i really loved him

chapter 49

Regulus POV

1970 – When Regulus came downstairs to practise piano that day, his brother was crouching outside of the drawing room. The door was locked, like usual. Sirius had his eye pressed up to the keyhole, watching what was happening inside. Keeping his feet quiet on the stairs, Regulus hurried down towards him.

" Don't, Sirius," he snapped. "If Mother finds you spying—"

"—Shh!" Sirius whispered.

He straightened up and beckoned Regulus over to him. His face was very pale, as if he was frightened. But that couldn't be right. Sirius didn't get frightened.

"It's Andy, talking to Mother and Father," he said, with a look on his face that made Regulus realise he was frightened after all.

Before he could say anything else, a loud voice and a slamming sound came from inside the room. Father.

"I want to look," Regulus said at once. "Let me look."

"Fine. But be quiet, or they'll hear you."

Kneeling down by the door, Regulus looked through the keyhole and listened as hard as he could. Mother and Father were stood next to each other by the table, facing away from the door. Cissy was sat down opposite with a horrified look on her face. Beside her was Bella, who had just stood up. She was holding her wand.

They were all staring at Andromeda. She stood away from them by the bookshelf on the wall. Her left arm was raised out in front of her. But she wasn't holding a wand; she was showing them her hand. There was a lovely golden ring on her finger. It was very beautiful, but Andromeda didn't look happy. She looked frightened as well.

"What is the meaning of this?" Father growled. His fist was on the table. That must have been the slamming sound.

"It is as I said, Uncle," Andromeda said calmly. "I am married."

"Andromeda!" gasped Cissy.

"Quiet, Narcissa," snapped Mother.

Cissy went quiet, and Mother continued.

"This is not how we operate, Andromeda," she said, so coldly that Regulus got goosebumps. "Elopement is shameful; a tarnish to our good name. Explain yourself."

Andromeda lowered her hand.

"My husband is a Muggle."

The room might have exploded. Cissy gasped again, Bella started screaming with rage, Father slammed his fist on the table again and again, and Mother drew her wand.

" How dare you?" she shrieked. "How dare you vow yourself to a—"

Sirius pulled him away from the door and tried to cover his ears, but Regulus tugged from his grasp.

"Reg," he whispered. "Don't listen!"

"Let go of me! I have to—"

"—What are they doing to her?"

"I don't know!"

They fought until the drawing room door swung open. Mother stood over them with a face like ice. Behind her, Bella was jabbing her wand at Andromeda's throat.

"Leave her alone!" Sirius bellowed, just as Cissy stood up and wrenched her away.

"Not yet," she said in Bella's ear, with an awful, disgusted look on her face. "Leave her for the Dark Lord."

Regulus could only just hear them over his heartbeat. It was faster than he had ever heard it, shouting in his ears so loudly that he wanted to shout back at it to stop. He didn't. He looked up at Mother, trying to apologise for prying, only his voice wasn't working properly. Sirius was breathing hard behind him. Then instead of disciplining them or slamming the door shut in their faces, Mother turned around, left the door wide open, and glided back towards Andromeda.