RISE OF THE FALL | R.B.

LXVII.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter World belongs to J.K. Rowling.

*

CHAPTER LXVII.

"Professor," Reia bit her lip nervously, "I—I really don't know what to say to you."

She was sitting with Dumbledore in Regulus' study. The house was far from silent—the children were over-excited and were yelling at each other and screaming in joy upstairs, with Regulus' laughter added to the mix.

It was still very early in the morning, but Reia had barely slept, kept awake by her own thoughts, and she and Regulus and talked late into the night.

They both missed the normalcy of just talking to each other. Just hearing the other's voice.

But in the morning, Regulus had contacted Dumbledore to let him know that Reia was back, and the old wizard had appeared at their house barely minutes later.

Dumbledore chuckled, "It's quite alright, Miss Lupin," his eyes briefly glanced towards her engagement ring, and his eyes twinkled, "It's wonderful to have you back. We all missed you."

"I missed so much," Reia whispered, "James and Lily..."

Dumbledore shook his head and said softly, "They were two of the bravest people I've ever known."

Reia sighed, "And Sirius...?" Her eyes widened with hopefulness, that at least he was alive. When she'd been in the Order all those years ago, she had never thought about losing James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Regulus and everyone else.

She'd taken their presence for granted—and now she regretted that she didn't appreciate their company more.

"In Azkaban," Dumbledore said, and the woman's eyes dimmed, but she let out a gasp.

"W-what—why?" Reia stumbled over her words, unable to keep up with her rapid thoughts, "He—he is good—,"

"The Ministry deemed him guilty for murder," The old wizard answered, closing his eyes tiredly, "He killed countless muggles along with Peter Pettigrew."

Reia inhaled sharply, "No, no, Sirius wouldn't do that. He's good. He's good, he wouldn't kill anyone..." She buried her face in her hands, "Don't tell me Remus is gone, too. Please."

"Reia," Dumbledore told her, getting up from his chair and placing a hand on her shoulder, "Remus is not gone. But I have not seen him for years. He's...mourning. He lost his brothers, and his sister."

"Oh, how has he been dealing with the lycanthropy?" Reia lifted her head from her hands to meet Dumbledore's eyes, "Has anybody been helping him? That's a foolish question, he has no one to help him...I—I need to see him—,"

"Breathe," the wise old wizard said, giving her a smile, "Take a breath. Regulus will be able to take you to him."

***

"Take me to see him," Reia pleaded, "Reg, please, I have to go."

"I'm not saying no," Regulus said, furrowing his brows, "And I will take you. But he lives far away from the city. We have to take the children somewhere."

"We'll take the children with us," Reia said desperately, taking Regulus' hands, and as if on cue, a loud yell sounded from upstairs, seeming to be from Archie, followed by loud laughter from Caelum.

"Alright," Regulus said with a sigh, though a smile graced his lips when Reia's face broke out with a bright grin, "We'll go. Come on—we have to get the children."