wicked | regulus black

chapter three

LUNARIA

The Black family household was cold, Lunaria observed as she crossed the threshold. Cold air, cold feeling, cold family. Nothing about the house seemed inviting, much less the people in it. Orion and Walburga Black glanced around the room with smug looks on their faces, clearly wrapped up in a superiority complex thanks to the Dark Lord using their home for a meeting point. Lunaria glanced at her peers with a blank stare, categorising the people that marked their skin in the name of power and evil.

The categories were divided into three. Those that would die for the Dark Lord if it meant they had his approval, whole-heartedly believing the cause. Then there were the nervous followers, believers of the cause but also terrified at every noise in fear it would be the killing curse aiming for them. Then finally, there was the most interesting group, those that looked uncomfortable by the whole thing, following due to their family or out of fear. Now they were either reckless or they were powerful - they had to be either of those to risk their thoughts being pulverised by the Dark Wizard.

"Come." The Dark Lord called to attention his followers, taking his seat at the head of the very long table. It was clear there was a hierarchy. Members such as the Blacks and the Malfoys sat closest to him, Lunaria found herself sitting somewhere in the middle next to her father closer to the Dark Lord, remembering her promise to save an empty space for Regulus who indeed sat in the seat without glancing her way. "Welcome all, old and new followers. Welcome to the new world."

Lunaria felt Regulus stiffen next to her, his shoulders square as he placed his hands in his lap under the table. Glancing to view his side profile, Lunaria noticed he had an array of small freckles on his skin, letting her mind wander briefly to see if she could spot a constellation on his skin. Before she could make a conclusion, The Dark Lord began his speech.

"As you may notice, we have some new faces amongst our ranks. I expect you'll welcome them the same way you were welcomed." He smirked as the likes of Bellatrix and Rabastan Lestrange chuckled ominously. Lunaria didn't allow the shiver of fear to cloud her mind as she focused her concentration on her new master, making sure to look eager and interested - despite that being the complete opposite of how she actually felt. "Whilst I'd love to introduce you all, we have much to discuss." The Dark Lord spoke, his tone suggested that he could not care less about the new recruits, why he felt the need for fake niceties for a bunch of people who were so terrfied of him, Lunaria didn't know.

The meeting was already boring Lunaria half to death and it had just started, no wonder they were called Death Eaters - she would eat her own fist if it meant the meeting was over quicker. The Dark Lord was praising his followers for their latest raid. A small group of what Lunaria assumed was inner circle, had raided and attacked a member of the ministry. Big whoop, Lunaria thought, the man was a low ranking member of the Department of Magical Transportation. The most damage he could do was suggest changes to be made to the use of apparition and portkeys - he couldn't actually instil change. But you've got to start somewhere Lunaria mused humourlessly. He listed a long list of raids and kidnappings and delegated to his followers as they either grinned conspiratorially or nodded politely out of fear, before he turned to the two young recruits. 

"Regulus and Lunaria. You two shall stay behind at the end of the meeting. I have a task for the both of you and you two alone." The Dark Lord hissed with a grin. Lunaria smiled politely and nodded, playing her part - a private or semi-private mission was to be responded to with eagerness and gratitude after all. The request was met with sneers from several lower ranking members as they looked on in jealousy at the two young Death Eaters.

"It is time to begin tackling Diagon Alley. I will select three groups of five to attack the following stores. The Ministry Press." Smart Lunaria thought, they were the leading publishing house affiliated with the Ministry itself, attack and scare them you attack and potentially infiltrate the Ministry- if you're smart about it anyway. "Owl Post Office." Again, a clever decision, to infiltrate the post. Lunaria wondered if The Dark Lord had considered Imperiusing a member of staff to cross-check and scan any and all post affiliated with suspected opposition. "And finally, the Apothecary." He finished. Lunaria couldn't help but be impressed by his decisions, hitting these three shops hard would certainly cause terror.