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The highly tense, freezing conversation entirely with Mundungus Fletcher, who currently completely felt exactly like a highly pathetic, helpless fish pinned completely entirely on a bloody chopping block, was naturally, completely, entirely dominated completely by Regulus's flawless CEO tactics.
By the absolute time a highly steaming pot of hot lemon tea was completely finished between them, Regulus had absolutely already smoothly, highly aggressively discussed and secured several massive, "mutually beneficial" small political matters and highly classified, secure black-market contact channels completely with the terrified Mundungus.
As completely for the highly terrifying matter entirely of the illegal "Legilimency," Regulus highly strategically, mathematically completely didn't actively mention the massive mental breach entirely at all again. He completely left Mundungus, who was currently highly anxious and profoundly worried about his secrets, entirely with plenty of highly necessary, face-saving criminal dignity.
After all, mathematically speaking, there absolutely must logically be a highly strict, corporate limit completely to actively playing completely with people's terrified hearts before they violently break.
Finally, Regulus highly smoothly gave his older brother a highly specific, tactical look, and Sirius, who instantly, flawlessly understood the silent command immediately, casually returned the confiscated, dirty wand completely entirely back directly to its highly relieved original owner.
"Absolutely don't physically worry, Mr. Fletcher. Exactly as completely long as you strictly, highly obediently stick entirely completely to our new corporate agreement—" Regulus smiled brilliantly, his dark gaze actively looking incredibly, highly kind and grandfatherly, but it violently, mathematically made Mundungus secretly, heavily break entirely out in a massive, freezing cold sweat, "—then exactly what physically, magically happened entirely in this alley today will absolutely, permanently only ever legally be known completely to you and me."
"Thank you! Oh, sweet Merlin, absolutely thank you!"
Mundungus naturally, highly immediately completely understood Regulus's highly lethal, absolute political hint. He quickly, violently thanked the twelve-year-old boy repeatedly, his dirty face completely full of quite highly sincere, deeply pathetic, fawning criminal smiles.
Exactly after hastily, highly respectfully saying his goodbyes to the purebloods, he violently, hurriedly retreated completely backwards directly towards the ruined door completely while bowing frantically and pathetically exactly like a servant. As completely soon as he was physically entirely out of the abandoned shop, he violently spun completely around on his heel, and entirely with a loud, highly panicked 'POP', highly quickly Disapparated, completely disappearing entirely into the dark, freezing shadows completely of Knockturn Alley.
Leaving the three highly armed, highly amused Little Wizards completely entirely inside the dusty shop looking completely exactly at each other.
After a highly tense few absolute seconds completely of complete silence—
"Ha!" Sirius finally completely let highly out a massive, highly amused, barking Gryffindor laugh, lightly, happily pounding the wooden table entirely with his fist. The highly serious, suffocating, completely proper adult political atmosphere from just a moment ago was immediately, violently broken into pieces.
"Haha! Ahaha!" James simply violently hugged his stomach, laughing absolutely so incredibly hard he was physically completely bent entirely over the table, "Haha, mate! Regulus's highly specific 'battle plan' was absolutely entirely vastly too incredibly brilliant—violently scare the absolute bloody hell completely out of him first, then completely politically ignore the breach, it actually physically mathematically works so incredibly well?!"
"Haha—" Sirius was completely, highly physically infected entirely by James's roaring laughter and completely couldn't absolutely help entirely but violently burst completely into massive laughter himself. He vividly, highly highly thought entirely completely of Mundungus's incredibly frightened, highly pathetic, freezing appearance, and his aristocratic tone actually completely carried a highly slight, deeply moral hint completely of Gryffindor reluctance, "Wait. Are we mathematically actually physically being a highly tiny bit entirely vastly too much by aggressively doing this to adults?"
"Hahaha, completely vastly too much?! He absolutely, mathematically should legally completely be violently thanking us on his knees for his life!" Tears of pure, unadulterated laughter actually welled entirely completely up in James's hazel eyes.
Heh heh.
The freezing, highly productive first morning completely of 1974.
Truly, absolutely an incredibly beautiful, highly massive, flawless corporate start completely to the new year.
...
Highly rigid corporate plans are absolutely completely always entirely mathematically less highly adaptable than sudden, massive tactical changes. After completely safely delaying their return entirely in London completely for a highly specific few extra days, Regulus highly simply, strategically decided completely to actively legally stay entirely at Grimmauld Place completely for a highly little bit entirely longer, right up until the absolute very end completely of the holiday exactly before officially returning completely to school.
The massive, highly dangerous events that violently occurred entirely within completely just a few freezing days completely gave Regulus massive amounts of highly valuable new political insights—the absolute, mathematical rhythm completely of a person's life should absolutely entirely legally be highly controlled completely entirely by oneself. Blindly, violently rushing corporate expansion will absolutely only physically cause one to tragically miss many massive, highly precious tactical inspirations.
Now, he was completely absolutely no entirely longer highly physically in a massive hurry completely to actively return entirely to Hogwarts completely to mechanically finish the highly tedious "Cat Guardian" task assigned entirely completely by the system.
The absolutely completely highly happiest people entirely about this highly spontaneous decision were naturally, completely highly his parents and Kreacher, highly especially the devoted house-elf. Kreacher spent the absolute entire day highly aggressively preparing countless, incredibly delicious magical treats entirely in various complex ways—sweet, highly crisp cream cookies, first-class, highly expensive almond brittle, incredibly sweet but absolutely not entirely greasy blueberry cake... completely flawlessly paired entirely with the massive, heavy fragrance completely of fresh fruit and magical flowers, actively making the massive, dark drawing room completely of Grimmauld Place beautifully smell exactly entirely like a highly expensive, massive Parisian boutique pastry shop.
When Regulus highly casually, smoothly dug entirely out some highly ancient, massive scattered notes completely from a highly specific, forgotten certain ancestor completely from a highly dark corner entirely of the attic completely at home, and mathematically, flawlessly proved completely directly to Sirius entirely that Kreacher, who had completely absolutely been actively serving the Black Family completely for "who highly logically knows exactly how long," was actually mathematically completely already physically over exactly six hundred years old... Sirius was instantly, violently filled completely with massive, profound awe entirely for the ancient house-elf he had once been highly arrogant and dismissive of, and was now actively, significantly somewhat highly friendly towards.
Regulus completely actually even physically saw his older brother standing completely directly in the kitchens actively, highly politely asking the ancient house-elf completely for highly specific, lethal tactical tips completely on casting the explosive Blasting Curse—
After all, logically speaking, the highly experienced house-elf's chicken gravy mashed potatoes were absolutely completely always mathematically so incredibly smooth and perfectly soft, absolutely completely weren't they? While he, the brilliant Sirius Black, could absolutely at most violently turn hard potatoes completely into massive, exploding small pieces completely of highly uneven sizes with his wand. Kreacher completely just physically shook his heavy head when he highly disappointedly saw it.
During this highly relaxing time, Regulus highly casually, politically mentioned entirely directly to his father completely that he highly strongly wanted to legally, officially learn the highly dangerous "Apparition" spell early. Orion highly initially, politically safely said he would heavily "consider it."
Exactly two freezing days completely later, absolutely just exactly one single day completely exactly before Regulus was legally, officially scheduled entirely to physically return completely to school, Orion happily brought entirely completely back highly massive political news that greatly, profoundly surprised Regulus.
"A highly placed, powerful political friend completely of mine entirely at the Ministry of Magic highly successfully recommended a highly specific, senior colleague completely of his directly entirely to me. His exact name is Wilkie Twycross, an Official Apparition Instructor directly from the Department of Magical Transportation," Orion said highly proudly, pouring a drink. "In freezing February entirely of this exact year, he will officially, legally go completely directly to Hogwarts completely to highly strictly instruct the older sixth-year students completely in highly dangerous Apparition classes entirely for exactly twelve weeks."
He paused highly slightly, then highly smoothly continued, "I absolutely completely have actually already formally, highly politically spoken entirely to Mr. Twycross completely regarding your highly specific, advanced situation, Regulus. Although he was completely, highly profoundly physically surprised by your young age, he is absolutely completely still highly willing completely to legally, safely meet exactly with you entirely for a private physical assessment."
"Of absolute complete course, this will legally absolutely physically be a highly secure, private arrangement. Now... we absolutely, mathematically had completely vastly best highly keep an incredibly low political profile about this."
Orion's deep, freezing grey eyes stared incredibly, highly intensely exactly at his brilliant younger son, his tone completely serious and highly solemn: "As your strict father, I absolutely completely must mathematically heavily remind you—Apparition is absolutely, completely physically not a simple spell. Highly gruesome Splinching incredibly often violently occurs, and it completely absolutely can actually even mathematically be instantly fatal. You absolutely completely must highly obediently listen entirely completely to Mr. Twycross's expert medical judgment and absolutely, completely legally not actively physically attempt it highly rashly on your own."
What Orion absolutely completely didn't legally physically tell Regulus was entirely that completely in absolute order entirely to legally get the highly strict Mr. Twycross completely to safely agree completely to help a twelve-year-old, he had highly actively completely specially brought massive, incredibly valuable pureblood gifts and personally, highly politically heavily visited the Ministry of Magic.
"Thank you so much, Father!" Regulus happily stepped completely forward and highly warmly gave his completely usually highly taciturn but absolutely completely always silently, highly politically supportive father a highly firm, genuine hug.
Just exactly then, his highly strict mother, Walburga, gracefully walked entirely completely directly into the dark drawing room entirely with a massive, brilliant smile, and her physical appearance seemingly, beautifully instantly brightened the freezing air in the room.
It completely logically turned entirely out she had a highly sudden, massive physical idea and actively used a highly expensive, complex Potion completely to magically dye her dark hair a completely soft, highly beautifully glowing gold. Perfectly paired completely entirely with a stunning silver silk robe, at absolute first glance, she actually mathematically looked incredibly, highly very much exactly entirely like her disgraced niece Andromeda—except completely entirely for the massive, freezing noble air entirely in her aristocratic demeanor and her incredibly highly exquisitely, sharply contoured pureblood features.
"Orion, Regulus. Exactly how do you completely actively physically like my stunning new blonde hair?" Walburga asked highly gleefully, striking a pose.
Orion completely smiled highly warmly and politely nodded his approval.
"Incredibly, highly very beautiful, Mother!" Regulus flawlessly, corporately praised, "If we absolutely completely walked directly down the street entirely together, people would completely absolutely definitely highly mathematically think we were actually siblings!"
Walburga was completely, absolutely so highly successfully praised entirely that she physically beamed, constantly, highly vainly actively checking entirely her beautiful new hair color completely in the silver mirror.
Taking complete, highly tactical massive advantage entirely completely of his difficult mother's highly rare good mood, Regulus highly tentatively, politically carefully said:
"Mother, speaking of resemblances... Andromeda's young daughter Nymphadora is absolutely actually a highly rare, biological Metamorphmagus. She completely physically can highly magically actively change her entire physical appearance and hair color completely at will without any potions."
Hearing the disgraced Andromeda's highly forbidden name, Walburga's brilliant smile violently, instantly completely stiffened. Then she violently pursed her painted lips entirely tightly and violently said highly displeased:
"Exactly why on earth would you suddenly, highly offensively legally mention those filthy blood-traitors in this house. Exactly what completely mathematically about her filthy half-blood daughter—" She violently snorted completely coldly, her face twisting with pureblood disgust, "Exactly what completely legally does that half-breed completely actively have to do entirely with us?"
"Mother!" Regulus heavily frowned, his CEO tone hardening, "They absolutely are entirely also biologically, undeniably completely of ancient Black Family blood."
Walburga violently let highly out a massive, angry breath completely entirely through her nose. Actively seeing her highly silent husband violently shake his heavy head exactly at her to stop, and highly terrifiedly completely thinking entirely completely of the absolute, freezing strict instructions entirely from her terrifying great-grandfather Phineas Nigellus, she violently, completely forced entirely herself physically not entirely to violently aggressively argue entirely completely with her brilliant son.
Regulus completely heavily sighed highly inwardly—
There absolutely completely mathematically were highly no weak cowards entirely completely in the entire Noble House of Black. Even the highly seemingly completely otherworldly, hysterical housewife Walburga was absolutely actually a highly terrifyingly capable, highly lethal Witch. She absolutely completely could highly actually even actively cast highly complex, massive permanent sticking spells and dark wards completely that left entirely even highly powerful adult wizards like Sirius entirely and completely others absolutely utterly legally helpless.
But completely absolutely exactly on the highly sensitive political issue completely of pure Black Family blood purity, she was absolutely, undeniably extremely, pathologically stubborn, entirely physically showing absolutely no highly logical signs completely of ever politically yielding.
In absolute, mathematical corporate fact, the absolute entirely vastly more highly pathologically stubborn someone entirely is, the highly absolutely completely easier it mathematically physically is completely entirely for their highly massive, emotional weaknesses completely entirely to absolutely safely be highly aggressively exploited entirely and completely for them entirely to absolutely be easily legally deceived entirely and completely highly mathematically manipulated completely entirely with highly simple psychological tricks.
Aren't absolutely completely all highly successful corporate con artists completely literally just highly smoothly fabricating incredibly glorious false histories entirely and completely smoothly actively promising a highly massive, wonderful false future entirely to investors?
Since highly actively completely playing the emotional family card completely absolutely didn't legally work on her prejudice, he absolutely completely could mathematically legally only violently change his highly corporate political strategy—
He absolutely would highly aggressively, flawlessly beautifully paint the massive, corporate picture completely exactly for his highly own ambitious family!
In the highly shocked, dark eyes completely entirely of the pureblood Black couple, their brilliant younger son's aristocratic facial expression violently became incredibly, highly vastly more serious and terrifying than completely ever absolutely before:
"Mother. Listen to me very closely. Biological Metamorphmagi are absolutely, undeniably extremely, highly incredibly mathematically rare completely entirely in the entire Wizarding World. You completely absolutely might highly mathematically logically not even legally be able physically to find a massive, complete second one entirely completely in the entire United Kingdom. Such an incredibly, highly overpowered, massive biological ability is mathematically very, incredibly highly valuable entirely completely as a political and tactical asset to the survival of this family."
"Dora absolutely, physically has highly massive ancient Black Family blood completely flowing entirely in her veins," Regulus said incredibly highly calmly, his cold tone absolute, "Even if we highly arrogantly, violently actively physically completely shut her entirely completely out of our massive vaults, that absolutely, fundamentally mathematically won't change the biological reality."
"But—is it entirely absolutely actually our fault?" Walburga completely couldn't absolutely physically help entirely but violently say, defending her pride, "Clearly Andromeda highly arrogantly entirely completely made her very own, highly filthy choice, running away entirely completely with that filthy Mudb—"
"Mother!" Regulus violently, completely decisively highly aggressively interrupted his mother, highly deliberately, powerfully completely raising his CEO tone slightly to assert total dominance, "Haven't you completely mathematically physically actively noticed exactly what's happening? After these highly massive, terrifying turbulent political times we are entering, people's highly terrified hearts are absolutely actively politically stabilizing, and many highly massive, highly powerful Wizards completely are actively, aggressively entirely exploring entirely new, highly massive political directions completely entirely for the future of the magical world—the highly corrupt Ministry of Magic, the highly manipulative Dumbledore, and entirely that highly secretive, highly dangerous half-blood Riddle..."
Regulus highly deliberately, violently completely paused entirely completely for a highly tense, mathematical few heavy seconds, completely directly looking entirely highly intensely completely at his completely silent, highly calculating father.
Walburga's angry facial expression was completely a highly little bit entirely deeply bewildered by the massive political scope, and she completely couldn't absolutely physically help entirely but highly desperately turn entirely completely to her husband completely entirely for political support.
And Orion was completely, heavily frowning incredibly deeply, his aristocratic expression completely highly serious exactly as he stared completely intensely exactly at their brilliant younger son, seemingly highly completely actively thinking incredibly, mathematically hard completely entirely about something highly massive—
Finally, he completely, highly decisively nodded entirely completely exactly at Regulus.
Regulus highly completely flawlessly understood entirely completely that his highly intelligent father was absolutely completely mathematically currently on his political side.
Meeting absolutely both his highly attentive parents' dark gazes, Regulus highly flawlessly completely put entirely on his absolute most highly confident, highly completely absolute most resolute corporate CEO expression:
"Mother, Father. If we highly arrogantly entirely completely refuse to actively, politically physically participate entirely completely in building the highly new future, the violent future will absolutely, mathematically leave us completely, tragically entirely far completely behind in the ashes."
"The Noble House of Black completely mathematically absolutely cannot physically legally rely entirely solely completely on us arrogantly, highly passively entirely guarding past pureblood glory while others take power."
He completely looked directly, intensely exactly into his highly prejudiced mother's eyes, his young voice incredibly soft but highly, undeniably terrifyingly powerful:
"The Noble House of Black—should absolutely completely mathematically actively be deeply proud entirely completely of us!"