Chapter 1
“This is the end.
Hold your breath and count to ten.”
Regulus despised the ocean. But now, looking down at the crashing waves, he felt a strange sort of calm. For a while, Regulus stood unmoving, staring down from the cliff as the wind caressed his face in the form of a final goodbye.
Kreacher kept silent as Regulus tilted his face up towards the cloudy sky. He closed his eyes, breathing in the salty smell of the ocean. As if on cue, Regulus felt a droplet on his cheek, sliding off slowly as more fell. Of course, it rains now. He opened his eyes. Where had the sun gone?
With the intent of never returning, Regulus walked into the large cave, wondering what Sirius would think of him now. What would his parents think? Barty? Pandora?
He should be at Hogwarts, not willingly putting his life at stake for a war he never cared about. He would be in his sixth year now. It would have been the third week of classes after the summer break ended.
To the world, Regulus was dead. Has been for the past three months. He could laugh if they found out what he had truly been doing.
The past couple of months were taken up by reading. Regulus took as many books from his family library as possible. He read and read. Then he reread. He read ‘till all the words would merge. He read ‘till he possibly couldn’t anymore.
Regulus and Kreacher, the only ones who were aware Regulus was breathing, were hunting for Horcruxes, objects that contained parts of a wizard’s soul.
Tom Riddle’s Diary, Tom Riddle’s Ring, Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Nagini, Hufflepuff’s Cup, Slytherin’s Locket. And the wizard himself, Voldemort. All were objects that contained parts of his soul.
If all were destroyed, the soul would die. Besides the Dark Lord, the locket was the only one that remained. Regulus felt proud of himself. Though the only one to feel this way about Regulus, he thought it was well deserved. At sixteen years old, Regulus had completed the impossible.
He has singlehandedly figured out a way to put a stop to the bloody war. Better yet, he had deceived the Dark Lord himself and was only one object away from ending him for good.
Yes, he was very proud.
In the cave, there was a lake in the cave. At the middle, stood an island. Peering into the water, Regulus shivered at the sight of the several Inferi staring back up at him. Waiting. Waiting for him to join them.
Kreacher and Regulus clambered onto the tiny, creaky boat that was set on the sand. Regulus pushed the boat forward with the oars.
Are you proud of me now, brother?
The house elf and the Slytherin finally bumped into the island, silently getting off the boat.
Upon closer inspection, Regulus found a small, shallow bowl. There, sitting at the bottom was the Horcrux. He knew he had to drink the water.
It looked too easy.
“Kreacher, you must make sure I finish all the water. If anything is to happen to me, take the locket. Bring it to Dumbledore.” Regulus’ voice rang out in the cave, bouncing off the walls
“Bu-“
“You must bring it to Dumbledore. He’ll know what to do, understand?” His voice was more firm this time.
“Yes, master,” Kreacher’s voice trembled.
And with that, he took the cold bowl in his hands and started drinking.
The first couple of sips were doable. But as he reached the twentieth sip, his throat started to close and his eyes started to blur.
Regulus collapsed onto the sand, but Kreacher pushed the bowl towards him, feeding him the liquid.
“Water,” Regulus croaked. “I need water.”
“No, master, you must finish this, then you can drink,” Kreacher’s voice was much smoother than his.
Regulus dropped the bowl as he finished the liquid, and the locket tumbled out. Kreacher grabbed it, clutching it as he caught sight of Regulus on his hands and knees, crawling towards the water.
He felt Kreacher tug at his clothing, begging him to stay, but the urge for water was too much.
With a sigh of relief, Regulus cupped his hands and drank water from it. As he dipped his hands in a second time, bony fingers wrapped around his wrist. Around his legs.
“No,” Regulus protested weekly as he was pulled into the water. He was drowning
It hurt. He couldn’t breathe. Where was his wand? He needed his wand.
He was pulled deeper into the water and closed his eyes, accepting his fate. But by some miracle, Regulus could make out a muffled “Expelliarmus!”
Green light filled his vision, as the veiny hands were shot off of him.
This time, when a hand wrapped around his wrist, it pulled him up.