of her as if she can’t defend herself?” And then her eyes narrowed. “That filth can’t use magic, can she, Regulus.”
His hands reached back, his fingers entwining with Olivia ’s, his own eyes narrowing, ready to defend her if he needed to, in the back of his mind knowing the one they wanted to protect was protected.
“I refuse to acknowledge this,” Walburga said in disgust. “I don’t approve at all. Nobody in this family will, Regulus!”
“They have mine.”
Regulus stiffened, finding himself confused, slowly sinking in that it was his grandfather—the one who ’d known about Olivia who said those words. His eyes blink. “Wait.”
“You what?” Walburga said, turning to look at her father-in-law.
“I’m the head of this family, and Regulus will be the next, something I’ve already discussed with Orion.”
Regulus felt Olivia move slightly to his side, peeking around him. “Wait. Mr. White?”
“What?” Regulus glanced over his shoulder, finding himself confused. “You know my grandfather?”
“He’s…”
“And what prey tell makes this girl a suitable marriage candidate for my son?”
“She’s my goddaughter,” Arcturus said.
Regulus frowned before looking over his shoulder at Olivia. “I didn’t know he was magical. Really. I didn’t.”
“I….” Regulus started to say.
Walburga screeched. “Wait! She’s a Muggle!”
“…believe you,” Regulus said, watching his mother get that mad look in her eyes.
“How the bloody Merlin did you come to have a Muggle goddaughter?” Cygnus asked. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“Because technically, she’s a squib,” his grandfather said.
“Say what?” Regulus frowned. “How does that work?”
“What would the blood status of a magical child born of two squibs from Pureblood families be?” Arcturus asked.
“They’re still a Pureblood,” Regulus said. “Because you can trace their bloodline like any other Pureblood.”
“And what if that child wasn’t magical? What would you call them?”
“A Squib,” Regulus said.
“Hold on,” Pollux said. “How can that be? Neither of their parents are magical, so shouldn’t she be a Muggle.”
“But their grandparents are,” Regulus said.
“I won’t accept that, this girl,” Walburga said, wrinkling her nose. “Can hold a candle to any of the Pureblood matches?”
“Ah, yes. Those other matches were completely non-existent before Sirius ran away but suddenly appeared when the other families realized it would, in fact, be Regulus who inherited,” Arcturus said. “Yet not a single one of those girls can hold a candle to our Regulus’ exceptional level of intelligence or, at the very least, a modicum of understanding towards him. But then, because his differences never stood out like his brothers, you liked to forget that Regulus is indeed different conveniently. So I had a choice to make.”
“It wasn’t your right to choose!” Walburga said.
“No. You’re right. It’s Regulus,’ and he’s made a choice,” Arcturus said. “I simply put that choice in front of him.”
“How dare you!” Walburga said. And she pointed at Regulus, “And bringing her here to dance at your aunt’s party.”
“That’s enough!” Lucretia said. “I understand where the father’s coming from!”
“What are you talking about?” Cygnus said, shaking his head. “This is madness.”
“Is it?” Lucretia said. “Or should I remind you that Ignatius and I have no biological heir while you have no male heir, Cygnus?”
“That’s unfair,” Druella said.
“But that isn’t it. Did you not hear him say the only reason Pureblood girls are taking an interest in our Regulus is that he’s heir? They’ve no interest in him beyond the status a marriage would bring. That’s not going to lead to a happy marriage, but there’s a risk of the children produced from that union not even being Regulus’ children, which would mean the name would remain while the bloodline will have died out.”
“Not that this route isn’t without risks,” another voice piped up.
Pollux let out a sigh. “Cassiopeia. Now is not the time.”
“But it is the time,” Cassiopeia said, coming forward to get a better look at Olivia, making Regulus realize she was already there. She turned to look at the rest of the family. “Because surely the rest of you realize that the bloodline is still at risk of dying out, what with there being any guarantee that the child will be magical, but then,” she turned to look at Pollux. “You and I should know having a mother and father who is….”
“Don’t,” Pollux said sharply. “Don’t bring him up, Cass. Don’t open that wound. I loved that boy.”
“Yes, and the year you became prefect should have been a dream year, only it was a nightmare, wasn’t it? More so for you than it ever was for me, wasn’t it? Because, as you said, you loved that boy dearly.”
Regulus watched his other grandfather ’s knees buckle, sitting down while looking at the ground. “I can’t do this anymore.”
Regulus ’ mother and Uncle Cygnus looked at each other, perplexed, before Cygnus said. “Father, what are you talking about?”
“Marius,” Pollux muttered.
“A squib,” Walburga said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
His anger flared then, something Regulus couldn ’t recollect ever happening as he snapped at his own daughter. “A squib which was my beloved brother! But then what would you know about that, blasting my son, your own brother, of the tapestry after he died simply because he made sure his nephew, your son, and my grandson would be taken care of? And then my granddaughters, one lost to madness, another blasted off the family tree because of her marriage choice, and the last not speaking to me because she’s ashamed of her husband being out now that the war is made, among other things.”
“That’s how things are done in this family,” Walburga said.
“And I’m tired of it!” Pollux said. “The only grandchild I have left is Regulus. And that’s after losing a sibling, after losing a child. So pardon me for having enough of this nonsense. But if you’re intent on losing both your children, I pity Orion, not you.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Cassiopeia said.
“How can you be so bloody cheerful?” Pollux asked.
“Because I’m sure Arcturus is keeping an eye on them,” Regulus’ aunt responded, reminding him of how Sirius used to call her an old coot. “And your father before him? If I remember the family history correctly, isn’t the reason Eduardus burnt off the tapestry because he served as a family head until your father took over as family head, skipping Phineas Nigellus Black as you’re skipping Orion, but that’s why Phineas became headmaster at Hogwarts?”
“Cass, I love your perpetual optimism, but now’s not the time.”
“But you could tell us, can’t you? Whether Marius is doing well?” And then she nodded her head at Olivia. “Of course, if I’m guessing right that she’s his granddaughter, he’s doing just fine. That’s how you came to be her godfather, isn’t it?”
Arcturus gave his usual emotionless look. “One could say that. Although he doesn’t go by the name of Marius anymore.” He took a deep breath, finally showing a bit of emotion. “I’m sorry you two had to find out this way.”
Regulus stared, quite taken aback. Olivia squeezed his hand.
His aunt, on the other hand, “I’m going to go and get one of my dresses for her to use at the party.”
“Cass,” Pollux sighed.
“The two should be able to enjoy dancing with each other tonight.”
And then silence over the entire family before Walburga stormed out, obviously displeased with the turn of events, while Regulus wasn ’t sure how he felt.