Of Regret and Redemption
December 14, 1979
Chapter One
He has Reg
The words were scribbled at a furious pace across the paper. Severus then called for Vega, his long fingers fidgeting with the edges of the folded paper. The great eagle owl swept down from her perch onto Severus's outstretched arm. Tying the message to her leg he hissed, "Take this to Sirius Black, Vega. Quickly!" She affectionately hooted, spreading her light-colored wings, before taking off into the night sky.
Through his open door he heard shouts coming from downstairs. Severus seized his wand off his bed then cautiously made his way towards his open door. He had just reached the top of the stairs when he heard it. The very same words he had heard leave his Master's lips so often as of late. The deadliest Unforgivable Curse.
Grimmauld Place went eerily silent.
Obsidian eyes widened, breath halting. No, they couldn't have gotten in-
"Find the twin!" A deep voice bellowed.
Rushing back to his room, his thoughts raced. What do I do? I'm going to die. I can't possibly fight them off. What do I do? A sharp crack resonated between his bedroom walls startling Severus out of his thoughts. But before he could even comprehend what was happening, Kreacher had grabbed his wrist and the room abruptly disappeared around them.
For a moment all Severus saw was darkness, but then his eyes began to slowly adjust to his new surroundings. Clouds drifted away from the radiating half-moon, its light now shining down on the two magical beings. They weren't anywhere he had ever been before. A tall wrought iron gate faced him, protecting a rather small two-story stone house. Severus looked around, but found he was encircled by trees and tall grass. Beside him, Kreacher stretched his knobby fingers towards the gate and closed his eyes. An unexpected breeze brushed over the two, as if the gate was sensing who stood outside it wishing entrance.
"Come, Master Severus," Kreacher said as the gate opened for them.
They made their way up an overgrown pathway towards the front door. Severus jumped slightly when he heard the gate slam shut behind him.
When they arrived at the door Kreacher instructed Severus to place his wand hand against the wooden structure. Kreacher closed his eyes once more, this time whispering under his breath, words unintelligible. A tingling sensation flowed through Severus's hand, causing him to jerk backwards. The sound of dozens of locks unlocking themselves could be heard inside, and then the door opened.
Extending his wand, Severus hesitantly stepped into the home. Behind him the house-elf snapped his fingers; candles throughout the entire home lit with flame.
"Where are we?" Severus asked, eyeing the small entrance hall that was unnervingly similar to the one in his parent's home.
"You are safe, Master Severus. Kreacher has brought you to a home that has long since been a safe haven for the Noble House of Black. It has seen many wizarding wars, Master."
Moving farther into the old house, Severus collapsed upon the first chair he found, his head in his hands. A soft sob escaped his lips, quickly dissolving into silent tears. The severed connection between him and his twin pierced through his core. Kreacher darted to the kitchen to make tea, in hopes that would comfort his Master.
When he came back, cup of hot tea in hand, Severus had composed himself. His features no longer tense with distress, his expression now unreadable, but his eyes were still vacant.
"My parents…" The question trailed off, unable to be finished.
Tears filled Kreacher's large grey eyes, "I'm sorry, Master Severus. Mistress fought until her last breath, Kreacher watched behind a chair. Those Death Eaters stunned us all! Master Black didn't- couldn't-," he stumbled over his words in despair. "Mistress avenged Master," he said, words filled with pride for his former Mistress.
"Kreacher's poor Master Regulus," the house-elf mumbled to himself.
Severus leaned back, running his fingers through his tangled hair. The two sat together in somber silence.
"Kreacher will be back soon," The house-elf croaked, sensing that the wizard wished to be alone.
Sirius apparated outside of his childhood home for the first time in three years, never having thought he'd see it again, never wishing to see it again. He gasped when he saw the menacing Dark Mark hovering above 12 Grimmauld Place. Forcing himself to move forward, he swiftly muttered the spell that unlocked the door, blood running cold at the thought of what might lay ahead of him.
He didn't have to search long, for the sound of weeping led him to the sitting room. On the cold floor lay the bodies of Orion and Walburga Black, between them sat Kreacher, with his hands covering his eyes, tears slipping to the floor. Fully stepping into the room, his eyes fell on another dead body, this one facedown, beside the fireplace. The figure was tall with long black hair. Severus! Sirius instantly thought, running to the still form. He turned the body over and his own grey eyes immediately filled with tears. Regulus.
Sirius sat down beside the body of his brother, whose lifeless eyes stared up at the ceiling. Leaning forward slightly, he closed the lids before covering his own eyes, as tears threatened to fall.
Regulus and Sirius had always gotten on far better than the elder had with Severus. Severus was stubborn and carried a nasty temper while Regulus was soft-spoken and despised confrontations. Severus had joined Voldemort because he was as black as his family name whereas Regulus had joined due to their parent's intense brainwashing.
"Filthy blood traitor," whispered the house-elf from across the room, presuming he wouldn't be heard. Sirius had actually forgotten about the other's presence until he had heard the deep-voiced whisper.
"Where is Severus?" Sirius asked, moving away from Regulus' body.
Kreacher shook his head and simply said, "Safe."
"As the new Master of this house I demand that you show me where Severus is."
Hesitantly, Kreacher took Sirius's wrist, but not before he mumbled, "Runaway scum."
They Apparated to the same place as Kreacher and Severus had only half an hour prior. The house-elf repeated the same process as before, only this time the front door did not open, but instead the knocker came to life and banged against the wood twice. A minute later the door cracked open and Severus peeked around it. When he saw who it was he opened the door and exclaimed, "Sirius!"
In the blink of an eye Sirius had shoved Kreacher out of his way, drawn his wand, and was glaring at Severus with murderous rage. Severus had no time to defend himself before he was pushed hard into the opposite wall. Sirius had the collar of his black robes clutched tightly in his fist, wand jabbing into the skin of his neck in a flash.
"You disgusting COWARD! Give me one reason!" The wand twisted viciously into his brother's neck. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you on the spot," Severus's eyes widened.
Suddenly Sirius was thrown backwards, fingers ripped from Severus's robes. Standing protectively in front of the lone twin was Kreacher, with his bony arms crossed. "Kreacher will not let you touch Master Severus!"
Sirius, sprawled across the floor, looked up at Kreacher warily. Severus was leaning back against the wall he had been shoved into, arms hanging limply by his side. He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Regulus found out about something the Dark Lord was doing in secret, he had made a horcrux, or at least Regulus only knew of one. He told me about it just this afternoon. We were summoned, I managed to occlude completely. Regulus did not," Severus folded his arms. "The Dark Lord released us but kept Regulus, to try to torture information out of I assumed. After I sent you that message two Death Eaters came through the floo, carrying our barely alive brother between them, Kreacher told me. Then K-Kreacher took me here."
The hall was quiet for a long moment, only Kreacher's whimpers of barely restrained tears continued. When Sirius finally spoke his words echoed through the hall, his tone soft but dripping with hatred.
"He should have left you to die then."