Disclaimer: These characters are not mine, nothing is mine, well except the shiny plot.

For a Single Tear

They had both agreed, since they were little children, perhaps even in diapers that they would never be sucked into it all. They would remain true to themselves and their hearts, not fall into this foolishness, but he had betrayed their promise, he had betrayed himself. But most importantly, he had hurt the only female that didn't make him cringe. He had hurt his best friend, he could see it in her eyes when he uttered those words, the words that broke bonds once thought unbreakable.

"Savvy, I need to be honest with you." Her eyes widened, and the worry was evident, but as he continued his thought, he was careful to look away. He knew he would not like what he saw there. "I've… please forgive me." He had peered up from behind long dark locks that had fallen in front of his chocolate colored eyes, the only give away that he was indeed himself and not his older brother.

"What are you talking about, Regulus?" Savannah never called him by his full name unless something was wrong. So she must have caught the hint that he was serious. Well of course he was serious, and of course she would notice this. They had been best friends, forever and always, they had promised. If anyone knew him better than himself, it was Miss Savannah Wilkes. But he didn't deserve her, not after this. Where had his common sense lost itself in those few moments? Since when did he care about such power?

Forcing his eyes to look back up, into hers, he mimicked his brother unknowingly, pulling his hand through his hair. How did one tell their best friend, the one they'd betrayed, that they had done the one thing they said they'd never done? How do you tell the girl you very well might love that you've done the unthinkable? How do you say – "I'm a death eater…"

He was glad for the comfort of his room, the solitude and silence. Regulus was glad for the break in the craziness of the war, of school. Summer was just what he needed, a break, to clear his mind and figure out how to make things right. He loved Savvy, he still did. So what had caused him to momentarily let that one fact slip… No there was no wondering about the answer to the question he now posed.

Regulus and Savannah had tried the dating thing a little more than three years ago; and that was when they decided they were absolutely not suited to be more than best friends. But in the last months, Regulus couldn't deny the feelings he had been shrugging off. He most certainly felt more than friendship for her. Which was the reason he never should have hoped to hurt her; so why was it that he did just that? Could it be, that because he was most certain he could never have her that he did the only thing he knew to do – push her away. But at what price?

"You what?" Savannah's jaw dropped, and her blue eyes widened in shock. He could tell she was fighting sense, that something, anything, wanted to say he was lying, that this was all a cruel joke. But he knew she wouldn't, and he knew he should walk away. Just let her go, once and for all. But his feet wouldn't move, his hands shaking in the pockets of his robes. He needed to hear what she had to say. He had to know that it was over, he couldn't just assume it. Assumptions could be more dangerous even then the words he say forming on her lips. "Regulus Arcturus Black, I cannot believe you."

Regulus winced, distorting his clean, primly kept face. He wasn't ready to be attacked, even if he knew it was coming. They were both Slytherins, they were both purebloods, but neither of them, neither of them had ever really believed in what the Dark Lord was doing. They simply didn't think it was right. This was exactly why this was the lowest blow he ever could have dealt her, the thing that would hurt them both the most.

Why did he think that he needed to push her away? Was he really that afraid of rejection?

His elbows rested on the edge of his bed as he knelt beside it. A single tear escaped his eyes before he pressed his fists to them. He was Regulus Black, heir to the long, proud bloodline and inheritance of the Black family. He was not a weak person. But he needed Savvy, and now… This was his fault.

He removed his fists from his eyes and tilted his head upward, his eyes gazing out into the dark sky, only a single star in sight. So he clenched his eyes shut tightly and bowed his head, moving his lips in a sort of incantation, making a wish with all his heart, that by some miracle, he could find the hope that someday things should once again be right between them. For, he'd not only lost his only love, but also his best friend, his steadfast keeper, his sanity and other half.

"I'm sorry, Sav…"

"It's Savannah. And please, no excuses." The hurt was evident in her eyes, held thick in her voice, as she bit her lower lip, evidently holding back tears."I've been hurt enough, Regulus. You know this. But, I never would have thought… I'd never have thought you'd hurt me too."

She had given him no chance to defend himself, to apologize. All too quickly, Savannah Wilkes, his best friend, the girl he could only dream would ever be his, was walking briskly away, for she knew better than to run. It was both improper as well as keen to draw attention. And Savannah was always proper, and if he guessed correctly, the tears would be forming now in her eyes, much as they were in his own, and she wouldn't want those prying eyes or those foolish boys trying to comfort her, unknowingly making things much worse.

He cried that night, and the next, for what had been broken and couldn't be fixed.

But as he felt that familiar prick in the back of his eyes, looking back up at the dark night sky, he steeled himself against the pain. He'd made his decision and there was no going back on it now. Regulus had his reasons, and they would remain with him. The only thing he'd ever regret was the loss of one, Savannah Melania Wilkes, the only thing in his life he'd ever clung to…

And then there was that damn burning in his arm.

A/N: Savannah Wilkes is on loan from the wonderful Scarlett, and I will get into the back story more in the next chapter, this was meant to be more of a prologue... Please Read & Review.