All I want to do is fix my mistakes -- Early Winter 1997

I wondered if I had indeed found out who I was looking for.  I watched as a man sat on the front porch smoking and it seemed like he was grading some papers.  It was the dead of winter and I was surprised to see him outside.  I ould never had pegged him as a professor of any kind, not while he had been at Hogwarts anyways.  I started towards the porch, amazed that students listened to a man dressed such as he.  I tapped on the wood on the railing as I started up the steps.  "Remarkable that you have remained hidden all of these years, Regulus," I commented, looking at the teenaged boy who turned into quite teh young man.

I barely glanced up when I saw someone walking pu the steps but nearly blanched when I realized it was Professor Dumbledore walking up them, looking out of place in his robes.  Was he trying to blow our cover?  And how did he find us?  I stood up quickly and ushered him inside, the warmth rather welcoming.  "How did you find us?" I asked, my cigarette still loosely hanging between my lips.

I chortled slightly.  "Ah, Regulus, when did you start that nasty habit?" I asked him, shaking my head as I walked to sit in the living room.  I looked at the pictures he had hanging on the walls.  I saw he married Aimee Thoas.  Their children were quite a few years apart.  They all looked happy.  I turned around to see that Regulus ahd not followed.  "Or do you prefer Reese Williams these days?" I called back to him.

How did he know I had been Reese Williams?  I walked into my living room.  "Why are you here?" I asked him.

He was not up for pleasantries apparently.  "Your daughter and a friend of hers paid me a visit over the Chirstmas holiday," I said, looking at Regulus.

I stared at him.  "Lyn came to you?  In England?" I asked.  She never said... how dare she break rules that severely.  I had told her that it was so dangerous for her to go there despite her curiosity.

I smiled at him. "So her name is Ly," I noted.  "She used hte last name Williams so I was not sure if she used an alias as a first name as well."  I sat down on the couch and waited for him.

She was sneaky... but at least she was smart enough to use the last name I used in the Muggle university at which I taught.  "Wh are you here?" I repeated.  Saying Madelyn visited him was not a good enough reason for him to come hunt me down.

I looked at Regulus over the top o fmy half moon spectacles.  "Her friend was looking for his father," I stated, crossing my legs and folding my hands neatly.  "He had a locket with the crest of Slytherin on it, with a note from a man... R.A.B."

I just sat there staring at Professor Dumbledore.  What?  "I don't know what you're talking about," I told him.  How had that fallen into some kids' hands?

"Regulus Arcterus Black," I said softly.  I could tell that Regulus had no idea of the young man I was speaking of.  "You do know the locket, though.  I can tell you do."  I saw right through his facade.

I lit another cigarette.  "What exactly are you getting at, Professor?" I inquired.  But I had a feeling I knew.  That first year I was here I made horrible mistakes -- drinking a lot, smoking, drugs, sleeping around.  I had a hard time remembering what I did during that time.  Then I got clean, Aime and I found each other, adn the rest is history.

I softened my gaze as I looked at Regulu.  "I believe your son found me," I said simply, gauging his reaction.

"My son is two years old and knows who hi father is," I said slowly.  But then the memories I suppressed came to the surface.  The one person that helped me get past the darkest part of my life while in the States.  But then I ended things with her and left to start my life on my own.  I did not want to drag her down with me.  "Does he have a name?" He would have to have her last name... had to.

I looked at Regulus.  "His name is Ignatious Harper," I said, trying to see his reaction to the name.  It woudl tell me all I needed to know.