Regulus Acturus Black
In a different universe, Death Eaters lived in a different island than other wizards and witches. Across a long bridge lived all the purebloods, the death eaters, the superior ones, the evil ones, the “villains” of the story. The ones who bared the Dark Mark.
Banished after the Wizarding War after the Dark Lord was defeated, the Ministry of Magic decided to banish and let all of the supporters of Voldemort rot in Nihil (also known as the Land of the Unknown). There they were, cut off from the rest of the wizarding world, surrounded by an enchanted force field, wards that kept them from leaving and disabling their magic. It is unknown what will happen when one tries to leave while the barrier is active.
The island mainly resembles a slum with poorly constructed dwellings. Rusty old muggle coins are used as a currency on the island. Those families who were once thought of all royal in the wizarding world were now no more than muggles. What kind of wizards or witches are they with no magic? Squibs.
#
Regulus was quite saddened when the barrier was put up in Nihil. He quite liked seeing the constellations above as he sat on top of the roof of his house. A bit narcissistic really, being sad about not seeing the star you were named after. Call him a typical Black, but he too had an obsession with the stars. Regulus being the brightest object in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
When all he could see above was the flickering static of the wards, he groaned and turned his gaze to the island beyond. Hogwarts was on the opposite side of the bridge. The major metropolis was bright, in his opinion too bright. Regulus worried he would develop a headache from gazing at it for too long because it was filled with pastels and vibrant hues. Castles in red, blue, and yellow banners and flags. Miles and miles of woodland, and a gigantic lake ahead until one would arrive in Diagon Alley. He can still remember the different shops as he especially missed riding on a broom.
“Regulus, come down here right now,” he could hear his mother from outside his room. He was quite grateful for the banishment, at least he does not have to deal with being the target for the Crucio curse.
Regulus climbed back into his room from the rooftops as he made his way to his mother.
“There you are,” Walburga said with a frown on her. She walked over towards him as she gripped his arm, feeling her nails dig into his arm. He kept his eyes on the ground as he was taught.
“You have been chosen to go to Hogwarts,” she announced.
“What?” Regulus' eyes have never been so wide as his eyes snapped up towards her. He must have heard it wrong. That cannot be. “Why?”
“They are sending kids of the Dark Lord to Hogwarts. Four of the kids in Nihil have been chosen for a trial run,” her frown turned into a sinister grin as her nails dig even further in his arms that there might be blood. “You can get us out of here, Regulus. You can revive the Dark Lord and we will be noble again.”
“The Dark Lord is dead, mother,” he stated, earning a slap in the process and stumbling from the impact. He was on the floor, looking up to her. Seems like that is what she always wanted anyways.
“You foolish child. The Dark Lord can be revived again with the elder wand. Unlike your idiotic brother, we can be free from this wretched place,” she gripped his cheeks until her nails were once again digging into his skin. “You leave in two days.”
#
Regulus always knew he was destined to be the heir of the Black family. Can you really blame him? He knew it then when his brother was sorted in Gryffindor. He knew it when he befriended Potter when they were in Hogwarts. He knew it then when the Potters where the place he would go to when he took the blame for Regulus’ mistakes. He most certainly knew it when his brother declared that he was into blokes at the dinner table.
The Wizarding War ended when Regulus was in the fourth year of Hogwarts and his brother in his fifth. He remembered all of the parents that fought against the Dark Lord and those who were with him. He remembered the day those who were against the Dark Lord won, or so they thought. He remembered the news when the decree was set, he remembered when he got thrown into Nihil soon then after. He remembered his brother’s face when he saw Regulus on the other side of the bridge the day all the Death Eaters were escorted into the wasteland of Nihil.
His brother left right before the third year of Hogwarts ended, right on Christmas eve. He remembered when Sirius ran away that day. He did not blame his brother, no. He too wanted to get out of 12 Grimmauld Place. He too wanted the same things as his brother. He wanted to get out of his parents’ clutches. He wanted to leave the clutches of being a Black behind. He too wanted to be able to declare that he wanted to shag blokes and did not care about bearing a future heir for the Black legacy.
But with his brother gone, he must act as a replacement. He must fulfill the duties of what his brother left behind. He must become the trophy, the face of the Black family. He must produce an heir with a woman he will never love. He must become what his mother always wanted from his brother.
He did not blame his brother, no, but he grew a resentment. A resentment that started when his brother left him all alone in 12 Grimmauld Place without looking back. He made his choice and so did Regulus. A growing resentment, but with a conflicting opposite, because despite his feelings towards his abandonment, he stayed. He stayed because of his brother. He stayed because he knew he could protect his brother for once in his life. Even now, Regulus still loved his brother, that was no doubt.