Second Son (IV) | Regulus Black
Series Synopsis: Forbidden from contacting Harry over the summer, you opt to explore the eerie halls of Grimmauld Place where you stumble upon a lonely portrait of the House's second son.
— Chapter Synopsis: Dumbledore's Army gears up in the Room of Requirements and Regulus reveals information that demonstrates the extent of his magical prowess.
Part III / Part V / Series Masterlist
Pairing: Regulus Black x Gender Neutral Reader
Notes: Not canon compliant, Tweaks to canon magic, Cursing
Harry made a fine teacher and if you weren't positive that he was leaning towards becoming an auror, you would have jumped at the chance to sing his praises to Dumbledore.
The meeting at Hog's Head started off rocky, but by the end of the trio's speech, everyone was convinced to sign the membership paper that carved their fates.
Of course, Umbridge somehow had ears and eyes everywhere and not even a week went by before she became suspicious of your group.
Thus, her proclamation for the dissolution of all student organizations went into effect.
Bloody ministry folks and their paranoia.
Regulus found her "Educational Decrees" to be the most ridiculous abuse of power and you had never seen him so fired up about something before.
He sure did take education seriously.
Despite Umbridge's warnings, everyone who was a part of the D.A showed their commitment by attending every meeting regardless. Soon, the tense air that uneased everyone dissipated as lively chatter and adrenaline dominated the space.
Your latest meeting in the Room of Requirements left you flabbergasted by the depth of skill and perseverance shown by a few individuals.
Currently, you were lazing on your bed, fawning over everyone's progress, "Hm, Reg, you should have seen it. Ginny's reducto was truly marvelous."
Your eyes glitter as you recall the moment Ginny managed to absolutely demolish the practice dummy, stunning her older brothers into silence.
Which reminded you that you would need to ask her about her acclaimed Bat-Bogey hex in the future.
"No need for me to see it. I heard it. Indeed, she is quite a formidable witch."
There was a weird edge to his tone, but you tried not to think much of it because you were having a strange gut feeling that he was off-put by your praise towards Ginny.
He was being quite strange today.
You still weren't quite sure how far you could push him for answers and the last thing you wanted was for your friendship to be strained.
Instead, you opted to gloss over your observation and continue rambling on. It was currently past curfew and you had warded your bed with silencing charms a couple of times, too paranoid to risk exposing Regulus.
There was a certain subject that you couldn't help but dwell on. Frankly, it was eating away at your patience and sanity.
After a few moments, you worked up the courage to bring it up, "Reg."
"Hm?"
You hesitated, peering down at him and meeting his attentive gaze, "This is going to sound crazy, but do you think there's any way for you to... not be a painting? I mean, I've just been wondering about it. Like, what if I could somehow bring you into the physical plane."
"Is that why your head has been up in the clouds so much, little bird?" He smiles teasingly at your offended look, having taken a liking to ruffling your feathers as of late.
(Fuck. Did you just accidentally make a pun out of that nickname?)
You gape at him before replying, more flusteredly than you appreciated, "Little bird? I know you said that to throw me off, Reg. So, don't try to change the topic!"
Regulus sighs quietly before looking at you steadily, "I just don't want you to be disappointed, Y/N. You shouldn't worry about me, I'll be just fine as your personal pocket portrait."
He pauses before continuing, posture growing rigid at his next words, "Besides, I don't need you experimenting with dangerous magic. In fact, that is the last thing I want you to do."
"But-"
He fixes you with a stern look, eyebrows raising in challenge.
You nod in defeat, deciding to file away your thoughts for another time. It wouldn't do any good to try and bring Regulus back while Voldemort was still running amuck, anyway.
Successfully placated, you conceded, "Okay. I just care a lot about you is all. Promise you'll tell me if you become dissatisfied with this arrangement."
He smiled faintly, shaking his head in fondness, "I know. I promise I will. But you don't have to worry your little head about it anytime soon."
His teasing was insufferable. But you‘d let him win the argument this time.
Your heart was racing in your chest and you flipped over onto your back, dazedly staring up at the canopy of curtains above your bed.
You were growing worried. At first you had assumed you were suffering from a minor medical condition, after all your heart had some pretty brutal scares from the twins over the summer. But as time passed, you concluded that you were suffering from a crush.
A minute, itty-bitty crush. On Regulus.
Who were you kidding. You were smitten for a bloody portrait. It was incredulous. Seriously, you were tempted to ask for a psych evaluation, but Madam Pomfrey would likely dose you into a coma and have Dumbledore ship you off to St. Mungo's.
But, the more you thought about it, the more you realized that Regulus wasn't just some dusty painting. He was vibrant and sarcastic. He could read you like an open book and he always looked out for you.
He was so alive.
Whoever had painted him captured his magical essence and personality so well, you were almost certain that he was exactly like his deceased, human counterpart.
Really, you couldn't decide if you were grateful towards the artist or if you wanted to hex them for making you feel the way you did.
You were like a bloody crup puppy tripping over your own tail for him.
How maddening.
Luckily, you didn't have much time to beat yourself up over it as Harry had approached you the very next morning with his own romantic dilemma.
"So...you guys kissed?"
"Yes."
You teetered with your thoughts for a few seconds, trying to make sense of Harry's grimace, "And it wasn't...ideal?"
"Well, she was crying so it was more wet and salty than anything."
"Bloody hell. Was that your first kiss, Harry?"
The boy gapes at the question and seems to come to a realization, lips furling down at whatever he was thinking about.
You couldn't stop the chuckle from leaving your lips, laying a comforting hand on your friend's shoulder, "It's okay, Harry. Besides, now you can move on from her. Plus, not everyone can say that their first kiss was with their first crush."
The boy shakes his head to rid of his thoughts, fixing his glasses (a habit you noticed he did whenever he was stressed).
Sighing, you tilt your head, "I'm assuming there's more to this story then?"
Harry looks like he's conflicted on whether or not to answer, but ultimately gives in, "She was crying over Cedric."
Ah, shit.
You eloquently mustered up a quiet, "Oh."
Harry nods along as if he was used to being the scapegoat of all of the universe's jokes. You couldn't help but feel terrible for your friend, it seemed that every school year was more traumatizing than the last.
"Don't worry, Harry. You're both going through your own issues, and you'll have plenty of chances at love in the future. Plus, you're going to look bloody cool today when you demonstrate that Patronus charm of yours."
Regulus had worn you down with his teaching, but you could perform most of the spells in the curriculum in your sleep now. The only spell you had never attempted before was the Patronus charm, always being daunted by the difficult spell.
Harry seems to perk up a little at your words and you could see the gears turning as he planned out his approach to the next lesson.
He really would make a fantastic professor.
A little bit later, after your classes, you figured that you could chat with Regulus for a bit before the D.A. meeting. As you tugged the curtains to cover your bed, casting a silencing spell, you quickly pulled Regulus out of your robe pocket.
You couldn't help the bright smile that overtook your face at the sight of him, "Hey there, Reg."
The boy smiles gently at your excitement before it's wiped away by a serious look. He was certainly much warmer with you than when you first met, but he was still quite guarded.
No matter. You were stubborn. You could wait for him to open up.
"Little bird. Did you want to discuss Harry's unfortunate love life or did you want to learn the Patronus charm ahead of time?"
You groan a little at the nickname, "I swear, I need to come up with a nickname for you now. But, wait, Reg, you can cast a patronus?"
The boy looks ready to retort, but you're quick to clarify your words, "I mean, not that I doubt your skills. It's just that I've always assumed that..."
Regulus, luckily, is not offended by your explanation and saves you from your fumbling, "That death eaters are incapable of casting it, right? Well, you're not wrong in the assumption. To my knowledge, many are unable to. I know the mechanisms of the spell, but I have only ever been able to cast it once."
Merlin, why did you even ask, he was literally capable of everything.
"Once? While you were still a student here, then?" Your defeated mumble of questions only slightly gave away your disappointment at his inability to be flawed.
Regulus looks as if he was expecting the question, a small smile tugging at his lips, "No. I was able to cast it after my death."
After his death?
Oh.
OH.
Your eyes were nearly bulging from your head, "Portraits have the capabilities to cast magic? No. No, that's just a you thing, right? Merlin, I was already in awe by how sentient you are, but this exceeds all my expectations."
Yes, Regulus was flawless. He was not merely blessed by Mother Magic, he was dearly loved by her.
Your nerves were buzzing and you were suddenly more awake than you were before. While you brung your finger to run along the frame of his portrait, Regulus seemed to finish gathering his thoughts.
It appeared that he was debating whether or not he should satiate your curiosity. Apparently, this topic was another one of his secrets.
Crossing his arms lightly across his chest, he answers quietly, "Yes, it is highly uncommon for any portrait to be as aware as I. Being able to cast magic was more of an experimentation of mine. Many wizards and witches do not delegate the necessary time frame to their portraits so it may be this nuanced. They usually only cover the basics: appearance, humor, and eccentricity. But, I just happened to spend many years before my death transferring all my knowledge and memories into this portrait."
"Years?" you echoed.
"Years." He nodded in confirmation, eyes unfocusing as he seemed to delve into past memories, "I always knew I'd take his mark growing up, so I commissioned for a portrait to be done beforehand. Luckily, I had it repainted over shortly before my death."
His explanation is a heavy, but not an unwelcome one.
So this was what Regulus looked like before he died. He was so young. You had always assumed that his portrait looked like him years before his passing.
The gears in your head were turning as you processed this new information, realizing that likely, very few people were privy to this knowledge on portraits.
For the sake of the wizarding world, you would keep this information from public ears.
It would be cataclysmic to have Voldemort live on and command his followers through a portrait.
"Thank you for telling me, Reg. I appreciate it."
The boy simply nods, a heavy weight seemingly easing off his shoulders. This was the first time he had divulged heavy information about his past, and despite how fleeting it was, you were appreciative nonetheless.
Suddenly a realization hit you and you perked up on the spot, "Wait, Reg. You said you can cast the patronus charm, right? Was it corporeal?"
Regulus doesn't grace you with an answer, but the twinkle in his eye and the smirk on his face already told you everything you needed to know, a youthful glow suddenly shrouding his face. Unbelievable. A bloody portrait casted a fully corporeal patronus before you.
Your awe only grows once the D.A. meeting starts.
Harry doesn't even begin the meeting by saying anything, he simply takes his wand out and casts his spell into the air with a firm Expecto Patronum.
A burst of bright, blue light whirls like a tide before manifesting into a large stag, the light of the patronus illuminating Harry's gleeful eyes.
Everyone in the room stares in wonder as his patronus galianty runs in circles above their heads before bursting into a sprint through the wall, disappearing, just as Harry tucks his wand away.
"Well that's one hell of an opening."
Your words are met with a few nods and chuckles as Harry grins in your direction. Harry then begins to break down the wand movements necessary to cast the charm and supplies everyone with tips on how to cast it quicker.
You were not going to let Regulus beat you out, you were going to cast a bloody patronus today if it's the last thing you'd do. So you continue to listen to (Professor) Harry attentively, fiddling with your wand in anticipation.
You remember what Harry had told you in third year, the year he learned to cast it. You needed to bring forth a strong, happy memory in your head.
Taking in a deep breath, you maneuver your wand in front of you and narrow your eyes into the air, almost as if willing your patronus to sprout from your wand just from desire alone.
A happy memory. Happy. First year. Meeting Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Running around Hogwarts and beating up the troll in the lavatory. —You wondered if Harry's memory had anything to do with your friend group.
The little blue light that peeked from your wand immediately evaporated as you lost concentration, causing you to silently curse yourself. Focus.
Happy. Third year. Sneaking around with your friends and watching Harry blast Snape across the Shrieking Shack. Happy. Fourth year. Laughing with Ron as Harry got flustered around Cho. Happy. Happy. Finding Regulus.
The small wisp of blue light that you conjured grows a little bigger and brighter.
Yes. Regulus.
Laughing with Regulus. Laughing at Regulus. Learning from Regulus.
Making Regulus smile for the first time in the disappearing room at Grimmauld Place.
Regulus giving you his ring. Feeling the cool silver against your skin for the first time. Watching Regulus‘ eyes unconsciously drift towards the ring whenever you waved your hands around.
Suddenly, you're pulled from your thoughts by a sudden burst of blue light in front of you. You are still rather overwhelmed by the thought of Regulus. Until you're not.
You don't exactly register the next few moments of time, being vaguely aware of Harry's shout of pride and everyone's murmurs of awe.
No, you're too distracted. Not because it was the thought of Regulus that allowed you to cast a fully corporeal patronus.
No, it's because as you're watching your patronus move around in the air, you realize that you're screwed.
A sparrow. A little bird.
Your patronus. Did it manifest from how much you secretly enjoyed the nickname? If so, you certainly did not like the implications of that.
The sparrow circles around your stunned body one last time before flying through the ceiling and disappearing. Your shock recedes as you see Ginny and Luna successfully cast their patronuses as well, just in time for a deep rumble to reverberate around the walls.
Turning to face the entrance of the room, dust clouds your vision as your ears begin to ring. Rubble lays astrew on the floor and you blurrily bring your hand to swat away the dust in front of you, feeling someone grasp at your shoulder to keep you upright.
As the dust settles and you're pushed back into the coherence of reality, you bring your gaze towards the perpetrator.
Standing proudly at the newly blasted hole in the wall were Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad, a shamefaced Cho held by Draco's side.
Merlin be damned. Harry's love life is a proper mess.
tag list: @krazyk99 @venomsvl @valsarchives @bunny24sstuff @novella12nite @elia-the-bibliophile @txoru @surelysherly
913 notes
·
View notes