Supernova

Slipping Away

'No one mourns the wicked- no one cries: "They won't return!"'- "No One Mourns the Wicked" Wicked

A/N: This story has been floating around in my head for a while now, so it had to come out! For those worried about Unite or Fall, I will still be writing it, just expect delays! Well, hope everyone enjoys it!

There was a spider in the corner, weaving a silky web.

I never liked spiders very much- in fact, my brother always called me a girl when I expressed my sentiments to him…

Curse such thoughts! Here I am, to be killed at any moment, and I'm reminiscing!

Well, I suppose it's normal for a dead man. They say your life flashes before your eyes when you're about to die. My question is: who are 'they'? How would they know if they haven't died?

Again, I'm rambling about nothing in particular.

However, I don't believe I've ever introduced myself. My name is Regulus Black and I've done the stupidest thing a Death Eater can do: betray Voldemort.

You see, Voldemort created something called a horcrux. It holds a piece of Voldemort's soul, ensuring him a sort of immortality. From what I was able to discern, Voldemort made 7 horcruxes, which is very dangerous. With so little soul left in his body with the rest far away from him, he is in danger of being overcome by darkness.

But Voldemort never sees the disadvantages to his plans, just the rewards. He saw the opportunity for immortality and he took it.

He gave an unknown number of his horcruxes to trusted Death Eaters (myself included) to hide them away and protect them from any harm. While the others dutifully hid the objects, never knowing what exactly they held, I was curious- too curious for my own good. So, I researched (a very boring enterprise), but I never got very far.

With Voldemort impatient to have his secret objects hidden, I had no choice but to do as he said. Then, as if to get all of the Death Eaters' minds off his strange order, he sent us all on a number of raids. We were so busy that we barely had time to think, much less sleep, which was exactly what he wanted.

When Voldemort finally eased up on his nightly raids, nearly everyone had forgotten about the incident. Nearly. I had not forgotten.

I happened upon the book by accident. I don't recall its title now, but I do remember that I found it in the Black Library. I was searching for another book and found that one instead.

It was then that I discovered exactly what Voldemort had done: that was part of the reason I betrayed him; I was sickened by it.

Resolved, and very delusional at the time, I took the (now identified) horcrux from where I had hidden it. I made plans to destroy it, though I had no idea how to do so.

In the end, however, I had to hide it again: this time from Voldemort and the world. There was not enough time for me to destroy it and I still had no idea how to get rid of the thing.

The next meeting Voldemort called was one of my best and worst…

Somehow he knew- perhaps his Legilimency was too strong, or my defenses were too weak, maybe I wasn't careful enough about taking the horcrux- but he knew. He drew out his performance like the drama queen that he is (such a delightful muggle phrase!) before calling out that someone had betrayed him and he said that person was me.

There was no need for denials- I had done what he accused and I was glad I had. I told him so.

Voldemort might have an army of Death Eaters to command, but I had the pleasure of spitting in his face- literally.

Of course I was thrown in to this cell right after. Apparently, Voldemort wasn't quite done with me yet- probably wanted to rave some more to make him feel better.

The meeting was a while ago- I've lost track of the time, but I'm not worried.

Strange isn't it? I'm not worried about my eminent death. I'm…carefree.

I pulled a fast one up on Voldemort! Who else has done something like that? No one. It's exhilarating to think that I defied the dark lord and that he'll never find his missing horcrux.

But… sometimes, especially at night when the stars are out, I wish none of this had ever happened. That my brother and I had been born to another family…

I wish that Sirius and I were still as close as we used to be, before everything went down the tubes…

Review please!