Game Over▬RL 2

Horcruxes

Renee Potter sat as still as she could. Dumbledore's office hadn't changed since the last time she was there. However, it had a tense atmosphere. She held in her hands a book she recognized from Regulus' Come-and-Go room. 'Secrets of The Darkest Art', was not something Ren wanted to ever read. She knew that the headmaster had lent the book to her friend for some sort of 'extra credit'. She didn't think it'd have anything to do with the secret mission he was sent on.

"Horcruxes?" Sirius asked as he flipped through the pages. He hung over the back of the chair Renee was sitting upon; the book opened in her lap. Remus' eyes widened in surprise. He had overheard the word and vague description somewhere before. He moved closer to the two, leaning to peer over Ren's shoulder as well.

"Yes, Mister Black. I let your brother borrow the book for some light reading. He came to me last month with a rather detailed theory. That being that Lord Voldemort had been collecting Horcruxes. Hiding fragments of his soul into objects that held certain meaning to him. We have had contact with a known Death Eater to confirm his theory. And even found out that your old house elf—"

"Kreacher? What would he have to do with this?" Sirius closed the pages, much to Remus' dismay and lifted his attention to the older man.

"Yes, Kreacher... Mister Black found out that Kreacher would be helping our spy with a task. To keep the object safe—Salazar Slytherin's Locket. Regulus joined them to retrieve the locket. And I have just received word from our spy." Dumbledore looked at the three ex-students, feigning hurt. "Regulus Black drowned while on the mission. Our spy found Kreacher in quite a state. They were standing guard outside of the cave, where it was hidden. We don't know the whereabouts of the locket..."

"I don't give a fraction of a fuck about a damned locket!" Renee stood abruptly, her wand pointed at the professor, who sat back in his chair. Clearly, not shocked at the woman's reaction. Remus grabbed her forearm, lowering it. "You did this! You knew about everything! You knew he'd do just about anything to help us out!" Ren dropped her wand, staggering forward, and she fell to her knees. "You killed him." She uttered, placing her head in her hands. Sirius stood in the same place, frozen, while he took in the information. "You're going to kill all of us. We're nothing but soldiers to you." Both men behind her agreed with her statement. But they also understood that Albus Dumbledore was their only hope. Sirius lifted Renny to her feet and they stumbled to the floo.

"Ren and Rem's," he mustered out before they were whisked away. They hastily made their way to the bedroom. Sirius sat on the bed, looking at the wall in front of him. Renee paced at the end of it. Her hands pulled at the roots of her hair. "Renny, c'mere." She stopped her movement immediately. Moving towards the bed, quickly. The girl lay down, opening her arms for her friend. Just like they would lay at the manor. She stroked his hair and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I should've kept him out of this. The moment he mentioned Dumbledore assigning him extra credit. I should've marched to that old wrinkly man's office and demanded he leave him alone. Maybe even kept my distance from him." She whispered against his skin. Sirius looked up at her. Their faces were intimately close. He moved his head back a bit to give space, not before flicking his eyes over her lips.

"It's not your fault at all, Ren. You keeping Reggie close kept him on the good side. He died a hero." Renee nodded curtly; eyes now fixed on the roof. She could feel the buildup of emotion in her chest. Tears soon rolled down her cheeks. Sirius let his hand leave her waist to wipe them away.

✿

Remus spent the last couple of hours with Lily and James. He didn't want to go home right away. Knowing the two would be quite devastated and grieving together. The two other Potters were surprised by the news. James almost left right after hearing it. Wanting to be close to his brother and sister. Lily stopped him, encouraging him to take his jacket off and sit down.

"James, there's nothing you can do right now. Let them have their moment. We'll go over in the morning. Maybe make some breakfast." The redhead glanced at Remus, who just nodded at the suggestion. James agreed, shrugging out of his flannel, and sat on the couch.

"How'd they seem when they left?" He didn't look up at Remus when he asked.

"Ren cussed out Dumbledore. Sirius ushered her off, I don't think he grasped it yet." Lily sat next to her husband, rubbing his back.

"I can't imagine losing Tuney. She and I don't have the relationship Sirius and Regulus have now. But still, the thought of never seeing her again terrifies me. He must be feeling awful and lost." James didn't say anything, he just looked towards the floo longingly. He just wanted to fix it. But he couldn't. "Oh! And the room." Lily's eyes started watering. "Ren was so excited for him to see it."

"I should go..." Remus whispered, pulling himself to the floo. He needed to be home now.

✿

In any other instance, Remus Lupin would be jealous. He always had a nagging feeling about Sirius and his girlfriend. Their history and close connection left him to be toxically doubtful. But he couldn't and wouldn't bring himself to feel that as he covered up the two with a blanket. He knew Renee needed Sirius as much as Sirius needed her right now. So, he flicked the light off and headed into the spare room. Regulus' room. He gently closed the door and continued to the living room. Remus left the younger Black's belongings from Hogwarts on the kitchen table. The werewolf didn't know what to do with himself so he laid on the couch. Debra quickly made a bed out of him. He didn't bother to move her out of his face. She purred away as he absentmindedly petted her.

There was going to be a lot of this. A lot of deaths. Monty and Mia started the year off. Then Regulus. Who would be next? Peter? Lily? Sirius? He didn't even want to think about Renee leaving him in this world alone. But she was now an Auror in training. It wouldn't be a big surprise if she put herself in danger. Especially now that her circle was brutally sliced in half. He let the tears silently fall from his eyes, waiting for sleep to take over.