Chapter Text
Regulus Black could still feel the inferi's hands on his skin when he opened his eyes. He was back at Grimmauld place, in his room. There was no cave, no Kreacher, no horcrux, no water. He was completely dry.
He knew it couldn't have been a dream, everything had felt too real. He remembered very clearly asking Kreacher to bring him to the cave, he remembered very clearly drinking that horrible potion and replacing the locket by his, he remembered very clearly telling Kreacher to run and destroy the horcrux as the inferi dragged him in the water while we was too weak to do anything about it, not that he cared. Regulus didn't mind dying. He was too hurt by life, by his family, by his own choices.
He should have ran away with Sirius when he could. If he did, maybe he wouldn't have taken the dark mark, maybe his dear house elf wouldn't have suffered in Voldemort's hands, maybe he would have been free, maybe he would have had enough will to live to fight back. But Regulus didn't mind dying, he knew it was the right thing to do.
Regulus's biggest regret in life was believing his parents' words. Sirius had told him so many times the truth, he had warned him about Voldemort's true intention. Deep down, Regulus knew he was right. The Noble and most Ancient House of Black was like a cage, suffocating him, drowning him. He was like a bird begging to be freed, but being too scared to do anything about it. When Sirius ran, it was like the cage' door had been opened, but Regulus stayed. The cage was all he knew. Maybe if he flew away, he wouldn't have been in the situation he was. He could have survived. But Regulus didn't mind dying, it had finally put an end to his suffering.
At least it would have, if he had not woken up in his childhood household. The only question was How?, but it didn't matter for now, he was alive and physically well (At least he thinks?) and so maybe he could do something about it. Maybe he would be able to leave, to free himself. Or maybe he would loose his life again. He really didn't mind dying, he didn't mind sacrificing his life for the greater good. He had made a mistake and if the only way for Sirius to remember him on the good side on the war was to give up life, he would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Regulus was very confused, but he was sure of one thing: there was absolutely no way he would walk the same path. He was given the chance to start over. He doesn't know when he woke up but since his left forearm is bare, it was before he took the mark. Maybe he actually could do this. He will do this. There was no way he was staying here.
The boy with dark curls got up from his bed and took a small bag from his closet. With a simple undetectable extension charm, he made the inner size of it bigger. They were never taught that spell in school, but Regulus had always been more advanced than his class. He used to spend most of his time in the library studying difficult magic, especially after he became a Death Eater. During those years, Regulus isolated himself from everybody, including his friends, and much preferred calm moments alone, even if those were just moments where his thoughts would eat him alive.
He then stuffed clothes, some books, money, hygiene products and put on an expensive wizard robe. He also took less important things that he only decided to bring because they had a sentimental value (not that he would ever admit they do), and finally, of course, he stuffed his wand in an inner pocket of his cloak.
Once he opened the door that lead out of his room, he came face to face with his brother, Sirius. He also had some bags filled with belongings. Regulus only then realized exactly the time and date: it was the night where his sibling left for good, July 21st 1975, which means Regulus was 15 years old. One year before becoming a proper Death Eater, two years before his death.
This was when Regulus Black understood just how much he could actually change of his fate. If he leaves with Sirius, he could live a totally different life. He would be able to fight for the good side. He could possibly fix most of his mistake. He might even be able to come out and get a boyfriend, something he could have never done staying with the rest of his family. Mother and Father always said that Regulus would be married to a nice pureblood lady as soon as he turns 17. His only purpose to them was to produce an heir with great blood and to serve the Dark Lord. Gross.
Regulus had no idea how long he had been standing here but he snapped out of his daydream when Sirius whispered his name: 'Reggie?'
There was fear on Sirius' face, like Regulus might call for their parents anytime soon and his dreams of freedom would be crushed. If it would have been the original story, he probably would have, but he had other plans. He knew it was better for the both of them to get the fuck out of here. He will not allow more torture from his relatives.
'What are you doing?' Regulus asks, knowing damn well what his older brother was doing.
'I– I am just– Listen Reg– I– Do you want– Please don't tell–' Sirius panics, clearly conflicted by his younger brother's presence. Did he really not prepare incase a situation like this happened? For someone who never fails class and can pull genius pranks, the long-haired boy can be quite dumb.
'Are you running away?' Regulus' voice was calm, loud enough for Sirius to hear clearly but not loud enough for Mother, or worse, Father to. It didn't show the adrenalin he was feeling, it didn't reflect how glad he was to have a second chance.
'Regulus you need to understand, you can't tell Father and Mother–'
'Bring me with you, please.' Blacks don't usually plead, by doing so he hoped his brother would understand how important this was for him.
Sirius froze on spot, and his face went from shock, to confusion, to shock again. Obviously, he hadn't expect that. His brother never went against the rules. He was always the good son, the one his parents presented to everybody at those exhausting pureblood parties where everyone secretly hated each other. His brother and him looked alike, but they had somewhat opposite personalities. Sirius really loved him, but he couldn't ignore the fact that Regulus went with the pureblood ideologies so to think that–
'Bring me with you,' Regulus repeated, 'I am sick and tired of life here. All they ever talk about is those disgusting purebloodist values and how amazing the Dark Lord is, and if you dare to disagree they horrible things to you.'
Regulus's small confession was enough to make his brother visibly relax a little, even if a sceptical look on his face remained, but it was something, so he kept going: 'I am sorry that I never did anything to help you Sirius, but I can't bear it any longer. I know I should have spoken up sooner but you need to understand that I was scared. I knew what they did to you simply for standing out of line and I didn't have the same strength as you to stand up for my actual values.' The younger Black spoke fast, as if his brother would disappear right in front of him and he would never have this opportunity ever again, which he won't.
'Bring me with you. I already have my bag ready, see? If I don't tag along I'll get out of here, tonight, either way.' Regulus gestured to his charmed bag and showed the inside to prove his point.
The younger boy knew that words couldn't fix years of broken trust, but he knew that Sirius deeply cared for him regardless, and he did too. He never said it, nor will he probably ever do but he loved and admired his brother. He admired his bravery and his individuality. He was always the one to stand up for his beliefs while Regulus mostly followed their family's one, up until the Dark Lord almost killed Kreacher. And even after, he made himself small or even pretended to agree each time the words 'mudblood' or 'blood traitor' were thrown around. That was the difference between the two of them, Sirius was strong and Regulus was a coward.
'So you aren't a purebloodist?' Sirius asked, just to be sure, just to make sure the words he heard were real.
'Did you listen to what I said or are you just trying to piss me off?' Regulus spoke, probably more rude than intended, but he had basically poured his heart out talking right before and that made him feel vulnerable. And what does Regulus Black do when he feels vulnerable? He panics and tries to have the situation back in his control.
The short-haired boy crossed his arms and shuffled awkwardly on his feet waiting for the other's answer.
Sirius knew it was risky to bring him, but he wanted to believe him, he wanted to believe the boy could change. So he spoke: 'Follow me, don't make any noise, don't alert the house elves and try not to freak out.'
Regulus pinched his lips together to hide a smile and he nodded once, sharply, to signal that he understood the words that came out of the older boy's mouth. And so he followed Sirius.