Alamort
Regulus was finally back in his dorm, away from prying eyes, well, most of them anyway “Regulus, what the hell just happened?” Dorcas questions the moment they step into his, Barty, and Evan’s dorm. “I don’t know, I’m not sure.” Regulus answers, not sure what to tell them first, how his mother almost killed him or how he got his parents banished from the wizarding world. Everything happened so quickly, Regulus can barely even remember how he made it to his dorm.. “
Then start from the beginning, start with the rumour that you were in St. Mungos during the break.” Dorcas says placatingly. “That’s the thing Cas, it’s not just a rumour, I was in St. Mungos during the break.” Regulus tells her, not even looking into her eyes.
“Oh Reg, what happened?” Pandora asks him, “She found out, no, somebody told her about how I was tutoring that first year, she didn’t exactly approve.” Regulus replies, the anger he felt while leaving St. Mungos all gone, now he just feels… Tired.
“Okay. Okay.” Evan says, not looking at all okay. “Okay?” Regulus asks, “I don’t know, I think I don’t wanna process any of it right now. So, What happened in the Great Hall? What laws was Bella talking about?” Evan asks, looking he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know.
“That was, Karma? Way back when the family made a bunch of family rules that I can barely even remember, but my mother broke one of those laws, by trying to kill me, her heir, she should have been killed if the traditions were followed but I guess they thought being a squib was a worse fate for my mother than death. Considering my mother, they were pretty spot on about that.”
“Merlin, so your mother really tried to kill you? Have I ever told you your mother is genuinely insane?” Barty Mutters, looking horrified.
-
“Regulus!” Regulus’ brother shouted causing heads to turn, Regulus sighs truly not wanting to talk to anyone, he turns despite himself. “What do you want, Sirius.” Regulus asked not truly caring what his brother wanted, even though technically he was his head of house now, his running away hadn’t changed that, he was never properly disowned from the family. Just burned off the tree and taken out of the running for Lordship.
“I- I just want to talk.” Sirius stutters, to his credit he had the tact to sound bashful, not that that was going to stop Regulus from tearing him a new one. “About what? Because if this is about whether you’re going to be reinstated in the line of succession you’re going to be sorely disappointed. If this is about earlier then we have nothing to talk about.” Regulus replies coldly, he had better places to be like class.
“What? No- well, yes, but we have everything to talk abo-” Sirius shouts, getting cut off by Regulus. “Stop, no we don’t. The events from earlier today changes nothing, Sirius.” Regulus says, before turning and walking away from Sirius.
-
Regulus has just sat down for lunch when he gets ambushed again, although this time he at least had the company of his friends. “Black!” Mulciber shouts, much to Regulus’ annoyance. “What do you want, Mulciber?” Regulus replies unenthusiastically, not even turning to face the boy.
“Just wanted to talk, Reg.” Mulciber says, acting as if they were anything more than acquaintances, as if he had the right to call Regulus by that name, as if they were anything more than strangers who know each other's names.
“What did you just call me?” Regulus asks, standing up to finally look him in the eyes. “Who the fuck do you think you are? We’re not friends, Mulciber. You have no right to call me anything apropos my name, do you understand?” Regulus says loudly, drawing attention to their conversation.
“Regulus.” Pandora says cautiously. Regulus was angry at Sirius, at Mulciber, at the world for putting him in this position, and at his ancestors for making him Lord Black when he’s only 16, for giving him more responsibility than he can handle.
It all feels like too much, too much noise, too many people, too much power and Regulus is falling from the cliff of self control. He can’t handle it, the pressure on his shoulders, the expectations. It was all just too much, the loss of his parents, the suddenness of his rise to Lord Black. He can’t handle it. He just can’t, he can’t do this, he doesn’t know how to. He never had the lessons Sirius did, he was never taught how to act in a world where he lost his parents, he never expected to be Lord Black, let alone be an orphan.
He can’t breathe, Regulus can’t breathe, he can’t hear, he doesn’t know when he stopped breathing properly. All he knows is the pain in his chest, the tears blurring his vision, the pain in his head, and the power flowing in his body.
-
Regulus was losing control, Barty doesn’t know how he knows, he just does. Regulus’ breathing went erratic moments ago, tears blooming in the eyes usually so unemotional to most. Just as Barty is about to stand to get Regulus out of the Great Hall, he explodes, like a star shining too brightly that it can't handle the energy. Barty feels the flux of magic that bursts out of Regulus, he sees the candles above them go out, sees the glass of the windows shatter due to the magic.
The next thing Barty sees is Regulus’ body falling, his body falling lifelessly to the floor. “Regulus!” Barty screams, rushing to his friend’s side, “Somebody get Madame Pomfrey!” He shouts.