Regulus's Path To Find His Home
Regulus was in the black manor library trying to figure out if the locket was what he thought it was. He knows of Horcruxes because of his long distant relative Urquhart Black. He had started making a Horcrux to make himself immortal. However, that did not end well for him or anyone of his descendants. Someone from a rival house is said to have found out about his venture into the darkest of the magic. This is when the curse of the black family began. Soon the children in the black family started to show signs of insanity. It would affect nearly half of the children in the generations after it happened to his cousin Bellatrix. She was batty like no one other. Why else was she so obsessive over the dark lord?
He had to know if the dark lord was making these taboo artifacts if he is. Then he will become even more unstable than he is right now. If he is to become even more insane. Then Severus will be hurt again. I had never seen Severus in so much pain when he didn't have all of the prophecy to tell. He Crucioed him over and over till Severus could scream no more. I had to help him back to his home and force potions on him that would help with the aftermath of the attack on him. If he is that unreasonable now Severus will only get more hurt. I can't tell him of my suspensions; the dark lord tears into the minds of the closest followers. I can't tell him till I have found out if I am right and have destroyed the artifact.
After a while looking through the oldest selection of books the pendant that Severus became loose and fell to the ground. The pendant was given to me in school once Severus had found out what my mother would do to me at home. How I was her practice dummy for all the nasty spells she had made. It had been this way since Sirius had left me in the middle of the night. He didn't even say goodbye. I knew that he didn't see me as a brother anymore. The moment Potter came into the picture I was the useless baggage that my brother wanted nothing to do with.
I shook my head and looked for the gift that Severus gave me. It was a leather-bound cristal that was gray. Sevous had said he never wanted me to be unprotected like he was from his father. The pendant would make a shield to protect me from most curses and keep me safe till either he or Kreacher knew I was safe. They would make sure they loved more like no one else did. Even if Severus would only love Lily in the way I wanted, it was enough to know that I was one of his cherished people. Severus didn't love loudly and never in public. But he would hold his loved one close to his chest and I was honored to be one of the few that he trusted.
I shook my head to clear myself of thoughts of Severus so I could find my precious gift. It looked like it had fallen into the old fireplace grate that wouldn't work no matter what you did. I kneeled moving the grate out of the way to get my pendant and after I placed it back around my neck I noticed a section of stone that had been cut out. I reached for it and lifted that section of stone to find an old leather-bound book. I picked it up and started looking over the cover to discover it was Urquhart Black's diary.
I sat on the floor reading how he had made the horcruxes. To make a horcrux you must prepare an item to put the piece of your into and murder someone. The act of murdering someone starts the tear into your soul and the eating or drinking of the flesh of your victim will finish the tearing of your soul. There was a section all about how to destroy Horcruxes. There are only three known ways to destroy a horcruxes. The killing curse “Avada Kedavra '', Fiendfyre the enchanted fire, and the venom of a basilisk. On the very last page of the diary it has a spell that will make a horcrux show itself if you are near one when the spell is cast the spell's name is “Mortem Ostende”.
With this information I had just found I went to wear Kreacher was resting. When he had returned for the “task” that the dark lord had given to him I was terrified that he was going to die. But after some rest, he was almost back to normal but there was just something in the way he walked that seemed to be a bit off.
“Kreacher, I need you to take me to where the dark lord took you, '' I say in a serious voice. '' "No master regulus kreacher mustn't make kreacher go back, "Kreacher said separately while clutching at my robes. I kneel to get to his level and say “Kreacher I must make sure that the locket is not a horcrux”. Kreacher's eyes widened and in a shaky voice said “Not a horcrux master regulus, those are forbidden mistrust says so” Kreacher looked more frightened than I had ever seen him. I took his face into my hands made him look into his eyes and said “Yes they are forbidden and that is why I am ordering you to take me there”. Kreacher let out a sob but shook his head in a faint nod.
I let out a shaky breath and went to my room to prepare for whatever the dark lord would have prepared for me tonight. I grabbed a bag and put in some potions, healthy supplies, and the diary. I was about to step out of the door but stopped when my mind wandered to Severus like it tends to do. I need to write him a letter explaining what happened in case something happens to me. I wouldn't want to just disappear. He would find some way to blame himself. That man would take the world on his shoulders if I let him. I took out a parchment and quill and ink and started writing
Dear Severus,
I am writing to you before I go on a mission that could very well take my life. I need to do it. I won't have a madman running a rampage throughout Britain causing pain and suffering. Especially if it is your suffering. I could never forget the last time he took out his anger on you. I will never get your screams out of my head. I never want to hear such a sound coming from you again. Sev, I think he made a horcrux. If I fail, I need you to finish what I am starting tonight. He tore his soul apart so noon we could kill him. I can't let this stand. There are some things I must have you know if I do die on this mission. I have loved you since I was 12 years old. When you could have looked at me with the anger you hold for Sirius but you saw what no one else would see. You know what I was going on at home and you took the place of my protector. I know that you don't see me this way. I am like a brother to you. I know you will always love Lily and I would never hold it against you. I just need this off my chest if I am walking to my death. I just want you to be happy to hear you laugh more freely. I keep those few times I heard you laugh close to my heart. They are more precious to me than all the gold in Gringotts.
Yours always,
Regulus Black
I sealed the envelope with black wax with the crest of my family. Then I wrote on top of it to my Severus with all of my love. I know he will never be mine but I can pretend just this once. I pulled out my will and made Severus the heir to the black fortune and everything I own. If I die, Severus will be able to live the life he deserves. He could study potions for all of his life without a worry. I placed my will and the letter on top of my writing desk where it would be easy to find.
I walk out of my room with my satchel over my shoulder. I go to kreacher to take me to the cave. Kreacher takes my hand and we disappear with a loud “CRACK”. I close my eyes, picturing Severus smiling at me. I can give myself this one moment to think of the most important person to me. The moment ends and I open my eyes and me and kreacher are standing outside a wall in a cave. I opened my satchel and pulled out a knife, I slashed a wound into the palm of my hand and rubbed my blood into the wall.
With a rumble, the wall opens to a secret room in the cave. There was a large lake with a little row boat attached by the bank of the lake with a chain. And in the middle of the lake was a small island with a bird bath column of marble that opened up at the top so the potion at a palace to cover the locket. I turn to Kreacher and say “I order you to make me drink all of the potions even if I beg you not to, and if I don't make it out of the cave you must destroy the locket do you understand me” Kreacher looks up at me with broken sad eyes and nods his head. I stead into the boat with Kreachter and started heading towards the island with the potion.
I stepped onto the island and headed towards where the locket would be. I look into the pool of potion and at the bottom, I see the locker and I cast "Mortem Ostende”.
When I looked down, the thing I was hoping wasn't going to happen. I could see the locker pull a sickly green color so it was a horcrux. I take a deep breath and hold it and then let it out. I picked up the goblet that was sitting beside the potion's container. And started drinking it, the taste was sickly sweet. After the second cup, I saw my brother staring down at me like I was the dirt under his fingernails.
“What are you doing now Regulus, something useless as usual I suspect,” Sirius said with a scoff.
I flinched when he called me Regulus, sirius always called me Reggie it was our single that we were still brothers. He only stopped calling me Reggie once he ran away to Potters. I shook my head. He wasn't here, it was the potion making me see things. I drank another cup of the liquid and when I looked up again it was Severus standing there with a look I had only ever seen him level at Potter. It shook me to my very core. I never want Severus to look at me like that.
“Do you honestly think I could care for someone like you?” he sneered. “ I could never like someone that could choose me over their brother even when he abandoned you”. I gasped when I heard that I had always thought that Severus needed to know that he was more important than Sirius. “You will always choose regulus second to Potter and second to my Lilly, the love of my life. I will never love you regulus ever in a million years' Severus screamed at me I was sobbing at this point but I had to drink I was so thirsty. It only got worse after that I could hear Severus and Sirius tag team letting me know in every way I was a disappointment.
At that point, Kreacher had to force the potion down my throat until he could grab the locket. Then he dragged me into the boat and started to move a little bit across the lake but something must have been wrong the boat was rocking like crazy and Kreacher was screaming. That is when I felt the tearing on my arms. I gasped at the feeling of something tearing into my flesh. Kreacher held onto one of my arms with the things with the claws torn into me anywhere they could. They were testing into my back, arms, and face and for a moment I thought that Kreacher could get me out but they were black overwhelmed. I had fallen into the lake and was being tugged into the deep black water. All I could think of was Severus I don't want to leave him not yet not ever. Then all of a sudden I was enwrapped with warmth and I slowly drifted off to sleep.
******
The next time Regulus opened his eyes he was in a bed at spinner's end. He knew this bed was where he had helped Severus when he was dealing with the aftermath of Crucio curse. Looking around he saw Severus sitting next to the bed. At least he thought it was Severus but something was not quite right. He had more worry lines on his face. I pushed myself into a sitting position but attempted to get Severus' attention. When he noticed that I was awake he let out a gasp and whispered my name. Then he reached for me and pulled me into an embrace.
I froze and just sat there this was not like Severus he doesn't do hugs or any type of human connection unless something is seriously wrong. It took me a moment to process what was going on but once it struck me that it was unlikely for Sev to hug any time soon after this I wrapped my arms around him. I could smell Severuss’ unique smell of firewood, dirt, and the smell of his cheap muggle shampoo.
“Severus” … “What's wrong” I croaked out. It felt as though I had not spoken in a long time. Severus started to mumble in my ear. I could feel his breath on my neck. It sent shivers down my back. It took a moment to realize what he was saying because I was not used to Severus touching me so much he whimpered out “You were dead and gone for so long reg” He took in another shaky breath and continued speaking “You just disappeared and I didn't know what happened to you if you die, or just ran away without me” This took me by surprise how long was I gone for and I didn't Severus get my letter? “Severus, I wrote you a letter to explain anything. I would never just leave you "I stated I needed him to understand I would never leave him willing.
Severus let out a tiny whimper and told me “ I never got a letter reg you just disappeared one day and I had no idea where you had gone" No, I thought that Sirius would not do that. He is not that cruel. But there would be no one else that would have been able to enter the house. I thought if I had died he would follow what I had planned. That was a native thought. I thought he would think of me and not his hatred of Severus. I was wrong though if Severus is still living in this house which he had because of the memories of his father then Severus never saw a knut of the black fortune.
Rage started to fill me, how dare he not do this one thing for me? It was my dying and still Sirius was selfish enough to still think of himself in the instant of his death. I was getting lost in my anger when I felt fingers rubbing soothing patterns into my neck and soft mumbles of comfort coming from Severus. Oh, this ridiculous man trying to comfort me when he's the one who should be in a fury for what has been done to him. I took a deep breath and decided to let my anger go for right now. Severus needed me right now.
When I asked “Severus, how long have I been gone” I could feel him flinch at the reminder that I had been dead in his eyes. He pulled back away from me much to my disappointment there was such sadness in his eyes. It made me want to wrap my arms around him and never let out of my sight. But I know that would just get me a few curses thrown my way at the notion that Severus could take care of himself. I'll just have to find a more subtle way of protecting him in a way that won't make him think I don't think he is strong.
At that moment I saw Severus take a deep breath close his eyes and say “ Reg you have gone for 15 years, the year is 1994” My blood ran cold as the words 15 years echoed around in my head. How could it be fifteen years? Does that mean Severus has been alone in the horrible house for fifteen years? What of the dark lord is he still running around killing at random? Was the Horcrux I found destroyed or is it still intact? I was starting to feel a bit faint and black spots were appearing in my vision. That is when I heard Severus telling me “Breathe reg, just breathe for me. Can you do that for Reggie? "I gasped in a breath of air. With that needed oxygen I began to organize my thoughts. There are some questions that I need answers to and I need to figure out what to do now.
I needed to think about this practical manner. There are three things I need answers to: what is the dark lord up to, what happened to Severus in their years, and what am I going to do? I opened my mouth to start asking these questions when I realized I was practically in Severus’s lap. My head was resting on his shoulder while he was rucking us back and forth and he was petting my hair in a soothing motion. While he was humming for those muggle lullabies I heard him humming at school while he was doing potion work at school. Merlin, he makes it so hard not to love him how anyone could hate this man was a mystery to me. However, he does tend to treat those he does not know with the ferocity of a stray cat in Knockturn Ally.
I pulled back so that I could ask him my questions but if I could I would stay in his arms forever. “Severus… what of the dark lord is he… still around? I ask hesitantly if he was still around; Severus probably was still his second in command. “ no, he was killed 14 years ago. The Potter's son killed him "I was just confused. Did he mean James or did he and Lily have a child? He saw the look on my face and held up a hand to stop me from asking more.
“ Let me start over, there was a prophecy as you well know and the dark lord decided to talk about the potters" He then looked at me dead in my eyes and said something I didn't think I would ever hear from him. “ that is when I turned spy for the light side.” “ he was going after Lily and I could not let her get hurt” Oh, still after all this time he still loves her. I shouldn't be surprised when Severus loves he loves with all of being. But it still hurts. I had always had the hope that maybe with enough time he could move on from Lily but that was only a foolish dream to keep me company at night.
“How in the world did you get the old man to trust you enough to become his spy?"
'' He asked me what I would be willing to give in exchange for Lily's life. I said anything so I pledged my loyalty to him and I have spent my life serving him ever since"
What the hell was Dumbledore playing at manipulating Sev like that of course would do anything for Lilly? I looked up at Sev and he had a worried expression on his face. I realized he was worried about what my reaction was because he knew of my hate for that old man.
I put my hand on his shoulder and said “Of course she was the love of your life you would do anything for her” but this caused the most perplexed look on his face.
“ she was not the love of my life, I loved her like a sister my love for her was strictly platonic” then just like that the spark of hope was light inside my heart.
But now is not the time “Oh I understand sev I just assumed but I shouldn't have done that it was wrong of me“
Severus shook his head “ No it is fine i never said anything else and I was quite upset when she stopped talking to me you just jumped to the wrong conclusion”
“ Anyway, how did a baby defeat the dark lord?” I asked, trying to change the subject even if Severus wasn't “in love” with Lilly does not mean he would want you that way. Severus shrugged, "No one knows I think Dumbledore has theories but he is not sharing them.” I rolled my eyes of course not that it would be too easy. At least I know where Severus has been. Not that it is good news that Dumbledore has his claws into Sev. I'll have work trying to free him from working at that school. I skull at the mere thought of having the youngest position master in centuries teaching snot-nosed fristies.
I look up at Sev “What now sev where shall I go?” I asked. A look of fierce protectiveness. Severus reached down and held my face in his calloused hands. “You will be staying with me, we take care of each other right? He started off so strong but at the end he was almost asking me if I still would want him. What in the world did that old goat do to my growing confident Slytherin protector? Never mind, I will just have to undo all his work.
“What about the Horcrux that was destroyed?” I asked. Then the most amazing thing happened: a strong blush spread across Severus' face. He cleared his throat and pulled out a mangled metal piece or metal. Oh, he must have used Fiendfyre. How in the world did he manage that? But looking at the embarrassed look on his face made me think it would be safer to ask Kreacher later when we were alone to get the information.
All of a sudden kreacher came running into the room holding a letter with the Malfoy house crest on it. Severus ripped open the letter and started reading it and his face got paler the more he read. He looked up at me and said “I have to go Draco needs my help he is looking deathly ill agoring to that letter” I felt a course of unease go through me who is Draco what is he to Severus and what does he have to do with the malfoys. But before I could ask, Severus was striding away.