Regulus Arcturus Black (June 1986 - June 1987)
24th June 1986
‘Dear Hadrian,
I don’t know if you will receive this letter or not, as I am unsure if I’ll return from this mission in one piece.
For context, my name is Regulus Black, I am your uncle. I don’t know if Sirius has told you about me or not, but I’m hoping that he’s at least mentioned me in passing. You might remember me from the time I babysat you as a baby, or maybe you don’t. I don’t know what to write in this, but here goes I guess. I have done many things I am not proud of, and I was forced to endure pain that not many will be able to understand. I hope you haven’t experienced anything like I have; that you’ve lived a life that you can be proud of.
I have set up this letter so that it’ll be delivered to you when I am sure you’ll be able to understand its content. I don’t know when that is, you could be incredibly smart and understand this at age seven, or you could’ve experienced a normal, happy childhood and only see this letter on your twentieth birthday. Either way, I hope you haven’t been forced to endure the harrowing things our family is known for, especially my so-called mother. If, Merlin forbid, you have, well. I’m sorry my nephew, you were never meant to see that darkness, but at least you’ll be able to deal with many hardships as a result, and you’ll be wiser than your age for it – though that might not be the best thing.
You may be wondering what this mission I went on is. It must be interesting to see a Slytherin willing to brave uncertainty like a bloody Gryffindor (if you are a child reading this, I’m sorry for cursing. Don’t say these words aloud). Well… it is a mission to try and stop the Dark Lord (I was forced to take on the Dark Mark, so I cannot say or even write his bloody name without experiencing pain). He created an artefact that would stop him from dying, and I have decided to take on the task of retrieving and subsequently destroying it. Is this the wisest course of action? Probably not, but I have found myself alone in this world with no support. Even you father, my older brother who’d promised years ago to protect me from our family’s darkness, has decided to turn his back on me, writing me off as a bad influence like our other family members (I can’t say I completely blame him). If you are reading this letter, then I have not come back from that cave. Hopefully, Kreacher has though. He is the only creature (pun not intended) who has stayed by my side through everything, and I hope he can become a similar companion to you as the new Heir Black (even if Sirius has always hated him).
Has dying always been in my plans for the future? Not really. I always hoped I could find myself and use all the hours of studying I did at Hogwarts for something worthwhile, but alas, it seems I am destined to die young (I am currently on the precipice of my eighteenth birthday, which is quite ironic in my opinion). Am I proud of the life I have led? Not at all. But here I am, trying to do at least one good thing before I die.
I apologize for dumping my misery on you, but I have found writing to someone I have only met once (and will probably never meet again) quite therapeutic.
I do love you nephew, and I love loved my brother. Even if he may have poisoned your thoughts and beliefs of my character, please know I have always valued my family above all. I did follow the House of Black’s hidden moto to its very core. La famille passe en premier. These are the only words you need to know and follow nephew. They are words that will give you the courage and strength to do anything. For your family above all.
I have taken much of your time, but I will leave you with these final words.
Dark and Light aren’t synonymous with Good and Evil, they never have been. Do not listen to whatever Sirius and saint Dumbledore tell you that is different from this sentiment. It’s just a false rhetoric that the ghastly old man spouts to divide our world. The House of Black has always been Dark, but it doesn’t mean we’re Evil.
I was never Evil, Hadrian. Just misunderstood. And abandoned at the age of fourteen to burdens even men four times my age will never understand. I don’t blame Sirius for my pain (well, maybe a little), but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have taken the chance at a different destiny if I had been given it.
I hope you have a destiny more fulfilling and happier than mine; that is all I could wish for before my death.
Take care of yourself Hadrian, and never forget, our family is capable of anything, not just darkness.
Love,
Uncle Reg.’
“But…. He isn’t dead though.” Hadrian asked, confused by the words in the letter when he’d seen differently. The letter, a final goodbye from his Uncle Regulus, had appeared in front of Hadrian that morning, and after a lot of testing and diagnostic spells, his Uncle Moony had finally allowed him to read it.
“What?!” Remus asked, shocked by his Godson’s words.
“He isn’t dead. I’ve seen him a few times. He’s just asleep.” Hadrian said simply as if his words explained everything.
“Where have you seen him Hades?”
“When I fall asleep, I sometimes see him suspended in darkness. It’s like he’s asleep or in a coma, but he’s not dead.”
Remus’s eyes widened in shock at that. He knew that whenever Hadrian’s powers activated at night, he would be having a dream or a nightmare, but he didn’t know he was also having visions of his uncle.
“And you’re sure it’s Regulus?”
“Yeah, I saw his picture in the family tapestry after the first time I dreamed of him. Maybe he’s trapped and can’t get out, or maybe he’s in a coma? I know he’s not dead, though.” It wasn’t the first time Remus was both horrified and intrigued by the fact his Godson was only eight years old and able to understand the concepts of heartbreak, pain, loss and death, and spoke pretty casually about them. It broke Remus’s heart to know that he’d gone through so much for these things to be common place in his life, but Remus tried his best to give Hadrian a happy childhood after he’d come to stay with him, and he thinks he was pretty successful all things considered.
“Alright then. You want to go to where he is?” Remus asked simply, already able to easily read the look in Hadrian’s eyes. He wanted to go save his uncle whether Remus agreed or not. It was better to just help than hinder him in these situations (and Remus had; unfortunately, learned that the hard way).
“Yes.” Hadrian nodded, eyes glowing with determination. “Kreacher!”
A pop sounded beside the two and a very old house-elf appeared. He had a bulbous, snout-like nose, bloodshot eyes, many folds of skin, and white hair growing out of his bat-like ears. He was about a head shorter than Hadrian and had a permanent scowl on his face that softened slightly at the sight of Hadrian, who was smiling fondly at the elf.
“Hi Kreacher.”
“What can Kreacher be doing for Master Hades?” The loyal House-elf asked, bowing at a ninety degrees in respect.
“Could you take Uncle Moony and I to the place you last saw Uncle Regulus?” The elf immediately tensed, shaking his head frantically as he stammered.
“No-no Master Hades can’t go there. He can’t!”
“It’s alright, Kreacher. We think he’s alive and want to try and save him. If that’s not true, we can at least try retrieving his body to give it a proper burial.” Hadrian explained calmly, and Remus was once again surprised by his boy’s maturity, but he truly shouldn’t be.
“Master Reggy be alive?!” Kreacher shouted, the most emotion the two had ever seen from him.
“I think so. So, can you take use to where he is?” Hadrian asked again, and this time the elf nodded his head vigorously. He stood between Godfather and Godson, took each of their hands in his and the three disappeared from the room with a simple pop; the room was left eerily quite like the three hadn’t been there at all.
They appeared in a dark cave with a lake in the centre. There were two pieces of land; a small island on the other side of the lake and the area they were currently standing on that led to the opening of the cave. It was creepy, with an aura to it that made all three magical beings tense as if preparing for a fight that they knew wouldn’t happen.
Black Magic. It was the darkest of dark magic, the epitome of pure evil. This wasn’t a stereotype Dumbledore had spread but a fact known by all those with Magic running through their veins since the beginning of time. Black Magic was used by those who had lost their pure souls long ago. It was for necromancers and serial killers – the most evil of all creatures.
Hadrian shivered a bit at the feeling of this magic permeating the air while Remus tried to bite back a growl from deep within and Kreacher’s hands shook in fear. The three turned their stares to the lake, which seemed to be the biggest source of this evil.
“Inferi….” Hadrian said ominously, staring at the lake like he could see its depths. He probably could, Remus thought to himself. An Inferious was a corpse, a dead body that had been bewitched to do a Dark wizard's bidding. For there to be so many – from Remus’s estimation – meant that whoever created this place had killed at least fifty people, if not more. It made a shiver run down Remus’s spine. Could it really have been You-Know-Who? Had he really been that cruel?
Hadrian moved towards the edge of the lake, walking slowly as if in a trance. Remus instinctively pulled him away, his inner wolf growling at him to keep their cub safe. When Hadrian turned to look at Remus, his normally slivery eyes had turned obsidian black, and Remus knew that Hadrian wasn’t completely in control by the slight feral glint in his eyes.
“I need to save him Uncle Moony. Please let me.” Hadrian said, and it was one of the only times the boy had ever asked him for anything. Hadrian had never really been the demanding type, even with his status as a rich pureblood heir, he’d always believed that having Remus as his caretaker was enough for him.
“Okay Cub. Just… be careful, alright?” The boy nodded at that, and Remus forced himself to let go, even if it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Hadrian walked to the edge again, knelt down and literally put his hand into the water. Remus held his breath, but instead of what he expected to happen – which was that the Inferi would reach out and drag his Godson to the depths of the lake like they’d probably done to Regulus – the water just cleared as the inferi retreated. From where he was standing, Remus could see one hand standing out in the hole the creatures had created, a hand that his nephew took and started pulling out. The more he pulled, the more parts of a body appeared, until a whole man had been spat out of the lake and onto the shore.
“Regulus!” Remus shouts as he moved towards his nephew and the man he hadn’t seen in almost a decade.
He helps Hadrian get the unconscious body off of him and then started trying to wake him up, Kreacher fluttering around the trio in excited nervousness.
“He won’t wake up. He’s in Magical Exhaustion.” Hadrian muttered, his eyes fluttering as he tried to stay awake. This had obviously taken a lot out of him, and Remus knew he needed to get the boy into bed soon, or he’d crash on him.
“Okay. Let’s get you to bed and then we’ll send him to St. Mungo’s.”
“No! We can’t Uncle Remmy! What if they take him away? What if they ask how he’s back? What if they send him to Azkaban?!” Hadrian shouted, suddenly awake and in a panic. Remus patted the boy on the back to calm him.
“Okay, Hades. We won’t take him to the hospital. He’ll stay with us until he wakes up, then we’ll see okay?” Remus said in a soothing voice, getting a frantic nod from the boy. Remus knew about Hadrian’s separation anxiety, which was very justified considering all the boy has been through. A dead mother, imprisoned father and an abusive, now dead grandmother (and Remus had never had the courage to ask how the woman had died, already having a suspicion that made his heartbreak for the boy grow).
“Okay.” That seemed to appease the boy and he slumped against Remus, finally coming down from the high of using his powers in such a commanding way. And Remus, well, he’d never say it, but the amount of faith his Hadrian had in him both terrified him and warmed his heart. It also made him extremely proud of himself for being able to break Hadrian’s walls and gain his trust.
He’d never throw that away, not if he can help it.
24th June 1987
Regulus’s eyes snapped open and he took a gasping breath. Was he dead? Is this hell? The underworld? He looked at the ceiling and realised it was a weird cream colour. This was not his room at Grimmauld Place, which was just black on black with hints of Slytherin green. He catalogues his body (as he was used to doing after every Death Eater ‘mission’) and found that other than tiredness and a few sore areas, he felt fine. But death wasn’t supposed to be uncomfortable, right? Or was it when you were as dark as him?
He blinked a few times to gather his bearings before focusing on his other senses. He didn’t sense anything except bedsheets under his hands and clothes on his body that felt like pyjamas, which made no sense… but okay. Listening carefully, he could hear the sounds of pages turning near him and the clanking of what he guessed were pots and pans farther away. Was Kreacher cooking for him and Walburga? But why would he make so much noise when he’d been trained to be as silent as a ghost? Now Regulus was just confused.
Sitting up slightly, he looked to his side and blinked in shock at the sight in front of him. There was a boy sitting on the chair beside Regulus’s bed. His mop of hair was wavy and half black and half platinum blond. He was dressed in a weird outfit that Regulus had only seen Muggles wearing. He was also reading a book and seemed to be focused on it. He looked to be about nine or ten years old, but because of his bent position, Regulus couldn’t tell what he looked like until raised his head. Regulus gasped in shock at the sight. The boy looked like a perfect mix of him and Sirius, with some features Regulus couldn’t really put his hands on.
Other than the unusual hair, the boy had silvery grey eyes that were just like Regulus’s but his facial structure was exactly like his older brother’s, sharp and clear through the small layers of baby fat. He tilted his head in the exact same way Sirius would when he wanted to say something but didn’t know if he should or not, and it was so uncanny it gave Regulus shivers.
Was he being haunted by a slightly warped version of his brother?
“Welcome back to the land of the living.” The boy said with a blank stare, and Regulus gasped at the words.
“I’m… alive?”
“Yes. I brought you back.” The boy said like it was obvious.
“I- how?” Regulus asked, confused. How could this small child have saved him from the evil of the Inferi? The word alone sent shivers down his spine. Those things hadn’t been merciful.
Instead of answering, the boy closed his book before staring Regulus dead in the eyes. As soon as two identical silvery orbs had made contact, the boy’s irises slowly darkened until they were just as black as his pupils. It was scary and yet Regulus couldn’t look away as the shadows around them converged and formed into swords pointed at Regulus. He knew this was all happening at the boy’s command…. He knew the feeling very well.
“A Black…. You’re my nephew, aren’t you? Hadrian.” That got a cold smile to crack the boy’s blank mask.
“Bingo.” The shadows fell as the boy’s eyes cleared, returning back to the eyes Regulus looked at every time he looked in a mirror.
“I didn’t know you’d inherited my eyes.” That was what ended up leaving Regulus’s mouth before he could think, and he blushed slightly at the sudden words (the last time he’d seen the boy, he’d still had the blue eyes new-borns were known for). He had not planned to say that. But, miraculously, the boy just laughed at Regulus’s words, and his eyes warmed slightly with humour. Now that was a sight Regulus hadn’t seen in a really long time.
“Yeah. That was pretty unexpected.” Hadrian said, his smile softening. “It is nice to finally meet you Uncle Regulus, even if I wish the circumstances were a bit different.”
“You speak very eloquently for a….” Here Regulus trailed off, as he didn’t know how old his nephew was, and wasn’t that a pathetic thing to realise, he knew nothing about his own bloody nephew!
“Nine. I’m almost ten though, in November. Also, I’m a pureblood who was raised partially by Arcturus Black, what did you expect I’d talk like?”
“Right. Sirius didn’t raise you though? Or Charlotte?” His questions had the boy tensing up again after he’d loosened up a bit, and Regulus almost regretted his words, but he wanted – no needed to know.
“No.” Hadrian said in a dark tone before he sighed. “My mother passed away a few weeks after you disappeared, and my father…. Well Sirius ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and was imprisoned on the assumption he was a Death Eater like every other Black. He was immediately sent to Azkaban, and I don’t even know if he got a trial or not.”
“WHAT?!”
“Yeah…. Our government has fallen greatly since the war.” Hadrian said, eyes dark in obvious anger.
Before Regulus could reply, someone opened the door, and Regulus found himself face to face with a rather familiar face.
“Oh! You’re awake!” Remus Lupin exclaimed, eyes wide in shock. “How long has he been awake Hades?”
“Half an hour or so.”
“Okay.” The man said as he walked over to Regulus’s nephew. He swept his hand through the boy’s hair, which Hadrian leaned into in comfort. And that solved the question of who had raised the youngest Black. “It’s time for dinner. You should join us Regulus, I think it would be good for you to start eating food. If you get nauseous, I’ll have a potion ready for you to drink.”
“Uh…. Thanks.” Regulus said, surprised by his own words. He never stutters. Never has and probably never will, so why has Remus bloody Lupin of all people made him nervous?
“Of course.” The older man replied with a soft smile, and Regulus couldn’t help blinking in astonishment. “There’s clothes on the chair over there. You can change and join us whenever you’re done.”
He pointed to a chair near the desk, and Regulus nodded, still unable to process what was happening at that moment.
“Come on Hades. Help me set up the table.”
“Yes Uncle Moony.” Hadrian replied obediently, jumping off the bed and following the scarred man out of the room.
What has become of Regulus’s life?
Remus and Hadrian explained as much as they can of what happened in the years since Regulus had disappeared, and they told him how he’d come into their care, which was both horrifying and impressive.
“So you literally got the darkest gift in Black Family history.” Regulus said sarcastically, and Hadrian just nodded with a small smile.
“You get used to it.”
“So what do you want to do now, Regulus? You have your whole life ahead of you now.” Remus said, smiling at him. Is smiling really that easy for the man? To even smile at a dumb, suicidal Death Eater who just so happened to be his Godson’s uncle.
“I want to either take down the Dark Lord or return him to his former glory. He didn’t used to be this… power-hungry or blood-thirty. He actually had great ideas for our world, but then….”
“He created the Hocrux.” Remus continued, and Regulus looked at the man with wide eyes. How did he…? “I researched the objects after we got the locket from Kreacher, and it’s really dark stuff. Like actual evil magic, not what the ministry says is dark. Making one could seriously alter one’s personality and sanity, it’s a wonder the man didn’t become… something worse.”
“Yes. There are also other things I have to take care of. Like getting Sirius out of prison and finding some of my… associates. I think I’ll need to stay hidden for the time being. I’ll only tell those that need to know that I’m alive, other than that, working under the radar would be for the best.”
“If that’s the case, why don’t you join the Department of Mysteries? Their employees are always hidden and unknown, and you’d have a whole group of people to help you with your project.”
“That’s… actually not a bad idea.”
And that is exactly what Regulus did. As soon as he was healthy enough, and his magic was up to standard, he contacted the head of the DOM, codename Croaker, and joined the Unspeakables as Onyx. He let his grandfather and some family members know he was actually alive, but didn’t join any family meetings, preferring to help the House of Black behind the scenes by collecting information, spying and basically becoming the family’s consultant. He did make it a priority to be a part of his nephew’s life as much as he could, but he was calm knowing Hadrian was in the good hands of Remus Lupin.