InsaneJournal

FIC: Putting Out Fires (with Gasoline) - Part II
Title: Putting Out Fires (with Gasoline)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius/Snape, James/Lily, Lucius/Regulus (secondary and implied pairings Regulus/Remus, Sirius/James, Bellatrix/Rodolphus, hints of James/Regulus)
Rating: Porn
Summary: Three stories from the same night in the same city. Just your average sci-fi cyberpunk porn with psychics.
Warnings: prostitution, coercion, outdoors sex, voyeurism, mindfucks, facial, het and slash – I think those are the main ones. Oh yes, and AU
Notes: Many thanks to greenspine for the read-through and everyone on my f'list who has been so encouraging and supportive every time I've mentioned the 'cyberpunk porn' fic to the. Inspiration for this was pulled liberally from many sources but most of all from the movie, Bladerunner.


Part I
They reach the surface in time to see the lightshow in the sky, purple and green waves of energy. They're not quite out of the compound when the building goes boom. The force of the explosion knocks them both flat. Clouds of dust shoot out and up from the blast. Coughing and spluttering, James and Lily drag each other further away from the falling debris, into the shelter of an abandoned, sagging holo-ad board.

"Be a bugger sorting out those records," says Lily, huddling close to James.

"Hope they've got it all on hard copy."

A siren starts up somewhere close and they both know they should move, should get out of the sector, disappear into the network. There's no point Kingsley falsifying timestamps for them, putting them in a club across the other side of the city if they're just going to sit in the rubble and watch the fireworks.

But there's nothing like destroying a building, fouling up an evil megalomaniac's corporation and almost dying in the process to make sex seem like the best invention ever. Lily thinks James's hand wandering up her thigh is not so much because he's psychic as that he's a smart boy with the right idea.

"They're going to be so pissed," he says and she can hear the grin in his voice.

She rubs the heel of her hand over the front of James's trousers. His breath goes shallow and hard and she smiles to herself.

"I don’t care. They can be stark raving furious and I won't care. Just so long as you fuck me. Right now."

"Fucking on the site of the building we've just blown up? That's adding insult to injury, isn't it?"

It may well be but Lily's pleased to note it doesn't stop James from pulling her round to straddle his lap. There are shadows beneath his eyes and his lip's split from the fall. But he's looking at her with an expression like awe.

She drapes her arms about his neck and raises an eyebrow.

"What do you see then?"

He ducks his head to nuzzle at her collarbone. Her head falls back on instinct so that his mouth can reach whatever inch of her skin it wants. On her knees on the ground isn't exactly comfortable, and there's a tangle of old implant wire digging into her leg, but his hands are on her hips and they're so close it's almost an embrace.

"I see right inside your head."

"And?" she prompts.

His mouth is moving lower and she has to direct her question to the shaggy red and black mop of his hair. The touch of his lips to the swell of her breast makes her wish she hadn't bothered with clothing at all. It's all sucking and licking, tasting the sweat and ash on her skin, but she needs more.

"It's filthy," James tells her.

Her laugh's cut off by the scrape of his teeth along the neckline of her dress. The fabric gets in the way and she struggles to wriggle the straps of the dress down her shoulders. James takes shameless advantage, kissing her arms and elbows as she stretches.

It's not comfortable having her breasts propped up on folds of clingy, stretchy fabric, but she's willing to put up with it when James flicks one of her nipples with his thumb then leans in to suckle greedily. His palm is flat against the bare skin of her back, pulling her close, and his hair tickles her collarbone. She cradles his head, urging him to bury his face in the curves of her breasts.

"Fuck…"

His whisper flutters over her skin and she can't stop shivering, even as her body's burning up. She's bucking her hips desperately, feeling the hot wetness between her legs grow more intense while James seems determined to drive her mad with nothing but his mouth.

"Not enough," she tells him in a slurred voice, barely audible over the wailing of the siren. "Need more. You promised."

It's sheer want that makes her wriggle her legs wider apart when James's hand slips up under the hem of her dress. He squeezes the firm line of her thigh and she whimpers, needing his touch higher, deeper. His lips keep mouthing kisses over her breasts until her nipples are aching.

"Want you so much."

Then fuck me. She can't manage the words, not when one of his fingers is sliding between her legs and stroking along the edge of her cunt, trailing her own dampness back over her skin. But she thinks them so loudly they make him arch beneath her. She's tempted to clench her legs together and trap his hand right there, to rub and push until his fingers have to slip up inside her and she can fuck herself out on them.

The only thing that stops her from doing just that is that she knows she deserves more, and that she can have more.

"James. I love you. Now for God's sake, get your cock in me."

It's the kind of thing she'll feel slutty for saying later yet it's honest and she can be honest with James because there's no point lying to someone who sees you inside out. Best of all, it gets her what she wants. She's barely up to balancing herself on James's lap without his hands on her and it doesn't help that he seems reluctant to let a second pass without his mouth being in contact with her but she manages it somehow.

He fumbles between their bodies and she rolls her head back to taste the destruction of the tech-lab in the air. It's all smoke and fire, and then the sudden sensation of James's cock directly between her legs. Lily jerks forward urgently and she feels the damp head of it bump against the crease of her thigh. She can smell sex, her and James in the middle of all this chaos. It would be too like Sirius to start laughing now but it's tempting to do it anyway.

It seems to take too long and Lily can't help her frantic, whimpering gasps. James growls and gathers her close, his body slamming up into hers and she suddenly can't see straight. Then it's all just perfect because he's pulling her down onto his cock and she sinks onto it and forgets everything else.

It was only two days but I thought I was going to go mad without you.

She doesn't know which of them thinks it, only that their fucking becomes less fierce, less inclined to pay attention to the debris that's falling about them, to the wreathing smoke and the screaming approach of Law Enforcement copters.

Lily rises and falls on James's cock while he holds her, kisses her mouth, her neck, her breasts. With a gentleness few would think him capable of, James unwraps the coil of her hair and pulls it free about her bare shoulders. His fingers tangle into it and she leans her face towards his hand, brushing his knuckles with her cheek.

The fingertips of his other hand at her clit, smoothing along her cunt as his cock thrusts up into her body, means that she doesn't long any longer than he does. They cling to one another and he groans against her lips, using a kiss to keep himself quiet when he comes.

There's no chance for an afterglow. The smoke and dust is being swept away by the blades of the copters in the sky and James's come is still dribbling down her thighs as Lily tugs her dress back into place. It's almost too late when they finally stagger away from the site.

A spiral of searchlights roams over the litter-strewn wasteland of what's left of the tech-lab and James and Lily have no choice but to duck away into the shadows. Research before the expedition allows Lily to locate an old evacuation route from back when the city was in the grip of the Wasting Sickness. The tunnel reeks of decomposition but it's safe and gives them both a chance to catch their breath.

"You asked me what I saw, when I looked at you," James says suddenly.

Lily looks at him. It seems such a long time ago they had that conversation. But James's expression is serious and she touches his face in mute reassurance of whatever the problem is.

"I can't read you," he says. "I mean, I can. But there's something else there. Ever since I got back, you're… it's like a different frequency."

She's worried for all of a second and then she remembers the pointlessness of keeping secrets from a psychic.

"Oh," she says. "You're probably getting a little interference from the baby."

James is still and silent for a moment then gives a dazed nod.

"Oh. Well. That'll be what that is then."

It's a whole five minutes, halfway down the evacuation pipe and one pile of gnawed at human bones later, that James gathers his senses enough to grab her and kiss her again.

***
Slow Burn

"Such a shame you're wearing white," says Bella, plucking the petals off a poppy and letting them fall like drops of blood from her fingertips to the floor. "You're going to the city tonight. Your suit will be ruined."

Lucius shrugs. The room is made of mirror and he can see himself from every angle; he looks immaculate and pale, clean. The perfect public spokesman for the corporation. Who better to give the message of a better life with Voldemort Technologies than someone who looks to come from that better life?

The downside of the mirrors is the purpose of them: there is no chance of avoiding eye contact. Offering one's open gaze to a psychic like Bellatrix is the equivalent of letting her hold a knife to one's throat. He can see Bella's reflections just as she can see his. She's watching and smiling and making no attempt to hide her disdain from him.

"I'll buy a new one," Lucius says.

"Cissy likes that one."

Lucius refrains from mentioning that Rodolphus spent a small fortune on acquiring a real flower for his wife, which she is now pulling to pieces, because not only is it vulgar to mention money but he's fairly sure Bellatrix is deep enough inside his head to hear him think it.

"What's in the city?" he asks at last.

"You're going to be. With Regulus."

"Ah."

There's a tightness about Bella's small mouth. Another petal flashes to the floor. It's obvious she hates this plan now as much as she hated it when it was first decided upon. That's why she's the one who's been given the task of giving this message to Lucius. There is no room in the program for disobedience, and barely enough for disapproval.

"Take him out, get it done and then bring him back here. He's to be brought to the Core tonight."

It's all about bloodlines. Regulus is talented certainly, exquisitely tenacious when dissecting a mind, but he's young and he has not demonstrated the same level of enthusiasm as his peers, such as Rabastan or Barty. It's because he's Bella's precious baby, Walburga's only heir, that he's being allowed to enter the Core.

Somehow, he doubts Regulus is all that grateful.

*

Regulus is unnaturally still in his seat; one only has to move very slightly for the car's leather interior to creak a little but there's not a sound from his direction. He doesn't stare out of the mirrored windows at the wildlife beyond the compound of The Chamber. He doesn't look back at Lucius though he has to be conscious of the fact Lucius hasn't taken his eyes off him since he collected him.

The car passes through the last of the security gates and flashes of orange and white light move over them as they're scanned. Lucius waits for the faint beeps and humming to fall silent then wordlessly informs his driver of their destination.

Even here, in the most affluent part of the city where council-crews are on a regular shift to spray-clean the dust from the streets and holo-ads are for cyber-retreats and shopping plazas instead of sex-bars and debt-management, Lucius's car is still given many longing looks. It moves silent and sleek down the street, all mirrors and white paintwork.

Before long the dust moves back in, like a shifting cloud of smog in the air. The pole lights that illuminate the city become less frequent. Things move in the shadows, among the litter, and there's the first sign of life from Regulus.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to see one of your brother's friends."

Regulus's spine snaps straight and his eyes slam shut. It's a curious thing to do because Lucius had no intention of reading him but now he can't help but wonder what he'd find if he did, what Regulus is so unwilling to show him.

"Which one?"

There's nothing in Regulus's voice either, nothing but a forced blankness, and Lucius toys with the idea of laying hands on the boy and seeing what he can drag out of his mind by force.

"Lupin."

Regulus's eyes flare back open in surprise. He opens his mouth to speak then closes it again firmly when Lucius gives him a condescendingly soothing smile.

"Not to worry, the Rage won't hit him until next week. This won't be a trip to the zoo."

When Lucius looks at Regulus, he sees how Sirius used to be, before his chip malfunctioned so badly. He sees the same pretty poutiness, sulky little twist of his lips, and something less easily definable in his eyes. Such a shame about Sirius. Lucius genuinely hopes Regulus won't go the same way. He considers the dark flutter of Regulus's eyelashes and the sweep of black hair about the nape of Regulus's neck. It would be such a loss.

Of course, the possibility of Regulus dropping through the cracks makes him appear more delicate, more elusive. Like Bella's poppy. It prompts Lucius to consider the potential of the plan and how he can best turn it to his own purposes.

He keeps his gave averted and non-threatening, watching the neon glow of bars and brothels blink like fog lights through the dust.

"Aren't you going to ask why we're going to see him?"

Regulus gives a jerky shrug but Lucius picks up on his jolt of anxiety.

"I thought you'd tell me when we got there."

When Lucius reaches out and catches hold of his chin, tilting his face towards him and offering him wide eyes, Regulus doesn't resist. However, he doesn't entirely meet Lucius's gaze. His skin is oddly cool, the mere touch of him refreshing to Lucius.

"And have Bellatrix boil every synapse in my brain for sending you in unprepared?"

It has the desired effect: Regulus is both alarmed at the suggestion that he has a task ahead of him and grateful for the reassurance that Lucius is offering him. He wets his lips and Lucius can hear the sound of his mouth. He's so close it's a wonder he doesn't pick up on Lucius's desire to kiss him.

"What do I have to do?"

Lucius smoothes the pad of his thumb along Regulus's jawline. He keeps his voice calm and level, the same hushed tone he uses for particularly momentous public broadcasts; it's amazing how far tone will go to allaying the populace's fears about chip-registration.

"Peter Pettigrew has accepted a position within the corporation. All very hush-hush. Naturally, his friends aren't going to understand his decision so we think a little redirection is in order. To be blunt, Regulus, we need it to be impossible for Remus Lupin to ever look his friends in the eye again. Not without the risk of them seeing him engaged in some rather dubious activities with someone of whom they won't approve."

He can see Regulus processing what's been said, extracting the meaning from the soft-talk. His jaw clenches a little.

"Why me?"

This is a question that has not been satisfactorily resolved as far as Lucius is concerned. He has a feeling that something knows a good deal more about Regulus and his interaction with his brother and his brother's friends than Lucius is aware of. It's never wise to reveal ignorance however so he simply gives him the same answer that was given to him when he asked.

"It's felt that the discovery of an encounter between you and Remus Lupin will have a significant effect on Sirius and his friends. Besides, Lupin has demonstrated his rather pathetic attachment to your brother on more than one occasion, and I know you hate it to be said, but you do look remarkably like him."

Regulus jerks his face away from Lucius's touch and Lucius immediately releases him. He seems intent on going back to playing the sculpture so Lucius gives him a moment to seethe and then touches his thigh lightly.

"Regulus, forgive me, but I did promise your cousin I'd make sure you were adequately prepared for this."

The bewildered expression on Regulus's face is very appealing and Lucius struggles to keep his thoughts tightly in his grasp before he can be read and the lie be discovered. A flush suddenly rushes Regulus's cheeks, the first heat Lucius has seen in him all night.

"Bella wants you to…?"

"We're aware that you don't have much… ah… experience in such matters. Just as it should be. More important than ensuring you are able to convincingly bring Lupin in hand, so to speak, is your own personal welfare. The man's little more than an animal, so far devolved that he barely counts as human. Your cousin and I would both hate to think that you were forced into such an encounter with no preparation whatsoever."

Regulus's jaw is now so tightly clenched it's quivering. Lucius doesn't know whether it's rage or nerves that's doing it. It's one of the reasons he's so intrigued by the Blacks, they're so difficult to read unless they invite you in.

"You're proposing that in order to seduce Lupin most effectively, I allow you to fuck me first? That sounds very reasonable, Lucius. I'm very grateful."

Anger it is then. Lucius lets out a sigh, as much frustration as weariness. He shifts away from Regulus and gives him a slightly sterner look.

"I did tell your cousin you weren't old enough to understand. Listen to me, and listen carefully: no one is proposing you allow anyone to fuck you." Regulus's expression is just wavering when Lucius adds, "Your mouth will be sufficient."

The colour doesn't fade from Regulus's cheeks. Fury leaves him a little breathless, narrow chest rising and falling in small angry pants. His fingers are clenched into claws in his lap. Lucius marvels over how very gracious the corporation is being in letting a creature like Lupin even put his hands on Regulus.

"Very well then. If it's what Bella suggests."

The inflection of her name suggests Regulus is all too aware of Lucius's lie but it doesn't stop him from lowering himself towards Lucius. Lucius sits back and lets him. If Regulus wishes to show some initiative he's not going to complain and it will make his uncertainty when he faces just exactly what he's doing all the sweeter.

Hazy bars of light from the city outside slant through the car, over the curve of Regulus's back, like refracted light. Regulus is precise in his movements. His hands don't tremble as he pushes Lucius's shirt up a little and slides the flies of his trousers down. Nor is his touch anything but light and steady as he closes his fingers about Lucius's half-hard cock.

Lucius spreads his legs obligingly as Regulus leans in closer. The slide of his breath over Lucius's thighs and lower belly cuts through the burn in Lucius's blood. Passion has no place in the way Regulus touches him and that's something so new that it's all the better for it.

There's an almost catlike flicker of pink tongue and then Regulus's fingertips are glistening. The wetness makes the slow drag of Regulus's hand up and down the length of Lucius's cock even better that Lucius expected from him. He flicks his thumb over the head of Lucius's cock, smearing through the gathering dampness, then his hand slides back down, squeezes teasingly at the root.

"That's good, you're doing so well," says Lucius. His voice is no longer so smooth but the blank-eyed look Regulus shoots him in response suggests he's not really listening anyway.

He works Lucius's cock through his fist, his hand looking ludicrously prim with its perfect nails and smooth skin against the flushed hardness of Lucius's prick. There's a gradual increase in speed and the slap of skin and Lucius's harsh breathing fills the backseat. Coherent thought is getting harder to manage but Lucius is not so far gone that he doesn't know that Regulus's hand is not all he wants.

"Your mouth, Regulus. I want to feel your mouth on me."

So unlike his brother, so beautifully obedient. Regulus ducks his head and there's the soft rush of his breath on Lucius's cock and then the slow, hot sweep of his tongue from tip to root. It's hard to take his eyes off him, his face pressed into Lucius's lap, fingers splayed on Lucius's thigh to steady himself, the occasional flicker of tongue and sometimes, just sometimes, a look directed right back at him from pale, empty eyes.

When he lays his hand on Regulus's head, bobbing up and down, working so busily between his thighs, Lucius has an idea of directing him, tilting his mouth the better to fuck his face but Regulus seems to know all too well what he's doing. So Lucius contents himself with carding his fingers through the silky strands of black hair while Regulus sucks him off.

Narcissa whimpers a lot when she has Lucius's cock in her mouth. The one time he had this from Bellatrix, there was a lot of hissing from him because Bellatrix didn't understand the no-teeth rule. Regulus is different again. There's the slick sound of his mouth and the wetting of lips but Regulus himself is silent. He never managed to get Sirius down on his knees, though not through want of trying. Somehow, he doesn't think Sirius would suck cock quite as quietly as his brother does.

Lucius manages to drag Regulus off his cock just in time to come over his face, splashing his cheeks and across the bridge of his nose. Even that doesn't seem to startle Regulus and that's so wrong that, with a focusing of concentration that impresses even himself, Lucius catches Regulus's eyes and pushes inside.

Regulus is naked, naked, sprawled out on a bed and lavishing attention on a hipbone. He alternates between kissing and licking, grazing with his teeth, all so lazy and languid. He's flushed and smiling. More dishevelled than Lucius has ever seen him.

"Stop that and come here. I want to fuck you again."

Regulus raises his head. There's dark hair and a smirk and-

"No."

Lucius keeps to the shadows of the mezzanine platform. His hand is down the front of his trousers, the jerk of his wrist making it clear what he's doing. His lips are pressed tight together and he's watching a reflection in one of the lower mirrors.

Bellatrix's hair floats in loose black clouds about her shoulders, mostly escaped from its bun. She's flat on her back on the desk, being vigorously fucked by her husband. Her blouse is gaping wide open, one of the sheer cups of her bra tugged down to expose her breast, the nipple peaked and rosy from Rodolphus's mouth. Her pencil skirt is rumpled up about her middle and her panties dangle from the ankle of the leg she has twined about Rodolphus's hips.

Lucius can see the flex of Rodolphus's bare buttocks with each of his deep thrusts. He's got his fingertips resting on Bellatrix's temple and from the unfocused look of Bella's eyes, he's showing her something.

She bursts out into sudden laughter, arching up against her husband, and Lucius comes right at that second, stifling a cry in his fist.

He twists his head away, screwing his eyes shut and sucking in a lungful of air. He's shaking and there's a dead feeling in the pit of his stomach. Damage control is what matters now, he reminds himself. Cool and clinical. They both have something Bellatrix would be enraged to discover.

When he looks back at Regulus, he sees he's using a tissue to wipe Lucius's come from his face. He doesn't meet Lucius's eyes but his tone is neutral and not overly hostile.

"I'm sure Bellatrix doesn't need to know how thoroughly you helped me prepare for this."

"It was your first time. The details don't need to be shared."

Regulus nods at him. The deal's been made.

*

Lucius feels oddly like a pimp as he waits in the car at the back of the squat block of apartments in which Lupin lives. In the window of the sex-bar across the street, there are three girls dancing naked. They're pressed against the plexi-glass, breasts and thighs flattened. There's a man leant against the doorway, so big and hairy that Lucius immediately judges him to be another sufferer of the Rage and has to wonder whether this district is solely for the afflicted.

His car is absurdly out of place and the man hasn't taken his eyes off it. Lucius wishes he'd come over and try something. Then he feels disturbingly like Rodolphus or Macnair and has to go back to focusing his thoughts solely on Regulus.

He's been waiting a little over an hour by the time Regulus finally slinks back out of the dark-brown dusk to the car. Lucius doesn't open the door for him. Regulus seems composed and steady on his feet. His lips are swollen and for a moment, Lucius thinks he can see the redness of fingerprints along his jaw but he can't see clearly enough in the shadow.

Regulus sits there, staring at the back of the driver's head. Lucius waits for him to say something and then arches an eyebrow when he doesn't and draws in breath to speak.

"Please just take me back to The Chamber."

Lucius uses his breath to sigh instead and then nods.

*

It's a relief to be back within The Chamber. The sounds of the fans within the walls come as a regular, steady sweep, like the flapping wings of a colossal bird. Though the shafts of light that slice across the high-ceilinged hallways are still feverish orange, at least the heat does not permeate past the stone walls.

Lucius catches the scent of Bellatrix's cigarette before she comes into view. He and Regulus exchange a look, oddly enough on the same side for once. He straightens up and irritably brushes away the dust that's managed to settle on him even though he did not once venture from the car.

Bella ignores him entirely and homes in on Regulus. She grasps him by the shoulders and peers into his face. Knowing what he does of the boy, Lucius is not too concerned. Bellatrix may be a stronger psychic but he doubts it would even occur to her to look for any of the memories that Lucius knows to be within Regulus's mind.

Then she looks to Lucius. She doesn't even need to think her question.

"He acquitted himself admirably. He has much to be proud of," says Lucius.

Her little nod indicates her lack of surprise. She drapes an arm about Regulus's shoulder and draws him in alongside as they move off. Lucius follows behind them and when Rodolphus steps out of one of the adjoining halls, earpiece still in place, he drops in in-step.

"He do it all right then?" says Rodolphus, inclining his head at Regulus with a lewd grin that displays his rows of silver teeth.

"It seems so. Further applications may be necessary but…"

Rodolphus swears quietly and tugs the earpiece free. His face darkens considerably, heavy brows drawing together.

"She won't like that. Bad enough about Sirius without the brother turning out to be as much of a whore."

Both men falter when Bellatrix glances back over her shoulder at them then share a furtive smile when her expression tells them it's only a coincidence. She goes back to whispering at Regulus, half-stooped over him to compensate for her high heels like a puppet with loose strings.

They share an elevator, all four of them standing motionless and silent as they rise up into the cooler, clearer air. The ecclesiastical hush is broken by a crackle of white noise from Rodolphus's earpiece. Bellatrix frowns at him and tightens her grip on Regulus's shoulder as if the sound has frightened him. Rodolphus's swift and brutal cursing gets him another frown from his wife. He closes his fist firmly about the tiny electronic unit and Lucius hears it crack.

"Fucking thing," says Rodolphus. "Hadn't been working right since that hack-attack last week. When I catch those little fuckers, I'll rip their balls from their-"

He cuts off abruptly. Bellatrix's eyes are fixed on the wall opposite yet there's the hint of a smile about the upturned corner of her lips. Rodolphus clears his throat and smirks but doesn't finish his proposed course of revenge.

Lucius thinks he's probably the only one to notice Regulus roll his eyes.

They finish the rest of the ascent in silence. The elevator comes to a smooth halt but the doors don't open. An automated voice filters through from somewhere, neutral and vaguely female.

"Commence scanning…" Lucius refrains from tapping his foot impatiently while beams of light criss-cross over them. "Activating chip status blue… Activating security procedure 64… Four access codes required to terminate security procedure 64… 40, 39, 38…"

The countdown continues without pause as they give their access codes one after another. Regulus stutters a little on his because the countdown is down to single figures and they all know what happens then. Still, it's his first time and can be forgiven this once.

"Security procedure 64 terminated… Access granted."

The doors slide open and Bellatrix is the first out. She's still got hold of Regulus and Lucius picks up on the judder of nerves from the boy. It's got a citrus piquancy, almost as if he can taste it. Regulus is outwardly composed but there's not a single one of them that can't read him right now.

Very few people are aware that The Core exists. Even fewer make it so far as to reach it, here at the near tip of spire. No doubt if they were to think about it, they'd realise that such a place must exist. They wouldn't be able to imagine it though.

The first time Lucius saw it, he'd dreamt of it for nights after. He still had visions of it now sometimes, slick and green and pulsating, even though the room itself looks nothing like that. But Lucius had sensed it, he knew what it really was.

"This is a great honour," Bellatrix is telling Regulus. "You should be very proud of yourself. And your poor dear mother would be too."

The Core opens its doors for them at their approach and even Bella seems uneasy. It's a deceptively small room, filled with metal panels and wiring. Sterile is the only word for the air, not so much clean or free of dust as entirely empty. It could almost be suffocating, the pressure of the vacuum dragging at skin, internal organs and thoughts.

Bellatrix leads Regulus to the terminal at the far end of the room. There's a single VDU but it's blank, not even so much as an old-fashioned cursor blinking on the screen. A soft whirring, like a breeze, is the only indication that the power is on.

"I don't-" Regulus starts to say, looking confused and turning back to Bellatrix for an explanation.

"I've been waiting," a voice says. One could be forgiven for thinking it automated. It's as cool and impassive as the voice from the elevator, though more distinctly male. It certainly originates from the terminal. But there's a sudden surge of life through the room, the kind that only comes with sentience, with a mind.

"I don't understand," says Regulus. His voice has gone very small. "What are you? Why can I… why can I sense you?"

"I am Voldemort. I am the mainframe."

"Are you an AI?"

Regulus has taken a tentative step forward and though Bella has her arms outstretched towards him, as though to snatch him back to her side, they none of them move.

"I am Voldemort. I am the mainframe."

"You run Voldemort Technologies," says Regulus. He's trying so hard to be a Black, controlled and composed, and Lucius wants to tell him not to waste his energy.

"I am Voldemort Technologies."

The force of the presence is becoming stronger. It settles over them like a weight, more stifling than the dust in the city below them. The pressure forces them to their knees. Lucius's chip burns beneath his skin, itching until he wants to rip it out. There are thoughts coming to him. He's sensing them without meaning to or wanting to. But they're indecipherable. Just a torrent of words and numbers, single letters or random factoids.

"I know who you are, Regulus Black." Lucius hears the voice speaking, even through the jumble of data pouring into his skull, while he's on his hands and knees, eyes screwed shut. And he hears Regulus start screaming. "Prepare to receive your download, Regulus Black."

END

Author's Note: Please to be remembering that the author has no idea about science and/or technology but has done her best to come up with a coherent 'psyber' backstory regardless. :/