LUNARIA

The Black family household was cold, Lunaria observed as she crossed the threshold. Cold air, cold feeling, cold family. Nothing about the house seemed inviting, much less the people in it. Orion and Walburga Black glanced around the room with smug looks on their faces, clearly wrapped up in a superiority complex thanks to the Dark Lord using their home for a meeting point. Lunaria glanced at her peers with a blank stare, categorising the people that marked their skin in the name of power and evil.

The categories were divided into three. Those that would die for the Dark Lord if it meant they had his approval, whole-heartedly believing the cause. Then there were the nervous followers, believers of the cause but also terrified at every noise in fear it would be the killing curse aiming for them. Then finally, there was the most interesting group, those that looked uncomfortable by the whole thing, following due to their family or out of fear. Now they were either reckless or they were powerful - they had to be either of those to risk their thoughts being pulverised by the Dark Wizard.

"Come." The Dark Lord called to attention his followers, taking his seat at the head of the very long table. It was clear there was a hierarchy. Members such as the Blacks and the Malfoys sat closest to him, Lunaria found herself sitting somewhere in the middle next to her father closer to the Dark Lord, remembering her promise to save an empty space for Regulus who indeed sat in the seat without glancing her way. "Welcome all, old and new followers. Welcome to the new world."

Lunaria felt Regulus stiffen next to her, his shoulders square as he placed his hands in his lap under the table. Glancing to view his side profile, Lunaria noticed he had an array of small freckles on his skin, letting her mind wander briefly to see if she could spot a constellation on his skin. Before she could make a conclusion, The Dark Lord began his speech.

"As you may notice, we have some new faces amongst our ranks. I expect you'll welcome them the same way you were welcomed." He smirked as the likes of Bellatrix and Rabastan Lestrange chuckled ominously. Lunaria didn't allow the shiver of fear to cloud her mind as she focused her concentration on her new master, making sure to look eager and interested - despite that being the complete opposite of how she actually felt. "Whilst I'd love to introduce you all, we have much to discuss." The Dark Lord spoke, his tone suggested that he could not care less about the new recruits, why he felt the need for fake niceties for a bunch of people who were so terrfied of him, Lunaria didn't know.

The meeting was already boring Lunaria half to death and it had just started, no wonder they were called Death Eaters - she would eat her own fist if it meant the meeting was over quicker. The Dark Lord was praising his followers for their latest raid. A small group of what Lunaria assumed was inner circle, had raided and attacked a member of the ministry. Big whoop, Lunaria thought, the man was a low ranking member of the Department of Magical Transportation. The most damage he could do was suggest changes to be made to the use of apparition and portkeys - he couldn't actually instil change. But you've got to start somewhere Lunaria mused humourlessly. He listed a long list of raids and kidnappings and delegated to his followers as they either grinned conspiratorially or nodded politely out of fear, before he turned to the two young recruits. 

"Regulus and Lunaria. You two shall stay behind at the end of the meeting. I have a task for the both of you and you two alone." The Dark Lord hissed with a grin. Lunaria smiled politely and nodded, playing her part - a private or semi-private mission was to be responded to with eagerness and gratitude after all. The request was met with sneers from several lower ranking members as they looked on in jealousy at the two young Death Eaters.

"It is time to begin tackling Diagon Alley. I will select three groups of five to attack the following stores. The Ministry Press." Smart Lunaria thought, they were the leading publishing house affiliated with the Ministry itself, attack and scare them you attack and potentially infiltrate the Ministry- if you're smart about it anyway. "Owl Post Office." Again, a clever decision, to infiltrate the post. Lunaria wondered if The Dark Lord had considered Imperiusing a member of staff to cross-check and scan any and all post affiliated with suspected opposition. "And finally, the Apothecary." He finished. Lunaria couldn't help but be impressed by his decisions, hitting these three shops hard would certainly cause terror.

"What about Gringotts?" A young Death Eater Lunaria knew to be Rowle asked stupidly. She was sure he was part Ogre. The Dark Lord fixed his red eyed gaze upon the man whose brow had begun to perspire, dripping onto the table. Lunaria rolled her eyes at Rowle's stupidity - it didn't go undetected either.

"Gringotts?" He hissed to Rowle. He scanned the table fixing his gaze onto Lunaria who sat up even straighter under his stare. "Miss Reed, could you please tell Rowle why attacking Gringotts would be foolish?" It was a test. And one she was not prepared to fail.

"Gringotts is essentially a fortress. Thus far there has only been one successful break in and that was back in 1890 although they were fought off. It is not impossible but incredibly reckless, especially to attempt so early on in our greater mission. Most vaults - at least the ones we would benefit from attacking have high level security measures in place - ones even books and word of mouth cannot tell us. The main ones we do know are a series of curses, trolls, anti-apparaition and dragons. None of which the likes of someone like Rowle, shall we say, are competent enough to fight off." Lunaria reeled off, sending a pointed look to Rowle. Regulus struggled to hide the smirk forming on his face. Lunaria was not what he expected but he was thoroughly enjoying every second of her putting Rowle in his place.

"The Goblins that guard the bank are loyal to themselves mostly, and their vaults, it would be more worthwhile finding something to bargain with as opposed to hitting them or attempting to hit them head on. That will only result in mass casualties as it would take more than five Death Eaters to succeed in such a mission. Unnecessary mass casualties might I add. In conclusion, attempting to attack Gringotts is a fruitless act at this moment in time." Lunaria finished, fixing her gaze back on the Dark Lord who looked on at her with what Lunaria could possibly describe as pride?

"Thank you Miss Reed. Precisely. Now my next question is directed to you Rowle." The Dark Lord turned to face the man who was gripping his wand tightly as he stared Lunaria down furiously. "Why is a sixteen year old more knowledgeable on Gringotts than a twenty-four year old that has been part of my army for several years now? Better yet, how is she more mature? More intellectual?"

"I-I-I-" Rowle stuttered out, turning back to face his Master with fear written across his face as clearly as can be.

"You-you- you, are an embarrassment to this cause." Flexing his hand he revealed his wand before uttering one of the unforgivables. "Crucio." Lunaria held back her flinch, only to hold back another flinch as Regulus Black held her hand in his under the table, not even glancing her way. Slowly she opened her hand slightly and linked her fingers with his - a rare moment of solidarity between two teenagers that were in over their heads. Glancing to her left she stared at his side profile, long enough to see the corner of his mouth twitch before turning back to see Rowle begin to foam at the mouth as blood poured from his eyes.

"Need I remind you all what happens when you disappoint me." The Dark Lord hissed as he released his hold on Rowle who remained a shaking mess as he crawled back up into his seat at the table. Lunaria would have felt pity but he had honestly asked for it.

"Those that will be partaking in the attacks on Diagon Alley will receive instructions at a later date. You are all dismissed. Regulus, Lunaria and Bellatrix stay in your seats." The Dark Lord finished his meeting as his followers bowed their heads and left the room swiftly. Regulus slowly let go of Lunaria's hand and she found herself missing the warmth that had enveloped her being. Shaking the thought out of her head she faced her Master. "Bellatrix go and feed Nagini. Regulus, Lunaria come here." Lunaria made to move, only to stop when she felt the chair move from underneath her. Looking up she saw Regulus pulling out her chair for her. Nodding her head in thanks, she joined his side and made her way over to the Dark Lord.

"Now, I am sure the two of you understand what an honour it is to have been selected for a private mission." Lunaria internally groaned, the Dark Lord didn't need anyone to stroke his ego, he did it enough himself. "The two of you will be working together on an intel mission whilst at Hogwarts. The goals are simple: listen out for any movements and plans of the Order as they are calling themselves. No detail is too minor, if you hear something you are to tell me. Secondly, I want you both to scout for new young recruits. Any of your peers that you believe would be essential to our mission. Of course I will look over your suggestions and decide myself but should the two of you have any serious candidates that have something to offer me I should be inclined to know." He finished.

"Of course My Lord." Regulus replied politely as Lunaria nodded her agreement. An easy first mission she thought. Although no part of her felt the urge to make anyone else suffer in the presence of the Red-Eyed man.

"I will contact you monthly for reports and like I have previously mentioned, when you are needed in my presence I will send for someone to collect you from Hogsmeade. That will be all. I have faith that you two will do great things." He finished, dismissing the pair as Lunaria curtsied slightly and Regulus dipped into a bow. They both turned to leave as Bellatrix skipped her way over to the Dark Lord. They'd almost made it out when Lunaria heard the Dark Lord mutter something about a cup to Bellatrix. Before Lunaria could hear any important details or eavesdrop further, Regulus closed the door leaving the two teenagers standing in his hallway.

Silence hung in the air between the two as Regulus opened and closed his mouth, as if wanting to say something but not finding the words. Lunaria couldn't stop herself from letting out a small chuckle, hidden behind her hand.

"Something funny, Reed?" Regulus huffed, unamused.

Letting herself have another second to collect herself, Lunaria lowered her hand and met his eyes, "Last names? Such a shame since we are going to be working together, you do have a rather common last name after all."

"Common?" He practically spat out in offence.

"Black. It's hardly rare. Neither's Reed. Ironic from "the most noble and pureblood houses" don't you think?" She pondered curiously. Boredom led to research, and it was true, their names weren't rare. "I believe the Black last name was ranked forty-fourth most popular with six-hundred and thirteen people having that last name back in 1975, just in Scotland. Not very rare if you ask me."

"Where did you get that statistic? And I didn't ask if I remember correctly?" Regulus asked curious, he knew in the wizarding world at least that his family were the only Blacks.

"A book from a muggle library. They document everything. And I mean everything." Lunaria replied as he held out his arm for her to link, which she did as he led her out of Grimmauld Place and out to the park across the street, a wizarding park hidden amongst the muggle park.

"You read muggle literature? And go to muggle libraries?" He asked, stunned at how she admitted it so openly.

"Of course. They're books. I don't care who they're written by, muggle, wizard, squib. Who cares? In the grand scheme of things it's really not that important." Lunaria shrugged. She'd long shaken off the belief that pure-bloods were better than anybody else. She just had a sneaky feeling that Regulus was coming to the same conclusion, or at least didn't fully believe in the cause.

"And you openly admit this? You still chose to side with the Dark Lord?"

"Do any of us have a choice?" She replied coyly, sitting on the edge of a fountain watching him closely.

"I suppose not. Do you- do you have any muggle books?" He asked shyly. Lunaria smiled genuinely, nodding in only a way a pureblood raised in society could.

"Of course. I'll bring some to Hogwarts with me tomorrow and you can read them. Don't worry, they're transfigured to look like the most heinous dark magic novels you'll ever see." She smirked. "Of course, this stays between us Black, despite having little choice in the trajectory of my life, I'd very much still like to be able to live it. Something I will not be able to do if other people find out about this little quirk of mine."

"Why tell me?"

"We're partners now. Got to start our trust somewhere don't we Black?" Lunaria shrugged, winking at him. In all honesty, she'd had a lie worked out for years, should anyone find out she indulged in muggle literature - to defeat one's enemy, one must know their enemy, in any and all capacity. Of course reading the likes of Pride and Prejudice and Dune weren't exactly helpful in understanding muggle but they weren't likely to ask her what she'd been reading. Of course being a natural Occlumens helped her though.

"Regulus." He replied with a small smile, cautiously meeting her eye.

"Sorry?"

"Call me Regulus."