Chapter 1
Regulus Black could, sometimes, see the future. Most of the time, it came to him in dreams. Dreams were unhelpful, he wouldn’t know it was something that would happen - until it did happen. And then, he would stand there, looking strange and feeling sick to his stomach as he watches whatever play out exactly as it did in his dream.
The dreams were the worst.
The more often a dream appeared, the more likely it was to be a … well he wasn’t sure what to call it , prediction, vision, premonition, glimpse into the future.
For the most part, his predicament only happened when he is unconscious to do anything about it. Sometimes, though, sometimes it happens while he is awake. He will suddenly see options in front of him followed by two cords. One cord, thin and gold. Regulus always seemed to think it shimmered with the promise or hope of something better- while the other, a black cord that seemed to slither with cloudy, black wisps. He will see the cords then follow them to see glimpses of where his choices will lead him. More often than not, the cords get crossed and it is difficult to see which path is the best to take.
He has never told anyone this his secret. His family looked down on people who claimed to have the sight, saying they were liars or out of their minds.
The last time Regulus had to make a choice was the night his brother, Sirius, walked out. It was during holiday break, and Sirius and his mother got into one of their many altercations after a comment Sirius made at Christmas dinner. His mother used the cruciatus curse and his father beat him with his fists yelling “If you love mudbloods and muggles so much, I will beat you as they beat each other.” As Sirius laid crumpled on the floor in a pool of his own blood, his father continued his assault. “In fact, maybe I will burn you at the stake. You are a useless excuse for a wizard and not worthy to be the heir of the noble house of Black.”
Regulus sats in his chair and watched, knuckles turning white from gripping the arm rests, keeping himself in his seat. He knew it would only be worse if he attempted to intervene.
After that comment, Sirius pulled himself off the floor and gave his father and bloody smile, “I do not want to be your heir! Or any part of this family.” He spit blood out of his mouth and onto the floor and walked out.
For about 30 seconds, Grimmauld Place was completely silent, void of any noise. Then, his mother started screaming.
Regulus, suddenly able to move, ran out the door after Sirius. He hadn’t even remembered to grab shoes. It was snowing, and Sirius was running.
“Sirius!” Regulus called after his brother, which caused him to stop and turn towards him. “Sirius, where are you going?”
“I’ll go live with James. He is more family to me than anyone in that house.”
Regulus was silent. Not knowing what to say to that. He was Sirius’ brother. That was a ridiculous thing to say. Why would he say no one in Grimmauld is his family anymore? Of course, Regulus and Sirius didn’t speak much anymore, and they had certainly grew apart after Sirius met his friends at Hogwarts, but they were still family. He still loved his brother. What a ridiculous thing to say.
“Reg, come with me. You don’t have to stay. Mother and Father are getting more radical by the day. There are… rumblings. Please, come with me.”
That’s when Regulus saw his options. The two cords were so blurred, it was difficult for Regulus to see which led where. First, he saw himself leaving with Sirius. Staying at the Potters. It works, until the day before they are due back at Hogwarts. His parents show up to fetch at least one of the Black boys. They only need one heir after all. James’ parents (Regulus assumes), refuse. There’s a flash of green and suddenly James and his parents are dead. Sirius is screaming, out of his mind. Regulus looks away, suddenly feeling bile in his throat, he can’t follow that path. Sirius would never survive that.
His other option is… murkier. There is not much he can see, but more what he feels. He feels cold, darkness, fear, pain. Regulus thinks he is about to pass out from the overwhelming feelings when he catches sight of himself, completely alone and staring at something on his arm. He is alone and scared, but Sirius is unharmed. He tugs the string, the gold and black braid together as he does. It seems the other path wasn’t really an option at all.
Regulus sighs. He knows Sirius will keep pestering him back at Hogwarts if he stays. He knows he has to do something so terrible that Sirius will never want to talk to him again. This will be easy for Sirius to believe. Because Regulus is so quiet about his opinions on his parents and their beliefs, Sirius is under the assumption that Regulus believes them too. Regulus however is only interested in keeping his head low and not making things worse. He does not care about his parents’ politics. But again, like many things in Regulus’ life, Sirius does not know that.
“No, Sirius. I will not go with you. You think I want to be brothers with a fucking blood traitor? Fuck you and your love of mudbloods. I just came out here to make sure you wouldn’t come back and fuck up my chance of getting the inheritance. We haven’t been family since you got on that train to Hogwarts your first year. You came back and weren’t my brother anymore. Stay the fuck away from me.”
Regulus quickly turned around so he wouldn’t have to see the look on Sirius’ face. He did hear Sirius suck in a breath, and maybe let out a shaky laugh. He couldn’t be sure. Either way, his fate was sealed. The cords were braided together and it seemed like his life was out of options.
Regulus barely feels the cold on his feet, barely hears the screaming of his parents, barely feels anything anymore. He feels like, whatever his decision was, it was right. Even though it looked and felt so so wrong.
Regulus went to bed that night and dreamt of hands. Many hands pulling him under. He couldn’t breathe, he felt water fill his lungs. He tried to scream out for someone, but they didn’t come, and then he was gone.