Chapter 2
The days flew by, Regulus and the other members of his unit were quickly training and learning new ways to combat the death eaters. It had been a few weeks since Regulus arrived, and he had quickly adapted to the others, and learned their strengths and weaknesses. He tried to stay away from them as much as he could only interacted with them enough to get the information he needed. He was ready to get the information and head back, this was taking too long, the others were getting too comfortable around him.
Frank and Alice had gotten engaged, the day before, Regulus had seen it coming. They had been dating for years and years. It had been a few months now since the last battle. The death eaters were getting antsy, they wanted to attack and push the lines farther. He needed to do something, needed to send word to the death eaters and get the ball rolling. He knew his brother would be in the middle of the fight. wherever voldemort was, that's where he could find Sirius, or atleast where they thought he was. Regulus had learned a lot about him in the time he had been here. Sirius had some close friends, Peter, who was a part of the army too, but Potter wouldn't tell him anything other than his name. and Remus, a werewolf who was on the front lines as a medic.
Regulus couldn't understand why a werewolf would want to join the front lines, and help heal soldiers, and he was not the only one who was shocked by it. James had tried to talk him out of it, but he was set on it. werewolves were not widely accepted in the magical world. The only reason Remus could get a job was because his family had ties to the government. and from what Regulus had seen.
The ministry was desperate for anyone to be on their side.
which was part of the reason why he needed to find Sirius. If he could get him to repent and accept the dark lord, he would be pardoned. He wouldn't be killed like the rest of the blood traitors and half breeds. His brother was loyal, he knew the dark lord would take him back.
Regulus would save him. He had to.
The group was done for the day when they had decided that they were going to do some so-called "group bonding". Regulus didn't see a point to it. The death eaters never did anything like this,you had your allies and your enemies but that was it. No friends, or any of this bonding when there was clearly more work to be done.
Regulus had decided to follow along anyway, if he could learn something about James's battle plans, or any of the other soldiers. The death eaters might be able to use that against them. They had stopped walking, and Regulus was surprised to see the lake.
"What are we doing here?" He asked.
"I used to come here when I was a teenager, it's my favorite place on the base. me and my brothers, "James told him.
Regulus nodded and stayed silent, he didn't have the energy to talk, the others were all so chatty and happy. It was like nothing was happening in the war. How could they act like nothing was wrong when there was so much at stake. He couldn't understand.
"You seem sad, are you okay?" Mary asked, she was next to him, and she reached out to touch his arm.
"I'm fine," he brushed her off.
"You can talk to us, Regulus. we're here for you" Frank said.
"There's nothing to talk about, I'm just a quiet person," Regulus rolled his eyes.
"and a grumpy one," James laughed.
To Regulus, he would say that laugh was from someone who had never known sorrow, almost childish. Filled with wonder, not at all weighed down by the situation that surrounded them. Regulus knew his laughter would have a different sound, filled with fear and anger. The last time he had laughed it had been a forced chuckle, a way to show his parents he wasn't bothered by the harsh words and the beating.
"Come on, let's sit, have some food" Alice suggested.
Regulus followed, and sat near the group, watching them chatter, he didn't listen or join in. Just watched, he wasn't going to have anything to eat, the others had offered him food. He didn't need it, it would just weigh him down, and if he got injured on the battlefield he couldn't afford to lose his strength.
He watched the other four, laughing, eating, smiling. All the things he wasn't, hadn't, and never would do. It made him sick, he wished the dark lord would just end them already, end the war. It was all freakish. He couldn't wait to leave and never see any of them again. He could hear their conversations, but wasn't really listening, not until he heard someone call his name. He looked up and saw that it was james.
"Did you have anything to eat?" James asked.
"No, I'm not hungry," Regulus shrugged.
"Okay," James didn't push it, but he was worried.
"You need to eat, we don't want you passing out on the battlefield." Frank said.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "i will be fine, the last thing we should be worried about right now is eating, there's a war going on"
"We can't win the war if we are all exhausted and weak from hunger. you're not a machine. you can't just go on without any breaks, mental and physical. so stop being serious."
"I'm not Sirius," Regulus said.
"exactly " James said, them mishearing him and thinking he meant the word ‘serious’, the others laughed.
Regulus rolled his eyes, "we should get back and train, the sooner we finish the better"
"No, we have the rest of the day off, there's nothing we can do until the sun sets, we're going on an attack tonight. were all ready for it. you especially, i don't know who you learned your tactile skill from. but you can fight, and are a strong wizard. And with how you're going I wouldn't be surprised if you could outsmart the death eaters" James said, the others nodding in agreement.
Regulus didn't have an answer, so he just nodded. They were wrong. He was a terrible wizard, and couldn't even defend himself, the death eaters had given him his power, his knowledge. His skills had been learned from his parents, and his brother. Sirius had been a talented wizard, a natural, their parents always bragged about how good he was, and how much potential he had.
wasted potential now.
Regulus had only gotten the skills because the dark lord was kind enough to help him, to teach him. And even then it took him forever to be as good as he was, he had been fighting since he was fifteen. He wouldn't be where he was without his teacher, one that had taught him everything. It was as Pandora Rosiers father, someone he had found himself grown rather close with. He had taught him everything he knew.
"What are we going to do until nightfall then?" Regulus asked.
"Well, we can hang out. Talk, play games, whatever. Or we can go and relax, or read" James told him.
"How about we go and train, the more we practice the better we get." Regulus said he had gotten sick of sitting around and doing nothing.
"We're done training for today, Regulus. you should learn how to relax, it'll be better for your health." James teased him, "I expect you to open up at some point to all of us". Regulus nodded, and stayed silent, they sat by the lake and talked for the rest of the night, James had pulled out a deck of cards and they played a few games, Regulus wasn't that interested. But it was something to keep him occupied, and to not have to deal with his thoughts. He still wasn't comfortable with the others. He was only there for a few more weeks. So it didn't matter, they would all be dead soon.
Regulus watched the others, and how they talked, the way they played. He was surprised by how open the others were. How much they trusted him. It would be their downfall. He could easily tell the death eaters every weakness, everything they were hiding. He was tempted to, just so he could get this over with.
But the Dark Lord had told him to play the long game. Get closer to them, and find their secrets, their plans. Learn how the other side worked, and why they were winning. He had been there for a while, he had already learned most of their weaknesses, but the Dark Lord wanted him to stay, to be sure that everything was in place. He had only been there for a few weeks, but had gotten closer to the group, they would trust him.
And then when the time came.
He would betray them.
Regulus was tired, and he could tell the others were as well. Not tired from lack of sleep, but tired of war and lack of peace, "We should get going, it's almost time to head out," Frank said, pulling Regulus from his thoughts. The group all got up, and began heading back to the base. Regulus walked behind them, watching their movements. He was careful to keep an eye on them. Making sure he didn't fall behind or walk too fast. He needed to stay close to them. He needed them. They would make the mission easier, he could get closer to his brother and the marauders.
"What's the plan? I haven't been informed." Regulus asked.
"You'll know when we get there." James told him, "Just stick to the training, and everything will be fine."
Regulus nodded, and did not push it. He had a feeling the others knew the plan, and we're not going to tell him. Or he really misjudged them and they really were a bunch of idiots who somehow were beating them in some battles. Regulus had been in a lot of fights, he knew what to expect, and he knew that no matter what.
Death was everywhere.
It was all around him. He was no longer scared of it. It was like an old friend. He was ready for it.