The Price of War

The Missing Tale

If there was one thing Harry hated about Grimmauld Place, he would tell you he hated everything. Not a bloody thing about this manor felt loving or inviting. The candles that adorned the wall were barely lit, leaving a person walking down guessing what they would be bumping into next. Well, it wasn't like Dumbeldor's place was any better, but at least he made an attempt for his colleagues from Hogwarts. He looked over to find Adeline spinning her wand between her fingers at an alarmingly fast pace.

"Stop that!" He whispered loudly, "You know what happens when you do that."

She looked at him and smiled, her grey eyes glowing in the dark. If that was even possible. It seemed as if this place recognized her as its own. This was her home. "Please, tell me, Ronald, with the red snake as hair wasn't amusing to look at."

Harry smirked and walked ahead of her, while Adeline began rummaging through the pile of clustered letters on the table. "Harry, you have a couple of letters from Ron and Hermione!" She called out.

Harry sighed with relief, "I'll look at them later." He said before calling out for Kreacher. With a crack, the old house-elf was in front of him a large plate filled with waffles and eggs.

"Half breed." He sneered as a greeting.

"Kreacher," Harry nodded, ignoring the insult he had been so accustomed to hearing. "Where's Reggie?

"Master in his room. Kreacher call him down."

"Thanks, Kreacher."

Harry could hear Kreacher muttering under his breath as he walked up with the plate of food, "Mistress be so mad. Halfbloods in the house. The Noble House of Black stained with these abominations.''

Harry shook his head and accepted his defeat. Even after many years of effort to get Kreacher to be nice to people other than Blacks, Harry finally gave up.

"Harry, where's Draco? He was supposed to meet us here, wasn't he?" Adie asked, walking closer, holding half a waffle in her hand.

"Dunno, that's what he told me this morning. Did you see him while we left your home?"

Adie gave Harry a cold look, "First off, that's not my home and secondly, no I haven't seen him." Adie stalked off and put her attention on the family tree which encompassed all 4 walls of the room. Harry noticed she froze as she reached the window near the family tree, tracing over a burned-off face.

"Why do you think he did it?" She asked solemnly. "Uncle Reg used to tell me, Dad loved Mum. Why would he sacrifice that love, just to kill Pettigrew? Do you think love is really that expendable?

Harry didn't answer her for a while, "I don't really know what love is." He said quietly. "I've never really known what my parents were like. Everyone always told me, my parents were soulmates. That they belonged together." He looked at her sadly, "I guess I'll just have to take their word for it." Harry shrugged.

"Your parents were two of the best people this world has ever seen Harry. Some might even say the world never deserved them." A voice said from behind them.

Adeline and Harry quickly turned, their wands pointing out towards their unseen danger.

There stood Regulus Black, hands in his pocket, smiling up at his niece and nephew. Both Gryffindors quickly lowered their wands and sheepishly smiled.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled.

Regulus chuckled, "No worries." He took a look at Harry and patted him on his shoulder, "Harry your parents always had a way of finding the good in people. They were always there for me when I needed them the most. At this point even my own brother hated me. I mean look at me, ex-deatheater, an uncle to their son. They were both Headboy and girl, did you know?"

Harry looked surprised and shook his head.

Regulus smiled, "Natural leaders. Too forgiving if you ask me. I mean Snape called your mother the m-word and 3 years later she was ready to forgive him."

"He di.. did what?!" Harry stuttered.

"Let bygones be bygones Harry. He's no longer a stupid 5th year, and your mother is..."

Harry stared at his 'Uncle', "Dead, my mother is dead. You can say it."

"Alright," Adie said cutting in, looking at the grandfather clock that stood tall in the corner, "You called us Uncle Reg? We have to get back before Grandma starts getting impatient."

Regulus gestured to the sofa and they all sat down. "Right, er I need you to promise me that no matter what I say in the next 5 minutes, you will listen to me first and then jump to conclusions." He eyed them carefully waiting for an answer.

Both of them nodded hesitantly.

"There's been a breakout from Azkaban..."

Adeline sucked in air already knowing the name that was about to leave her Uncle's mouth.

Harry looked from Adie to Regulus with an eyebrow raised. "Um, who is it?" He questioned.

"Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban." He quickly added, holding up a hand before any one of them could talk, "Let me finish. You can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."

Harry started talking, "So..."

"Harry!" Both Black's exclaimed.

"Oh fuck this!" Regulus said, "Harry, Sirius Black is your godfather. He was the secret keeper for James and Lily and sold them out to Voldemort. Well knowing that I was a deatheater, he probably was smarter than I expected to be working around me like that." He muttered the last part mostly to himself. "Er, your mother Adeline, Beatrice was killed in an attempt to stop Sirius from killing Pettigrew. At least that's what they told us."

Harry was dumbstruck. His eyes stung with tears. How could his Godfather be a mass murderer? How could his best friends' Father be responsible for both his parents' deaths? He took in a shuddering breath and gave a side glance towards Adeline. She sat frozen in place as Regulus kept on explaining the events of October 31, 1981 which only the Order knew.

"Sirius Black... is responsible for the Potter's murder. My father is responsible!" She exclaimed, shooting up to her feet. She had tears running down her face, she was on the verge of shaking. The shock that her father was responsible for the life Harry was currently living. She sharply turned to Harry and noticed the tears glistening in the candlelight. Even though his raven hair covered his eyes she could practically feel the fear radiating off of him. "I'm sorry," she said, trying her best to ignore the growing lump in her throat.

Regulus on the couch slowly shifted his hand towards his wand that lay on the coffee table. He had expected this reaction from Adie but Harry was hard to comprehend at times like this. There were two ways he had brainstormed, Harry would hide his emotions and drawback into the shell he had created for himself, or he would lash out and push everyone away in anger. The end result would be the same though, he would make himself feel alone. Something Regulus often related to. He wished he could make this easier on both of them. But he had learned a while back, the truth was always bitter.

Harry raised his head and his eyes melted into Regulus's nieces'. He took a deep breath before he spoke, "I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he ran out of the room and with a Crack! Apparated with Kreacher to Merlin knows where.

Adeline stumbled back just in time for Regulus to catch her, "He killed them. He killed them all." She croaked out, trying to talk through her sobs. She buried her face into her Uncle's torso and let years of her pain flood out.