RISE OF THE FALL | R.B.

XXXVII.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter World belongs to J.K. Rowling.

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

Regulus held the letter in his hands.

He'd read it three times through already and he couldn't quite believe his eyes.

He'd just come to the Owlery after about five hours of walking around the castle attempting to find his bag, which he'd left somewhere—and in the process of searching for it he'd found that without his wand (Which he'd left in his bag), it was extremely difficult to navigate the halls of Hogwarts—especially when the staircases constantly changed.

He'd found it now, though.

He'd sent the letter to his mother a while ago, in an attempt to avoid having to fulfil what she'd asked of him.

Not that he'd do it anyway. But...it was just that although his mother was very unfair and cruel to his older brother, Sirius, and held very high expectations of Regulus, he didn't want to tell her that he'd be able to do something that he would never do. He wouldn't do it, even if he didn't have a choice.

But Walburga Black was still Regulus Black's mother.

And he didn't want to do that to his mother.

The letter was a relief, to say the least, and Regulus finally allowed himself to relax as he read the letter one last time:

Dear Regulus,

Thank you for your letter. I am proud of your efforts in your service to the Dark Lord. I am appreciative of what a good son you are, and how good of an heir you will be for the Black Family.

I realise that there is little time remaining for you at Hogwarts. As such, I will accept it if you are unable to accomplish what I have asked of you.

Focus on your studies. Work hard. Learn everything that you can so that you may serve the Dark Lord well when you graduate.

Your mother,

W. Black

To most students, if they'd received this letter, it wouldn't be seen as a very warm message at all.

But for Regulus, that was one of the most accepting and understanding times that his mother had been towards him.

It somewhat comforted him as he realised that his mother was willing to lower her expectations if he requested it, to a reasonable level.

Regulus had never told his parents that he was unable to do something they'd ordered him to do before. He'd always obediently done whatever he was told by his parents.

Now that he knew his mother was willing to listen to him, it reassured him that she still cared.

He tucked the letter into his pocket.

There was only one week left of Hogwarts for Regulus and Reia.

Most students were already packing up their belongings, but Regulus hadn't started yet.

He wasn't ready to accept that he was leaving Hogwarts so soon.

He hadn't accepted it yet.

He didn't know how to.

He'd always reassured himself by telling himself that there was still plenty of time until he'd be leaving Hogwarts and facing the world alone, but now that the time was upon him...he didn't know how to reassure himself.

He began making his way back to the Slytherin Common Room to find Reia in her dorm room, and perhaps Lula.

Lula had taken to joining them recently, and neither Regulus nor Reia minded, because Lula's bubbly presence made the room feel less empty.

It was quite a long walk, and when he finally stepped into the Slytherin Common Room, he was decently tired.

There was basically nobody in the Common Room, save for a second year asleep on the couch with a book on his lap and another three students sitting in a circle playing Exploding Snap by the fire.

No doubt the other remaining students were packing up their dorms, preparing for the end of the year.

Regulus quickly made his way to Reia's dorm, shutting out the laughter of the four students in the Common Room, wishing that everybody could be that happy whenever they wanted to.

Regulus wanted to be happy like them.

And he had great friends, including Reia, his girlfriend, and Lula, and Narcissa and Lucius and Josie, whom were not here anymore but had always been by his side.

But...he wanted to feel safe. He wanted to feel secure—to feel comforted by somebody.

Sirius used to hug him and tell him that everything would be okay when Walburga and Orion would make Regulus cry after scolding him.

Everything was not okay. Regulus had known that. But he liked the lies better than the truth, and so he chose to believe the lies rather than the truth.

Maybe it was dumb, but Sirius had been the only one throughout his childhood who was willing to tell him what he wanted to hear. Regulus would order Sirius to tell him good things—to tell him what the two brothers both wished the truth was, and so Sirius did.

Sirius told Regulus what made him feel comforted and safe, and he was the only one who would make Regulus feel like maybe the world wasn't so bad.

But it was.

And Sirius could lie.

He lied well.

Sirius had also told Regulus that he would never leave him.

But he had.

Now, Regulus wondered bitterly if maybe that had been a lie, too.

Author's Note:

Aww :(

Poor Reg.

It's been quite a long while since we heard from Reg's POV, and I hope you all enjoyed it.

Vote if you have a spare moment (and if you liked this chapter) and comment to let me know your thoughts! I'd really appreciate it~

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it!

-lilia <3