OI, Goblin

[alt_sirius]

Regulus Arcturus Black. What do you think you're playing at, goblin?

You know, Father might have been a miserable sod who didn't think twice about using the dark arts, but bloody hell, Reg, there were limits to what he'd practise.

And now this? If I find out you've had anything to do with leaving that little girl 'orphaned,' so help me, Reg, I'll kill you myself.

Comments

[alt_regulus]

What in cod's all are you on about?

[alt_sirius]

Just have a think, for a bit, Reg.

He was no plague victim, for all the Ministry would have it so. What, has your master been torturing him all this time, only to go too far? Or was his death 'necessary' for something more nefarious than that?

You know those books he's been looking for, have you asked yourself why they aren't in Father's library? Because there are some boundaries magic was never meant to penetrate, Reg.

When are you going to draw the line and stop making yourself his lapdog?

[alt_regulus]

Who are you talking about? Have you gone completely round the twist, brother?

[alt_sirius]

Lovegood, I'm talking about. He was harmless, Reg - more harmless than you used to be, before you added several thousand kills to your resume, that is.

Your lot lie so often you've no idea what the truth sounds like anymore do you?

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[alt_molly]

Sirius, shut it.

Not now. Not tonight. Not in front of her.

Re: Order Only

[alt_bill]

Bloody hell, Sirius.

That wasn't...particularly well-timed.

Dad, maybe you should take Mum's journal away for a bit.

Re: Order Only

[alt_molly]

NO ONE'S TAKING AWAY MY JOURNAL ANYMORE THAN THEY'RE TAKING AWAY LUNA'S!

[alt_regulus]

Lovegood? The one that printed that completely mad news sheet about trekking to Bora Bora and sighting nonexistent beasts in Little Balderdash?

I didn't realise anything had happened to him. Has it?

The thing is, I don't lie, do I? And I can't hide.

[alt_sirius]

Yes. The one whose nonsense was so threatening to your Lord Pretender that he mysteriously contracted the 'paralysis' when his routine took him nowhere near any danger. The one for whom the cure somehow didn't work. Why's that, then? I don't believe for a second that his death was natural.

As for lying, you've other people to do that for you. They can't afford to let anyone know what you're really up to, can they?

Hiding isn't the answer, either.

[alt_regulus]

I'm afraid you're wrong about his importance. As far as I know, he had four or five moments' notice and that was months ago.

Merlin's grotty pants!

Just ask what you want to ask.

[alt_sirius]

Fine.

What are you doing?

I mean WHAT are you doing?

And don't bloody evade me, Reg. You know what I'm asking.

[alt_regulus]

Look. I'm not evading you, but we can't discuss this here.

Not with that man's daughter reading every word we say to one another and thinking it's something to do with her father. I don't know what you were thinking, bringing him into this. If you want to take a shot at me, you'll have to do it another time.

And at the moment, brother, I'm sitting in a corridor in some old classroom building at Eton. Luckily, I've got Kreacher here to keep things jolly and the teapot filled.

Most exciting thing that's happened tonight, aside from you assailing me in print, was being chatted up by a ghost. Apparently, some of the toffs that came here were wizards boycotting Hogwarts. Not sure why. I was about to ask when he sort of drifted off through the wall.

[alt_sirius]

Well, we'll just get together for tea at the Elysian, then, shall we, so you can spin your sob story properly?

For Morgana's sake, Reg.

Just ....

Stop fooling yourself. At least have the decency to do that.

[alt_luna]

It wasn't completely mad! It was a very important news story!

[alt_sirius]

No, he wasn't completely mad, Miss Lovegood.

I believe he was trying, in his way, to open people's eyes. It's not at all fair, what happened to him, and to the extent that I may have brought him to my enemies' attention, I'm truly very sorry.

Please accept my condolences, and then follow your prefects' advice and ignore everything here .... It may seem very confusing but really, my conversation with my brother has little to do with your father or his memory.

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[alt_molly]

Fine words to say now! Sirius, you IDIOT!

[alt_molly]

Luna, sweetheart...

Percy's right, dearest. Just ignore this--this nonsensical squabble these two brothers are having right now. It's ridiculous; it's all about their own sordid family history, and it has nothing to do with you.

I want you do to something for me, love. Get out your favourite book, the one I sent for your birthday three years ago, remember? You can keep your journal with you, and I'll keep checking it through the night if you want to tell me anything. But take out the book and read one of those short stories. Forget the world for a little while.

[alt_regulus]

Ah.

I beg your pardon. I hadn't realised what's happened.


I'm very sorry for your loss.

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[alt_molly]

And YOU can shove off, too!

[alt_luna]

Wait, what--are you talking about my father?

[alt_percy]

Luna, don't read his ravings, and don't reply to him. You've got enough grief to deal with, without worrying about whatever lies he's telling.

[alt_percy]

Sandoval, if you're reading this, I suggest you go find Luna and just...just take away her journal for the night. She doesn't need to be reading this rubbish right now.

[alt_luna]

No! No, don't take away my journal! I want to be able to write to your mum if I want.

[alt_percy]

All right. No one will take it away if you don't want them to.

But don't read anything else Black says. Promise?

[alt_percy]

And as for you, Black, piss off. Leave this poor girl out of your lies. Hasn't she been through enough?