Back to the land of living
03/07/1996
Regulus sorts through the key details mentioned in the Daily Prophet of the last 17 years for which he was dead.
He also researched about his abrupt arrival in the land of living. What was more interesting was the fact that he was brought back on the day of his birthday 25th june in his body as on his 16nth birthday in 1976 but he had all the memory of what happened between 25th june 1976 to 24th june 1979 (the day of his death).So why reduce his age by 3 years if memories are all intact.
He remembers 24th of june 1976 was the day when his brother ran away (or was kicked out, depends on whether you are asking Sirius or Walburga respectively) to never come back or ever wanting to be associated with Black family or any of its member. Next day was his 16nth birthday and as a gift his mother informend him that he was the Heir now and was to be rewarded by honouring him with the Dark mark.
Now don't get him wrong he had fanatical views about blood purity and wished that wizards did'nt have to hide from muggles and be able to do magic and fly on broomsticks in front of muggles and not having to worry about statue of secrecy. He also thought that muggleborns were diluting wizarding culture and traditions.
So, a week after that he was a happily branded death eater and that also seemingly on his own wishes (although at his parent's insistence) and not at all due to any pressure, manipulation, threat, or merlin forbid under imperio as Sirius naively assumed when he first got to see the dark mark on Regulus's arm about a year later.
That Regulus on his 16nth birthday was super excited and proud of himself for becoming the heir and accepting of doing something that will increase the status of the house of Black. That 15 year old kid did not knew what was to become of his life, what really he had agreed to be a part of and what horrors he has to witness in his teen years itself and would die even before reaching his19th birthday. It was all because of a child's wish to make his parents proud unlike his 'Blood Traitor' brother and childish naivity of wanting to fly on his broomstick in his muggle neighborhood.
Afterwords, many time he thought of 25th as the day where everything in his life changed and he let his mind run in circles about what ifs. What if he had denied his parents, What if Sirius has taken him with him (although he would not have gone with his brother as their relationship was already severely fractured since sirius left for hogwarts the first time and then when Regulus became a Slytherin, the both of them avoided each others like a plague), what if he had thought this through or atleast waited a year or two to understand the severity of the commitment he was giving to a madman for reason which at the end of the day were so very juvenile.
Each time he saw horrors of the cause he begged mother magic to change things, to take him back to 25/06/1976, so that he can make the right choice this time.
On the day he went into that cave on 24/06/1979, this wish was playing on repeat mode to change things for better, to help him redeem a mistake he made in his naievity and not at all any malice towards anyone sector of society just childish demands. To help him defeat Voldemort. To save the wizarding world and the house of Black. Beacuse he knew that there will be no heir left from the main line of Blacks. At last he had only prayed to Mother Magic to just help him make the Dark lord mortal once again so that people on the supposed light side can finally kill him once and for all and Wizarding society be free from the virus that is Lord Voldemort.
Kreacher told him on the day of his return that just before he left the cave with the horcrux, he saw Bright golden light beginning to surround Regulus as he was draged towards the inferi filled lake.
Thus, the only conclusion Regulus could come up with is that his request has been granted in some twisted way, whereby he did not die, he also is back in a body which is dark mark free and also he can work to destroy the horcrux and kill the dark lord once and for all who is apparently back after being vanquished by a year old child.
He has gathered a lot of information from Kreacher of happenings after his supposed death. The most shocking were three details namely : The boy who lived, potter's spawn and his brother who not only got imprisioned in azkaban then managed to escape azkaban then died a week before Regulus's return.
His feelings about his brother's life were bitter sweet, because how come Sirius who was smart enough to see through all the pureblood bullshit got stuck with such nightmare of a life only to escape prision and then die.
He knew Sirius has fought very hard for a life he started living as an adult, becoming an Auror despite the stigma of a being a Black (a dark wizard catcher from a dark family), getting Fleamont and Euphemia Potter as parents who were never stiff or formal in showing love and care and where love was not conditional and no one was breathing down his neck but they also died in august 1979 after suffering from dragon pox. Having friends who were his friend because they liked and respected him and not because of his family name and reputation. His talent in magic and inteligence also spoke for itself despite him being such a rebel, prankster and casanova. Joining a group to bring down Voldemort and his death eaters despite not having any personal reason to fight, just standing at the right side and working for people who would'nt even know he is working for them namely many muggles and muggleborns.
So what went so wrong for his brother who was not a yes man like him to please his parents, has taken there beatings and shouting for a freedom but ultimately was locked at a place where his soul was constantly chipped away ruthlessly.
He used to think that Sirius got it easy, but with a life and an end like this he does'nt want to know who was the real winner in this game of the one who suffered the most. Beacause he knows that like all the previous games between them this time again Sirius will be the winnner but he would have never wished such a cursed life like that of his older brother not even on his worst enemy.
He did'nt even got to meet him again. What was the meaning of this life given to him again where his parents were dead, Sirius was gone and he had missed 17 years. So for whom will he bring down Voldemort ?, when there is no one to share such victory of defeat and peace at the end of the war with. He never claimed to be a good, self sacrificing person who will die for others like his brother, no he was the epitome of selfishness from the beginning to the end.
But he will carry on this task, if not for the innocent muggles or those ignorant muggleborns and even the naive/ stupid/ arrogant purebloods But for his brother who did things because it was the right thing to do not beacuse it was serving him some purpose. Sirius deserved this. He will do it for the House of Black which is in ruins because of this so called dark lord. He will do it for the young Trixie, meda , cissa , siri and regi, who were as close as any family can get. He will do it for Mother Magic who has brought him back to life and a purpose.
The THIRD Important detail that Kreature shared with him is the most ground shaterring for his quest. Apparently Kreacher had heard during last summer holiday that Lucius Malfoy had slipped through a dairy that belonged to his Evil Highness in Hogwarts which was rumored to open the chamber of secrets at the school and possessed the youngest of the weasley child. This whole business sounds problematic and points a very sharp finger towards horcrux. So he is considering a very big fat chance that there are more than one horcrux present.
Also Kreacher tells him that his home is now the secret headquaters of Dumbledore's merry band of vigilants and after Sirius gone, it is bequethed to his godson, The Boy Wonder. Kreacher also belongs to Harry Potter (who was summoned by him in Headmaster's office in Hogwarts to check his loyalty, Kreacher has vey smartly not told anyone about Regulus's rebirth) but also answers when Regulus asks, thus in nutshell, the house belongs to Potter Jr. and Kreacher belongs to both of them.
The problem with his house belonging to the Order is that anyone can discover him, so he has to play hard and fast and reveal himself on his own terms and condition.
He has found a wand belonging to some old Black Relative of his called Lyra Black in the attick. It answers to him reasonably. His old one is lying at the bottom of the lake maybe along with his 18 year old body, either way he does'nt want to find out, he will buy a new one.
Whenever any member of the order arrives he hides in his room and kreacher listens to the conversations in the meeting and tells him later in great details. He fears that someday someone is going to cast homono revelum and they will know of the extra presence in the house and be suspicious.
He is just coming up to terms with everything that is happening and happened. Despite the rusty and dusty nature of the house, with his mother gone breathing is a lot more easier, which he never realised or accepted before when she was alive. His father was an absent parent so his death is not much a change from usual.
He is also feeling at a loss because many of his friends are gone. Barty (Slytherin) has been given Dementor's kiss, Evan (Slytherin) and Dorcas (Slytherin, a year senior) were Killed by aurors and Voldemort respectively, Pandora (Ravenclaw) had apparently married to Xenophilis Lovegood, has a daughter called Luna, died during an experiment some years ago. Emma vanity (Slytherin) is alive, she retired from her quiditch career a few years ago and now is a Healer in St. Mungos , Amelia Bones (Hufflepuff, three years senior) who is the head of DMLE and Alexender Fawley (Slytherin, two years senior) who has his own Law firm and remained neutral during the war.Thus 4 of his friends are gone and three who are alive are in there mid thirties unlike his 16 year old self.
He is unsure of whether to tell them about his arrival, because he is sure that once they understand that its really him and not just any imposter, he can trust them more than Dumbledore or his Merry band and Amelia is the head od DMLE which can help with a very Voldy matter.
He has to come up with a plan soon, gather allies, know more about the boy who lived, deal with dumbledore, get his status of alive renewed, check his gringotts account. Check who is the head of the house now that Sirius is gone.
There is too much to be done and too quick.