The Journal of Regulus Arcturus Black

Chapter 3. Slytherin Prince & Prefect

I didn't realise how much taking the Dark Mark would hurt until I was given it. There's a searing pain that consumes the entire arm and no matter what type of numbing charms that I've tried to cast or potions I've to take, it didn't succumb. There was a horrible ache that lasted for the rest of the week after taking the Mark.

Then the Dark Lord calls on you and another heated pain flares in the arm. Like someone has taken a lit match and decided to push the newly fired wood against your skin. It prickles and sometimes, when it gets too much, I swear I can smell my flesh burning. It's bright and red around the edges, I guess that's because I have paler skin than most. I wish that I knew what I was doing.

I have to return to Hogwarts and I don't know how I'll be able to go to class with the pain. Severus is my age and he's had the Mark for longer. He can take the pain, but I know what Severus is like. He's stubborn and stupid, a fickle boy that doesn't understand what's really going on.

It should be easier returning to Hogwarts now that Sirius doesn't know I exist. It's like we were never brothers. When he ran away and moved in with that Potter boy, he tried to talk to me at Hogwarts. I didn't talk back. I was angry with him for abandoning me. Now though? Now I feel conflicted about him. Sometimes I dream of storming up to him in Hogwarts and showing him the Mark. Shock him to get some sort of reaction.

I don't think I'm angry at him anymore. I don't think I ever really was.

R.A.B.

***

"Oh Kreacher," Draco said, staring down at the ring that the house-elf had procured from his home. Grimmauld Place, the Black family home that was closer to London and used because of its location. It was where Regulus had grown up, when Draco had asked Kreacher where he lived. 

"It was Master Regulus's ring when he became Lord Black," Kreacher explained.

His voice had become less croaky now that Draco had forced the elf to have tea with him. Draco didn't do it to be nice, mind you, he just hated hearing the way Kreacher's voice croaked and cracked. If he was going to entertain conversations with the house-elf, they might as well be without the ear-splitting voice.

The ring was a silver band and a round obsidian stone placed in the centre. There was a 'B' carved in silver over the stone and compared to the Malfoy ring that Draco had seen his father wear on many occasions, this one was so much more simple. But it really was nice, and Draco wore it on his right, pinky finger. He watched it slowly shrink around his finger, fitting nice and snug.

"This is exactly what I needed Kreacher. Something to solidify that I'm Lord Black," he sneered, feeling pride swell deep within him every time he looked at the ring. "What do you think?" he asked, showing off his hand to the house-elf.

"Master makes a very handsome Lord Black."

"I know," Draco preened.

Draco stood up and looked around the small room of his inn. He was not allowed to contact any of his friends and the only thing he was allowed to do was stay in his room. He was getting bored and usually looked to Kreacher for company, no matter how completely sad that sounded.

"Kreacher?" Draco called, deciding to flick through his school books and bring out some summer work that he was set. "What do you do when you leave? I mean, Grimmauld Place must be completely barren now that no one occupies it."

"Mistress's home is not barren Master Draco. Mistress's home is full of blood traitors and mudbloods," the house-elf spat.

Draco froze in his seat and cursed. He had an incline, he knew exactly 'occupied' that house. "Sirius Black?"