THE DOLL PEOPLE; Theodore Nott

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November 23rd 1979

REGULUS BLACK WAS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS. He paced across the cobblestone through another foreign street. It had begun raining much to his dismay, soaking the dark cloak clinging to his skin.
He hoped the girl wouldn't fuss anymore, but he knew she'd be cold. He was cold, and it didn't help that his arm was trembling.

He was closer to destroying the locket than ever. He had made a break through, a break through that had cost him everything. That had rebounded and killed an innocent witch, one he had learned to adore.

He had never been to this part of London, it was friendly. A neighbourhood to raise a family, not murder one. He pressed forward, clutching his wand in a deathly grip. He finally spotted the address, 112 Green Terrace.

He stopped outside the house admiring it a moment. It was a beautiful brick house, painted white, a small porch. There were flowers everywhere he noticed, his cousin always had a knack for beauty he thought.

Exhaling shakily he rapped his hand on the door once, then twice. He waited, his foot tapping anxiously against the wooden porch. He heard shuffling but no answer, hence he knocked again.

He knew his cousin would be afraid, afraid of an unwanted visit from her sisters or even the dark lord himself. But he didn't have a choice, the girl would die with him if he didn't do something.

Finally the door creaked open just a fraction and Regulus hastily tugged his hood off. He was met with the unmistakably eyes of Ted Tonks, grimacing as he scanned Regulus once over.

"Get lost," Ted Tonks was nice, nicer than most muggles he met. The insult was the best he could've mustered he was sure, "We don't need you here." Regulus ran a shaky hand through his hair looking around for just a moment.

"I only need a second, where's Andromeda?" Regulus beckoned, Ted hardly budging.

"If you're to murder us I'd bugger off, a shotgun works a lot faster than a wand Regulus." He laughed dryly, one hand still clutched around the bundle at his chest.

"I'm sure it would Tonks. Wheres my cousin." He didn't have time for games, thankfully the door pried open from the inside. He sighed in relief when his cousin appeared, her eyes watery, hair slightly dishevelled as if his knocking had woken her up.

"Regulus." She breathed, a hand on her husbands shoulder gently.

"I need your help." He blurted out urgently, tucking his wand back in his pocket as if to soothe his cousin's nerves. To announce a truce.

"I will not help you, I have a daughter." She seethed her hand shaky against the wall she held.

"Not that type of help Andy." She softened at the childhood nickname, "I'm almost done with that." She narrowed her brows, she didn't believe him. He thought that fair.
Lost for words he could do nothing but shift his coat revealing, the small babe wrapped in his arm.

"Reggie." Andromeda stumbled back a step, her hands flying to her mouth, "How.."

"She's mine." He breathed, "Her mother's dead. I very well may be soon- I need your help." He emphasised as his cousin sent a look to her husband suddenly crying in the background of the house. Andromeda exchanged a soft word with Ted before he narrowed his eyes at Regulus once more retreated to retrieve their crying daughter.

"I don't know what to do Andy, but I know you'd be the best I can offer her." Andromeda's eyes filled with tears again, her shaky fingers still against her mouth.
"Please, you have a daughter raise this girl as if she was your own, please." He felt himself rambling, desperation in his young features.

"Regulus-" He hissed in pain hunching forward, thankfully securing his arms around the baby just a fraction tighter. He pulled his sleeve up hastily, his teeth clenched as the dark mark twisted and burned.

"Please." He strained through a gasping breath, offering the baby when he cried in pain again Andromeda thankfully taking the baby in her arms, "He's summoning me. He doesn't know- he can't know." Andromeda nodded, before Regulus could disappear his older cousin jolted forward.

The baby between them, Andormeda's spare hand wrapped around Regulus's neck in an embrace. He tensed, unsure what to do. He hadn't been hugged by his family in years, almost a decade he thought. He crumpled under Andromeda's hold and wrapped his own arms around her, the cousins remaining together for a moment.

"Stay safe Regulus, the girl will be safe as long as I live." They had separated and Andromeda's hand lingered on Regulus's cheek before it slid off, back to cradling the babe.

"Thank you Andromeda." He fled back a few steps, pulling the hood back over his wet hair, "Her name- it's- it's Emery. Thought the star names were getting a bit boring." A dry laugh left Andromeda's lips, soon after a snap in the air as Regulus disapparated. Leaving behind his daughter,

Emery Arcturus Black.