The Journal of Regulus Arcturus Black

Chapter 15. Lady Parkinson's Problem

Blaise was pissed and rightly so. He was forced to leave his mother with the other Slytherins and had Kreacher take him to Grimmauld Place. "Where is she?" he demanded. Walking through the house and cursing Great Aunt Walburga's portrait to "Shut the fuck up you ugly cow!" he stormed into the living room whilst Kreacher tried to calm his dead mistress down. Blaise walked into the dining room and glared at the rest of the Order members.

"What the fuck did you do to her?"

Theo, who was shaken up and leaning on Draco for support, got up and ran into Blaise's arm. "I'm sorry!" he sobbed. "I'm so sorry..."

Draco was silent, watching the exchange between the two boys whilst he remained sitting by the head of the dining table. The Order members were all sitting around and trying to hold a last minute meeting. Pansy was moved to Sirius's old room and Madam Pomfrey continued to tend to her there.

"Mister Zabini—"

"I wouldn't try Headmaster," Blaise whispered, anger rolling in hurtful waves. Draco felt himself flinch at the crackling, his magic pushed out. He stood up quickly, crossing the other members and pulling Blaise out of the room. He grabbed Theo's arm and then guided them out to the desolate corridor.

Kreacher had finally covered Great Aunt Walburga's portrait with a black cloth and then came stumbling over to the three Slytherins. Draco bit his lip, rubbing Theo's back and looking down at his house-elf. "We need to make sure that no one overhears us."

Kreacher nodded. "Draco is Lord Black— he has all powers over this homes and if he wishes then it shall listen."

Draco nodded, feeling a rippling effect over the four of them. Like someone had cancelled out the noise from the other side of the house. The Order members were probably still trying to discuss their next move but Draco didn't care.

"It was Fenrir Greyback," he said. Blaise's jaw set tightly whilst he stared at Draco, silently asking for more information. "We uh- we went to get Theo from his place and they were there."

"I'm sorry," the boy whispered, tucked under Blaise's chin. Blaise simply held Theo's trembling body tightly, almost as if seeking his own comfort through his actions. "I didn't even think- they just came—"

"It's okay," Draco said, leaning into Theo and sighing tiredly. "If it wasn't her then it would have been you. He was so close too—"

"N-no," Theo trembled, crying softly. "No he wouldn't have. Not me."

Blaise looked down at Draco, arching his brow and then trying to lift Theo's face away from his shoulder. "Theo? What do you mean?"

"He wanted me."

Draco felt his blood chill, "how do you mean? Theo?"

Theo's eyes started to fill with more tears as his knees shook. Draco was quick to grab the boy by his hips and hold him upright, looking towards Blaise for help. They gently set Theo down, sitting with him on the ground. He buried his face in his hands, "it was Him. They want to recruit me."

"Recruit you?" Blaise hissed. "But you're underage."

"So was Regulus," Draco whispered. He rested a hand on Theo's knee. "It's fine. You're here now, we can help."

"How?!" Theo screamed. "I still have the trace. If I step out of this place they'll track me down. What are you going to do? Hide me away during school? My father can take me out of school whenever he wants. I won't be seventeen for another year—"

"We'll figure something out," Draco said confidently. "I'm not letting him take you."

They sat there for a long time. In the middle of the corridor with Kreacher watching over them in case any of the Order members came to check on them. No one did. Blaise manoeuvred them to sit on the stairs. He tucked Theo under his chin and let the boy wallow away whilst Draco sat on the floor in front of them.