The Raid; Part 2

The experience of walking into Diagon Alley and smashing shop windows seemed surreal. There seemed to be Death Eaters everywhere. Regulus wondered how, if this was only a diversion, there were enough Death Eaters to carry out the main attack, whatever that might be.

Spells darted through the air around him and people were screaming and shouting as Death Eaters invaded the shops to terrorise those within. Regulus' blood felt almost as if it was vibrating as it coursed through him at a rapid rate. He lost sight of Evan. He couldn't distinguish one Death Eater from another.

He wasn't sure of what he should do. The Aurors would soon be there then he would duel with them for as long as he could then disapperate as planned. Nobody had told him what to do before hand.

So he stood there while people and spells shot by him, looking around in horror. Someone bumped into him.

"Get moving- do something," a voice he recognised as Evan's told him and gave him a push towards Gringotts. Regulus had no idea if that was some sort of indication that he should attack the bank. He didn't much fancy that. He wasn't keen on goblins. So he turned and travelled up the alley towards Ollivander's where he saw the windows were as yet unsmashed.

"Reducto!" he shouted, his voice sounded oddly cold, almost unrecognisable as his own. It reminded him of Evan's voice, for some reason that pleased him.

He watched as the glass shattered sending splintering pieces straight towards him. He held up his cloak to cover his eyes the moved on, smashing any windows that he saw were still intact. It felt all right to be doing that, they were only buildings after all. Occasionally he shot spells at random through the smashed window, pretending there was someone on the other side, wanting to look as though he was legitimately part of the group. He had never done anything like this before.

He was just sending a stupefying charm through the window of the junk shop when he heard a chorale of popping as the Aurors appeared, except they weren't all Aurors. Firstly Regulus noticed that James Potter that Sirius had always hung around with as he began to duel the Death Eater closest to him, a cocky grin upon his face but as he looked around he began recognising more people who weren't Aurors, clearly distinguishable within the group. What were they doing there?

He continued to scan the new arrivals, forgetting that he was part of the fray. It took him by surprise when one of the non-aurors fired a spell at him. Fumbling for his wand he was forced to dodge the spell and ran up further up the alley to get out of the way.

His mind was struggling to keep track of the spells and all the people. They seemed to be everywhere and in very direction. He began to think that he ought to disapparate straight away. It was impossible to tell what was going on. It was almost like a Quidditch match except without the stability of a set role. There was no snitch for him to seek out here.

He still couldn't see Evan, so it would be unlikely that he would notice if he just slipped away...

"Rosier!" He suddenly heard someone shout. They were quite near, Evan must be quite near. Regulus turned to look for him when a spell flew at him.

"Sectumsepra!" He felt the spell as it cut into his arm. At first he still couldn't locate where it had come from.

"Stupefy!"

Regulus jumped out of the way as the charm hurtled towards him.

"Not quite up to your usual standard, Rosier." Someone laughed, approaching closer, their wand held aloft with a strangely serious expression on his face.

"Sirius," Regulus was able to breathe but he wasn't given much time to think for no sooner than he had spoken his brother shot another jet of red like towards him.

"Protego!" Regulus blurted at the last moment and he was shielded.

But no sooner than he had shielded himself from one curse Sirius fired another at him, too quickly for Regulus to either dodge or shield. "Confringo"

Regulus was thrown high into the air then smashed against the wall of one of the shops. His elbows hit the wall first and scraped down as he fell to the ground. His whole body felt as though it had shattered. He could hear Sirius laughing. He could hardly believe it was his brother at all. Was his brother really so cruel?

Sirius was striding towards him, a sort of dark menace in his eyes. Regulus wasn't sure if he could move but his arms seemed to be acting regardless, fumbling for his wand which had disappeared when he had been thrown through the air. He looked around as Sirius grew closer. His wand was lying a few metres away. He began to crawl towards it. Sirius was still laughing. He was still around a metre away when Sirius reached the spot where his wand lay. He picked it up and began twirling it between his fingers.

"After this, Rosier?"

"Sirius…" Regulus gasped.

Sirius held up the wand and looked down on Regulus, "Aw, have you lost your wand? Poor thing… maybe you can go crying to your sister. I hear she is the one to always get you out of a tricky situation…"

As Sirius spoke he seemed to grow angrier, he rushed towards Regulus and gave him a kick in the stomach. It was as if the rest of the battle had faded away into oblivion. Regulus was in so much pain he couldn't speak. Sirius seemed to think he was Rosier but why did he hate Evan so much? Regulus had never seen so much hatred in his brother's face, except perhaps when faced with Severus Snape. He didn't know what to do.

"You should have known better than to wear such a distinguishable cloak, Rosier… Sectumsepra"

This time it hit Regulus' shoulder, he fell backwards so he was on his back. He could feel Evan's cloak as it began to get soaked with blood- his blood. He curled over onto his side, pressing the cloak against his wound. His mask then slipped from his face onto the ground beside him. He let go of his cloak and reached for it, his first thought being that he didn't want Sirius to see him cry.

"Regulus?"

Regulus only groaned in reply.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius knelt down by his brother's side, dropped both wands on the ground and began to tug at Regulus' cloak to look at the wound on his brother's arm.

Regulus still didn't reply.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius repeated, this time he sounded more panicked.

Regulus couldn't reply. Sirius' eyes dropped down to the mask that still lay next to his brother.

"You're a Death Eater?"

"Sirius…"

For a moment Sirius seemed speechless. Then he snatched up his own wand and stood up, dropping Regulus' arm as if it was a piece of dirt.

"Sirius?"

"Go home, Regulus."

"Sirius…"

"Just go home!" Sirius shouted. There was a crack in his voice and he didn't sound as threatening as he done before. A lump formed in Regulus' throat as he watched his brother turn his back on him and walk away. He would never be able to send that letter now.

"Rosier!" He heard Sirius cry, as he had obviously spotted his true target.

Regulus curled up on the ground, hugging his knees to his chest. Any strength that he had was completely drained from him.