Second chance a new choice

What comes next

Regulus sat on his knees in the wet grass. The body in his arms hung limp, unresponsive. Rain soaked and chilled him. "Pen?" He shook her. Why doesn't she answer? "Penelope!"

"Tell me it isn't true." Lily sank beside Regulus.

"Wake up," Regulus pleaded. "Penelope, please, don't tease me like this!"

"Reggy..." Sirius knelt in front of Regulus. "Bro... she's... dead..."

"No. No, she can't be!" Tears and rain blurred his brother's face. "Tell me it isn't true! It isn't! You're lying! YOU'RE ALWAYS LYING!"

"Reg, I'm sorry," Sirius said. "Let me take her." He reached for Penelope.

"No!" Regulus jerked Penelope into a tight hug. Her white dress, water-logged by the downpour, hung in limp clumps and gathered mud from a small patch of bare ground, making her look like a stolen princess, cursed to sleep forever. "It's my fault, and I'm going to make it good again! You'll see! She'll come back to... to... arrange another Life Defenders meeting." Even he heard how ridiculous that sounded. "She... always... arranges... those..."

"Reggy, please, don't make this harder on yourself," said Sirius.

"Why are you trying to comfort me?" Regulus scowled. "Stop it! Hate me! You should hate me!" His voice hitched in pain and regret. "It's my fault—it's all my fault! MINE!" he bellowed in Sirius' face. "I told Bella there were intruders, so she could prepare herself. I took Penelope into the house! I showed her into the Gryffindor common room! I tried to join the Dark Lord! I wanted to serve him! It's my fault—mine! Me! Regulus Black! I'm a sleazy, dirty, evil little monster—just like you always said!"

Sirius moved beside his brother and threw both soaked arms around him. "Cry it out, Reg. Yell at me. It's fine."

Regulus broke. He heaved gulping sobs and clutched Penelope so close her wet cheek touched his. Sirius held Regulus as he wept.

Lily stood and sobbed into a shocked James' shoulder.

Remus, looking as lost as an abandoned puppy, stood in the rain without a word.

The Evanses huddled close, hugging each other tight, and though they didn't fully comprehend the situation, they knew something terrible had happened.

Augustus stood alone, not crying, but looking like the weight of a thousand lost friends just settled on him. His age showed. And his weariness.

The temperature dropped and everyone's breath clouded the air. The only sound audible over the rain's fevered din was Regulus' weeping.

"Come on, Reg," Sirius coaxed. "You don't have to let go yet, but you need to come into the castle."

In his grief, Regulus hadn't noticed they were back at Hogwarts. Still foggy, he stumbled to his feet.

The group slogged through the rain to the huge doors.

Regulus hugged Penelope hard. She'd started turning blue from the cold. And from... Regulus closed his eyes in horror. She looks so much like a spirit in that flowing, white dress—No. She's not a spirit!

"What's going on?" McGonagall met them in the entrance hall. "We've been looking for you. Your housemates reported all of you missing."

"Professor..." Remus croaked, but couldn't continue.

James finished for him in a surprisingly calm tone. "Professor McGonagall, it was Voldemort... He—he killed Penelope."

"Oh, my goodness!" Professor McGonagall rushed to Regulus, who still held Penelope like a treasured doll. "Is that...?" She gently closed Penelope's glazed eyes. "To the hospital wing." She turned to the Evanses. "And, you are?"