The End
With that you find yourself back in the dining room, still sitting on your knees, hands still holding your head. You open your eyes to see Regulus sitting in front of you. His hands being placed on your own. It is only then that you realize he's talking to you, whispering words of encouragement, trying to calm you down and make you stand up again.
You look at him, seeing the pleading expression on his face brings your mind back to where you are and what just happened. Letting go of your head and taking one of his hands, Regulus and you stand up together to face Voldemort, who must have stood up while roaming in your mind.
Now looking up to him, you see his furrowed brows, eyes looking back and forth between you and Regulus standing closer than you had before. Both of you waiting for him to respond to what he saw.
"I recognize a memory that has been tampered with and that wasn't one. Now tell me Potter, what was the reason for you to turn down his offer? Our dear Regulus here cannot be the only reason for you to go against the Orders wishes."
Somewhat relieved that he knows you are not lying to him, you are able to answer, straightening your back and correcting your posture before you do so: "You are right, he wasn't the only reason. I don't trust Dumbledore, if I was his Double Agent he'd leave me back here as soon as I wasn't useful to him and his cause anymore. I am not giving my life away for someone who wouldn't do the same."
"Truly poetic, and still, you ended up here.", he's still standing, now spreading his arms to show the room, speaking calmly. He takes a step forward, now almost hovering over you, as you feel the comforting touch of Regulus' shoulder against yours.
"Tell me then, do you want to get the Dark Mark and join us once and for all?"
"No I don't.", you hear shocked gasps and bickering starting from across the room, but that didn't stop you from explaining the reason behind your decision. "I'm not working for any side of the war from now on, I will stay with Regulus and help him in every way I can. Therefore my loyalties are with you and the Death Eaters even if I don't bear the Mark."
You see some emotion flicker in Voldemort's eyes, but you have no time to get behind which emotion it is, his mask immediately changing back to apathy. You don't even think he noticed how you tried to read his emotions, because he waved you and Regulus off. "Now go upstairs, both of you.", his gaze turning towards Regulus, "You've delayed the meeting for too long anyways."
None of you waited for any longer, indication behind his words clear, turning around and leaving is the safest way of avoiding a change of mind on his side.
You walked back towards the massive door from which you were entering the dining room earlier.
Ignoring the angry glares and the chattering, you leave the room behind. When you hear the door close behind you, you release a breath you didn't know you held.
A hand grabs yours and leads you silently down the hallway again. You follow Regulus up the stairwell, which is, similar to the hallway, decorated with beautiful wallpaper and lots of pictures. But you didn't pay attention to the details, looking mostly onto the ground, the reality of what just happened now setting in.
You see the feet in front of you stop and come to a halt as well, looking up you see Regulus open a door and follow him as he enters. Passing him, you take in the room he just led you to. It's smaller than you expected his bedroom to be. The rest of the house being big and pompous, you've expected his room to be of similar size.
Your eyes drifting over the neatly sorted wooden desk and the blackboard with several articles of the Daily Prophet pinned to it. Gaze traveling to the window that reaches down to the floor, where a large armchair is positioned in front of.
Then you see the bed, way too big for this room but still not looking overwhelming in its size compared to it, rather being inviting, like a space to hide oneself in.
"It fits him, comfortable but still neat.", you don't say it out loud.
You weren't able to voice anything, when you turned around he already yelles, "Why did you do that? How can you sacrifice your life for me?"
He knows it is his fault and he shouldn't be angry at you, he wasn't able to stop the outburst from happening. But seeing you, looking at him like he deserved the world always made him weak, knowing he didn't. "How did this even happen, I was going to protect her and now she's trapped here?" The more selfish part of him was thankful to not be alone in this house anymore.
You see him running his hands through his hair and starting to pace back and forth. Wanting to calm him down you take a step forward, the movement alone stopping him from walking around the room anymore. You continue your way to the window, where he now stands.
Cupping his face in your hands like he did hours ago, it feels like an eternity ago the more you think about it, feeling his breath slow down already as he lowers his eyelids, calming down instantly.
"I did this for you.", you finally answer, lowering your hands and taking his in yours, "you said you want to make everything right and I want to help you. Everyone needs someone on their side and I want to be that person for you."
"You need to trust me. I cannot tell you how I will make this right, it wouldn't be safe for you to know. And I know this is a lot to ask for but-"
"I trust you with my entire heart.", you interrupt him, knowing otherwise he would have gotten into a spiral of thoughts and words again which always leave him back exhausted and distant.
The surprise about being interrupted is evident on his face, as he looks at you with wide eyes, obviously distracted from the thoughts he just had. Noticing his features become softer as you place your arms around his neck.
You missed being this close to him, the intensity of the day didn't give you the chance to enjoy a moment like this.
He lowers his forehead so it rests against yours, closing your eyes and taking in the moment. Your head is surprisingly empty of thoughts just standing there, together, like this.
You open your eyes when you feel him move his head back and seeing him looking at you, taking you in, before he lowers his head again, brushing his lips against yours almost like he is asking for permission.
Closing your eyes, you lean into the kiss. Emotions being transparent, you feel the fear he carries in him slowly fading away.
Promising yourself that whatever will face you, you'll forever stand by his side.