Rabbits and Rattlesnakes [Regulus Black/OC/Tom Riddle ]

Chapter 20

The man opposite me wouldn't stop staring. Regulus noticed and tried to glare at him, but the man was double his size and didn't even acknowledge Regulus' presence next to me. I occasionally looked over to my left, taking small glances of the Dark Lord seated at the head of long oak table. Sometimes he looked too young to be there, but then his stare would darken and you could see the length of his reign. As the meeting proceeded I found it hard to think of anything other than our last encounter. We seemed to have come to understand one another slightly, but at the same time become even more confused as to what the other wanted.

"Miss Griffin?" His tone was testing and I felt Regulus go rigid.

"My Lord?" I flickered my eyes towards him with a forced gentle smile. 

"Perhaps you would like to share your thoughts on the matter." I swallowed, keeping my eyes on him.

"If you believe we're ready for an attack on the Ministry my Lord, then we're ready." It impossible for the either of us to understand the internal dialogues behind both of our plain expressions and meaningless words.

"We seem to have an upcoming politician on our hands." He hissed. The man opposite me laughed, but only for a split second as he was quickly met by the horror of an angered glare from the Dark Lord. He turned back to me.

"Black?" His black eyes almost smiled as he watched me twitch. "What do you say?" I glared back at him as I felt Regulus shift next to me uncomfortably.

"As Eloi- As Miss Griffin said, if you want us to be ready we will my Lord." Regulus choked out. I watched as the Dark Lord digested his answer, clearly dissatisfied.

"I did not realise you were Miss Griffin's parrot, Black." He rolled his eyes, only making me bite my lips to stop my emerging grin. He despised how Regulus followed my lead, and I loved watching him despise it. Before Regulus had the chance to respond the Dark Lord swiftly stood up, making everyone straighten up in their seats.

"Well, it seems that we have come to an agreement that the time has come." His eyes avoided mine, but his confidence and psychotic excitement flooded and filled the room. I felt my stomach twist, knowing something was coming. "So, I have a small starter for you all. An amuse-bouche to our forthcoming attack." He lifted his hands and a small man opened the large double doors. He dragged the prisoner in by the force of his wand. His arms were bound behind his back as he sat on his bent legs. His head drooped heavily as he floated towards his captor, leaving a trail of blood over the stained wood. I watched him pass in front of me, my stomach churning at the puffy purple bruises and the crispy dried blood mapping his skin. Regulus' hand landed on my lap, but I refused to respond. I was too in shock to respond.

"Everyone, please welcome our guest." I felt his eyes on me but I couldn't look at him, I just stared at the floating body trying to decipher if there was life inside. "This is Hugh Griffin from the Department of International Magical Cooperation." The whole room froze, all their gazes set on the broken body of my father. I watched the incessant small drips of blood splash underneath him before finally turning to face the Dark Lord. I could feel how pale I had become, all the blood drained from my face into my stomach making me feel sick. I expected to see him looking smug, but he just stared analytically. 

"What shall we do with him, My Lord?" Bellatrix asked excitedly. I couldn't help it. My eyes widen as the thought of him making me watch the torture of my father suddenly exploded into my mind. He noticed. He turned his attention back towards the whole group.

"He's our entry into the Ministry. No one is to talk to him without my permission. I want to make sure this is handled perfectly." He met my eyes again, his jaw clenching as he spoke. "He's going to be a very useful source of information." An anger unmatched to anything I'd ever felt before swelled inside of me. For the rest of the meeting I stared at him with more than hatred, but with pure conviction that I would eventually end his life. He only noticed as everyone began to leave but we both remained seated, staring at each other as the small man dragged my unconscious father out of the room. I could feel Regulus try to get my attention, but my attention was un-wavered and I eventually felt the warmth of his gaze disappear.