Chapter 3 - The Horcrux(es)
Things- for the most part- returned back to normal as the holiday break ended.
Everyone had returned back to school for the rest of the year, although most counted the days until spring break.
Regulus spent most of his time in bed.
Since he'd returned to the castle he was constantly feeling dizzy and nauseated.
Regulus wondered if maybe his cave wounds had got infected- even though James made him see a healer.
He wasn't sure what the potion could do to him- maybe poison him.
Although, he was almost positive he'd thrown it up by then.
Any time he wasn't studying for NEWTs or supplying James with constant attention, Regulus was researching about how to destroy the locket.
From what he'd come up with, to destroy the horcrux they had to ruin the locket beyond repair- which was a hefty task.
Regulus had been reading up on the deadliest poisons, toxins, and venoms when James burst into the room.
It was quite late when James returned to their room, but Regulus figured it had something to do with the order.
"There are more." James huffed.
Regulus furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Horcruxes. There are more." James explained.
Regulus' eyes widened, "What?"
"Dumbledore destroyed one, a ring." James said.
"How?" Regulus quizzed.
"The sword of Gryffindor." James muttered.
Regulus had read many things about how powerful the Godric Gryffindor's sword was.
"He's been collecting information- he believes there are more." James spoke as he sat on the edge of the bed beside Regulus.
"How many more?" Regulus asked, although he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"He believes there are five including the locket and the ring." James explained.
Three more.
It wasn't terrible.
It wasn't great, but they'd made it this far.
~
"Three?! Are you kidding me!" Claudette whined.
The trio stepped into Ivan's room out from the Gryffindor commons.
"You'll never believe what they are." Regulus huffed.
Ivan looked at him intrigued as if saying 'go on'.
"Helga Hufflepuff's cup, Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, and some diary." Regulus explained.
"A diary?" Ivan quizzed.
Regulus shrugged, "James said it had some type of relevance."
"Where are we supposed to find all of them?" Claudette quizzed.
"Well I have it on good authority that the diary is in the possession of my cousin's husband." Regulus explained.
"How did you find that out?" Ivan questioned.
Regulus smiled knowingly, "What can I say, house elves love to gossip."
"How do you suppose we get it?" Claud quizzed.
Regulus sighed as he fell back onto Ivan's bed, "I think it's time I pay my dear cousin a visit."
"Oh great. Another Black family reunion, what could possibly go wrong." Ivan scoffed.
So Regulus sent a letter to Narcissa that evening by owl.
The letter spoke of how much he missed her and the things he'd been getting up to.
Regulus figured he'd coax an invite out of his cousin.
A response arrived days later.
Regulus reached for the door to exit his dorm just as it whipped open and he was face-to-face with Evan.
"Regulus." He greeted.
"Evan." Regulus returned.
Regulus had nothing against Evan, it just happened that at some point they'd drifted.
Evan began hanging with Mulciber and Avery, while Regulus hung with James and Claudette and Ivan.
Claudette and Ivan had really saved him in a sense.
If it weren't for them Regulus would be just like Evan.
Regulus would've been a death eater, which Regulus knew Evan was.
He hadn't been the most vocal about it, but Regulus knew Evan was frequently attending meetings with the pseudo death eaters at Hogwarts.
"How is your lovely mother, still running a baby mill?" Evan piped up.
Regulus was slightly surprised at how causal his words were.
If anything, Regulus was surprised the boy wasn't hissing that he was a blood-traitor.
Most of the school knew about James and Regulus- at least Regulus had figured as much.
After Regulus had almost drowned during the second trial of the tournament and after James had held him making a scene after he 'died', people connected the dots.
Regulus genuinely chuckled, enjoying the one interaction he'd had with Evan in years.
"Oh yeah business is booming. And yet she still finds the time to crucio my ass." Regulus joked.
It was lighthearted, although not entirely untrue.
Evan smiled and Regulus wasn't sure he ever took to noticing the one dimple on his left cheek.
He seemed to have remembered something, holding a letter out to Regulus.
"You've got mail." He explained.
Regulus took the letter from his hands, recognizing the lovely handwriting, "Thank you."
Evan nodded as Regulus passed, their brief interaction coming to an end.
Regulus didn't have much more to say and besides- the contents of the letter determined whether his next task was easy or hard.
He lazily plopped down onto the forest green sofa in the Slytherin common room.
Regulus ripped open the envelope with his finger, sloppily tearing the flap.
His eyes scanned the parchment and a smile grew on his face.
'Regulus,
It's so lovely to hear from you cousin! I've been doing well, thank you for asking. The manor has been a little quieter now that Lucius is working more- you should come over for some tea soon.
- Narcissa'
Part one of the plan was in action.
Regulus made sure to write back to Narcissa agreeing that they should meet for tea.
With a date in place, Regulus had a moment of pride that he just had to share it.
So he snuck out of Hogwarts into town in search of a certain pair.
He'd been putting the Marauders map to good use.
"Remus!" Regulus called as he spotted the two boys.
The couple both snapped towards Regulus as he came rushing towards them.
Regulus didn't stop, he jumped into Remus' arms- wrapping his legs around his waist.
Remus chuckled, "Hi, kiddo."
"Where's my hug?" Sirius pouted as Remus set Regulus down.
Regulus only stuck his tongue out at Sirius.
Sirius maneuvered Regulus into a headlock, ruffling his hair.
"Don't you have school?" Remus quizzed.
"Yeah." Sirius added.
"No." Regulus said, which was a bold-faced lie.
"Does James even know your gone?" Sirius quizzed.
"Yes." Also a lie.
Remus squinted his eyes, not believing a word Regulus said.
"Why are you here?" Remus asked.
"Can't I just want to see two of my favorite people?" Regulus retorted.
Sirius gleamed, but Remus wasn't so easily buttered up.
"No." Remus said.
"Alright, alright. You two have been debriefed on the Horcruxes, right?" Regulus started.
The pair nodded.
The three of them had begun aimlessly walking as Regulus spoke.
"I'm going to obtain another one." Regulus explained.
Sirius stopped, "Woah- isn't that dangerous?"
Remus had the same worried expression.
Regulus couldn't help but love them so much more for it.
"No, you see, one of the horocruxes is in the hands of Malfoy", Regulus quipped, "So I'm having tea with Narcissa next weekend."
A mischievous smirk grew on Sirius' face, "That's very sneaky of you, Reggie."
"I've taught you well, little one." Remus gleamed, messing up Regulus' hair.