Chapter 1
—The house of Black—
Morning dawned; the young boy as he lay flat on his forest-green silk mattress. It is the summer of nineteen seventy-seven. Regulus has just turned sixteen; two more years, and his studies will be finished, but it doesn't mean that he will finally be free, away from his parents' old pureblood traditions. He was to be married to his cousin, who was at least six years older than him, after his graduation. The thought made him uneasy. Regulus has finally decided to rise, as he hurries down the halls; every portrait of his estranged brother has been burned or shredded by their mother.Upon entering the living area, he noticed his mother enjoying— Walburga doesn't enjoy, rather, she is having her morning tea with a disdainful look on her face as she reads the morning tabloid; Walburga has set her tea aside, appearing somewhat displeased. She carefully folded the tabloid she had been reading and placed it next to her now-cold tea.
Quietly, Regulus retrieved a book and began reading books that were not meant to be accessible to anyone, yet here he is reading one of the darkest collections his family have as he tries to avoid any kind of conversation with his mother. It was his first summer without his brother, and surely his mother had a lot to say about it. Regulus discreetly glanced over his book, observing his mother's actions. It has been only five minutes since she has set aside the tea she had been drinking and the paper she had been reading. He watched as his mother retrieved her wand, rising to her feet and shattering the porcelain wedding anniversary gift; it seemed they did not value it. Both his parents were cousins and had been married off by their parents to keep the bloodline pure. He watched as his mother kept destroying everything she saw that was not valuable to her. Sparks of red shoot from her wand. She was now screaming, his father was nowhere to be seen, he is probably out with the one he so calls Lord, The only thing his parents have yet to agree on is the ideals they learned from their youth. As a Black having no power is useless, being dead is better than having no power and control over everything. Regulus didn't bother calming his mother; his father could handle her hysterics.
Finding his mother's emotional outbursts excessive, Regulus decided to leave and resume his reading in a more peaceful location. Just as he was nearing the doorframe, a shrill voice bellowed from behind him.
"And where do you think you're going?" Asked his mother, whose anger keeps rising up.
"About to go somewhere more quiet mother, could I not?" He tilts his head as he asks his mother.
Though it only provoked her anger even more. "NO!" Her loud screams echoed throughout the entire household. She started yet again firing the walls.
"You will wait here until your father comes back!" She gritted the words out.
Regulus stood in silence, quite frozen actually. He went back and sat down to where he was before, he didn't bother to say any word at all.
"KREACHER!" He called their house elf.
A popping sound was heard, and the elf apparated to where they are currently located.
"FIND YOUR BLASTED MASTER AND BRING HIM RIGHT HERE THIS INSTANT!" She commanded the elf, kicking him right there at his stomach, which made Regulus' face displeased.
Kreacher has bowed down to her, eager to fulfill his duties to the noble and most ancient house of Black. "Kreacher will for mistress."
With a snap of his finger the elf has disappeared going Merlin knows where.
It didn't take long before their house elf reappeared, this time he had been accompanied by his rather drunken father. It was before ten in the morning, yet he appears to have attended a celebratory event, judging by his inebriated state. He could barely stand, he was chuckling, all too giddy for someone who crucios the living daylight out of his own blood, his own son, he was far too happy for Regulus' liking. Walburga gave him a displeased look, scoffing at her husband's actions. She didn't say a word, not until her husband had finally settled down. Kreacher, at his mistress' request has brought his father a vial of sober-up potion so that he may act like how he is supposed to act. The fearsome father everyone knows him to be.
What a lovely family gathering. Regulus had thought.
He sunk lower on the chair he has been sitting on, he never wanted to be in their presenve ever again, but he has to, he can never do what Sirius has done. To leave the family means walking away from everything he had known. It didn't matter whether Sirius think he is a coward for not running away from this hell hole they called home. What Sirius has done gave him the burden of being the heir, the expectation Sirius has brought upon him became bigger as soon as he decided the Potters would be his new family.
Walburga kept pacing back and forth in their drawing room, distraught from whatever the Daily Prophet had published today. As for Orion a pained look was visible on his face, no doubt it's from the elvish wine he had been drinking all morning.
"Are you not going to say something dear husband of mine?" Walburga hissed at her husband who likely is having a bad case of headache.
Regulus watch his father try and grunt out a word out of his mouth. "I... Had a talk with Adélard Rosier."
Regulus sat up straight, trying to listen to the conversation more intently.
"Never mind what The Prophet says." He waved his hand out in a dismissing manner. "It has already been taken care of and I have laid out the contracts with Adélard already." He was far too pleased with whatever he had been scheming. Regulus didn't like where this was going.
"I have never been more appalled in my life." She scoffed.
"Dear... " His father tries to calm his mother.
"Perhaps you should speak with your brother, clearly it is his doing." He was now reading The Prophet that had his mother into hysterics.
"You should be the one speaking to him, are you or are you not the head of this household?" She hissed at Orion.
Clearly this is none of his concern, he doesn't see why his mother is in need of his presence. There are far more activities he rather do, maybe perhaps brewing as it takes it off his mind from a lot of things.
"Mother," there was a pause, interrupting his mother's rage. "Surely I am not needed wherever this conversation will lead." There is nothing more than Regulus' want to escape from this nightmare of a family discussion that they we're having.
"YOU are not going anywhere!" She snarled. "This matter involves you and I say that this in fact is a family matter! This pertains to what the future of our most Ancient and Noble House of Black may be, you should be concerned as you are the heir to the house of black." Walburga huffed.
"The heir? Me?" Regulus scoffed at the idea; being the heir was Sirius's responsibility, not his. "That's Sirius' responsibility, never mine." He shook his head.
"It's yours now." Her words were as cold as ice
"Your brother has been dallying with a blood-traitor and no less he's been playing house with that filth of a half-breed. He is no Black, he is no son of mine." Her eyes had gone wider, eyes grew darker and every second her anger grew wider.
“And is that why you're fuming with anger? Because of Sirius?”
“No, it is not, however—” The silence was loud. Enough that it feels like they can hear his heart beating. “You are no longer betrothed to her, as of this morning her engagement to Lucius Malfoy has been announced in the daily prophet.”
His heart pounded so hard that he felt that it almost did a somersault. Regulus never felt happy, he never felt so free. Well, at least he had escaped the marriage with his cousin.
Regulus maintained a poker face, not wanting to rile his mother up. He looked over at his father, who seemed still far too pleased with whatever was going on with his mind.
“Care to share what has been on your mind dearest? You seem far too pleased ever since you have arrived.” Walburga smiled wryly, her icy tone never leaving.
“Well—” Orion started, the smile that was plastered on his face was still there. “It seems that the dark lord has taken knowledge of our support.” He proudly informed his wife—cousin.
A smirk has replaced the frown the Walburga has had on earlier.
Fuck. Regulus had an idea where this one would lead, he's just hoping that he is wrong.
“The dark lord has personally requested that we are to join within his ranks and cleanse our world with him as our ideologies do match with his.” He smiled.
Regulus felt sick.
“I also informed him that our son has been exceptional in his studies.He was pleased to hear that our boy had done well, but saddened by the news about his betrothal to your niece. Though he strongly suggested the daughter of Antoine Rosier. He said that with that pairing, our family would be stronger than ever. Think about it, dear; we will gain access to connections we currently lack.” Orion pitched.
Clearly, Regulus has no say with this matter. His opinions are nothing but useless words.
“And what have you said?” Her eyebrows quirk.
“Of course I have taken in the suggestion and said that I will discuss it further with Antoine Rosier.”
“Wonderful, it seems the marriage matter has been taken care of after all.”
Fucking delightful. He did not anticipate his father would prepare betrothal contracts so soon after his previous engagement ended.
“Great, it seems that my life has already been set, wonderful.” He spoke slowly and languidly.
“Of course, it is to ensure that you marry the right family and secure our bloodline.”
Regulus, feeling overwhelmed, sought a way to escape, wishing to avoid further contact with his parents.
“Before you go.” His father stopped him. “If the dark lord is pleased with you. You are to be marked before the end of summer.”
There was no escape.
“Do not.” He drawled out the words, “disappoint.” Regulus offered no response, maintaining direct eye contact.
He didn’t want this.
There’s no way out.
“Do you understand Regulus?” That wasn't a question; it's a requirement. It is necessary for him to fully understand.
“Yes, father.” His voice lacked inflection.
“You are dismissed. Go.”
Regulus promptly departed the drawing-room without further comment.