Pandora and Evan Rosier had been waking up in cold sweat, screaming their lungs out nearly every night since the day they were born. Their parents could still remember the first time they watched their eyes turn completely white. They had only been a couple of days old when it started. It terrified them both until they sat down with Dumbledore, who they both hated, and asked for a solution, for help. It was then they were informed their twins were Seers.
The wizarding world had all but forgotten about the power of the Seers. Until the Rosier twins were born. There had been but a couple of Seers that came before them all of which died very young by their own hand. None of them could handle what they saw on a daily basis. None of them could handle the fact that they were supposed to just stand aside and let the future happen no matter how terrible it may be.
Pandora and Evan Rosier would later on become the first Seers to break that cycle. They were brought up to believe they cannot meddle with the future, but one particular vision would keep repeating itself over and over again for them. Until they meet the man from their visions.
And how could they possibly stand aside and do nothing when their best friend Regulus Black turned out to be the one with the tortured future that kept haunting them? They didn’t do anything about any of the other predictions but they couldn’t stay silent with Regulus.
That vision is the one vision that kept haunting both of them since they were six. Pandora could see a vision of a seventeen year old boy in the cave. She could see the grail filled with green liquid and she could see a locket there. Then in the next second she could see the boy drowning, fighting to stay afloat, fighting to get out of the water until his hand eventually goes limp and he drowns.
Evan on the other hand could not see a single thing, but he could hear it all. He would hear Regulus laugh before he drank the liquid. He could hear him say goodbye to someone called Barty. He could hear the water splashing. He could hear him yell for help and then it would all go silent.
How were they to ignore all of that when on the very first day at Hogwarts, it was Regulus Black who approached them and started to talk? How were they to ignore his destiny and let him die when they grew to like him? How when they grew to see him as their friend?
Evan and Pandora had shared a look while Regulus walked up to the old hat, ready to be sorted. Sirius remembered watching Pandora and Evan with wariness. Then he remembered them both straightening their shoulders and turning to look at Regulus again. He would later on forget all about this moment, deeming it as insignificant, not realizing that this very moment was what would change it all.
The hat had sorted Regulus into Slytherin and Evan watched Regulus smile before he moved to the Slytherin table. Pandora could see past the smile though. While everyone may have believed him to be happy to be sorted into the Slytherin House, she knew otherwise. Despite what everyone thought of Regulus and the Black Family, she knew Regulus loathed being the new Heir.
Pandora then looked at Sirius who seemed cheerful, laughing at whatever it is that James Potter had said before she glared at him. Sirius must have sensed it because she turned to look at her only to frown in confusion. And if looks could kill, Pandora would have killed Sirius that day.
She could understand why Sirius needed to leave his family home, she really could but she could not for the life of her understand how it is that he also left Regulus behind and did not look back. Pandora could understand there were ghosts haunting Sirius too, he had been through a great amount of pain as well, but as a sister, she could not understand his ability to leave his brother behind.
Pandora raised her chin and took a hold of Evan’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze of support. Evan had squeezed her hand back and then her name was called. She was nice, kind and very soft spoken, making everyone in the hall underestimate her and Pandora did not like being underestimated. She sat down in the chair and looked Sirius directly into his eyes, glaring at him, confusing Regulus who watched her the entire time.
“Hufflepuff!” The hat had yelled and she smirked, standing up to walk over to the Hufflepuff table. After her, Evan was sorted into Slytherin and Pandora nodded her head towards him in comfort. This wouldn’t change anything between them, she promised to herself and her brother.
Once the sorting was over, Pandora stood up and walked over to Regulus, Evan, Dorcas and Barty. Now, at least they knew which Barty Regulus was talking about in their visions. On her way over to them, she bumped Sirius’ shoulder only lightly and smirked.
“Hey-” He started to yell after her when she turned around with her hands behind her back, a smile on her face. The smile that anyone who didn’t know her could describe as kind.
“What is it? Do you have something to say?” She asked softly and watched Sirius frown. She did not move though.
She needed Sirius to be as uncomfortable as possible, because she knew just how uncomfortable Regulus had been ever since Sirius left and didn’t even try to write him a letter. She would know if he did. Because she saw Regulus write to him all the time, but Sirius always just burned the letters before he even read them. And before Sirius could say a thing, she felt a hand grab a hold of her wrist.
“Come on, Panda. This isn’t worth it.” Evan had whispered and tugged her hand. Regulus watched from afar before he walked towards the twins, confused as to what was going on.
“Panda, come with us. They aren’t worth it. He isn’t worth it.” Regulus gently whispered and Pandora watched a flash of hurt pass through Sirius’ eyes before she smiled and turned towards Regulus. She nodded her head and walked away with Evan, leaving Regulus behind.
“What the hell did you tell them?” Sirius growled towards Regulus and the younger Black brother watched Barty and Dorcas prepare to come to his aid. Regulus only shook his head and they stayed back.
“I have no reason to talk about you. You are nothing to me.” Regulus said before he walked towards his friends, leaving Sirius behind to watch with hurt in his eyes. Remus, Peter and James finally stepped towards him with James gripping his shoulder, but Sirius’ eyes remained on the strange group of friends leaving the hall.
Regulus Arcturus Black, House of Slytherin
Barty Crouch Jr, House of Slytherin
Dorcas Meadowes, House of Gryffindor
Evan Rosier, House of Slytherin
Pandora Rosier, House of Hufflepuff
Sybill Trelawney, House of Ravenclaw
None of this made any sense at all. According to the rules and what Sirius was led to believe until now, those houses should not be getting along and yet in such a short amount of time, it seemed that Regulus had formed himself a strange little friend group.
It was only months later that they learned why they got along so well. Regulus, Barty and Evan were of different character, but still close, ready to do just about anything for one another. Regulus was a calmer and more reserved member of the friend group. Evan was the silent but prone to violence one. Barty was a clever and bloodthirsty one.
Dorcas Meadowes was incredibly talented at Quidditch as was Regulus Black. Pandora loved plants and was quiet but nothing scared her, nothing ever rattled her. She still seemed to harbor a great amount of dislike for Sirius even if he could not understand why.
Sybill Trelawney was quiet but a little mad, Sirius would say. Only weeks after they started to go to school, the students started to fear her. She seemed to have a bit of affinity for fire, setting just about anything ablaze, freaking everyone around her out. Even James Potter lost count of how many times students ran past them in hallways, yelling “Run, it’s Sybill!” and just about everyone ran at the sight of her.
Pandora and Evan had made a plan not to leave Regulus alone at any time. One of them had to be with him when the other couldn’t and it wasn’t long before Regulus noticed and grew annoyed. While Pandor and Evan were determined to not let Regulus die, he was determined to win the war brewing on the outside.
And he could not exactly do any research when one of them was with him at all times. So, they were outside, sitting in the grass just days before Regulus would get the Dark Mark in order to join the Death Eaters as a spy, not that the Order of the Phoenix was allowed to know that.
Then he grew annoyed when he realized how close Evan was sitting to him and he snapped, making everyone in the garden turn their heads towards them.
“Why the hell are you both so glued to me?” He snapped, making his other friends turn to look at them. Sybill frowned at the sight of the twins gulping at the same time.
“I’ve noticed it too actually, so what’s going on?” She asked and Barty nodded his head.
“Same. Ever since we met, you’ve both been glued to him. If one had to leave his side, the other wasn’t allowed to. What’s going on?” He asked and Pandora sniffled, for the first time since they met looking slightly scared. Sirius enjoyed the sight. Dorcas leaned closer and stared at Pandora.
“Tell me what’s going on, Panda.” She said and Evan shook his head towards Pandora who only took a deep breath and opened her mouth anyways.
“We- we’re Seers, okay?” She said a bit louder and the entire friend group leaned closer now. Sirius frowned and looked at James, Remus and Peter, watching them nod their heads in confirmation that he heard it right.
“Wait what? You mean to tell me that you can see the future?” Regulus asked with a raised eyebrow and Pandora nodded her head while Evan snorted.
“Kind of?” He said and Sybill now moved to sit right next to him.
“What do you mean kind of?” She asked and Evan took a deep breath. Well, the cat was out the bag now, he thought.
“Panda can see the future. I can hear it. We’ve been haunted by the same prediction since our childhood. Everything else we predicted came true but this one hasn’t yet. And we have no intention of letting it come true.” He said and Regulus hummed. Sirius watched him smile sadly before he looked at the twins again.
“Does this prediction have something to do with me?” He asked and Pandora nodded her head with a sad look on her face
“We’re trying to stop your prediction from happening.” She admitted and Regulus only frowned. James watched Barty take a hold of Regulus’ hand under the table in order to calm him down and James frowned. He had grown to like Regulus and watching him hold hands with another cut deep into his heart.
“Why?” Regulus asked.
“Because you’re going to die if we don’t. Sooner rather than later.” Evan said and they all froze then.
“How?” Regulus asked and Pandora gulped before she turned to look at Regulus again.
“I see you drowning in a cave.” She answered and Regulus chuckled while he shook his head.
“And I hear you begging for help before you eventually drown. You- you actually call out to Barty.” Evan said and watched Barty turn to look at Regulus who simply gulped and turned to look at the twins once more.
“You’re not going to stop me from dying, Rosiers.” Regulus said and Sirius looked at James in confusion and panic. Remus had put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head, making Sirius plant his feet where he was.
“But we can. If we just stay with you and don’t let you go to any caves-” Pandora started to speak when Regulus sighed.
“You won’t stop me because if you’re seeing me dying then that simply means that I’m on the right track. Everything is going according to plan.” Regulus said and they all looked at each other in silence for a while.
“Dying is a part of your plan?” Dorcas asked with a raised eyebrow and they all waited for him to speak.
“It alway has been. Because if I die then that means that I managed to turn the tides of war. If I die, the Dark Lord will be destroyed.” Regulus admitted. Sirius crossed his arms at his chest and waited for Regulus to continue speaking but he didn’t seem like he wanted to.
“And how do you plan on destroying him exactly?” Sybill asked, leaning in closer to Regulus now who smirked, a wicked look in his eyes.
“I’m going to bind him to me.” He admitted and raised his chin, letting every bit of pride come through. His friends looked at each other in confusion before Barty’s eyes widened.
“You’re going to take on the Mark?” He asked and Regulus nodded his head, making Barty shake his head.
“I have to. The Order is looking for a way to destroy him but they have been unsuccessful, so I’m going to look for a way from inside, from within.” Regulus said and Barty shook his head again.
“This is madness.” He said and Dorcas nodded her head.
“He’s right. This isn’t right.”
“How did you even come up with this idea? Have you been talking to someone about this?” Sybill had asked and Regulus nodded his head.
“Dumbledore knows.” was all he said before Sirius stormed into the school again, marching for Dumbledore’s office. Little did he know that Dumbledore would dismiss him and would not confirm a word Regulus said outside.
Over the course of the next few weeks, he would forget all about what he heard outside of Hogwarts. He would only remember it when he finally noticed Regulus had been missing since that day. Even his own friends seemed worried about his absence.
Evan and Pandora would seem defeated on the daily basis, like they failed at whatever it was they were trying to do to stop Regulus from leaving, from doing the unthinkable. Regulus’ friends would become hectic after that, constantly in the library, trying to find out where Regulus was.
Pandora would even go so far to inhale plants she should not have in order to force a vision into her head, but nothing would work. Regulus had disappeared and none of them knew if he was even alive.
And a couple of weeks after that, James and Sirius would come across Pandora standing in the middle of the streets with wide eyes, tears streaming down her face while she shook. James and Sirius would look at each other before James spoke.
“Pandora? What’s going on?” James had asked while she turned to face him. She looked scared and the sight unsettled both boys before her. Pandora was never afraid.
“Pandora?” Sirius had called out and she gulped.
“Regulus- I can see him-” She had started to speak and Sirius stepped forwards, looking around and frowning in confusion when he realized they were all alone.
“What do you mean you can see him?” James had asked.
“I can see him- and I think on the other side of the city, Evan can hear him too which means only one thing-” Pandora spoke, her eyes still wide open while Sirius shook his head, realization finally dawning on him, finally remembering what he overheard outside of Hogwarts weeks ago.
“He’s dying. Regulus is dying right now.” She whispered and shook her head while a sob finally came through. James grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her.
“Where the hell is he, Pandora?” He asked in panic, Sirius still frozen in shock while Pandora sobbed.
“I don’t know. I see a cave, a locket and an empty grail. I see him in the water. He’s trying to escape but something keeps dragging him under but I can’t- I can’t hear him- I can’t see where he is-” She spoke and James cursed while he turned to look at Sirius.
“You said Evan can hear him. Then let’s go to Evan.” Sirius had said before he pulled them all through a portal. Evan was on his bed, sitting with the same look on his face. He was all alone too.
“I heard him, Panda. He was begging for help, for Barty. Regulus doesn’t beg.” Evan whispered, the look in his eyes distant and Pandora sobbed.
“Where the hell is my brother, Evan?” Sirius had growled out while Evan only sighed.
“I sent Sybill, Dorcas and Barty his way. But it’s already too late.” He spoke and looked at Sirius with a pointed look in his eyes.
“Regulus is dead and the water in the Cave has turned red. The tides of war have been shifted and the Dark Lord is mortal once more.” Pandora spoke with wide eyes when James suddenly sobbed, realization dawning on him.
“He had to die for the Dark Lord to die.” James said, finally realizing that this was it. The war would soon be over thanks to Regulus and he would not be there to see the Dark Lord fall.
Then a week later the war came and a great battle at Hogwarts broke out. Pandora refused to fight in the war that took her friend away from her though and she gulped. None of Regulus’ friends were the same after his death.
Dorcas had grown closed off to anyone who wasn’t her little group of friends. Pandora refused to fight and spent her free hours in the library, looking for something no one knew anything about. Evan spent his days in the forest, sitting on the top branch of the tree where he spent most of his time with Regulus. He barely talked to anyone now.
Barty grew more reckless with his violence and if he wasn’t fighting someone then he was in the library with Pandora with his nose buried in books. It’s how he got 12 O.W.L.S. But his cruelty also grew out of control and he was one day caught by Dumbledore in the forest with Bellatrix, torturing Longbottoms.
He spent a month in the dungeon all alone then, not that he cared for he had lost everything the day Regulus died.
And Sybill. Poor Sybill got so lost in her head that she no longer walked around as the powerful and dangerous Trelawney. She walked around in a daze, lost in her thoughts and often confused as to how she ended up wherever she ended up in Hogwarts.
Sirius and James no longer messed around in the halls, still mourning the loss of Regulus Black. Sirius could not forgive himself for not trying to talk to him once more before he died. And James could never forgive himself for not admitting his feelings for him before he died. Remus often sat with them, lost on how to help them while Peter tried to avoid them as much as he could, not able to look them in the eyes after what he did.
They didn’t know. None of them knew of his role in Regulus’ demise but he did and he could not face them.
Six months had passed since Regulus’ death when Pandora finally found what she was looking for. She had gathered her friends outside, at the entrance to the forest and smiled for the first time since Regulus’ death. Then she showed them a small necklace with an hourglass as a locket.
“Let’s get our friend back.” She had said and Barty’s eyes widened.
“Is that what I think it is?” He asked and she nodded her head eagerly.
“Panda, how did you get this?” Sybill had asked and Pandora gulped.
“Panda?” Dorcas prompted her to speak and Pandora sighed.
“I stole it from Dumbledore.”
“Panda!” Evan yelled, making Sirius and James look at them. Pandora glared at her twin brother and sighed.
“His stupid plan killed my best friend. So, now I’m going to bring him back. I’m going to fix this with or without your help, Ev.” Pandora whispered, making sure no one but her friends could hear her. They all looked at each other and nodded their heads.
“Let’s get Reggie back.” Barty whispered and they began walking to the forest, ready to turn the time and fix all that Dumbledore broke when he allowed a child to lead his war. Sirius and James tried to follow them but they disappeared into a portal as soon as they stood up from the ground.
“There is one more thing you need to understand.” Pandora started to speak and Barty hummed while they walked towards the cave that took their friend.
“He might come back vengeful and with the need to kill whoever is guilty of his death.” She said and everyone stopped walking. They turned to face her and Pandora gulped.
“What do you mean? Voldemort is dead.” Barty asked and Pandora gulped.
“But his parents aren’t, Dumbledore isn’t and Peter isn’t.” She said and Barty’s eyes widened as he stalked towards her once more.
“Panda, did Pettigrew have something to do with Reggie’s death?” He asked and she nodded her head. Barty growled then.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? He’s still prancing around like nothing happened!”
“Why would I tell you, Barty? I couldn’t lose you too and we all know if he died, you would have ended up in Azkaban!” Pandora yelled and Barty clenched his jaw. He took a few deep breaths before he moved away from her again.
“Very well. Know this then, Panda. If Regulus returns thirsty for revenge, I will be the one helping him even if it kills me.” Barty promised and Pandora gulped but nodded her head. Then they all walked into the cave together. Sybill went around the cave, checking every corner, almost expecting to find Regulus somewhere in the corner, already alive.
She could still not believe that Regulus had died. He was like an unshakable mountain and seeing him fall first was unbelievable to her. Especially now that she knew Pettigrew was to blame. She found herself wondering if Sirius knew, if James knew. Had they planned on killing Regulus? Or was it all Pettigrew on his own?
Pandora stood before the lake and took a hold of the time turner on her neck. She gulped and looked at her friends who nodded their heads. Then she turned the turner and focused on Regulus only. She did not want to turn it all around, she only wanted to turn Regulus’ time back.
Their eyes widened while they watched Regulus’ corpse come to float in the water. Barty took a shaky breath and despite the warnings of his friends, he jumped into the lake, pulling Regulus out. Nothing dragged them down then. Barty gently laid Regulus down on the stones in the cave and let a small cry of relief out.
Tears streamed down his face while he started to massage Regulus’ chest, hoping to wake him up, to restart his heart. Seconds passed before Regulus took a deep breath and his eyes blew wide open. Then he started to cough out the water on the sides. Minutes later, he calmed down and looked up at his friends.
“What happened?” He asked and Dorcas stepped forwards.
“You died. You’ve been dead for six months. Panda brought you back with the time turner.” She said and Regulus’ wide eyes turned to look at Pandora before he nodded his head towards her.
“Thank you, Panda.” Regulus uttered before he looked at a worried Evan and Regulus shook his head. He was not to say whatever it is he remembered Regulus saying before he died. Regulus then looked at Sybill, Pandora and lastly at Barty when the realization dawned on him. They already knew.
Evan could still remember the day he heard Regulus die, the day he heard Regulus speak before he went under. Pandora had described the scenery to him later. Regulus had the grail in his hand and was about to drink the poison when he spoke.
“You’ve been seeing this moment your entire lives.” Regulus started, tears streaming down his face.
“I don’t know if you’ll hear or see me but I hope you will. What’s going to happen isn’t your fault. You were wonderful friends and I was glad to know you. My death is a neccessary variable in this equation of war. I just never imagined I would die before the Dark Lord. I never imagined I would be sealed inside here.” Regulus had spoken while he raised his grail in toast. Someone had sealed Regulus inside, someone had wanted him dead. Evan now knew it to be Pettigrew.
“Take care of our little family for me. And win the war!” Was what Regulus said before he drank the poison and was dragged under.
Regulus now stood up in the Cave that took his life and took a deep breath, shaking his head as if to clear it. Then when he opened his eyes again, they were angry, full of wrath as he looked to the exit. He was going to kill anyone who had a part to play in his death, he thought before he disappeared into a portal. Regulus’ friends panicked and Evan started to curse.
“Where could he have gone? Who would he go to first?” Barty asked when Sybill gulped.
“His parents?” She asked and they disappeared through a portal immediately. It is safe to say that Regulus started to chase his vengeance from the smallest rat. He ended up in the forest near Hogwarts and smirked when he saw Remus, Sirius, James and Peter in a clearing together.
They all stood frozen in shock while Regulus marched towards them. Was this what his friends were up to before Sirius and James could follow them? Had they managed to bring him back? They watched him take Peter by the lapels on his jacket only to collide their heads, making Peter fall on his back.
Regulus smiled while blood poured down his face from his nose. James only stood frozen in shock, afraid that if he blinked Regulus would be gone. He took notice of the torn clothes he wore and the red lines all over his chest, neck and arms. Someone had really dragged him under, he realized.
“No,no,no,no,no! You weren’t supposed to make it out! He said you wouldn’t make it out!” Peter yelled and froze once he realized what he said. Regulus smiled like a lunatic and pulled Peter to his feet, ignoring the pain coming from his wounds. Only vengeance mattered now.
“What’s up, Pete? Surprised to see me alive?” Regulus asked before he swung his hand, landing a good punch to Peter’s face, making him stumble. That was when Regulus’ friends appeared and moved to stand between the three friends of Peter and Regulus. At some point Peter had started to run from Regulus who only laughed.
“Oh don’t run, little rat! I’m going to squish you like a fucking bug when I find you.” Regulus had yelled, seething with rage while he followed him into the forest.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sirius finally yelled in confusion and Barty continued to glare at them all. All of them had failed Regulus.
“Your friend sent Regulus to the cave to destroy the Horcrux. Regulus would have managed to escape alive had your friend not been working with the Dark Lord who then sealed the cave, leaving Regulus trapped inside. And now he’s back for revenge.” Evan spoke while James took a shaky breath. Barty only continued to glare.
“That’s impossible. Peter wouldn't-” Sirius started and Dorcas glared.
“But Peter did.” She said and that’s when Regulus’ magic threw Peter back before Sirius’ feet. Peter groaned in pain as he got up and Regulus emerged from the darkness behind him, like an angel of death.
“Now tell him what you did.” Regulus said and when Peter remained silent he growled before he threw the crucio curse on him. Once Peter stopped screaming in pain, Regulus pulled him back on his feet.
“Tell my biological brother the truth before I fucking kill you. It’s a fact that I can’t let you live on, but you can at least tell him what you did before I kill you.” Regulus started to speak and then took a deep breath when Peter remained silent.
“I’m not a killer despite everything I did, everything that already happened, but I will kill you. The least you can do is tell Sirius what you did to invoke my wrath. I have done many things since I joined the Death Eaters as a spy but killing an innocent person is not one of those things.” Regulus started to speak again while Peter shook in his fear.
“I sent him to the Cave to die. I set him up.” Peter admitted and Sirius’ eyes widened in disbelief.
Regulus took a deep breath before he chuckled. Sirius looked at him with sudden realization and belief in his eyes. But it was too late for that now, Regulus thought. We would never again be brothers, he thought and Sirius looked away again.
“Good. Now, let me bring you to the Death you tried to force upon me, you piece of shit.” Regulus spoke before he pulled Peter by his hair through another portal, his friends following right after, as did Sirius and his friends this time.
Regulus came back from the dead but at what cost, Sirius wondered. His brother seemed angrier than ever before. What kind of a life would that be to lead?
They were at the cave once more when Regulus threw Peter inside. He walked in after him, only a few steps in and Peter was shaking in fear. Regulus smirked and took a deep breath.
“Enjoy my tomb.” He said before he walked outside and threw a sealing spell on the Cave, making sure he could not escape or be heard by anyone outside. Then Regulus turned to look at his friends and frowned.
“I have been dead for six months. I imagine the Dark Lord is dead then?” He asked and they all nodded their heads. Regulus sighed in relief and then remembered his parents.
“My parents?” He asked and Sirius coughed to get attention. Regulus looked at him and waited.
“Both in Azkaban.” He said and Regulus smiled, nodding his head in understanding. He took his still damp wand out and said one word. They all watched a letter write itself in air then disappear. Regulus may not be able to get to his parents but he sure could drive them mad, he thought.
“To my parents,
I know you are where I cannot get to you.
I want you to know that I have returned and will wait for you to escape, should you plan to.
The Cave is calling your name in retribution for all you did to your children.
I need you to know that you are only still alive because I can’t get to you.
-R.A.B.”
That was the letter that landed in the hands of Walburga and Orion Black seconds later. And if they started to scream in terror at the same time, no one would ever know.
Regulus straightened his back before he turned to look at Barty, at the man he loved more than anything, not that he could tell him that when he was so blinded by rage.
“That means I only need one more person.” Regulus said and Barty immediately nodded in understanding.
“Who?” James asked and Regulus smiled.
“The one who made me his child soldier because he was too cowardly to fight his own war!” He said and they all nodded in understanding. Sirius, James and Remus looked at each other in shock. Dumbledore was next.
Regulus disappeared with Barty before anyone could blink. Sybill turned to look at Dorcas and gulped.
“What do we do now?” She asked and Dorcas shrugged her shoulders. They all turned to look at the Rosier twins then who simply sighed.
“We wait. It won’t be long now.” Pandora said and they all gulped and sat down on the stones before the cave, ignoring Peter knocking on the shield behind them. They would soon get what they deserved.
Regulus appeared in Dumbledore’s office, startling the old man who looked at him in disbelief.
“Surprised to see me alive, I take it?” Regulus asked as he remained planted where he stood. Dumbledore gulped.
“It is good to see you alive, young man.” Dumbledore said and Regulus laughed while he shook his head.
“Is it really? Are you sure about that?” He asked and Dumbledore sighed, standing up from behind his desk as he realized what was going on.
“You’re seeking revenge at the wrong place, boy.” Dumbledore said and Regulus chuckled while he took his wand out.
“Am I really?” He asked and quickly threw the Imperio curse on Dumbledore, making sure that he would soon willingly follow Regulus into the Cave.
“You groomed us to become your child soldiers, to fight in your war while you sat in your office and did not care who lived or who died for your cause. Now it is my turn not to care about you. Follow me, Dumbledore.” Regulus spoke and Barty opened the portal for them to go through.
Once they did, all their friends stood up and watched in shock while Dumbledore walked exactly where Regulus told him to walk with no complaints. Regulus then unsealed the Cave only for a second, his eyes on Peter the entire time while Dumbledore walked inside. Regulus raised his chin and sealed the Cave shortly afterwards.
“Now get in the water.” Regulus said and Dumbledore did as he was told. Peter remained standing though, refusing to die so quickly.
“Get in the water, Peter, or else I will go inside and rip your throat out with my teeth.” Regulus glared and watched Peter reluctantly and slowly walk towards the water, hesitating to go inside.
Regulus only tilted his head to the side and then Peter walked inside. Seconds later, the gray hands started to claw at both Dumbledore and Peter, making them scream in pain as they slowly drowned.
Regulus raised his chin and took a deep breath of relief once he realized they were gone. All those who played a role in his death were now gone. Regulus turned around to face his friends again, all the rage gone from his eyes now.
It was over. Regulus was alive once more. He sniffled while he pulled Dorcas and Sybill into a tight hug, the two girls eager to keep him as close as possible, almost as if they believed he would be safer that way.
Minutes later, they separated and Regulus walked to the twins. He gulped and opened his arms, pulling them into an even tighter hug.
“Thank you both so much. Thank you. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trying. Thank you for bringing me back. Thank you for saving me.” Regulus spoke while Evan sniffled.
Pandora revelled in the feeling of succeeding at saving her friend and cursed her parents for making her and Evan believe that meddling was out of option. It wasn’t. They changed it all when they brought Regulus back. They saved their friend and they did not give a damn what would be messed up in the future for that. They didn’t care because their friend was alive and well and he was back. That was all that mattered.
Evan then sighed and separated, kissing Regulus’ forehead in a comforting manner, making the boy relax immediately. Sirius watched from the sides, finally realizing that even if he worried for Regulus now, the boy meant what he said on his first day of Hogwarts. They were no longer brothers, they were nothing but strangers now. Regulus had new siblings.
Regulus feared facing Barty, his heart beating fast just at the thought of him being near him, so he turned to face Sirius and his friends.
“You tell anyone what I did today and I will obliviate you so hard, you won’t even remember your own names. Have I made myself clear?” Regulus asked and watched them nod their heads. He raised his chin again when he felt Evan poke his shoulder. He turned to face his friend who only pointed with his head to Barty who sat a bit further away on one giant stone, watching Regulus the entire time.
“I heard you that night in the Cave. I know, Regulus.” Evan said and Regulus gulped, looking away from everyone then and James’ heart broke when he realized what this meant. Regulus was in love with Barty.
“I watched him break down. I watched him suffer because he never got to confess to you. I watched him spiral into madness after your death. I need you to talk to each other now, Regulus.” Evan said and Regulus gulped and nodded his head, turning to walk towards Barty whose eyes never strayed from Regulus. Not just today but ever. Barty never looked at anyone other than Regulus.
“I died regretting one thing, Barty.” Regulus started once he stood before the green haired Slytherin boy who took a deep breath.
“I regretted only one thing when you died. I regretted not telling you how I really felt.” Barty started and Regulus took a breath of relief.
“I love you. I have since our first year. I love you.” Regulus said and Barty stood up immediately, pulling him into a tight hug while he kissed the top of his forehead.
“I love you too. I love you so much that if you do something stupid like die again, I will follow you. I will follow you anywhere.” Barty admitted and tightened his hug on Regulus who only sniffled in relief and melted in his arms. They would all be fine now. Regulus was back and in the arms of the one he loved, like he always wanted to be. It would all be fine now.