Upside Down Mirror: Free Falling (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Loopholes

"Don't trust the Black family." The thought didn't leave Lyra once as she stood in the study of Arcturus Black shivering, her arms crossed as she attempted to warm herself. She knew where the thought came from, for everything in the books pointed to the members of the Black family not being trustworthy. The fact Arcturus left his grandson lying on the floor didn't help matters, but from where she stood, she could see Regulus' left forearm.

Here in the study, there was no dim green light to hide the mark on his arm, the mark which screamed the youngest member of the Black family was a Death Eater. More importantly, she knew his act of turning on the Dark Lord, sacrificing his life in the process, didn't at all mean he'd changed his point of view regarding Muggles and Muggleborn. As such, she couldn't know for sure which Black was worse, the one lying prone on the floor injured or the one who didn't seem to care.

"Something to matter girl?"

"I..."

"Well, speak up."

Lyra swallowed, sniffling as she did so. "You don't seem to care that he's bleeding out on your carpet, do you?"

"Of course I don't care about the carpet, but that's not what you meant, was it?"

A squeak left her lips, her eyes snapping shut.

"You meant you don't think I care that my grandson is lying there injured, don't you?"

"Yes." Lyra backed away a few steps, finally backing into a wall. More importantly, she wanted to wake up and find out this was just a dream.

"Kreacher. Fetch Ted Tonks."

"Sir?" Opening her eyes, Lyra found herself equally confused. "The husband of that blood traitor?"

"One shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. I believe that's the Muggle proverb." The man waved his hand. "And quickly now."

"But Andromeda Tonks is..." Lyra snapped her mouth shut, looking at Arcturus warily.

"She's blasted off the tapestry."

"Well, you certainly know more about my family than you should."

"The books."

"What..." Arcturus let out a deep breath, his silver-eyes glaring at her while Regulus closed his eyes. Arcturus noticed and looked down rather than at Lyra, much to her relief. The man nudged his grandson with his cane. "Don't you dare go to sleep boy? Not until Tonks says you could."

"Hypocrite," Regulus muttered, for once saying a word Lyra recognized, although she didn't often hear the word used.

"Am I? Or am I exhibiting one of the traits we Slytherins take pride in, resourcefulness? I'm not sure you're in the position to judge me though, are you?" The man poked his grandson again. "Stay awake Regulus, but listen carefully since you will eventually be head of the Black family."

"Maman..."

"Forget your mother. Right now she's not important." Arcturus looked up at Lyra, then waved his wand making the fire flare in the fireplace before turning to look at her specifically. Without changing his expression, he waved his wand, and the pajamas she wore along with her socks suddenly dried She opened her mouth, looking right at Regulus. "I'm not going to do anything of the sort until Tonks arrives, so the increase in temperature from the fire will have to do."

As off on cue, the sound of a popping sound which indicated Kreacher was heard, followed shortly by a woman's voice. "Oh my goodness!"

"Dead man!" a child's voice piped up.