Regulus settled into a large leather armchair in the library, and Hypatia sat at his side. He looked out at their little group. His eyes gravitated towards Tonks. It was hard to believe that this was Andromeda's daughter. Her hair flashed a bright turquoise as he looked at her.

"So you inherited the Metamorphmagus gene?"

Tonks smiled, "Yeah. Mum says I'm the first one in three generations."

"You are. It's astounding. Do you find it useful in your work as an Auror?"

"It can be," she acknowledged. "I hate to go against Moody, but he's just so stubborn. He might come around eventually."

Regulus addressed the room, "I understand the suspicion to an extent, but I have to do what's right for our family. Speaking of which, first things first. Is there anyone in your lives that are vulnerable? Boyfriends or girlfriends?"

Fred and George looked at each other, seeming to communicate without speaking. Finally George spoke for them both. "Hermione is the only witch we've ever had an interest in. Our family home had wards placed by The Order."

"Where do you work?" Regulus asked.

"We own our own joke shop in Diagon Alley," Fred boasted. "We live above it."

"If you want to continue to live there, I suggest you reinforce your wards. You are, of course, always welcome here as well. There are plenty of rooms."

The brothers traded a look, "Well once Hermione takes up residence we might as well join her."

Regulus laughed, "Yes that's what I thought. You'll be much safer here anyways. Tonks?"

"I live at home still. I'm barely ever there except to sleep."

"Andromeda laid the wards I assume?"

"She did."

"If Andromeda laid them then you're safe. She was always excellent with protection. Still, there will always be a room here for you. You're family. Anyone the Death Eater's might try to go after?"

Tonks looked at Hypatia. She couldn't resist a secretive smile as Tonks blushed. Her hair turned a lovely shade of orange. "Well you see, actually, I'm dating two people."

Sirius gasped and scooted to the edge of his seat in excitement. "This is the best gossip I've had in ages. Do tell little Tonksie. Do tell."

Regulus rolled his eyes at his brother and waited patiently for Tonks to continue.

"This is a little awkward. I'm actually seeing Bill Weasley-"

Fred and George's jaws dropped open.

"-and Fleur Delacour. We're a triad."

Sirius whooped like he had won a Quidditch game as Remus stared at Tonks as if he was seeing her for the first time. George and Fred were looking at Hypatia with betrayal in their eyes.

"You knew about this?!"

"I was sworn to secrecy! I caught them all in a closet at the Burrow last summer."

"Hypatia!"

"Sorry Tonks, but there's no point in hiding it anymore."

"You wouldn't say that if your future mother in law was Molly Weasley. She's insane. She'd completely freak out if she knew. No offense boys."

"None taken," they assured her.

Regulus sighed, "Back to the point. Are they safe?"

Tonks nodded her head, "They both laid wards on their apartments, and then my mother doubled them. They're safe."

Regulus nodded, "That's great. I don't want to get too deeply into our plans today. Miss Granger will be joining us soon, as will my cousin and her son. I don't like to repeat myself. We'll meet again once everyone has had time to rest."

"Your cousin's son?" Geroge asked.

"Not the ferret," Fred whined.

Regulus turned to Hypatia, "Ferret?"

"I'll explain later, I promise. Look guys, he either comes here, or gets forced to be a Death Eater."

"How do you force someone to be a Death Eater?" George asked incredulously.

"Quite easily," Regulus said softly. "They'll kill Cissa and then him if he refuses."

Everyone stared at Regulus intensely, especially Sirius and Remus. Sirius leaned forward in his chair, "Is that what they threatened you with?"

"You know I never loved Walburga," Regulus replied tensley.

"Then who else-"

Remus put a hand on his shoulder. He gave him a significant look, and Sirius reeled back.

"Me? They threatened to kill me?"

Regulus' jaw ticked. He looked at Hypatia, his eyes filled with tears that he absolutely would not allow to fall. Pureblood Lord's did not cry, especially not in front of strangers. He turned his gaze back to Sirius.

"Not just you. Remus too. Mother knew about your relationship and was only too happy to pass on the information. I used to wonder if she didn't actually want them to kill you both."

Sirius stood to his feet then sat back down, as if he didn't know what to do. He settled by calling Walburga a cunt yet again. Remus held out his hand, and Sirius took it.

"The point is I know what Draco's up against. We can save him, and we will. I expect him and Ciss to be here by tomorrow morning."

"I'll play nice," Fred assured him. "But if he says one word against Hermione, I will hit him."

"That's fair," Regulus agreed with a sigh. "If it's okay with everyone, let's meet back here in a few days. I'd like some time alone with Hypatia before the Malfoy's arrive."

George looked like he was going to say something, but Hypatia cut him off. "Yes I will let you know as soon as Hermione gets here. Pay attention to your DA Coin. For Merlin's sake."

Regulus smiled at how well she knew her friends. She fished around in her pocket and finding nothing, turned to Fred. "Give me a galleon please."

He scowled at her as he fished around in his pocket. "Merlin, you're so demanding."

"Shut it Weasley. I'm making Tonks a coin. You know I'm good for it."

"Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say."

Hypatia tilted the coin so that Regulus could see it. "Hermione thought of this last year. She used the protean charm to change the message on the outside of the galleons. It allowed us to communicate without Umbridge's interference."

"That's smart."

Tonks stood and took the coin from Hypatia, and placed it in her pocket.

"I better get back to work, or people will start asking questions."

"Yeah we should go too. Give the newlyweds some peace."

"We should go too," Remus added.

"Go where?!" Sirius demanded. "I live here."

"Just...around."

Hypatia could tell Remus was doing his best to get her some alone time with Regulus, but Sirius was a stubborn man. He stared at him pointedly, and finally he got it.

"Right, well. Maybe I should talk to Hypatia alone for a minute, and then we'll go...around."

"Siri, that's really not necessary."

"Someone has to have the talk with you, Hypatia!"

Remus rolled his eyes as Hypatia glared at Sirius. "You have got to be kidding me. Madame Pomphrey gave us the talk in Third Year. I've known the contraceptive charm since I was thirteen."

"Right...well then...I'll just be going."

Sirius fled the room, with an apologetic looking Remus trailing after him. The door shut behind them. Hypatia was struck by how quiet it was in their absence, and how awkward. Her bravery from earlier had fled, replaced by shyness.

Regulus crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly. He spun on his heel and a second later they were in his bedroom. He let her go and looked around, removing his outer robes as he did so.

"Everything is the same," he marveled.

"I wouldn't let them in here," she admitted as she watched him undo the button on his shirt cuffs with fascination. Regulus caught her gaze and winked at her, sending warmth flooding through her body.

"Look, we don't have to do anything that you don't want to. We can just talk if you wish, get to know each other better."

Hypatia actually did want to do a great many things with Regulus, but she wasn't quite sure how to vocalize that. She sat on the edge of Regulus' bed as he unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and rummaged through the Hogwarts trunk at the end of his bed.

"Was there anyone else? Before, I mean."

Regulus paused and looked up at her, a Slytherin quidditch sweater in his hand. He swallowed thickly. He didn't know how this would be received, but he felt like he owed her the truth.

"There was Evan Rosier for a brief time, or there could have been. We kissed once after the Yule Ball in our fourth year of Hogwarts. We were caught by another student, whom I had to obliviate. My parents would have killed me."

"So you're bisexual?" Hypatia asked.

Regulus shrugged out of his shirt. He paused at the appreciative look on Hypatia's face.

"I don't know exactly what you'd call it. I appreciate beauty in all forms, particularly in yours."

Regulus looked down at the sweater in his hand, and thought better of it. He found he quite liked the way Hypatia's eyes lingered on him. He decided to take a nod from his Gryffindor wife, and be brave.

"Do you mind if I go shirtless for a while?"

"Not at all," Hypatia answered spacily.

Regulus laughed as he tossed the sweater to her.

"You're welcome to borrow my clothes if you want to get more comfortable."

Hypatia stared down at the sweater in her hands as Regulus grabbed a pair of his old pajama pants and went into his adjoined bathroom. When the door closed behind him, she swallowed down any hesitations, and stripped out of her dress, laying it on the back of Regulus' desk chair. She abandoned her heels by his desk as well.

The sleeves of the sweater were far too long and hung past her hands. She pulled it up and inhaled the scent of his cologne, somehow still fresh after all these years. She laid down in bed, determined not to make this awkward.

There was something so seductive about Regulus' quiet anger. Everytime he called her his wife, her mind went fuzzy. When he stood up to Dumbledore she had barely repressed the urge to kiss him until they were alone.

She was surprised to find that it affected her so much, but she supposed it made sense. For so long everyone had looked to her to save them. She was the Chosen One, the Girl Who Lived. She didn't realize what a huge weight it was until Regulus took it off her shoulders.

She felt more free than she ever had. She wanted to give into him. She wanted to feel him press her against walls, and beds, and all manner of things.

When Regulus emerged from the bathroom Hypatia was wearing his sweater. His mouth ran dry at the sight of her bare legs. She smiled at him mischievously.

"You look a lot more comfortable."

"I am."

Regulus found his way to his bed, and pulled Hypatia into his arms. She went easily, laying her head on his shoulder. She wasn't quite sure what to do with her hands, but Regulus grabbed one and twined his fingers with hers.

"Was there anyone else for you?" Regulus asked finally, hating himself for needing to know the answer. It should be enough that Hypatia loved him now, that she had never even been kissed by anyone else, but it wasn't. He needed to know everything. He needed to have it all.

"Potter's only fall in love once. There was never anyone else."

Regulus felt exhilaration flood him. He held her a little closer, and Hypatia draped a leg over his.

"No school girl crushes?" He prodded.

"There wasn't much time for romance in between death threats."

He rubbed his hand over her back, "That's all over now, I swear."

Hypatia shivered as his fingers rubbed dizzying circles on her back. Regulus was having a very hard time reconciling this shy creature with the woman who had jumped him in the Dining Room. He tilted her head up so he could see her eyes. They twinkled as she bit her lip.

"What is it you want Hypatia? I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you."

Hypatia cast her eyes down, allowing them to close. She didn't think she could look at him while she said this.

"I want you but...I like it when you're in control."

"Like when I pinned you against the wall of the Dining Room?"

Hypatia squirmed at the mere memory, "Yes."

Regulus smirked. It was his natural inclination to try to control every situation, and Hypatia's submission was oh so sweet. Not least of all because he knew she was a powerful witch. She bent beautifully to his will, trusting him implicitly despite the newness of their bond.

"I can do that, but I need to be clear about something."

Hypatia had her eyes closed still. That wouldn't do. He needed to make sure she was listening.

"Open your eyes."

Hypatia complied at once, looking up into Regulus' stormy gaze. His lips twitched up into a smirk that Hypatia desperately wanted to kiss.

"Good girl." He didn't miss the way her muscles tensed at the phrase, how her breath caught. "You absolutely have to tell me if you want me to stop. I won't be angry. I promise. We can always stop, no matter what we might be doing. Do you understand?"

Hypatia blushed and nodded smally.

"I need to hear you say it, Hypatia."

"I understand Regulus."

"Perfect."

He moved, and she followed his lead until she was laying on her back, and he hovered over her. He kissed her hard, and allowed some of his weight onto her. Merlin, it felt good to be pressed into the bed by him, to feel the hard planes of his back against her hands.

Regulus turned his attention to the long pale expanse of Hypatia's neck. When he nipped her neck with his teeth, she moaned, and arched against him. He made his way over to her ear, letting his hand coast down the side of her body, leaving fire in its wake.

"I'm not going to fuck you today, Hypatia. You're not ready yet."

"I'm not?" She gasped.

His hands had found the bottom of his too large sweater. His fingers ghosted over her thighs, soft and yielding, and perfect. Merlin, did he want every bit of her. He wanted to bury himself in her and not surface for days, but he wouldn't betray her trust. He needed to take his time.

"No, you're not. Soon maybe...if you're good for me. Can you do that Hypatia? Can you be my good girl?"

The effect was undeniable. She tried to squeeze her thighs together, but Regulus' hand was there, ghosting back and forth in a tortuous teasing dance. He squeezed her thigh, and her eyes rolled back in her head. He kissed her neck, turning her brain to mush.

"Answer the question love."

"I'll be a good girl, Regulus. I promise."

Regulus smiled against her throat, "Of course you will."

There was a loud knock at the door. Hypatia whined loudly, and Regulus chuckled at her.

"Yes?" He called.

"There's two Malfoy's and a strange house elf in our library," Remus called through the wood.

Regulus rolled off Hypatia and onto his back. He cursed Dobby's timing. "We'll be there in a minute. Just keep Sirius from hexing them."

"Got it."

Hypatia turned her head and looked at Regulus. Her chest was still heaving, her heart pounding. He looked over and was entranced by the look in her eyes. He pulled her to him for one last kiss, trying to pour a promise into it for what was to come. After a moment he released her with regret clear in his eyes.

"We really should go greet them."

"If you say so."