Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Wow, so pleased that everyone likes Regulus coming back. There will be more of him in this chapter, of course, and I hope you don't mind how the business with the locket goes. Also, James is making...progress.
Huge thanks to everyone who favorited/followed after last chapter. Big thanks to my reviewers: winxgirl1997, twztdwildcat (they are both pretending like it never happened, haha), blackcreed11, Pwrmom2, animelover5107, unicornz . 334, M1sch1efManaged (unfortunately, no one seems to take Hermione's knowledge of him seriously), SereniteRose, chibi-Clar, lozzy035, xXMiss Alec VolturiXx, twilightlover427, apriljunemay, chrissieattheend (thank you!), Charlie0925, and moonlightkiss1515! You guys are seriously so awesome!
Please let me know what you thought of chapter fourteen and be on the lookout for chapter fifteen next week!
James and Sirius felt very put out at not being allowed to go to the cave with Regulus and Hermione to retrieve the horcrux. They had been pouting all week, whenever Hermione was planning the operation, and would loudly sigh or mumble just to annoy her.
Not only that, but Sirius must have told James what he'd seen when Hermione had destroyed the horcrux because he pulled her aside the morning that they were set to leave. "Please don't do this alone, Hermione." His hazel eyes were overflowing with hidden meaning that made Hermione's breath stick in her throat.
"I won't be alone. Regulus will be with me." Hermione told him, trying to be reassuring.
"I know it's just..." James started, before running his hand through his messy, black hair. "I know how the horcruxes get in at you, in ways that you could never imagine. They find things out about you that you don't even recognize, and I know how much Harry has affected you. I don't want you to have to fight that on your own, Hermione."
Hermione sighed. "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
"But, I just..." James leaned towards her, and for a moment, Hermione thought that he was going to kiss her. And a real kiss, not just one to be mistaken as joyous celebration or play pretend to get Lucius Malfoy off his trail. But then he pulled back. "I really care for you, Hermione."
Hermione felt her heart melting at his words. Sure it wasn't a confession of love, but she was sure that he did care for her. He wanted her to do well and succeed and he was worried about her. Closing her eyes, and drawing a deep breath, Hermione gathered her Gryffindor courage. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she kissed James's cheek quickly, and before he could protest, she was making her goodbyes. "I promise to come straight back here when were are finished."
Then, she turned to face an awkward Sirius and Regulus, who were trying to act like they definitely weren't eavesdropping on the conversation. Hermione walked up to Regulus, refusing to look at Sirius who seemed to be bursting, and addressed him directly. "Are you ready to go?"
Regulus cleared his throat and nodded, before calling for Kreacher. Sirius finally had her attention, and opened his arms for a hug. "Be safe, Hermione. Watch after my little brother."
Hermione smiled. "I will, I promise. Now, you and James will be reading up on the Gaunt family while we are away?" Hermione didn't wait for an answer and instead turned to face a frightened Kreacher.
He didn't look any younger than she remembered him, but the house elf was currently begging Regulus not to make him go back to the cave on the seaside cliff. Kreacher was holding tightly onto Regulus's legs and huge tears were forming in his unnaturally large eyes. "Please Master Regulus, you promised Kreacher he would never have to return to the bad place."
Regulus was very patient with the little elf, treating him very kindly, which did warm Hermione's heart to the younger man. "You need only to bring me and my companion there, Kreacher. You don't even need to take more than one step into the cave, I promise." He told Kreacher, earnestly.
Finally Kreacher relented, hearing that Regulus would have a companion. "Alright, Master Regulus."
Satisfied, Regulus motioned for Hermione. "Hermione, ready to go?" He asked, quietly. Hermione nodded and moved to stand next to Regulus, the vial of basilisk venom safely stored in the little bag that she had on her side.
Kreacher took one look at Hermione and seemed to make a hissing noise. "Master Regulus, Kreacher is to aide this...mudblood filth?"
Hermione could hear Sirius swearing in the background, annoyed with her treatment by Kreacher, but Hermione didn't mind. She was used to the house elf and knew that it was just a byproduct of living with Walburga.
Regulus looked sheepish. "Kreacher, you will cease from calling my companion that name." Regulus then took Hermione's hand and offered his other to the house elf. "To the cave, now, Kreacher."
With a click of Kreacher's fingers the trio were standing in the mouth of a huge dark cave. Kreacher was already shaking again, in fear of what was to come. He still remembered the burning. Seeing his house elf was clearly in distress, Regulus took pity on him and ordered him back to Grimmauld Place, but also that he was never to say a word about this to anyone.
Hermione looked around. Harry had finally broken down and told her the story of the time he and Dumbledore had come to this cave, when his nightmare's woke her up for the umpteenth time. It was during the time that Ron had left them alone together. It didn't look like anything Hermione would have imagined.
Regulus found the chain and the boat began to slip out of the water. When the boat got to the shore, the pair of them stared at one another. "The boat only allows one of age wizard in it at a time. That's why Voldemort needed Kreacher." And why Dumbledore needed Harry. Hermione thought to herself.
"It needs to be me." Regulus said, resolve on his face. In this moment, he looked so much like Sirius did. Of course they were brothers, but Hermione didn't really see a lot of similarities until now because Sirius was constantly trying to distance himself from being a Black.
Hermione also understood his desire to do this job on his own, knowing that Regulus was doing this for Kreacher. In her time, Regulus had grown doubtful of Voldemort and his visions of the future, but what really set him off was his love for his house elf. Hermione was happy to allow him this, so long as he understood everything that he was being asked to do. "At the other side of the lake is a potion you will have to drink."
Regulus paled, but nodded. "I know, Kreacher told me." Regulus remembered the poor old house elf telling him about the burning. "I can handle it."
Hermione swallowed, thinking of Dumbledore. Harry had said Dumbledore had crumpled like a child and had to be forced to continue drinking. No offense to Regulus, but he wasn't nearly as formidable as her former headmaster. She nodded in agreement of him. "Regulus, I am not leaving this cave with the horcrux intact. It will be destroyed before I go."
Regulus seemed to understand what she was hinting at. "I understand. I want the same thing that you do. You shouldn't feel afraid to imperious me if you need to. Are you able to produce the curse?"
She felt the dread settle in the pit of her stomach. That was an eventuality she hoped that she didn't need to come to, but she was willing to if need be. She nodded stiffly. "We all have to do somethings that we are uncomfortable with, if it means winning the war."
"Speaking of," Regulus said with a rye smile. "In case I don't make it out of this cave alive. I, Regulus Arcturus of House Black, head of my family, do reinstate Sirius Orion of House Black to the Black family, giving him all of his lands and titles and inheritances, including making him Head of House."
Hermione watched as a little magic swirled around Regulus, and smiled, thinking of how annoyed Sirius was going to be when he found out. Regulus then walked confidently into the boat and proceeded across the water. The boat worked slowly across the water, and Regulus became smaller and smaller as he moved farther away from her.
Before she knew it, he was stepping out of the boat and head for the little pillar, which held the locate. She watched as he took the small offered cup and began drinking the potion. It was obvious the moment that it touched his lips how he was affected by it. She watched as his knees weakened, and he held himself up by the pillar, but still he did not stop drinking.
His agonized cries rippled across the still water to her ears, but still he continued to drink, his resolve for Kreacher strong. She could see him shaking his head as if to say no, but still he brought the cup to his mouth and drank of his own volition until the potion was gone. Hermione held onto her wand tightly, her knuckles turning white in fear for her new friend.
Finally, when he was done, she watched as he took the locket and placed it into his pocket. Now all that he would have to do would be to get into the boat and head back across the lake. Hermione watched as he stumbled towards the water's edge, thinking that he was headed towards the boat. She was almost too late when she realized that he was actually trying to drink.
"Regulus! You mustn't touch the water!" She commanded from across the lake, her voice disturbing the still. But he didn't even look up at her, instead inching closer and closer to the water. "Regulus, please!"
When she finally understood that he wasn't listening to her, she gripped her wand tighter. "Imperio." Hermione watched nervously as he stopped for a moment, before his crawling descent began again. This time she called out with more purpose and feeling. "Imperio!" She watched as Regulus's form suddenly halted its slow descent towards the water. Hermione sighed, glad to see the immediate threat had passed.
She ordered him into the boat and when he made his way safely back across the lake, she gave him some healing potions and water. When she was certain he wouldn't make a mad dash towards the lake, she let the curse drop, feeling the weight of the dark magic leave her body. Regulus relaxed as well. "I am sorry, but, the lake is filled with inferi."
Regulus nodded, looking at the lake, not upset at all that she had saved him. Hermione wasn't about to tell him that the inferi had killed him the last time he'd tried this, but he'd had a very bad feeling from the moment that he'd entered the cave. "Well, shall we destroy it?" He asked, pulling the garish locket from his pocket.
Hermione could already hear it whispering it's poison and shook her head quickly. "Yes, let's just get it over with." She began fishing around her bag for the vial of basilisk venom.
"You said that fiendfyre will destroy it too?" Regulus asked. Hermione agreed, not looking up from her search. "Let's just use that. This way, no muggles might stumble upon the cave, it will get rid of the inferi too."
Seeing the logic in Regulus's plan, Hermione agreed. "Alright, you cast it and as soon as it takes hold, I will apparate us back."
Regulus dropped the locket to the ground and moved his wand in a dramatic circle, forming the curse. Almost instantly, the locket began screaming in pain and the force of the fire filled the cave with a white hot heat. Once they were sure it was going, Hermione grabbed Regulus's hand and popped them back to her flat.
Sirius and James were waiting there for them, and immediately rushed at them. Sirius was checking Regulus over for injuries. James pulled Hermione into a bone crushing hug, before pulling away. He could smell the smoke on her clothes and knew what they had done to get rid of the horcrux.
He pulled back to look into her eyes, to see if everything was okay. Finding only success in her honey brown eyes, James didn't hesitate this time, and pressed his lips against hers, their lips fitting together perfectly. Hermione sighed and felt the tension leave her body, and relax, as she only could around James. He made her feel safe.
Parting, James looked over at the two others in the room. He released Hermione from his hug, but maintained one arm around her waist. "Well, another success like this calls for drinks. Shall we go celebrate?"