Constellations of Black

Chapter 20

Regulus paced, something felt wrong. His worlds felt like they were colliding and he couldn't do anything to stop it. Dread ate at his veins, anxiety creeping up his spine like a snake, and anger grasping his hands like Anna used to.

He stood in the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place, his utterly despicable childhood home. Whispers of madness and insanity, nipped at his ears. Whispers of the horrid things Orion and Wallburga called their boys. Their heir and spare.

Regulus stared at Anna's threaded portrait in the tapestry. Her honey-brown hair and hazel eyes stared back. He ran his hand beside her face, he couldn't imagine the horrors she faced alone before her death. The fear she presumably had, when she realised she wouldn't get back home to him or their young twins.

"They're so much like you, mon amour," Reg whispered. No one was here, just him. Kreacher was back at the manor in case either twin wrote or floo'd for him.

As he looked down, he noticed a branch from Anna's area twisted with his. Eyes followed the twisting branches until they split, a twin at the end of both branches. He frowned, this hadn't been here when he and Anna had last come to Grimmauld. Neither twin had ever been inside Grimmauld. His heart dropped. Did his mother know she had grandchildren? That there was a new generation of heirs?

A crack of apparition let Reg know that Kreacher was there.

"Master is upset?" The elderly house-elf asked.

"Yes, Kreacher. How long has Lyra and Cetus been on the tapestry?"

"Not long, Master. I haven't checked since last week," Kreacher responded, holding an envelope to himself.

"So Mother never knew about them?"

"Mistress had a feeling but no. Kreacher kept quiet about Little Mistress and Little Master, just like Master requested," Kreacher answered. Regulus nodded slowly.

Of course, his mother would have a feeling, she could always tell when someone hid something from her. Except for Kreacher apparently.

"Kreacher almost forgot! A letter came for Master. It says it's from Master's old school friend," Kreacher handed the envelope over.

Old school friend? Evan was dead and Barry was imprisoned. Which left Severus and Pandora; but they didn't know Reg was alive.

Regulus popped the red wax seal, pulling the parchment out.

Regulus.

I suspect you are still alive. I also suspect that I have seen you quite recently when the Nerro twins were affected by Dementors at the school quidditch game alongside Harry Potter. I know you might not take my word for it, but I have deflected from the Death Eaters as best as I could without meeting death in hand. The Dark Lord has not suspected anything, thanks to your Occlumency lessons all those years ago. How long has it been? Oh, yes, fourteen years, just before you and Anna dropped off the face of the wizarding world.

The only way I know the Nerro children may be yours is because of their mother, Anna Longbottom. Or should I say Anna Black/Nerro? Lyra is much like you, same curly black hair, pale skin, Slytherin. Cetus is like you as well, but I see more of Anna in him with his bloody courage, mannerisms, and eagerness. I suspect Remus Lupin also is on the trail of the twins' lineage. The bastard werewolf.

I keep this short, as your brother has broken into the castle recently. I feel he is after James Potter and Lily Evans' boy, the one I mentioned earlier. Harry. But he might be after the twins. I will watch after them diligently and protect them as well as I can while they are here.