INFERI (REGULUS BLACK)

3

The next few weeks passed by quickly for Regulus, as he tried to get his hands on all the books about muggles and muggle-borns in the Black library. One unfortunate day, Walburga found him.

"What are you reading Regulus?" Walburga asked, bursting into the library, startling Regulus, who quickly composed himself.

"Nothing mother," he said in a carelessly flippant tone, just flashing the cover towards her.

"101 failsafe ways to eliminate muggles, mudbloods and blood traitors," Walburga read, a fond smile appearing on her face. "I'll tell Kreacher to call for you for lunch. Keep on reading."

Regulus lauded himself for charming the cover of the muggle book he had borrowed from Adelaide, his favourite cousin.

Soon, it was time to board the Hogwarts Express. Regulus saw Sirius with the Potters, laughing at some joke James told. He smiled slightly, happy to see his brother so carefree, but jealousy started creeping in, which he tamped it down quickly.

"Regulus," his mother said curtly, shooting the Potters a scathing look. "Make us proud. Do not associate with filth, do not talk to your brother. If you do..."

Regulus suppressed a shudder, and stiffly boarded the train, looking for Adelaide and her friends.

"Hey Krass," Regulus poked his head into the compartment, greeting her friends with a stiff nod. Mony of the girls in it swooned. "I need a word."

"Sure," Adelaide walked out of the compartment, and was quickly pushed into an empty one by Regulus.

"Ow Reggie, what's wrong?" Adelaide asked, rubbing her upper arm.

"Sorry about that Krass," he cast an apologetic look at her arm. "But I need to ask you something."

Adelaide looked at him expectantly as he cast a silencing charm around the compartment.

"How exactly are you able to use magic on the train?" Adelaide asked.

"A magical loophole," he shrugged. "The entire train's made of magic, no-one can detect underage magic."

"Spit it out," was Adelaide's reply.

"What exactly are your views," he began hesitantly, "on muggles and muggle-borns? You told me that Mother and Father are wrong. I decided to look into some books, but your opinion will make it clearer. I just want to know the truth Krass," he literally begged.

Adelaide trusted Regulus, he was the only member of the family that talked to her. She wanted to give him an honest answer, but what if he told her mother and father? Surely they wouldn't spare her. As soon as she thought this, she felt ashamed of herself. This was the Regulus who openly cried in front of her, told her about how scared he felt when Sirius left. Regulus knew so many of her secrets, so why was she hesitant?

"Krass?" Regulus's voice broke her thoughts.

"I fell they're harmless," she said firmly. "They're human, just like us."

"Then why did mother and father tell us such horrible stuff about them? Why did they hurt Sirius?" Regulus pressed her eagerly for the answers he had been waiting for for a long time.

"Well," she started hesitantly, (Merlin, why was she feeling so unsure?) "It's the twisted mentality they have. If you want to know more about muggles and muggle-borns, befriend them."

Regulus looked unsure and a bit disgusted, but complied nevertheless. "As long as they don't know."

Adelaide assured him, and pulled him through the train to introduce him to one of her best friends, Asher Smith.

********
Hello!
I just wanted to thank all those reading this, it means alot!

Adelaide here is the sister of Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa, and the only cousin Regulus likes. She's also there in my other story, Queen. If anyone's interested, they can check it out! Smith's there too.

This story isn't set in the same timeline as that one, but a few characters will play a MAJOR role here.

The time travel occurs in the later chapters, when Regulus goes to the cave. It'll occur around the 15th or 20th chapter.

See you all tmrw!