Knowledge is Power

Chapter 71

"Oh and Elphias sent this for your owl," Regulus said, producing a small paper packet from his pocket which he presented to Severus.

//Yummy...Or at least it better be. Hurry up, Prof and open it!//
Severus was already doing so, so ignored the owl. Once the paper was torn open he presented the open package to Nightshade who snatched the wedge of what appeared to be dried meat from the wrapping.

//This is good shit. It's dried...mouse maybe...or perhaps sparrow...Hard to tell with all the seasoning...Either way real good shit.//
"It seems he approves," Severus told Regulus."If we don't see him before we leave, please thank Mr. Doge for us."

Regulus smiled.
"Sure."
He settled himself in a wide armchair that matched the sofa on which Mag and Severus sat. Kreacher crammed himself in beside Regulus, and the vampire slipped an arm around the elf's shoulders as if they were about to cuddle up together with a good book. Good if he liked horror novels, considering the conversation they were about to have, Severus thought dryly.

"I came to speak with you on a matter of grave import," Severus began, and Regulus turned intrigued blue eyes to him, giving a slight nod.
"I need help...Surviving this thing with Voldemort."
Oddly enough admitting this didn't feel as uncomfortable as he might have thought. It was likely due to the fact he was admitting it to friends or at least people he didn't dislike. Saying as much to Potter would've been torture dredged from the depths of the ninth hell...or whatever the worst hell happened to be. Was there even a hell? Was that his thought or Nightshade's? Oddly enough at times he was unable to tell if the thought was something either of them could have.

"Mag does very accurate rune readings," Severus began his explanation.
"She actually learned from the Bloody Baron himself," he added, unable to keep the pride from his voice.
Mag smiled, green eyes shining with pleasure though she obviously struggled for modesty as she dropped her gaze shyly.
"Really," Regulus said, impressed.
"Were you the star of divinations class?"
"Oh no," Mag shook her head.
"I don't ever see anything in crystal balls or tea leaves."

"How did the Baron know you had an ability," Regulus wanted to know.
She shrugged slender shoulders.
"Through our conversations, I guess. It's about patterns. Reading the runes and life itself. History repeats and so the past is, in a way, also the future with various alterations that can be made."
"I like that," Regulus said."Well said and it makes sense."

"Also you having conversations with the Baron is rather impressive. He never struck me as the talkative sort."
"She's special,"Severus said, and Regulus nodded.
"I see that."
"No more special than either of you," Mag insisted, meaning it.
"But of course," Regulus nodded, grinning boyishly at her.
"It's just that most people can't keep up so we're in good company."
"Yes, even though the Baron never sought us out for conversation," Severus said with a dry smile.

"I started talking to him first," Mag admitted.
"I tended to enjoy talking to the Slytherin ghost more than most students at Hogwarts. Like Severus, I am not the most social, at least when it comes to ordinary conversation," she explained with a slight smile.
Regulus nodded in understanding.
"I can relate to that. Kreacher was always my best friend, even during my school days. He's far more interesting and wise and insightful than anyone else I know."

The elf straightened, round blue eyes shining with pleasure though his expression remained grave. Severus noticed that he looked far less tired and worn down, which caused him to appear far younger. Perhaps the age he'd worn like a heavy cloak was more due to depression and perhaps self imposed malnourishment than actual years. Rather than the old dirty rags he'd once worn, the elf now wore a long black tunic with some sort of archaic looking symbols stitched along the bottom hem.