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“I’ll save you from them.”
That was the last thing Sirius told before running off to the Potter’s household. Leaving Regulus alone with his parents.
Regulus didn’t want to believe his word because by then he started to fall for his friend. The same one he ran off to leaving him behind to live a happy family life with the one person he wants. But Regulus held out for hope.
The next time he saw Sirius, he was handed a piece of paper. On the letter that he was handed it said:
Dear Regulus,
I promise I will get you out of there but I need a little more time. I need to get everything ready before we get you out of there. Just wait a little bit longer for me.
Love your brother,
Sirius.
Regulus hated waiting. He was a patient person but some things have changed at the Black household. The most prominent change was the Dark Lord staying at the house. The other change was Regulus was now the next in line which means he need to marry soon.
He was ok with waiting for his brother during school but when he went home was when he thought about giving up. He didn’t like the false hope his brother was giving him while his mother was constantly pressuring him to follow the Dark Lord. He knew it was soon that he would be forced to take the mark.
His only escape was James, but only at school and at night. They would steal passing glances during the day. But at night, they would go up to the astronomy tower and talk about how their future would look like. Regulus knew he shouldn’t be talking with James about a future he couldn’t have but he just wished everything was different.
The next break Regulus knew something was wrong as soon as he saw his parents when he got off the train. ‘This is it,’ he thought as his parents led him to the front door. They both were smiling and happy which is not weird for his mother but it is for his father. They lead him to his fathers office to find the Dark Lord sitting in his fathers chair. ‘This is it.’ He walks up to the Dark Lord presenting his left arm. As the Dark Lord grabs his arm Regulus feels as if he is about to throw up but keeps it down and his face as blank as possible.
The next time he sees either James or Sirius he feels like throwing up or running and crying. Whichever one comes first. But the only thing he does is keep his distance and ignore their constant pestering.
That’s when he gets cornered by none other than James. “Why are you ignoring me?” James asks with a concerned but annoyed look.
“I’m not. I’ve just been busy.”
“That’s a lie and we both know it. You know you can always talk to me?” That concern makes him want to throw up.
“Whatever I do doesn’t always concern you. Now leave me alone.” As he tries to turn around to leave James grabs his left arm causing him to hiss in pain. James quickly lets go of his arm.
“What’s wrong?” James quickly grows more concerned.
“Nothing! I told you to leave me alone!” Regulus yells while tears start to weld in his eyes.
Regulus tries to leave again but James grabs his hand this time lifting his sleeve and seeing the mark.
“No you didn’t,” James whispered.
All Regulus could do was look away as he felt a tear fall. That’s when Regulus snatched his hand back and took off running.
Everytime after that when he saw Sirius in the halls he was giving Regulus disgusted and disappointed looks. When he saw James in the halls he was giving Regulus concern and betrayed looks. It doesn’t matter, all that matters now is that they stopped bothering him and stopped giving him hope.
After he graduated, his mother was looking for someone suitable for his marriage. That’s when Kreacher came to him almost dead. After Kreacher was healthy enough Regulus made him tell him what happened. That’s when Kreacher told him about the horcruxes.
“Take me there Kreacher,” Regulus told Kreacher.
“But master, it’s too dangerous!” Kreacher tried to plead with him not to go.
But in the end Regulus won and Kreacher brought him to a cave with a small island in the middle. They did the ritual when everything went wrong. He could feel the side effects and something grabbing his ankles.
“Go Kreacher! Take the horcrux and destroy it. Do it for me please.” With his final demand he let the Inferi drag him into the lake.
His final thoughts were of him, James, and Sirius all living the life he wished he could live.