Rewrite The Stars- R.A.B

56

Grace loved Regulus. She did. But sometimes, she wanted to murder the guy. And he must've done something really bad for her to say that considering the she was always cool headed and never lost her temper. Well, it was hard to lose something you never had in the first place.

"What do you mean I'll wait outside with Kreacher?" She exasperated, dropping the book on protection spells on Regulus' bed as he paced back and forth. He looked agitated and stressed. They were back in Hogwarts for their 7th year and the school year had just started.

"Âme, please. There are some complications. He visited the cave again; personally. Turns out there's a lake in between to get to the locket. I need you safe. I don't know what spells the lake has. I know you want to help, but you need to trust me here." He was really doing his best to both, keep the love of his life safe and also take down the dark lord. But it was sometimes hard to focus when he was worrying over someone else.

"Then we'll figure it out. There's a spell in here somewhere for protection charms. I saw it just a moment ago and-" She was cut of by Regulus kissing her and she slowly relaxed, the tension from her shoulders fading as she gave into his touch. His hands were on her cheeks as he kissed her softly and for a moment... she stopped. She lost the will to argue. She forgot her frustrations and anxiety. All with one kiss. She was so focused on Regulus that she hadn't noticed the papers floating in the air around them when she had gotten frustrated. They were slowly settling down now, falling down and covering the floor in a flurry of sheets.

He pulled away eventually and kissed her forehead as well, sitting down next to her and pulling her to his chest as she looked around at the mess of papers. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew he couldn't keep her away from harm. With the war, the deaths, threats and her brother and sister-in-law fighting in the war as well, danger would catch up to her sooner rather than later. Especially now that Lily was going to give birth soon and the fact that Grace could do wandless magic without realising it. She still hadn't figured out how to control it and she didn't trust Dumbledore enough after what he did with her parents' situation to go to him.

He sighed and ran his fingers through her hair, knowing she would come with him to the cave no matter how hard he'd try to push her away. She was as stubborn as a mule and it was surprising that that wasn't her animagus. "Look, I need someone to take the locket to Pandora; I need someone on the outside. She can do it. And I need you to take it to her."

"Kreacher can do that. You're just trying to push me away." She mumbled, knowing exactly what he was trying to do. Eventually, Regulus gave in and agreed to let her come with him. And he knew that he'd have to sneak the potion he had Pandora made into her drink. It would at least provide some level of protection for her.

He agreed and they put aside the books, going on a small picnic at the black lake to relax a little. Everything was happening so fast. James and Lily were expecting their first child, Evan was engaged, Barty and Irene were dating, the war was escalating and Grace and Regulus were going to graduate this year after their NEWTs.

The pas two years had been hard for everyone with the war, the order and managing school on top of it. Many of the students had lost their families because of the war. There were starting to be more orphans than families at this rate.

"Dumbledore needs to give us a break. I don't think I can focus on the NEWTs." Grace whispered with a sigh, staying in Regulus' arms as he leaned against a tree near the black lake. The wizarding world might not be like the muggle world where they get off days for the simplest of holidays, but everyone would agree that having the kids study as if their families weren't dying everyday was cruel. How could anyone focus on upcoming tests or exams with everything going on.

"I'll help you out, amor. Don't worry." He replied, his voice a soothing calm amongst the storm of worries brewing in Gracie's head. She knew he would though. He always kept his word. Regulus was an exceptional student; he probably already prepared for the NEWTs, but Grace on the other hand, couldn't focus on anything but the war and the dark lord.

"We'll figure it out." He continued, kissing her forehead when he noticed the worry on her face. The reiteration of her earlier words to him made her smile a little as she nodded, accepting his response and savouring his presence for as long as she could.

🌹🌹🌹

"Do you think we could use wingardium leviosa to get over the lake in case it's enchanted?" Grace asked curiously as they say by the black lake to study for their NEWTs but she was too focused on the cave to focus.

Regulus looked up in surprise, not expecting her to ask that at all. They were supposed to be studying right now and not thinking about the war. But he couldn't really blame her. They both looked absolutely exhausted and couldn't focus on much else.

"On people? We could try that. But I think there's a boat there." He frowned, now thinking about it. Normally, the spell was used on objects, but it definitely could be used for people. Though it would be hard.

"Yeah, but don't you think that the dark lord would take security measures and curse the boat too? In case someone finds the cave and finds out about the locket?" It was definitely a possibility and something they should take into consideration.

Regulus hummed, thinking it over and nodding. She was right. Surely, someone as cunning and manipulative as the dark lord might go to the extreme to take such measures.

"We'll practice and find other ways to get past the lake, okay? But, right now, focus, sweetheart." He smiled at her and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, getting her attention so they could focus on the task at hand.