The Silent Place (Harry Potter Fanfic)

What's Forbidden

"I'm caught," Regulus thought to himself the moment a hand latched onto his arm. "I'm caught, and I'm in big trouble."

"Careful, young man," a kind voice said, making Regulus look at the person who grabbed him, the first thought crossing his mind being Walburga Black would never speak in a sweet, kindly manner to either of her boys. The second thought was to realize the person grabbing his arm was a Muggle, who, for some reason, had told him to be careful.

"What?" Regulus looked around, confused, as more of the metal boxes Muggles liked passed them by.

"Wait for the light, young man, or you'll get hit by a car," the Muggle said. She was an older woman, her brown hair graying slightly in two places. "I don't think your parents would like to see you hurt."

"I—no, they wouldn't," Regulus said, looking at the cars, swallowing as he did so, feeling the woman let go of his arm. He rubbed the spot as she grabbed him hard. "But what does wait for the light mean?"

He grimaced, suddenly thinking what he said sounded like someone had died and was crossing over to the otherwise, yet he wondered why Muggles would come up with such strange sayings. As Regulus waited for an answer, he noted in his head that metal boxes were called cars. The woman cleared her throat. "Wait. You don't know?"

Regulus turned his head, realizing he's slipped, that he'd done something that was not normal for Muggles, what with them not using magic. He turned to look at the cars, swallowing, wondering what to say.

"Strange. Most kids your age know," the woman said.

"I'm not," Regulus said, remaining polite as he'd been brought up to be a proper gentleman, even to those inferior to himself. Yet, in some ways, with the Muggle trying to help him, they seemed no different, and yet there was that reaction that called off his actions which were perfectly normal to him strange.

"I see. Don't get out much?"

"No," Regulus responded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him that there was an answer to any questions regarding Muggles finding his behavior strange. Yet, the very fact he was already causing a scene—he found himself regretting coming out, wishing he'd listen to his mother about never leaving the house and leaving well enough alone.

And then, "Oh! There! The light has turned green, so we'd best hurry across the street now, young man."

Regulus' eyes blinked, and then he followed after, not bothered by the fast pace, and then they were on the other side. He looked at the light. "So that's what is meant by waiting for the light. It's not anything strange or morbid then."

"So," the old woman said. "What are you up to?"

"What?" For a moment, Regulus thought himself caught by someone who might not be a Muggle.

"You seem a little lost," the woman said.

"I'm not lost. I know my way home."

"That's not what I quite mean," the woman laughed. "I mean, you look like you're trying to find something that isn't home."

"A quiet place to study, to be honest," Regulus said, biting on the tip of his tongue after he said it. While he was expected to act like a gentleman to those inferior to the Black family, that didn't mean having casual conversations with them, although if one thought that through, in Walburga's book, everybody was inferior to the Black family. "Who then am I to have casual conversations with?"

"A quiet place to study," the woman said. "Oh! You mean the library."

"Library?" Regulus said, only for his heart to start beating, knowing full well his mother would throw a fit about him stepping into a Muggle library, not to mention the literary works weren't exactly on his list of books he was allowed to read. A thought crossed his mind. "What is with them being fine with me reading books about the Dark Arts from the moment I could read on my own, but not Muggle books? The Dark Arts are dangerous when in the wrong hands, but aren't Muggles supposed to be? I don't know—she doesn't seem threatening."

"It seems I've perked your interest?" she said. "School library a favorite place of yours?"

"Yes. Definitely," Regulus said, unable to hold back his excitement at one of his favorite things—not libraries, but books. He bit his lip slightly. "Remember, Regulus. You're not allowed to read Muggle books, no matter how tempting it may be."

"Well, go down two more blocks that way, take a left, and you'll find it," she said.

"It's that close?" Regulus said.

"Well, we're in London. There are lots of libraries."

"Lots of libraries?" Regulus breathed in, wishing he wasn't becoming excited, telling himself he should turn back.

"Well, I hope you have a nice day and get some studying done," the woman said, heading on her way.

"Yes, yes," Regulus said, "And thank you." He waved but then lowered his hand, wondering what he should do. His eyes closed. "You can't, Regulus. The entire family would skin you alive."

"Yes, but," the voice in his head said. "Where else are you going to study? Home isn't that place, and it's their fault."

"I shouldn't blame them," Regulus thought to himself. "Well, I can blame Sirius for always getting into trouble." He worried his lip. "But if I don't do well on my OWLs, they're already pissed at Sirius' results. And I don't have anywhere else to go. Cousin Barty is too clingy, and cousin Evan always has one of his friends over."

"And you know his friends are other Slytherin, ones who don't like you, who...."

Regulus' eyes pressed shut, both hands reaching up to slap the sides of his head to get the thoughts of Evan's friends and what they liked doing to him out of his head. He took a deep breath, glancing back at home, his mouth pushing together. "I definitely fear not meeting their expectations with my OWLs like Sirius did even more, but I've got to be careful. No way I can explain this to them."

"Be honest with yourself," the voice in his head said. "You really don't want to be at home where your mother and older brother are fighting. It's almost like those stories you've heard from other students about their parents fighting and getting a divorce."

Regulus sucked in his breath, pushing the voice aside, not wanting to think of the implications, and instead decided to head to the Muggle library, so he didn't have to think about things he honestly didn't want to.