Chapter 1
They cracked through the air, light engulfing them tightly before spitting them out onto the hard rocks. Regulus looked behind him to see as the waves crashed harshly against the edge of the small cliff they stood on, the water stopping just below him. A contrast to the lavish hallway they stood in moments before.
The clouds circled around them angrily as they roared, the rain clattering into the cliffside. Regulus lifted a hand to his head to shield his eyes from the storm, his suit soaked already from the rain as he hadn't had a chance to change from the event they came from. "Come on!" Kreacher yelled from behind him, his body changed since he had last been here. Regulus had just found that out. The wind made him barely audible as it swept the words from his mouth and carried them away.
Regulus just nodded his head, following him into the opening on the cliff side. As they cautiously entered he lowered his hand, looking around the cave. The air grew sombre and stale with the walls filled with violently sharp edges, the water turned black as they walked further inside. A low hum came from deep within the river, the only other sound being drops of water crashing into the stone they walk on, Regulus stood back. "It's over there," Kreacher pointed towards the middle of the cave as it opened fully. The small river turns into a lake filled with dark, malicious water.
An island sat in the middle of it, the rocks pointing out from the water. As if they grew from below, lived just for this purpose. Regulus let out a breath he didn't realise he had been holding in, Kreacher started to get the boat ready. Regulus swore to himself it wasn't there before but Kreacher had been here before, he had suffered here.
As he looked around again he noticed the fog that circled at the roof of the cave, flying around and laying wait until it was time to attack. The shadows that suffocated them stared deathly, Regulus swore there was something watching them. He had never been so surrounded by such dark magic before, it was unnerving. Powerful.
As Kreacher undid the knot that tied it to the shore he turned to Regulus, "Do not touch the water." He warned with so much command that Regulus was taken aback. He nodded once more, unbelieving that this was happening. They both clambered into the boat and Regulus picked up a paddle, they took a side each to paddle to the island.
Regulus looked down into the water, it swirled magically in its darkness. Almost enchanting the way it rippled outwards. "What's in there?" He asked, as disturbed as he was curious.
"You don't want to find out," Kreacher answered as he looked at the water uncomfortably, moving far away from it. As much as he could.
Regulus didn't ask again, luckily they made it to the centre before he could overthink the answer. As they got out the boat Kreacher tied it to a small rock that poked out before they stepped up the path. The small stones of stair that lead up to the centre of the island where a small podium like stand stood. A bowl at the top of it, filled with clouded water that shimmered in the swirls it made. "It's in there?" Regulus pointed into the water.
"Yes," Kreacher answered, looking around the cave again.
He started to reach his hand inside, his fingers barely skimming the water before he was electrified. The intense burst of pain made him fall backwards. "Master Regulus!" Kreacher cried out, he placed a hand on his upper arm as Regulus crouched down on the rocks. He breathed heavily as he held his hand, even though the pain travelled through his entire body.
"Merlin," he groaned as he huffed out a breath, the pain disapating after a second. “How do we get it then?" He asked Kreacher who stood next to him.
Kreacher hesitated as he looked back at the podium, swallowing before exhaling shakily. "We have to drink it." He said. Regulus whipped his head to the elf, shock written in the shadows on his face. "Until the locket is shown." He explained, swallowing harshly as he remembered the burning and instant dehydration he felt. Regulus nodded again as he stood.
"Okay," He said. Thinking as he breathed. He locked his jaw as steadied himself. "Okay," he repeated as he nodded to himself. "I'm going to drink it-"
"No! Master-"
"I will drink it." Regulus said forcefully, looking at Kreacher with so much determination that the elf was silenced from the look. "No matter what happens, make sure I drink it until we get the locket. Okay?" He nodded to the elf, pleading with his eyes as his eyebrows closed in concentration.
Kreacher started to shake his head softly, trying to disagree with this plan but Regulus was stubborn.
"Kreacher. Swear it to me." He crouched down to the elf, staring into his eyes with undiscovered courage. "Swear you will make me drink it, all that is necessary." He whispered into the breeze, the quiver in his voice echoed throughout the silent cave.
"Master.." He disagreed, looking at the podium and back to the boy who had already known too much pain. "Let me do it, just let me do this one-" He tried to reason and anyone else would have taken that offer. Anyone else would have run.
"Please, don't make me order you to do it." Regulus's face was set in determination, he couldn't let this happen to Kreacher. Not again. "I don't want it to happen like that." He whispered through the drips, looking down at his eldest friend. His family.
"I swear it." Kreacher agreed regretfully, pleading with his eyes for Regulus to take it back but unable to find the words to convince him.
Regulus stepped forwards first, finding he couldn't stop once he had started. He picked up the shell from the side of the bowl and took a deep breath in. Filling it with water, watching as it filled slowly, swirled in the shell in his hand. He grabbed the side of the podium, steadying himself and getting ready. For anything.
As he slowly lifted the shell to his mouth he thought of the many people he was doing this for. Regulus had never been a fighter before, letting everything happen around him for so long that he was always there just watching. He just watched. And now he was fighting, maybe not yet and maybe not as significant as some others but it was something. He was doing something. He was finally doing something.
But as soon as the water hit his tongue he wanted to spit it out. He wasn't ready for the pain that would surround his body, take over his mind and cloud his eyes.
"Regulus!" He hears the distant cries of Kreacher but it's so blurred and far away that he can't answer.
He didn't expect this pain to be so.. much. Growing up with the parents he had, with the punishment's they gave and he still wasn't prepared for this pain. It wasn't the most he has been in, it's the most overwhelming. The dryness of his throat taking over his life, the need to drink water and save himself. The need to run and hide from the crowding agony that cracked in his bones, the sandpaper that rubbed his skin raw and fire that grew in his stomach. The need to plead and cry for it to stop.
Stop.
Stop.
"Stop!" He cried out unknowingly.
Kreacher ignored his cries and pleads that escaped his mouth in between the sobs, filling the shell with water again and again as he forced it down his throat.
"Please.."
Kreacher stood once more and with shaking hands carried the water from the podium to the boy that lay on the floor. He brought the shell to his mouth and Regulus was inconsolable, he sobbed as he closed his mouth. "Regulus, you have to drink it." Kreacher spoke his own pleads, breaking inside as he looked at the boy laying on harsh rocks with broken eyes and pain drawn all over his body.
"Please, I can't.."
He took the water, as much water as he could with each scoop. Forcing the water down the boy's throat with tears in his eyes.
"I can't- I can't"
He continued, it continued. It took far too long until Kreacher went back to the podium to see no more water and the locket laying at the bottom of the bowl. He breathed out in relief, taking the locket and dropping to the boy on the floor.
"No more- I can't- I-" Another sob escaped him.
"Regulus, You did it." Kreacher held his shoulders tightly, "You did it." He spoke softly again. Wiping the hair that was stuck to his forehead away as he held his cheek.
"No- no more-" He cried softly, his voice broken as he gasped for air.
"No more." Kreacher told him, holding him close. "No more," he whispered into his hair, letting the boy cry into his shoulder as the pain passed through him. Drawing out sobs that echoed in the cave.
Cries so distressed that Kreacher can't help but hold him tighter. He can't do anything else, unable to take the pain and shield him from it. Unable to do anything. It took too long until Regulus calmed down or maybe it didn't take long at all, time seemed to slow around them. The cries and pleas set them back further.
Kreacher didn't let go of him until he pulled away, lifting his head from his shoulder with stuttering breaths as his eyes tried to focus through the tears. "What-" He tried to speak but was overcome with harsh coughs that made his stomach feel like it was being grabbed with an iron grip.
"I'll get- I'll get you some-'' Kreacher whispered as he stumbled down to the lake, forgetting his earlier precautions and taking the shell to the water. Filling it again and bringing it to the boy, Regulus hesitated. Flinching away from the shell so hard that his head banged against the rocks that held him up. "No- it's safe- it's-" Kreacher looked around before taking a sip of the water. Regulus looked horrified as he waited, until nothing happened and Kreacher brought the shell down to him. He sipped it carefully, preparing himself for the onslaught of pain once more but it never came.
When it didn't he chugged the water intensely, taking and swallowing mouthfuls until he couldn't drink anymore. Both so focused on the task that they didn't hear the growling that rumbled in the water, the darkness that settled in the fog that came down to the lake. Until the next wave that crashed left a hand that gripped onto the rock, its nails clawed as it brought itself out from the water. The water dripping from its frame, the seaweed that dangled from its body and the gurgling that left its mouth from the water flowing out of it surprised them both. They both turned to the sudden appearance of it, too surprised to do anything until there were dozens more coming out of the water.
Crawling, twisting and climbing on each other to get to the two. Regulus tried to move but fell from his shaky knees, Kreacher got to the boat first. Knocking the inferi off of it with the flick of his wrist and climbing on board, grabbing Regulus and pulling him on to it but the boat had already moved away from the island. As Regulus was leant over to get into the boat arms exploded from below him, hands grabbed onto him and pulled him close. Death gripped him tightly as they pulled him into the water, encompassing every inch of him. Kreacher held onto his arm, his grip slipping. The clouds dropped down and encased him, suffocating him as his skin was set ablaze.
Regulus's mouth filled with water as he tried to scream out, his hand slipping from Kreacher's as he struggled for every breath. In a second he was fully under the water. The hands scratched and clawed into his arms and legs, holding him down in the water. He opened his eyes to see the eyeless sockets of a skull looking back, rotten teeth filled his vision as it opened his mouth. Seaweed covered half its face and Regulus tried with all his strength to get away from it, unable to do anything with all his limbs being held down. Horrified and scared he closed his eyes, they both were drowning. Then something else gripped him.
It was different from death, it was soft and lively. It was warm and breathing. He leaned into it, fighting to get closer to it. Then in an engulfing flash of light he landed on something soft. His back was being patted as he threw up all the water he ingested, collapsing to the floor as he tried to breath.
As he turned to his back, taking the hand from his head and looking to the side he saw Kreacher laying next to him. He breathed out in relief, taking a moment to collect himself before sitting up. Pain rolled through his muscles as he looked around, a beach surrounded them. He brushed the sand from his hands and moved away as waves softly fell near them, a harsh difference from the angry waves that crashed before.
"Kreacher," he breathed out, his voice rough and horse from the shouting. "Do you have the locket?" He asked into the fresh air, turned to the elf when there was no reply.
"Kreacher?" He questioned and he leaned over, shaking his shoulder softly. He head rolled on the sand as he faced him, their eyes connected and Regulus flinched back from them. He knows those eyes, he was just looking at them.
"Kreacher?" He called out, disbelief as he grabbed onto his shoulder tightly. A gurgle made its way out of its mouth and Regulus closed his eyes, thankful. It wasn't until the gurgling growl didn't stop that he looked back at them. It swiped at him harshly, Regulus stumbled back as he saw the locket get thrown from where it was intertwined in his hand. "Kreacher!" He called out again and as he looked back from the locket to the elf, he understood. He backed away, horrified.
Dead eyes followed his movements as it stumbled to stand.
"Kreacher," Regulus pleaded. His hands in front of him, surrendering to him. "Kreacher- please."
But this thing wasn't Kreacher. Not anymore.
It stumbled towards him, its arms swaying with the breeze as its mouth hung open.
"Please," He pleaded again. His body so dehydrated he couldn’t cry and he couldn’t differentiate the sting in his eyes to the rest of the pain his body felt. This was his friend, his family. This was Kreacher.
This was Kreacher.
It stumbled towards him again.
"No." He denied forcefully, backing away. "No.." With a whisper he looked around, anywhere but to the growling and death that tried to take him. "No. No. No!" He pleaded, hoping to look back and this all be untrue but when he looked again, Kreacher didn't look back. Something else did. "Kreacher. Stop." He tried to command, his stomach twitching with every intake, but this creature was not his elf.
His elf had been taken, his friend had been killed. Regulus stayed stagnant on his knees, his eyes looked forwards but all he saw was Voldemort. He had never met the man, so he had no picture but the name was enough. It didn't echo through his mind, he didnt repeat it, he only said it once. A whisper as the creature finally got to him.
Regulus didn't panic, he didn't cry, he pulled his friend to him. He held him.
He didn't flinch as the creature clawed and tried to tear him apart, he just held him tighter. “I’m so sorry..” His voice hoarse as he apologised. He had to grab the jaw of his friend to stop it from biting and as they struggled Regulus managed to unsheathe a knife. It wasn’t flashy or messy, it was quick and too easy as he plunged the knife into Kreacher’s back. He heard flesh ripping, water and blood pouring out the wound
“I'm so sorry," he sobbed into his shoulder, unfeeling to the way it clawed at his back and tried to bite him. "Please don't leave me.." He pleaded, his body shaking with the force that he held onto his friend.
"I'm so sorry- I'm so sorry-" He apologised with choked breaths and a broken voice. "I'm sorry- I'm sorry-" Muttering pleas through the uncontrollable sobs. "Please forgive me-" He pleaded as he stroked the back of his longest friend.
He held onto him as he cried, pleading for forgiveness. The grief that he felt was engraved into his soul, the sobs he let out were not human. They were ruined.
He was inconsolable. Not that there was anyone to console him, there wasn't anyone.
Hours later, as the sky was now filled with stars that shimmered above him. He stared at the small grave of his eldest friend, of his family. Breathing openly, numbly into the air as stray tears still found a path down his cheek. It wasn't until he found himself looking at the locket that he felt anything but grief.
He felt rage.
It grew in his chest, tightening around his lungs and making it hard to breathe. It took over his entire being as he locked his jaw tight, not wanting to sob anymore. Not wanting to feel anymore.
He looked back at the grave and instantly had tears in his eyes again, he turned away with a deep breath. Willing the tears to go as he blinked through them. Walking to the side he picked up the locket and as he attempted to turn around a wave of grief washed over his body once more. So he didn't turn back. "I'm sorry," He cried as tears fell regardless.
Walking away he sobbed again, pushing the back of his hand against his mouth as tears fell down his face. He couldn't face him again, 'Coward.' He screamed to himself as he continued to walk, not looking back. Nothing could have prepared him for this.
He walked aimlessly for hours, the ache in his muscle miniscule to the pain he felt in his heart. It wasn't until he collapsed on the side of a road that he let himself rest, unwillingly closing his eyes and blacking out.