The Art of Hunting Horcruxes ~ Regulus Black AU

Chapter 5

He ran a hand through his hair, and his parents were so stunned by the tapestry, that they didn't even bother to correct or point out the awful habit he was developing.

His mother was moaning over whether or not Adhara was pureblood and just her existence in general, and his father had excused himself to go and inform the rest of their very large and slightly insane family on this breaking news.

But Regulus just stood there, staring at Ara's picture on their family tree and for some odd reason, the only thing that was running repeatedly through his mind was that she looked very pretty when she smiled. 

He hadn't counted on this to happen and he knew that neither had Ara. For all the plans and ideas that they had brainstormed with Mr and Mrs Flamel, they hadn't counted on the family tree to out them.

"What if it's wrong?" Regulus asked, turning to face his mother who paused at her mutterings. "What if the tree got it wrong?" 

His mother looked at him seriously. "I want this to be as false as you do, Regulus. But the tree never lies." 

No, it doesn't. Regulus thought, his eyes once again fixed on the tapestry, but this time, at the black spot where the picture of his brother had had to be. But I really, really wished it did.

------> 0o0 <------

Dinner that night was painfully awkward. His mother was grumbling and cursing Sirius left, right and centre while his father had been clutching his utensils so hard, his knuckles had turned white. Regulus had quietly asked to be excused before speed-walking (because a Black did not run like mere commoners) into his room and taking out the two-way mirror that Ara had given him.

Ara's beautiful, smiling face was seen by him from the mirror's screen three seconds later.

"Hello Regulus," She greeted, smiling.

"Hello Adhara." He greeted back casually, watching as her eyes widened.

"How did you know?" She asked, surprised. 

"Oh, it was quite easy. I like solving puzzles, you see, and I fancy myself to be quite brilliant at that." Regulus explained. "Not to mention, our family tree doesn't lie; and it won't even spare unborn, time travelling nieces." 

Ara's eyes widened even more and she looked quite faint. "Family tree," she mumbled, "Of course, I knew we were forgetting something!" She exclaimed with a look of realisation, but it did not matter. The damage had already been done. "Did your parents see it?" 

"My parents were the ones who pointed it out to me." He replied dryly, making her swear. "What do you want to do about it?" 

Ara gave him a weary smile. "Is there anything we can do about it?" 

He did not reply to her question, making her sigh tiredly before proceeding to bite her lip once more, looking deep in thought. She really shouldn't do that. It's an awful habit.

"There isn't anything we can do about it." Ara said finally. "But that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of it." 

"Advantage, how?" Regulus questioned. 

"By using it as a distraction." Ara answered with a small smile. "We can divert everybody's attention to finding out the mysterious Black heiress. That way, they will most likely completely ignore the two of us, meaning, we would not have to be so cautious with carrying out our mission."

Regulus pondered over her reply. She was right. "It is acceptable." He said finally before once again looking doubtful. "Are you sure you were not a Slytherin?"