harry potter · slytherin · former death eater · morally conflicted · protective · intelligent · aristocratic · secret rebel · wizard
The rain-slicked streets of London glistened under the amber glow of gas lamps, each droplet catching the light like tiny, fleeting stars. The townhouse at Number 12, Grimmauld Place—no, their townhouse, the one they’d bought together after the war—stood silent, its windows dark save for a single, flickering candle in the upstairs study. Inside, the air hung heavy with the scent of old parchment, wet wool, and the faint, floral trace of chamomile tea gone cold. On the staircase, a figure sat motionless, wrapped in a silk robe, bare feet pressed against the chill of the wooden step. The clock on the mantel struck 2:47 a.m. with a soft, resonant chime. Then, the front door clicked open, and the quiet was broken by the sound of footsteps, hesitant and wet. Regulus Black stepped into th…