house of black

chapter 19: roanoke

1977, The Moors

The crickets chirping in the night were the loudest things Regulus had ever heard. Louder than the roaring of Quidditch Matches at school, louder than his mothers long lost arguments with his brother, louder than the beating of his own heart. Yes. They were the loudest things he'd ever heard.

The mud stuck to the bottom on his shoes and his cloak almost got caught underfoot as he attempted to follow the winding path through the undergrowth. It was hard to see in the dark. Almost like someone had pulled a scarf over his eyes and he was advancing toward his destination without his sight.

A strong hand caught his arm and set him on his feet. Regulus caught the blonde hair glinting in the blackness.

"Watch yourself." came the silken voice of Lucius Malfoy.

"Of course. Sorry." Regulus said quietly.

Lucius nodded without regarding the incident further and continued forwards with practiced precision. Regulus was aware of the other man behind him in the blackness. Severus Snape ensured that he did not get lost or lose his wits. In front of Lucius was a man Regulus knew too. Rodolphus Lestrange, without Bellatrix for now. She had left the group as soon as they apperated into the woods. Rodolphus walked with his brother Rabastian and another man, Barty. The two of them were louder than Rodolphus and they switched between whispering menacingly, laughing and borderline brawling.

"How much further?" Regulus asked Snape.

"Not much." came the voice from behind him.

"How do you know?" Regulus questioned.

"Experience." He said.

Regulus nodded.

The group continued in silence. Wind whipped around Regulus' ears and he resisted the urge to stop and cover them. Instead he just hoisted his cloak up around his neck and pushed on.

He still could not see a final destination. It seemed as if they had been walking forever. Where was this Manor in which he had been told the followers of a new world gathered? Perhaps this was all a long-winded rouse. Severus Snape was only toying with him to get back at his elder brother in their final year at school. Perhaps he had even bargained with the husbands of his cousins to come along for the joke. Regulus would be humiliated. His brow furrowed with thoughts of this deceit, so deeply ingrained in his worry that he did not notice himself cross the enchanted threshold.

Sound roared in his ears so loudly that it caused the young boy to flinch. He looked up at the stone towers of the old house which bloomed over the countryside. His mouth opened slightly as he looked up at the warm, fire lit windows and heard the sounds of men and women cheering, laughing, screaming. Snape nodded at him from where he stood beside Lucius, who laughed.

"Welcome Regulus." the blonde man said, outstretching his arm in invitation.

When Regulus looked back at them both men were no longer in their traveling cloaks, but ones that were as white as snow. Snape's dark hair stood out in stark contrast to the bright fabric beneath it. Lucius looked saint-like. He looked down at his own robes and saw that they were the same colour as before. The disappointment must have shown on his face because Rodolphus spoke.

"You have to be initiated before you can wear white." he said.

"What does that mean?" Regulus asked him.

"If the Dark Lord deems you worthy enough of his inner circle, you will be initiated and permitted to wear white. Like us." he explained carefully. Regulus nodded.