Chapter 1)
Regulus was tired. Utterly drained of any ounce of innocence or ambition he may of had left. Over the years his eyes grew sunken and his skin drifted a sickly pale. He simply followed his mother like a ghost. Forever tied to her, doing her bidding and unable to move on. It was rather pathetic. Everything had changed once Sirius had left. Sirius was like a vessel for regulus, a vessel to get even a glimpse of light, the light of a world now forever out of reach. Now Regulus was left abandoned, lonely and surviving on the mere, distant memories of Hogwarts.
His mothers heels clipped on the wet cobble, echoing across the dimly lit driveway of Malfoy Manor. He followed closely behind, pulling the flared cuffs of his white blouse over his hands, trying to maintain any warmth he had left behind when they left Grimmauld place. It was too late, a soggy chill had seeped right down to his bones already. He found the dress code frankly laughable. He felt as though he was going to an 18th century dinner party, with his silly white blouse, black embroidered vest and tight black pants, that did not complement his skinny and disproportionate body.
As they reached the steps leading to the door, Regulus finally looked up, taking in objectified looming dread that was Malfoy manor. He had begrudging respect for his cousin Narcissa, being one of the only young blacks that had managed to not be an utter disappointment in recent years. The black family reputation was slowly crumbling. Andromeda and Sirius had certainly tarnished the family name, and Regulus was mostly forgotten due to his dwindling ambition to do… well anything over the last year. At the end of fifth year, his mother had isolated him, pulling him away from his friends in Slytherin and away from Hogwarts so that he may become a death eater.
For most of his school years, he, Barty and Evan had not expressed much interest in becoming death eaters, and that appeared to have remained true over the few months. He had not seen a single one of his friends in any meeting. In all honesty, he was glad. He wished nothing more than for his friends to stay as far away from this life as possible.
His mother stopped abruptly at the door and turned to him sharply. After Sirius left, Regulus began to see his mother as he did, a cruel, loveless bitch. “Remember, no wandering off” she said in a harsh tone, “no asking questions and keep your mouth shut” she glared at him, awaiting an answer. He nodded. She took a deep breath and straightened up, adjusting her corset. She rapped aggressively on the door with the silver knocker, in the shape of a snake's head. He thought that was a bit on the nose. The door swung vigorously open and Narissa greeted them with an apocryphal smile, she looked tense.
They followed her into the foyer, which was a vast open space that reminded regulus of a cathedral. He remembered his time in the cramped, muggy Gryffindor tower during one of the marauders’ many parties. He didn't go to them often but bloody Potter was annoyingly hard to say no to. Regulus wasn't even sure why James had invited him. Now, he wondered how the voices of 100 hormonal wizards and witches, screaming the lyrics to Bowies ‘changes’ would sound in such a vast chamber. The thought did nothing but make him feel empty and cold in the absence of people. He didn't consider the death eaters people at this point, Not after the things he’d heard.
“Everybody's through there” Narcissa pointed to a large door, which through regulus assumed was the dining hall. “Lord Voldemort will not be attending today” she smiled, as if subconsciously, she was glad. His mother smiled at her, almost pitying. Narcissa flattened her skirt nervously and hurried off to a part of the house Regulus was unfamiliar with. Regulus stuffed his hands into his pockets and tried to make himself look small and unimportant. The two of them entered the dinner room, joining the rest of the macabre party. Regulus recognised a few people. Lucius Malfory sat at the head of the table, trying to look a lot more important than he was, he must've known fully well that he was dispensable. Also at the table sat Severus Snape, a greasy, prudish boy regulus recognised from school. Among him sat Goyle Snr, Pyrites, Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange and Mulciber Snr and some other people regulus was less acquainted with.
The room, like the rest of the house, was darkly lit and rain pattered hard against the windows. A large, steel chandelier hung from the ceiling, doing absolutely nothing to make the place more inviting. As it looked more like a medieval torture device. The room reminded regulus of the slytherin common room, though more demented, hollow and cold.
This was definitely no dinner party. The air hung thick and cold, a damp silence left the room feeling as though there was no one there at all. The scraping of chairs against the floorboards echoed awkwardly as Regulus and his mother took their places. Wow regulus was really starting to miss Hogwarts feasts. He’d never been to one, but he assumed this is somewhat like a death day party. He sat in silence, staring at the table and overall wishing he was anywhere else. He wished he was with Sirius. It was the school break before Sirius’ seventh year and Regulus could only assume he was spending it at the Potters with the other marauders James, Peter Pettigrew and Remus lupin. Fuck, he wished he was with Sirius. Hushed conversations began, scattered between small groups. When Regulus looked up, he made eye contact with Severus.
Severus looked like he didn't want to be there anymore than Regulus did. He sat there in silence and when he looked at a regulus, he gave him a barely noticeable nod. Regulus pursed his lips in confusion and looked back down at the table. Snape was a strange boy, only a year older than him and he was here alone.
In the distance, regulus heard the familiar knock on the door he’d come through mere minutes ago. There were only two empty chairs at the table, one for Narcissa and the other one he didn't know. The table once again fell into an unsteady silence, awaiting the newest guest. He listened intently as the sound of Narcissa’s heels clipped through the foyer. Then a loud creaking as the door opened, paired with the sound of rain pouring loudly outside. Muffled voices could be heard through the door. A man? Regulus could have sworn he’d heard that voice before. It was nervous and young. Possibly someone from school, he hoped to god it wasn't Evan or Barty.
Footsteps approached the dining hall and slowly the door opened once more.
A young, anxious looking boy entered and Regulus knew immediately. It took everything in his willpower to keep his face emotionless, but fury began to rise. The boy looked at him, his eyes widening. Regulus glared back, screaming through his eyes and boring daggers into him. Regulus looked to Snape, who seemed to have also recognised him. He sat incredibly still, looking back and forth between regulus and the boy.
The boy rang his hands nervously and began walking to his chair. Regulus watched his every move, in utter disbelief. Surely there was something else going on here, but hijacking a death eater meeting seemed a bit far, even for the marauders.
Even if they were so idiotic, so brash and so thickheaded, after all that, why peter?