The sun was high in the sky. Spring was near and the heat was there; in between the cold breezes and dry gardens. Emma Potter, an avid summer hater, was already sweating. Her hair was heavy on her back and her neck was breaking in an uncomfortable sweat. Despite that, she was having fun. Training with Gideon was fun. Moody had tasked Gideon with training with her, and at first, she had complained. She was training, in her own way, reading about dark magic- but, really, Gideon made her laugh and he was fun. It was exhilarating.
No one knew about Regulus yet. There had been no meetings, except for the training sessions the boys had every day with Moody and Diggle, and the occasion had never arisen. Regulus was glad for that- and Emma liked seeing him glad. He was beginning to let loose, too. Emma had even found him laughing with Remus once. Laughing. That she had been shocked would be an understatement.
Everything had been unusually calm. Voldemort had hidden. No one knew where he was or what he was doing. They had no contact with the other side now, but there hadn't been any raids or murders or any action whatsoever.
Fabian claimed they were planning something big. Everyone was nervous because of that- so they trained. Harder and twice as usual.
"Dark magic is about intention." Emma was surprised to hear Regulus talk. So far, he had been sitting by the window, reading. He was standing now, the book left in the chair, and he had taken his coat off. He had been using muggle clothes now, everyone in James' house did, and in Emma's opinion, he looked better than ever.
They hadn't- well, they hadn't even kissed ever since he got there. He had been recovering and then the opportunity hadn't... she wasn't sure what had happened. Maybe it was because James lived with them and it seemed- weird, but- Godric, she fancied him so much. It was killing her.
Gideon stepped forward, facing him. "I know-"
Regulus didn't let Gideon finish. "You don't want to hurt her. You could never use dark magic against her- use it on me."
He stood up, walking to where Gideon was, slightly limping. His limp would be permanent, Poppy had said, because of the damage he had in his nerves. In between whispers, Lily had told Emma it had probably been caused by a really harsh Cruciatus curse. Emma's heart squeezed hard whenever she saw him limp. She protested, he was supposed to be resting, but he ignored Emma's protests, and stood, legs open, wand prepared.
Gideon grinned at him. "I'm starting to like you."
Regulus ignored him completely, sending a dark curse that Gideon barely avoided. "Stop talking."
Gideon's eyes were wide with joy. "I like it when you boss me around-" This time, Regulus' curse hit him and he let out a whine. A pig's nose was now on his face, pink and round.
Emma laughed faintly. "Don't be mean." She said, and she surprised herself by sounding like her mother.
Regulus flashed her a grin. "I am mean. It's in my nature."
Gideon sent him a curse that Regulus avoided, while he laughed mockingly. "Well, Prewett, you are as slow as you were with Quidditch. Dark Magic is fast, quick. Unexpected." Emma had never been so turned on in her fucking life. He walked as he spoke, long and careful steps, elegant as he always was. He avoided yet another curse Gideon sent and smirked, teasingly. "I am expecting everything you do, Gideon."
Gideon huffed. He tried again, and again, and again. One after the other. They didn't reach Regulus. He was too fast, too good. Deep down, it troubled her. How much had he endured to be such a good dueler? How much had he been hit- cursed- hexed- to be so skilled now?
Then, something hit her. It was barely a tickle, but she screamed slightly with surprise. She looked down to see her leg jumping up and down as if she were moving it, but not much more. When she looked up again, Regulus was bleeding from his forehead and Gideon was grinning madly.
"What were you saying about unexpected?" His pig nose was gone, but his smile was bloody.
Regulus narrowed his eyes at him, yet he was hiding a smile. "Well played," He tipped his head respectfully. "-but you didn't hurt her. It barely hurt me. You have to want to hurt."
"I don't want to hurt Emma." Gideon offered. "I just wanted to win."
"That's the thing-" Regulus approached Gideon and made him point his wand at his chest. Emma incorporated, now scared. "-this is not about winning. It's about hurting. Now, hurt me. Kill me. Do whatever you want. I am a death eater, I have the mark on my arm, and I endangered all of you. I endangered Emma."
Emma stood up, but Regulus stopped her with a move of his wand. She was petrified now, watching without being able to move. He had petrified her.
Gideon wavered. His hand dropped a single centimeter, only to raise it up again. He closed his eyes and whispered something.
Regulus didn't move. He frowned. "You have to work on your hate." He stepped away from Gideon's wand, sneaking a look toward Emma's unmoving body. "It is okay to feel hate. It is okay to have dark, bad feelings. You must use that to hurt your opponents."
Gideon sighed. "You are making it hard to want to hurt you."
Regulus grinned at him. "Give me some hours, I'll make you hate me again."
Emma was finally free from her hex. She walked over to Regulus, sending him a hex that had him wincing. "If you put a wand against your chest again-"
He smiled at her, giving Gideon a lopsided look. "See? Emma hates me again."
The training was due to end, anyway, and Emma fixed them both a furious look before turning around to go inside the house. "Hurry!" She called. "We don't want to be late."
Sirius was sleeping when the three of them walked through his chimney. He was under a mountain of papers, snoring. Emma could feel Regulus rolling his eyes. "Don't be mean."
"He's such-" He huffed. "That's such a Sirius thing to do."
"It's not that serious," Gideon smiled, taking a big step inside the room.
Emma laughed at Regulus' face. "Get used to it. They make the joke at least twice a day."
"Oh, I know. I've already heard.."
"Hey." Gideon shook Sirius. "We could be burglars and you're here sleeping while your house is being robbed."
"We could kill him if we wanted to," Regulus pointed out. "-I really fancy some violence."
Sirius silenced them both with a whisper and a movement of his wand. "All I ask is for some peace."
Emma chuckled, moving towards the kitchen to make some tea. "Don't we all."
Regulus and Gideon followed her, making themselves comfortable on whatever surface they could find. Emma spoke since neither of them could. "So- Gid, keep on with the Gryffindor sword search. If anyone can find it, it's you." She pondered on it for a bit. "Look for Helga's cup, too. It might be more findable." She placed the kettle on the fire. Then, she grabbed some cups from a tall cupboard. Four. Remus was working at this time, and he would arrive- she checked the clock- in a few hours, probably. That is if he didn't have his night shift at a bar. "Are you still working on his timeline?" She asked Regulus.
