Regulus Arcturus Black was sixteen the first time he saw James Potter in person. Sirius had left their family home and gone to live with the Potters. Regulus didn’t really hate him for that. He did, however, hate him because he never answered even one of his letters.
Regulus could still remember the day he saw James Potter for the first time in clear light. He was in the library with his friends, studying when a ball went flying past his head, nearly hitting him in the process.
James Potter was nice enough to apologize before he and his friends, including Sirius Black, were kicked out of the library. Sirius was spiteful enough not to even spare his younger brother a glance.
Regulus was quiet and there wasn’t anyone in the school who could actually say they disliked him. He was a Slytherin and the Black Family heir but he was kind, he was nice and he was helpful if someone asked him for help.
Still, Sirius refused to talk to him. Until one day, before the war, the school was attacked by some strange beasts- monsters even. The students ran away, screaming in fear. James, Remus, Peter and Sirius tried to take care of the beast but were unsuccessful until Regulus Black marched down a hallway with his friends closely behind him.
Sirius had moved to stand right in front of him, blocking his way to the oncoming beast. Regulus had glared at his brother and moved to walk past him but Sirius stopped him again.
“Move. Or you will be moved.” Dorcas Meadowes, first and probably only Gryffindor to have access to the Slytherin dorms told him. Sirius gulped and moved away only to watch his younger brother move to stand before Sirius and his friends.
“You’ll need a Slytherin to beat this thing.” Regulus had spoken with no emotion on his face or voice. Sirius only snorted.
“And why the fuck is that, brother dearest?” He had asked and felt James hit the back of his head in a scolding manner. They watched Regulus take out his wand and waited for the beast to come closer.
“Because we are not afraid of doing what must be done.” Regulus had spoken and then pointed the wand to the beast, yelling out the forbidden words of a killing curse. The beast died immediately, turning to dust and Regulus cleared his throat, turning to look his older brother in the eyes. Sirius only remained standing there, frozen in shock.
“Don’t ever again call me your brother. We haven’t been brothers for a while now, Sirius.” Regulus spoke and walked away then, breaking Sirius’ heart in the process. James only remained standing there, watching after the younger Black brother. He cursed himself when he felt his heart begin to beat faster in his chest. Regulus’ friends followed after him and once Barty moved to stand before James and Sirius he smiled.
“Tell anyone of the spell used here today and I will gut you in your sleep.” Barty threatened with a wide smile on his face and walked away. James took a deep breath and turned to Sirius.
“He has good friends….loyal…” He said and Sirius chuckled.
“How loyal can they be? They’re Slytherins?” He asked and walked away then. Little did they know that those Slytherin friends would stick next to each other like glued until the end. They were not the ones who would start to question their friendships.
****
They didn’t meet properly until Regulus turned seventeen, making James Potter an eighteen year old. James did come across Regulus often, they crossed paths many times but they never talked until that night at the Astronomy Tower.
James stood at the side of the rooftop and observed Regulus. Sirius’ brother he knew nothing about but for some reason found himself wanting to know him. Regulus was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed in front of him and his hands on his knees. His palms were pointing to the sky filled with stars and his eyes were closed.
James wasn’t really sure if he knew what Regulus was doing. It almost looked like he was meditating but that made no sense at all. Why would Regulus be meditating?
“You’re staring, Potter.” Regulus spoke after a couple of minutes of silence and James frowned, tilting his head to the side in confusion. How had he even known he was there?
“I don’t know why but you are and it’s creepy. Stop it.” Regulus spoke and James didn’t even blink. He continued to stare. How could he not stare? Regulus was beautiful. Sure, James didn’t know him well but he really wanted to know him. Regulus growled then and opened his eyes, locking eyes with his brother’s best friend.
“I told you to stop.” He said again and James finally smiled.
“This is the most you have spoken to me. Ever.” He said and Regulus frowned before he shook his head.
“And?”
“Don’t stop talking. You have a nice voice.” James spoke and Regulus’ cheeks blushed immediately before he stood up and started to walk away, to the stairwell on the other side of the rooftop. James couldn’t let him leave yet.
“Why won’t you talk to Sirius?” James asked and Regulus froze, his hands in his pockets as he did so.
“There is nothing to talk about.” Regulus said, remembering his father’s threats if he were to befriend or talk to his brother.
“Sure there is. He left and you stayed in that hell. I know he misses you. A lot.” James said and Regulus chuckled before he turned to look at James and that was the first time James saw a hint of emotion in the usually empty gray eyes. There were tears there and so much agonizing sadness that James’ heart broke at the sight. That was the night he fell in love with Regulus Arcturus Black.
“Are you kidding me right now? Is this some sort of a joke? Tell me, Potter, am I a joke to you?” Regulus asked as he moved closer. James frowned in confusion and immediately shook his head.
“No, of course not. I meant what I said. He misses you.” James said and Regulus chuckled again, his eyes giving away his sadness and pain.
“Is that why he never replied to any of my letters?” He asked and James shook his head.
“He- what? He did. I saw him- I saw him write the letters. I know he wrote and sent them to you.” James said and Regulus only stared at him in silence for a while. He searched for a hint of a lie in James’ eyes and when he saw none, he took a step back and took a deep breath.
“Mother-” Regulus whispered before he began walking away with James following after him.
“Stop following me, Potter! We are not friends! And we never will be! Leave me the hell alone!” Regulus yelled and marched into the darkness of the night, leaving James alone in the Astronomy Tower. And James found himself wishing they could talk more. He found himself liking Regulus. And later on, he would say this was the night he fell in love with him.
***
The next time James sees Regulus is when he really sees Regulus’ true personality shine through. Regulus is alone with his friends and they’re playing quidditch outside together. James, Sirius and Remus are spying on them, having thought they were training. But they weren’t. They were just messing around.
Sirius grew bored after a while and tried to leave. He stayed after James spoke.
“You know that he doesn’t know you ever wrote him any letters? He never got any of the letters you sent?” James asked and Sirius froze. He turned around to look at his best friend whose eyes were glued on a smiling Regulus while he teased Barty.
“What? How would you know that?” Sirius asked, his voice shaking and James turned to look at him.
“I was at the Astronomy Tower a couple of nights ago, just wanted to clear my head. He was there first though so I tried to make him talk to you. That’s when he told me about the letters.” James said softly and Remus took a hold of Sirius’ hand, caressing it gently. Sirius’ eyes were tearful now while he watched his brother from afar.
“He must have thought I wanted nothing to do with him.” Sirius whispered while he watched Regulus scream and laugh. Barty was chasing after him while Evan, Pandora and Dorcas sat in the grass and watched them in amusement.
“Evan, call off your boyfriend!” Regulus had yelled through laughter while Barty ran after him.
“Nope, you poked him, now you deal with him.” Evan yelled back and chuckled when Barty finally caught him and started carrying him towards the lake. Regulus tried to get out of Barty’s grip but before he could manage to do so, Barty had thrown him into the lake. Dorcas laughed while Pandora remained frozen, her eyes completely white as a vision flooded her mind. Vision of gray hands, a cave and a locket.
Regulus swam up, cursing Barty as he did so. He got out of the water and walked towards his friends. Regulus froze when he saw Pandora’s white eyes. He crouched in front of her and waited for her to snap out of the vision. Evan had his hand on her shoulder and Dorcas on the other shoulder while they waited. Once her eyes turned blue again, her eyes fell on Regulus and didn’t move again.
“Oh Reggie-” She whispered and a few tears fell down her cheeks as she sniffled. Regulus frowned in confusion and Sirius, James and Remus focused on their hearing, to hear her better.
“What? What did you see?” Regulus asked, panicked by her tears and the way she would not look away from him.
“You will be dead.” She spoke and Regulus chuckled nervously. Barty looked at him in worry and sat on the grass next to him.
“Excuse me?” Regulus asked and Pandora sniffled again.
“You will be dead, Reggie. The next time you go to a body of water, you will be dead.”
“That’s impossible, Panda. I know how to swim.”
“To destroy a locket, you will die. To destroy a locket you will let gray hands drag and keep you under.” Pandora said and Sirius panicked immediately, coming out from where they were hiding and stomping towards the group. Regulus didn’t look at them. His eyes were glued on Pandora.
“What the hell do you mean my brother will die?” Sirius snapped and Regulus growled.
“I told you not to call me that again.” He said without looking at them. Pandora’s eyes remained full of pain and grief. Regulus gulped and looked at his friends who all looked worried.
“I wrote you letters back then!” Sirius snapped and Regulus growled, turning to glare at his brother.
“There is a war brewing outside and you think I care if you wrote me some letters?” Regulus asked and stood up, turning to face his brother completely.
“Are you that self absorbed, Sirius?” Regulus asked, disappointment clear on his face and Sirius immediately let all jokes and anger aside.
“Of course not, Reggie. Do you really think so low of me?”
“I don’t think about you anymore, Sirius. I haven’t since you left home.” Regulus lied through his teeth and James gulped, confused as to why it seemed that Regulus just wanted to push them all away.
“You are my brother. Nothing will ever change that. Should you ever need help, you know where to find me.” Sirius spoke and Regulus only frowned.
“I won’t need your help.” He growled and watched James, Sirius and Remus walk away. Regulus’ heart broke to watch his brother walk away but it was for the best. If he really was going to die like Pandora said he was, he needed them to hate him. If they hated him, they would not mourn him once he was gone.
***
The next time James met Regulus was only a couple of days later when Regulus was assigned to James as his tutor in potions. Regulus wanted to tease him about the fact that a younger year had to tutor him but then he remembered Pandora’s prophecy and he stopped himself.
Regulus had opened his books and notes and started teaching the basics first. And if someone later were to ask James what he learned, he would say nothing. Nothing at all because he wasn’t even listening to him speak. He was just watching him, completely content just watching Regulus speak and teach.
Regulus knew James wasn’t listening but had no heart to scold him. He just needed to get through the lesson and be done with it. He did not need to have any additional talk with James Potter. Not when his crush was getting out of control.
“Can we talk about what Pandora said a few days ago for a moment?” James asked, knowing that Sirius would appreciate answers. And also because he himself couldn’t sleep with the knowledge the love of his life would die. Possibly soon.
“Don’t fret about it. Panda just has a dark sense of humor.”
“I don’t believe that.” James said and Regulus stopped teaching. He turned to look at James and took his wand out. James didn’t move then. He heard Regulus whisper some words and then a memory that wasn’t his own appeared in James’ head. Memory of Regulus from that day in which shortly after they left, Pandora told Regulus that she was joking. And then they laughed about it.
Regulus watched James relax immediately and sighed. If later in life, someone were to ask James if he knew Regulus could create false memories in one’s mind, his answer would be no. No, James Potter did not know this.
***
“The next time you go into a body of water will be the day you die. Gray hands will drag you and keep you under. And your soul shall be gone. All for a locket.” was the prophecy Pandora came up with days later and Regulus frowned in confusion. He had no idea what she was talking about but there would come a day when he would finally understand.
For now though, Regulus decided to leave that aside and not think about it anymore. Now, he was in his room with his friends. And it was the first time since he met them that he regretted having them there.
“You should just confess already, Reggie. I think it’s evident to anyone with eyes you like Potter.” Evan spoke while he laid in his own bed and Regulus threw a pillow at his head.
“I do not like Potter! Thank you very much!” Regulus yelled and Barty snorted.
“Sure and I like girls.” He spoke and Regulus rolled his eyes.
“I do not like James Potter!” Regulus said again and Dorcas smiled.
“Is that why you become so silent whenever he’s anywhere nearby?” She asked and Regulus glared her way.
“When will you confess to McKinnon?” He asked and Dorcas immediately looked back to her book, ignoring him completely. Regulus snorted and shook his head, muttering something about hypocrisy.
***
They started dating only two weeks after that. It was awkward at first. Sirius was against the entire idea of them dating, spewing some nonsense about it being incest. But neither James nor Regulus cared. They liked each other a lot and Regulus wasn’t going to let anyone take his small happiness away from him now.
James was kind, soft and sweet. He would somehow always find a way and time to pull Regulus somewhere in a hidden corner to kiss him, to talk to him, to tell him how much he loved him. And he did love him. He loved him so much, James felt like his soul was going to burn out of his body at any moment.
Regulus was in love as well. So much so he was close to thinking of leaving home for James. And while Regulus didn’t say it out loud often, James knew he loved him. He felt his love in every kiss, every gentle touch and caress, every smile and look he threw his way.
How sad was it that their happy little bubble would be destroyed only five months later because Mulciber couldn’t keep his mouth shut and had to report what he saw to Regulus’ mother?
***
It was a summer break and Regulus had to go visit his parents. That summer break, everything changed. Walburga had gotten a sense that Regulus was thinking of leaving home for James and she couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t let another one of her sons leave her behind so she called a meeting.
Regulus knew the war was brewing but he had no idea it was so close that the Dark Lord had already started to assemble his army. Imagine his surprise when he one day came downstairs from his room and there they were. The entire house of Black and the Dark Lord.
Regulus was seated in between his parents when the dinner started. At the end, Regulus was told he was to get the Dark Mark. He had wanted to refuse but then he felt his mother’s nails digging into his arm and he stopped himself from saying anything. This would later prove to be his biggest regret.
He got through the dinner and the pain of the Dark Mark. Hours had passed before he was allowed to go to his room. He sank to the floor next to his bed and started to silently cry. Narcissa and Bellatrix had come to his room to try to calm him down but nothing worked. Once his cries got louder, Walburga opened the doors to the room and the girls flinched.
“Would you leave us alone now, girls?” Walburga had given them a command disguised as a false sense of having a choice. The girls ran out immediately and Regulus remained sitting on the floor, numb from the pain.
“You will cry all the tears you have now and you will never cry again after that. It is a great honor to serve the Dark Lord and you will act like it.” Walburga spoke coldly before turning to leave and Regulus snorted.
“There is no honor in serving a genocidal maniac.” He whispered and Walburga turned to look at him again.
“Your personal beliefs and opinions do not matter in this family. I thought you would have understood that by now. If you didn’t then you are stupider than I believed you to be. Are you stupid, Regulus?” She taunted and Regulus sobbed before he shook his head.
“No, mother.” He whispered and she raised her chin up in pride.
“Good, then act like a smart boy and break whatever affair it is you have with that Potter brat off. You will see him once more when you return to school to break it off. Have I made myself clear? Or must I remind you of what I will do to you if you don’t?” She asked as she took her wand out. Regulus sobbed and shook his head, hiding his head behind his knees as much as he could and Walburga gulped, her wand shaking in her hand as she put it away.
“His love is fickle, boy. The sooner you understand that, the better.” She spoke and walked away. That was the last time they spoke of James Potter. The next time Regulus saw James and his brother, was the day he changed everything. It was the day he turned the tides of war by sacrificing his future and happiness.
***
He had invited them to the Astronomy Tower. All of them. His own friends and Sirius’ friends. Regulus stood there on the rooftop with his hands behind his back, his wand nowhere in sight. Not that he needed it anymore. He had been preparing for this, had been developing his power to be able to cast a curse so powerful that it would remain in place even once he was dead.
And while he did not say a word of this to Walburga, she knew. A mother, no matter how terrible, always knew….
Regulus stood at the rooftop and waited, knowing that no matter how powerful he had become, his spell could still be broken. And eventually, one day, someone would break his spell once he was dead. Regulus felt tears well up in his eyes at the idea of James and Sirius being mad once they remembered it all.
Then he took a deep breath and turned around once he heard them slowly gather on the rooftop. His own friends, Sirius, Remus and James. All of the important people in his life whose memories Regulus was going to mess up soon.
He watched his friends gather on the rooftop with knowing looks in their eyes. They had talked about this back when Regulus fell for James and started dating him. Regulus had come up with this plan back then and they had just been waiting for him to go through with it now.
They had tried to talk him out of his plan but none of it worked. Even Evan taking him away for a day to the woods, to talk all alone did not work. Once everyone was on the rooftop, Regulus smiled sadly and walked towards James, his sun, the love of his life. He pulled him down and planted a gentle kiss to his lips, a small tear rolling down his cheek so quickly, James missed it.
Sirius was making a gagging sound in the back while Regulus gently caressed James’ cheek. Regulus was never gentle with anyone before James. Now, he had to force himself to do the cruelty that he would do today.
“You are my sun, moon and stars. You are my everything. I love you, James.” Regulus whispered before he quickly turned around and walked to the other stairwells. James only continued to watch him, as confused as Sirius and Remus were.
“Panda, you’ve been cursed with a gift no one should have and I’m sorry for the burden you feel when visions of me haunt you. You are great and amazing. And I love having you as a friend.” He started to speak and Pandora sniffled, her eyes looking away from Regulus. She could not watch him destroy his life for the wizarding world that would never learn to appreciate him.
There was a war brewing outside and Regulus was going to give his life up to turn the tides, to give them a chance at winning. The locket was calling him.
“Dorcas, my dearest friend. My bravest and most selfless friend, I hope to see you happy later on.” Regulus spoke and gave her a pointed look. He ignored the loud and confused questions pouring from all sides and looked at Evan.
“Evan, my other half. My platonic soulmate, my brother, I wish we had more time. You taught me how to survive, how to get up in the morning without hating my entire existence. Be happy, be brave and be smart.” Regulus continued and then he turned to look at an angry looking Barty, who knew what was going to happen.
Pandora had prepared them for this, called it necessary. It did not mean that it felt right for them to let Regulus do this. They knew he was going to steal their true memories that night. They had no idea he was going to sacrifice his life later on.
“Barty, my best friend, I wish I had met you earlier. And I need you to promise you will take care of our little family.” Regulus spoke and Barty took a deep breath before he nodded his head, an angry tear rolling down his cheek.
“Reggie, what’s going on?” Sirius kept repeating when Regulus’ eyes fell on Remus who stood next to his older brother.
“I don’t know you well and I wish I had more time to meet you. Something tells me we could have been great friends. Take care of my dumb ass brother, will you?” Regulus asked and waited for a confused Remus to nod his head.
“Siri, please promise me you’ll forgive me. One day you will learn what I did and I need you to forgive me. For everything I did until now and for all I will do from now on. Please, Siri.” Regulus begged and SIrius cried but nodded his head, not understanding the gravity of the situation.
“All is forgiven. All will be forgiven but please, Reggie, let me help. Whatever it is you’re doing, let me help.” Sirius begged and Regulus shook his head while he turned to look at James.
“I love you so much, James. I had no right getting with you when I knew my fate all along but I couldn’t help it. I really couldn’t. You’re the love of my life and I’m so sorry for this.” Regulus spoke and James took one step towards him before Regulus raised his open palm towards them and uttered one word. One word that would change it all. Obliviate.
And so all the good memories of Regulus and James were erased. Noone in the wizarding world knew now that James and Regulus were ever a thing. Noone in the wizarding world knew Regulus ever had any friends. It was all gone. He had twisted the memories of the entire wizarding world to his liking.
This was the turning point, the night that changed it all.
***
Regulus went to his home after that. He came into the house to see his mother sitting in the living room, her back turned to him. The lights were on but Regulus could not help but think that the house still felt so dark.
Because it was. Regulus had given his light up to live on for the remaining months in the darkness. He moved to walk to his room when his mother’s voice stopped him.
“I know what you did, Regulus.” She said and Regulus froze. She did not move. Her head was still turned away from him while she continued to speak.
“You couldn’t erase my memories, boy. But you managed to erase them from the minds of the rest of the wizarding world.” She spoke as she stood up and moved towards him. There was a picture in her hands but Regulus could not see who was in it. Her black dress made her look graceful as she walked towards her youngest son.
“You managed to do what I couldn’t back then. Congratulations, son. You’re stronger than I thought.” She spoke and gave him the picture. Regulus took it wordlessly and watched his mother walk upstairs, to her room then. He gulped and looked down to the picture only to gasp.
It was a picture of his mother when she was young and another woman. Euphemia Potter stood next to her, her hand around her neck while the two smiling women hugged. Regulus removed the remaining dust on the picture, hoping that he was wrong but no. That was Euphemia Potter and Walburga Black in the picture. They had been friends, it seemed. It is safe to say their friendship didn’t make it, it didn’t survive.
Regulus went up to his room after that and threw the picture on his nightstand. Then he sat down on the floor with his back resting on the bed behind him. He thought of James and the way his face twisted when he realized what Regulus was doing. The shock was clear and evident in the eyes. Regulus remembered watching them try to fight off his spell but were unsuccessful. Only his mother had managed to fight it off.
And one day, sometime in the future, she may be the only one able to break his spell. But it didn't matter anymore. Regulus was going to die either way. He felt tears roll down his cheeks and he slowly hit his thigh with his fists. He was going through all of this simply because his mother was a coward, scared to say no and fighting to save and protect her children.
***
Months passed with Regulus avoiding his friends and his brother’s friends in the school. Not that any of them tried to find him anyways. They couldn’t because they no longer remembered the true Regulus. They remembered the Regulus from the memories Regulus put into their memories which was not a good Regulus.
Regulus had turned cold. Even Walburga took notice of this and tried to talk to her son. But every time she tried to talk, Regulus shut her down.
“You wanted this, now deal with it.” Was what he told her every time, shutting down any of her attempts to help, to talk to him. Regulus no longer needed a mother. All he needed was his Kreacher who had gotten an important task from Regulus. He was to find out where the Dark Lord was hiding his Horcruxes.
Then there was one very interesting Death Eaters meeting in which the Dark Lord introduced Peter Pettigrew as the new member of the Dark Lord’s army. Regulus remembered being shocked beyond belief but having to control his emotions during the meeting, so as to not give his true feelings away.
The second the meeting was over, Regulus had gone home, to his room and took a piece of paper out, scrambling to write something down. This would be the first contact he had with his brother since that night at the Astronomy Tower. And it would also be their last contact before Regulus inevitably went down.
“Be careful of who you trust, Sirius. The Dark Lord’s newest introduction to the team was one of your own. He called him his little rat. -R.A.B.” was what he wrote and sent the letter away. Minutes later, an answer came back.
“I don’t trust Death Eaters. Stop contacting me. - Sirius” was what came back and Regulus took a deep breath, gulping down his tears as he paced around the room, wondering what to do.
***
Two years had passed since they last talked. Regulus was nineteen now and the war was closer than ever. It was there. Still, Regulus had not seen James in years and he missed him. He still loved him more than ever before.
So, he sat in his room then and opened his palm, letting a bubble form on top of it. A magical bubble that let him see into James and Sirius’ lives. And then his heart broke. Regulus’ eyes teared up as he watched James sit on the couch next to Lily. There was a baby in his hands and a ring on their fingers. Regulus choked out a sob and destroyed the bubble, regretting looking into it.
He missed James. He loved him. James was his sun and stars, his moon and the love of his life and he had moved on. He wasn’t to blame, of course he wasn’t, Regulus knew this. Still, it hurt to see James with someone else’s ring on his fingers, with a child in his hands, happy and away from Regulus.
He started to sob as he hit his chest with his fist, trying to calm down but nothing worked. His mother must have heard him crying because then she came into his room with a stern look on her face. The second she saw the look in his eyes though, her face softened a little bit. She walked inside, closed the doors behind her and sat down on the floor beside him. She straightened her dress as she did so and opened her arms. Regulus looked at her in confusion and she nodded her head, a small tear evident in her eyes.
“Come here, boy. I know how you feel. Believe me I do.” She spoke and Regulus couldn’t help it anymore. For two years he did not need comfort but he did now. The love of his life had moved on and it was all Regulus’ fault. He knew he couldn’t blame James but he still mourned what they had before and so he threw himself into his mother’s arms, sobbing into her shoulder as he did so.
“Spell or no spell, it always ends the same, son.” Walburga spoke softer than she ever did before. She caressed his back while he cried and sniffled.
“They tell us their love is big and not fickle. They tell us nothing will ever change. They tell us they will never move on. And then they do eventually. And we are left in the same spot like years ago, left all alone to pick up the pieces.” She spoke and Regulus sobbed harder, finally understanding the picture his mother gave him.
It was a sign that they were more alike than Regulus realized. His mother had been through a similar thing that Regulus had been through. She understood him. She may not have been a good mother, but she understood Regulus now and then he sobbed again, clinging onto his usually cold mother.
“But this will make you stronger, Regulus. This experience will make you realize that you need no one but yourself. You will be stronger for this.” She spoke and hugged him tighter. Regulus could not remember the time when she hugged him or Sirius during their childhood. But she was hugging him now. She was helping Regulus now. Or at least, trying to.
Once he calmed down she stood up, dusted her dress off and looked at Regulus with her closed off expression once more. She nodded her head and left, leaving Regulus alone to finally understand that his stoic and cold mother wasn’t as strong and terrifying as he grew up to believe her to be. She was simply as broken as Regulus now was. He let a sad chuckle out and erased his tears before he shook his head.
Wasn’t it hilarious that he had to get his heart broken to finally understand his mother?
Before he could think of the fact that James had gotten married and had a child with Lily again, Kreacher appeared before him. Regulus flinched in surprise and then took a deep breath.
“Kreacher has found what Master Regulus wanted him to find.” Kreacher had spoken and Regulus immediately straightened his back. The past two years Regulus had been on the hunt for the Horcruxes and had destroyed all of them. All but one last one.
“You found the locket?” Regulus whispered and Kreacher nodded his head. Regulus’ eyes turned angry immediately and he stood up.
“Take me to it, Kreacher. Now.” He said and Kreacher gulped but opened a portal for them both anyways. Once they stood in front of the cave, Regulus chuckled and shook his head. Locket, cave, body of water. This was it, he thought. This was his ending that Pandora had predicted three years ago.
He took a deep breath outside and started to walk towards it. Kreacher was talking while he followed him, trying to convince Regulus not to do this. But Regulus no longer cared. He had nothing left to live for now, he thought and erased his tear as he entered the cave.
They climbed into a boat on the water in the cave and Kreacher took a hold of Regulus’ wrist.
“Kreacher doesn’t want Master Regulus to do this.” He spoke and Regulus sighed.
“I have to do this, Kreacher.” Regulus said and Kreacher shook his head, looking as sad as a House Elf can be. He liked Regulus. He didn’t like others, but he liked Regulus.
“Master Regulus will die if Kreacher lets him do this. Kreacher can’t let Master Regulus die.” Kreacher spoke and Regulus sighed. He crouched down in front of his house elf and smiled sadly.
“I’m already dead, Kreacher. At least if I die now and here, they can win the war and defeat the Dark Lord. Please, take me to the locket.” Regulus spoke and Kreacher waited for a few minutes before he sighed and nodded his head.
He would help his Master Regulus even if he did not like the fact that he would die. If Master Regulus needed his help, then he would get it. Once they came to the other side of the cave, Regulus looked at the locket, displayed on one of the rocks. Next to it, there was a grail with some liquid in it.
“To destroy the locket one must drink the poison in the grail and sacrifice his life for it.” Kreacher spoke and Regulus let out a chuckle as a few more tears rolled down his cheeks. Then he smiled, took a hold of the grail and turned to Kreacher.
“Make sure to bring the locket to my brother, will you?” Regulus asked and Kreacher shook his head.
“Kreacher does not like Master Sirius.” He said and Regulus chuckled, fully understanding why. Sirius had done nothing but bully Kreacher since they were children.
“I know but I will be gone and to win the war, they need to know the locket is destroyed. Will you bring it to him?” Regulus asked and Kreacher reluctantly nodded his head. Regulus then smiled again and gulped down the entire poison in the cup. Then he took a deep breath and waited for it to begin to work.
Shortly after that, he started to sweat profusely and so he took his jacket and his tie off, leaving it on the rocks near the water. His vision got blurry so he sat down and waited for his heart to stop. Kreacher only watched him and Regulus wasn’t sure, but he thought he may have seen a few tears in his eyes. Regulus then looked at the locket in his hands and offered it to Kreacher.
“Take it and go.” He said and Kreacher shook his head, refusing to abandon his Master.
“Kreacher, we talked about this! Take the locket and leave! You will know when I am gone.” Regulus spoke and Kreacher sniffled but took a hold of the locket and began to walk away. He stopped once more and turned to look at his Master once more.
“Kreacher really liked Master Regulus.” Kreacher said and Regulus sent him a tired looking smile.
“I liked you too, Kreacher. Now go. Please, listen and leave.” Regulus spoke again and this time he did leave. Kreacher simply disappeared and Regulus finally let out a sob, feeling his heart begin to speed up and then slow down again.
Then the thirst came and Regulus laughed out loud. Was this how he was to die? Of thirst? Regulus Arcturus Black, the Heir of the House of Black, died of thirst. He laughed again. Would he finally bring shame to his disgusting family? To the parents who forced him down his path? Would they be ashamed of him finally? He found the thought thrilling.
He took it upon himself to fight off the thirst as long as he could but then the memories flooded his head. Memories of his friends who he missed dearly. Memories of his brother who hated him without knowing he would die to give them a chance at winning. Memories of the love of his life who now had a wife and a son, who had moved on because of his spell. He could not help but wonder if he would have moved on if Regulus had let him keep their memories.
Would James still have married? He didn’t know and Regulus continued to cry until there were no more tears left to cry. His heart kept breaking over and over again in his chest when he looked to the water and licked his lips. He really needed a drink. Just one sip of the water would be enough. He didn’t need more, he thought as he dragged himself to the water and gathered a bit of it into his hand. Before he could raise it to his mouth though, gray hands came out of the water and took a hold of his hand, dragging him in. And this time, Regulus did not fight.
He welcomed the arms of death and let himself be dragged under. He no longer had anything to live for, he thought. James had moved on and even if Regulus gave them their memories back, he would never be with James again because James now had a son, he knew that much.
As a Slytherin he would have fought tooth and nail to survive. But as a tired Slytherin left all alone, he had no fight left in him. He didn’t fight death. He just thought of the fact that his spell would remain in place even after his death and then his heart stopped to beat.
Regulus Arcturus Black was gone now. He was dead. Now, he was one of the Dark Lord’s Inferi.
And his spell still remained in place.
***
Walburga knew when her youngest son died. No one had to tell her anything. She felt a piece of her own soul die when Regulus died and she fell to her knees in his room. She felt tears gather in her eyes while she shook her head, refusing to believe that he was gone too.
Then Kreacher showed up and nodded his head, confirming her suspicion and she started to wail. She started to mourn.
***
James Potter read the newspapers a week after Regulus’ death when he was shocked by a giant header in the newspapers.
‘Regulus Arcturus Black, the Heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, drowned at 19.’ was what it said. James could not understand why his heart ached when he read the header. He looked to Sirius who was frozen in place while he read the newspapers from behind James.
“That makes no sense. He was a good swimmer.” Sirius whispered and something broke within James’ heart, but he could not understand what. Then Kreacher appeared before Sirius and they all flinched in surprise.
“Master Regulus told Kreacher to bring this to Master Sirius once Master Regulus was gone.” Kreacher said and opened his palm. They all gasped at the sight of the destroyed final Horcrux. Then Sirius let out a sob and they turned to look at him.
“He destroyed it. He died to destroy it, didn’t he?” Sirius asked and Kreacher nodded his head. Sirius then threw a glass against a wall and cursed.
“And my mother didn’t even let me know he was gone. I didn’t even go to his funeral.”
“There was nothing left to bury.” Kreacher said and Sirius turned to look at him. Before anything else could be said, a sound went off in the distance and James stood up immediately, shielding Lily and Harry away.
“The wards have been broken.” Remus said and stood up while they all went outside then. Lily and Harry remained inside, in the safety of their home.
Once they came outside, they were surprised to see Walburga there, dressed in her mourning clothes. Her back was turned to the house and her hands were behind her back. She had a wand in her hand. What came to a surprise though was the fact that the Dark Lord, Orion and Peter Pettigrew already laid dead at her feet.
“Mother?” Sirius called and Walburga straightened her back before speaking.
“They’re dead. Others have disappeared. The war is over thanks to my little star.” She said and then she turned to face them all. She looked to James who did not seem to recognize her properly and then she spoke.
“I always did tell Regulus that he was too good for you, Potter.” She said once she saw the ring on his finger and James frowned.
“What?” He asked, confused and Walburga tilted her head to the side.
“Regulus? My youngest star?” She spoke again and watched James look at Sirius and Remus to see that they were as confused. Then he looked to Lily and Harry who now stood on the stairs and then back to Walburga.
“Marvellous. I knew he erased all of your memories of him. I knew he twisted them all to his liking to ensure your survival but I didn’t know he was strong enough for his spell to hold even after his death.” She spoke and James looked even more confused now.
“Why are you talking to me about Regulus as if I should know something?” James asked and she smirked, a wicked look returning to her face. He made her son suffer so now she would make him suffer too.
“Because there is something you should know. I watched my boy suffer in the last years of his life, longing for you and that brat of his brother. And I had to watch you all live on in happiness while he cried himself to sleep every night.” She spoke and Sirius frowned. James felt something strange tug on his heart and they watched Walburga take out her wand.
“Now, I shall make you suffer like he did for the rest of your life. And all I must do is break Regulus’ spell.” She spoke and whispered a word before a light exploded and washed over the entire Wizarding world, bringing them all back the true memories of her youngest son.
Then she watched James Potter drop down to his knees in pain and scream.
“What the hell have I done?” He screamed and continued to cry while Walburga Black smiled.
“I always told my son he deserved better, that the love of a Potter was fickle. And yet he chose you even in death.” She spat out and walked away, leaving a broken James behind.
“Be happy, Sirius.” She spoke before walking away, none of them understanding that that would be the last time they saw her. Walburga protected her older son and ended the war before it properly began but her grief over the loss of her youngest was killing her slowly.
So, she went to Salazar Slytherin’s cave and made sure she would die there too, the same way her Regulus died.
***
James sat in the living room surrounded by his friends. He didn’t speak though. Both Lily and him sat next to each other, silent while tears streamed down their faces. Mary had died years ago and Lily didn’t even mourn her. She moved on while the love of her life died. She didn’t even go to her funeral.
The same way James didn’t go to Regulus’ funeral.
“Will one of you just say something?” Remus asked, his eyes red with tears. He didn’t cry though. He had no time to be empathetic and feel his friends’ pain. He had to be there for them now.
“What would you have me say?” James asked, his voice cracking midway through. He shook his head and looked at Sirius who stood frozen in the corner of the room.
“That the love of my life died fighting a war all on his own? And I moved on while he sacrificed himself for us? That he died- that Regulus died and I didn’t even mourn him?” James asked as tears continued to stream down his face. Lily sniffled and spoke as well.
“Mary died and I didn’t even go to her funeral.” She whispered and Remus sighed before he took a hold of Harry and walked to his room, to put him to sleep. The child did not need to see his parents break down.
“I just- I- I didn’t know- if- if I did- I never would-” James started speaking and then choked on a sob. Lily put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I’m sorry, Lils. I love our boy. I do, but had I- had I army memories- I never- I never would have-” James tried to say it again but felt sick to his stomach at the memory of what he lost when Regulus died and sobbed again. Saying it out loud hurt more than thinking of it did.
“I know, James. I know. Had you known- had any of us known- we never would have done what we did to get our boy.” Lily spoke and James took a shaky breath while he hit his chest with his fist repeatedly. His vision blurred with tears and he choked on tears once more.
“I love our boy. I do. So, why does it hurt so much?” James asked and Lily let tears fall down too, remembering the lover she lost after Regulus wiped their memories out.
“Because you loved him. He was the love of your life and now you feel like you betrayed him. Even if none of it was your- our fault. You still feel like you betrayed him. The same way I feel like I betrayed Mary.” Lily admitted and James only continued sobbing while he continued to watch his wedding ring. He could not help but wonder what Regulus’ final moments were like.
Did he think of James? Of what they had? Did he regret erasing their memories even for a moment? Was he scared? Or had he already long accepted death by the time it came knocking on his doors?
“I’ll never reunite with him. I’ll never get to apologize. Even in death, we will remain separated. Voldemort is dead, we won the war, but why does it feel like I lost none the less? Like the Dark Lord won anyways? He took everything from me.” James asked through tears.
“Because he did.” Sirius finally made a sound and they both turned to look at him. Sirius never looked as defeated as he did then and there.
“We won the war thanks to my little star. But- but the Dark Lord won anyway. He took my brother from me, the love of your life. And he made sure Regulus’ soul would forever remain trapped.” Sirius spoke and a tear rolled down his cheeks again.
“I was a terrible brother. You know he warned me about Peter a few months ago? And I- I told him I didn’t trust Death Eaters and never to contact me again. I pushed him away.” Sirius spoke and let out a loud sob.
“He looked for me, he seeked me out and I pushed him away.” Sirius spoke before he stormed out of the house. James continued to cry as he looked at the ring on his finger. Had Regulus known he had married? Did he know James had a son? Did he feel betrayed?
Did the love of his life die feeling betrayed?
***
Lily and James separated only days later. They still loved each other and respected one another a lot, but they were not in love. The day after the great reveal, James tried to take his own life. Lily found him in time to save him, to stop the bleeding from his wrists. But it was obvious from then on they needed to separate.
James left her and Harry the house and moved out. He still visited Harry daily but they could not live together anymore. Now, James lived at the edge of the cliff overlooking the cave that took Regulus’ life.
He had found and bought a small house that was abandoned there and he made it his home. He sat every day in a chair near the window and watched the cave to make sure no one would ever enter it again.
He still remembered the day he made Sirius call on Kreacher in order for him to ask for help. He still remembered the day James was brought to the cave. He still remembered going inside and finding Regulus’ jacket and tie tossed aside on the floor.
He broke down once more that day and took them to his newly bought home. Now, he sat in a chair next to the window with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. He wasn’t even sure which kind of alcohol he was drinking. He just knew he needed the pain to go away. For just a moment.
Then he stood up and laid down on his bed, his eyes going to his ceiling. The one he filled with glowing stars. James looked to the Regulus’ star and sobbed.
“I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him.” He kept whispering and then he chuckled sadly.
“I love him. I love him. I love him.” He kept repeating over and over again. Then he sniffled again and flinched when his doors were thrown wide open. He turned his head to the left to see a still messed up Sirius standing there.
He had a bit of a stubble but at least he didn’t look drunk, James thought. Sirius sighed and walked inside then.
“He wouldn’t want this. Not for you and not for me either.” Sirius spoke and James growled.
“It doesn’t matter what he would fucking want! He’s dead! Regulus is dead and his soul is forever trapped in that stupid cave! And I can’t free him. I’ve tried countless times!” James yelled and Sirius walked towards him, taking a hold of his hand and pulling him into a sitting position harshly.
“We’re going to the cave, come on!” Sirius yelled and James frowned.
“Why the hell would we do that?” James asked and Sirius sighed before he sat down next to James, their shoulders bumping as he did so.
“We’re going to seal it away, make sure no one ever again has the same fate as he did.” Sirius said and James gulped. He thought about it for a while before he stood up on his shaky legs and looked at his best friend.
“Well come on then! Don’t just sit there!” James said and started to slowly walk outside. Sirius stood up and started to follow him. It took them a couple of minutes to get down. And they stood frozen in front of the cave once they did.
James gulped and looked at Sirius who looked on the verge of breaking down.
“Let’s seal it away at last.” James whispered, suddenly sober and Sirius gulped. He nodded his head and James took a deep breath.
“I’m so sorry for everything, my love.” James whispered and then they started with the sealing.
Once the cave was sealed they walked back to James’ home where Kreacher awaited them. Sirius frowned at the sight of him there.
“I didn’t call for you.” Sirius said and Kreacher looked away from him, a frown still on his face. His dislike of Sirius was still obvious.
“Kreacher knows why Master Regulus twisted your memories. Kreacher needs you to understand his Master Regulus.” Kreacher said and James shared a look with Sirius before he sat down on the couch and waited for him to speak.
“Well speak then, Kreacher!” Sirius yelled, impatient and Kreacher flinched. Sirius almost felt bad. Key word being almost.
“The Dark Lord said he would kill anyone Master Regulus cared about if he were to betray him. Master Regulus could control and hide his memories but you couldn’t.” Kreacher spoke and James took a deep breath, his heart breaking all over again.
“So, he took our memories in order to hide us from the Dark Lord?” Sirius asked and Kreacher nodded his head.
“Kreacher told Master Regulus it was a bad idea. Kreacher told Master Regulus of everything that could go wrong but Master Regulus didn’t care. He only cared if you were safe.” Kreacher started and James continued watching him, knowing there was more that Kreacher needed to say.
“Then Master Regulus learned of James Potter’s wedding and he broke down. Kreacher watched his Lady Black try to comfort Master Regulus. Master Regulus was inconsolable.” Kreacher spoke and James started to cry again. He put his hands over his face and then started to tug on his hair before he stood up and threw the bottle of alcohol on the wall.
He watched the bottle break into a million pieces, like his heart was broken in a million pieces.
“I broke his heart. I didn’t want to but I broke it nonetheless.” James whispered and Sirius sent Kreacher away. Regulus Black was dead and none of them would ever again be the same.
Regulus’ friends had died in the war, so it was just James and Sirius who knew him properly and they could barely talk to each other about him.
Regulus was dead and he took James down with him. James was alive still, but he wasn’t living. And that had to be worse than being dead.
***
James was a great father, a great parent and a great friend. Still, even Harry grew up knowing of his father’s depression. Every time he would stay at his house, James would spend the entire night sitting in the rocking chair next to the window, watching the sealed away cave, almost as if he were hoping someone would walk out of there.
But no one ever did.
And decades later, when James was an eighty year old man, he would still sit in that same chair. So, one day Harry finally asked the question that had been at the tip of his tongue for decades now.
“Why are you always watching that cave, dad? What happened there?” He asked and he watched his old father stop rocking in the chair before he took a deep breath.
“I lost someone I loved, the love of my life when I was twenty. He erased my memories and I didn’t even mourn him when he died. But then my memories returned after a while and I raised a hand to myself once.” James admitted as a tear rolled down his cheek. Harry didn’t speak or interrupt him, he just listened.
“Your mother saved me. She made me promise to live on. For you and I made myself push through. But the words of Walburga Black still ring in my head and I can’t look away. He died thinking my love was weak.” James admitted and then he took a shaky breath.
“I lost the love of my life and didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. And now we can never be reunited again. Even in death, his soul will remain in the Dark Lord’s prison forever.” James finished speaking and his lip wobbled.
“Is that why you chose to live here once you and mom separated? Does his death have something to do with that cave?” Harry had asked him softly and James only nodded his head while he watched the bracelet on his wrist. The bracelet Regulus made him and took from him the cursed night at the Astronomy Tower. Once he was gone, Kreacher had given the bracelet back to James and hasn’t stopped wearing it since.
“That cave took his life. He went there to destroy the last Horcrux and he died destroying it, giving us a chance to win the war. For him, for Regulus Black who died a hero. I enchanted the cave decades ago with Sirius so that no one could ever go in again.” James admitted and Harry felt his heart break for his dad.
While his mother managed to move on and live again, he didn’t. James remained frozen in place and never fell in love again.
***
At last, they started to die one by one. First, Lily died in her sleep. Weeks later, Remus died. Weeks after him, it was Sirius who died and days after him, James Potter died in the rocking chair, his eyes still open and watching over the cave.
Harry was the one who found him and cried at the sight of his father who died mourning the love of his life. It was then that Harry took it upon himself to find a way to break the curse the Dark Lord threw on the cave. He would free Regulus’ soul and let him move on with his father in the afterlife.
Harry would give his father the happy ending he deserved, he thought. Ginny spent months with him in their office at home, researching and trying to find a way to free Regulus at last.
However, years passed by the time Harry found a way to break the curse. And it definitely wasn’t easy to do so. He needed to find the Phoenix feather, the oldest wand in the world and a unicorn’s horn in order to proceed.
First he broke the seal. Then he went into the cave and felt shudder go through him at the sight of the cold sight. It was just stones and water. But the water still had the soul of his father’s lover. And so Harry started with his spell.
Hours passed before the green light finally exploded and Harry watched hundreds of souls leave the lake at last and disappear. He tried to discern which one was Regulus but couldn’t. Then he heard a ghost coughing behind him and he turned around to see a ghost of a man spitting out the water that must have gathered in his lungs upon his death.
The man had black hair until his shoulders, gray eyes and was pale. He resembled Sirius a lot, Harry thought and realized this must have been Regulus.
“Are you Regulus Black?” Harry asked and felt Ginny squeeze his hand in comfort. The ghost looked at Harry and froze. He blinked a few times before he gulped.
“You look so much like James. You must be Harry.” Regulus spoke and gulped again. Harry nodded his head and Regulus looked around.
“What’s going on?” He asked, confused and Harry chuckled nervously.
“I broke the curse on the cave. You can move on now. Be with my dad. He missed you a lot.” Harry said and Regulus only continued to watch him without saying anything. Harry did not miss the hint of agony in his gray eyes though.
“He called you the love of his life so I need you to go now and be happy with him. Please.” Harry practically begged and Regulus started to move towards him. Once in front of him, he put his hand on his shoulder and Harry nearly felt the weight of it. Then Regulus sent him a small smile.
“You are a good kid, Harry Potter.” Regulus said and disappeared then. Harry took a deep breath and turned to look at Ginny, a small smile on both of their faces.
***
Regulus looked around in confusion. There was so much light. It almost looked like they were all on the beach. He didn’t exactly understand where he was or what happened. Then someone screamed and Regulus flinched. He looked up to see the two white haired people running towards him. The Rosier twins.
“I KNEW IT! I told them you would join us! I told them!” Pandora yelled as she threw herself at Regulus, making him stumble back. He hugged her tightly and felt a few tears fall down. He didn’t dare look for James yet.
“Panda? Is that you? What’s going on? Where am I? Where are WE?” Regulus asked and Evan looked at him with tears in his eyes.
“Heaven, Reggie. The curse on the cave must have somehow been broken. Your soul finally moved on.” He said and hugged both of them at the same time, pulling them in his embrace.
“Oi, you fuckers, let us welcome him too!” Barty yelled and Evan pulled Pandora away, letting Regulus fall into Barty’s protective hug. Regulus relaxed immediately then Dorcas pulled them both into her hug. Once they separated though, she flicked his forehead and Regulus glared.
“Don’t glare at me, you little shit! I can’t forgive you for your last stunt you pulled! Should have told us what you were going to do once you took our memories, you little idiot. We could’ve helped. We WOULD’VE helped.” Dorcas scolded him and Regulus looked at his friends to see them all nod their heads.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Regulus cried and then someone spoke from behind him, making him freeze in place.
“Stop crying, boy! Enjoy your happy ending.” Walburga said sternly and Regulus turned around in shock. Everyone was watching her in shock, including the newly emerged Marauders.
“Mama?” Regulus asked and stepped forwards. Sirius frowned in confusion and watched them in silence.
“My place isn’t here, obviously. This isn’t my afterlife and I will be going to mine soon. But they did give me a chance to say my goodbye.” Walburga spoke, no emotion on her face, but Regulus knew her now. He knew better. He understood her now.
“I’m sorry for everything, Regulus. My little star. I should have been the one protecting you. Instead, I pushed you to the wolves and let you suffer. I let you die miserable and for that I will forever be sorry.” She spoke and Regulus nodded his head.
“You were awful to us, both me and Sirius. There were many times when we just needed our mom there but you were never there. And while I wish I could hate you for that, I can’t. Because I understand you now. I understand you better now because we had the same fate.” Regulus spoke and Walburga took a deep breath.
“I forgive you, mother. I can never forgive our father but I forgive you, even if Sirius may never be able to.” Regulus spoke and watched his mother take a breath of relief. She nodded her head in understanding and then turned to look at Sirius while Regulus turned to look at his friends, not having seen James and Sirius there.
“Tell me what happened after I died.” Regulus said and Evan sighed.
“A lot happened. Your mother protected Sirius and his friends from the Dark Lord, killed him, Peter Pettigrew and Orion. She went to the cave and died there, having been miserable without you.” Evan said and Regulus sighed. At least, she had died after choosing the right side in the end.
“What about the- the spell I casted on everyone?” Regulus asked and Pandora gulped.
“Your mother broke it, saying something about making James suffer the way he made you suffer.” She said and Regulus cursed.
“How long have I been an Inferi?” Regulus asked and Dorcas gulped.
“70 years.” She said and Regulus took a shaky breath. He gulped.
“I must have killed many in that cave then.” He whispered and a tear rolled down his cheeks.
“You didn’t really kill anyone. As soon as everyone’s memories were back, James and Lily separated. James built a home on that cliff, overlooking the cave. He sealed it shut so that no one would have your fate again.” Barty spoke and Regulus took a breath of relief, remembering the two minutes he spent with Harry in the cave. Harry had broken the curse and made sure Regulus would know that he needed him to be happy with his father.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come back. It’s been so long, baby.” James suddenly spoke from behind him and Regulus slowly turned around. There stood James Potter, his face drenched in tears while he took a breath of relief.
He moved towards Regulus and moved his hand to cup his face. Regulus flinched involuntarily, the memory of gray hands still too fresh in his mind. James’ face twisted into one of despair.
“I would NEVER hurt you, my heart.” James whispered and moved his hand slowly again, finally caressing his cheek. Once his hands cupped Regulus’ face, he took a breath of relief, feeling like a stone fell off his heart then and there.
“You’re finally back.” He whispered and pulled him into a hug. Regulus sobbed and hugged him back just as tightly, afraid that if he let go, James would be gone.
“I missed you so much, James.” Regulus cried out and James took a deep breath.
“I missed you too, baby. I missed you so much.” James whispered as he tightened his grip on Regulus, unwilling to let go. Regulus did the same, fully content to just remain forever engulfed in James’ hug. And he could be. He had an eternity with him now.
They could not be happy together in life, but they were damn sure going to be happy together in the afterlife.