Daggers | r.a.b

confusion

[daggers - part two]
[3rd] regulus

    "Crucio!"

    He flinched as another Death Eater fell to the ground, writhing with pain. Standing over the death eater girl- Athena Travers, if he remembered correctly, a girl in his year back at school- was the Dark Lord, remorseless to the screams of his follower.

   It wasn't the first time he had seen such a display, not would it be the last. The path he had followed- that his parents had set for him- ensured such torture if he didn't obey the Master. Thankfully it had never happened to him, but it didn't stop him from feeling terrible during the torture sessions.

    He waited until the Dark Lord and most Death Eaters had left the room, then ran to Athena's side, still sprawled on the ground, unconscious. He helped her up and disapparated to his room in 12 Grimmauld Place. He grabbed a few painkilling potions and gave them to Athena, nursing her to the best of his ability, like he did for her back in Bellatrix's house- well, it wasn't technically hers since she was under a fake name and disguise- and she was nearly killed. He still didn't know what possessed him to do it, when he knew clearly that he was going to get punished for it, although the Dark Lord seemed to be unaware. Perhaps he couldn't bear the sight of her dead body. He only hoped that she didn't figure out that it was him who helped her.

    He knew for certain, that he still loved the girl, even if they were enemies. And after the attack, he was sure of the side she would choose.

    A small part of him hoped that one day she would come for him, join this side for him. But the sensible part of him knew that she wouldn't, that she would stand for the correct thing, that to honour him she would choose the side he would have stood for if he wasn't forced down this path, and not join the Death Eaters for him. Besides, she was a muggleborn, and would be killed on sight. He wished dearly that he had ran that day, to Dumbledore and the force resisting the Dark Lord, but he couldn't let his family down, nor could he have put anyone in danger.

    He unsheathed the dagger, and thought of her. Was she alive? Healed? Safe? Some part of him wished she would stay out of the war, stay safe in the muggle world, but he also know she would never give up, that she would stand for herself and be as loyal as possible to her friends. He put away the dagger, knowing he had more important things to do at the moment.

    Crouching over Athena, he muttered a healing spell, and her eyes fluttered open. He watched her take in everything around her, until her eyes focused on him. She looked shocked, probably because he actually healed her. "But- but I don't even know you-" she stuttered, "why would you help me, you'd get into trouble-"

    He waited until she finished talking, then simply said, "No one deserves to be tortured like that." He turned to leave, but was stopped by Athena.

    "Thank you."

    He started to reply that it was no problem, as the door suddenly swung open.

    "So it's you, Black."

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  He tried hard not to tremble as he kneeled before Lord Voldemort. He prepared himself for the Unforgivable he was familiar with, even if he had never been under it before.

    But it never came. "So, Regulus Black," Voldemort hissed. "Could you explain why Mulciber found you and Travers in your room, with healing potions around her?"

    He couldn't think of anything to say. Even when Voldemort yelled, "TALK! WHY was she in your room? Did you not know that she deserved the pain and I ordered you to not help her? Did you think that I, Lord Voldemort, who is closer to immortality than any other person in the world, could be denied?", he couldn't speak.

    "SPEAK!" Voldemort demanded. "I am not to be denied! Give me a reason not to blast you to bits right now! I, who have delved farther into the path of dark magic to find immortality, who did great things that Dumbledore has never dreamed of me doing, am not to be disobeyed LIKE YOU DID ME!"

    Regulus shivered, scared of what would happen to him. He squeezed his eyes shut, and felt an intruder in his mind, and was quick to apply Occulmency, something he had been taught since he was young, and he had been interested in it for a long time. Occulmency felt like second nature to him, he was fascinated by it and had studied both Occulmency and Legilmency extensively when He was a child. He felt the intruder retreat and opened his eyes to see the Dark Lord staring at him, his eyes unreadable. "Well..." his master mused, "who knew you had something this valuable... Not much can sense my presence in their mind, much less keep me out. Tell me, who taught you Occulmency?"

    He replied immediately, fearful for his life. "M- my- my mother, my lord. She taught me when I was young, and I was always good at it."

    Voldemort regarded him, and he knew he wouldn't die that day, that his Occulmency had saved him. He knew how Severus had been raised high for his extraordinary powers in Legilmency, and he knew how the Dark Lord also had an interest in the subject. He only hoped that his shield wouldn't break and his real side, the side that sided with the muggleborns, the side that loved and cared like every other person, would stay hidden.

    At last, Voldemort spoke. "You know what you face. Those who disobey the Dark Lord must be punished."

    He knew he meant- the dreaded torture session. He closed his eyes in preparation as Voldemort pointed his wand at him.

***************************

     He gasped for air as Voldemort left the chamber. The pain was dizzying, and he had to grab onto the nearest item to stumble to his feet. He wondered how she kept it together throughout the years. Now that he had first hand experience, he admired her even more.

    He tried to recall what had happened before the torture, to make sure he remembered everything and the curses didn't take his memory or anything. Nothing was wrong. That is, until he remembered a sentence Voldemort had said.

    Did you think that I, Lord Voldemort, who is closer to immortality than any other person in the world, could be denied?

    Closer to immortality than any other person in the world.

    No wonder he could not be stopped. Close to immortality. He couldn't help but be impressed, but his mind was stuck on one point.

    If he was close to immortality, than he was still mortal. But how? How is he close to immortality?

    If he figured this out, he could destroy the Dark Lord. The thought terrified him, but he wanted to do it. But the problem was, what was keeping Voldemort close to being immortal?

    He shook his head to clear it. Hopefully, all the answers would come to him in time.
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(Athena Travers is a character I made up on the spur of the moment, she is not canon.)