Old Wounds

"So I guess that eliminates one theory." Hermione slouched on the couch next to Regulus, vexed at being wrong.

"Uh, not entirely. It may not have to do with object." She sat up a little, waiting to hear his explanation. Harry and Sirius looked curious too. "Well, while I had him under the Imperius, I had trouble communicating to him that I wanted him to think happy thoughts, so I told him to think about his mother, figuring that would be a nice memory."

"For some people." Sirius grumbled.

"So you think the Stone works for him as the second brother intended it to?" Harry asked.

"Oh!" Hermione was fully upright now, "I read about this in a book in Tonks' room. Metamorphmagi are more prone to accidental magic than others. Maybe that is how he is doing it. Until he was under Regulus' control, he wasn't, to our knowledge, consciously thinking of anybody." She hopped up and hurried out of the room.

"I guess we won't know until they get that Stone cleaned off." Sirius rose from his chair to pace the room. "Has anyone thought of how we are going to explain this?"

"What can we explain? We don't know anything." Harry ran his hands through his hair in frustration making it more unruly than usual. Hermione returned clutching an old book.

"People, especially at the Ministry, are going to raise a lot of questions when it gets out that four supposedly dead people... aren't." Sirius scowled, unhappy at the clumsiness of his statement.

"I can call in my favors with Kingsley." Harry glanced at Sirius, realizing a bit of information he had not shared yet. "He's Minister now." Sirius raised his eyebrows appreciatively. Harry had told him he was no longer considered a murderer. Having someone in a position of power on his side was definitely a relief. He would help get them back into society. Officially dead or not, nothing was going to leave him a prisoner in his own house ever again. Harry continued, "The one I am most concerned with is Regulus. He's been gone so long, and it is more obvious his age hasn't changed. We could probably get away with a cover story of the others not dying in the first place, but there is not an easy way to lie about him."

Hmm, Regulus indeed. As much as Sirius was worried about the problem at hand, something was unsettling him about his brother. He was fine with him pursuing Hermione when there was little risk of him actually being successful. They shared little glances and pinched one another when they thought no one was looking. It was disgusting really. Back at Hogwarts Lily and James had been the same way, after she stopped loathing him that was. Those silly feelings did not last forever and he was not going to watch Regulus take advantage of a girl responsible for saving his life.

"I think we need to worry more about anyone finding out about the Stone. Who knows about it besides the people in this house?" Hermione spoke without raising her eyes from her book.

"Neville, I suppose, but he doesn't know it works. Ron, of course. I owled him that we were here so he's bound to find out when he gets back from his match. I didn't tell him what was going on in case anyone else saw the letter. Andromeda will be back tonight. I wanted to send her a message, but was afraid she would panic."

Sirius was only half listening to Harry. Now, when he watched them sit so casually together poring over some book, the more agitated he became. Would Regulus tell her what he used to call her kind? Would he dump her as soon as he found a more appropriate partner? He would be a free man soon with plenty of pureblood girls to choose from...

"We need to keep it under wraps, I mean, if someone thinks they could use it..."

"Like any of your old chums, Regulus." Sirius' tone instantly filled the room with tension. Hermione scowled at him, placing a hand on Regulus' leg in solidarity. He brushed her away and turned on Sirius.

"I think I made my resignation from that particular organization rather clear."

Sirius only snorted.

Harry and Hermione said nothing. They looked back and forth between the two Blacks, each of whom were staring hard at the other as if continuing their argument telepathically.

"Did you tell Hermione how you feel about Muggle-borns, or does she not merit an explanation? Are you just going to toss her aside when you find a more suitable toy to play with?" Hermione was embarrassed at Sirius' accusation, but she looked to Regulus with curiosity.

"Really, Sirius, have you told her how you used to get off at school? Sneaking hexes at me and my housemates to show off how smart you were. Did that really help you win friends, or was it only about how many fans you could gather and how many knickers you could get into?" Sirius was abashed at his brother's reaction, the memories not being as fresh for him as they were for Regulus. Regulus was not finished though. "Don't think that I didn't see what you and your friends," and his eyes darted to the kitchen door and over to Harry as if it were James sitting there, "did to Severus Snape on several occasions."

Harry lowered his head in shame. Hermione was spared further embarrassment when the kitchen door swung open, revealing a scowling Remus. "What are you all shouting about?" The Black brothers ignored him, each unwilling to drop eye contact.

Hermione, despite being extremely put out with both of them, decided to keep the peace. "Nothing but a family disagreement, Remus. We're all a little tired and stressed. It has been a long night."

-o-O-o-

Tonks held her son to her with one arm while she examined the freshly washed Resurrection Stone with her free hand. It was the most fascinating stone she had ever seen. It had a large crack down the center, the edges of which were worn as if eaten away by acid, leaving a patch of the center exposed. She could not help but be mesmerized by the iridescent nature of it. She pressed her thumb against the center, and it felt warm. Teddy giggled, finally drawing her attention away.

"You are such a naughty boy, Teddy," she said, and she smiled as she chided him. "Mum and Dad would say I'm getting just what I deserved with you." Mother and son looked at each other seriously. "It's too bad you couldn't meet him. You are more like him than he'd ever admit. You're both..."

CRACK

She spun around slowly, utterly shocked at the sight before her. Teddy, however, waved his little arms excitedly.

"Gah!"

-o-O-o-

Sirius offered Regulus his hand, ashamed of his own hotheadedness. Regulus took it, feeling his own share of the guilt. Their handshake soon became a hug. Hermione could not help but roll her eyes and mutter, "Boys."

"Remus!" Tonks burst into the room. "Can someone please tell me what the deal is with this thing because I swear I just saw my father!" She held out her hand with the Stone in it just as Ted Tonks walked through the doorway behind her.

"Dora, what is going on here?" He was taken aback at his sitting room being full of people. Then his gaze landed on Sirius. "Sirius?"

"Puppy!"

Ted looked at the little boy whose hair was rapidly turning orange, then to his daughter and gasped.

"It's alright, Mr. Tonks." Harry stepped forward. "We can explain everything. Why don't you sit down." He edged over to the couch that Regulus and Hermione recently vacated.

"Sirius, they said you were dead."

"I was, Ted. And so were you." Ted's eyes grew large and he looked around the room. All the faces he saw confirmed Sirius' story. Tonks seated herself next to him and let Teddy crawl over to his lap.

"I'd like you to meet your grandson."

"My...my grandson?"

"Yes," she said, and she grinned, "Teddy Remus Lupin."

-o-O-o-

"Hermione, I need to talk to you." Regulus had been waiting in the hall for her to return from the bathroom so he could catch her on her own.

She paused. Ever since Sirius and Regulus had their argument, she had been more confused than ever. Realistically, she knew he had changed. He sacrificed everything for what was right even though it went against everything he had been told his whole life. Yet, she still had doubts.

"I want you to know what Sirius said..." He was flustered. He was never flustered. This girl was trouble. He raised his gaze from the floor to her face and felt his confidence return. Definitely trouble. And worth every minute of it. "It isn't true. I may have felt that way once, but that was a lifetime ago." He realized the irony of his statement. "Literally. I know now that pride isn't about who your ancestors are. It's about who you are. I don't have much to be proud of, but if it's possible, could you forgive me for being..." and he took a breath, "...for being a bigoted pureblood prat?"

"Only if you could forgive me for being a Muggle-born."

He grinned. Not the answer he was expecting. She was grinning too. He leaned down to kiss her. It was a bit awkward because neither of them could stop smiling. It was an honest kiss, one that held promise for both of them.

"Oh! Excuse me." Ted shuffled across the hallway to escape the private moment he had walked in on.

Still smiling, Regulus took her hands in his. "There are too many people in this house."