Her glare could have frozen fire, and he shrunk back into Bellatrix on instinct. Bellatrix tightened her grip on his shoulders, still laughing. And though the laugh helped him calm down a little from his initial shock, he couldn’t help but feel terrified at the sight of Andromeda’s furious face. He’d never seen her this angry. Never. He was convinced, for one fleeting moment, that she’d take out her wand and curse them both, or else attack them with her bare hands … But nothing happened. She just stood there, arms crossed, lips pursed, looking from him to Bellatrix and back. ‘It’s not funny,’ she said. ‘Not funny?’ Bellatrix spluttered between laughs. ‘You’re getting all worked up. Look at you!’ But even “all worked up”, even now her face resembled her sister’s more than ever, etched with fury, Andromeda had more self-control than Bellatrix, than Mother … ‘I don’t know why you’re behaving this badly,’ she said calmly, ‘but—’ Bellatrix stopped laughing. ‘It’s all right, Meda. Sorry we sneaked out. Next time you can come with us. No need to get all upset about it.’ ‘Upset?’ she hissed, baring her teeth. ‘You think I’m upset you didn’t drag me along to this place? You think I want to be here, you think I enjoy running after you, cleaning up your messes? You took a child into Knockturn Alley! What were you thinking?!’ Bellatrix sighed dramatically. ‘Oh, come off it. He was having a lovely time – weren’t you, Regulus?’ Regulus, still shaken from Andromeda’s sudden, angry appearance, looked from one cousin to the other, noticed Bellatrix’s expectant gaze, and nodded. He he didn’t want her to think he was weak. He didn’t want her to think he was but a child, as Andromeda had said. And it hadn’t been that bad, had it? ‘I had fun,’ he mumbled. ‘See?’ Bellatrix’s eyes gleamed triumphantly. ‘Of course he says that, he’s a seven-year-old child,’ she snapped. He bristled. ‘I’m almost eight.’ Andromeda gave him a look. ‘And if you come back here when you’re eight, I’ll drag you out just the same. You’re too young to be here. And you’ — she pointed a finger at Bellatrix — ‘you have no sense of responsibility! I don’t care if he thinks he was just having fun, or if you think he needs to learn these things now, or—or anything of that sort. He’s too young to be here, and you know that. What if something happened? What if someone—’ ‘Oh, please. Who in his right mind would dare touch a Black?’ ‘You’re delusional if you think that name will keep you safe everywhere,’ Andromeda shot back. ‘You’re even more delusional if you think it’ll keep him safe at all.’ ‘Merlin, you’ve gone soft,’ Bellatrix muttered. ‘Like it or not, he is a Black. He’ll need to learn about these things sooner or later.’ ‘Oh, for the millionth time, he’s seven! He doesn’t need to see or learn about anything down here!’ ‘I’m almost eight,’ Regulus muttered again, and Bellatrix patted his arm approvingly. Andromeda sighed. ‘If Grandmother and Grandfather find out—’ ‘They won’t. They won’t even notice we’re gone. They’re too busy fawning over Cissy’s new dress robes. So if you just keep your mouth shut...’ Andromeda clenched her jaw. ‘You know I should tell them.’ ‘I also know you won’t.’ The tension was thick and Regulus could do little but look from Andromeda, still fuming, with her jaw clenched, standing opposite him, to Bellatrix, who stood by his side, her arm still keeping him close to her, protecting him from whatever it was that came to these parts. It made him feel safe in a strange way he hadn’t thought possible with her. She made him feel important. He wasn’t just a child when he was with her. Hadn’t she also stood up for him at Easter – the only one to do so? And now she showed him all these adult things nobody else would ever show him based on his age ... The pulsating organs in those jars, the human heads, shrunken leathery things with creepy eyes, artefacts, never-ending love potions, illegal cauldrons... He swallowed hard. Not all of it had been fun. But Bellatrix was right. He was a Black. He wasn’t just some silly little child. ‘I left Sirius with them,’ Andromeda said, breaking the hard silence. ‘He’ll notice if I take too long to get back. He’ll be asking questions, too, I suspect. Might just... let something slip.’ Bellatrix tossed her long hair over her shoulder, and sighed. ‘Fine. Fine. Come on, Reggie, let’s go before Meda has a heart attack.’ And she set out to go back along the streets with him, but Andromeda stopped them, trying to pry him from her grip. ‘No. Let go of him. I’ll take him,’ she said. Bellatrix raised a brow. ‘Excuse me?’ ‘You’ve had your fun,’ Andromeda said, her voice tight. ‘Now let me take him back – before you decide to drag him off somewhere even worse.’ ‘You’re impossible,’ said Bellatrix, but she still released him. Andromeda took his hand firmly in her own and dragged him with her. He kept looking back to confirm Bellatrix was still following them as he tried to keep up with Andromeda’s quick pace – and she was, Bellatrix marched behind them, making faces at him every time she noticed him looking, and he laughed. ‘What’s so funny?’ Andromeda demanded, looking back herself, but Bellatrix did nothing then. ‘What are you laughing for?’ He pressed his lips firmly together so that he wouldn’t laugh again, and shook his head, and on they went – but then he looked back again, and Bellatrix stuck out her tongue at him, and he couldn't help but snort. ‘That’s it!’ Andromeda said, coming to an abrupt stop, grabbing hold of his shoulders with both hands. ‘Nothing about this place is funny.’ He nodded, still trying not to laugh as he pictured Bellatrix again, making faces, being silly. He looked around to find her but she had to have hidden somewhere because she wasn’t anywhere near. Andromeda sighed. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. It’s just this place... Come on, let’s go.’ ‘I’m not a baby, you know,’ he mumbled as they started walking again, approaching Diagon Alley’s bustling entrance. ‘I wasn’t scared. I could handle it. I really could.’ Andromeda glanced down at him. ‘Maybe you could. But that doesn’t mean you should be down there, all right?’ ‘But why?’ he asked as they stepped into the light of Diagon Alley, and he had to shield his eyes with his hand. The Sun was hotter here and burnt right through his robes, and the colours were so bright they hurt. She crouched down to his level and searched his face carefully. ‘Are you all right?’ He nodded. ‘Did she scare you?’ ‘No.’ She sighed. ‘Reg, listen to me. Bellatrix—she can be a bit much at times, can’t she? She has this special ability, this… this power, with which she can make you feel special, important … But just because she believes in something doesn’t mean it’s right. Do you understand?’ He shook his head. Andromeda brushed a stray hair away from his face and tucked it behind his ear. ‘That’s all right. It’s confusing, I know it is ... Just don’t let her decide what you believe in. All right?’ Regulus nodded again, unsure of what she meant. ‘Come on,’ Andromeda said, standing up and holding her hand out for him to take again. ‘Let’s go find Grandmother and Grandfather.’ Regulus glanced up at her. ‘You won’t tell them, will you?’ Andromeda sighed. ‘No. But you’re staying with me from now on, understood?’ Regulus nodded, though he cast one last glance over his shoulder, back towards the shadowed entrance of Knockturn Alley, before he took her hand. That was a place he’d never see again – and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. As they walked from the entrance to Knockturn Alley to Twilfitt and Tattings, all Regulus could notice was how busy the street was. Witches and wizards were everywhere, and some of them were selling things from brightly-coloured stalls and floating trays and what they sold were glittering trinkets and beautiful flowers and other such things. They passed Potage’s Cauldron Shop and children stood by the window, letting out delighted shrieks at the sight of their newest self-stirring cauldron set. It was so different to Knockturn Alley. It was as though they were entirely different worlds, and yet they lay so close to one another. Twilfitt and Tattings itself was a quiet shop that lay behind a heavy wooden door. The air smelt vaguely of lavender and fresh linen and the racks were lined with elegant robes and expensive fabrics. Grandmother Irma and Grandfather Pollux stood by one of the racks, quietly bickering as they examined some silver-threaded fabric. Narcissa stood at the back of the small shop, on a fitting stool, with her back towards them, facing a mirror. She was wearing what would become icy blue robes that had several layers of embroidery on them, and the seamstress busied around her with pins to get the hem right. On a stool near her sat Sirius. He was slouching and had his arms crossed, and he looked as though he’d rather be in Azkaban prison for life than spend another minute here. He let go of Andromeda’s hand and approached him. ‘Where were you?’ Sirius asked, spotting him. He was clearly agitated and wouldn’t even properly look at him. Regulus hesitated, unsure how to answer. ‘I was with Bellatrix,’ he said. ‘I know you were. But where did you go? You weren’t in Flourish and Blotts when we got there.’ ‘I can’t tell you that.’ Sirius looked up at that, his grey eyes stormy and his mouth set in a firm scowl. But before he could press any further, Grandfather was by their side. ‘Sirius, straighten your posture,’ he hissed. ‘You’re not a delinquent – Blacks do not slump.’ Sirius begrudgingly sat up, but Regulus could see the stubborn tension in his shoulders. Grandfather didn’t. He barely even looked at them before returning his attention to Grandmother. ‘I really think I have more insight on this matter, Irma. So if you could just...’ His voice trailed off as he left them again, and Regulus looked back at Sirius. Sirius, who was slouching again, whispered, ‘What did you see?’ Regulus hesitated. He thought about the shrunken heads, the pulsating organs... ‘I’ll tell you later,’ he said, voice just as hushed. Sirius eyed him, but before he could ask another question, Narcissa stepped down from the fitting stool, and Grandmother clapped her hands once, calling their attention. Together they left the shop. Near the entrance stood Bellatrix, examining the cobblestones beneath her with so much interest Regulus was almost convinced they had been human once as well. ‘It’s warm today,’ Grandfather remarked idly as Bellatrix fell into step with them. ‘We’ll stop at Fortescue’s before returning home.’ Sirius looked up at him. ‘Really?’ Grandfather gave him a look, the kind that said he’d asked a very silly question, because of course they were going to get ice-cream if he’d said it; Grandfather didn’t joke around. Regulus felt excitement well up inside him, and Sirius, too, looked delighted. Bellatrix and Andromeda were busier glaring at each other and didn’t seem particularly interested in getting ice-cream, but Narcissa looked pleased. Regulus supposed she had to be very relieved, getting ice-cream after fitting robes all day, standing in stuffy shops having to be silent and obedient... Getting ice-cream would probably be the first enjoyable thing she’d done since waking up. They made their way down Diagon Alley, past apothecaries and bookshops and other such bright, legal, enjoyable places where nothing was made of humans, until they reached the small outdoor tables of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. ‘Now, what do you all want?’ Grandfather asked. ‘I want the strawberry-and-peanut-butter one!’ exclaimed Sirius. ‘Chocolate and raspberry—with chopped nuts,’ said Regulus, mouth already watering at the thought. Andromeda hummed, then said, ‘I’ll have the chocolate and honeycomb.’ Bellatrix smirked. ‘Treacle toffee.’ ‘Just vanilla,’ Narcissa said, sighing deeply as she sat down at one of the tables. ‘Wait here,’ Grandfather said, before stepping inside with Grandmother to get the ice-cream. And the rest of them sat down at the table as well. ‘So?’ asked Sirius. Regulus shifted uncomfortably and looked to Bellatrix and Andromeda for help. Andromeda sat rubbing her temples looking thoroughly exhausted, and Bellatrix just smirked. Regulus took that as permission enough and leaned closer to Sirius. ‘We went to Knockturn Alley,’ he whispered. Sirius sat up a little straighter. ‘And? Was it interesting? What’s down there? What did you see?’ He hesitated, then remembered what Bellatrix had said. ‘There’s a joke-shop down there.’ Sirius’ eyes gleamed. ‘There is?’ ‘Oh, yes,’ said Bellatrix, taking over. ‘Of course, it isn’t the same as the joke-shops you’re used to down here—the stuff they sell down there actually works as advertised. No tricks. Well, no sales tricks, plenty of other ones. I could take you—’ Andromeda groaned. ‘Oh, for Merlin’s sake—’ Bellatrix ignored her. ‘I’m sure you’d like it. They have all sorts of fake hats, that keep shrinking and shrinking until they’re so tiny they explode. There’s also exploding wands—’ Sirius looked intrigued. ‘Exploding wands?’ Bellatrix nodded excitedly. ‘And loads more.’ Sirius huffed. ‘I would’ve wanted to come with if I knew there was a shop like that.’ ‘You say that now,’ Andromeda said darkly. ‘But when you’re actually there...’ Before anyone could say anything else, the door to the parlour swung open again, and their grandparents returned with a levitating tray of ice-cream. They were all handed the flavour they’d asked for and dug in immediately, because the ice-cream was already melting in the hot weather. It got quite messy but Regulus didn’t care. It was nothing some magic couldn’t fix, and they would soon be back at the cottage anyway, with plenty of water to wash in and cool down in. Yes, all in all, today was looking good. Especially after so many weeks on his own it was a real treat to be out and about and having fun with ice-cream and to have his cousins near. Though he did miss his parents. It was a quite sudden thing, because he hadn’t thought about them all day, but now he did, and the pain spread quickly through his body, and he felt the tears prick behind his eyes. As if she knew he needed a distraction, Grandmother Irma cleared her throat. ‘Now that you’ve finished school, Bellatrix, we must discuss your future,’ she said. Bellatrix looked up. ‘Oh? Must we?’ ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Have you any plans?’ Bellatrix put down her spoon. ‘I suppose I do.’ Grandmother raised an eyebrow. ‘Well?’ She leaned back in her chair. ‘I suppose I want to be... useful.’ Andromeda sighed. ‘Not this again—’ Bellatrix shot her a sharp look. ‘Yes, this again. The world is changing, Meda, and I won’t sit by doing nothing, pretending it isn’t happening.’ Narcissa, who had remained silent all the while, and who had already finished her ice-cream somehow, said quietly, ‘You’re speaking of him, then. You think what they’re saying about him is true.’ Regulus didn’t know whom they were talking about, but seeing the way Grandmother’s lips thinned, she did. ‘You’re fresh out of school. You should take a year to think. Travel, even. Or—Whatever happened to your plans of getting a job at the Ministry?’ ‘The only reason I was ever even interested in a Ministry position was because I wanted to fight for what is right and make a difference in the world. But now... Well, the Ministry is simply no longer necessary. I am not going to waste my time sitting behind a desk sorting out paperwork if I could be doing something useful instead.’ Grandmother exhaled sharply through her nose, but Grandfather nodded slightly, as if he had expected this answer. ‘Ah, and how do you plan to “do something useful”, then?’ Bellatrix grinned. ‘I imagine there’s plenty I could do.’ ‘And I imagine plenty of it is dangerous,’ he said, folding his hands upon the table and looking sternly in her direction. ‘Listen, Bellatrix, I understand you think yourself all grown up, and you want to play your part—’ ‘I don’t just think myself grown up, Grandfather, I am—’ ‘You should leave it to the men,’ he interrupted. ‘They are much better equipped for such battles—’ ‘I won’t sit idly by and watch this world go up in flames just because I’m a woman—’ ‘You are hardly a woman! A girl, yes, a child—’ ‘I’m seventeen, and I’ll be eighteen soon enough!’ she countered, standing now, flailing her arms about. ‘I am old enough—’ ‘You’ll be up against men who are twice as old and far more powerful than you!’ he bellowed, his voice loud enough to make Regulus flinch back. A few heads turned at nearby tables but no-one intervened. ‘Sit down,’ Grandmother Irma said sharply, ‘and be quiet—both of you. We are in public.’ ‘No,’ said Bellatrix. ‘No?’ Grandmother repeated through gritted teeth. ‘No,’ said Bellatrix again. ‘We’ve sat back for far too long, let them take far too much. I want to find that man. I want to – and I will – offer him my allegiance, and—’ ‘You’ll do no such thing,’ Grandmother said. ‘I will not allow you to disgrace this family by running off to join some... some radical maniac. You’ll stay here, you’re going to take your time and consider your future properly. You need to learn patience. You—’ Bellatrix’s nostrils flared. ‘You don’t control me,’ she hissed. ‘No, I suppose I don’t. But I can make your life very difficult if you insist on acting like a reckless little schoolgirl.’ Bellatrix smiled, but it was not a kind smile. It was a smile that sent shivers down Regulus’ spine. ‘Try me,’ she said, voice low. No-one said a word. Bellatrix made a funny sort of sound, grabbed her wand, and shoved her chair to the side. She nearly knocked it over as she stormed away from the table, her long dark hair whipping behind her as she went. Regulus watched her go, unsure what to make of it all. His hands were sticky from the ice-cream that had run all over his fingers, forgotten about and melting in the hot Summer Sun. His stomach twisted uncomfortably as she dipped out of view, and he didn’t dare speak. Neither, it seemed, did anyone else. For the longest time they just sat, staring at the crowds Bellatrix had disappeared into. Then Grandmother sighed, rubbing her temples. ‘She is impossible.’ ‘She is lost,’ Andromeda murmured. ‘She’ll be back,’ Grandfather disagreed with a shake of his head, though he didn’t sound entirely certain. ‘You don’t know her very well, then,’ said Andromeda, wiping her hands clean on her napkin before standing up. ‘Well, I think I’ve had enough family bonding for one day. Are you coming, Cissy?’ Narcissa hesitated. ‘I…’ She looked at Grandmother, then at Grandfather, then back at Andromeda. ‘Where will you two be going?’ asked Grandfather. ‘Just a stroll around Diagon Alley,’ Andromeda said. ‘Please, Grandfather, I need some fresh air after all this…’ Grandmother waved it away. ‘Go if you wish, but I expect you home before nightfall.’ Andromeda nodded and turned to Narcissa, waiting. Narcissa hesitated only a moment longer before standing as well. Then the two girls left, weaving through the bustle of Diagon Alley, leaving Regulus feeling more lost and alone than ever. He looked helplessly down at his hands, still sticky with the melted ice-cream. ‘Come here, darling,’ Grandmother said, reaching into her handbag for her wand. Regulus obediently held out his hands, letting her clean them with a simple spell. ‘There,’ she said, tucking her wand away. ‘All clean again.’ ‘Thank you,’ he mumbled, voice small. He wasn’t sure why he felt so uneasy, and he wasn’t sure how to do away with that feeling either. He just wanted this day to be over. He just wanted everything to be all right again. He just wanted it to go back to normal. He wanted to go home to Mother and Father, and for them to actually be there. Tears again pricked his eyes and this time Grandfather was the one to break the silence before they could fall. ‘We should go home. No use sitting here any longer,’ he said. ‘The girls will find their way back.’ Grandmother agreed and the four of them stood up. Regulus trailed after them, next to Sirius, who was uncharacteristically quiet. And silently the tears began to roll down his cheeks, one at a time. And they kept falling as they passed the shops and the cafés on the way to the Leaky Cauldron. And he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t stop feeling alone and lost, and Sirius ignored everything – including him, and so, he moved up to walk next to Grandmother, and he reached for her hand. And miraculously, she took it. She allowed him to hold onto her as she guided them back through the pub, towards the fireplace. And she took him home. Well, she took him back to her cottage, but that was close enough to home. It was better than the big, loud, bright and hot Diagon Alley or the scary, dark, smelly Knockturn Alley. And yet… the cottage felt different to how it had this morning. It felt more distant somehow. Grandmother brushed the soot off his robes and her own, and Grandfather and Sirius appeared a moment later and repeated this process. Then they took them both to the sitting room, their makeshift bedroom, and sat them down. For a long time the four of them just sat there, silently staring at each other. Then Sirius asked, ‘Grandfather?’ ‘Yes?’ said Grandfather, and Regulus knew something was wrong from the way he’d said it. ‘Who was Bellatrix talking about? The… the man?’ Grandfather studied them for a moment, and Regulus studied him, but his face was unreadable. Grandfather then exhaled, and said, very slowly, ‘He is very dangerous. That is all you need to know.’ Regulus held back a sigh; Sirius lacked such tact and sighed freely at the disappointing information. Neither Grandmother nor Grandfather did anything with this, however. They just stood and made their way out of the room, leaving them there. No doubt to discuss the matters more freely amongst themselves. Adults always did these things. They always excluded them when it mattered most. ‘Who do you think the dangerous man is?’ he whispered after a short silence. Sirius looked at him. Regulus knew he couldn’t possibly know – there was no way anyone had told him any more than they had told him – but it was still worth asking. But Sirius frowned, and said, ‘I dunno.’ Regulus nodded. He’d suspected as much. Still... He hugged his knees. ‘Do you think he’s going to hurt us?’ ‘I dunno,’ Sirius repeated, but he looked more thoughtful this time. ‘Grandfather looked mad. And Grandmother was… scared.’ Regulus blinked. ‘She wasn’t scared.’ ‘She was,’ Sirius insisted. ‘Not … Not running-away scared. But I could tell. She doesn’t get like that unless she’s worried.’ ‘You really think so?’ Sirius nodded. ‘I know so.’ He didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all. His mind went back to Bellatrix, and her wanting to find the dangerous man that scared Grandmother – and he liked it even less. It made him feel sick. ‘Do you think she’ll come back?’ Regulus asked. ‘I dunno,’ Sirius said again, voice quiet. Regulus looked down at his hands, trying to process this information. He knew people left sometimes. But he’d thought it’d be Narcissa, with how much time she’d been spending over at the Malfoys. Not Bellatrix. He hadn’t always liked her – she was quite scary – but... she was family, and the thought of her being gone for good hurt him immensely. They sat there for a moment, then Sirius swung his legs off the sofa. ‘Let’s do something.’ Regulus looked up. ‘Do what?’ ‘Dunno. Something fun. Wanna go outside?’ He shrugged. Sirius grinned and pulled him off the sofa, dragging him outside. There, the late afternoon Sun made their shadows very long and very slim. And though the air was warm, it was not as boiling hot as it had been back in Diagon Alley, and that was a great relief after all that had happened today. A flicker of hope passed through him as he trailed after Sirius, wandering about the lands that lay attached to the cottage, and he felt the tension leave his body with it. He kicked off his shoes and let his toes feel around in the grass. He smiled up at Sirius, who now held a very large stick. He tossed it in the air and caught it with ease. He smiled back at Regulus, then tossed up the stick again – towards him. Regulus stared and watched the stick fall down on the grass. Then he jogged after it, picked it up, and tossed it back at Sirius. And Sirius threw it right back at him. This time, he did catch it. The stick felt light in his hands and he twirled it around. ‘I bet I can throw it further than you,’ he said, smirking. ‘You’re on,’ Sirius said, taking his shoes off as well. And Regulus hurled the stick with all his might, and it flew through the air, landing by some bushes quite far away. Sirius grinned and ran to retrieve the stick, and then he threw it in the same direction – and it landed beyond the bushes. ‘Ha! I win,’ he shouted triumphantly. ‘That's not fair! You’re taller! Your arms are longer,’ Regulus argued. ‘You’re the one that came up with the game,’ Sirius countered. ‘You know, I bet I can throw it even further than that.’ And indeed, he could. He got the stick back and threw it even further than he had thrown it before – they had left a marking there, so they could tell. And again Regulus said that it wasn’t fair, because he was older, and his arms were longer. ‘All right, all right, we’ll play something else,’ he said. ‘What’ll we play, then?’ Sirius grinned mischievously. ‘Race you to the shore,’ he said, already running away. Regulus had no choice but to run after him – through the grass, away from the bushes and the stick, towards the sand, and to the water. ‘Beat you,’ Sirius said when they got there. ‘Your legs are also longer, too,’ Regulus said, struggling to catch his breath. ‘You’re just too slow,’ teased Sirius. ‘Am not!’ ‘Are too!’ Sirius grinned and grabbed Regulus’s shoulders, throwing him into the water. ‘We’ll call it a tie,’ he yelled after him, as Regulus (now struggling with his wet robes) tried to get out of the water again. As he resurfaced, he caught Sirius shouting, ‘Last one to the tree is a rotten egg!’ And off he was again. And Regulus struggled onto the sand, which made his heavy, drenched robes filthy and rough, and the sand clung to his feet and got in his wet hair, and he pulled off his robes over his head the best he could, stumbling around half-blind for a moment before freeing himself and tossing them aside. And he chased after Sirius, and though he knew he’d never catch up, he laughed, and he had fun. And they spent the afternoon acting as though they hadn’t a care in the world: running, laughing, pretending they chased dragons and cast spells, saving whole Kingdoms from their evil overlords, and building their castles in the sand... Yes, for the slightest moment, all was well. Date: A day in early July, 1969. Event: leaving Knockturn, ice-cream, Bellatrix leaves, back at the cottage Sirius and Regulus play and forget about things for a while. Characters: Black Family: Sirius Pollux Black Regulus Arcturus Black Narcissa Black Andromeda Black Bellatrix Black Irma Crabbe Pollux Rigel Black