does it end well?
Pandora wasn’t a Seer, not in the true sense. But she could see pathways. She could see the big differences that were made from big decisions.
So when Regulus revealed his plan, it was easy to see what the impact would be. If he didn’t obliviate James, and himself, it wouldn’t have ended well. It was too soon. Regulus needed time.
The war was done. Won, with Regulus’ help, in ways no one had been expecting. Regulus had gone ‘missing’ when he was seventeen. He had dropped horcrux after horcrux into Dumbledore’s office, in Lily’s dorm, in the Shrieking Shack for Remus and Sirius and James, slipped information to Dorcas. Dorcas and Pandora had been the only ones that knew it was Regulus. They had been sworn to secrecy.
Not that there weren’t losses. Marlene was dead. Alice and Frank. Dorcas. Evan. Peter, caught on the wrong side. There weren’t many people that would come after them.
Pandora was pretty sure she was the only one that had known about Regulus and James’ relationship. Maybe Remus knew. But he wouldn’t go searching for a ghost. Not like James would.
Barty was out there somewhere too. He had disappeared after Evan died, in grief, in madness. In all likelihood, he had killed himself. Pandora just had to hope that if he found Regulus and herself, that he would be kind. Realize what was going on. Not reveal the truth.
Pandora couldn’t stand the thought of the memories of Regulus’ love disappearing for forever, so she begged Regulus to extract all the good ones. Of James, of Sirius, of herself and Evan and Barty. Of Dorcas. Regulus complied. Pandora did the same. They put the vials in a chest, with a small pensieve. The key was half the length of a finger, and Pandora made Regulus wear it on the delicate chain he wore around his neck. The chain that held the small, engraved coin that James had gotten him. The one that had the sun.
It was difficult to watch Regulus cast the obliviate spell. They had gone together, snuck into the flat James, Remus and Sirius had bought together. He was quiet. He had always been quiet. But the anguish on his face was clear. He had reached out to touch James’ mussed bedhead, pulling back at the last second as though struck.
And once they had dragged everything into the new house they had bought on the Maine coastline, surrounded by a freezing beach and windy woods, they had embraced.
“It’s time, Dora.” They were both crying silent tears.
“I know, Reg.”
“I miss Sirius.”
“I know.”
“I miss Evan.”
“I know.”
“And Dorcas. And Barty.”
Before they really knew what they were doing, they were on the floor, knees slotted against each other in an attempt to pull themselves together. Regulus had both his shaking hands clutched in her hair, holding her face to his chest. Pandora held onto his shirt. Regulus put his mouth to her hair, like he was going to kiss it, but he couldn’t, breathing heavily through his mouth, snot stuck in his nose.
It went unspoken, but Pandora knew he was missing James as well. For someone who only publicized his bad decisions, there were a lot of people that loved Regulus Black.
Regulus was whispering a prayer against her scalp. Or at least he thought it was a prayer, until she could decipher the words.
“I can’t. I have to. I can’t. I have to. I can’t. I have to I have to have to have to I have to I have to I have to–”
“Reg?”
Little breathless sobs still escaped him, but he quieted.
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have to.”
He drew back, grabbing her hands. This night contained the most physical contact she had had with him, ever.
“But it ends up okay? If we go through with it?”
A half sob, half laugh escaped her lips. She smiled.
“You know I wouldn’t let you go through with it if it didn’t, Reg.”
“Okay, Dora.”
“Are you ready?”
“Wait! Hold on-” Regulus withdrew, clutching the necklace in his hand. “I love you, James. Even if you can’t know. And–” He turned towards the window, to the moonlight streaming in. “Sirius, you aren’t out right now. But I love you too.” He turned back to Pandora.
“I’m ready now, I think.”
“Do I get to say some stuff too?”
“I wouldn’t dream of stopping you.”
Her voice was louder than she intended it, when it came out, but grew steadily when she realized she didn’t want to hide it. “I love you Evan! I miss you, you absolute idiot! And I love you Barty! I hope wherever you are, you find happiness. I love you Dorcas. I hope you and Marlene are having a honeymoon in whatever afterlife you end up in.
“And I love you, Regulus Black. With all your faults.”
He brought her hands to his lips, and kissed them softly. “I love you too, Pandora Rosier.”
They quieted, for long dragged out minutes, staring at each other. The tear tracks on both their cheeks had dried.
“Is it time?”
“Yeah, Reg. If you’re ready.”
“I am.” They rested their wands on each others' foreheads lightly. Like they were scared to press too hard.
“On three?”
“On three.”
Together, they counted off.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Obliviate.”