The Untold Story of RAB

The Owlery

"Di, long time no see," laughed Sirius, though Quidditch practice ended only two hours ago. Sirius was one of their beaters, an unstoppable duo with Marlene.

"Just posting a letter to my parents," she said gesturing to the envelope in her hands.

He smiled, "me too."

Diana didn't mean to raise her eyebrows in some shock but he noticed.

He laughed, "The Potters I mean, counting them now as my parents."

Diana smiled at this, she was glad Sirius had family. Blood and lineage didn't make a family, love did, and the Potters loved him as their own.

Today he had donned his black leather jacket that was painted with the Gryffindor lion on the back. Lily had done it for him last year for Christmas, she was quite a skilled artist and it turned out beautifully. Quite a big present, and thoughtful since that was the first Christmas his family told him not to come home. She said she wanted to make sure he knew that he was a Gryffindor and that he'd have a family with them no matter what. The jacket was starting to become his signature. Diana liked Sirius' style, it was very rock and roll.

Diana thought back to her conversation with Regulus, should she say something, tell him his brother wanted out or something like it? She would tell him to talk to Regulus, leave it vague, that Regulus had mentioned to her something in class about not liking the family and maybe Sirius could help him. As she finished tying the letter to an owl's leg she turned around to speak.

"Sirus, I have something to tell you, it's about-"

That was as far as she got, in the entrance door stood Regulus Black looking worried. Dressed in all black he looked like a grim reaper. The air in the owlery seemed to drop a few degrees as the two brothers stared each other down. Regulus looking a bit taken aback Sirius was here and Sirius had a mixture of both anger and a hint of fear that disappeared instantly.

"Excuse me," Sirius said sharply, "I should leave before I do something I regret." He pushed past Regulus and turned down the stairs that wrapped around the owlery tower and was out of sight.

Regulus slowly turned to Diana, he gave her a small nod of recognition and turned to his owl perched on a windowsill. It was small and grey, sitting patiently.

This was ridiculous Diana thought. How dare he put this giant confession on her then pretend as if nothing happened.

She marched over to him and with her hands on her hips said sternly, "what the hell?"

He turned to her, eyebrows raised, his mouth in a crisp line. "Excuse me," he said sharply.

"You heard me! You tell me all this crazy stuff about how you hate your family and you want to become a spy or something and then you completely ignore me for weeks. What is your problem?" She pokes him in the chest with her index finger.

"I don't think I owe you an explanation."

"Maybe not but you could at least recognize my existence. And I don't know say something to me other than "stir clockwise". Come on!"

"I'm sorry I've been so cold." He sat down on the stone bench that lined the owlery walls. "I, uh, I didn't want you to tell anyone and I thought ignoring you might make you forget about me and what I said."

Diana nodded and sat beside him. "Are you scared?"

"Yes."

"Hm, you should be."

At this, he chuckled.

"What?" She asked quickly.

"You are so blunt, it's refreshing."

"Well, I'm not a coward."

"No, you're not."

"Are you going to do anything about it?"

"Yes."

"Like what, tell Sirius?"

"No, um, maybe, not yet."

"You are confusing, you know that right."

"No, I didn't."

"Well, you are."

He paused, "you're a muggleborn right?"

She nodded, "ten points to Slytherin for not saying mudblood."

He cringed, "sorry about that. I was so so stupid."

In second year he'd called Lily Evans a mudblood. Right after, he'd been punched by James and Sirius, it was Lily who had to pull them off him.

"Why do you ask?" She said calmly and cooly.

"You have a real reason to want the Dark Lord out of the picture."

"Of course." This Dark Lord, you-know-who wizard had been terrorizing muggles and non-pure blood wizards and witches. He gathered quite a following. No one could seem to stop him or find him.

"I have this idea, but I need help and I need Dumbledore."

"What's the idea?"

"It's intense and a long shot."

"I've probably heard crazier."

He breathed in deeply, "I can't believe I'm telling you this."

"That's what you said last time."

He chuckled.

"Why are you coming to me again?"

Regulus looked her in the eyes, "I think we have the same goal, wanting to stop the Dark Lord and protect our families."

"Your family?"

"Sirius."

"Still, why?"

"I'm not sure, I feel a connection, and I think you do too. Like we're meant to do something."

Diana couldn't disagree, she did feel drawn to Regulus.

"What's your plan?"

"Have you ever heard of a mind bridge?"

"No."

Regulus looked around, "let's find a more private place to talk."