The Saturday morning Esme decided to post the letter was the coldest it had been in some time. Tightening her scarf around herself, she scaled the icy stairway up to the Owlery. Cold wind howled through the open building, whipping at Esme's exposed ankles. Her fingers trembled as they opened up the pocket of her coat, searching for the letter.

She hadn't slept the prior night. Instead, she had lain in the Ravenclaw common room, pouring over the letter and trying to figure out the best way to get everything out.

What had originally planned to be a short letter was now practically a short novel - detailing all of the events that had unfolded over the past months.

Andromeda had to know the facts if she was going to be able to help them.

And Andromeda had to help them.

Pulling the envelope out of her pocket, Esme's eyes scanned over the address scrawled on the back of it. Perhaps she should have consulted Regulus before sending the letter, but that would only waste more time.

Summer was drawing close faster than they'd expected and Esme knew it would take considerable time-consuming planning to be able to escape the clutches of the pureblood families and Regulus' initiation - particularly with the trace still on them.

She had to post the letter and it had to be today.

Esme thread a small piece of string through the hole punch in the letter and was approaching one of the owls perched on the shelves when she was nearly knocked off her feet.

Stumbling forward, she outstretched her arms to catch herself against the window frame. Something had knocked the wind right out of her.

"What is this?"

Turning around now, clutching her stomach as she planted, it dawned on Esme that she was no longer holding the letter.

Instead, she looked up and it was in Mulciber's tight grip.

"I don't recall your name being written on it, so I'd hazard a guess that it's none of your bloody business." She snapped sharply, taking a threatening step towards the boy.

Mulciber snorted, "Your parents should have taught you better manners. Then I might not be so inclined to read..." He trailed off as he looked down at the envelope.

Feeling a lump rise in her throat, Esme knew she had truly screwed herself this time.

"Andromeda Tonks? The blood traitor Andromeda Black?" The Slytherin boy looked up at her now, "What are you doing writing to her."

"You really think I'd tell you?" She spat venomously, lurching forward to snatch back the letter but Mulciber recoiled just out of reach.

He scoffed, "Well the others are on their way up, anyway. So you'll have fun explaining it to them."

"The others?" She frowned.

"Merlin, Avery, I thought you were meant to be smart." The boy chuckled smugly, tearing open the envelope.

"Stop!"

"Esmerelda?"

Looking at who had just walked into the Owlery, Esme decided she wanted the Earth to swallow her whole. It could not be possible for her to have much worse luck.

Rosier, Ignatius, and Regulus stood gathered in the doorway.

"Ignatius." She replied curtly, lips tightly pursed.

The older boy glanced between his sister and Mulciber. "What exactly is going on?"

Silence fell over the group for a moment, each other staring around at the others, hoping someone would speak up.

"Well?" Ignatius raised his eyebrows, "Mulciber, explain then."

"R-right." The boy stammered, "Your sister was going to send this."

He handed the envelope to Ignatius, the letter still tucked inside as he hadn't had chance to read it yet. That much Esme was grateful for. If they read what was in the letter, not only was she in trouble, but Regulus' life would be pretty much over.

"My sister. Is that some sort of accusation?" Ignatius quipped, snatching the letter and staring intently at the boy for a moment.

Mulciber's jaw opened but no words came out.

"Thought so." Ignatius muttered disapprovingly before looking down at the address scrawled on the paper. He recognised his sister's messy writing in an instant and felt a pit open in the bottom of his stomach.

Rosier narrowed his eyes, trying to peer over Ignatius' shoulder, "What does it say?" He inquired.

Esme's brother clenched his jaw tightly as he thought for a moment. He had to be very careful about how he handled the situation. Ignatius knew far too much and that meant the matter at hand was much more complicated than any of the others could begin to believe.

"Get out. The lot of you." Ignatius spoke up bluntly, running a hand through his hair as he tucked the letter into his robes, "This is my sister and none of your business. Leave."

"Avery-"

"What did I just say?"

Rosier and Mulciber looked at each other before deciding there was no way they'd dare to challenge Ignatius. The older Slytherin boy could make their lives living hell if he dared to. That much was for certain. Ignatius Avery was very much the golden boy within the society of pureblood supporting families and if he wanted to tear someone down, he could do it in a single conversation with the right person.

Regulus hovered behind for a moment, his eyes trained cautiously on Esme. He was desperate to know what was in the letter, and didn't feel entirely comfortable leaving the two siblings alone.

"You too, Black. This isn't any of your concern."

Esme knew all too well that couldn't have been further from the truth.

Regulus cocked his head to the side, "Do you not trust me?"

"This isn't the time for your nonsense, Black." Ignatius warned.

The younger boy folded his arms, "We're practically family. We know more about each other than our parents. I should know what this is about."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you already did." He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"What does that mean?" Regulus asked.

Esme spoke up, "Regulus, you should go. Ignatius is right."

Regulus scoffed, hurt slightly, "Ignatius is never right."

"Oi!"

She sighed softly, "Go on then. Read the sodding letter. It's not like you can't guess what it says."

Regulus' face fell as it dawned on him. Esme had suggesting contacting Andromeda Tonks for guidance on escaping their families ahead of Regulus' initiation. He hadn't entirely realised she might be serious. Let alone that Esme would write and send this letter without consulting him first.

Did she not realise this was his life she was affecting?

"You're damn right I can guess what this letter says." Ignatius lifted it out of his pocket and waved it in the air, "So you're going to tell me what the hell you're thinking. I'm not an idiot."

"Contrary to popular belief." Esme muttered with a slight smirk.

"Esmerelda!" Her brother snapped, "Have you lost your mind? You're bloody lucky I came up here when I did. If Mulciber had read this letter, it would be half way around the Slytherin common room by now."

"Mulciber would still be reading out Andromeda's name phonetically." Esme laughed slightly, aware that it wasn't the right time for her humour. Regulus caught her eye and flashed a small smile.

"You-you can't keep doing this." Ignatius massaged his temples and let out an uneven sigh.

She scoffed, "Keep doing what? Campaigning for my own life? Gee, brother, I'm sorry I have an identity and a future that I'd like to preserve."

"You do have a future. A future in our family, associated with the Dark Lord. If anyone... Anyone suspects you aren't loyal, that means you're a traitor. Esmerelda, that's death." Ignatius attempted to explain.

"She's not a traitor though." Regulus interrupted, stepping forward between the siblings, "Esme never asked to be apart of this. Her rebelling against your regime is your fault. She never signed up for this and has been against it since the very beginning."

Ignatius started pacing up and down, the letter still clutched tightly in his hand, "Black, you know full well that's not how this works. I know for a fact that you want out too. Don't deny it."

"What I want is irrelevant." Regulus spoke, facing the boy, "I'm stuck in this mess, and I have to live with that. If your sister wants out, then we have to give it to her. We owe Esme that much."

Ignatius was growing angry now, "I don't owe her anything! I can't put my neck on the line to cover for her recklessness! Esmerelda will get us all killed if she doesn't shut up and get in line."

"We owe Esme everything." Regulus spoke harshly now, his voice deepened as he finally caused Ignatius to stop and pay full attention to him, "After everything we've done. The hurt we've caused your sister over the years by abandoning her. How can you expect Esme to just roll over and get back in line? You wouldn't if it were you. If we can help Esme get out of this... This mess... Then we're one step closer to even beginning to deserve her forgiveness."

Esme felt as though her heart was tearing into a million pieces. She wanted to run to Regulus and tell him he didn't need to earn her forgiveness.

She wanted him to know how much she needed him.

"Black, I-"

"No. You're not your father, Ignatius." Regulus warned, his eyes darkening, "You don't have to trap people for the Dark Lord. If you won't help, then that's fine. But you leave your sister alone. Let me help her find an escape from our families without your interference, and we won't put you at risk again."

Ignatius glared over at his sister. Surprisingly, Esme was quiet. She didn't know quite what to do with herself. It was a rare feeling for the girl.

"You better pray Mulciber and Rosier don't tell anyone about this. If the Lestranges find out, they'll have all our heads." Ignatius warned one final time before shredding up the letter and shoving the remnants back in the pocket of his robes. With that, the boy turned on his heels and left, leaving Esme still stunned at what Regulus had said.

Regulus stepped forward now, "Esme... Is everything alright? I didn't mean to get into an argument with your brother."

"I just... No-I..." Esme stumbled over her words, not sure how to phrase what she really wanted to say.

He let out a slight laugh, "I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before."

Honestly, Esme had been finding herself increasingly speechless. She knew Regulus Black through and through, yet she was still caught off guard and surprised by his actions. It was no mere chance, the more she was around him, the more she was in awe.

"Regulus Black you're still an idiot, you know."

"Woah, what did I do now?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

She stepped towards him now, "I'm not going to give in to what you say anymore."

"I don't understand." Regulus frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you decided, for the both of us, that we need to prioritise effectiveness in escaping the Death Eaters" Esme explained, "You made that decision for me, and I won't stand for it."

"Esme, you've lost me here." The boy shook his head in confusion.

"Barely two weeks ago you practically admitting to liking me. Before you even let me have a choice, you put a stop to it." She pointed out clearly.

"Es..." Regulus sighed awkwardly, "There was no practically about it. I definitely did do that and I had to stop it. I had to be honest about what I was thinking, but our survival is more important than that. I want to be with you, all of the time. But that kind of... situation between us, opens up a weakness that anybody - the Death Eaters - can exploit if we're found not to be loyal to them."

"Reg, I've tried to hide my feelings and beliefs before. I pretend to be someone else to my parents. If I have to do that for the rest of my life, I'm not sure I'd want to survive."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... And you better not rub my nose in this down the line, but... I'm saying I want to be with you." She admitted, like a weight lifted off her shoulders, "I'd rather be happy with you right now, than miserable forever. Besides, I'm too stubborn to allow you to get away with wanting to distance yourself."

"Trust me, it was never a matter of wanting distance between us." He mumbled.

Esme raised an eyebrow and flashed her signature, cocky smirk which almost caused Regulus to roll his eyes as she replied, "Oh really?"

Regulus was caught completely off guard. He had fantasised about this for so long, and never had he imagined Esme seriously confessing feelings to him - and in the Owlery of all places. He half expected her to be mad at him for causing such a commotion with Ignatius.

Speaking of Ignatius.

"Woah, hold it right there! That's enough of that! Thank you very much."

Ignatius held his hands out, shielding his eyes as he walked blindly back into the room. Bumping into Regulus' shoulder slightly, he came to a stop and slowly opened one eye. Once happy that he wasn't going to be exposed to his sister kissing someone, he opened both eyes and relaxed his posture.

"Ignatius, what the hell-"

"Nobody is kissing anyone!" He exclaimed, waving his arms about, "Especially not my sister. Dude, that's just gross."

"I don't entirely remember inviting you to this." Regulus cocked an eyebrow in slight amusement, a little bit of him disappointed that this meant he couldn't be kissing Esme right now.

Esme scoffed and faced her brother, "You've made out with half the girls in Slytherin. Since when are you opposed to kissing?"

He retorted, "When it's got anything to do with you!"

"Sounds like good news to me." She shrugged, "It's a relief, if anything - my brother doesn't want to kiss me."

The three of them all glanced between each other, not entirely sure of where to proceed next.

"Esmerelda, you're my sister. Black is like a brother to me. This is weird and gross and I won't allow it. You're officially forbidden to ever touch each other, ever. I may allow occasional handshakes if necessary." Ignatius stated proudly.

Regulus snorted at this response. He was thoroughly entertained by how Ignatius could switch from threatening and intimidating to goofy and immature in a single moment.

"Ignatius, if you don't back off, I'll tell Regulus and the other Slytherins about that time a... Certain somebody was sick on Grandma at the Greengrass' wedding." Esme smirked mischievously as she warned the boy.

The colour drained from Ignatius' face as he slowly moved his gaze to where Regulus Black was covering a smile on his face with his hands.

"Oh, what was that? I-I think someone called my name. I should get going. Best of luck, sister." He stammered desperately before hurrying out of the Owlery once more.