Regulus Black Stories

I'd Search the Depths (P17)

Info - pain, angst, mention of bad parenting, PTSD, scars

"Darling, Mon coeur," Regulus panted. He held me tight and against his chest.

"It looked exactly like it, didn't it," Hermione said softly. Ron nodded, looking sickly. He rubbed at a scar that wrapped around and around his arm. Harry, he was massaging the famous lightning bolt on his head.

"What did it look like?" I asked worriedly.

"Who the fuck cares, she's up! She's okay," Regulus wailed.

"We called Sirius, um, Regulus, that is what you want to be called correct?" Asked Harry.

"Of course," Regulus said in confusion.

"Harry, Harry, she looked like you, like you when Voldemort would enter you," Ron said desperately. He looked more hollow than the other two. I knew he'd suffered from the PTSD more than the other two. He'd even done a stint in Saint Mungos. I'd always wondered if that would help with my issues.

"It's okay Ronald," soothed his wife. She held him and tan her hands through his slightly greying orange hair.

"Well, I'm here my drama loving God son, what is the surprise?" Came a jovial voice.

Sirius Black was a man who had aged like fine wine. No one could ever accuse him of not being drop dead gorgeous. He had a flow and grace to him that made him look like he was always dancing. His smile mimicked the stars and he covered pain with humor. He may have called Harry drama loving, but he was the most dramatic person I'd ever met and I'd only met him one time.

"Brother," gasped Regulus as he looked up at the aged man. Sirius completely dropped his jovial facade. His face became sickly pale. He didn't dance anymore. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. In a way he had.

"Regulus," he breathed.

As if in slow motion the moved towards one another. Then Regulus keeled over. His skin was grey. His eyes were Ruby red. He clutched at his stomach and shook.

"It's happening to him now!" Hermione wailed.

"That's what I looked like?" I asked. To my shock and surprise, no one moved. I was the only one who darted towards the frail figure.

"Help him!" I pleaded.

"There's nothing we can do," Harry said weakly.

"Why not?" I begged as I held my true love.

"Oh baby brother," Sirius wept and fell to his knees. He was sobbing, but seemed unable to move.

"The potion we gave you," Hermione said slowly. "We were one hundred percent sure it would work. It was from the centaurs. They always speak in riddles, but I think you're meant to wait it out. The both of you will have to sweat it out like an addiction."

"If you kill me-"

"Don't!" Ron's voice was the strongest it had been yet. He bent to hold my hands.

"My daughter told me how lovely you are, but how you see yourself as a devil. Regulus, he also told us about how you would give yourself for nearly anyone. They both begged me to keep you as safe and secure as possible. I don't break promises to my daughter," he said sternly.

I burst into tears. How dreadfully I wished my father had ever said anything so kind to me. I held Regulus who was convulsing, while Ron held me.

That wasn't the end, not even close. Regulus and I were under close supervision. Sometimes I'd see my boy, singing to me or begging me to pull through. Occasionally I'd see Harry, Ron, or Hermione urging me and praising me. On occasion Rose and Albus would show their tear stained faces.

Even still there were times when I was of sound mind. In those moments, if Regulus was also okay, we'd hold one another and take deep breaths. We didn't even have the energy to speak, just to embrace and indulge.

I didn't know if it had been hundreds of years or merely seconds; but at some point we both awoke. I felt a lightness I could hardly believe. Regulus, laying beside me, looked even more alive than before. He was radiant.

"Is the storm over?" Regulus rasped.

"I think it might be," I whispered.

We stared at one another for a long time. Then we were kissing. We gasped in one another's essence. We touched everywhere. I was clutching his sweat dampened clothing. He was pressing his body into mine, and we were warm. We were both so warm and full and complete. We were shining as we tangled together.