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September 2nd 1977, Hogwarts - 7th floor
Divination. I had a love-hate relationship with the class. Some days, it would seem like the most ridiculous, far fetched subject to ever exist and other days it did not. Today was one of those days where everything felt like what we were learning in class was lining up with real life. I had a feeling Regulus felt the same. In today's class, we were starting a new unit on prophetic dreams. Every time I would glance over at him, his jaw would be clenched and his back would appear painfully straight. I kept trying to catch his eye but his sight remained forward or on his paper until the class ended. When we were finally dismissed, after being given an assignment to keep a dream journal for the entire term, I clutched onto Reg’s arm and pulled him to an alcove on the seventh floor; Pandora trailing behind us.
“That was an interesting class.” I comment, eyeing him.
Regulus narrowed his eyes at me, I narrowed mine back.
“Peia.” He sighed. “I know what you’re getting at, but I told you we will talk about it later.”
“Technically this is later.” Pandora quirks with a grin.
“I meant later as in tonight or something. We can go up to the astronomy tower or wherever you would like, just drop it until then.” He pleads with me.
“Okay.” I agree, realising this likely isn’t the time nor place.
-
Since it was a Friday, after Divination came Ancient Runes, followed by lunch, then Transfiguration, then Potions, and finally a free before supper. Plus tonight there would be a 'welcome back' party in the Gryffindor common room. Regulus and I had shared the same class schedule since we were eleven and started at Hogwarts. This was a relief to me since we already had been sorted into different houses. At least I could share a house with one brother and share classes with the other.
Once we were released from potions I told Regulus to meet me on the quidditch pitch in ten minutes and he nodded in agreement.
It was around 15 minutes later when I walked onto the pitch to see Regulus flying in circles in the air, the wind blowing through his hair, that I realised I was actually quite nervous to talk to my twin. I’m sure if it were Sirius I was about to speak to he would tell me it was just a dream and not to worry about it, but Regulus and I always felt differently towards dreams.
I climbed on my broom when I noticed Regulus slow down and come to a stop in the far end of the pitch near the hoops. When I stopped next to him I noticed he was chewing on his lower lip, a nervous habit.
“I think-.” He clears his throat. “I think I have to go home at Christmas.”
I gave him a curious look.
“Obviously you have to go home at Christmas.” I chuckled. “We don’t expect you to stay in the dungeons all alone.”
“I mean Grimmauld Place.” He whispers, avoiding eye contact.
“Excuse me, could you repeat that? It almost sounded like you said you want to go back to the place that holds the parents that abused us and tried to recruit our brother as a Death Eater.” I said, my voice bordering on condescending.
“Cassiopeia.” He finally looks at me. “Last night, I dreamt that Mother and Father let Voldemort take Kreacher to a cave. The cave was surrounded by water, inside and out, with just a small island in the middle. On the island, he forced a potion down Kreachers throat and left him there to die.”
I looked at my twin with worry, he had tears pooling in his eyes yet I could sense he hadn’t even said the worst part yet.
“That’s not even the worst part.” He continued as I expected. “Then the dream shifted and we were there, in that same cave, and I lost you.”
The wind seems to pick up and jostles us slightly on our brooms.
“What do you mean you lost me?”
“We were on the island in the middle and it was like you were trying to get to the water that surrounded it, but then when you got there something dragged you into the depths and I couldn't save you.” Regulus chokes out. “I tried Peia, I tried so hard, but you slipped away.”
“Reg.” I say. “I think I drowned in my dream last night.”
“Fuck!” He curses.
We sit in silence for a few minutes
“Well how the bloody hell do you think going back to Grimmauld place is going to help? I truly don’t see what you’re getting at here.”
“I’m going to convince them that I am back to be the heir they always wanted.”
“By them you mean…mother and father?”
“I need to get close enough to Voldemort to learn what he is going to do in that cave and more importantly why we would be there.” He explains.
“Reg. Regulus. We don’t even know that this is going to happen, it could just be a dream.” I try to reason, even though something in my gut is telling me it’s not just a dream.”
“Cassiopeia, you know what I’m talking about. This feels different, like a warning. I don’t want to go back but it feels like the only way to figure it out, it feels like if I let this go we’re doomed. I need your help.” Reg states.
I try to think of something else we could do, but I can’t. I know what he’s getting at. He wants to convince them that he will do our parents' bidding, Voldemort's bidding. He needs to get close enough so he can figure out whatever horrible thing the other side is up to. And Gods know we can’t go to anyone on our side, especially Dumbledore.
“Reg. If we do this we have to be so careful, we have to plan this meticulously, not a single detail can go without thought.” I say with seriousness in my tone, turning and starting to fly down.
“Where the hell are you going then?” He calls after me.
I come to a stop.
“The library. We have approximately 3 months till you go back, we mustn’t waste a second.” I say with finality.
When I touch back down on the ground, Regulus is only seconds behind me.
“I’m scared.” He says grabbing my hand.
“Me too.” I sigh, gripping his hand tighter, walking off towards the castle.