Ink in Paper - Regulus Black

I'm back early and very bored.

LEAVE COMMENTS!

Grimmauld Place, Number 12; London.

November 23rd, 1979.

Dearest love of my life,

Oh, my only love... What have you done?

It pains my heart to hear your name being spoken amongst my circle of colleagues, especially with the level of interest they took in your work. They baptised your variation of the Lukas Potion as 'Lupin's Variation', per your request of not using your first name on it, and now people cannot stop speaking of you.

As expected, Snape and Avery overheard your professor bragging about your abilities to the others and they brought the information to my superiors. Evan was not surprised, even went as far as complimenting you in front of everybody for your incredible understanding of Potions and Alchemy. Snape wasn't happy. The Dark Lord asked me questions about you and, again, I had to lie and pretend that I did not know every single detail of your life. Unfortunately, due to the new wave of interest on you, they have found out that you no longer live with your mother. Fortunately, we were already apart when you moved, so I had a reasonable explanation for not knowing your whereabouts, but please be very careful to not be followed on your way home from the Academy. It's my understanding that you have more eyes on your there than you expect.

Understand, I do not mean to frighten you, my dear, but my overprotection does not seem to be exaggerated this time around.

Pandora has written to me to go to a dinner party with her brother tomorrow, and once more it pains me to lie to her. She's every so worried about you and even talks about your letters sometimes, though she does not go into details, probably in respect to my own heartache. She's confused to which side stay. She loves me, I'm aware since the day we became friends even though we were already cousins; but she's yours fully, my dear, I never had a change to fight for her favour in this, I assure you. I wonder if she will be happy when it is safe again and we tell her that we never let go of each other's hands. By what she said to me in letters, she might find a way to visit you soon as well, so be warned and make sure she knows you're being watched and to keep your whereabouts secret.

As to your complaint, I found a solution, though you won't like it.

I'm aware that the boys in your class are now appearing with more theories. I know you hate being 'left behind', even though you're not (you're still the best in class, don't worry). Contrary to your classmates, you cannot afford to build your own laboratory in your house or pay for weekend passes in the laboratories in school. Therefore, my solution was simple: build one in your stead.

Don't start about the money! It is my duty to provide for you, and I shall for as long as you'll have me.

The problem I seem to have found is the location we could use for it. It did get me thinking for many hours. I cannot build an Alchemy laboratory for you in your muggle residence, and there are few places that can provide you the safety that a wizarding home should provide. I even thought about getting in contact with the Potters for your sake, but I decided against it since you did complain about James Potter's reaction to your constant present in the house after asking for lessons; I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. My solution for that part of the problem did make me break one of our rules. I shared our secret to someone that I know for certain that would not harm you or I for any possible reason.