Shattered Masks, Unbroken Vows - Jegulus

Chapter 8

The doors to Dumbledore's office flew open without warning, and Regulus strode in without so much as a glance around. His face was pale but determined, eyes flickering with a barely contained intensity. His entrance startled those inside, and Dumbledore, who had been quietly reviewing some parchment at his desk, raised his head in mild surprise but quickly composed himself. His eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles, though his expression grew more serious as he looked at Regulus.

Before anyone could say anything, Regulus spoke sharply, his voice cutting through the air with urgency. "I need the basilisk fang back."

Sirius, who had just entered behind Regulus with Remus at his side, exchanged a glance with Dumbledore, but said nothing. There was a tension in the air, and Remus quietly closed the door behind them, leaning back against it as if preparing for what was about to come. James, having just passed Harry back to Molly Weasley, arrived moments later, standing in the threshold, looking between his friends and Regulus with growing concern.

Dumbledore, ever calm, folded his hands on the desk in front of him. "Regulus, my boy," he said in that familiar, slow voice, "you've only just recovered. We haven't had a proper chance to speak since your return."

"I don't care about speaking," Regulus snapped. "I care about finishing what I started. I need the fang, Dumbledore. I need to destroy the other Horcruxes."

At this, James tensed, feeling an odd mix of admiration and concern surge within him. Regulus looked so different from the boy he remembered from school—the one he'd always been fascinated by, drawn to in ways he couldn't fully explain. Now, he was colder, distant. The warm embers of his first love were buried beneath layers of ice and bitterness.

"Reg, wait," Sirius interrupted, stepping forward as he tried to approach his brother. His tone was pleading, desperate even. "You can't just disappear again. You nearly died last time! We're not going to let you run off on your own like this. You need to rest, we need a plan—"

"I don't need anyone telling me what to do!" Regulus hissed, pulling away from Sirius's reach. His eyes blazed with a fiery determination. "I can handle it."

"Alone?" James's voice cut in, softer but no less impactful. His brow furrowed as he stared at Regulus, the weight of their shared history pressing on his chest. "You think you can handle all of this alone? You think that's what Lily would've wanted?" The mention of Lily sent a ripple of pain through the room, and for a moment, the tension shifted into something deeper.

Regulus's jaw tightened. "I don't have time for sentiment, Potter. This isn't about what anyone wants. This is about stopping Voldemort." His eyes flicked to Dumbledore, ignoring the others entirely now. "You know I can do this. Give me the fang."

Dumbledore's expression remained unreadable, but there was a sadness in his eyes as he regarded the younger Black brother. He shook his head slowly. "No, Regulus."

Regulus's eyes flared with anger. "What?"

"I will not give you the fang," Dumbledore repeated, his voice firm but kind. "Not because I doubt your abilities, but because I fear you would take it and disappear once again."

Regulus clenched his fists, his whole body vibrating with frustration. "Disappear? I don't have a choice! Every second we waste, Voldemort's power grows stronger. I'm the only one who's already destroyed one of his Horcruxes. You need me to finish this."

Sirius stepped forward, his voice shaking with emotion. "We need you, Reg. But we also need you alive. You can't just keep running off on your own. You nearly died last time. Do you even care about that?"

Regulus turned on him, his eyes cold. "I don't have the luxury of caring, Sirius. Not when it comes to this."

"That's absolute rubbish," Sirius snapped, his voice rising. "You do care. You care more than you want to admit, but you've been shutting everyone out, pretending like none of this affects you. We're your family. You don't have to do this alone!"