Work Text:
“Regulus.”
Snow fell outside of Gray House, covering the ground in white as Cassie looked out the kitchen window. She wiped her delicate hands on the towel while the smell of coffee and muffins filled the room. From behind her, Cassie sensed her stepson approaching at the same time she got that nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.
“I’m Brandon,” the twenty-five-year-old said right before she turned to look at him, attempting to put on a brave face. His mouth twisted across his face. “Is something wrong? I thought we discussed this? That I would be joining Middleton’s police force.”
The sound of heavy footsteps and giggles filled the room, making Cassie and Brandon look up, both knowing that the youngest Russell was now headed downstairs, but her steps were quickly accompanied by her older half-sister yelling at her to slow down lest she gets hurt.
Brandon’s eyebrows shot up. “Some things never change.”
“Some things do,” Cassie spoke softly, having learned a long time ago that sometimes fate wasn’t kind.
“You had that same look on your face the day dad died. Who is Regulus?”
Cassie leaned up against the counter, letting her knuckles turn white as she used it to hold herself up. “He’s family. A cousin to be exact.”
“A Merriwick?”
“A Black,” Cassie smiled. “He was a very adorable baby, Regulus was.” Her hand went up to her heart, trying to push back the feeling something wrong was going on. “It was a Black who pointed me in the direction of Gray House which allowed me to meet your dad and you kids.”
That Black, of course, was her mysterious benefactor, always looking out for her and things that happened in Middleton, yet she had a feeling Arcturus had some kind of hand in regarding why Middleton was different when it came to magic, or at least some influence with the ministry to prevent them from interfering, almost as if Middleton were some kind of experiment Arcturus was always watching.
“Your mysterious benefactor?”
“Uncle Arcturus.” Cassie put her lips together. “Simply someone who saw it as his duty to see I was cared for after my parents passed, albeit from a distance most of the time.” Which was the best way to explain the situation to anyone not more familiar with the Black family's eccentricities, let alone how she never felt welcome with the Blacks. “He never really cared that my father was a squib, but then he wasn’t actually my uncle though.”
“Who isn’t your uncle?”
“Good morning George.” Cassie smiled at him. “I’m talking about my father’s first cousin.”
“So, Regulus?” Brandon asked.
“Regulus would be Uncle Arcturus grandson, the son of my second cousin Orion and my first cousin Walburga.”
“Wait. I don’t follow,” George reached for a scone. “And who is this Regulus and why is he suddenly coming up?”
“It’s not uncommon for cousins to marry in the Black family,” Cassie smiled.
The smile fell from her face when a loud crashing sound was heard from the foyer followed by screams from Lori and Grace. Cassie’s eyes widened while Brandon turned so he might hurry into the room. Her breath sucked in, that bad feeling growing. “Regulus.”
George’s eyes widened. “Do we have an unexpected guest?”
“Something like…”
“Cassie! I need your help! There’s a young man here who’s injured badly!” Brandon called out from the foyer.
“Regulus,” Cassie muttered. She pushed herself away from the counter, her gut saying she wouldn’t like what she saw.
And she didn’t. A young man lay on the carpet as if he’d fallen from somewhere. His breath didn’t come easy, while putrid water and blood dripped off of him onto the carpet. Stepping over, she recognized the trademark black hair of the Black family, but then he opened his eyes, revealing the trademark silver eyes.
“Cassiopeia?” The youth groaned, before closing his eyes.
“Regulus.”
“This is Regulus?” Brandon’s eyes focused on Regulus' left arm, taking in the tattoo that wiggled under the claw marks which looked as if some sort of creature had clawed at the poor boy. “That tattoo…”
“It’s a Dark Mark,” Cassie muttered.
“You mean the one everyone in Middleton is supposed to be on the lookout for, including those who don’t know about magic? You mean to say…” Because, after all, Middleton was different, knowing slightly more regarding the magical world than the rest of Britain, but police officers and family members of those with magic were some of those allowed slightly more freedom.
All thanks, Cassie guessed, to their liaison with the ministry, who’d she long ago guessed was actually Arcturus Black.
“I don’t know what I’m saying,” Cassie muttered, not wanting to think of the small child—one of the few people to take an interest in her at the Black family gatherings, his mother Walburga sighing that he was too young to understand the family politics. There was a strange warmth that always radiated from the child, yet she still felt that same feeling despite the mark on his arm. “Of course, my feelings could be wrong.”
“Cassie?”
“Lori, could you take Grace upstairs. Brandon…”
“Fetching your cauldron,” Brandon muttered, helping Lori get their eleven-year-old sister up the stairs.
“I’ll fetch the ingredients.”
“I wish I knew what he’s gotten himself into,” Cassie muttered, leaning down as she continued to look at the boy, his skin deathly pale. “But I’ll do my best.
~
Regulus heard the sound of a child asking him something to which he replied with a humming tone. His eyes felt heavy and his entire body hurt. In particular, his head hurt and the voices—the voices reminded him that he’d drunk the potion and left Kreacher to deal with the locket.
His silver-gray eyes snapped open. “Bloody Merlin.”
“You’re awake!”
He turned his head to look at a young girl who looked quite excited to see him, yet in the back of his head, he knew he didn’t recognize her. Regulus started taking in the room while Walburga yelled in his head, a whimper escaping from his lips, something rather indignant for someone of the most noble house of Black.
His eyes closed, covering his eyes while realizing he was naked from the waist up, bandages covering him and running down below the pants which felt super comfy while not being something he’d expect Walburga to approve of. The child continued to giggle, but then someone with a rather light and airy voice said, “Thinking about how you look rather indignant for someone of the most noble house of Black?”
Regulus felt his mouth frown and lowered his hand. He looked at the woman standing in the doorway while noting someone dressed in a strange uniform stood looking over her shoulder. He tilted his head, moving his left arm up. “Cass-Cass?”
His eyes suddenly widened, a blush spreading across his cheeks, but he looked at the couch. “I see you’re as adorable as the last time I saw you?”
“Who’s with you?” Regulus' eyes narrowed, knowing full well what the mark on his left arm meant for him.
“My step-son.”
Regulus turned his head, contemplating what Cassie said, feeling slightly confused. “How old is he?”
Her step-son looked at him with annoyance while Cassie leaned up against the door frame, watching him as she smiled at him. Said step-son said, “I think we should turn him over to our liaison and let the ministry deal with him.” Regulus tensed up, but then Cassie’s step-son said something strange. “We’re Muggles after all.”
“Yes, well. I have a feeling our liaison won’t be turning this one over to the ministry,” Cassie said, confusing Regulus even more. He sunk back into the couch, wanting to escape.
“Cassie?”
“My mysterious benefactor,” Cassie turned to her stepson. “I’ve got a feeling he’s the reason things are the way they are in Middleton. And yes, he does have that kind of power Brandon. He’s not someone who you’d want to cross either.” She turned to look at Regulus. “And I’m not as young as you think, though thank you for thinking as much.”
Regulus swallowed.
“And before you even think of leaving, you are in no condition to leave, Regulus Arcturus Black. Nor are you any kind of bother. Family is family, regardless of what the rest of the Black family thinks, or I should say…”
“Most of the family?” Regulus muttered, thinking suddenly of Sirius. He turned his head, looking at the sibling.
“Something happened between you and Sirius?”
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Regulus thought, knowing full well…
“I see.”
“I’m not the little kid you remember.”
“But I think you are. I sense that you are. Otherwise, your magic wouldn’t have brought you to me during your time of need, would it?” Cassie continued to speak in a soft voice. “Come, Grace. Let your cousin rest.”
Regulus heard the girl giggle before hurrying after her mother, knowing better than to try and argue with a female member of the Black family—something Sirius never learned.
“My name’s Brandon Randall, by the way. Grace, Cassie’s daughter, is my half-sister.”
“You wanted to turn me over to your liaison, whoever he is,” Regulus muttered. “You should, whatever this liaison business with the ministry means. I belong in Azkaban.”
“Azkaban?”
“Wizard prison.” Which meant Brandon was a Muggle.
“Yes, well—I’d willingly agree with you if it weren’t for Cassie. Do get some rest, and welcome to Middleton.”