The Locket

03. Purpose

The Leaky Cauldron was the same as it will be in twenty years. Well, prior to the Death Eater raid. A younger Tom tended the establishment, currently wiping down the counter with a rag. This time he wouldn't recognize the dark-haired beauty making her way towards him.

"Hi. May I rent a room?" The woman inquired. She looked around the room, not particularly looking for anyone.

He put away his rag and glanced at the hung plank of key hooks. "How long will you be staying?"

"Just a couple of days. Could I order some steak pie and butterbeer? I'll just have it here."

"Sure thing. I'll have your room set up." Probably a Hogwarts student, he presumed. Yet, there was something peculiar about the girl. From her clothes to the way she felt familiar with the establishment. Tom shrugged it off. He could barely recall all the folks that pass through the Leaky Cauldron, much less keep up with the latest fads.

Hermione settled into a booth in the corner. She touched the space beside her and remembered her first date with Ron back in her fifth year. It wasn't exactly a date though. It was a couple of weeks before Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place. They spent time alone to escape from the clamour of the Order.

She had always loved Ron, but she still wasn't sure if he loved her back as more than his best friend. She expects she wouldn't find out. Her being here, two decades before, had already made an impact on the timeline. Now, all she can do is try to shape a brighter future for everyone, especially for the ones she loved.

Hermione took out the pendant from her pocket. Professor Snape passed it on to her. It was made of silver and ceramic, shaped into a lily flower. She didn't know the significance of this. Maybe it was his mother's or a lover's (not that she could imagine the man expressing any romantic emotions). She knew that around this time, Snape had already graduated from Hogwarts, along with Harry's parents, Sirius and Professor Lupin. He would be one of the young recruits of the Dark Army, knowing that he only defected after Voldemort's temporary expulsion. It probably wasn't the best time to meet him.

Her thoughts wandered back to the events of late. It was a coincidence that the reason for her mission was the one to find her moments after her arrival. Like any pureblood aristocrat of an Ancient and Noble supremicist family, he would have been brought by nonsenical prejudices, most of which were ones she became aware of ever since she met a platinum blonde prat named Malfoy. Sirius was an exception though. Yet pointing that out, black sheep in a family of that stature is a given. Traditions die hard in this liberated world. So why would Regulus be any different from Sirius? And if that's the case, when did this change of heart take place? She wasn't sure if he had come to that point yet.

Another issue at hand was her enrolment into Hogwarts. It is crucial that she would be there to observe Regulus and make sure he completes his eventual goal, or even step in and destroy the locket herself. If possible, destroy the other horcruxes as well. Hermione had just reunited with her identity's biological father but had no valid credentials to support her educational level, or any paperwork to prove her identity for that matter. She would have to make an appointment at the Ministry to request for these requirements, afraid of the possibility of a Veritaserum interrogation.

After the tearful reunion, they had made plans to have a proper date the following day. Atticus had even offered her his room to stay in. Hermione politely declined the offer saying it was too much of an intrusion and she had already made former arrangements; thus, her being in the Leaky Cauldron.

As she was served her meal, Tom gave her the room key. It was as Hermione remembered it, all those trips to Diagon Alley. The familiar taste and ambiance of the Leaky Cauldron had put her at ease. After a few more moments of contemplation, she decided to retire to her rented room. As she rested her head upon the pillow, she was fast asleep in a heap of exhaustion.

Several blocks away, Regulus jolted awake from a nightmare, drenched in his sweat. His body twitched as if he were put under the Cruciatus. He twitched every time he was tasked to torture or murder another, a reminder of what may happen to him if he did not complete his task.

His tasks had gotten worse throughout the summer holidays. It became harder and harder to have a grip on his humanity and sanity, as the faces of his victims taunted him from the dark corners of his vision.

It was almost a year ago when the Dark Lord decided to recruit new members to his movement. As the remaining true heir to the House of Black, he had many to vouch for him. There were expectations, made known more than ever since Sirius was blasted off the tapestry. His father and mother were proud, even. It was an honour to be invited to the ranks pledged to the Dark Lord, the symbol of great magic and pureblood heritage. It was what he was raised to believe and uphold, especially as the population of the "impure" increased over time.

Upon his arrival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the mix of blood statuses within the student population baffled him. Most had treated it as a norm, with exception to the familiar purebloods he had grown up seeing. Considering his upbringing, it was all wrong. He couldn't help but sneer and crinkle his nose in disdain. It was what his parents and his relatives did after all. He had perfected it, even if he didn't entirely understand why it was needed at the time.

Regulus would look across the room to the table of reds and gold. His big brother, Sirius, was labelled as a blood traitor by their parents even though he didn't openly defy them yet. When he did, father beat him bloodied all throughout the holidays.

He loved his brother dearly and had even looked up to him. Yet ever since he left him behind, Sirius had become more reckless and rebellious- a Gryffindor bad enough. Over the years, he would avoid crossing paths with him. Sirius kept getting in all kinds of trouble with his "idiotic" friends, as Severus had called them. His brother messed with many arrogant pureblood bullies, as well as chased the skirts of halfbloods and mudbloods alike. He is a disgrace. He is a blood traitor.

The little brother wasn't as "brave" as his big brother was when he entered the institution. As his ancestors were before him, he was sorted into Slytherin, the House of the Cunning. He worked hard to gain approval from his parents. Eventually, he became a prefect, and now given a badge to become Head Boy. This was all he wanted before, but now things have changed. He wasn't that naive little boy anymore.

The reminiscing Regulus sat up from his queen-sized bed. The snake on his left arm squirmed and slithered, slicing across his skin. He bit on to his pillow careful not to wake the dwellers of the house. He stood up and put on his robes, then disapparated to answer the call of the Dark Lord.

--------

Author's Note:

Double update! Even though I don't have much response for this story. Haha

Writing is fun, doesn't matter anyway :)

COMMENT, VOTE, and SHARE!

- Shannon :D