The next few days passed quickly. Hypatia dedicated herself to solidifying a decor scheme for the house, with the help of Cissa and Sirius, whom Remus tried to keep in line as much as he could.

Regulus was still trying to fill himself in on what he had missed in his long absence. There was so much to catch up on. On the third day after his trip to Diagon Alley he got a letter from Miss Amelia Bones.

"I've got good news brother."

All eyes turned to him except for Sirius. Even Hermione and Draco put down their cursory list of studies for the next year.

"What's that?" Sirius asked rather distractedly, picking at a fabric sample for curtains.

"I've got a provisionary acquittal here."

Sirius dropped the fabric sample in his hands, and stared at his brother with wide eyes.

"You don't," Sirius denied.

"Oh, I do. Miss Bones is prepared to offer you an acquittal because you didn't have a trial. All you have to do is come to the Ministry, and submit to a retrieval of your memories and questioning under Veritaserum."

Hypatia bounced excitedly on her tiptoes as she looked at Sirius. Sirius, on the other hand, looked like he might be in shock.

"How did you do this?" He rasped out.

"I'm Lord Black. I can do anything. That, and Miss Bones particularly dislikes Albus Dumbledore. We have an appointment later today."

Hypatia paused, her body tense. Regulus could feel it through their bond before he even looked at her. He knew where her mind was going. He kept his eyes on Sirius, pleased to see the hope on his face.

"You have two hours. Remus, please make sure he looks presentable."

"Got it," Remus confirmed.

Regulus held out his hand to Hypatia, and she took it. He led her out of the sitting room, and up to the library, where he closed the door behind them. A quick silencing and locking charm assured them privacy.

Hypatia's breath fled her lungs as Regulus pinned her against a bookshelf. He tugged on her hair harshly, baring her throat to him. He kissed, and bit, until there were bright pink bruises forming on her skin. When she tried to move her hips against him, he stilled her with rough hands.

"I can feel your panic, but I'll always come home to you, Hypatia."

Hypatia lowered her eyes, "You can't promise that Reg! There's too many variables."

Regulus hated the way she was feeling, the desperation so clear through their bond. He forced her to look back at him, his hand guiding her jaw. "I don't care if I have to bargain with Death himself, I will always find a way back to you."

His hands ghosted south, gripping harshly at her hips. Hypatia sucked in a breath as butterflies took flight in her stomach. One hand reached under her dress to rub taunting circles on her hip, as his other hand came to rest on the front of her throat, just barely applying pressure.

"You doubt my word? You think I'd leave you lonely?"

Hypatia didn't answer. She couldn't think straight. She was lost to the want rushing through her veins. Regulus tightened his hold just a bit, and her heart took off even faster.

"Answer me Hypatia."

"No, Daddy. Never."

Regulus smirked as he gave her throat one last squeeze, and removed his hand to ghost down her body. "That's right baby girl. No other man will ever get a chance to have you. You're mine. Every fucking inch of you belongs to me. Say it Hypatia."

"I belong to you."

She felt wetness flood her at the words, at the thought of being so thoroughly claimed in every way possible.

"That's right, and I take care of what's mine. I take care of everyone in this house, don't I?"

"Yes Daddy." Hypatia confirmed, her hands tugging at the line of his belt. Regulus looked at her fiercely, his eyes molten silver. "Please, Daddy. Fuck me before you leave. Remind me who I belong to?"

He didn't answer her, he merely whispered the conception charm as he looked into her brilliant green eyes. She was goading him, he knew that, but it was too tempting to resist. Her excitement was flooding his mind. Regulus trailed a hand down, and Hypatia shivered as his thumb stroked over her already soaking wet clit.

"You're not wearing underwear?" Regulus asked.

Hypatia smiled with all the force of a demon. Regulus groaned. She was wearing a tiny pale blue sundress dress. Her tan skin was everywhere, and the knowledge that he could have taken her easily at any point this morning, was driving him insane.

"Hands up, Princess."

She complied easily. In mere seconds Regulus had his tie around her wrists. With a whispered charm she changed the colors so it was Slytherin green. Regulus kissed her hard, impressed by her wandless magic. She had been practicing.

He unbuckled his belt, and Hypatia moaned appreciatively at the sound of leather against metal. It was music to her ears. When the head of his penis nudged her clit, her head lulled back and hit the bookcase behind her. She moved her hips in an attempt to get what she wanted.

"Patience, love. You're playing by my rules today. You doubted me, and now you have to pay the price."

Hypatia played along, suspended in a state of excited anticipation. He ran his cock along her folds, and everytime he came near her core, he'd press in the slightest bit before he pulled away. She nearly sobbed with want as Regulus smirked at her.

"You Gryffindor's are so ruled by your emotions," he teased as he pressed against her entrance again. Hypatia's breath caught. Just when she thought he might give in, he pulled away again, and sucked a breast into his mouth. She was sure if he actually pushed all the way in, she might cum on the spot.

"Daddy please," she pleaded.

"Oh no," Regulus sighed against her breast. "This hurts me too. You know Daddy wants to give you everything you want, but you just don't listen. I told you I'd always come back to you the last time I left the house. Didn't I?"

"You did," Hypatia admitted weepily, desperate for release.

"Do you believe me?" He asked as he looked into her eyes. "The truth."

Hypatia tried to focus. It was hard with all the endorphins rushing through her veins.

"I believe you."

"Good girl."

Finally, finally, finally he sank into her warmth, and all Hypatia could do was moan. She instantly clenched around him. The anticipation had been too much. Regulus let her ride out her first orgasm as he held her. When her eyes refocused on him he began to move slowly.

She breathed out his name like a prayer as he moved slowly, enjoying the tortured look when he drew out, and paused to see her face, before thrusting back in. He released her hands after only a few minutes. He needed to feel her hands on him, to feel her nails dig into his shoulders, and mark his back.

Nothing in the world beat the way she curled around him and whispered "Daddy" when he thrusted in. Like she never wanted him to leave. The slow push-pull was heavenly, and Regulus was near his breaking point.

"Tell me what you need Hypatia. I'm so close, but I need you to cum again. Anything, and it's yours."

The words that Hypatia had been biting back for days finally fell from her lips.

"Hurt me."

Regulus raised a brow at her in question, and she nodded. She had been hurt her whole life. In Quidditch games, by Voldemort, by her guardians.

Somewhere along the way it became an integral part of who she was. She didn't know why she needed it, or how she knew, but she did. Regulus didn't pause his movements as he thought.

"How much?"

"Just a little."

Regulus grabbed his wand from the shelf behind Hypatia, "A cut?"

Hypatia nodded her head at the thought of her tan skin marred by blood, of Regulus cutting her skin. There was something Dark and possessive about it.

It echoed the way she had summoned him, her, in this very library. He pointed his wand at her ribcage, and waited for her to respond as he continued the thrust of his hips.

"Please."

Regulus cut her ribcage shallowly, just enough to bleed. He watched as the brilliant crimson welled up and ran down her ribcage, onto the fabric of her bunched up sundress. The slight sting sent Hypatia over the edge. She clenched around him, her second orgasm sweeping her away as Regulus continued to move inside of her. She bit down on his shoulder as she came, pulling him with her.

Regulus stumbled back into a chair eventually, bringing Hypatia with him to sit on his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her sides. He looked down at his left hand, still gripping his wand, her blood coating both. He healed the cut, but left her blood on their bodies. She had asked for it.

Hypatia lifted her head, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Was that too weird?"

"No," Regulus assured her. "That was hot. Very hot."

"It felt so good," she whispered shyly.

"A little pain can make the pleasure more intense. You leave marks all over my back and shoulders with your nails. That's not exactly pain free."

"I hadn't thought of that," Hypatia admitted.

"Neither of us are saints," Regulus chuckled. "We're both used to pain. I don't think there's anything wrong with it as long as we're careful, and communicate. We should have a safe word."

"What's a safe word?" Hypatia asked.

"A word we say if things get to be too much. If we want to stop. That way things don't get out of hand. Especially since you like me to be in control."

Hypatia hummed and put her head back on Regulus' shoulder.

"Chamber," she suggested.

Regulus smiled and pressed a kiss to her hair, "That's perfect. Do you want to join me for a bath before Sirius and I go to the Ministry?"

Hypatia laced her arms around his neck, "Of course I do."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Regulus pressed a kiss to Hypatia's shoulder as he zipped her into a black dress.

"How are you feeling?"

"Thoroughly satisfied," she chuckled. "Why?"

"You were worried before. I could feel it through the bond."

Hypatia sighed as she turned to face him. She stroked his black hair gently, and brushed her fingertips over his shoulders.

"I think I might always be worried when we're apart. At least a little. Especially while Voldemort still lives. I've never had someone who loved me as much as you do."

"I know the feeling," Regulus acknowledged.

"Reg, if anyone dared to touch you, I don't know what I might do. Well...maybe I do. That's why it's so scary."

"You are Lady Potter-Black, and should anyone ever best me, you know what to do."

Hypatia smiled brilliantly. She knew she was understood. If anyone hurt her husband, she'd rain down hell on them until they begged for the mercy of a quick death. Which she would not deign to grant to them. Knowing Hermione, she'd be right at her side, leading the fight.

"We better get going, love."

They headed for the door, and Regulus led her down the steps. "What will you do while we're gone?"

"I promised Hermione and Draco I'd add my two cents to their ideas for next year's curriculum. They're determined to reach an accord by the end of the week so they can have time to order books and supplies."

"They do know they don't have to start when Hogwarts starts right? You can do whatever you want."

Hermione joined them as she left her room with the twins trailing behind her. "No we can't! I won't get behind, Regulus!"

"I apologize," Regulus corrected himself. "I was clearly mistaken."

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Tonks met them as they exited the grate at the Ministry, with Kingsley by her side, to make sure they made it safely to Miss Bone's office.

"Isn't this a conflict of interest?" Regulus asked Tonks.

"I turned in my resignation this morning, so no. Protecting the family is now my full time job."

Regulus smiled brilliantly, as did Sirius.

"I'm glad. I'll owl Gringotts to make sure you get paid more than whatever pittance the Ministry was surely paying you."

Tonks winked at Regulus. "I appreciate that. Children are expensive after all."

"Are you pregnant?!" Sirius practically screeched.

Regulus glared at him and he quelled with an apologetic grimace as they entered a lift. Kingsley shut the door and pressed the button for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where Miss Bones was Director.

"I'm not pregnant, Siri, but I'd like to be someday soon."

"So your relationship's out of the bag?" Regulus asked.

"Kings is more observant than the average Auror," Tonks told him. "The general public doesn't know. Though with Sirius' screeching, there are sure to be rumors of something by the end of the day."

"And you?" Regulus asked. "Are you still an Auror, or shall I owl Gringotts about paying you too?"

Kingsley smirked, "I remember you. You were always cocky. I'm still an Auror, for the time being. Just trying to help an old friend get justice."

Sirius patted his back, "I appreciate that buddy."

Kingsley sighed, "Too much of our generation is gone. I don't blame any of you for wanting to protect Lady Potter-Black. She's a special person. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you."

Regulus pocketed that offer in the back of his mind as they left the lift. He saw people's eyes widen as they looked at him and Sirius. He couldn't blame them. The Black brothers were practically infamous.

He had to give credit to Remus, his brother looked every bit the Pureblood today. Remus had stuffed him into dress robes that made him look particularly dignified, and not at all like an Azkaban escapee.

"Lord Potter-Black, welcome!"

Miss Bones was a serious looking woman with honey blonde hair, and focused brown eyes. She took Regulus' hand in hers and shook it.

"Please, come into my office."

Tonks and Kinglsey waited outside the office, forbidding interference. She waved them into chairs that Sirius took jauntily. Amelia shifted papers on her desk as she looked for the proper form.

"I have to admit I'm surprised you were able to get this done so easily."

Her eyes snapped up to Regulus. "Easy? Is that how I made it seem? Well I suppose it was easy, compared to other things. Mostly it was me being sneaky. There's actually quite a bit of laws about a right to trial, but in the panic of the war, things went horribly wrong. If Dumbledore realized what I was doing, he'd be beating down my door. Thank Merlin the old coot hasn't caught a word."

"So you push through this acquittal...and then what? Will you face repercussions?"

Amelia shrugged, "Legally there's nothing they can do to me, but you know how they are. If they want to fire me, they'll find another reason. It doesn't matter. Susan and I are set up. My sister, her mother, left us quite a bit of money. I've never touched it, but if I had to, to keep her safe, I would."

"You could always come work for us," Regulus offered.

"What, are you putting together a company?" Sirius scoffed.

"The family used to employ lots of wizards and witches under Uncle Alphard, if you remember correctly."

Sirius shrugged, "I never did pay much attention to the family business."

"And that's why the family magic chose me as Lord Black."

Amelia watched their banter with amusement. Regulus chose to ignore the way Sirius rolled his eyes and crossed his arms like a child. They could fight all day.

"Back to the point, I believe we have memories to watch, and questions to answer."

Amelia shook her head to refocus her thoughts, "Right. Right. Of course."

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sirius signed on the dotted line several hours later. They glowed bright gold, signifying that they had been automatically accepted by the Ministry's internal system. Amelia stood to her feet, and sent the paper copy of the forms off with a flick of her wand.

"Well you're a free man, Mister Black. What will you do with your freedom?"

Sirius' eyes practically twinkled for a moment.

"I'll protect my Goddaughter, and once this war is over, I'll take a nice long trip with Remus. Maybe we'll get married somewhere fun and exotic, with very little clothes. Merlin, all those werewolf muscles..."

Regulus clasped his hand on his brother's shoulder, gripping a little harder than strictly necessary to jolt him out of his daydream. Sirius jolted as an apologetic grin overtook his face.

"Sorry about that Miss Bones."

"No worries, Mister Black. I'm sure it's a relief. Now go on, and be on your best behavior. I'd hate to see you back here anytime soon."