Monday, November 22, 2010

The Past era... Chapter-VIII

Chapter-VIII
The letter

‘No not this.’  Thud
‘Nope not this one as well…’ Thud.
‘Nothing’s working…GOD DAMN IT…’ THUD.
“What exactly are you searching for?” Regulus’s head snapped up at the voice to find Rick & Stephanie, standing shoulder to shoulder, facing him.
‘Oh Great…’ thought Regulus bitterly, ‘… just what I want now, Steph alone is scary enough & now she is accompanied by RICK…my first day’s getting better & better.’
Regulus sighed. “Nothing particular…look, I don’t want to sound rude or anything but I’d really appreciate if you two….I mean….. I kinda hope to be left alone now.”
Steph & Rick exchanged a knowing look, which didn’t go unnoticed by Regulus, which made him, if possible, further annoyed.
“Oh! You are allowed to be rude with us you know.” Rick responded in an unaffected voice & without paying the slightest bit of attention both of them settled down, Rick just beside Regulus & Stephanie facing both of them, in a particular sunlit corner, of the ancient Hogwarts library.
Regulus glared at the pair of them but resigned from saying anything, sensing that it would have no effect on the pair of them.
“If something’s bothering you then you can say it. I mean, it will make sense you know & probably will lead towards a solution & certainly would be a smarter move than slamming all those enormous volumes .” Rick pointed on the old dusty books, lay shut on the tables, in front of Regulus.
Regulus suddenly felt angry. He turned to face her.
“Really? Smarter move…WELL…”Regulus raised his voice but quickly put it down, earning a scandalized & rather disapproving glance from Madam Pince, the librarian.
“Well, I think that butting in other people’s business is not always a smart thing either Lewin.”
Rick blinked. The use of her surname, somehow startled her.
“She just wanted to lighten the mood Regulus, nothing personal” Stephanie said in a soft tone as she placed a reassuring hand on Rick’s shoulder but her eyes didn’t left Regulus’s face.
“Anyway, we didn’t see you after you followed your brother, so we got worried when we saw that Sirius returned without you & with a rage. So thought….may be…” Stephanie trailed off. So they are observant at his every move, Regulus thought resentfully.
“But, if you really don’t want us now, we’ll leave…” & Stephanie stood up followed by Rick.
“No…er…no don’t…don’t go…” Regulus mumbled, already ashamed of his sudden outburst.
“I mean…I’m sorry…didn’t mean to.”
Stephanie & Rick sat back.
“So, care to enlighten us?” Stephanie spoke with a slight stern voice.
“It is difficult….complicated…” Regulus struggled for words, as he felt two pairs of eyes were on him expectantly. His inside was telling him that he could trust these two recent mates of him. But still he didn’t know how to put it. Well, he decided he could give an overall idea to them without penetrating into too much details. He took a deep breath & started.
“I went to Sirius for a casual talk, you know. But… turns out… he thinks I sort of trapped you guys & dragged you at Bellatrix Black’s wand point, I know neither of you told you such thing…” he added quickly as soon as he saw Stephanie was about to open her mouth.
“What made him think such foul things?” Stephanie bewildered.
“The old prejudice against Slytherin, or should I say that it is common for anyone to think that kind of thing, if the accused person belong to Slytherin house.”
  “Well, I can’t blame him entirely…” Rick opened her mouth after her uncharacteristic silence for a brief period of time. With a quick glance at Regulus she continued, “Well, I am really surprised at your behaviour though Regulus, it is less like Slytherin. Normally, Slytherins are bound to be snobbish & are well known for treating other houses like dirts.”
Stephanie cocked an eyebrow but Regulus nodded silently.
“Yeah! I know, but the thing is…”
“The thing is that your family, I mean the Black family, entire Black family, with the exception of Sirius, are all Slytherins & believe in Salazar Slytherin’s motto.” Rick interrupted.
Regulus looked at her with slight surprise. “How do you…”
“You are forgetting that I am too, a pure blood, although my parents don’t believe in those things & neither of them was in Slytherin. I grew up hearing words against that particular motto & your family name was used a number of times in that context. So I know.” Rick finished smugly.
“Salazar Slytherin…one of the founders of Hogwarts…after whose name, the Slytherin house was named?” Stephanie exclaimed looking confused.
“What exactly the motto? & why is this sounding like as if there are two types of believers in the wizarding world?” Stephanie looked quizzically to her two friends.
“Because, there are two types of believers Steph.” Rick took a sharp breath.
“You know the four founders of Hogwarts. Well, long time ago, four friends, two powerful witches namely Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and two powerful wizards Godric Gryffindor & Salazar Slytherin decided to pass their knowledge of magic & power to the following generations. So they had made a secret school namely Hogwarts & started recruiting students who had the magical chore inside them.”
“Magical chore?”
“Yes, the one that makes you magical & it doesn’t depend on your parentage or family. It is an independent, individual & unique chore.” Rick continued, “Then at a certain point of time Salazar disagreed with the rest of three & denied to recruit students who came from non magical background.”
“Non magical? Muggles you mean? ”
“Yeah & then this disagreement started, which continued upto now & cracking the wizarding society into two firm sets of believers. The ones, who believe in Salazar’s motto, mainly most of them are Slytherins, believe that only pure bloods are worthy of receiving magical education. They treat the muggles borns & even half bloods as shits you see.” Rick uttered with revulsion.
“But, now a days they don’t mind half bloods that much though, as a certain dark lord named Voldemort…” Rick winced visibly at this name but Regulus ignored her & continued, “…is rising up & claiming himself as the true heir of Slytherin, who happened to be a half blood & want to complete the undone work of Salazar Slytherin” Regulus completed with sarcasm in his voice.
“Undone work?”
“The purification of the Wizarding Society.” Rick said.
Stephanie’s eyes went wide. “Wait, you don’t mean literally…”
“That’s exactly what she meant. LITERALLY by killing or worse owning the rest of them.” Regulus said in a disgusting tone.
“It is rumoured that he has started gathering his followers to fulfill his goal. It is also heard that his followers called themselves death eaters. Rick informed her.
“So if he started to gather his followers….then…someone must do something to resist it”
“Who says that none is doing anything? The ministry of magic is trying to build up resistance against him with the help of the one & only one white wizard the dark one is ever afraid of…ALBUS DUMBLEDORE.” Regulus said with pride & respect in his voice.
“Our headmaster Dumbledore?” Stephanie exclaimed with surprise & excitement.
“Yeah him.” Regulus chuckled at the reaction of Stephanie.
“And Sirius is siding with him against his family…?” Stephanie asked.
Regulus nodded with a sigh.
“So, what is your motto Regulus?”
Regulus turned to face Rick with a look of disbelief in his face. Rick shifted uncomfortably but didn’t lower her gaze.
“I am siding with my brother, Rick.” Regulus replied slowly with a very firm tone.
“Well, had to ask Reg.” A faint smile broke in her face, which she immediately managed to hide but didn’t go completely unnoticed by Stephanie.
“So, if you are siding with him, then he can’t be angry with you, I will make sure that….” Stephanie got interrupted as a magnificent eagle owl zoomed in & settled itself on the table between the three, holding out its leg towards Regulus, to which a sealed envelope was stringed.
“Ah! Sinnie…” Regulus said to the owl. The owl nibbled affectionately on Regulus’s wrist, as he began to untie the envelope from her.
“Sorry girl I don’t have the owl treat, you have to go to owlery if you want some & looks like you need sleep too.” The owl gave an excited hoot & flew towards the owlery.
“Nice owl.” Rick said.
“Yeah …she is Sinnie.” Regulus replied matter-of-factly.
“Sinnie…sun gift….nice ” Stephanie smiled.
Regulus smiled back & started to open the envelop. His face became dark, at the sight of the letter inside it. He started to read silently & his dark face grew darker with a mixture of disgust & horror.
“Reg” Rick called.
“REG…” louder this time.
Regulus slowly looked up, his face was pale. He look straight in the eyes of Stephanie.
“Say nothing to Sirius. Let him think whatever he wants to think.”
Stephanie was taken aback. “What? Why? I mean I understand your anger …”
“No, you don’t…” Regulus snapped at her.
“It’s not even anger…just don’t say it…promise me you won’t…” Regulus’s voice was uncharacteristically harsh. Stephanie looked thoroughly appalled.
“Oh! For Merlin’s sake promise me steph” Regulus practically pleaded.
“I..I won’t…I promise.” Stephanie said with a confused yet assuring voice. Regulus let out a sigh of relief & looked away from her.
“Is the letter from your home?” Rick asked in a slow voice, eyeing Regulus intensely.
Slowly, very slowly Regulus nodded, without meeting her eyes, he handed out the letter to both of his friends. Rick took the letter & started to read, loud enough so that just Stephanie could hear it.

Dear Regulus,
Accept my & your father’s congratulation on being selected in Slytherin house. Although, I could have expected nothing less of you. But this is not the event, for which I am writing to you. Recently, I’ve came to know a disturbing news that you are being friendly with Gryffindors & I am worried that whether it is an influence of our biggest fault namely Sirius Black on you. I am not approved of the fact that you, our only son is risking his family reputation & royalty by rubbing shoulders with indecent breeds. Choose your friend right & proper. You are always welcome to take advices from Cissy & Bella, who are concerened about you & owled me to inform about your behaviour.
If you are afraid of Sirius & doing this in fear, of which I am pretty much sure about, just send me your words & I’ll drag him out of Hogwarts & out of your life.
-Your mother
Walburga Black
(Pure Royal Bloodline)
Owner of the most ancient & noble house of Black

“Her only son?” Stephanie said blankly.
“Indecent breeds?” Rick wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Regulus said nothing.
“So, what are you going to do?” Rick asked.
“I don’t want any furth….I mean, any harm to Sirius. He is happy here. He has got nice friends.”
Stephanie nodded at the last sentence.
“So what are your plans?” Rick asked again.
“Well, I don’t want my mother suspects me & looks like I’ve got two pair of disgusting Slytherin eyes on me, spying all the time.”
“So, you are going to be a true Slytherin & severe ties with us and…”
“I’ll PRETEND to be a one. There is a difference.” Regulus looked at Rick sternly.
“But, that’d be difficult.” Rick continued in a deep rational tone, “…taking the fact that we can’t chat openly, can’t even throw friendly gestures at each other & not to mention you are expected to bully us...”
“We will find a way.” Regulus stated determinedly.
“How? Not every time the library will remain mercifully empty like that of today or not every day we have free periods after lunch, like the first day &  besides, if we are not supposed to meet each other after today then how WE will find a way?” Rick smirked slightly.
“We will owl each other, not Sinnie all the time though, it will look suspicious, but anonymous school owls & we will plan our meeting place & time.” Stephanie said thoughtfully.
“Impressive.” Regulus smiled.
“Fine! You have got any better plan. Feel free to share then.” Stephanie snapped.
That sobered Regulus up. Rick however thought it was the only plan they had for the time being.
“Well, we are on our pretence mission then, starting from now.” Rick said in a cheeky voice.
“I’m in” Stephanie said cheerfully stretching his right hand.
“Me too” Rick placed her right palm on Stephanie’s.
“Do I need to say?” smiling, Regulus joined in with his right palm on top of Rick’s.
The three determined & enthusiastic faces were lighten up beautifully with the streaks of the golden twilight, streamed from the large window.

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