"Well, can anyone guess once the album releases?"

Regulus honestly didn't care about the finite details, that the release of the album would earn them money, pocket money as Elias put it, with Slughorn placing Adrian in charge of the account he'd set up for Regulus given Adrian's status as family and Regulus apathy towards that part of the band.

"Well, you come from money," Elias said. "So, is it any wonder you're not worried about that."

"He may have to worry if he's discovered and disowned like his brother, though," Oscar said. "Makes me second guess this whole thing."

"If that were to happen," Adrian said, "I'll take the blame and care for him. Certainly, Aunt Lucretia and Uncle Ignatius would have my backside if I didn't." His mouth twisted.

"Yeah, but this?" Elias said. "Isn't going to be enough to live on, Adrian."

"Funny enough, this isn't the only project Slughorn's put Regulus forth for," Adrian said. "One of which includes doing work for my brothers Gideon and Fabian on their projects. I just wish..." He took a deep breath. "I wish this were enough."

"Huh?" Oscar said.

"I told you both about this summer. What are some of the things Regulus said to me?"

"Oh. That," Regulus' head shot up. "That didn't bother either of you? It bothered Adrian."

"It bothered Adrian?" Oscar asked.

"The fact it didn't bother you," Elias said. "Worries me, Oscar."

"I mean, we've kind of known Regulus is a bit eccentric, so it makes sense he would actually have some kind of eccentric belief system like that. Slughorn had to have known, right?"

"He knows," Regulus said. "We've discussed it, him, me and Lily."

"Lily Evans?" Adrian's head shot up. "She knows about all that crazy and hasn't told your brother?"

"Why? My crazy, as you call it, isn't something Sirius wants to listen to."

"If I were to say I'm worried about anything," Oscar said as they sat in the room, munching on snacks, unsure of what to do after the first album. "It's people taking advantage of you, Regulus."

"Huh? Why?"

"Yeah. The fact Slughorn so easily got you involved in so many projects," Adrian said, still looking at the bank statements. He took a deep breath. "But, if there's one thing to be said about Slughorn, he knows how to take care of his students."

"Meaning?"

"Failsafe," Adrian held up the bank account.

Regulus shrugged his shoulders. Elias sighed. "You don't know what Adrian meant by that, do you?"

"Nope."

"But, I think I know what Adrian wants to get at, so I'll get to the point," Oscar said. "The question we've been wondering since he did drop that bomb this summer? Are you going to join up with the Death Eaters?"

Regulus stopped midsnack, frowning, then set it down. "Do I have a choice?"

"Don't you?" Elias said. "Failsafe?"

Adrian frowned, closing the statements and setting them aside, the color drained from his face, saying nothing. Regulus tilted his head. "Addy?"

"You don't, do you?"

"I don't see how I do," Regulus said, picking up the snack again.

Elias frowned. "What are you talking about? You'll be on the opposite..."

"...side from Sirius. I know." Regulus took a deep breath.

"I see," Oscar said. "That's what that one songs about. The song Adrian insisted on putting into the album despite Elias not liking getting that political so fast."

"That song was political?" Regulus mummered. "I just wanted to tell Sirius how I felt." Elias picked up a drink. "Him going to the dark side and all."

The drink went all over the place, Elias banging a hand on his chest. "Sirius is going to the dark side?"

"Well, isn't he? His side must be the dark side?"

"Why? Why would you think his side is the dark side?" Elias asked.

"Because he's mean to Kreacher. He says Kreacher isn't family," Regulus said.

"Man," Elias sighed. "One of these days, you're going to be in for a very, very rude awakening of the actual reality, dude."

"Maybe," Regulus said.

The door to the Come and Go Room opened, and a fifth person...

Elias and Oscar reached out and covered the lower part of Regulus' face from where they sat while Adrian looked up, frowning. The girl cheerfully held up two peace signs with her fingers. "I bring you boys news!" She noticed Elias and Oscar, laughing as her silver blond hair cascaded around her face, pretending to take a picture. "And I absolutely haven't a clue who Stubby is!"

"Guys, Dori's already guessed," Adrian sighed.

"Panda's another cousin," Regulus said.

"And Slughorn picked her because she can keep her mouth shut."

"I keep lots of Reggie's secrets," Pandora said, laughing. "But!" She held up a finger. "I officially proclaim myself your guys' manager!"

"Huh?" Elias frowned. "Why would we want Dorky Dori—this Dorky Dori..."

"There's more than one?" Oscar gasped, eyes blinking.

Elias rubbed the back of his head. "Ugh. Truth be told, Doris Purkiss is far, far worse."

"Oh!" Pandora said. "Speaking of her, she's officially Stubby Boardman's number-one fan!"

"Oh," Regulus said. "What does that mean?"

Elias facepalmed. "Good grief."

"You don't want to know," Adrian coughed. "You just don't."

"Alright," Regulus said, continuing to eat his snack without making much of a mess.

"You're way too easy to please," Oscar responded.

"I get sweets here."

"Yup. Aunt Walburga doesn't let him have any," Pandora said."

"And how are you related to the Black family?" Elias asked.

"Well..."

"Don't answer that, dork."

"Anyways, as per no surprise, Slughorn's faith in you boys has paid off, and you're all only fifth years," Pandora said, leaning over. "And the photos for the album I took..." She looked at the ceiling. "I really want to figure out what else I can do with Muggle chemicals."

"Pandora..." Adrian's eye twitched. "Please, please don't."

"I promise to be super careful, Addy!"

"Not you, too!" Adrian groaned.

"I love Reggie's nicknames for people. Though I changed mine from Pandi to Panda."

"You," Adrian took a deep breath. "How come you get to have your dumb nickname changed?"

"Because Panda's even dorkier!" Pandora said, holding up the peace signs again, grinning ear to ear.

"No. Pandas are adorable. And fluffy," Regulus said. "I'm not allowed to have pets other than owls at home."

"Ugh," Elias said, shaking his head.

"But, as I said," Pandora continued. "I've collected data, and you guys are a success."

"We've only been out a week," Oscar said.

"Yes. But everyone at school knows about you!"

"Wait. They haven't..."

"Nobody of importance has guessed," Pandora said.

"Nobody of importance?" Elias asked. "What is that supposed to mean, dork?'

"Well, there are only so many dark-haired, gray-eyed cute guys at school, right?" Pandora said, tilting her head. "You know? Stubby's eyes?"

Elias turned, "You mean..."

Regulus bit into another snack. "Don't look at me. I'm not one of them."

"Agree to disagree," Pandora said. "But that's not the funny part."

"What is so funny, Dorky Dori?" Elias sighed.

"Sirius Black officially has a stalker."

"I—say what?" Elias turned to look at her, then at Regulus. "Are you even remotely concerned?"

"Sirius can handle himself with girls," Regulus said. "So should I be?"

Adrian groaned. "So, of all our identities, they figure Stubby is Sirius?"

"Oh, just Doris Purkis!" Pandora said. She placed a hand on her chin. "Though truth be told, I'm not sure she understands Sirius and Regulus are two different people."

Elias choked on his snack and banged a fist against his chest. "Say what? Wait. No. This is Purkiss, so it shouldn't be a surprise."

"But, I've got an even bigger surprise," Pandora reached over, grabbing Regulus. "Let's go."

"Huh?"

"You too, Addy!"

"Don't call me that!"

"Well..."

"Just for Regulus and Addy!" Pandora called out.

Adrian sighed, following her. "Alright. What's going on."

"Let's find Sirius."

"No," Regulus said. "I think that's a bad idea. He doesn't like seeing me."

"Sirius is in a very good mood today!" Pandora sang. "And you wouldn't believe who or what put him in such a good mood!"

Adrian's eyes blinked. "Wait. You don't mean?"

"Yup!" Pandora said. "He's even got the album, according to some girls I know from Gryffindor."

"Lily?"

"Well, yeah, she's one of them," Pandora said. "She's really sweat, but she's not my source for all rumors, Sirius Black. Anyway, I've been meaning to ask. This song, the most popular one?"

"The one Addy calls our war song?" Regulus said low, glancing around to make sure nobody heard.

"Uh, that's not exactly super popular as some of the others, Regulus."

"It's not? Then how is Sirius..."

"Just listen. The most popular song is 'That Muggle Girl My Mother Doesn't Know About,' but I for the life of me..."

"What? No." Regulus felt the color drain from his face. "I'm dead."

"I thought there weren't any romance songs?"

"There isn't!" Regulus said. "Really!"

"Alright. If you say so, dear cousin."

"And Pandora's got you figured out," Adrian said.

"And what is that supposed..."

"Hold," Adrian said, placing a hand in front of Regulus.

"I see Sirius," Regulus said.

Adrian pointed at a girl watching Sirius, sighing. "Pandora? Is that Doris Purkiss?"

"Yup. She's not very bright, which Elias will tell you is very strange."

"Why?"

"She's in Ravenclaw. That's why."

Regulus frowned, tilting his head. "That's not the radio, but the album."

"Uh-huh," Pandora said. "Sirius really likes it."

"Yeah, but..." And then he froze, ducking behind a pillar, stiffening.

"Regulus, what..."

Pandora tapped him on the shoulder and pointed.

"Oh, bloody! He's coming over..."

Regulus started moving away, his body stiffening.

"Oi! Pandora. You keeping that snake over there out of trouble today?"

"Of course!"

"You didn't have to act like calling one's brother a snake, which is completely normal, Pandora," Adrian said as Pandora held onto Regulus' arm, preventing him from fleeing.

"What are you doing today, Siri?"

"Listening to this new wizard band," Sirius said. "You should give them a try, Pandora."

"Oh. You recommend them."

"So far, it's the only wizard band I know picking up—well, they actually dared to write a song called 'That Muggle Girl My Mother Doesn't Know About.'"

Regulus let out a small yelp and tried pulling away.

"Hey! You! Are you really trying to avoid me?"

Regulus stiffened, turning to look at Sirius, his body shaking like a leaf.

"Yeah. Maybe he wouldn't try avoiding you if you didn't avoid him in the first place, Sirius?" Adrian said.

Sirius pointed his finger at Regulus. "I know this isn't your thing; that mother would kill you if you listened to the kind of music I like. All this Rock-n-Roll. Not that this is even as hardcore as anything I normally listen to, but it's still pretty out there for a wizard band."

"I—uh," Regulus swallowed.

"But you should listen to 'Light and Dark' as well as 'Dark and Light' sometime?"

"Huh? The, uh," Regulus swallowed, looking at the ground. "Uh, why?"

"It's about this stupid war, about families being torn apart, about not knowing up and down, that everyone has light and dark inside of them and choosing which side to act upon."

"Wait?" Regulus looked at the ground. "You got that? From that song?"

"Uh—those two songs," Sirius sighed. "What am I saying? This is likely going over your head, as usual, Regulus. And don't take this as me suddenly liking you! You're still a Black! Anyways, see you later, Adrian. Pandora."

Adrian frowned as Regulus started walking away, trembling, then he hurried after. "Well?"

"Sirius got it," Regulus mumbled. "He actually got it, I think?"

"Who would have thought someone so confused about the world could write something like that?" Pandora said.

"Pandora," Adrian said. "Do you have to be so mean?"

"You know what I mean, but you share my worries—know there's nothing we can do about it."

"Yet."

"What are you two talking about." Then, Regulus flinched as Adrian placed an arm around his shoulders.

"Say, why don't we go discuss a second album with the guys? Since your music reached Sirius the way you wanted it to."

"You think it did?"

"And he didn't even know it was you," Adrian said. "I mean, he turned that message you meant for him back on you, didn't he."

"Ouch," Pandora said.

"He did get it, though," Regulus muttered. "And nobodies guessed?"

"Yeah. They think, or Doris Purkiss thinks your brother is Stubby, so we're safe, I think."

"Safe," Regulus laughed. "Something different, not what mother would expect, but it feels good having this."