Unlikely Allies

Chapter 2

The others laughed. Regulus did not laugh, though. Instead he scowled resentfully down at the table in front of him.

"I'm not here because of Sirius, Regulus," Marlene said quietly.

Then she decided what she would do to speed this along. He'd believe her or he wouldn't, and she'd find out now. Bending she whispered into his ear. "How is the elf?"

Regulus started, his head shooting up. Turning, he gave her a furious glare, eyes gone suddenly cold and hard. "And I'm supposed to believe Sirius didn't send you? He hates Kreacher. If he is threatening him in any way, tell him I'll..."

Marlene bent to whisper into his ear again. As she leaned closer, Regulus's eyes widened in surprised shock and he fell silent.

"Does Sirius know how close you are to this Kreacher?"

Regulus choked and Marlene felt her entire body relaxing.

She'd done it. She had her answer, and she believed he'd listen to her...eventually.

Straightening, she smirked. "We need to talk, alone. I have some information you'll want to know." She spoke quietly, hoping to keep her voice from carrying to the other Slytherins who sat with Regulus.

"Ew, Regulus! Now you'll smell like Gryffindor too what with her leaning all over you like that," the boy who'd initially taunted her with his obnoxious sniffing nearly shouted.

At Marlene's words the color had drained from Regulus's face and it still hadn't returned. He shot the other boy a dark glare as he rose stiffly to his feet. "Shall we walk near the lake," he asked Marlene, who nodded.

"Ooh, Regulus has an older woman," another boy shouted. "But a Gryffindor, Black? That the best you can do?""

"Better than your Mum, and I've already done with her," Regulus snapped as he swept out of the great hall without looking back.

Marlene snickered as she rushed to keep up.

Regulus's lips twitched, and he sighed in exasperation. "That was probably the worst come back I could've made...Have you seen his Mum? She's hideous."

Marlene laughed again, thinking that he didn't seem half bad, at least when he was joking. "No I haven't, but I shall take your word for it," she said. "I'm sure she isn't your type, though."

At her last comment, Regulus's lips tightened, any trace of mild amusement leaving his face.

"What do you want," he asked, suddenly abrupt.

Well there went the brief flash of the boy one could at least stand to be around, Marlene thought with a small sigh. "First I want to say that what I am about to tell you is going to sound entirely mad, but please at least hear me out as it is quite literally a matter of life and death and worse!"

Regulus's brows shot up, lips twitching ever-so-slightly. "What ever could be worse than death?"

"Try you and James Potter in some romantic tragic love thing," she said with a shudder.

Regulus stopped in his tracks and turned to give her a cold hostile stair. "This isn't funny. Sirius has truly struck a new juvenile delinquent low."

Marlene was shaking her head as he spoke, holding up a hand to stop his words. "It isn't true, and we know that, of course, but when you and James die, the Muggles are going to somehow believe it's because you loved him. Your death at least."

"My what? If Sirius thinks to frighten me..."

"This isn't about Sirius," Marlene practically shouted. "It's about Jegulus! I keep telling everyone that!"

By this time, they'd exited the castle and were walking on the grounds, so she was free to shout without being heard by anyone else. "Look. I'll prove it. Can you bring the elf here? Kreacher didn't you say?"

Regulus scowled. "Fine. We're getting to the bottom of this and after Sirius's little game is over, he'll pay for it as shall you." He bit out the words, then stopped walking, forcing Marlene to stop as well or leave him behind.

"Kreacher," he called and with a crack an elf appeared in front of him.

Marlene felt her eyes widen. He looked so young. Grief had aged him...no would age him significantly if Regulus were to die. He had more dignity about him somehow than other elves, his face severe with a hooked nose rather than the cute up-turned affair that other elves sported.

Kreacher stared in surprise at Regulus, round blue eyes widening further as he took in Marlene.

"What is this," he asked and Regulus's brows quirked.

"I'm not sure yet. Likely a prank of Sirius's that we shall have to attend to, but she wished your presence."

Marlene drew in a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. These two were not going to make it easy. Bloody James and Sirius weren't going to make it easy due to all the rubbish pranks they'd likely pulled on the two and Severus in the past. There was no trust, and to a degree she understood why, so. This. Was. Not. Going. To. Be. Easy! Not even close. But she'd do it...to prevent the atrocity that was Jegulus! James deserved better and so did Regulus...probably.