Ultimatums

Chapter 53

Regulus sat up on his elbows, Lyra tucked in next to him in bed. Hermione was pacing up and down the room ranting about his funeral, Sirius listening intently.

Sirius had been banned from the event and so was living the experience through Hermione's furious words. She explained the service, who spoke and the overall picture of the day. Regulus had a frown on his face by the end.

"So that was your news? I had a shitty funeral and my mother was actually sad" he asked unimpressed. That was what he expected and she'd been going on like her news was massive. Situation changing.

She shook her head, her curls flying out of the makeshift bun that used to be on the crown of her head. "Your father knows you're alive"

Sirius started at the mention of Orion. "You told him? You can't trust that bastard"

Hermione shook her head again. "No. He's known this was going to happen way before. When we were first drafting our plans."

Lyra looked between them, not really knowing what was going on. She just slipped further beneath the covers and rested her head against Regulus's cold chest. He was still severely ill, bed bound, but he let her stay there. She needed it now that voices were starting to raise.

"What the fuck do you mean she kicked you out?" Sirius said through gritted teeth. The conversation topic had changed since Hermione had another report.

"Language" Regulus reprimanded tiredly. "There's an impressionable child here. But yes Nita, what the fuck do you mean?"

Hermione sighed and sat in the chair opposite Sirius who was laying on the chaise. "Your mother told me to leave Grimmauld Place seeing as you were dead. Of course it was the perfect excuse to get the rest of our stuff and bring it here"

"How dare she?" Sirius seethed "for all she knows you're basically a grieving widow who doesn't have family. You see Reg? This is why I left that place. She's psychotic"

Regulus sat up properly, coughing slightly. "I see" he said quietly, looking directly at one spot of wall.

Sirius stood. He could tell when his brother needed to be alone. When he just needed the peace and time to think over eveything. When everything got too much for him, even though Regulus usually played everyone else's rock.

Sirius touched Hermione's wrist and nodded at the door before heading out himself. She always wanted to push Regulus. To get him to talk about it so his emotions wouldn't fester, and while Sirius usually agreed, now was not the time. Hermione took a deep breath. "Lyra, sweetie, lets go and brainstorm some ideas for your Halloween costume"

☏

The Death Eaters were mourning tonight.

They weren't pretending to for the sake of respect like the time Mad Eye killed Hamish White. He was a half blood anyway. No harm, no foul. But Regulus Black was different. He was ambitious, noble and so loyal to the cause. So, so loyal. He was such a valued member of the group that even the elder, pompous ones wanted his opinion on their moves.

Bellatrix was the only one who couldn't possibly focus.

Her eyes flickered to Hermione every so often, though she never seemed to look up from the skirts of her mourning dress. Bella couldn't fathom how the witch was alive. She knew of the bond placed between the two. The day was etched into her memory, never to be forgotten. Bonds kept partners together forever, in life and death. And one half of the bond was sitting across from her.

The meeting went quickly. It had only been called to commemorate Regulus and give quick reports on everyone's tasks. As soon as they were dismissed, Bellatrix gripped Hermione's wrist and pulled her away from the conversation she was having with Thorfinn Rowle and out into the hall.