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Chapter 1 Greetings Fair Damsels

Regulus Black fought to keep a delighted grin off his face and the gleam out of his eyes as another victim was exposed to his cunning jinx. He just couldn't resist, even with every staff member and prefect on the lookout for the perpetrator of this combination of Engorgio, Diffindo and thread rotting charm that had been cast on already shapely female students.

Regulus had been quite careful to cast it in crowded areas, where anyone could be a suspect. Although a simple combination of spells to shorten into a quickly cast silent jinx with just a twitch of his wand, third years were not really suspected. So many entered the school barely able to do magic, that it was thought that even those from noble magical houses were deficient.

It was also a great help that the heads of Ravenclaw, Prof. Flitwick, or Slytherin, Prof. Slughorn, denied that anyone from their houses would do such a thing. Regulus hadn't a clue why any red-blooded boy from Ravenclaw wouldn't want a glimpse of heaving breasts, but everyone knew how lazy Slughorn was. Much easier for him to deny everything until there was actual proof.

Unfortunately, all the girls were still defensively wearing their cloaks even though the summer holidays started in less than a week.

Regulus sighed with thoughts of nothing to look at for months. Perhaps another fascination charm on Sirius's mirror would keep him there long enough to starve to death this summer. Now that was something to look forward to, and wouldn't it serve him right for telling his family not to disturb him?

It's doubtful Regulus would be able to trick his mom into bursting into Sirius's room again. How was he supposed to know his brother was really tossing one off, like Regulus hinted? Having gotten that right, his parents believed Regulus's original story that with all the grunting and groaning that Sirius was yelling out "Oh James" during the night. That may be all right for some warlocks, but not in the most noble House of Black. Although there were ways around producing an heir with potions and spells, Orion and Walburga Black were firmly against either of their boys not marrying a witch from a distinguished family. Everyone knew that any other arrangement was a reflect the failure of the parents. Let's face it, no one was blasted off the Black family tree for that yet – unless 'marrying a muggle' was a term to cover up that little secret.

He was torn though. Regulus could look forward to his brother's threat to spend the holiday at Potter's. But if his brother was home at Grimmauld Place, dear Sirius would drive their parents mad while Regulus wouldn't have to put in much effort to appear as 'the good son' that his parents could be proud of.

Regulus entered the Slytherin common room comparing the indignity of bonding with another wizard or marrying a muggle. At least the muggle could have a pair of superb knockers.

Silence reigned with 5th and 7th years studying hard for OWLs and NEWTs. Other students were also studying, but the 5th and 7th years were downright nasty when it came to any noise or interruption. Regulus decided to get his books together to study in the common room. Flint may not have a face worth looking at, but she frequently sighed in a beautiful heaving manner while studying for her NEWTs.