The Search Is Over

Chapter 55

As Regulus lay tangled with Kreacher on the bed afterward, he silently realized that he wasn't certain he could ever forgive himself for his past mistakes and all the hurt they'd caused to Kreacher, to himself and his family in general. He had to do something to help Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan as soon as possible. At least that day would come sooner than later. Perhaps that would ease at least some of the aching sadness in his soul as would the death of Voldemort if Potter could manage to pull it off. Kreacher's and Severus's open lack of confidence in the Boy Who Lived did admittedly give Regulus a bit of anxiety when it came to the very near future.

The next evening, Regulus, Kreacher and Gellert were already in the library with Wolfgang when Severus, Mag and Filius arrived at Adler Manor.

"I brought the book," Mag said, presenting it to Wolfgang who murmured his thanks as he took it. Regulus felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of a new book to peruse and a new magical art to glean from its pages. He hadn't picked up anything new in far too long. From the gleam of interest in Gellert and Wolfgang's eyes, it was clear that they felt the same.

"We'll need a few days to study that," Gellert said and Wolfgang nodded in agreement.
"We can keep our prisoner relaxed and subdued during that time, though, no worries," the half giant assured. "Thanks to Regulus's most excellent vampiric mind control, he's as pliable as...well someone under extremely good vampiric mind control," he concluded with a chuckle.
"How does that work," Mag asked Regulus curiously.
"She's into Muggle psychology," Severus said a bit proudly.

Snape looking at anyone like that was still a bit disconcerting for Regulus, but he was pleased for the other man nonetheless. It truly meant there was literally someone for everyone, and Snape hadn't done half bad. Mag was an interesting and strong young lady who Regulus looked forward to getting to know better. One of the unexpected benefits of returning to the land of the living, as it were, was adding to his circle of friends.

"Ah," Regulus nodded.
"I recall you mentioning that. It's very interesting...What vampires do is a form of hypnosis, I suppose, impressing onto the mind that which we want them to think. It is a mind to mind connection," he explained and Mag nodded slowly.
"I think I understand."

"In this case, for now I have simply told the new guest to relax and be at ease and Kreacher put him to sleep with a sleep spell. He is quite good at those."
"Thank you," Severus told Regulus and Kreacher, and they both nodded.

"What, exactly, is it that I am here to help with," Filius asked, blinking and tilting his head curiously.
"Sorry, I should've said earlier," Severus said, giving an apologetic chuckle. "What with so many points to consider, and so many things to get exactly right, my mind got away from me on the matter. As for what I was hoping you could do... you've placed so many excellent defenses on Hogwarts. I was thinking once everything was completed that you could place defenses on this man's mind, so that no one would notice that it was tampered with."

Filius nodded thoughtfully. "That's a bit different than anything I've ever done before, but I'll give it a try. It's a good thing every thing else will take a bit of work, because I'll need to ponder this one."

Severus nodded weakly, a fleeting look crossing his face that Regulus interpreted as either worried or ill. Unfortunately considering they were going up against Voldemort, he well understood the sentiment. Any words of encouragement he may have wished to give his friend would've been hollow and empty so he remained quiet.

"I called Bramble in to freeze the dark mark last night as soon as Wolfgang, Regulus and Kreacher returned with our prisoner," Gellert spoke up.

"Thank you, and please thank Bramble for me as well, when you next see him," Severus said.