Chapter 1
Hogwarts, November 2rd, 1979
What if Regulus said one more thing to each of his friends the night he left for the cave?
Not during idle afternoons.
Not weeks before, when there was still time.
But tonight—when his hands were already shaking and the sea was calling his name.
He walked through the castle in silence, a ghost before his time.
And he said goodbye.
The Slytherin Common Room was dim, all green light and stone shadows. Evan Rosier was lounging on the couch, lazily flipping through a Quidditch magazine. He looked up, grinning.
“You’ve got that look, Reggie,” he said. “Don’t do anything dumb.”
Regulus smiled faintly and sat beside him. “Don’t be stupid.”
Evan scoffed. “Bit late for that.”
“I mean it,” Regulus said, voice low. “Don’t chase after me. Don’t make it worse. You’re smarter than people know. Use that.”
Evan frowned. “What are you talking about?”
But Regulus had already stood. “You’ll figure it out.”
In the potions classroom, Barty Crouch Jr. was organizing his ingredients long after curfew, as usual. Perfectionist tendencies didn’t sleep.
Regulus stepped in and leaned against the desk.
“Barty,” he said quietly, “You’re not your father.”
Barty stiffened. “That so?”
“I know you’re afraid you’ll turn into him.” Regulus paused. “But you won’t. You’re too sharp. Too good.”
Barty didn’t look up, but his jaw was tight. “Why are you saying this now?”
“Because I won’t get another chance.”
In the greenhouse, tucked away under starlight and glass, Pandora Lovegood was humming to herself as she repotted moonseed.
Regulus entered softly. She didn’t jump. She always knew when someone was coming.
“Promise me,” he said.
Pandora tilted her head, expression serene. “Promise you what?”
“That you’ll keep being exactly as you are. That you won’t change to fit this world.”
She smiled, brushing soil from her fingers. “I could never.”
“Good,” Regulus whispered. “Then you’ll outlive us all.”
Down the hall in an empty Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Dorcas Meadowes was running drills on the dummies, sweat clinging to her brow.
Regulus stood in the doorway.
She glanced at him, panting. “You just going to watch, or—”
“Be happy,” he interrupted. “At least one of us deserves that.”
Dorcas blinked. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Talk like you’re not coming back.”
He didn’t answer. She didn’t push.
On the Astronomy Tower, as if drawn there by instinct, Remus Lupin was sitting with his knees hugged to his chest, staring at the moon.
Regulus sat beside him without a word.
“You’re not a monster, Wolf Boy,” he said finally.
Remus laughed bitterly. “Try telling anyone else that.”
“I am.”
Remus turned to him, something strange in his eyes. “Reg—what’s going on?”
Regulus just gave him a small, sad smile. “You’ll understand soon.”
In the North Wing attic, hidden behind layers of abandoned rooms and secrets, Sirius Black was lying on his back staring at the ceiling, headphones on.
Regulus pulled one off.
Sirius jolted. “Merlin’s tits—Regulus?! You scared the hell out of me.”
“I never blamed you for leaving me,” Regulus said softly. “I blamed you for forgetting me.”
Sirius’s smirk faded. “Don’t.”
Regulus stepped closer. “You were my whole world, Sirius. I just wanted to be yours too.”
Sirius opened his mouth—but Regulus turned and left.
In the library, tucked behind a forgotten shelf, Lily Evans was sketching runes with a quill between her teeth.
Regulus sat across from her and said, “Make the world know your name. You’re truly the best of us.”
Lily looked up slowly. “You alright?”
He nodded. “Better, now that I’ve said that.”
“You’re acting weird.”
“I know,” he said. “But I mean it.”
In the corridor outside the Great Hall, Peter Pettigrew was pacing, fidgeting like he was waiting for someone.
He looked up, startled when Regulus appeared.
“I’m not here to hex you,” Regulus said, a little amused. “I just wanted to say goodbye.”
Peter blinked. “Why me?”
“Because I know you’ll understand.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
“You will,” Regulus said. “And when you do… don’t lie about it.”
Peter didn’t stop him as he walked away.
Outside the Gryffindor common room, Regulus waited in the shadows until James Potter emerged, yawning.
“Oi,” James said, surprised. “Didn’t expect to see a Black loitering out here.”
Regulus stepped into the light. “If the whole world was watching,” he said, “I’d still dance with you.”
James stared. “That was… alarmingly romantic.”
Regulus smiled. “Maybe I am.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Regulus looked him in the eyes. “Because I won’t be here tomorrow.”
James took a step forward. “Regulus—what are you planning?”
But Regulus had already turned away.
He passed the hourglass staircase. The whispering corridors. The arch by the Black Lake tunnel.
By sunrise, he would be gone.
But now—now he had said everything that mattered.
And in that, there was peace.
Absolutely—here’s the epilogue, picking up from the moment word begins to spread of Regulus’s disappearance. It’s introspective, emotionally grounded, and gives each character a moment to remember what he said.