Chapter 10
All of Pandora’s forced training came in handy. Regulus was getting better each day. He seemed to have a natural talent for shooting arrows. After a few weeks he was hitting the target more often than not. Not many bullseyes yet but at least he was hitting the target which is better than when he first started. He imagined he would be hitting more bullseyes in the coming two weeks. Pandora was certainly happy about his progress.
“See! I told you so!”
He let another arrow fly. “I get it Pandora, you were right I was wrong, as usual.” He said, rolling his eyes.
“I saw that mister.” She said. He stuck his tongue at her as any mature young adult would. She stuck hers back as any good pureblood lady would do.
They both laughed. It felt like they were in school again. Even for just a moment they were back at sitting at Three Broomsticks drinking butterbeer with Evan, Barty, and Dorcas before everything went wrong and their friend group became divided into those who wanted to join Voldemort, The Order, him who was forced to join, and Pandora who tried her best to keep their friend group together and was heartbroken when she failed. He had the same hopes during school but now he knows it was impossible for them all to stay as friends. They all had different views and morals. Barty and Evan viewed the world from a dark perceptive, Dorcas as a bright perceptive, then Regulus and Pandora through rose-colored glasses. Regulus’ glasses shattered when he was forced to get the Dark Mark and Pandora’s who shattered with their friend group.
He could still remember Dorcas’ screams as she yelled at Evan and Barty for their views. As she yelled at him and Pandora for doing nothing. She refused to talk to them for the rest of their time at Hogwarts, falling into the Gryffindor group who all planned to join The Order.
He felt his amusement faded as he thought of his old friends. He knew once the war was over Evan and Barty would go to Azkaban. He likely would too even if he was fighting back against Voldemort. He’d never get to see Pandora again. Never get to tell Dorcas she was right and show her he wasn’t being his parents puppet anymore.
“Reggie? What’s wrong?” Pandora looked concerned but she was blurry. That's when he realized he was crying. That realization brought more tears as he began to sob. All the pressure of hunting horcruxes, defecting from Voldemort, people who were his friends believing him to be dead. His brother who he still loved after everything. It was all crashing down on him at once. He never had a moment to think of everything he lost and everything he will lose. Even since his 6th year at Hogwarts. Since getting the Dark Mark he’s been numb to everything. Being alive but not really living.
He felt Pandora take the bow out of his hands and wrap her arms around him.
“You’ve been through a lot sweetheart, let it out okay?” He let himself collapse into her arms. She sank to the ground and held him tighter. She ran her fingers through his hair which made him cry harder remembering how Sirius would do the same thing to comfort him after Mother punished him. They stayed like that for what felt like hours. Regulus eventually ran out of tears but Pandora never let go.