Emerald Flames |Regulus Black|

Little Lion

A/N: This chapter has not been edited or revised yet so there would likely be a lot of grammar issues and the like, but I wanted to post this anyways. I may change some details in chapter at some point.

Enjoy!

.ooOOOoo.

A little afterwards after the other man's statement was left in the air to sink in. Andromeda immediately leaped up and dragged her husband out the door while apologizing for her husband's inconsideration.

The situation was absolutely not how Regulus foreseen what would happen after he had gone to the monster's cave. He didn't even know how he would react about being announced 'dead' to society, or the whole world in the matter of fact.

Regulus slumped down on the feathered filled bed pondering. How am I dead? How did my supposes 'death' became known to the public? It's been like what? A day or two since the cave?

Regulus wrung his fingers through his matted–sweat clad–hair. He filled through his library of memories of months worth of precisive research. In theory, Mort could only summon his inner circle followers through the Dark Mark, he could not essentially sense who is actually dead. It's unlikely he would know that I'm still alive. He couldn't take any chances, he had to stay 'dead'. I suppose I could use my death in the public's eye to my advantage. But–

How did the announcement of my 'death' came into light? It's nearly impossible for news to travel that fast. On the off chance Bellatrix visits Father and Mother–

Regulus stopped his train of thought, then palmed his face.

The tapestry.

If dear cousin Bellatrix came on a surprise visit to Grimmauld Place, she will ask questions. Bellatrix would not sit idly by until she knows the truth, than I will definitely be dead. Unless–

"Kreacher!"

There was a soft pop and then the petite elf was floored with pure happiness once his overly marble like eyes spotted Regulus on the bed. "Master Regulus is alive and awake!"

Regulus gave a tired smile towards his old friend, and suddenly the happiness transformed to sobs.

"Kreacher must apologize to Master for almost leaving Master to his death! Master ordered Kreacher to go home, but Kreacher couldn't leave Master!" The old elf than proceeded to further crawl into himself.

"Kreacher! Please stop crying," the elf went silent but his eyes still brimmed with tears, "I'm fine now and I'm not angry with you. I'm just glad that you made it out of the cave safely yourself."

Regulus shifted his position to make more space on the bed, then nodded his head to the space. The old elf saw the familiar gesture and made tentative steps towards it as he was breathing was even out.

Once settled where he was sitting up straight across from the sniffling House-elf, Regulus inhaled, "How is Mother doing?"

Kreacher fidgets and sniffles some more, but answers, "Mistress is very upset, by finding out that Master Regu–"

"Just call me Regulus, Kreacher. I already told you that you have my permission to use my name in private. That still extends from now and the future."

Kreacher's large ears flopped against the sides of his head as he bobbed it. "–by finding out that Regulus was d–dead," the stressed elf shivered but continued.

"Mistress didn't know of Regulus d–death until Mrs Druella visited Mistress for tea in the drawing room. Mistress saw the date of Regulus d–death on the tapestry." The elf's already bloodshot eyes started to brim with tears as he shook.