A/N: Written for the International Wizarding School Championship.
School: Beauxbatons
Year: 4
Theme: Shyverwretches Venoms and Poisons - Evil in pursuit of self-healing or revenge
Main Prompt: 4.) Regulus Black [Character]
Side Prompts: 1.) Run Boy Run - Woodkid [Song], 8.) "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." Nicholos Machiavelli [Quote]
Word Count: 1092
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
- Nicholos Machiavelli
Regulus knocked back another Firewhiskey, glaring out the window and across the road at his stupid brother. The dimwit had gone and gotten sorted into Gryffindor and had fallen in with the wrong crowd. He and his "Marauders" were right outside the Hog's Head — the bar Regulus was currently stewing in — throwing snowballs at each other and flirting with girls. As he watched, James Potter, the imbecile, picked up the pretty redhead Severus used to be friends with — Lily something, Regulus thought, though he mainly just referred to her as the Mudblood — lifted her over his shoulder and dumped her into a snowbank. His brother had an arm around a petite, blonde-haired Hufflepuff girl wearing a short skirt that was highly inappropriate for this time of year. Yet another impure tart, Regulus sighed to himself, gesturing to the barkeep to bring him another drink.
Though he was only a fifth-year, he knew that no one would dare deny him anything, given his certain special acquaintances. Regulus was smart, of course — he didn't go around flaunting the fact, but if anyone asked, he wouldn't deny anything. Whatever he could do to please his psychotic parents. That had originally been his reasoning for joining the Death Eaters, but much to his shock and slight joy, he'd started to believe in the cause. Regulus was shaken out of his reverie by a brooding, dark figure dropping into the seat next to him.
"Severus," Regulus said, nodding his head to his friend.
But the taller man only grunted, shaking snow off his cloak.
Regulus smirked. "To what do I owe such displeasure on such a freezing day?" he asked, blowing a clump of snow from his shoulder — evidently it had fallen from Severus' long, greasy locks.
"It's that damn tosser Potter. And Black, of course. They will not stop acting like the pompous prats they are. No offence to you, of course," Severus amended at a raised eyebrow from Regulus.
"None taken, Severus. I already know how horrible he is — I did live with him for more years than I'd like to admit to," Regulus said coolly.
"Of course," the taller man muttered, taking a swig of the drink the barkeep placed in front of him. Regulus Black was… there was just something about him. Something that intimidated him, yet intrigued him. Black the younger was an enigma Severus had yet to understand, but staying in his good graces was important for his position with the Death Eaters.
The pair moodily glared out the window, the snow obscuring their vision occasionally. Sirius and the blonde trollop had disappeared, while the rest of the Marauders and some seventh-year Gryffindor girls had stayed behind, continuing their snow fight. As Severus and Regulus watched, a few third-year Slytherins and Ravenclaws got caught in the cross-fire, getting pelted with snow from all sides. The three Ravenclaws managed to escape quickly enough, but the two Slytherins couldn't get away. One drew his wand, holding it up in a threatening manner. The two bar-goers exchanged a silent glance and started putting their cloaks back on, Regulus throwing a Galleon and two Sickles onto the bartop. He hated putting up with the little third-year dweebs, as did Severus, but he hated letting the Gryffindors get away with everything just because Dumbledore was an old fool with an unhealthy amount of prejudices even more.
The two black-haired men made their way into the cold, wands hidden in the sleeves of their cloaks. Before they got there to stop any stupid activities, however, the other third-year had drawn her wand and sent a weak Stunning Spell aimed at Potter.
That was a mistake.
Potter reacted instantly, using Levicorpus on the small girl. Her friend used his withdrawn wand to send a spell at Potter, but the shaggy blond named Remus cast up a Shield Charm.
Lily and Remus futilely tried to stop the fight, but everyone else was cheering, which was enough to set off Severus and Regulus.
Regulus sent a Jelly-Legs Jinx towards Potter, while Severus let the young girl down. She fell to the ground, and her companion picked her up and carried her over towards where the Ravenclaws were waiting while the older Slytherins sent spell after spell at the Gryffindors. Soon enough, it was six-against-two, and the two Slytherins knew that they couldn't keep up the fight anymore. No teachers or other upper-years were anywhere nearby, so Severus snuck a quick look at Regulus. He nodded slightly, his Finestra spell shattering a nearby window, raining glass down onto the group. As the Gryffindors screamed in anger, Severus lightly tapped his left forearm, where his tattoo was.
He had summoned the Death Eaters.
Upon hearing his friends screaming, Sirius Black ran back outside, wand at the ready, leaving Bianca in the Three Broomsticks. When he saw that it was not only Snivellus but also Reggie — Regulus — he snapped. He ran towards the pair, ignoring the fact that his cousin Bella and Lucius Malfoy had seemingly just appeared out of nowhere. He hit his brother at full force, sending him flying.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sirius yelled, landing punch after punch on his brother's face and chest. Blood poured from Regulus' nose, soaking the pure white snow.
"What the hell is wrong with ME? It was your friends who were attacking third-years!" Regulus screamed, wrestling to get on top of Sirius.
"Why did you join the Death Eaters? It's so obvious! You're becoming just like our psychotic parents!" Sirius said, hysterically laughing. "You were never my brother! I don't know you anymore, you freak!"
Regulus felt pure adrenaline course through his body. He managed to overpower his two-year-older look-alike, flipping them over and sitting on his chest as he stared back into his own molten silver eyes. Wordlessly, he summoned his wand and looked up to see that all the fighting around them had stopped. He locked eyes with Bella — he'd never really liked her, too sadistic for his taste, but she was in charge here — and she nodded, a crazy glint in her eyes.
Regulus looked back into his brother's eyes, only seeing fear in them.
"Reggie?" Sirius asked.
But Regulus only bared his teeth. He was going to do this. To get back at Sirius for all the stupid things he'd done. For managing to get away. For leaving him behind.
"Crucio."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! If you did, please review! I'd love to hear from you!