Everything I know brings me back to us
Draco is sixteen. So why is he standing in front of Voldemort being forced to take the Dark Mark? All because his father failed him? Why does Draco get the punishment? He's supposed to be happy, but he's not. His father was supposed to protect him. But he failed. His mother tried, she really did, but sometimes trying doesn't work.
He has his arm stretched out, looking Voldemort in the eyes. He can't fail now. He has to prove his worth, right? It's what he's been taught by his dad.
"Draco! Do you here wish to obey me in taking what is ours back? And follow my every command and mission? You can back out now if this isn't what you want." Voldemort speaks. You can't back out. Once you agree, you're stuck. He knows the stories of his second cousin Regulus.
"I do, my Lord. I wish to follow you and to kneel at your name." Draco responds. His father and mother standing there, stiffed. It's your fault father, Draco thinks. Look what you've done.
With a smile, Voldemort pours the ink into Draco's body. He wants to scream in pain. He wants to cry. It stings. He wants to throw up. He's now a puppet to him. He has to follow every command like a dog. And the first command? Kill Dumbledore.
Draco's first mission is to kill his headmaster, because it's who Voldemort fears most. With Dumbledore out of the way, Voldemort can rule Hogwarts. He'll be unstoppable. Draco can only rely on Harry to stop him now.
…
Regulus is sixteen. Sixteen in front of Voldemort taking the Dark Mark. All because Bellatrix gave him good tips about Regulus. Regulus should want this, but he wants to throw up. He should've ran when Sirius asked. This was supposed to be a Sirius spot. Regulus can't hate him for it.
Regulus forces a smile. He knows by tonight he will be a faithful follower of the Dark Lord. Standing tall and proud, he holds his arm out.
Voldemort smiles cold-like, "Ah, Regulus. I've heard so much about you through Bellatrix. She talks highly of you. Are you sure you want to become a faithful follower of mine? To obey my every command? To ask no questions when I send you on missions?"
Regulus nods, "I, here, seek to be a faithful follower at your every command. To do missions with no questions asked. To blindly follow you into the light."
Moments later there's ink covering his skin. He has a new tattoo now. He looks at his parents and they're beaming. He made them proud. He looks at Narcissa and Bellatrix. Narcissa smiles sadly, and Bellatrix is jumping in joy.
Regulus wants to throw up. Scream. Cry. He wants to die now. Sighing, he keeps a forced smile. All he can do is rely on Sirius in his mind now. To hope Sirius can save him now that he's fully gone.
…
Draco is sitting at a table. He's uncomfortable. His mother is holding his hand under the table. She's also uncomfortable. When he looks at his father, he's tense. They're in the Malfoy Manor. Voldemort has been staying with them, so he has his meetings here. Narcissa isn't even a death eater.
Bellatrix sits across from them, smiling. She's beaming, waiting for Voldemort. The Dark Lord can't help but smile when he enters, Wormtail behind him. He's the assistant of Voldemort now. Draco has a strong hatred for him. He betrayed his friends, and for what?
When Draco had Lupin as a professor, he loved him. And Sirius? He loved Sirius. The stories he has heard of James after sixth year is admirable. Especially the way he died. He died saving Lily and Harry. His Harry.
All this meeting is about is the updates on Harry. Voldemort wants to kill Harry. Draco's Harry. Even if they won't last, Draco will always be Harry's. Draco feels sick hearing them talk about killing Harry. His mother is the only one who knows about his love for Harry.
Once the meeting is over, Draco leaves the mansion. He walks around London for a while. He has to kill Dumbledore. When he kills Dumbledore, Voldemort can't kill Harry. Someone is going to get hurt. Someone always does.
…
Regulus is eighteen now. Him and James have been over for two years. James is married to Evans now, they're also expecting a baby. It hurts to think about it. Regulus has Evan and Barty sitting to his right. They're all uncomfortable.
When they look around the table, they see Bellatrix and Lucius beaming. Narcissa looks uncomfortable as well. He looks over at Pettigrew. He just joined today. Regulus hates him. How could he betray James? His James. The very James that Regulus will forever belong to.
How could he betray Sirius? Sirius who fought to be where he is now. To find a family that loved him. To betray Lupin. The very Lupin who was scared to become friends with them in the first place. The very Lupin who let them join him on full moons. He feels sick thinking about the way Pettigrew can betray them.
Today Regulus gave Kreacher up to Voldemort. To prove himself worthy. It's what he's been doing since he was born. Proving himself worthy. That night when Kreacher got back and told Regulus everything, Regulus knew it was his turn to be the hero. He wrote one more letter to Narcissa, James, Pandora, Barty, Dorcas, Evan, and Sirius.
That night, he died. Trying to save the world. Regulus regrets his life choices. But at least he got to apologize to Sirius and James. To tell Narcissa one more thing. He tells his ex friend Dorcas he's sorry. To tell his three best mates that he loves them, and he's grateful that they were there for him.
In this generation, no one gets their happy ending. The next generation, every single one of them will remain living. James Potter reliving as Harry Potter. Lily Evans as Ginny Weasley. Severus Snape and Pandora Lovegood as Luna Lovegood. Sirius Black as Ron Weasley. Remus Lupin as Hermione Granger. Peter Pettigrew as Neville Longbottom. The better versions of them.