5 - Voilà
10:59; 1st of September, 1979
Regulus stared at the clock.
11am.
It was official now. He would not be returning to Hogwarts this year. No seventh year for him.
“It’s weird, huh, not going back?” Said James, who was barely awake and sipping from Lily’s favourite mug, so he’d probably stolen her drink. Regulus hummed, and they both stared at the clock until the minute passed.
“It’s officially left. And we’re not on it.” Said Lily, who stole her mug right back from a fake offended James. James then tried to steal Regulus’ mug instead, but the younger man slapped his hand away;
“Oh, no you don’t! Get your own tea!” James pouted as Regulus and Lily laughed.
A crack of apparition made Regulus tense up, and then the doorbell rang. Winky went to take it, but he had to call for Lily to come and see. She had a serious look on her face when she returned.
“It’s Dumbledore. I’ve no idea how he found out about you.” She gestured to Regulus. “But he says he wishes to talk to you. Said something about a cave and a horcrux?” She looked confused.
“Hey, Reg, if you don’t want to talk to him, you don’t have to, okay.” Said James, immediately sensing that Regulus was uncomfortable with the idea. He could barely think about that day, let alone talk about it with someone like Dumbledore.
“I'll fight him off if I have to, don’t worry Reg.” Said Lily, and she really did look like she’d beat Dumbledore up if she had to.
“I- I’d really rather not right now. Definitely not to Dumbledore, he’s… wel, he’s a bit scary.”
James nodded, and went to the door. Regulus could hear his muffled voice, before Dumbledore answered loudly.
“I must speak with the boy immediately. He could be a spy! Our missions and your lives are in danger!”
“Are you out of your mind!” shouted James. “I can assure you that there is no reason to believe that Regulus - because he does have a name, you know- is a spy! And even if , it’s not like we’d be spilling all of the Order's biggest secrets over tea. Because we don’t even have any information on what we’re doing to share, Albus, because you never fucking tell us anything. We are risking our lives for your cause, and you’re worried because we did the only thing you ever told us to do: save people.”
“I’ll have lots of information to share when I’ve spoken to the boy.”
“I won’t stand for it! Regulus needs his time to heal.”
“Ms. Evans and you are the most talented healers I have had the pleasure of knowing, I’m sure the boy is doing quite alright by now.” Lily gasped at that, excused herself to Regulus, and went to the door as well to shout at Dumbledore.
“While I appreciate your trust in my abilities, Dumbledore, a man as wise as you must surely know that healing goes beyond just the physical.” Said Lily to Dumbledore.
Regulus peeped through the door, which was standing open only slightly, very similar as to how he had watched his mother discipline Sirius after he took the fall for his little brother. He had been scared then, staring wide-eyed at his screaming brother, hoping that his mother would not see him, and he was scared now, staring just as wide-eyed at a terrifyingly calm Dumbledore while James and Lily looked at him as if they really might beat him up any second.
James and Lily.
“You must surely know that talking about one's experiences can be of great help in the process of healing mentally.”
“Yes, I am aware of that. But Regulus shall do so only when he is comfortable with it, not when you decide it fits your schedule best.”
Dumbledore sighed, and then, he turned to look straight at Regulus, who froze, unable to move away from the door.
“Come on, my boy, you know that this is the best for everyone. You, too, must have realised that Voldemort wouldn’t have stopped after just the cave, you’re a clever boy, after all.”
“I- No. I don’t want to. Not to you.” Said Regulus. He was shaking, but he was proud that he was standing his ground.
“You heard him. Get out of my home before I make you, Albus.” Said James. Dumbledore did not move, until Lily’s wand was pressed against his temple, and he walked away slowly.
“Are you alright, Reg?” Asked James once Dumbledore was gone.
Regulus nodded, but he was crying and shaking and hyperventilating. His knees were weak, and James caught him just in time when he fell to the floor. Regulus was gently let down to the floor by James and Lily, and then they both sat there, in the doorway from the hall to the kitchen, trying to recollect their thoughts after what had just happened. James was usually the one to break silences, and a few times, it looked like he wanted to break this one as well. He didn’t do it though, probably sensing that Regulus needed some peace and quiet to gather his thoughts. Some people might leave Regulus alone to do that, but Regulus had told Lily and James that he felt more at peace when they were around, so they stayed.
They always stayed.
“He was right though.”
It was Regulus who broke the silence. Lily clearly wanted to start saying that Dumbledore was not right and that Regulus should do everything at his own pace, but Regulus didn’t give her the chance to do that.
“I’ve discovered many things in the past year that would help you guys win the war. I should've told someone the second I found out, but I didn’t, and I’m sorry for that. I thought that I could do it alone and,... look at me now.” Regulus looked at the floor between his legs, pulled up so he could rest his head on his knees. Lily scooted closer to him to embrace him, letting him lean on her. James looked at them in adoration.
“You still have to do things at your own pace though,” Said James, “Dumbledore can wait a little longer. He’s like a million years old, so a couple more days really won’t hurt him.”
Regulus nodded, though James couldn't see it and Lily could only feel his head moving against her shoulder.
“I want to share the information now, though, I’m ready to talk, just not to Dumbledore.” Regulus looked at Lily, and then at James.
“We’ll listen if you want us to.”
Regulus nodded again, took a deep breath, and started his story right there on the weird part of the floor where half was kitchen tiles and the other half was hardwood floors.
And Regulus told them everything. About how he nearly lost Kreacher and then found out about the horcruxes. How he started researching it and formed the theory that voldemort might have multiple, and how Voldemort confirmed that theory by bragging about going farther in immortality than anyone ever before. He told them about Voldemort's strange obsession with ancient magical relics and the number seven. About how all death eaters had been asked what they deemed the most significant magical object, and then Regulus told them about what made him decide to go into the cave. What had been the final straw to opposing Voldemort. He’d planned to wait longer, because his occlumency shields could still cover for him just fine, but one day, his friend Evan had been tortured in front of him and Barty, for what had really been just a small and insignificant mistake. Regulus told James and Lily about what happened in the cave before James arrived. About the potion, and about the lies. All of those fucking lies.
When he’s done talking, he feels lighter.
“The horcrux is beneath the false bottom in the top drawer of the dresser in my room, by the way. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”
“That thing has a false bottom?” asked James, surprised.
“Do you know how to destroy it? Because that’s the goal, isn’t it?” Asked Lily, who did not seem phased by the fact that the dresser had a false bottom, which Regulus thought was probably the reason he’d found a muggle photo of a girl that looked like a sour version of Lily in there. Regulus decided to wait until later to ask about that.
“You can destroy it with fiendfyre, basilisk venom or the killing curse. Which are either dangerous, really tough to do or get, mentally scarring to perform, or a combination of those things.” Regulus said.
“Tomorrow, after the order meeting, James will talk to Dumbledore and he’ll ask what the best thing to do is. Meanwhile, we’re going to go on with our lives knowing that at least one seventh of Voldy is tucked away safely in the false bottom of the top drawer of Regulus’ dresser.” Said Lily. Regulus knew that Lily would not be going to the order meeting tomorrow. They took turns going, so Regulus never had to be home alone.
“You act like you’re not surprised that a dresser in this house has a false bottom.” said James to Lily, who just winked in response. “Was I the only one who did not know this?”
Regulus and Lily laughed together.
And that is how the doorway between the kitchen and the hallway became a doorway between a losing war and a winning war.