The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Memory Games

The Winter months brought with them harsh snow storms that beat against the windows of Malfoy Manor. Freezing cold winds bit painfully against Regulus Black's face before he stepped into the entrance hall and cast a warming charm on himself, shaking snowflakes from his hair. Dobby took his coat and started to lead him to the North Wing sitting room where his Lady waited for him in front of the warmth of a crackling fire. They had gone a few steps before a Malfoy glare found them from the top of the stairs.

“What are you doing here?” Octavian asked, holding a book in one hand and steaming cup in the other.

“Your mother asked to see me,” Regulus told him, keeping his sentences short as he readjusted his sleeves. 

“Why would she want to see you?” Octavian’s face became a mixture of confusion and repulsion. His nose scrunched a little as he watched Regulus from the top of the stairs, refusing to go down to talk to him.

“That is for Lady Victoria to tell you if she wishes,” Regulus said bluntly, squaring his shoulders proudly.

The Malfoy boy simply scoffed. “What a good dog you are.”

Her precious boy. It would have been unwise to start a fight with him while Victoria waited so Regulus hummed and kept his mouth shut. He nodded to Dobby and the elf shuffled uncomfortably on his way. They walked in silence. Each hall passed in quiet, not even the portraits seemed to speak, though Regulus couldn’t remember them doing so before. 

Inside the North Wing sitting room, just as Regulus had assumed, Victoria sat before the fireplace, watching the flames lick the air. Logs placed carefully in the pit glowed amber to white behind the small metal fence that kept it contained. The whole room was wrapped in its warmth. 

"You called, my Lady." Regulus gave a gentle bow as he smoothed his robes straight.

Victoria turned back at the sound of his voice, a somber smile breaking her melancholic look. A wave of her hand shut the door behind him and ushered the boy inside. 

"I did, please sit down," Victoria said, gesturing to the armchair across from her. "I've got something I wish to speak with you about, if you are willing." 

"I would do whatever you ask, my Lady." Regulus sat gently on the leather, his expression hard to read through its careful composure. 

“Regulus.” Victoria sighed at his formalities, having memories of the day he was born.

Regulus broke his mask and gave a bashful smile before correcting himself. “Mrs Malfoy.”

She watched him carefully as Regulus patiently waited for her to speak. The boy did not seem a terrible occlumens which would give her a good start but he needed training. A simple harsher push and she saw all his anger. His house elf returning home, clasping at his throat as he begged for water. The fragile creature looked close to death but Regulus had nursed him back to health, kind boy that he was. House elves were immune to most wizarding things, the magic not strong enough. Wards, poisons, binding spells. Whatever the Dark Lord had given him would have had to have been particularly nasty. Whatever Voldemort had done to Kreacher, Regulus was furious. 

"My Lady I—" Regulus started but Victoria lifted her hand and stopped him. 

"I am not trying to test your loyalty," she reassured him, a slight curve to the edges of her mouth. "Not to him." 

Regulus frowned, his mouth shut tight as he watched her every movement. He had a good mind. 

"But before I get to anything like that, I want to teach you something." Victoria shifted in her seat to face him head on, their bodies in perfect parallel. "Now this isn't going to be easy so if I hurt you, if it gets too much, I want you to tell me and we'll take a break. But I can't tell you anything until we're finished."