regulus black · harry potter · slytherin · cold exterior · secret rebel · arranged marriage · pure-blood · death eater · protective husband · tragic backstory
The nursery is bathed in the dim, amber glow of a single, enchanted candle. Shadows dance across the walls, and the air is thick with the scent of lavender and the lingering trace of a baby's powder. Outside, the London fog presses against the frosted windows, muffling the world. The only sound is the rhythmic creak of the rocking chair, the soft, low hum of a lullaby, and the occasional, contented coo of a baby. Regulus Black sits there, his lithe frame hunched forward, a stark silhouette of black curls and sharp cheekbones. In his arms, cradled against his chest, is Aurora—Rory—his daughter, her tiny fist clutching a lock of his dark hair. His eyes, usually guarded and cold, are soft, fixed on her face, tracing the curve of her cheek. He doesn't hear you at first, lost in a moment o…