A S.O.B. Story

Enter: The Tears

"Dad?"

Ivanna peeked through the doorway of the sitting room to see her father staring at the family tree. He didn't acknowledge her, but continued to stare at a certain spot on the tree- his younger brothers name.

"Dad?"

Sirius never looked up, so Ivanna- Ivy- stepped through the doorway.

"Dad, what-"

"Stupid boy..." I heard him mutter, but it looked like he was about to cry.

"Dad."

Sirius continued to stare at the tree. At Regulus.

Ivy stood next to her father and stared at her uncle's face sewn into the fabric holding the relations between the house of Black.

"He died because he was stupid enough to believe them," Sirius choked out.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Ivy asked.

"He's dead. 16 years ago."

"Dad." Ivy grabbed her father's arm and turned him around to face her. "I was exploring... I went into his room."

"I told you never to go in there," Sirius breathed, looking angry despite the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

Ivy looked down, ashamed. "Please forgive me. But... I found something. It was in a drawer that was hidden in the wall. It's addressed to you."

Her father's eyes widened. He had forgotten about that drawer. He and Regulus had always hidden their toys in there when their parents were on a rampage to destroy their toys.

"Let me see."

Ivy handed over the scroll. Sirius slowly opened it and looked at the ever-so-familiar handwriting of his younger brother. He stared at the parchment for a moment before beginning to read.

Sirius:

I don't know when you're going to read this, or if you ever will. I doubt you'll ever return to this place, but know that deep in my heart, I am begging for you to come back, to tell me that everything is a nightmare. I am wishing for you to come back and scare away my bad dreams like you did when we were children.

But that won't happen. If you ever come back, it won't be until I'm dead. I'll never be woken from this nightmare. I'll have to fight it myself.

I was a fool. A complete and utter fool. You were right about Voldemort. You were right about how wrong his ideas were. It was foolish to believe what mother and father told us, to believe what Voldemort was saying. I wish things were different. I wish I had never even thought of joining the Death Eaters.

I now see how far he will go to get what he wants. I can't kill people, I just can't. It's not something I can do. Call me weak, a pathetic excuse for a Death Eater- I am. I can't do this.

The final straw was what he did to Kreacher. Now, I know you hate him- and me, for that matter- but what he did to our house elf was beyond terrible.

He forced Kreacher to drink a potion that caused him to go crazy, then left him in a cave to die. Before Kreacher left, I ordered him to return home. He did, and told me of Voldemort's horrific deeds.

He's making horcruxes, Sirius. He's making horcruxes so that he can live forever. He has hidden a locket containing a part of his soul in that cave.

And I have made a decision. I am going to stop him. I have already created a duplicate of the locket, with Kreacher's help. I am going to go to the cave, and replace the real locket with the fake. Then, if I survive, I will attempt to destroy this horcrux. I can only hope that someone will discover Voldemort's plans, and destroy any other horcrux he has made.

This terrifies me. I can barely breathe as I write this letter. I am going to go to the cave right after this letter is finished, and carry out my plans. My heart is beating so fast that I feel like it's going to break out of my chest. I can't do this, Sirius. But I must. I must do my part in destroying the Dark Lord.

I think the letter has only reached this length because I do not want to do this. I want to see you in person before I do this. I want to explain everything to you.

But I can't. If you as much as saw my face, you would ignore me. I can't say that I blame you, either. I've treated you awfully. I've been an awful brother, haven't I?

Why can't we go back to the days when you and I chased each other around the house? The days when we were best friends? The days when these nightmares never haunted me? The days when you would be there for me, and tell me that everything was going to be ok?

Growing up is terrible, and I'm not even out of my teens.

And I'm going to die, most likely, with you believing that I was against you.

But I'm not, Sirius. Not anymore.

I can't continue this anymore, or else I'll never carry out my plans. I have to do this. And if I die, I'm glad that I'm dying to finish off Voldemort. Even though I am going to die without even reaching 20 years old.

And I give you full permission to blast me off of the family tree, like Mother did to you not so many years ago. Nothing will give me more pride than to know that I, along with you, the brother I looked up to so much when we were younger, no longer can be seen on that wretched thing.

Are you proud of me, Sirius? I hope that you're proud of me.

Your younger brother,
Regulus Arcturus Black.

Sirius stared at the piece of parchment in his hands, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Yes, Reg. I am proud of you," Sirius whispered, staring up at the ceiling. "I... Reg, why? Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you. I could have stood by your side and destroyed the locket with you. I would have done that with pride. You are a fool, Regulus Arcturus Black, you are a complete and utter fool and... I am so freaking proud of you."

Sirius gave his daughter a tearful grin before pulling out his wand and pointing it at Regulus' name and picture. He mumbled a spell, and scorch mark similar to the one where he used to be seen appeared over Regulus.

Sirius turned to Ivy and wrapped her in a hug.

"Ivy, I wish you could have met him. He was a fool. A stupid, ignorant, little fool. But I know that, after reading this, that he has redeemed himself, and that you would have loved him."

"He sounds like he was a wonderful guy, Dad. I wish that I could have met him, too."

Sirius smiled back up at the ceiling.

Reggie, I am so proud of you.