belladonna | marauders imagines

evil!Regulus | Smoke and Mirrors

angst, dark!Regulus, short.

FIRST TIME YOU SAW HIM

"I know it's a very confusing time," Slughorn addressed the class, trying to control his own worries. "But we just need to stay alert. We'll get through this."

With that, he asked to open to page 204, and the boy beside you muttered something under his breath.

"What?" you asked before thinking. He looked up, his lips pulled together into a firm line.

"He said we'll get through this," he whispered. "But it's a war. Not all of us can."

You nodded, regretting asking him anything. His eyes drifted back to his book and you tried to listen to the rambles of Professor — but something inside you made you unconsciously tug on your left sleeve, afraid the world could see what lay under it.

The boy looked at you sideways, just for a second, as if to say he knew everything you've been hiding.

You hoped you'd never see him again, he looked like a bad omen. Hopes never worked out well for you.

-

LAST TIME YOU SAW HIM

"You can't do this, okay? You can't!" You said sharply as your boyfriend tied your hands, his face devoid of emotions.

"The Dark Lord said to leave you here," he said, taking a look around the ship.

"I'll die! I'll starve and die! There's no one on board except us!"

"You should have thought of that before you tried to betray him."

You laughed maniacally. "Regulus fucking Black, YOU were the who did that. I simply helped you when you wanted me to! How dare you throw me under the bus?"

"Dark Lord saw the books on Horcrux and he came to the conclusion that one of the death eaters are betraying him. Like the loyal servant I am, I told him it was you."

"Like the cunning shit you are, you gave up your girlfriend's name so he'd trust you more!" you screamed, feeling tears run down your face. "I helped you, I loved you, what makes me any different from the muggle-borns you're trying to save?"

He sighed, as if you just don't get it. "It's a war Y/N, sacrifices are important. If Dark Lord suspects me now, I can never take him down."

"Sacrifices? Sacrifices? Regulus, was that all I was? A scapegoat? A fucking backup plan in case things go south?"

He looked at the waves, his mind as calm as the sea. You realized you didn't know who he was at all.

Yes, he's against Voldemort, but that didn't make him any less evil. He wasn't doing all of this to save the muggle-borns, he just wanted to show that he can.

He wanted to prove something — just a boy and he got away with lying to Voldemort. Just a teenager and he's going to be the one to find his weakness.

Not to be called a savior, but to be feared.

You felt like a fool and said the only thing you could.

"I hate you."

"Like you're supposed to."

You knew how easy it would be for him to let you go. You were in the middle of the sea with no wand, but he could leave you in a faraway place where you could change your identity. Or maybe he could ask you to hide in the ship and he'll bring the food secretly until the war is over.

If he actually loved you, he could have found a way.

"You know," you strained to get the words out, but you did. "I always thought there were monsters in my closet. If they're real, I think they were trying to protect me from you."

"I suppose they failed," he smiled sadly.

Then he disappeared, leaving you for the sea to consume.