Sacrifice

"Hey," bending, Regulus Black collected a few scattered books from the corridor floor, "you're missing something."

Holding out the rather haphazard pile, he blinked in surprise at the dark eyes, ringed by darker circles, that met his own. With a shake, Severus Snape, one of the fifth years Regulus knew by sight alone, appeared to come back to himself. Embarrassed, the older boy quickly Accio'd his other textbooks.

"Thanks," Snape muttered, shoving the tomes back into his satchel, "got distracted."

"Makes sense; I'd be too if they banned me." When Severus' head whipped up in surprise, Regulus grinned. "What? You can't tell me Malfoy's voice doesn't carry. And Bella!" He laughed, "She's crazy. I keep an eye on her for my aunt."

Ignoring Severus' rather unsubtle attempt to slip away, Regulus fell in step beside him. "Don't worry; most of the House doesn't care too much. They found out this morning." He kept his tone congenial. "They might not sit with you, but I doubt they'll hex you either." He paused for a moment, "Well, a few of them might- Hey!"

Abruptly, Snape had shoved Regulus against the wall, wand in hand as he glared at the younger boy. "So why are you suddenly being so nice to me? Decided to have your fun before the rest, Black?"

The sheer hatred in his voice on Regulus' last name sent years of protective instincts surging to the front of his mind.

Yanking his hands up protectively in front of his face, the younger boy rushed to explain. "No, it's not a prank! It's just..." He shifted, the wand nearly tapping his nose making him nervous, "They don't talk to me either. Since Sirius- you know, went rogue, they think it means our family has...lost their touch."

Wincing, Reg bit back the urge to shove the wand away from him, "I thought maybe I could help?" His voice rose on the last word, turning the statement into a question.

Coal black eyes squinted intently at Regulus before a bit of the suspicion faded from Snape's sallow features. Gradually, he lowered his wand. "Alright," the older Slytherin nodded, "you want to be..." he paused, thinking, before offering hesitantly, "allies, we can try it. But," Severus glared, "you stab me in the back and I swear to Merlin, you'll regret it."

A smile tugging at his lips, Regulus nodded. It was, by far, one of the milder threats he'd heard in the years since Sirius had been sorted into Gryffindor.

As they entered the Great Hall together, the other Slytherins did indeed ignore the two. Regulus strode easily to the far end of the table and plopped onto a bench across from a blonde-haired boy. A leather book with a cracked spine hid the rest of their companion's features.

"Oi, Even, you going to say good morning or just sit there snogging Dickens until Potions?" Reaching across the table, Regulus attempted to grab the book out of the other boy's hands.

Evan shifted, almost imperceptibly, and Regulus missed. With an overly-dramatic sigh, the fourth year leaned on the table, "Guess someone doesn't want to know who else is joining the Outcasts today...."

Thin eyebrows rose in curiosity, just visible over the top of the pages, but another moment passed before Evan dog-eared a corner of a page and looked up, setting the book on the table.

"Snape," he nodded.

"Rosier," Severus relaxed marginally, "did you finish Slughorn's essay?"

Evan nodded, tapping his bag, "I doubt he'll read it though. It's two inches shorter than it should be."

Smirking, Snape shook his head, "I wouldn't worry. Last time mine was three inches under and I still got an O."

"You two know each other?" Regulus demanded, staring.

"Of course," Evan glanced at him like it was the most commonplace occurrence in the world. "I do talk to other people, Reg. Besides, he's in my year; we have classes together all the time."

"But-" Regulus stared, "you never talk to anyone else when I'm around!"

With a laugh, Evan helped himself to a hardboiled egg. "When you're around, my dear Regulus, you monopolize my attention. That doesn't mean I'm completely friendless."

Glaring, the younger Slytherin crossed his arms stubbornly. "But we're the Outcasts! We're supposed to be desperately lonely, dependant on each other to survive the harsh social wasteland that is Hogwarts!"

He thought even Snape cracked a smile at that.

Rolling his eyes, Evan poured himself a cup of tea. "Only you call us the Outcasts. Now, have some breakfast, that pouting must have worked up an appetite."

***

"I don't know why you're so worried about it; not like you can redo the test at this point." From his position on Evan's bed, Regulus dangled his head backwards until he was studying his friends upside down.

Looking up from Tale of Two Cities, which he was distractedly paging through, Evan sighed. "That doesn't help when this test determines our entire future. Without passing marks, I'll never join the Ministry."

"Politics, boring," Regulus muttered.

"It'll be you worrying next year," Severus' voice was quietly amused. Out of all of them, he seemed the most placid, sitting at the desk in Evan's room, working on their summer homework.

Since that day in the hall, Snape had become a regular breakfast feature at the 'Outcast' table, and the three had been owling each other for the past several weeks to organize a homework session while they waited on their O.W.L. results.

"What do you want to do after graduation, Severus?" Evan asked, setting the book back on the crammed shelf and leaning against it.

With a tiny smile, the teen tucked his hair behind his ears. "Curse-breaking, for the Ministry. Or maybe Charms development.... I've got a few I've been working on."

"Like....?" Regulus sat up and groaned, the blood rushing from his head.

Evan, rolled his eyes, "Told you so," he muttered, before tossing a water bottle good-naturedly at his friend.

For a moment, Severus looked unsure, before pulling out his wand, "Muffliato," he incanted.

A faint buzzing noise filled Regulus' ears, and only after tugging and shaking his head did he realize it was the spell.

"Wicked! So you can talk and people won't know what you're saying?"

Severus nodded, that faint smile playing at his lips again.

"What are you going to do, Reg? After you become ancient and decide you care about school like the rest of us?" Nudging Regulus in the ribs, Evan winked at the younger boy.

"Ha ha, I do too care about school. I don't know..." He settled back on his palms to think, "Maybe something with Quidditch? Or Potions....I like Potions."

A light tapping noise interrupted their conversation. Yanking open the window, the fifth years hurriedly freed their letters from two very ruffled owls.

Regulus waited a long moment, as his friends scanned the parchments, then demanded, "Well?!"

After a long moment, Severus nodded, though there was a tension in the other boy's jaw, Regulus noted.

"I passed," Evan breathed, staring at the letter in shock. Then, a minute later, "I passed!"

Eagerly, Regulus jumped to his feet. "Come on then, celebration time. Butterbeers anyone?"

Rolling his eyes, Severus hauled himself upright, the letter still clutched tightly in his hand. "It's too sweet. Coffee would be good though."

"Only you," murmured Evan with a quiet laugh, but a moment later he followed.

***

"I'm beginning to remember why I hate school." Regulus looked up when Snape tossed his satchel onto the table with a huff.

"Potter again?"

Severus nodded, "I just keep telling myself in two more years, I'll never have to see them again. It's a lovely thought." He glanced at the clock on the library wall. "Where's Evan?"

"Late. Apparently Arithmancy went overtime and now Divination is too." Regulus smirked.

With a sneer, Severus pulled out his Potions text, "I don't know why he bothers with that ludicrous class. Divination is completely unreliable, and- are you imitating me?!"

Grinning, Regulus shrugged, "What? The lecture's getting a bit stale. I hear it every Wednesday, but," he added, when Severus looked especially insulted, "you said ludicrous instead of ridiculous so points for variety."

Rolling his eyes, Severus fished a quill out of his bag and opened his textbook.

"You're no fun." When he received little more than a grunt for his efforts, Reg sighed heavily and yanked out his Herbology book, opening it. "Stupid O.W.L.s."

***

"No."

"Come on, Sev, everyone's going! It's the Yule ball!"

"Absolutely not." Snape crossed wiry arms over his chest and glared at the two. "I have absolutely no inclination to dress myself up and parade around a crowded room of half drunk idiots dressed like a circus pony."

Laughing, Evan straightened his own dress robes, "Are you saying I look like a circus pony?"

Without batting an eye, Severus deadpanned, "Yes." Turning a cool stare on Regulus, he added, "Though not as much as Black."

"Hey!" Grabbing a pillow from another bed in the dorm, Regulus chucked it at Severus' head. With a flick of his wand, Severus sent it flying straight back.

"No fair," Reg muttered, though he was stifling a grin. "I take it you don't like the eyeliner? I stole it from Sirius; if a Black has to disgrace the family, it might as well be the better looking one."

Snape's glare said it all.

"Come on though, you ought to come. We're only sixteen once." Evan said, holding up a pair of robes. "It's not like you've got anything else to do tonight."

For a moment, Severus looked like he would relent, but then the boy's lips tightened into a thin line. "I have homework."

Evan's brows drew together, "It's the weekend. Do it tomorrow. Come on, none of us have dates; we can just listen to the music."

"And they have food..." Regulus added in a sing-song tone.

With an exasperated laugh, Snape shook his head, "I really don't feel like going out..."

"Please?"

"Ugh," rolling his eyes, Severus huffed, "Fine. But just for a few hours. I'm not hanging around all night."

Pumping his fist, Regulus whooped, then grabbed a hairbrush and tossed it to the older Slytherin. "Let's go!"

A moment later, as the youngest Black was raiding his bathroom for a decent hair product, he thought he heard Evan's voice.

"This is about Lily isn't it? We can stay away from her. They won't try anything with the three of us there."

"I know." Severus sounded defensive. "It's not like that; I can handle Potter. It's just...Lily was a good friend. Anyway, Regulus will be back in a minute, how do you put these ridiculous things on?"

With a bang, Reg swung the door open and hurried back into the dormitory. Lily Evans....that was a name he'd have to remember.

***

Leaning back on his elbows, Regulus studied the older boy sitting, cross-legged on the bed. If he wasn't watching Severus' chest rise and fall, he would've sworn the other Slytherin had died.

"Snape?"

One eyebrow arched, though Severus didn't bother opening them all the way.

"How does your arse not go numb from sitting like that? I mean, mine goes tingly after twenty minutes on a broom and-"

Now, Severus' eyes were open, and he stared down at Regulus, thoroughly unamused.

"I was," he shot Reg a pointed glare, "meditating. I find it helpful to clear the mind every so often," he smirked, "though it is a task usually accomplished in solitude. When one focuses on nothing, it becomes much easier to ignore most distractions such as tingling arses."

Ignoring the jab, Regulus settled back against Evan's bed. "Why?"

"Because, my dear Black, not all of us find it necessary to keep our thoughts cluttered with useless information and input every waking moment." Uncrossing his legs, Severus pulled out a leather bound notebook, his quill scratching across the page.

"What're you writing?" Craning his neck, the fifteen-year old squinted. Severus' handwriting was impossible to read upside down.

Obviously somewhat exasperated, Sev huffed. "If you must know, I'm keeping track of my meditation sessions. And before you ask why, it's none of your business."

Closing his mouth, Regulus nodded. Severus had a sense of humor hidden carefully under his caustic veneer but when he got snippy...Reg knew to watch out.

When the quill finally stopped moving, Regulus hopped to his feet. "Dinner?" He demanded.

Casting a quick Tempus, Severus' jaw tightened in worry. "I suppose..." He murmured, "I'll speak to Evan when he comes back."

Without bothering to elaborate, he strode out of the dorm, forcing Regulus to run to catch up.

***

"What are you doing?!"

Face blanching, Evan grabbed his wand and ran across the dormitory, grabbing Severus' arm.

Looking up from the floor where he'd been working on Arithmancy, Regulus pushed himself upright.

Blood oozed from between Evan's fingers, dripping down Severus' arm, and staining the bedsheets.

"What the hell?" Evan demanded, his eyes wide. "It's not stopping; what did you do?" His voice was rising in alarm.

Bolting to his feet, Reg prepared to run to the Infirmary. "Wait," Severus sounded remarkably calm, "I have to know if it works."

"Works? You're bleeding!" Evan snapped.

"That is the point," the sarcastic edge to Snape's voice calmed Regulus somewhat. "Blood typically coagulates within a minute with pressure applied. It's been," he glanced at his wrist, "forty-two seconds. If this works, I should still be bleeding in eighteen seconds."

"Approximate," Evan barked, "What's the counter?"

When Severus remained silent, Evan tossed his arm aside in frustration and turned, "Reg, go get Madam Pomfrey."

"Wait," Snape glared and freed his wand with a sharp jerk of his non-injured wrist, "Vulnera Senature."

The cut closed, and a moment later, he vanished the blood.

"The SectumSempra curse," Severus murmured, a soft smile playing at his lips, "my latest creation."

Later that night in his own dorm, Regulus struggled to decide why he found the entire ordeal so disconcerting. It was only as he closed his eyes, too exhausted to think anymore, that he remembered. When the blood was dripping, Severus had smiled.

***

"He's interested, Severus, but he's not going to wait forever."

Pausing outside the sixth year dorm, Regulus settled back into an alcove to listen. It wasn't often that Evan and Severus argued but when they did....it was memorable.

"I. Don't. Care. My lineage...he doesn't take people like me. And besides," Regulus could picture Snape's sneer, "if Malfoy's involved, I definitely won't be."

"This is bigger than whatever grudge you've got with Lucius! He's powerful, Sev, more powerful than anything the Wizarding World has seen before. Isn't it smarter to be ahead of progress?" Evan's voice was uncharacteristically animated.

"Progress yes, insanity, no. This...power, comes with a price. I'm not saying I won't- not yet, but I need time to think. Brewing a few potions is a far cry from pledging my allegiance to anyone."

Deciding they'd talked long enough, Reg yanked the door open and strode into the room. "Ready?"

Both boys looked up, the perturbed expressions melting back to neutral. "They're still playing? It's practically hailing," Evan glanced at the window.

"Of course we're playing! Ravenclaw's up and if we don't rout them this match we'll lose to Gryffindor again." Regulus grimaced, and tossed a cloak in Severus' direction.

Sighing, Snape tugged the robe over his thin shoulders. "Remind me again why I agreed to this?"

"Because you love me!" Regulus threw an arm over the smaller boy's shoulder. Over the last three months he'd surpassed Severus in height by nearly a full head and was rapidly gaining on Evan.

Sev snorted.

"Because I suffered a temporary bout of insanity, more likely," he muttered, but collected his boots anyway.

Evan followed, Jane Eyre clutched under one arm. "What?" He shrugged at Regulus' look, "I can read between plays."

***

Summer between fifth and sixth year was somewhat memorable. Regulus passed his O.W.L.s, to his great relief though he wouldn't admit it, and spent a month with his family in Italy.

Severus broke his wrist, supposedly while taking Muggle self-defense lessons, and invented a salve that helped lessen the after-effects of the Cruciatus curse. When he sent a bottle to Regulus through an anonymous owl, neither of them mentioned it, but Regulus was thankful.

Evan, whose family was touring Albania, sent regular letters, and Floo called the others, but as the first months of summer sped by, the boys found little time to see each other.

Tensions in the Wizarding World mounted, with violence against Muggles and Muggleborns peaking in late July.

"What happened to your books?" Severus glanced at the bookshelf, noticeably empty since the last time they'd been in Evan's room.

Shrugging, the other boy settled on his bed. "Had a bit of a purge. Muggle culture really doesn't compare to ours in the grand scheme of things."

Severus hummed, "Your new associates mandate what interests you pursue in your own home?" One eyebrow arched, and the boy tapped on a book, giving Evan a piercing look when the cover shimmered, glamored.

Reddening, Rosier turned away. "I thought we were going to a music festival."

"I thought Muggle culture was suddenly inappropriate."

Deciding to head off the coming conflict, Regulus yanked off his robe and tossed it over the desk chair back. "Are we leaving already?"

"Maybe," Severus smirked, "if it's alright with Evan."

"Let it go, Snape," Evan snapped, then grabbed his jacket. "Let's go."

Slipping out of the silent house, the trio grabbed hands and vanished with a sharp crack.

Where they landed, Regulus didn't know, but all around him music was pulsing, making his ears ring. When someone pressed a glass bottle of something warm and somewhat sour into his hand, the noise became much more bearable.

As the evening progressed, he found himself more and more uninhibited, dancing and singing along with the screaming crowd.

The atmosphere was electric as the night grew darker, and Regulus found himself dancing with a girl with hot pink pigtails and Sharpie patterns on her Converse.

Looking around, he discovered Snape chatting with another boy, the two dressed in worn band T-shirts, softly glowing cigarettes dangling from their fingers.

Briefly, Regulus wondered where Evan had gone, but when the girl he was dancing with yanked him into a spin, he found his friend.

Laughing, Reg shook his head. Evan, bent over a massive book, was sitting beside a girl in thick, Coke bottle glasses, her hands waving energetically as she spoke.

No, Regulus knew, things wouldn't stay this way forever, but for now, tonight was all that mattered.

***

"Where were you last night?" Regulus glanced up when he heard Severus speak.

Evan, his bag slung over his shoulder, shrugged. "I wasn't feeling well; Madam Pomfrey kept me overnight."

Snape's eyes narrowed, and Regulus noted the way Evan quickly looked away.

"Right..." Severus said, slowly, before picking up his wand again.

"Don't be like that. You know if I could've stayed I would've." Settling onto a couch across from Regulus, Evan closed his eyes.

With a noncommittal snort, Severus continued practicing.

The tension between the two was stifling. Picking up his bag, Reg muttered, "Going to Quidditch."

Hurriedly, he ducked out of the room. Severus and Evan had been arguing more and more often lately, and Regulus really didn't feel like mediating.

Collecting a broom from the school cupboard, he ducked out the door and onto the grounds.

Aurors came to Hogwarts right before Halloween to talk to the students about the dangers of dark magic and getting caught up in the violence raging through the Wizarding World.

Attendance was mandatory, though the majority of Slytherin House's older students protested loudly the week leading up to the seminar.

Evan, Regulus, and Severus sat together through the demonstrations and speeches, though Evan appeared a bit on edge, fingers tapping an erratic rhythm on his knees.

At the end, when an Auror with a long scar along his face approached their group, Rosier mumbled something about homework and hurried off, leaving Regulus and Sev to speak to the man.

"Snape," the man nodded a greeting, a note of familiarity in the way his eyes ran over Severus, "you've gotten taller."

With a tiny smile of his own, Severus nodded, straightening his frame in a far cry from the way he usually stood, shoulders hunched, always waiting for the next threat.

"Gained a few pounds too," the Auror said approvingly. "I'm glad to see it. Who's your friend?" That piercing gaze turned on Regulus and he resisted the urge to shudder.

Sallow cheeks flushing at the praise, Severus turned to Regulus. "This is Regulus Black, one of the sixth years. Reg, this is Auror Moody."

When he didn't explain how he knew the Auror, Regulus filed it away for further investigation, and tried to think of a polite way to escape. The Auror's harsh stare and menacing facial features put him on edge.

"Nice to meet you, sir," Regulus said, quietly.

Moody nodded, then turned to Severus, "show me out?"

When Regulus nodded his assent, Severus followed the Auror leaving Regulus in the Great Hall alone.

***

"You alright?" Elbowing Snape lightly in the ribs, Regulus studied the smaller boy. "You looked pretty zoned out."

Jerking in surprise, Severus managed a tight half smile, even as his body slowly relaxed.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just thinking." His gaze wandering toward the restricted section, the dark haired boy muttered, "With N.E.W.T.s and everything..." He shrugged as though it were obvious.

Privately, Reg thought it had more to do with Lord Voldemort. Severus and Evan had been arguing about it more and more frequently now, and even Regulus was starting to feel the pressure from his family to join.

"Are you thinking about ...Him?"

Snape stiffened and the younger boy quickly raised his hands. "You don't have to say if you don't want to. I just...I know it's kind of a big deal now. My mum...she thinks I should join." He finished softly, looking down at his half completed essay.

"You're underage," though his voice didn't change, Regulus could sense Snape's discomfort.

"Doesn't matter. It'd help pull my family's name out of the gutter and," Regulus paused, "I mean, he is powerful... Being able to do even a fraction of what he does...."

Severus' eyes were darker than normal, and Regulus swore he saw pain lurking in the depths for the barest moment before Sev's face went blank.

"Why do you always do that?" Looking up as Evan's bag slammed down onto the table, Severus glanced up.

"Do what?"

"Occlude like that. It's not healthy," Evan's brows knit in concern, "I asked Slughorn and he said using it too often stifles your emotional cortex."
With a scoff, Severus crossed his arms, "Evan, my emotional cortex, as you so described it, withered and died years ago."

"Yeah, well it looks like you're high," Evan muttered, before pulling out his Divination homework and settling in the empty seat.

Severus smirked, a shadow of amusement lingering behind those hauntingly empty eyes, "you'd know better than anyone I'm not."

After a moment, Regulus glanced up to find Evan shaking with silent laughter. "True," the boy managed, reigning in his hilarity.

"What?" Stunned, Regulus turned from one to the other. "Wait, you were high?!"

"Only once," Severus spoke softly, though his lips turned up at the memory. "We wanted to try it and in Cokeworth drugs aren't difficult to access so..." he glanced at Evan.

"We smoked it on top of the Astronomy Tower and it was...well, it was okay, but afterwards," Evan chuckled and rubbed his temples, "coming off it was worse than anything I've ever felt."

Thinking that over, Regulus decided he could live without the experience and the trio returned to their homework in silence.

***

Christmas break came and went, and suffice it to say by the end of three weeks vacation, Regulus had accepted Lucius' invitation to join the Death Eaters. Even with Severus' healing salves and spells, Walburga Black's methods of persuasion were a force to be reckoned with.

The night of his initiation, Reg trailed the blonde through the dimly lit halls of Malfoy Manor and into a bedroom.

"The robes are already laid out," Lucius spoke softly, though his eyes reflected the candlelight with a fanatic excitement, "you'll receive your mask after the ceremony."

With a nod, the teen opened the door and slipped inside, closing his eyes for a moment to still the shaking of his hands.

"Reg?"

Eyes flying open in surprise, Regulus fought the urge to gape. "Snape?!"

The older boy stared for a long moment, then darted across the room, shoving Regulus against the wall. "What the hell, Black?" He hissed, fury burning in his dark eyes, "I told you to stay out of this."

Wincing, Regulus shifted, trying to keep Severus from pressing against his newly healed ribs. "It's not that easy, Sev. My mum...I have to do this."

Understanding flashed across Snape's narrow features, and he drew back almost gently. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, "the robes are over there."

Neither of them spoke as they dressed, and when Regulus glanced at his companion again, he found Severus meditating. Occlumency, whatever it did to your 'emotional cortex,' was beginning to sound like a great idea.

Lucius returned soon after, leading them down another hallway into a massive hall. Regulus barely noticed the way Severus recoiled away from the older man's touch, so focused was he on remaining on his feet.

The room was shadowy, filled with masked figures and dominated by a throne-like chair. Around the base of the chair, a massive snake slithered, tongue flicking as it scented the air.

Regulus nearly fainted.

"Approach." The voice of Lord Voldemort echoed through the chamber.

Severus, head up, walked forward, expression carefully neutral, though he avoided looking directly into Voldemort's eyes.

Regulus followed.

"Kneel."

The boys obeyed.

Burning red eyes fastened on the duo on the floor. "So," Voldemort mused, flicking his wand languidly in their direction, "Severus Snape, potions prodigy and, if the rumors are true, Dark Arts enthusiast, and Regulus Black, sole heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, you come before me at last."

Severus nodded, though he remained silent. Regulus would've thought the older boy courageous if he could've spoken at all, but his tongue felt like it had been glued to the roof of his mouth. Voldemort's mouth tugged into an imitation of a smile, but it was hollow and cruel. "Well, well, the silent type, are we? You will learn, my initiates. For now, on to business. Do you swear fealty to I, your Lord and Master? To defend and further my cause until we fulfil the purpose for which we were formed?"

Severus spoke first, "I do, my Lord."

Numbly, Regulus repeated the words.

"Excellent." Voldemort's smile was cold, distant. "Hold out your arms."

With the barest hesitation, the teens obeyed.

A moment later, white hot agony flared down Regulus' forearm. Vaguely, he registered someone screaming, before his mind caught up to his body and realized that was his voice. The pain seemed to last an eternity, before it was gone, and he collapsed forward clutching his arm to his chest.

Looking down, he watched as a black snake tattoo writhed and twisted out of a skull's mouth.

He was nearly sick on the floor.

"Rise, my Death Eaters."

Trembling, Regulus pulled himself to his feet, accepting the mask Lucius pressed into his hands.

Across from him, he felt Severus tug the covering over his head and face and followed suit, facing the room as the occupants erupted in cheers.

Thankfully, the two were dismissed soon after, and as Reg grasped Severus' arm to Apparate back to Hogwarts, he swallowed hard.

He'd done what he had to, he reminded himself, so why did this sacrifice feel so exorbitant?

***

Retching, Regulus collapsed to his knees in the snow, emptying the contents of his stomach. "Deep breaths," Evan murmured, resting a hand lightly on Reg's shoulder as the younger boy gagged.

"I c-can't," with a half moan, Black curled farther over himself.

The assignment should've been simple. They'd been sent to keep an eye on a potential Muggle target. During the briefing, no one had mentioned that it would be a children's hospital or that the Death Eaters would burn it to the ground.

"Shh," Evan's voice took on a soothing edge, and he stroked Reg's hair gently, "it doesn't help, but...it does get easier."

Shaking his head, Regulus fought to stifle his sobs. The smell of burning flesh lingered in his nostrils and the screams...he couldn't forget the panicked desperation in the voices of the children as they begged for rescue.

When he trusted his stomach to not revolt again, Regulus allowed Evan to haul him to his feet and up to the dorm.

Unable to stop shaking long enough to struggle out of the Death Eater robes, the boys remained silent as Evan stripped and re-dressed his younger partner. Forcing a vial of Dreamless Sleep down Black's throat, the older Slytherin tucked the empty glass away.

"Evan?" Making sure Regulus was settled in bed, Evan paused at the door, "thank you."

A brief, pained smile slipped across Rosier's face before he turned away, switching off the lights with a flick of his wand. "Sleep, Regulus."

***

The meetings only grew more barbaric as the Death Eaters became bolder. By the end of three months, Regulus found himself praying to every deity he knew that their victims might be given the dignity of the Avada Kedavra.

Almost every other mission they confronted Aurors, and the resulting duels took heavy tolls. Severus spent hours in the dungeons brewing healing draughts that most of Slytherin House consumed, and Regulus learned more healing spells than he'd ever known before. Dueling practices on the grounds became commonplace, and though the staff attempted to intervene, they were hopelessly outnumbered.

Their trio drifted apart: Evan studied constantly for his N.E.W.T.s and when they staggered back to their dorms after a summons, Severus made sure the other two went to bed and then vanished. When pressed, he muttered something about processing, but Regulus could see his friend shutting down. Occlumency became a taboo word in their group after Evan argued over it one too many times and Severus launched him into a wall.

As graduation approached, Regulus found his anxiety mounting. Without his friends...he wasn't sure Slytherin house and their gruesome raids would be bearable. Tempted to find solace in a blade, he tried cutting, only to be caught by Evan who lectured him within an inch of his sanity.

Graduation came and went.

After the ceremony, much too flowery for the times in Regulus' opinion, Severus and Evan walked back to the dorms one final time.

As the older boys gathered the last of their possessions together, Regulus watched silently before walking them down to the train station.

They didn't bother with goodbyes. In less than a week they would see each other again.

Severus Disapparated first, giving Regulus a sharp nod and Evan a half smile. After a moment, Rosier squeezed Reg's shoulder, "I... We'll see each other again."

Mutely, Regulus bobbed his head in acknowledgement. The look in Evan's eyes was knowing as he squeezed once more before letting go.

A moment later he was gone.

Fighting the overwhelming anxiety coiling in his abdomen, Regulus swallowed hard. He was the sole heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, tears were hardly fitting.

Levitating his trunk, he climbed slowly onto the train, stowing his belongings in the first empty compartment he came to. It was just one more year. After all, he was sixteen, and the world, Voldemort or not, was still his for the taking: what could possibly go wrong?