Chapter Text
Albus and Aberforth Dumbledore hadn’t seen eye to eye in years. In spite of that, the younger brother had joined the Order of the Phoenix and that forced siblings to talk more often than either of them would have wanted. Much to Headmaster’s exasperation, Aberforth kept insisting on meetings in the Hog’s Head where all types of Wizards and Beings liked to loiter, rather than safe and protected Hogwarts.
Albus Dumbledore always knew when he was being followed. He had learned that skill ages ago. Otherwise he would not have survived as long and became such a well known and powerful Wizard, had he not been able to protect himself and sense danger. Of course there was also the fact that lately he has been spending a lot of time with Alastor Moody so constant vigilance has been drilled into him.
He reckoned that either this person was clumsy and unprofessional or the goal wasn’t to follow him but to speak with him. He stopped and turned around. His shadow stayed invisible so Albus spoke calmly, “I know you are there. Better show yourself now before I attack.”
There was a beat when Dumbledore thought he would really have to fight with whomever was there but finally he heard steps and rustling of a Cloak and out of nowhere appeared Regulus Black. The very same one that Dumbledore had sent a letter about this morning. The boy hadn’t come back for his Seventh Year which was a pity in Headmaster’s eyes as not only the boy was incredibly talented but Albus was hoping that he could still turn his life around by influencing his choices and beliefs. However, not appearing on Hogwarts Express on September 1st was equal to being a Death Eater or on a way to becoming one.
To Headmaster’s utter confusion, Black didn’t draw his wand and instead made himself even more vulnerable by putting his hands up in a common sign of surrender.
The Professor started the conversation. “Regulus Black. What are you doing here? I assume you did not just realize that you had missed two months of school? What does Lord Voldemort want and why through you?”
“I-,” Regulus started but stopped immediately as he heard voices coming from his right. He covered himself again with his Invisibility Cloak.
It turned out to be three random drunk Wizards stumbling through Hogsmeade. They didn’t pay any attention to their surroundings and failed to even notice Hogwarts’ Professor. When they were finally gone, Black appeared again.
“The Dark Lord has no idea I’m here,” Regulus assured. “No one knows, in fact. And I would like it to stay that way.”
“Then what are you doing here? What do you want? Because there is not much I am willing to do for a Death Eater, no matter his age. In fact, I am hesitating whether I will keep this meeting private or not.”
Regulus took a step forward and his voice trembled. “Please. You don’t understand- You have to listen to me and you can’t just turn me in-“
“I think it is not up to you to decide what I can or cannot do, Mr. Black.” Albus replied firmly but with a hint of amusement.
“Just listen to me, please-“
“And why exactly would I do that?” Dumbledore wondered aloud. “I already gave you the benefit of not attacking you immediately-“
“Just listen to me. It’s important. You’ll regret, if you don’t.” This time there was no hesitance but anger was starting to shine through his words.
“I regret some things but right now I’m feeling pretty good about myself. I am after all not on the Dark side of this War.”
“Horcrux,” Black blurted out trying to catch Headmaster’s attention.
“I know what that is. However, I am not going to help you or Lord Voldemort-“
“No,” the boy interrupted. “He had already created one.”
Dumbledore looked at Regulus carefully and recapitulated, “so what you are trying to tell me is that Lord Voldemort had created a Horcrux?”
“Yes.” Black nodded solemnly.
The Professor kept staring at him with a piercing look to finally ask, “and why would I believe you?”
Regulus frowned. “Why would I be lying?” He had thought it would be a much easier conversation. He had assumed that he would be listened to and trusted or at least taken seriously enough for the Headmaster to look for the Horcrux.
“I do not pretend to know what is going on in your head. I do, however, know that good boys do not have such knowledge.” Dumbledore scorned.
“I-“
“And I do not understand why would you come with this to me? You have no interest in telling me that.”
“But-“
“Unless, of course, you are no longer interested in being Voldemort’s follower and want something from me.” Dumbledore shook his head in disappointment. “Regulus, if you had any proof, we could possibly exchange something. But it is easy to find a Dark word in a book and accuse Lord Voldemort of it and come running to me.”
“I wanted-“
“You were always a smart boy, surely you understand that I cannot just accept anything anyone tells me. And I certainly do not help anyone that I’m unsure of their motivations, especially for information without any evidence.”
“But what I’m saying is true!” Regulus exclaimed, a tad too loudly, with indignation, having finally managed to form a sentence.
“There are at least seven different possible reasons why you sought me out tonight. At least three of those indicate you were sent here by Lord Voldemort himself. I simply cannot trust you. However, it is a grand accusation and so if you can prove it, I might be able to offer you to become our informant.”
“You want me to spy on Him for you?” Regulus hissed, frowning. That was the most foolish and risky plan he had heard in a while.
“What did you expect? You had chosen your fate. If you want to change it, you will have to work for it.”
“But what do you have to lose?” The boy asked weakly, knowing he had already lost.
Regulus looked so dejected that Dumbledore took pity on him, “bring me any evidence that your theory is real and that you have changed and I might be able to help you flee to another country without being followed.”
“So you want me to risk everything to get a proof and then I still might not get help and may have to keep endangering myself?” The boy repeated incredulously.
“Mr. Black, I did not make you do anything,” Dumbledore reminded him. “You had chosen your own path that led to being part of Death Eaters. And as such, I will not trust a word out of your mouth without any evidence to support it. It may sound cruel to you but I have to look out for myself and others.”
“But I didn’t have much choice, did I? From the moment Sirius had been sorted, it was what I had to do. It’s not like anyone ever really cared. I hope one day you will realize that we’re just kids and you all have manipulated us into a war that we didn’t want to be a part of.” He said angrily. “I will try to get the proof,” he spat and Apparated.
***
Regulus was confused. Finally, after weeks of eavesdropping, endangering and making a fool of himself, he knew where the Horcrux was. He was capable of retrieving it and hence would have been able to give Dumbledore not only an unmistakable proof but also a way to kill the Dark Lord. He wasn’t sure it would change anything for him though.
Ever since their talk, Regulus has been forced to get even deeper into Death Eaters’ ranks and all the Unforgivable Curses became too familiar to him. He wasn’t sure if there was any chance of redemption for him now. Even if by some luck, Dumbledore would agree to help him and overlook everything he had done, Regulus wasn’t sure he himself could.
And so he told Kreacher to destroy the Horcrux instead of bringing it to Dumbledore. He hoped that somehow the Order would know when it was destroyed and then they would attack the Dark Lord. So Black drank the Potion and let the Inferi take him underwater.
But little did Regulus know that there was more than one Horcrux. And he had no idea that Kreacher, who would hate himself for it, would fail to execute the order.
***
Regulus never came back but the news of his death reached Albus a few weeks after their meeting. The easiest explanation was that he had messed something up or got scared. Dumbledore assumed that meant he had been lying and there was no Horcrux. After all, he had known Tom for years and as nefarious as he might have been, Riddle wouldn’t create Horcruxes. The Professor concluded that Black had just wanted to get himself some safety.
Albus has never spoken about that meeting and he has almost forgotten about it. And then one day Harry Potter came back from the Chamber of Secrets and brought Tom Riddle’s Diary and the idea of Horcruxes floated back to the front of the Headmaster’s mind. The echo of Regulus Black’s words struck a chord in him and he decided to investigate it further. It turned out that the boy had been right after all. Dumbledore focused a lot of his time and energy on locating other Horcruxes and destroying them. He helped as much as he could and then when he died, he left the work to Harry.
To Albus’ annoyance along with Black’s words about Horcruxes, came back other things he had said, and combined with Headmaster’s own afterthoughts and experiences, he tried helping Draco. And so he orchestrated his death with Snape in an attempt to spare Malfoy.