Eternal Light | Regulus Black

Fifth year at Hogwarts

I could vaguely feel my body being dragged through the halls, my legs barely keeping me upright. My skin felt dry and my mouth tasted like ashes. I tried opening my eyes fully but my eyelids felt so heavy.

The dream... I need to remember. What do I need to remember? I tried to sort through my thoughts but I was so tired.

Remember, remember, remember, My mind kept telling me.

Regulus died.

No, it was a dream. But it felt so real. He can't be dead, Regulus isn't dead. It was a dream. Am I still asleep? I forced my eyes open and looked down at my bare legs, taking one step at a time, upstairs.

Upstairs where?

I've been here before, these stairs lead to Dumbledore's office. My dress reached me above my knees, but what drew my attention, my legs were dirty. There were a sheer layer of black ash on me. I finally lifted my head to look at the two people keeping me upright, leading me up the stairs.

Professor Moody and Minerva McGonagall. What are they doing? Why am I here?

I started to struggle in their grasp, getting my senses back.

"What am I doing here?" I demanded, my voice sounding raspy. I swallowed the urge to cough.

"We're taking you to Dumbledore's office, he'll explain," Moody stated, gripping my hand tighter. I looked at McGonagall, she had her lips pursed in a thin line. She didn't advert her gaze away from the stairs.

The doors opened for us even before anyone knocked and McGonagall and Moody took me inside. The floor felt cold under my feet, and it felt weird in contrast to the rest of my body, which felt like it was on fire. My arms were covered in ashes too and I wondered had I burned through my sheets once more.

They sat me down on a chair, across Dumbledore's desk. As usual, his office was littered with peculiar looking devices, and I looked at the phoenix bird, who was eyeing me.

McGonagall and Moody disappeared, leaving me sitting here alone. I looked at myself more carefully. I wasn't injured and my dress thankfully hadn't burned. My charm bracelet was still on my wrist, untouched by my magic. My best guess was that I'd burned through my sheets as a result from the nightmare, but I'd never been covered with ashes like this before. And the magic that was still simmering right at the surface, indicated that I'd used plenty of it.

But this wasn't a normal nightmare. There was something I needed to remember.

Think, I told myself but then Dumbledore walked from behind me, sitting behind his desk.

"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked sternly. I narrowed my eyes slightly as I took in his attire. He looked like he had just been woken up and had threw on first robes he'd laid eyes on. His golden half-moon glasses were slightly crooked, resting on his nose.

"I'd feel better if I knew why I'm here," I said bitterly.

I didn't exactly appriciate me being dragged from my room in just a night dress in the middle of the night. As if he'd read my mind, a light grey robe fell upon my shoulders. It helped me feel less exposed but my skin was still radiating with burning heat.

"Yes we have a lot to talk about," Dumbledore said as I heard the door open.

I turned my head to see McGonagall and Moody bringing Sirius and Regulus in the room. Sirius looked at me worriedly, and for a moment I was sure he was going to run over to me, but McGonagall placed a hand on his shoulder. Regulus studied me carefully, his eyes ice cold and jaw clenched.