Stronger Than the Whiskey
Some hours later- Regulus POV
The brown liquor burned in his throat, but he didn´t mind. It would numb his mind. No thoughts, head empty. That’s what he wanted. What he needed. The whole double spy thing was really exhausting.
Regulus was currently sitting at a bar in a fancy muggle hotel in London, drinking overpriced booze. Away from the war, the death-eaters, the order of the phoenix. Voldemort, Dumbledore. His mother.
“You want another one?” The voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he looked up. The cute bartender was standing in front of him, on the order side of the bar. He had dark, smooth skin and his hair was a short afro. Regulus spotted a pin, which was attached to his white shirt. It was the gay pride flag.
“No ice, please” Regulus answered while nodding.He didn´t even think about it, just said it as if someone pressed a button. Maybe his nightly visits to a bar made conditioned him to just say this when someone asked him
“No problem” The bartender took his glass, placed it on the bar. He turned around, took a whiskey bottle from behind him and filled it up. “Here you go man” Regulus took the glass from him again and looked at it for a second. Should he really drink another one?
He was craving it, but he knew it was wrong. Avoiding his feelings like this. Still he needed it. This was his free time. Where he could do stuff he wanted. For god’s sake he was 20, an adult. Responsible for himself.
“You okay, bro? You have been staring at your glass for 2 Minutes. You still want to drink it?” It was the bartender again. He was leaning against wall, the towel he had just dried the glasses with, was lying over his shoulder. “I don’t want to cross any boundaries, but if you want to have someone to talk, I have an open ear.”
Huh. That was strange. The last time someone has asked him how he felt, was some time ago. But this was probably just a strategy. Making the costumers feel safe, so they would order more.
Instead of answering he gulped the whiskey down in one sip and held out the glass. “Another one please”
“Whatever you say, dude” The bartender took his glass and kneeled to place it under the counter. After that he turned around to the wall with the bottles and glasses, to get a new glass. Regulus watched his movements, which were executed precisely, showing a long time of experience.
“Good evening, Regulus” Regulus suddenly heard someone next to him. He turned around and flinched when he saw who it was. It was his old headmaster. Albus Dumbledore. His grey hair and beard were a little longer than when Regulus saw him last. He was wearing a green robe, which definitely stood out, no matter where he would go. At least in the muggle world.
Regulus could feel the Bartender judging them harshly as he placed Regulus’ whiskey glass in front of him. He asked Dumbledore, if he wanted to drink something, but the professor declined. The bartender just nodded, ignoring the hotels policy, which stated you had to order something to be able to sit at the bar.
“Professor. What are you doing here?” the brunette asked.
“Do you mind if I sit down? “Dumbledore asked, seemingly completely calm. Regulus nodded, so the old mad sat down. “It´s a nice night, don’t you think? Halloween is always so exciting.”
Smalltalk? Why was he doing Smalltalk? Regulus was very confused.
“Professor, I don’t want to be rude, but could you please explain why you are here?”
“Oh, yes of course. Well tonight was very eventful. Voldemort … he is dead. He was defeated.”
What? Voldemort is dead? But how? Who could have defeated him? Who has that much power? And why didn´t he tell him that early?
“He´s dead? How? And how didn´t you tell me that sooner?”
“Oh my dear boy, always so impatient. You know you don’t always have to focus on the bad things in life. Enjoy the little things as well” Dumbledore explained, looking at the ceiling.
“Are you fucking kidding me old man? You just dropped a bomb, and instead of explaining you want to talk about the weather?” Regulus said angrily. He almost yelled, but it didn´t seem to bother Dumbledore.
“Oh well, maybe you´re right. I thought you knew his plans, but it seems you don´t” Regulus shook his head. He hadn´t attended the last death eater meeting. Therefore, he was clueless. “I should have guessed, you didn´t inform me about anything.”
Regulus was a spy. His Parents were death eaters, thinking purebloods were the only worthy of magic. They dragged him with them. He never wanted it. Two years ago, he visited his brother Sirius, crying like a baby. It was all just too much. Sirius and his boyfriend Remus just comforted him. The next morning, they went together to Dumbledore, thinking he would help Regulus, but Dumbledore had other plans. He convinced Regulus to work as spy for him. Telling him everything the dark lord has planned. Now it was even worse than before. It was exhausting. But at least he did save some people, even some of his brother’s friends. And he even got his two friends, Barty and Evan to do the same has him. But it wasn´t enough to get rid of the guilt.
“Tonight, Voldemort made a drastic step. He visited the Potters” Regulus heart skipped a beat. Potter was just a way too familiar name. James Potter, his brother’s best friend, the guy he was told to hate growing up. The one he still fell in love with. His ex-boyfriend. Who he still had feelings for. But he was off limits. James had a wife and a son.
“Someone told him about a prophecy, which could be interpreted to about the Potter’s son, Harry and he would be the one to be able to kill him. So, he decided to kill the boy, when it was still easy” Regulus knew Voldemort wouldn´t just kill the boy, but everyone in the house. James was dead. Dumbledore didn´t have to tell him.
His head suddenly felt very heavy. Too heavy for his neck to support. With a bong it landed on the bar. This was all his fault. If he had attended the last meeting, he could have warned them. He could have…saved them…. But how did that connect to Voldemort´s death? Perhaps Dumbledore showed up after and killed him. He was the only one Regulus knew, who was almost as powerful as the dark lord.
“However, the boy lived. A miracle really” Dumbledore continued.
What? How is that possible?
Regulus lifted his head up again and looked up confused at the older man. He still seemed emotionless. Regulus tried to form words, but nothing left his mouth. It was just unbelievable. How could an infant survive a fight with the dark lord, when even some of the most intelligent and powerful people he knew hadn´t.
“And with him his father”
James is alive? He survived an attack of the Dark Lord?