Chapter Text
“I want out.”
Arcturus Black looked at the young man in front of him. The head of the Black family stared for what must have felt like a long time as the young wizard started uncharacteristically fitting in front of him. His hands rested on top of his desk, a signet ring containing the Black family crest resting on his left pinky finger. Taking a deep breath, the Black family head said, “Why me?”
The young man in front of him stared, then swallowed, glancing away. “I can’t. No, after what happened to…”
Hands moved from the desk to his lap as Arcturus sat back in his chair. “Self-preservation on your part?”
“Quilt.”
Arcturus shook his head, reaching for his quill, unsure of what to say or do yet.
“I know why Regulus died.”
The old man froze, looking up from the tedious task of working through his papers on the various businesses the Black family engaged in, then leaned back again. “Regulus died because he followed that man. ” The lie came off his tongue like silk. “There is nothing more to it than that.”
His answer—
Arcturus watched the young wizard ’s facial features twist, then—
Evan Rosier snapped at him. “Don’t underestimate him like that.”
And Arcturus stared, contemplating what Evan said while remembering—
—remembering the sight of Regulus, his grandson, very much alive, lying on his stomach in a Muggle village hospital, his backside torn to shreds by who knew what sort of creature; Marius Black brought him there, unbeknown to Marius’ daughter and son-in-law who ran the small village hospital.
“So many questions I wanted to ask of him, and so many things I wanted to do then and there to patch him back together, yet I couldn’t. Not without giving myself away, to create too many unnecessary questions for the Muggles who saved his life.”
“I won’t, though, be making the same mistake as him.”
“Excuse me?” Arcturus bristled, bile rising in his throat. A voice in the back of his head said, “But you’ve been contemplating the fact Regulus made a huge mistake, one you can’t easily forgive him for despite not knowing what that mistake was.” The corner of his mouth twisted, resulting in Evan’s mouth twisting, meaning the young wizard caught sight and knew Arcturus held a level of disgust to him. “And what is that mistake you’re talking about?”
“Of not asking for help.”
The words hit hard as Arcturus thought back to the thoughts he felt upon looking at Regulus, frustrated at not knowing the exact details—details he couldn ’t relay to Evan here, who seemed somehow to know more than he did regarding what Regulus got up to before the tapestry registered the fact the way the heart of the youngest member of the Black family stopped, a momentary death of sorts. “ Part of that frustration. Yes. It must have been because I was angry that Regulus didn ’t come to me for help. But is it Regulus’ fault he didn’t? ”
“His greatest fault, perhaps,” Evan continued, “Was his inability to ask for help. If he’d just asked you or even me for help…”
Arcturus took a deep breath as Evan said this. “ If Regulus had just asked for help? ”
“Perhaps he would still be alive. No, he would be alive, wouldn’t he?”
“Very likely,” Arcturus said, feeling tired at that moment, knowing as he did Regulus was alive, although not well, not with whatever tore him to pieces. “At least it wasn’t a werewolf. An attack by a werewolf would have required a specific treatment from the onset, and a full moon’s already come and gone.”
Evan reached up a hand and rubbed his neck nervously, looking at the ground. This reminded Arcturus of when he was younger, following Regulus around the various Black family properties with that other boy, the Crouch boy.
“Like a shadow he was, but that other boy? I guess the Crouch boy would have joined up as well, but that would—will be—a right shock for when Barty Senior finds out.” Arcturus took a deep breath. “But I am still not following Rosier? What exactly is it that you want, and why are you seeking help from me?”
Evan looked up, a sheepish look on his face which reminded Arcturus of the other who ’d strayed from the fold, the black sheep of the Black family for Regulus’ generation. “I’m turning to you because I honestly believe if Regulus came to you for help regarding this matter—I did say I know why he died, right? And that I want out? And I know Annette wants me out.”
Arcturus let out an amused hum, leaning back in his chair. “You’re still being vague, Rosier. What kind of trouble do you believe my grandson got himself into, and how precisely do you think I can help you escape death? We all know leaving the Death Eaters means Death.”
The young wizard sighed, rubbing his neck again. “It means death, but one of the reasons Regulus never asked for help is because he never wanted to be a burden to others, the idiot, and he certainly wouldn’t want to endanger those he loved and cared about. But, I did speak to him before…” Evan’s breath drew in, and then he shook his head. “Anyways. Regulus sounded quite paranoid. He said something to the effect that Bella’s ramblings regarding that fake Dark Lord gaining immortality are true.”
At that moment, Arcturus ’ blood went cold. “Immortality?” He drew in his breath, already having an idea, having read many texts in his long life what Regulus managed to stumble upon, yet, “So you managed to stumble upon what my grandson stumbled upon, Evan? Before…”
He didn ’t dare say death, as he knew Regulus wasn ’t dead, yet Evan reacted poorly to that word. Evan swallowed nervously. “Sir? Have you heard of a Horcrux?”
“Children your age shouldn’t hear of such things,” Arcturus responded as Evan’s words confirmed his fears. But what is your plan?”
“I want to finish what he started, to ensure he didn’t die in vain. Maybe he already succeeded in finding and destroying the bloody thing, but if he didn’t, someone else does, and becoming an Unspeakable researcher on the matter while everyone thinks me dead is my best course of action, I think.”
“You’ll have to graduate,” Arcturus said firmly, not missing a beat. “And you’ll have to—it will need to be after your wedding to Annette, to which she can disappear with you. If you keep your last name, your children must attend a school other than Hogwarts.”
“Meaning the headmaster’s involvement?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t think of moving on such a grand scale without the help of that old coot,” said someone who was himself quite old.
“I thought the Black family didn’t trust Dumbledore?” Evan said, frowning.
“My dislike for Dumbledore isn’t that he doesn’t have the magical community’s best interests at heart, but more that I am one of those individuals aware of the follies of his youth and dislike that those follies lay so forgotten they’re not ever even glossed over.”
“In other words?”
“In other words, I would never pretend Dumbledore was perfect. I’ll leave that to my idiot grandson Sirius, thank you very much,” Arcturus said. “And the deputy headmistress will need to know to some extent, as she’ll know when your children come of age and will need to write a letter letting you know to enroll your children in a school elsewhere.”
“Right,” Evan frowned. “I hope that’s it.”
“Oh, no,” Arcturus said. “I am going to involve Mad-Eye.” He watched the color drain from Evan’s face. “You don’t like that?”
“Mad-Eye? The one who hunts us? The one most proficient in doing so?”
“Who better than to help you fake your death? After all, who wouldn’t believe that man if he said he killed you, Evan,” Arcturus said, referring to the young man by his first name.”
“I don’t feel any bit assured by that,” Evan muttered.
Yet—
Six months later, Mad-Eye sat in Arcturus ’ study, playing Wizarding Chess and losing, though holding his own unlike some of Arcturus other oponents, Regulus being one of the few ever to beat him.
“I see you’ve had an injury to your nose.”
“Well, the Rosier boy got as good as he gave.”
“You need not be so crass,” Lucrettia said, coming in with the tea, frowning as she did so. “His Aunt Druella is in a right state of it, as is his mother.” She left, her skirts sweeping after her, and then, moments later, she came back, clearing her voice. “Orion?”
“Apologies, Mad-Eye, but I must take my leave. Orion is calling for me.”
“His mind hasn’t stabilized, has it?” Mad-Eye asked.
“You’re not one to ask such questions,” Lucrettia said, waving her hands, indicating Mad-Eye should leave.
Arcturus, in turn, headed to the room where Orion rested. He found his son looking out the window at a garden, his lap covered in a warm blanket. He remembered how on the day Evan came asking for help, he ’d visited Orion later, and Orion asked, “Evan was here. Visiting Regulus, right?”
“Orion?”
Orion turned his head, looking at his father. “Has Regulus returned home yet?”
Lucretia bustled over, sadness in her eyes. She said nothing regarding what many believed to be true lest she upset Orion.
“He’s not dead, papa.”
“Orion, dear,” Lucrettia said, looking as if to burst into tears.
“He’ll come home.”
“It’s safer if he doesn’t,” Arcturus said. “If what you believe is true.”
Lucretia looked at him, shaking her head, as if to say, “ Don ’t play with his hopes, this delusion that Regulus is alive.”
And yet —
Arcturus knew full well the Black family ’s youngest member was alive.