Chapter Text
James watched as the summer ended with a mournful expression, there was a time where he might have thought about joining the Auror training program.
His grades were enough for that, and his dueling skills were more than enough.
It felt like a lifetime ago now.
He didn’t know when he stopped wanting to work as an Auror, maybe when he began seeing the ministry's incompetence, or maybe when he realised that everytime he read about a raid he only thought about the victims not getting help in time.
At some point it became more about catching Death Eaters than stopping people from getting hurt.
Or maybe, just maybe, James, deep down, still held the hope that Regulus Black was alive, hurt but alive and he didn’t want to be unable to help him.
“I think I’m gonna be a healer” James admits, Sirius gives him a look he cannot fully decipher “Maybe like that, I can save more lives”
Sirius looks at him, really looks at him. James doesn’t know what he finds but Sirius relaxes.
“I never thought of it but” Sirius takes a deep breath, his voice slightly trembling “It suits you”
James smiles, the letter from headmaster Dumbledore still in his pocket.
He should answer, he can guess what inside, he should want to answer.
“Thanks Pads” James rests his head on his friends shoulder, Sirius passes him the fag.
His parents have returned from St. Mungo not long ago, their treatment successful, James had for a moment thought the worst.
Both his parents were acting as if it were no big deal but it was obvious, if they hadn’t followed Leo Rosier’s advice they very well might have died.
Leo Rosier, Leo Rosier, an unknown name, someone that appeared one day and everyone pretended he had always been there.
The man was a mystery in many ways, his father had described him as a genius, his mother as a lovely young man.
“Have you thought about what Dumbledore asked?” Sirius took his cigarette back, taking a puff himself.
James had, he had also tried to ignore it for as long as possible, the whole ordeal with Dumbledore’s order of phoenix was complicated. His parents had been against it from the start, James didn’t know what was right.
“I don’t know Sirius, we just finished Hogwarts, we are just eighteen, Sun above, you are just seventeen!” James messes up his hair, not that it makes much of a difference “What could we even do to help?”
Sirius shrugs, not particularly bothered by James’ maybe small meltdown.
“At least we'll be doing something” Sirius says in a matter of fact tone, James hates that he agrees “The other option is watching as they murder wixen like Lily and do nothing”
James sighs, deep down he knows Sirius is right, even if his parents don’t trust the headmaster, even if James would prefer doing an apprenticeship on St. Mungo, he knows the times are too turbulent for this.
“Okay” He says, trying to make his tone as confident as usual.
“Okay?” Sirius asks, a bit unsure.
“Yes” James nods “I’ll do my apprenticeship at the same time, māma is a healer, she can help”
Sirius’ grin widens, he looks amused and James can only roll his eyes, knowing exactly what the idiot is going to say.
“Oh? Throwing the family name around? How Black of you”
James, despite himself, feels the blood rushing to his cheeks. James Black is a name he hasn’t dreamed of for a while, fucking Sirius, making him remember.
Regulus would have laughed at him, like it was James’ fault to dream of marrying someone as perfect as him.
But that was what it was, a dream.
James could feel his expression sour, shaking his head he tried to redirect his attention elsewhere.
Thinking about Regulus would do him no good, not when Sirius was still mourning, not when the wound was so fresh.
“I’ll write to the rest, ask them what their plans are” James doesn’t think Peter will want to join though, and Mary… he gets a bad feeling these days when he thinks of her, small chills running down his back, James tries his best to ignore it “You write to Moony?”
Sirius nods, he looks detached in a way, angry in a silent way James doesn’t see often. It should unnerve him but it doesn’t, if anything it reminds him of Regulus.
“Sure, should I invite him?”
Sirius looks unsure, James can only sigh, it doesn’t matter how much they remind Sirius this is also his home his friend will still ask.
“Of course Pads” James then, because he can, gives him a smug smile “You can even take him on a date”
Sirius shoves him playfully, James puts off his cigarette so he doesn’t accidentally burn something.
“Oh sod off” Sirius’ words hold no bite, James can only laugh a bit.
They’re going to be okay.
Regulus went to his shop with his hands full of potions to restock, Cassius had helped somewhat and Regulus was beginning to think the man really saw him as a son.
Or maybe he saw Regulus as a weird stray his kids had picked up, with Cassius one could never know.
Harry held onto him with a dumb smile as the twins cooed, Regulus had to shoo them to work.
In retaliation, because nothing in Regulus’ life could be easy, Harry bit him. The kid didn’t even have teeth.
He wanted to blame James’ genes, he really did, unfortunately it was common knowledge that when he was younger he had the tendency to bite.
In first year he had bitten Barty at some point, he didn’t particularly remember why, only that the boy deserved it. Then there was Sirius complaining about getting bitten every time Regulus didn’t feel like talking.
So this was his fault…
He watches as Harry basically drooled all on top of him and sighs, he would do nothing to change this though.
Regulus kisses his son's forehead, his son stares at him with his killing curse green eyes, the silver sparks in them remind Regulus of the stars.
The bell at the door rings, Regulus hides in the zone behind the counter, letting the twins deal with whoever client was crazy enough to arrive at opening hour.
Then he hears the sound of heels against wooden floor.
Before Fabian can open his mouth to greet her, Regulus steps in.
“Hello Cissy” Regulus tries his best to not sound as nervous as he feels, Harry looks at her with curiosity, Narcissa seems to have stopped breathing “There is a room behind where we can talk privately, follow me”
Fabian and Gideon arch an eyebrow at him, clearly questioning, Regulus looks at them completely unbothered.
“My cousin and me will be away for a while, if you two need anything knock on the door”
With that he and Narcissa walk together, Regulus hugs Harry tighter to his chest.
Only when the door is closed does Narcissa speak.
“Reggie what in Dadga’s name have you done?” She looks between his new looks and Harry, her hands trembling.
Regulus sighs and deactivates the disguise on the ring at the same time he casts several silencing and detecting spells on the room, on top of the already existing ones.
“I ran away” Regulus admits, sitting down on one of the chairs, not before offering one to Narcissa.
He places Harry in his lap who looks delighted and changes himself to look like Regulus again, Narcissa feels almost dizzy as she watches.
“I wasn’t going to, originally” Regulus admits, Harry’s presence soothing him “But in the end I- Cissy, I just couldn’t. I’m sorry, I never wanted to leave you there but I won't return, I can’t”
Narcissa watches her cousin, they’re both the youngest, yet she was the one that had raised him.
Not Bellatrix, she had been too busy dealing with her own descent into madness to do anything else.
Not Andromeda, who would usually make sure they didn’t get into trouble, completely forgetting Regulus because he was quiet, soft.
Regulus never got into trouble, at least not after that summer when he was six. Narcissa didn’t know what happened but it wasn’t hard to guess, one just had to take one look at the trembling Regulus and another at the missing space Sirius always occupied.
She sometimes wondered if Sirius ever realised why his brother had changed so much to begin with, why Regulus had begun acting more guarded and less like a child.
Narcissa had done her best to make sure he had someone to rely on, someone who he trusted to stay quiet, because they both understood the best way to survive a family like theirs.
Because neither of them could run away.
“Reggie” Narcissa softened her voice, the baby in front of her that looked so much like her baby stared at her in curiosity “Does this have to do with the kid in your arms?”
Much like she expected Regulus nodded, Narcissa sighed.
“Cissy” Regulus gulped, Harry imitated his posture as best as he could, which wasn’t much honestly “Meet your nephew, Harry Altair Black”
“Oh Reggie” Narcissa looked at her cousin and his son, Regulus held him as if it physically hurt to be away “What happened?”
Finally, under Narcissa's caring gaze Regulus feels like he can relax, he doesn’t feel capable of telling her everything, no, only his family knows what actually happened to him.
But he knows he can tell Narcissa enough.
Enough to protect her from her husband, enough but not too much that it places her in danger when it comes to The Dark Lord.
“I found out something that put my life in danger” He says carefully, Narcissa watches him in worry “Something that can take down The Dark Lord”
He sees Narcissa's hands shake, he expects it, he also expects the immediate composure that follows after.
“Are you going to?” She asks, pretending to be unbothered.
Regulus knows her too well to believe it.
“Yes” His answer is simple, he doesn’t beat around the bush. There is no point in lying about something so obvious “I’ve already started”
He lets Narcissa think, not bothered by the silence. He knows what she’s thinking, her husband, her family. Both things are being balanced and he has to wait to see which one wins.
“There is no way to convince you otherwise, is it?” She asks, defeated, Regulus knows he’s won.
“No” He denies, its a simple truth “I’d rather raise my son in a peaceful world after all”
Narcissa sighs, a tired sigh that he knows too well.
“Give me my nephew, I might as well hold him” She finally says, Regulus gives her a smug smile.
Harry babbles incoherently and Regulus kisses his forehead again before allowing Narcissa to pick him.
“Careful with the hair, he likes to eat it” He warns, and for the first time someone actually listens to him because Narcissa ties her hair with a flick of her wrist.
Well, Narcissa was the smartest out of his family members.
Harry wastes no time to change his looks to match Narcissa making her gasp in surprise, only encouraging Harry further.
“He’s blessed by the stars” Narcissa mutters, holding him so carefully, as if fearing the smallest gust of wind could break him “A metamorphmagus, two in the same generation”
They’re both thinking of Andromeda, even if neither of them say anything.
Narcissa turns around, her eyes never leaving Harry.
“What do you need me to do Reggie? With what can I help?”
Regulus thinks of it, he doesn’t want Narcissa involved but at the same time, someone knowing she isn’t loyal to The Dark Lord like her husband is, could also be a way to protect her.
“Actually” Regulus’ left eyebrow twitches, he knows Narcissa notices it “Could you tell me if Bellatrix has been gifted any artifact recently by the Dark Lord? Something to prove her loyalty?”
Narcissa looks at him and nods, well, that fixes one of his problems at least.
“She’s been saying The Dark Lord gifted her a cup, an ancient artifact from the founders” Narcissa’s voice is soft, yet she looks on edge “She moves it around, I wouldn’t know where it is at the moment”
Good, Regulus reasons with himself, they know what most of the remaining horcruxes are now, a cup for loyalty from the founders age, there is only one cup that matches that description.
Helga Hufflepuff’s cup. Considering his obsession with artifacts he doesn’t doubt is the real one.
He might need to check the Gryffindor sword too, just in case that is the sixth they can’t locate, it makes sense after all.
“Thank you Cissy” Regulus doubts Narcissa knows the extent of the help she has given him “You don’t know how much that helps. If you know where the cup is, could you send me an owl?”
“Of course” Narcissa agrees easily “As long as I can keep seeing my nephew”
Both cousins look at each other in comfortable silence, Regulus tries memorising her cousin's face, she looks tired but there is a spark in her eyes that wasn’t there before.
As it begins to get late Narcissa has to leave, Regulus understands but dreads it the same. Lucius can’t know she’s been here, talking with a cousin he’s never heard of.
He puts back his ring, his disguise coming back and Narcissa puts her mask back on.
Before going Narcissa kisses both his and Harry’s cheek softly.
“If I hear new of a raid I’ll owl you, I trust you will understand the message"
After Narcissa leaves with a regal posture, exiting with several beauty products Regulus has stocked just to give her an excuse to return. They still have healing properties of course but they aren't particularly practical when it comes to actual emergencies.
Fabian and Gideon pop their heads out, looking extremely curious, Regulus sighs, he had forgotten that deep down those two were Gryffindors.
“Stop looking and get to work, I’ve got some news about the horcruxes”
At this both twins grin at each other, Regulus can only roll his eyes and rest his back against the wall behind the counter. No clients can see or hear him and he wants to keep it that way at least until the afternoon.
Some clients, the regulars, ask for his health, which the twins dutifully explain calmly that he’s out for family business, which with the Rosiers family branch can be anything, and that he will return as soon as he can.
Regulus pokes his son in the cheek, making him laugh and smiles.
Even if they know where the cup is stealing it now before the locket is placed in the cave is stupid, they have to wait until his birthday, June twenty one. Then they steal both the cup and the locket without dying.
There has to be a way, Regulus wont die again, not when he has a son to take care of.
If they’re lucky the other remaining horcrux will be destroyed already, if it’s the sword of Gryffindor that is.
With nothing else to do he begins writing a letter to Evan, Harry drolls on top of the letter, Regulus sings it with a cat paw.
After some thought he paints Harry’s hand with gold paint, one that it’s safe on the skin and lets him place his hand on the bottom of the letter, next to his paw.
Harry lets out a delighted sound and Regulus kisses his cheek.
“There étoile, now uncle Ev knows it’s from both of us”
Regulus spends the morning playing with Harry, babies can’t do much other than babble nonsense but his son is an excellent listener. He knows thanks to the books his friends got for him that babies needed to hear people talk to learn so he does his best to express himself.
It’s when he’s reading a french children's book to his son, who keeps grabbing his cat plush toy and yawning, that he hears a knock on the door.
“Leo, uh Lady Potter asks if she can talk to you?” Fabian sounds confused, Regulus can only guess the company he keeps does look strange.
A cousin married to a Death Eater, Lord Thalassias or for the general person Lady Potter, and then he was trying to destroy The Dark Lord at the same time.
Yeah, he should not forget the fact that he was a Rosier from the main branch, known for their link with prophecies and that he was hiding his real identity, which was the deceased Heir of the House of Black.
His life was really a mess.
“One moment” He sighs, picking up Harry and placing him on his hip before wandlessly cleaning the room, letting Harry keep his plush toy.
When he gets out Euphemia is waiting for him with a soft smile and a bag full of gifts, Regulus should have seen this coming.
“Hi Leo” her voice is firm but it holds so much care it makes Regulus want to take a step back “My husband said he got the opportunity to meet your son but the idiot didn’t even bring a gift”
Regulus feels a lump on his throat.
“Lord Thalassias there is no need-” He begins but Euphemia cuts him off.
“None of that Leo” Euphemia was honestly quite scary so Regulus shut up “I know there is no need, we are doing this because we want so do us a favour and accept the gifts”
Leo nods, Harry makes hands in Euphemia's direction making her expression soften easily.
“Thank you Euphemia” Regulus says finally, making her smile.
“Of course” Euphemia simply watches them with a soft smile, the look she gives Harry is almost maternal “How’s this cutie called?”
“Harry” Regulus admits, his cheeks flushing, he really hopes Euphemia doesn’t know about James’ preferences with names because that would be an awkward conversation.
He doesn’t add the Rosier, he doesn’t want to lie to Euphemia. Euphemia who if things had been different, who if Regulus hadn’t been, well- Regulus, she could have called Harry her grandson.
“Hi Koukli” Euphemia smiles at Harry, still making grabby hands, Regulus chuckles.
“Want to hold him?” He asks, unsure, Euphemia, much like her husband, immediately looks happier.
“Please” She's more composed, unlike her husband, in a way she’s regal like Narcissa, but she looks so delighted to have the opportunity to hold Harry it softens her completely “Such a cute thing, Leo, he’s wonderful”
“He is” Regulus admits, passing him Harry, not without first warning her about the hair eating habit. Euphemia is smart enough to understand he’s serious and act accordingly, her hair is soon out of reach for Harry, who pouts “I had never thought I’d love someone this much”
And it's true, he loved his friends, he would forever love them, he loved his brother, he could never not even when he hated him, he loved James even after so much time.
But those loves didn’t compare to Harry, his little star, he hadn’t even though something so precious could exist.
“I understand” Euphemia is wearing a melancholic look “Before James, my son, was born I believed I understood love and honestly I did, you don’t need a kid to understand something so humane, but when James was born I understood a different type of love. I knew that there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep him safe and happy”
Regulus understood, he felt the same, for Harry he would stop this war, he was going to.
This was why he would never understand his parents. How do you see a child and claim you love them when you can bear to watch them suffer? And Walburga hadn’t just watched them suffer, she had made sure herself it happened by her hand.
Harry, as if sensing his emotions, turns into a weird mix between Evan and Barty, making Regulus laugh. Euphemia watches, her expression unreadable.
“Ah, I’m guessing Fleamont already told you?” Regulus asks, a bit red in the face.
“He did” She admits easily “Told me he almost had a heart attack thinking one of our sons became a deadbeat father”
Regulus chokes, he tries his best to make sure his emotions don’t show on his face.
“Ah- yes, he did ask if the father was Sirius Black” He tries to not sound disgusted by the accusation “Fortunately I’m sane and don’t particularly like the family tradition of marrying relatives”
Euphemia laughs, patting his head softly, she approaches him with caution, almost as if he was a wounded animal.
“If you ask me I never thought Sirius was an option, after all that boy is head over heels for a friend of his”
Regulus immediately knows who she's talking about, Remus Lupin, the best of the four marauders, if you ignored the small detail of him being a werewolf.
And that the boy genuinely thought he was good at hiding it, well, he had to give it to him that most students simply believed a werewolf at Hogwarts was impossible to happen and dismissed it as simple coincidences.
Ah yes, wixen and their stupidity.
Regulus had forgotten to lower down the bar, his fault.
“Yes, my brother told me, Remus Lupin? Son of Lyall Lupin, right?” Evan had in fact mentioned it, when they gossiped, because his brother was pathetically in love with Lupin so Regulus deserved to make fun of him.
“If even other years in different houses notice the boy is hopeless” Euphemia pitches the bridge of her nose, clearly she has seen Sirius’ pathetic pinning as much as Regulus “If the boy ever admits to liking him it will be a miracle”
“Blacks do tend to ignore their feelings until they’re ambushed and forced not to” He admits easily, because that was exactly what James, the arse, had forced him to do, which would have been a good thing if war wasn’t at their doorstep and Regulus wasn’t going to be forced to join a crazy megalomaniac.
“Personal experience?” Euphemia asks, not hiding her curiosity.
“My siblings best friend was a Black” He explains, referring to himself in past tense was awkward.
“Ah- Regulus” Euphemia says his name like if she personally knows him, it's unnerving, there is a pained expression on her face “My condolences for your loss. May his soul shine in the sky”
Regulus looks at her and nods, he hadn’t expected Euphemia to know about Black traditions with souls and stars, then it was true her brother in law was married to Dorea.
“Thank you”
He can’t get any more words out of his mouth but Euphemia doesn’t mind, they stay there, playing with Harry for a bit as the day passes.
When she leaves Regulus doesn’t know what to do.
“Leo?” Fabian asks, Gideon and him look worried.
“Nothing to worry about” He tells them, holding his sleeping son on his arms “I figured out what one of the horcruxes is and who has it”
Fabian and Gideon share a look, Regulus rolls his eyes.
“Come on, let’s make sure we know what each of us has to do”
A month later, when Narcissa sends him a letter about delicious pastries he has to try, he easily recognises the location and time of the next raid. And if Fabian and Gideon manage to be there on an outing and call their colleges just as it begins, well, who could blame Leo the potioneer?
And if a black clothed figure is seeing observing the mayhem under a veil, making sure the least people possible are harmed then, well, how could anyone tie it all back to Regulus Arcturus Black, who has been dead for months?
Regulus wakes up this day like any other, the preparations for Samhain won't begin for at least a week and Harry is sleeping peacefully.
Then Harry, like usual, bites him.
Except it hurts a bit.
Regulus looks at his son's mouth to find two teeth, proudly peeking out.
Immediately he rushes to write to his friends, pictures included.
Dear Evan, Pandora and Barty
Guess who just got his first teeths? The books said it should begin at four months but it's only been a bit less than three!
How is the term going? Do any of you need help with your NEWTS? Also, tell Barty to rest. I know he’s overworking himself, the thing with the Gryffindor sword can wait.
Take care you idiots.
L.R
At Hogwarts Barty groans in annoyance, his lips curving upwards betray him. Evan hits his head with a book while Pandora coos at Harry's small teeth.
Their nephew is quite cute after all.
Arcturus Black considered himself a smart man. Family magic warped around him effortlessly and people bent to his will.
But these days he was beginning to think something was wrong with his house. It started when his heir, Sirius, ran away.
He had found it odd, not many would ignore the allure of the position of Lord Black. But Sirius was never normal and alas he, much like Andromeda, had a lover not many would approve of in the family.
Arcturus wouldn’t have minded that much, Melania would have hated having to deal with Lyall Lupin but she would as long as it made their grandson happy.
But Sirius leaving put Regulus in the light and Arcturus watched their youngest shine for the first time with his own light. There was something about Regulus, that even when he was obedient, screamed of rebellion.
He wasn’t loud, he wasn’t Sirius, but Arcturus had found himself quite happy with the new heir, Regulus wouldn’t lead the family astray, not like Orion had.
And then Walburga had owled, a simple invitation to a funeral that screamed that had been organised by Narcissa and not her.
Arcturus had realised then that there was something happening to his family when he should have seen the signs before.
But what bothered him the most was the family magics slowly slipping from his fingers and the shining name on the family tree, holding them as if they belonged there.
And they did, Arcturus guessed, the family magics had found an Heir they loved and Arcturus could not fight them even if he wanted.
The silver shining name of Regulus Arcturus Black seemed to be challenging him, the new branch under him protected almost from view seemed to shine with laughter.
Harry Altair Black.
What a curious name his grandson had given his child.
But also, which bastard has gotten his youngest pregnant!?
Arcturus held his cane tightly and considered swinging it against someone's bollocks, Melania watched her husband with worry.
Well, the family did need a reminder of who was Lord Black.