Ultimatums

Chapter 50

Regulus was bored.

He was stalking the cottage he was going to be hiding in soon. He couldn't furnish it without Hermione there if he didn't want to something to happen to him. The living room was full of boxes of things that he didn't need supervision to buy, but even those he couldn't put away for fear of doing it wrong.

The cottage was a comfortable one, with two rooms and a tiny garden that led to the beach. Regulus didn't actually know where it was, but he knew it was on the coast and the Muggle mailman he had spied on the last time he was there was Irish. Avery had placed every ward under the sun on it besides the ones necessary for travel and such. Still, it was virtually unreachable.

Regulus turned to the window seat and looked out, the ocean lapping against the sand beneath the setting sun. It was getting late and Hermione was supposed to be back by now to help him.

Of course, when she did get back, home decor was not the first thing on his mind.

What was on his mind was why the hell was his fiancée carrying a child in her arms and rocking her back and forth. The kid was asleep when Regulus approached.

"Care to explain?" he asked softly, trying to peek at the girl before Hermione pulled her away.

"Later. But she's staying here until I find a way to give her to responsible adults who care for children correctly" Hermione huffed, marching up the stairs and into the smaller spare room.

Regulus followed, ignoring her temper. His curiosity was getting the better of him. He stopped in the doorway and leaned against it as he watched Hermione fuss over bed sheets and pillows for the child in her arms to sleep in. She came across oddly maternal, a fierce contrast to anything anyone else had ever known of her.

Hermione tucked the sleeping girl in gently, all the while aware she was being watched. When she turned she took Regulus's wrist and led him back down the stairs and to the kitchen. She started to put cutlery into the second drawer and Regulus mentally took note.

After a while she said "the girl was amongst those kidnapped. Finn brought her to me."

Regulus didn't reply, just continued sorting plates and bowls.

"She has all sorts of bruises on her wrists and arms. A few on her chest and legs too. I couldn't heal them though. The girls a Muggle"

Silence still followed and Hermione was started to get annoyed. She continued, though her tone was getting shriller. "She won't let me anywhere near. I could only get her here via enchantment! As soon as the shock wore off she went completely mute"

Regulus nodded. "Leave her be for tonight" he said slowly, as if trying to piece something together.

Hermione looked at him, the small frown fading away. His calmness balanced out her panic, but she still felt a sort of unease. She assumed it was her own, but Regulus was battling with a conclusion he didn't want to be true. He hoped to Merlin he was wrong.

☏

Lyra woke up in a swaddle of blankets, warmth battling the cold winds outside. She yawned and lifted her head off the soft pillow. But even with her comforting surroundings, her body ached from her injuries.

It took her a moment to realise she wasn't at home. It really shouldn't have taken her that long considering how her house lacked any warmth or familial feel.

Lyra got out of bed and took the steps on the warm carpet that covered the stairs. She peeked around the doorframe of the kitchen and the smell of breakfast cooking hit her. The short woman with curls that jutted in every direction was sitting at a table reading a newspaper. Glasses balanced at the tip of her nose and Lyra recognised her as the woman who had brought her here.