PRONGSLET AND THE RETURN OF THE MARAUDERS (ON HOLD)

Chapter Fifteen

[Chapter Fifteen]

Standing next to Regulus, Milo wished he understood what the young man was getting at but it only sounded like rambling. For a moment, he did understand what it was probably like to be around himself whenever he went off on one of his tangents. However, the discussion was much more serious than rambling off facts about magical creatures as Regulus seemed to be trying to be getting a message across to Milo. But since he was speaking in such vague terms, Milo was having a hard time deciphering everything that was being relayed.

"Regulus, who are you talking about?" Milo tried to pry more specific details out of him. "Who is he? What did he do? What's this about the greater good? I don't understand. I want to but you have to tell me more."

Regulus would still not turn his attention to face Milo, still looking up at his old home and muttering something under his breath. When he didn't respond to Milo's questions, the boy moved closer, wondering what exactly Regulus was muttering under his breath as he was stuck in a daze. As his ear grew closer to Regulus' mouth, the oddest sensation of feeling the warm breath caused Milo to jolt back slightly. But as he took his own deep breath and moved closer, he could finally hear what Regulus was repeating over and over.

"Greater good...greater good...greater good..."

It was almost as if the youngest Black brother was chanting it as some part of a ritual. He said it over and over, not breaking eye contact from his old home and suddenly, his voice was growing louder. Milo took a step back and when he looked up, Regulus' head abruptly jerked in a turn to look over at him. Caught off guard, Milo didn't have a chance to react as he found Regulus' hands, holding the front of his shirt.

"GREATER GOOD! GREATER GOOD! GREATER GOOD!" Regulus yelled in his face causing Milo to flinch as he tried to pry the man's fingers off of him. But Regulus continued to grow louder and when his hands were pushed away from the fabric's of Milo's shirt, he clung to the boy's wrists, gripping them tightly.

Very much like the warm breath against his ear, Milo could feel Regulus' hands, he could feel the grip tightening with every passing second and it was becoming more and more painful. He didn't want to cry out, he was hoping to bear through it all in hopes that Regulus would come to say something else.

"Regulus, please," Milo whispered to him as the man fell silent, " I don't know what you're talking about. You have to tell me...you have to tell me more or I can't help you-"

"You can't help me," Regulus suddenly spoke, his gaze softened and it seemed he returned back to his normal state. "You cannot help me, Milo Potter, no one can. But you can help others, you can help my brother and the rest of his family. You can protect your family, Milo, you can learn from my mistakes. Do not follow his word, Milo, do not follow the path of the Greater Good."

"Who's word, Regulus? Who? Who is the Greater Good man that you're talking about?"

It seemed Regulus was not going to give Milo the answer that the boy wanted as he fell silent again. His grip loosened around the wrists and his arms fell back down to his sides. For a moment, Milo took a step back, rubbing the sore areas but not daring to look away. As Regulus continued to stand before him, he didn't say anything and while he remained solid and present, it was almost like watching Regulus fade away.  Milo didn't know what to say or do but he felt so bad for him as he Regulus seemed so lost.