The Story of Regulus Black - Years 1-4

VIII. The Meeting

Friday night (or, technically, Saturday morning) at half past midnight, the four first year boys made their way to the common room. Barty - who had been released by Madam Pomfrey with a draught that he needed to take before bed - and Regulus were practically jogging down the stairs, excitement coursing through their veins.

When they reached the common room, it was already quite crowded. Yaxley and Macnair were standing before the fireplace, and there were several people gathered around them - either in chairs, on couches, or sitting on the floor.

Regulus and Barty made their way over to the group and shared one of the big comfy chairs in front of the fire (they were both quite small, so they were easily able to fit), and Rosier and Travers assumed their place on the floor.

Regulus glanced around at the other people in the room, and he recognized quite a few of them. Narcissa Black, his cousin, was perched on the arm of the couch that held two second year boys: Severus Snape and Augustus Rookwood. Gillian Fairman (who Regulus had since learned was seeing Corban Yaxley) was sitting in the chair across from the boys. On the floor, there sat a few notable names. Constance Selwyn, Mark Mulciber, Mason Avery, Francis Goyle, Victor Crabbe, and Carson Nott.

Yaxley and Macnair looked around the room and nodded, pleased by all of the people that had come to the meeting. They glanced at one another, and it appeared that they were having a conversation with their eyes. Regulus leaned forward, gripping onto the arm of the chair.

"Welcome," Corban Yaxley finally began, looking 'round and nodding at the small clusters of people respectively. "Now, let's get right down to business, shall we?"

Murmurs went up through the crowd, and a twisted smile came onto Yaxley's face. "Excellent. Now, the Dark Lord has a plan. A plan, that he needs more... useful, followers for. Which, I am pleased to say, is where you lot come in."

The murmurs turned to utter excitement, and Regulus could see that even Evan Rosier was smiling excitedly. "I expect that you all want to work for the Dark Lord?" A shouting of agreement, "Most excellent.

"I know that some of you may prove to be... more useful than others. I know that there are some of you who already have connections to the Dark Lord," half the group turned towards Regulus Black, and half turned to Evan Rosier, who was absolutely beaming. "Most of your families are already loyal followers of his."

"What's this plan that he needs help with?" Carson Nott asked, and a few people muttered their agreement of the question.

"The Dark Lord plans to take Hogwarts." Walden Macnair said, and several people gasped.

"What good is taking this stupid school going to do?" asked Mason Avery.

"Well, with a school comes students, correct?" Yaxley responded, a twinkle in his eye.

Victor Crabbe scoffed, "What's he want with a bunch of mudbloods and blood-traitors?"

"Don't question the Dark Lord," Macnair snarled, and the room went completely silent. "Mudbloods and blood-traitors or not, they can still be quite useful. The mudbloods can be used as a... message. Defy the Dark Lord, and this is what happens to your precious ickle babies."

"As for the blood-traitors," continued Yaxley, "a parent will do anything to protect their child. Even, for example, become the follower of the most powerful wizard that the world has ever seen."

A murmur of understanding went up through the group, but Regulus furrowed his brow and looked at his lap in confusion.

A parent will do anything to protect their child.