The Search Is Over

Chapter 67

Before they knew it the day had come. In retrospect, Regulus was annoyed with himself that he hadn't predicted it. Like everything else over which Voldemort obsessed, including the Founders relics, the man had given indications. He loved marking aka soiling anything sacred to wizarding kind with his own stamp of dishonor as it were. During his own school days, the Dark Lord called the motley band of followers he amassed The Knights of Walpurgis. Walpurgis night, the last night of April, was sacred to witches as it was an extremely powerful night for magic. It was the Halloween of Spring when legend said witches and demons were strongest.

Regulus had never personally seen a demon on Walpurgis night or any other, but the energy of the night was wild and full of raw power. He'd looked forward to it yearly for as long as he could remember. This changed when he was away, of course, for there was no joy to be taken or power to be relished in the face of all he had lost. Now that he was home again, however, he enjoyed the night to its fullest. Just as on October thirty-first, Halloween, spells were stronger, and magic flowed through the world more freely in a wild intoxicating current. On Halloween Regulus and Kreacher had celebrated by beginning the process of a batch of Felix Felicis. Now, six months later, they celebrated Walpurgis night by completing it with an enhancement spell for extra potency.

Eventually the Dark Lord would strike, and they wished to be more than ready. If all worked as intended the potion should be three times it's usual strength. With the night itself making magic more potent plus Regulus's new quartz and lava rock wand from Mag being twice the strength of a wooden wand, the magic rushing through him was heady. Not for the first time, he was grateful that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were unaware of the potential of crystal wands. Regulus planned to share the liquid luck with all of their people who were fighting against Voldemort, but by the time he discovered that the fight was on, it was too late.

On the night of May first, he and Kreacher bought potion bottles from a shop in Knockturn Alley before hurrying home to celebrate Beltane with Mr. Doge and Dora. This was one of the few times that Regulus ventured out without his borrowed cloak of invisibility. The previous week, Wolfgang had requested it back so that Millicent's parents could borrow it. The Bulstrodes worked in the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the Ministry. Regulus hoped they were using the cloak to network with other countries against Voldemort, but even if they were not, he wanted them to remain safe so was glad to go without the cloak to help out. He traveled with a long hooded black cloak to shroud his face in shadow when hunting the dark streets of London and the night of Beltane was no exception.

When he and Kreacher returned home Doge had a tall wooden maypole streaming with ribbons and hung with garlands of flowers in the front yard. He and Dora sat in two wooden chairs brought out from the dining room beside an unlit bonfire. Two more empty chairs waiting for Regulus and Kreacher. Brightly colored ribbon bundled the mystical nine sticks of wood that topped the bonfire. These were said to bring luck and fertility to the summer crops and to life in general. With a gesture, Kreacher apparated the glass potion bottles they'd bought while out to their room as he and Regulus seated themselves. Doge gave them a warm smile of greeting.

"I can't say enough how wonderful it is to have company with whom to share the holidays," Doge said warmly.

"All of my old friends are often too busy, and most of my relatives are dead," he admitted.

Regulus silently vowed never to forget the old man on the holidays, even when he and Kreacher were back at home again.

"I was just asking Dora if she'd ever celebrated Beltane and she was busily avoiding my question," Doge continued with a chuckle.

Dora frowned, her cheeks flushing as she glanced away.

"Well," Doge prodded.

"Let's have it."