Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, this is merely a work of fanfiction.
A/N: This was a prompt for Ellory, to do Regulus x Lily as soulmates. I struggled a bit on how to write this pair, they have a lot to overcome. I hope you like it! Enjoy:)
Lord Regulus Black startled awake. He had fallen asleep in a corner of the restricted section of the Hogwarts Library.
"No no no this can't be happening," he said aloud as he pulled his robes back on over his uniform, and stormed out of the library.
His ribcage burned where the first words his soulmate had ever said to him laid. They had been spoken two years earlier in this library.
"Heir Black, do you usually steal books from young ladies?" He had whipped around and raised his hand to where the words she had spoken were written on his ribcage. He held a large tome in his hand he had picked up from an empty desk, thinking it abandoned.
Miss Lily Evans stood there with her hands on her hips, her red hair shining crimson in the candlelight, and her piercing emerald eyes demanding an answer. Regulus fought to form intelligent thought.
She was beautiful and absolutely brilliant, but of course he already knew that. He had seen Lord James Potter chasing after the Head Girl for years, but she had never shown the slightest bit of interest.
"Only exceptionally pretty ones, Miss Evans."
Her mouth dropped open, and her hand flew to her covered collarbone.
Heir Regulus Black was her soulmate?
She had almost given up hope after all this time. Even Lord James Potter had eventually found his soulmate in the last year, and given up his fruitless pursuit of her. To think that it was Padfoot's younger brother this entire time, was astounding.
They talked for a long time that day, getting to know each other. Lily had been surprised to find that he did not share his parents pureblood mania. He held a reverence for the Olde Ways, and tradition, but did not much care for one's blood status. Lily surprised him in return when she told him that she had been researching the Olde Ways in private. She found the Muggle world more and more unwelcoming, and wanted to immerse herself in Wizarding society. She would make an excellent Lady Black.
They agreed to keep their budding relationship a secret that day. Until someone found a way to defeat The Dark Lord, muggleborns were in danger, and Regulus would not risk drawing attention to his future Lady. No, he would wait and dedicate himself to bringing down The Dark Lord.
Regulus was jolted out of his reminiscences by the searing pain on his ribcage. This could only mean one thing- Lily was in mortal peril. He followed the pull in his chest towards wherever she was.
She was supposed to be safe here.
That's why they had convinced Professor Slughorn to allow her to apprentice under his supervision. She had to dedicate three years of her life to working with the potions master, and she would be far safer in the castle than anywhere else.
Headmaster Dumbledore had tried most persistently to get her to join The Order of the Phoenix, but Lily declined time and again. She told Regulus that it was more important she dedicate herself to helping him find the horcruxes.
Lily seemed not to trust the Headmaster enough to bring him into the fold, and Regulus respected her judgement. She knew him better, and Regulus had never particularly liked him anyway. He reminded Regulus of his father Orion. They both had that same calculating gleam in their eyes when they met people, as if deciding how they may be able to use them to get what they wanted.
Regulus had dedicated himself to infiltrating the Death Eaters, and destroying the Dark Lords horcruxes. His occlumency shields were perfected from his childhood with Walburga, and The Dark Lord never suspected a thing. Regulus had destroyed the last horcrux earlier, with Kreacher's help, and had sought out the solitude of the restricted section to plot his next move.
Only once The Dark Lord was defeated could they truly be free to be together. Walburga and Orion had died earlier in the year. There was no one left to oppose him, once The Dark Lord was gone.
Even his cousin Bellatrix had become disillusioned with The Dark Lord when she realized she would never be allowed to have an heir under his reign. He wanted her as a soldier, and would give her no respite to live her life with Lord Lestrange.
Regulus stormed out the doors to the castle and onto the grounds.
Had she been lured out here? Captured? Surely she would never have come out here willingly by herself. She was supposed to be grading essays tonight. How had she ended up out here?
He passed Hagrid's cabin and followed the tug in his chest into The Forbidden Forest. The cold air nipped at his cheeks, and fog pooled over the uneven ground, but Regulus persevered.
They had been so careful. They were never seen together in public, they retained their facade of indifference. She had the most pure magic that Regulus had ever felt, and he wanted nothing more than to bond with her. Yet they had resisted, though it hurt a little more every day that he waited.
When magical bondings occurred, they were automatically recorded at the Ministry of Magic. If Miss Lily Evans was suddenly declared Lady Black it would reveal his allegiances to The Dark Lord. He would no doubt attempt to kill them both. Regulus would wait, though it was torture, and then he would be able to keep his bride forever.
He would kill whoever was responsible for tonight. No one would hurt his soulmate and live.
Regulus pushed himself faster, he could feel the pressure in his chest lessening, meaning he was getting closer. He had been walking for quite a while and was approaching the edge of the Hogwarts wards.
Just as he felt the Hogwarts wards shimmer around him, signalling their end, he stepped into a clearing. There stood The Dark Lord with Lily bound at his feet. She seemed untouched, but unconscious.
'So this has all been to lure me here' Regulus mused.
"You think you can hide from Lord Voldemort?" The Dark Lord called to Regulus across the clearing. Even his once deep voice sounded weak.
He was in his true form, having foregone the snakely visage he usually donned when facing an enemy. It would be of no use, as Regulus had seen his true form many times. His black curly hair had turned almost entirely grey, and he looked ill. His vibrant red eyes were dimmed to a dull burgundy.
"I don't have to hide from half-blood orphans," Regulus glowered, raising his wand to point at The Dark Lord's chest.
To be a half-blood was no great dishonor, but to lie to all his followers, and then inspire hate towards muggleborns was. Most purebloods were distrustful of Muggles, and in favor of stricter separation from their world, not all out eradication of muggleborns. At least, not until The Dark Lord had risen to power.
This was his chance. Kill this one man, collect his bride, and he could finally be free.
The others would fall in line behind him as Lord Black. He had heard whispers of discontent among the Death Eaters for months. None of them had signed up for an all out civil war.
A political takeover? Sure.
They all wanted to return to the Olde Ways, to be allowed to practice their traditions in peace, separate from muggles and their stifling influence.
A massacre? No.
No one wanted that. Less magical blood was less magical blood, and at this rate, the Dark Lord was going to make British magicals extinct.
"What did you do to her?"
The Dark Lord chuckled as he looked at where Miss Evans laid.
"She is merely stunned. She is simply too powerful to kill." Regulus flinched at the implication, but kept his wand steady and aimed at The Dark Lord. He would have killed her if she had been weaker. He could have lost her.
"You should really teach your witch occlumency. I was here to kill Dumbledore, but then I stumbled upon Miss Evans in the corridor. Imagine my surprise when I found memories of you written into every corner of her mind. You carry on with this filthy mudblood-"
Regulus couldn't hold back any longer. He unleashed the hold that he kept on his magic. It surged out in an angry wave of silver light.
It hit The Dark Lord like a wall, as he was obliterated under its strength. He had been weakened by the destruction of his horcruxes, and was no match for Regulus. Regulus' magic hit a tree behind what was once The Dark Lord and littered wood chips down on top of Lily. Regulus rushed to her side as she began to stir.
"Please be okay, please be okay," he chanted as he drew her into his arms. Her beautiful crimson hair was in a state of disarray, nearly coming loose of the elaborate bun she crafted it into every morning.
Lilly opened her eyes slowly. She felt awful. Her head felt heavy, and her limbs ached.
What had happened? She was walking to the kitchens to get a cup of tea, and then-
Oh no!
Lily blinked her eyes several times, trying to get them to focus. She needed to warn-
"Regulus," she spoke softly as her eyes focused on his face.
"I'm here, love. It's alright, he's gone."
"Gone?" Lily queried as Regulus helped her into a sitting position. She looked around and saw that they were in some sort of clearing. This must be the Forbidden Forest. It appeared as if some sort of storm had destroyed the surrounding wood, leaving devastation in its wake. Lily looked at Regulus inquisitively.
"He threatened you. I lost control of my magic, he's dead." Regulus explained.
Well that explained why she was fine, besides a few scratches from the tree that had splintered around her. His magic would have refused to hurt her, as his soulmate.
Lilly felt tears begin to well in her eyes, "It's over?"
Regulus nodded and pulled her close to place a kiss on her forehead.
"It's over love," he affirmed.
"The others?" She asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Have been freed from their bonds," Regulus told her as he rolled up his sleeve. The Dark Mark was gone, having perished with it's creator.
"We will make a statement to The Prophet in the morning. The others will fall in line behind Lord and Lady Black, or perish. I won't allow them to terrorize our world any longer."
Lily sagged against Regulus. She was finally safe. He could handle the others, they already looked up to him like royalty.
"Now my flower, we have a bonding to complete," Regulus teased. His magic began to wrap gently around Lily, caressing her hair gently. Soon he would have the long awaited pleasure of seeing it unbound, splayed across his pillows.
Lily smiled up at Regulus, and raised a hand to caress his jaw. "Take me home My Lord," she whispered. A sense of possessive joy surged through Regulus at her address, and the feeling of her magic reaching out to meet his.
He raised to his feet, and held her in his arms. Regulus closed his eyes, and pictured the home he had built for them to live in, Black Manor. With a turn and a crack they were suddenly standing in front of their home.
Their little piece of happily ever after.