Eternal Light | Regulus Black

Easter Holiday 1977

"Zacharias will come to collect you at dawn, he has business to attend to before that," Orion spoke sharply.

"Right," I said in a dismissive tone, going straight up to my room, soon to be my old room.

"Zara —" Regulus said my name softly.

"I need a minute," I spoke through ragged breaths, not baring to turn around to look at him.

"Please —"

"I just need a minute," I hissed, interrupting him once again.

He didn't say anything as he left the room.

Last nights soft spoken words hadn't carried us very far. But they were the words of two lovers who needed one another, but I needed to be different now. It was easier to hide from the reality under the heavy covers in my dorm room at Hogwarts, but there was no hiding here.

My things were stacked neatly and magic was still moving them around, snapping them off to the Avery mansion. Too easily, I wanted it to cause more effort to erase me from here.

But not my mothers necklace, that was left untouched on the vanity table.

The floor creaked slightly when Kreacher came in the room, switching it's weight on it's bony legs.

"Kreacher has done everything as Mrs Black has requested. Is it to miss's liking?"

"It is, thank you Kreacher," I mumbled swiftly.

Kreacher didn't leave, instead looked over me carefully, maybe for the first time ever.

"Master Regulus will be sad to see you leave Miss."

"Yes, I imagine he will."

I turned to look at the creature. It's long crooked nose was as pale as the torn clothing it was wearing.

"Did you know that I freed Linky?" I stated, earning a horrified reaction from Kreacher. "Would you like to be freed someday from your oath?"

"Kreacher is proud to serve the noble house of Black!" It insisted with a deep voice. "Kreacher is not to think about such a thing!"

I hummed in response, finding his statement intriguing.

"The noble house of Black — Toujours Pur," I sounded out snidely. "I'm planning to come back here Kreacher," I said before it could leave the room. "Would you make sure this room is left untouched."

                                              •••••

I was on my way to the piano room when I heard Walburgas prickly tone.

"One day, you're going to grow up, and see how things really are."

"Then I hope I never grow up at all," Regulus's defeated voice sounded.

No doubt Regulus had tried to throw in one last effort to keep me here. Uselessly, since it wasn't up to Walburga. And after he'd gotten the bitter response to his letters from his parents, I wouldn't even try anymore.

I stepped lightly so they wouldn't know I had walked past.

The piano had collected a thin layer of dust and it creaked when I lifted the lid off to grab my sheet notes.

I almost left, but then decided to play one last song before leaving, one that I had had on works for a long time. Maybe it was time to finish it.

Sirius had come into the room, and wordlessly sat beside me, waiting for me to start. He looked through the song, frowning, while I started playing.