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“An act of kindness can go a long way, yet sometimes those acts of kindness are few and far between.”
“Oh, no,” Sirius said. “It’s still six months away from Christmas, and you’re already waxing poetic about how you want to do something for someone else again.”
“In Tokyo Godfathers, three homeless people found an abandoned infant. In Holiday Rush, the Williams family feeds the homeless for Christmas. And in a Christmas Inheritance, a spoiled heiress brings a homeless person in from the cold.”
“And I hate Christmas movies.” Sirius rolled his eyes. “But of course, of all the Muggle things you would end up being into, it had to be those bloody Christmas movies.”
“They leave you with a feel-good feeling,” Regulus said. “And Aunt Lucretia likes them as well, giving me an excuse to watch them.”
“More like you got her addicted to them,” Sirius shook his head. “I wouldn’t have let you move into my flat if I’d known I’d have to deal with Christmas movies non-stop every year.”
Regulus lifted an eyebrow, “Where else was I supposed to go? I couldn’t depend on the kindness of Fabian and Gideon forever.”
“How did you end up with an Order of Merlin again?” Sirius asked.
Regulus froze, his right arm reaching up to grab his left, clutching his wand as his mouth pushed together. He looked away.
“Those scars,” Sirius looked down at Regulus’ arm, frowning.
“We’ve discussed this,” Regulus said. “I’m lucky. Kreacher disobeyed my order.” Which, of course, made Sirius raise an eyebrow. “Alright. So he found a loophole in that I’d told him to leave and hadn’t said anything about coming back.”
“So that’s how you ended up at Gideon, and Fabian’s a complete bloody mess, and Dumbledore had to be called in?” Sirius said. “This is the first time I’ve heard the House Elf being involved, but it doesn’t surprise me.”
“Yes, well, surprises happen,” Regulus said, looking out the window hoping for an owl.
“Waiting for something, oh, family head?” Sirius said.
“Don’t,” Regulus said. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“No? You’re considered the most eligible bachelor in the entire magical community, even above myself.”
“Sod off,” Regulus said. “I’ve already told mother I won’t be made a cuckold by my own wife.” He took a deep breath. “And I’m still looking for her.” He almost said them, shaking his head.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. “That’s not what she nearly had a heart attack over, and you know it. I didn’t think you had the guts in you, but you’re not going to find some Muggle princess in some homeless shelter, Regulus, but it’s disgusting that you’re even thinking about it.”
“Excuse me?” Regulus said, turning to look at Sirius, his eyes wide. “What are you bloody talking about?”
“It’s bloody patronizing and predatory, Regulus,” Sirius said, holding up a hand. “I know, I know. I shouldn’t talk about it, what with how many girlfriends I’ve had and how I’ve not found the right one—they’ve never been able to put up with you.”
“Hey,” Regulus said, wrinkling up his nose as an owl tapped at the window. He got up and walked over, hoping it was the letter from McGonagall, having alerted her the previous summer as there was a slight chance it could have happened then instead of now. But if it didn’t come, if the magic wasn’t there, he was likely out of luck.
“It’s meant as a compliment.”
“How?”
“You really think I want to marry a girl who can’t stand my little brother?” Sirius shook his head. “We’ve mended our relationship, and I don’t want to throw that away.”
“Uh-huh. You’re just tolerating me because it makes her furious that I’m living with you rather than me moving back home, right?”
“Sure,” Sirius said.
Regulus took the owl, drawing in his breath to find it was indeed from McGonagall. He quickly opened it to find the Hogwarts letter he was to deliver as well as a note from McGonagall saying, “ Olivia Granger ended up having a girl, and her name is Hermione. I wish you the best of luck, Regulus, and thank you for trusting Dumbledore and me enough with this information. ”
“Found her,” Regulus said, smiling, reading further on some advice on how to deal with Muggles in the given situation without drawing attention to himself.
“What?”
Regulus looked up, catching the tone in his brother ’s voice. “I’ve got a school letter to deliver.”
“Really, is that it?” Sirius said firmly. “Because the look on your face says it’s not. It’s that look you get on your face every bloody time we go to a homeless shelter.”
Regulus pointed the letter at Sirius. “Why am I afraid I won’t like where that mind of yours is going?”
“Because I’m bloody calling you out for wanting to groom a Muggleborn to be your bride,” Sirius snapped.
Regulus stared, the excitement and zeal suddenly gone. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Bloody Merlin.”
“Bloody Merlin is right,” Sirius said. “I should tell someone what you’re up to. Someone who will stop you.”
“Oh, I’d love for you to tell McGonagall,” Regulus said. “She’ll certainly believe you.”
He watched his brother pale, looking horrified as if he knew that McGonagall wouldn ’t believe him, yet it had the opposite effect of what Regulus wanted. Sirius stood up and said, “Fine. Go find your bloody bride. Your things will be packed when you get back.”
“Sirius, I can,” Regulus explained, only for his brother to Apparate out of the flat, likely to get James and Remus to help him pack his things. “I can explain.” He swallowed. “Well, I guess I’ll have to find my own place now, which isn’t out of the question as the family head. Not that I wanted this.”
…
“Hi. I’m looking for Olivia and Hermione Granger,” Regulus said.
“And you are?”
“It’s about her daughter attending the school I work at,” Regulus said.
The woman frowned. “I didn’t know they’d applied for any scholarships for that girl to attend.”
Regulus opened his mouth, wanting to say what McGonagall said about it being a scholarship, to even saying he ’d be paying, though all of it felt as awkward as saying he was looking for Olivia because he wanted to marry her, even before he knew she’d left home pregnant when she didn’t feel the rest of the family approved as they refused to tell them about the father.
The woman then said, “Probably least deserving brat there is.”
“Excuse me?” Regulus said.
“Always holding her intelligence over the other kids here.”
“If she’s smart, why then are you surprised she might have gotten a scholarship.”
“Because the Granger girls don’t accept charity beyond what they get here at the shelter, and Olivia can’t afford a good school for her girl.”
Regulus swallowed, following the woman, but he recognized Olivia when he saw her, while her girl looked a lot like her. He smiled, hoping this would go well. The girl looked up from her book, wrinkling her nose at him while he wanted to ask her to want she was reading. “We don’t accept charity.”
“Um,” Regulus continued smiling, holding the Hogwarts letter. “This is awkward.”
“I warned….” The woman started to say, when—
“Regulus?”
“Wait?” the woman said. “You know him? He uses some scam to get in here? Do you want me….”
“No, no. Don’t throw him out. He is here about a school,” Olivia said. “Aren’t you, Mr. Black.”
“Yes,” Regulus said, feeling strange about her calling him Mr. Black rather than by his first name.
“I do apologize for using your first name.”
“We don’t accept charity,” Hermione repeated.
“Hermione, that’s no way to speak to your….” Olivia said, only for Hermione to get up and take off.
The woman clapped a hand on his back, laughing. “Good luck with that one; already being disrespectful to one of her teachers.”
“Hey? Could I talk to Mr. Black privately?” Olivia asked.
“Sure. And I’ll go see that your brat isn’t causing any trouble with the other kids.”
“Uh,” Regulus watched her go.
But when she left, he heard, “Sorry, Rabbit? Did I cover well enough?”
“I almost thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“Not sure I want to, depending on your intentions. Sit.”
Regulus took a deep breath and sat down. “Your family….”
“I don’t want to talk about my family, Regulus, so already you’re on the wrong foot.”
“Yes, well,” he said rather meekly, but then, he looked up, although not in the eye. “No. We’re doing this. I’m going to tell you that your family never once cared who the father was. All they wanted was you and your daughter in their lives.”
She glared at him. “Well, that’s really sweet. And how do you know all this?”
He swallowed, looking down, his cheeks turning red. “I—will, I kind of….”
“Out with it. Remember, we Grangers don’t accept charity, Mr. Black,” Olivia said.
“It’s not charity!” Regulus said. “I didn’t even know you were pregnant until after….”
He stopped, unsure of how to go on. He ’d thought it over many times, of how he’d propose even though he knew every time he dreamed of it that things wouldn’t be that simple, but he wondered if Sirius was right about wanting a fairy tale ending.
“After what?”
Regulus swallowed, then reached into his pocket, pulling out the velvet box and ring that he ’d held onto for all these years. He set it on the table. “This. I’d gone to propose.”
He glanced up, hoping to see some relief, but didn ’t. Olivia picked up the ring and looked at it, frowning. “What?” She then looked up at him. “What happened to not being able to marry me because of your bloody family?”
“It’s funny how things change when you’re suddenly, out of the blue, on your eighteenth birthday, made the head of the family,” Regulus swallowed. “You’re the one who told me I should think of what I wanted for once rather than what the family wanted.”
“Yes, but,” Olivia frowned, setting the box down and closing it.
“I know. I know. A coward as I wouldn’t have even thought of proposing had I not become family head, but I certainly would have refused to marry anybody else. Even if it meant,” Regulus looked down at the ground. “The end of the family line.”
“You’re being overly dramatic.”
“I know, I know,” Regulus swallowed, smiling. “And I don’t expect you to say yes. I’m not asking you to say yes, to force you to take an option you want because your life is your life. But please,” Regulus swallowed, looking down at the ground. “Please let me be a part of her life beyond being a professor at her school. Even if she isn’t mine.”
“What do you mean if she’s not yours?” Olivia asked, her voice becoming sharp.
“Um? Because I don’t feel I’d be lucky enough for her to be mine? But…”
Olivia sighed, closing her eyes. “Finish your train of thought before I finish mine.”
“It’s complicated, so hear me out,” Regulus said. “I was wrong about him, that guy I was following for starters and have scars, but you both deserve better.”
“Rabbit,” Olivia sighed.
“No. Hear me out. Please. I’ve been waiting eleven years, searching homeless shelters for ten holidays….”
“What?” Olivia startled.
“I’ve been looking for the two of you every holiday, going to a different Muggle homeless shelter. Well, homeless shelter, as we don’t really have that. Probably should, as there’s got to be homeless within our community, but everyone looks at me funny when I ask.”
“Regulus, please stay on track.”
“Sorry for rambling, but to get to the point, my dream for myself, what I wanted for myself, is to marry you, be with you forever, and it still is if you’ll have me, broken as I am. But,” Regulus swallowed. “Every year, I’ve wanted more and more for myself— to be a father. To that little girl. Even if she isn’t my Olivia. Or he, since I didn’t know….”
“Regulus, stop,” Olivia reached out, having moved closer without him realizing it and taking his hand. “Just stop.”
“Sorry.”
“Your hand tensed up,” Olivia said.
“Sorry. Touch,” Regulus swallowed. “I told you….” He took a deep breath. “Maybe it’s best I show you, even if it’s just a little.”
“Show me what?”
Regulus gently removed his right hand from hers and reached for the left sleeve, pulling it back slightly. “I told you, I’ve got scars which are the direct result of turning on him because I realized he was a horrible person. But it means,” he looked up in the direction Hermione had gone. “It means she doesn’t have to fear for her life or the lives of any of her Muggle family members.”
“How far does it go up?”
“I,” Regulus swallowed. “All the way up the arm and all over my back. But that’s the way things are. So I understand if….”
And then, his eyes closed, feeling her lips against his, remembering what it had been like eleven years ago. She pulled away.
“Um,” Regulus swallowed.
“Aren’t you the bumbling prince charming,” Olivia said. “Haven’t changed a bit, or at least not the way that matters to me. Although….” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Um, Rabbit?”
“Yes?”
“You do realize that by suggesting she isn’t yours that I would have been with another man, right?”
“Yes, but that was your right, your choice to pick someone else,” Regulus said. “And I understand that.”
“So you don’t think you’re good enough for me?”
“No, I’ve already said that.”
“Well, I always thought you were good enough,” Olivia said. “And she’s yours.”
“So you’ll let me?” Regulus said. “Even if we don’t marry, provide for her? Me making sure the two of you have a place to live, so you’re no longer homeless; that’s not charity.”
“No, it’s not,” Olivia said. “And marrying you isn’t the problem.”
“What is then?” Regulus said.
“Explaining to Hermione that you’re her father. Along with all of this magic stuff, albeit some things happen that can’t be explained.”
Regulus grimaced. “Accidental magic.”
“If that’s what it is called.”
“It’s why she should attend Hogwarts.”
“She will.”
He held out the letter. “Which, the school knows the situation, which is why I’m getting to deliver the letter. The tradition is, for Muggleborn and other children not raised in a magical household, for a professor to go with them their first year to get school supplies. And their first wand.”
“Do the parents accompany?”
“Normally, no,” Regulus glanced away. “But, given the circumstances, this time, yes.”
“That would be best, as Hermione is….” Olivia laughed suddenly. “Would you say you were a precocious child growing up?”
“Well,” Regulus frowned. “I’ve been told that.”
“Well, she’s her father’s child. I certainly didn’t read as early as she did, so I figured she got that from you.”
“Early?”
“You know, before her first key stage of education?”
“Key stage?”
“Um,” Olivia laughed. “That would be five to seven years. You were reading before then, weren’t you.”
“Sirius never lets me hear the end of how annoying it was.”
“Sirius?”
“My older brother.” Regulus looked up and saw her blanch. “What?”
“From the sounds of it, you’re on speaking terms with your brother? The one you told me left you being the heir apparent?”
“Turned out to be heir, but,” Regulus said. “I’ve been living with him. Had been, given he has a major misunderstanding about…..” Regulus swung his hand around. “All of this. Me looking for you.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
“This is Sirius we’re talking about. He would have found a way to stick his mouth into things, as much as I do love him. And,” Regulus swallowed. “I didn’t want it coming up in conversations regarding why I should get married, that I should give up on looking. Because that woman is still my mother and likes to make hell, as Sirius likes to say when she doesn’t get her way. And the rest of the family didn’t need the drama of her doing that.”
“Although there will be drama when you and I marry?”
“If you’ll have me, yes, but then it will be said and done. Just like me living with Sirius as I have been, is said and done.” He said. “And, marrying means getting my own place, so Sirius tossing me out because he’s got the wrong idea isn’t a bad thing, although I do want to straighten things out with him. He loves being a godfather, so I’m sure he….”
“Why are you frowning?”
“Yeah. Sirius is going to spoil her rotten when he finds out,” Regulus said. “Which,” he continued, his hands clenching. “Is another reason I didn’t tell him in the first place and why he’s miffed at me. I didn’t want to get his hopes up of their being a niece or nephew. And with Aunt Lucretia, the same.”
Olivia laughed. “You really are the same as I remember. And yes, I’ll have you. I think, though, before we get the school supplies, you should see to your living arrangements. It wouldn’t do for all three of us to be homeless.”
“Well,” Regulus frowned. “Professors have quarters at the school. I could send a letter to McGonagall, the deputy headmistress, as she and the headmaster are privy to the situation. At least until I can find a place. Actually, I should send a Patronus so she can meet us there, but she’s been more than willing to help.”
…
“You can stay at my place,” McGonagall said. “At the very least, the girls until you find a place of your own, but you as well if that brother of yours continues to be the stubborn fool he is.”
“Thanks,” Regulus said, remembering how Hermione tried telling McGonagall they didn’t take charity. In contrast, Olivia told Hermione she couldn’t study at the shelter, the girl having come around to being magical by the time they got finished shopping. But not to him being her father, which felt like a blow, although Olivia had warned him.
He braced himself for when he returned to Sirius' flat, only to find Lily waiting for him. Regulus looked around, looking for the boxes, stepping into his room to see if anything was packed before turning to Lily. “Where’s Sirius?”
“James took him for a drink because we both felt he was overreaching with his conclusions,” Lily said. “There’s nothing more to this that we should be worried about?”
“Actually,” Regulus sat down. “I’d actually gone out of my way to ask McGonagall to be on alert for this one.”
“Oh?” One of Lily’s eyebrows shot up. “Wouldn’t that require knowing the last name of the girl?”
“Considering I knew the mother’s last name and had no reason to suspect her mother would have changed it, yes.”
“Then, this girl. Is she your daughter?”
“Yes, bloody yes,” Regulus said, letting out a sigh of relief. “Although I really wanted to tell that idiot brother of mine first.”
“Regulus, why didn’t you tell us?” Lily said. “That you had a child out there that you’ve been looking for every holiday?”
“Because it was enough that I was getting my hopes up trying to find them,” Regulus said. “And there’s enough drama with Sirius being a part of the Black family again; he doesn’t need more drama from her.”
“Although there is going to be drama from her when she finds out.”
“Yes,” Regulus said. “That said, Sirius is right about me moving out and getting my own place.”
“Really?” Lily said. “We’re talking about a four-bedroom flat.”
“I guess I could turn my study into a bedroom for Hermione,” Regulus said. “Olivia needs to be a part of the decision, though, and Hermione.” Regulus closed her eyes. “I doubt Hermione will like it, given she’s not sold on me being her father.”
“All the more reason for Sirius to be around. She can be mad at you for not being in her life all these years,” Lily said.
“You think that’s what it is?”
“Yes,” Lily said. “But as I was saying, Sirius had no hand in that.”
“I still think moving out would be best.”
“Where are they going to stay?”
“Right now, at Professor McGonagall’s until we get our own place. We are going to get married.”
“Which—yeah, that’s the other issue. Hermione’s had her mom all to herself all these years,” Lily said.
“Oh.”
“She should come around,” Lily said, pulling out her wand. “And I’ll make sure Sirius comes around, but you might want to head over to your Aunt Lucretia and tell her while I deal with Sirius. Which, that’s another option, you know. Staying with her since I know you’re likely not wanting to have your mother around your fiance and daughter.”
“Yeah, no,” Regulus said. “Merry Christmas, Lily.”
Lily laughed. “Regulus, it’s not even Christmas. Not for another six months.”
“Yes, but it’s been my Christmas wish for years now.”