Upside Down Mirror: Free Falling (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Intake

Starting awake was far from a pleasant experience even though Regulus awoke as the sun started coming through the bedroom window. Unlike Grimmauld, there was plenty of light during the day at his grandfather's place, but he felt pulled further into an embrace. Regulus nearly choked at the experience, having not been at his grandfather's place in some time, yet the memory of the Infiri still fresh on his mind.

"Shush. I've got you, Reggie."

Regulus turned his head, looking Andromeda in the eye. "Andy?"

She hugged him non to gently, though not hard enough that he'd have trouble with the injuries he sustained. "Good morning little one. You should probably head downstairs and wait for breakfast. Ted said something about helping you put some weight on those bones of yours, but I think that's going to start today."

"But the Hor..."

"Reggie, your wellbeing comes first. Go to the dining room and wait there."

Regulus sighed, slipping from the bed, only to pause upon realizing he needed to change. His eyes drifted over to the bed where he saw Lyra and Andy's daughter. Nymphadora as she was called lay sprawled out, somehow taking over the entire bed, reminding him of how he'd crawl into his older brother's bed when he was younger and had a nightmare only for Sirius to do the same, limbs not bothering to avoid personal space.

"You don't need to get dressed."

"What?" The very thought of going down to the dining room not properly dressed floored him.

"Your grandfather will understand."

"I'm not sure he will."

"Reggie."

He complied, finding he walked stiffly as he did so, but he arrived at the dining table with nobody in sight, making him realize how early it was. Regulus stood there, tucking his hands behind his back, his mouth pushing together just in time to hear the clock in the hall strike, meaning he'd woken up earlier than he should have.

"You're up already?"

Regulus nearly jumped, turning to look at his grandfather. His eyes drifted down to his feet, taking in his state of improper dress. "Sorry."

"What for. It's good to see you up and about."

"I'm not properly dressed. I always..."

"Regulus, you were mauled by Infiri last night. Just take a seat. Breakfast should be up soon, but Ted and his wife will be joining us, as will hopefully the girls."

"You mean Andy," Regulus felt strange hearing his father refer to them as Ted and his wife rather than Andy and her husband.

"Yes. I do mean Andy. He's going to be discussing..." Arcturus stopped, looking at his grandson carefully. "Well, this morning is business, but not Horocrux business, at least not right away. There are some things he wants to discuss with you, but he had me request a House Elf bring some books from his place."

Regulus turned his head, looking at the table, noticing the books sitting there. Without thinking, he went and took his normal seat, noticing how close the books were. For a few minutes he sat there, waiting for the breakfast to appear, but then his hand reached out for one of the books. He stopped, glancing over at his grandfather, waiting to be admonished, but Arcturus didn't react.

Slowly, he reached out and picked up a rather thin volume before cracking it open and beginning to read. Nobody stopped him from reading the book even after breakfast came, which he absentmindedly took a few bites of, but he flipped quite a few pages before he heard Ted say, "Did you learn anything?"