Tragedies of War - Marauders Era

Regulus Black - Full of Remorse

Regulus Black

Horcrux cave

1979

Regulus opened his eyes to see the inside of a dark cave. Ahead of them was a black lake, the water was eerily still.

'Is Master Regulus ready?' Kreacher croaked up at him, and Regulus nodded in response, his eyes falling on a misty green glow in the centre of the chamber.

'Kreacher, is that where the Horcrux is?' Regulus asked quietly.

'Yes, Master. That is where the Dark Lord made Kreacher drink the potion.'

'H-how do we get over the lake?'

'Master needs to summon the boat. The Dark Lord grabbed at something invisible, and a boat appeared.'

'Oh...' Regulus nodded, biting his lip. He moved his hands around in the air, feeling kind of stupid, until they latched onto something. 'Found it!' he grinned.

'Now Master needs to pull it, and a boat will appear,' Kreacher instructed. Regulus pulled down on the invisible chain and watched in a sick fascination as a luminescent green boat came out of the water.

'Do we... get in?' Regulus asked apprehensively, looking at the small boat in fear. Kreacher nodded and pulled him into the boat. As they sailed across, he looked down to see a pale white face looking back up at him. Sucking in a gasp, Regulus quickly looked back up again, determined not to look into the water. The boat bumped into the small glowing island gently, and Kreacher helped Regulus out.

Regulus' eyes fell on a green basin, which must be the source of the glow, and was filled was liquid.

'Is that it?' Regulus whispered, his face as pale as the inferi in the water.

'Kreacher will drink it, Master Regulus,' Kreacher volunteered.

'No,' Regulus insisted, shaking his head, 'This is my mission, and besides, you have to get me home.' Regulus knew full well he wasn't getting home, and only wished he could've said goodbye to Sirius first. He conjured up a goblet and managed to down the first four with closed eyes before he staggered slightly. Trying to block the visions in his head, Regulus turned blindly to a terrified Kreacher.

'Kreacher when I finish this potion, I want you to take this locket and swap it with the locket in there already. Keep that locket safe, and destroy it. Don't let any harm come to it - and don't tell mother about it. If I- If I can't finish this potion, I want you to make sure I do - feed it to me, pour it down my throat - just make sure I drink it.' Regulus ordered before he plunged to take another goblet of the potion again.

Sirius...

Regulus shook his head and took another goblet.

'FILTHY BLOOD-TRAITOR! DISHONOUR TO THE FAMILY NAME!' his mother was screeching. 'CRUCIO! CRUCIO! CRUCIO!'

Regulus listened from the staircase as Sirius' screams filled the manor and tried to stop himself from rushing into the room to stop his mother.

Regulus took another sip.

'Stop!' Sirius was pleading. 'STOP!'

'CRUCIO! You will obey me, scum!'

'STOP!' Regulus screamed into the cave, 'STOP! HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG!'

Kreacher was pouring more liquid down his throat.

'The dark lord wants you to be a death eater, you filthy blood traitor, and you will be!'

'I will never be a death eater!'

'CRUCIO!'

Rushing into the room, Regulus spread his arms wide, protecting his brother as he should have all those years ago.

'Don't hurt him, mother! Don't hurt him!'

More liquid found itself down his throat.

'YOU WILL FOLLOW THE DARK LORD!' his mother exclaimed.

'I WILL NEVER!' Sirius cried.

'CRUCIO!'

'MOTHER STOP!' Regulus screamed.

'STOP! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! NO... STOP! TAKE ME! MAKE ME A DEATH EATER INSTEAD!'

More liquid.

'Are you even still alive?' Regulus asked as he peered down at his brother, watching him fearfully.

'Bugger off, twat!'

'Siri-'

'I'm leaving.'

'What? Where?'

'To the Potter's, I'm not staying in this hell hole with that bitch any longer.'

'She'll follow you there.'

'I'd like to see her try.'

'Don't leave, Siri.'

'You can't stop me. Are you coming or not?'

'YES! TAKE ME WITH YOU! PLEASE, SIRI- TAKE ME WITH YOU!'

'You're almost done, Master Regulus, almost done,' Kreacher croaked.

'Help me, Siri, please.'

'You're a death eater?'

'I didn't want to! Please, help me.'

'Reggie, I'm sorry,'

'HELP ME, SIRIUS! I NEED YOUR HELP!'

'You're a death eater.'

'I DIDN'T WANT TO! YOU SHOULD'VE- YOU SHOULD'VE TAKEN ME WITH YOU! YOU- YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME!'

'One more, Master Regulus, here we go...'

'Mother please...'

'He's disowned!'

'NO!' Walburga blasted him off the family tree.

'He was right!' Regulus whispered. 'You really are a bitch!'

'YOU WERE RIGHT, SIRI, YOU WERE RIGHT!' Regulus screamed as he sobbed.

'Master Regulus, you finished the potion...!'

'Water...' he croaked, 'Kreacher... water.'

'I'm sorry, I can't make water, Master Regulus- wait! No!' Regulus had begun crawling towards the edge of the lake, his throat dry. Turning towards Kreacher, he whispered;

'Tell Siri I'm sorry,' Before reaching out for the water, screaming as hands grabbed him and pulled him under.

'Oh Master Regulus,' Kreacher sobbed, 'Poor Master Regulus.'