Hypatia and Regulus got redressed as quickly as they could, and if their eyes strayed each other more often than not, neither one was complaining. Regulus finished first and crossed the room to Hypatia, motioning for her to spin.

She turned and Regulus fixed her braids, some of which had come dislodged as they rolled around on the bed. He spun her back around, and kissed her. He pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, "Remember, this is your home now. You're Lady Potter-Black, the most powerful witch in all of Britain."

She smiled, her stomach swooping at his words. A thought occurred to her, and with a swish of her wand and a whispered spell she turned her dress black. The Malfoy's wouldn't respect her white dress, as silly of a distinction as it was. Regulus looked over his wife appreciatively.

"You look ravishing in black. This is going to drive me crazy until I can get you alone again."

Hypatia's confidence faltered. Was that a good thing? Maybe it was too distracting. She raised her wand, "I can change the color you want me to."

Regulus stilled her wand hand with a gentle touch, "Don't you dare."

Hypatia smiled at the look of want in his eyes, at the feeling of his strong hands gripping her waist.

"Alright then."

"Good girl. Now let's go."

Hypatia let out a deep breath as she took his arm. Regulus led her out of his room, and down the ancient staircase towards the library.

When they entered Remus was standing in the middle of the room looking harried. Sirius was sitting in his favorite armchair, drinking firewhiskey and glaring at Draco and Cissa as he twirled his wand in one hand. Dobby ignored them all and rushed up to Hypatia with a bright smile.

"Look I brings you the Malfoys! Your fella is telling me the dangers, but I not let them mark my boy. No I won't. I got them out without so much as a soul seeing, I did."

"That's very good Dobby, thank you."

"Is there anything else you be needing?"

"Dobby I don't know if you know, but I've broken with the Order. I won't be at Hogwarts anymore."

The small house elf gasped.

"If you'd like, you and Winky can come here, and work for us. We'll pay you and everything."

Dobby threw himself at Hypatia with a loud wail, "Really? Truly? The great lady is the greatest, most decent of witches. Always so kind. You not be regretting. I get Winky at once."

When Hypatia looked up she was surprised to see the fierce affection in Regulus' eyes. It was so intense that she could feel it pouring through their bond. Remus cleared his throat, and Hypatia remembered why they had come to the library in the first place. Regulus smiled easily at Cissa.

"Welcome back to Grimmauld Place cousin. I wish it was under better circumstances."

Draco looked like he was ready to faint. He looked even more pale than usual. Hypatia couldn't imagine what having someone like Voldemort in your home did to a person.

Cissa curtsied to Hypatia, and Regulus. "Thank you for your help. I...I find myself unsure what to say. It's been so long. We thought you were gone."

Regulus gave her a tight smile, "I nearly was, but for the help of my wife."

"Wife?" Cissa asked in shock, her eyes traveling between Regulus and Hypatia. Finally Draco seemed to come back to life, his eyes narrowing at Hypatia.

"You married Potter?!"

Regulus' eyes got that dangerous glint in them, and Draco hastened to correct himself.

"I mean...you married...LadyPotter....Black? Black-Potter?"

"Potter-Black has a nice ring to it, and yes, I married her. Or rather, she invoked a soul bond with me. I thought you would have seen it on the tapestry. It will be all over the papers by the morning."

"The tapestry has been covered since your disappearance," Cissa admitted. "It was too hard to see it, and be reminded of all that our family had lost. You were....are...so young."

Regulus had always been closest to Cissa. She was the youngest of her sisters, the softest. She wanted nothing more than to make her parents proud, to make them love her. She had lived her whole life in the pursuit of their approval. He doubted it had ever been enough.

Hypatia used her wand to bring forth two chairs. "Please sit. Remus, could you get them drinks?"

Remus nodded, happy to be of assistance in this incredibly awkward situation. He went to the bar cart in the corner and began a concoction.

"What does this mean now that you're back?" Cissa asked.

"It means you're safe. The title has transferred back to me, and Hypatia. You will be safe within the wards of Grimmauld Place. We have broken from The Order, and have a small group that will be working to end the Dark Lord."

Draco looked at him skeptically. It was taking him a while to get his brain around the concept that he was safe, that perhaps he could trust this man. Remus handed him a drink and he sniffed it once before taking a sip.

"That burns."

"Firewhiskey tends to do that," Regulus teased. "I hate to do this, but I have to because of your track record. I won't risk Hypatia's safety for anything."

"What?!" Draco asked tensley.

"He wants to use Legilimency on us," Cissa told him.

Draco shook his head. "Absolutely not. It's just-"

"I know the Dark Lord takes delight in rifling around in his followers' minds, but I do not. I'll be quick."

"Perhaps there's another option," Remus offered. He held up a vial. "Tonks gave me a vial before she left."

Hypatia gasped, "What is she? Some kind of potion dealer? For Merlin's sake. This stuff is supposed to be controlled."

Sirius finally broke his silence with a dramatic scoff, "She's an Auror, Fawn. Don't act like you didn't know the system was corrupt. They nearly kicked you out of Hogwarts for defending yourself from a dementor."

"Point taken."

"What did you call her?" Draco asked.

"Fawn, like a baby deer. Cause her dad was a deer. Get it?"

"Your dad was a deer?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Focus, children!" Regulus admonished, and silence fell over the room. "If you will agree to questioning under Veritaserum I see no need for Legilimency. I know it can be painful when overused."

Draco winced, and nodded. Hypatia wondered what exactly he had been subject to since the Dark Lord returned, and shuddered at the mere thought. Draco held out his glass and Remus administered the proper dosage.

"Your name?" Regulus asked.

"Heir Draco Lucius Malfoy."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"No."

"Do you wish to serve the Dark Lord?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"He's a monster."

"Do you pose a threat to my wife?"

"No."

"Why did you tease her so much?" Sirius threw out, unable to help himself.

"Everyone loves her, and she doesn't even try. I was jealous."

"Well that's embarrassing," Sirius chortled.

"Shut it brother."

Sirius laughed and sipped his drink as Regulus questioned Cissa. The questions and answers were much the same, but Regulus included one of her that he did not ask Draco. Hypatia listened carefully.

"I will protect you as well as I can, but there may come a day when you face your husband once again. So I ask you, where do your loyalties lie? To the Malfoy family, or to the Ancient & Noble House of Black?"

A tear slipped down her cheek, and Hypatia went to her side, offering her a handkerchief. She couldn't imagine being in this position.

"My loyalty is to the Ancient & Noble House of Black."

Hypatia could imagine all the reasons that went unsaid- because you saved my only son, because you actually care, because Lucius lost what little respect I had for him long ago. Merlin only knows what terror she endured.

Remus refilled their glasses, sans Veritaserum. Regulus took his seat, relaxing as cognition came back into his cousin's eyes. She wiped her tears with the handkerchief Hypatia had offered. Regulus looked at Draco piercingly. It was like looking at himself when he was younger, if he was pale and blonde.

"You really are safe here," he told Draco. "No one is going to hurt you. Except apparently the Weasley twins if you say a word against Miss Granger. Fair warning."

Draco blinked rapidly, looking around as if expecting the twins to burst forth from the bookshelves. "Are they staying here?"

"Miss Granger, her parents, and the Weasley twins will be joining us as soon as she's released from St. Mungo's."

"A mudblood? Regulus, really?" Cissa questioned.

Regulus stiffened as he looked at Hypatia. She stood to her feet and backed away towards her husband. Sirius jumped to the edge of his seat like it was Christmas. He was enjoying this far too much.

"Blood status does not matter in this home, Lady Malfoy. Hermoine is my sister in all but blood. Her parents are the kindest people I've ever met, and I won't let you disrespect them. They are under the protection of the Ancient & Noble House of Black."

Cissa looked at Hypatia appraisingly. She had to give her credit, she handled herself with all the gavitas of a Pureblood lady. Her eyes traveled to Regulus. He tilted his head to his wife with a particularly smug smirk. The message was clear. Regulus would back her on this. Her safety of herself and her son depended on her ability to play nice.

"I apologize, Lady Potter-Black," Cissa conceded, though it went against everything she had ever been taught. Draco gaped at his mother.

Hypatia sighed, "I know it's hard to unlearn something that you've been told your entire life, but I hope that you'll try. The Granger's really are the best of people. There are terrible Muggles, just like there are terrible wizards, but there are some that are good."

Cissa made herself give a stiff nod of acknowledgement. Regulus took Hypaita's hand and intertwined their fingers behind the full skirts of her dress. He had to touch her. He was hard pressed not to take her against the wall of the library.

Another time.

"You weren't able to bring anything," Hypatia noticed. "Perhaps you should come with us to Diagon Alley in the morning."

"You're going in public after the battle?" Draco asked in astonishment.

"We have family affairs to take care of," Regulus told him. "We'll go as soon as the shops open. It's likely the last time Hypatia will be able to go out so openly until I end this war. If you don't feel safe coming with us, compile a list, and we'll get anything you need."

Draco looked at Hypatia, waiting for her to argue. She had never once held her tongue that he knew of. Not even when Umbridge threatened to torture her. She notoriously disliked Pureblood men's posturing, but she stood happily next to Regulus, smiling at him.

"What did you do to her?"

A small smile took up residence on Regulus' face, "Nothing she didn't ask for, I assure you. You'll find that strong witches do not bow to the will of weak minded wizards."

Hypatia blushed and turned her face into Regulus' shoulder. Draco watched the interaction with absolute bewilderment.

"I'll never understand witches," he whispered as he shook his head.

Hypatia giggled, "I could have told you that in Third Year. You're hopeless."

Draco shrugged. He liked this softer version of Hypatia, no that she didn't have a right to be angry before. He knew he had been an absolute prat when they were growing up. He didn't quite understand where it all led until the Dark Lord was standing in his family's ballroom, aiming a Crucio at him for his fathers failures.

Hypatia seemed to understand that to an extent. She looked at Regulus, "Perhaps we should let them rest for a bit before dinner. That is if Dobby ever returns. Kreacher's still at St. Mungo's."

Dobby popped back in with a very rare sober Winky. "We back great lady."

Hypatia smiled at him, "Wonderful. Do you think you could help me whip up something for everyone for dinner?"

"You can't be doing that mistress! Is an elf's job!"

Hypatia narrowed her eyes at him, "How are you supposed to manage cooking for all these people?"

Dobby looked at her with fond pity, "I'm a house elf miss. I have magic."

"I be helping him Lady Potter-Black," Winky yelped. "It be no problem."

Hypatia kneeled down to look closer at Winky. Her eyes were clear and her speech wasn't slurred for the first time in months.

"Are you okay to work Winky?"

"If the great Lady will bond me to the Ancient & Noble House of Black, I will get better. Winky is feeling so sad and lonely without familial magic."

Hypatia looked over her shoulder at Regulus. He came to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. "She needs a mistress, Hypatia. She's suffering. You can bond her to us if you wish."

"How do I do that?"

"Take her hands, and I'll bond you. It's a simple spell."

Hypatia turned to look at Dobby, but he shook his head.

"Dobby likes being a free elf, but I still be serving you, if that's okay."

"That's perfectly fine Dobby. It's your choice."

Dobby beamed up at her like she hung the sun. She turned her attention back to Winky, and held out her hands. Winky took them, and Regulus worked the magic over them.

Sirius gulped down his drink, and left the library. His fun was properly ruined, and there promised to be no dinner for at least another hour. Remus followed him with a smile and a wave to Cissa.

Hypatia felt a slight shift in her magic, an awareness of Winky being added. When the magic settled she looked down at the elf, who looked the happiest she had ever seen her.

"Better Winky?"

The small house elf smiled tearily, "Much better Mistress."

"I'm glad. Now can you do something for me?"

"Of course!"

"I want you and Dobby to go to St. Mungo's and bring me back a report on my friends that are there. Then if it's not too much trouble, do you think you could make dinner?"

"Leave it to us Mistress," Dobby cheered.

He took Winky's hands and with a snap they were gone. Draco and Cissa had watched the whole interaction with wide eyes. They weren't cruel like Lucius was, but they also weren't overly kind to house elves. They'd certainly never seen a Pureblood Lady lower herself to the level of her servant.

"Would you like to see your rooms?" Hypatia asked. "They were being used by The Order, so we might have to move furniture around a bit. You're very welcome to make them your own."

Regulus let her lead the way. She knew these rooms better than he did, after his long disappearance. There was no telling what The Order had done to his home. He was glad to see how comfortable she was here, how easily she ran the house.

Draco and Cissa disappeared into their rooms, clearly grateful to have a space to rest quietly.