It was cold, the day Regulus died. The air seemed to bite at the very ends of nerves as he walked into the cave. "Kreacher?" He called out simply, and immediately the young house elf appeared.
"Yes, Master Regulus? What can Kreacher be doing for you?" Regulus' pale green eyes looked up for the first time, and Kreacher's widened in shock as he saw the stress evident in them. His burning hatred for Lord Voldemort only grew when he saw what that thing was doing to his master, his best friend. Kreacher felt a bit of satisfaction when Regulus snorted in amusement.
"It's just Regulus, Kreacher. We're friends, not master and slave." Much in his fashion, Regulus danced around the question. "I- I have an order for you, though. A- dying wish. Destroy the locket. Help the one who searches the horcruxes the Dark Lord has. Promise me, Kreacher. Promise me you will." Kreacher's eyes widened.
"Master… Regulus… You mustn't… Kreacher will drink icky potion. Master Regulus… Friend… You will survive." It came as a quiet plea, much meeker than he had first intended.
"He would kill me anyway. I need you alive, Kreacher. You'll be able to finish the task. Tell nobody of this, even if it's your Master. Not anybody who was alive for this war. Promise me you'll listen." Regulus had a smile full of regret plastered on his face. "I only wish… I'll miss you, old friend. When the potion is gone, switch the lockets and run with the horcrux. Wear it; it wouldn't try to possess a house elf. Don't let anyone take it from you, even after it's destroyed."
"Kreacher will be doing what Ma- Regulus is asking. Kreacher will be destroying icky locket. Kreacher will be missing Friend." Kreacher, for the first time in what felt like forever, felt tears well in his bulbous eyes.
"And I you, Kreacher" were the last words Regulus uttered, before he finished the potion and fell into the lake of dead, familiar faces.
-x-
Regulus found himself at a crossroads, staring at Kings Cross Station. He jumped as he heard a voice, eyes wide as he saw his beautiful Marlene staring sadly at him.
"I wish I hadn't needed to meet you so soon, lovely." She sounded regretful. "But I… I can't help but feel relieved. I was worried you'd fall in love with someone else… That you'd forget all about me…" Regulus sighed, biting at his lip as he stared into those eyes he'd so fallen in love with.
"I could never, Marlene. You know you're the only one who could ever mean anything to me… I've missed you." Regulus squeezed her hand gently; thumb rolling over the back of it. He smiled at the feel of the smooth skin. It was just as he had remembered it to be.
"Regulus, before I take you on… You've been given an opportunity." As Regulus opened his mouth to interrupt, Marlene hushed him with a pointed look. "Lily Potter's son is going to be born as a child of prophesy, and the death of Voldemort will come at a terrible price. If you choose to share your memories with him, then he'll be able to change the Wizarding World in ways we've dreamt of. But it means you'll be stuck here until the Dark Lord is gone for good…" Regulus froze for a moment. This was what he'd died for; in hopes to change his world for the better. It was with not just a little regret that he muttered his answer.
"I'll hopefully see you soon then, Marlene. I love you." With a sad smile, she boarded the train alone, with a promise to come back for him.
-x-
Alright, so that was the prologue. Please review. (: I'll get chapter one once it's finished.
Love, Beth3