The dark Mark
"See you at school" Sirius smiled sadly, he knew where he was going now and it made him feel awful. That Regulus had to come back, that he couldn't stay here with them and be safe.
"Yeah see ya" Regulus smiled too even though he didn't really wanted to.
"It was nice to have you here Regulus, we hope that we'll see you again soon" Effie told him when he was about to leave.
"Thank you, it was really nice to meet you and get to know you" Regulus smiled softly as he took his bag and left the house along with James. He said he would walk him out.
They walked a bit across the street and then they stopped.
"So see you soon?" Regulus asked and James nodded and a tear fall down his cheek.
"Oh come on we'll see each other in two weeks James" Regulus whispered when he noticed the tear.
"I know - I just - will you be fine ?" James asked.
"I'll be good James" Regulus said and before he managed to leave he hugged James.
James didn't expect it really. Regulus hold James by his waist and James's hands went around Regulus's neck.
"I have to go, James" Regulus whispers when James doesn't let go of him.
"I know " he whispers as he buried his head into Regulus's shoulder.
Eventually he lets him go and watches him disappear.
---
"Regulus ? Finally back huh ?" Walburga watches him as he appeared at the corridor.
She wasn't supposed to be here, he came back a day earlier in case she came back before he managed to get here.
"Mother? I thought you will be coming back tomorrow" Regulus hoped she wasn't here long.
"We came back yesterday, your father wasn't feeling good" She said calmly, she was manipulative really.
"How is he ?" Regulus asked genuinely caring about him.
"Not quite good, he's in a care of the bests" She said almost sounding like she didn't care at all.
"I just wonder- where have you been" She already knew, he knew that she was aware of him being at the Potters, there's no way she wouldn't fund it out.
"I was at my friend's house for a couple of day, I felt alone here when you're gone" He said but he didn't lie.
"So a friend? Do you consider your brother as a friend too?" She asked with a sharp voice already holding her wand closer.
"He happened to be around too yes"
"Well okay then, get ready" She said with a cold gaze looking straight into his eyes.
With other people Regulus broke the eye contact as soon as they looked at him but with his mother he was terrified to look away.
"For what ?"
"You're taking the mark tonight, The dark Lord is gonna be here by midnight be ready Regulus" She said, emphasizing his name sharply.
"I'm not of age yet, wouldn't it be wise to wait until I will be ?" Regulus asked with a horror going inside of him. He tried look cool with it on the outside.
"No, you're father is sick he needs to be replaced"
"But mother -"
"No! You'll be there Regulus, don't be stupid like your dear brother. If you think you can get out like him, you're wrong. I only let him leave because we had you and you were always better for this. Do not dare resist" She said and Regulus nodded.
"I'll be there mother " He said and left to his room.
He was so scared, he was coward. He could say something like Sirius did, he could just yell at her or something but she would curse him and he was too scared to risk it.
Of course few curses were better than the mark but there was no way he would get away without the snake on his hand.
He felt like he was betraying everyone. Sirius, who maybe finally believed that they could be good brothers again.
James, who show him how amusing and enjoyable life can be or the Potters who thought that he was a good person, they thought that he and James were together or something and they were find with it. Wouldn't be so fine if he was one of them right ?
The night Sirius left, Regulus promised his parents that he'll take the mark. What else should he do ? Resist ? After what they just did to Sirius,
He was so terrified and scared and lost.
It was so stupid. This summer was good, he actually felt so great and now he's been here not even a hour and he feels destroyed and broken.
He looked around his room.
The room reminded him of Lucius again.
He haven't changed the sheets since.
He couldn't go to the bed, he sat down on a chair and looked in a wall just frozen not even thinking it was just emptiness in his mind.
---
It was done now.
Regulus had the thing on his arm.
He couldn't look at it.
He felt it , it still hurt .
He was standing in front of his room but he wanted to go to sleep.
He was exhausted and also wanted to forget everything and just sleep.
Sleeping was very similar too being dead. You can't think when you're dead can you ?
And the last thing Reg wanted to do was to think about it.
But he couldn't go to that room, it felt like Lucius was still there somehow and he wasn't even in his room before.
Regulus hesitated, he could go to Sirius's room.
He felt safe there, he always had.
He wasn't there since he left.
Regulus opened the door and saw Sirius's bed with Black sheets.
A Queens poster was beside the bed and lot of other things that felt like Sirius were there.
Regulus could be sentimental about his brother's old books and clothes and posters another time.
Now he wanted to close his eyes and never open them again.
He lied on Sirius's bed. It almost felt like he was there with him.
He remembered sleeping with Sirius in his bed every time Walburga's punishment was too hard.
He curled up to the blanket, it still kinda smelled like Sirius. Their parents never touched his room since he left.
He did fall asleep.
He just wished he wouldn't wake up.