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Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 1385
not for anything
He slipped through the shadows, his black robe helping to hide him. Not that the Dementors would have any trouble finding him. He was sure he was projecting his worry and fear for all of them to find.
He checked around him, expecting to see one of them ready to swoop down on him, despite the protective barrier afforded him by the potion he'd used before ever stepping onto the island.
Taking the mark had been worth it, he considered, if only because it awarded him the knowledge of the potion's existence.
Yet another of the Dark Lord's secrets, used against him by one he didn't consider a threat.
It was a simple potion in some ways, but it was an effective deterrent for Dementors. It had been how the Dark Lord had been able to approach the Dementors, no matter that the Ministry liked to perpetuate the rumours that it was simply because of how powerful he was.
It made them seem better, in the public's eyes, he supposed.
The air in the prison was stifling, even though it was cold. He'd never been anywhere like this, and he hoped with all he had that he'd never have to return. Of course, should his plan go wrong, he could be earning himself a place in one of these very cells.
Ensuring his face was hidden, he walked past cell after cell, checking each of them for the one he came seeking. Eventually, in almost the furthest cell down the corridor, he finally saw his brother.
It was a shocking sight, even when he thought he'd been prepared for it. Then again, he supposed nothing could prepare one for such a thing.
"Sirius," he hissed, through the bars. "Sirius, wake up."
Sirius blinked hazily at him, his eyes bloodshot and sore. His skin was pale, streaked with blood where he'd scratched himself. His clothes were threadbare and ruined, holes and tears littering the material.
"Regulus?"
Regulus nodded, tugging the cloak away from his face just enough for Sirius to see him properly.
Sirius only blinked at him. "They've finally sent me mad. You're dead. Am I dead?"
"You're not dead, though if you don't move, we might both end up so before the evening is over. Move away from the door."
Sirius frowned at him but did as he was bid, shifting slowly across the floor of the cell until he was pressed against the stone wall. Regulus flexed his arm, his wand shooting from it's holster into his hand.
"Bombarda," he muttered, wincing when the cell door clattered loudly as the lock fell away, blasted to pieces.
Ignoring the shrieks and shouts of the other prisoners in his ears, Regulus stepped into his brother's cell.
"Sirius, I know you're probably in all manner of pain, but I need you to work with me here," Regulus muttered, tugging Sirius to his feet. "We've gotta get out of here before the Dementors come."
Just the name of the creatures that policed the prison was enough to make his brother shiver violently, and Regulus wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but there wasn't any time. They slipped from the cell, Regulus carrying most of Sirius' weight as he half helped, half dragged his brother down the corridor.
The air was getting colder around them, and Regulus knew that it was going to be a fight to get out. Sand was certainly slipping through the timer at an alarming rate, he knew. They had to make it back out to the boat, and away from the island Azkaban was situated on.
Keeping that in mind, he gripped his wand once more.
"Expecto Patronum," he whispered, following it up twice more so that three Crups circled the two of them.
They were almost there, just a few more corridors to pass through. Sirius was lagging even more, tired from the small amount of walking he'd done. Regulus hated how his brother struggled, given the strength he'd always had.
Once upon a time, it had been Sirius that had always been the one to come to Regulus' aid.
A shimmer of a black cloak appeared in the corner of Regulus' eye as they finally reached the door, and he used his wand to direct one of his crups blindly in the direction, hoping it would be enough. Stumbling down the rocks, he held onto Sirius tightly practically throwing him into the moored boat waiting for them.
The rocks were already slippery, but the torrential rain pouring down around them really weren't helping matters. The two of them were drenched in minutes, but Regulus knew that he'd rather deal with the flu than the removal of his soul.
The mahogany coloured wood had darkened in the water, but it had stayed afloat which was almost more than Regulus could have hoped for at this point. With a few taps of his wand on the sides of the boat, it was moving across the choppy water.
With one hand still holding Sirius down in the boat, Regulus looked behind them at the prison. Dementors were swarming around the island, though they hadn't followed. He could only think it was the potion at work, and thanked Merlin again that he'd had the knowledge of it.
"Regulus?" Sirius mumbled, and he turned his attention back to his brother. "How are you alive?"
"Being dead fulfilled my needs at the time," Regulus admitted. "But you were innocent and… well. I couldn't just leave you there, could I?"
"Some might call it justice for the way I abandoned you," Sirius admitted. Without Regulus holding him down, he struggled into a sitting position, the small movements seeming to sap whatever energy he had left as he slumped to the side of the boat.
"A bit of a harsh punishment, no?" Regulus commented lightly.
As the boat got further away from the island, the rain lightened from torrential to more of a trickle, and even the night sky seemed brighter. The full moon hung in the sky, and Regulus noticed Sirius gazing up at it.
"Remus will be—" he cut himself off, shaking his head.
"I know what he is," Regulus said, rolling his eyes. "Credit me with some intelligence, won't you?"
"I've always know you were clever, Reg. That's why… it's why it never made sense, that you took the mark and then betrayed him. It never… it didn't make sense."
"I hope you know this doesn't mean I plan to join Dumbledore and his merry band."
"He's… Voldemort's gone, Reg. You won't need too."
Regulus snorted. "He'll come back. Don't tell me you don't know that, because I know how clever you are as well."
Sirius nodded. "I suppose. So you're just going to what? Stay neutral? You know you can't do that, Reg."
"I plan to stay dead," Regulus replied. "And you're going to have to do the same, Sirius. At least until we can prove you're innocent."
"How d'you know I was innocent?" Sirius asked after a long pause.
Regulus smiled grimly. "Because you might have abandoned me, Sirius, but I know that nothing would ever make you betray Potter. Not for anything."
Sirius, for the first time in Regulus' memory, was too speechless to reply.
…
"Uh. Nice place."
Regulus arched his eyebrows but didn't reply as he led Sirius into the small house. He'd hidden in plain sight, in the middle of an affordable muggle town with no other wizards present for miles.
It wasn't much, but it was his, and it was warm, and it was… home.
"You can stay as long as you need too," Regulus said. "And I'll help you anyway I can, to prove that you didn't betray James."
Regulus guided Sirius into a chair, seeing the relief on his face when he sunk into the comfort. The chair was worn and a little old, but it was certainly better than anything in Azkaban.
"Reg… Thank you."
Regulus nodded. "I'll make you a cup of tea. And then we'll talk about what to do next."
Sirius nodded.
By the time Regulus returned, Sirius was fast asleep, curled up in the arm chair. Regulus sighed but didn't wake him, instead just covered him up with a blanket.
They had time now.
They could only be thankful for that.
Written for:
Disney - T3. A sibling coming to their brother/sister's aid
Book Club - 5. Happy - Justice / Chair / Sand
Scamander - 25. Speechless
Film Festival - 8. Black
Marvel - 15. Siblings
Funfair - Jack O Lantern - Light it up - 6. Warm
Galleon - 24. Blood
Pumpkin Toss - Medium, 9. Regulus Black
Days of the month - 73. Thanksgiving - Being thankful for something/someone.
Autumn - 18. Rain
Colour - 7. Mahogany
Flowers - 7. Amaranthus - Innocence
Element - 6. Stifling
Bake a Cake - Vanilla Essence - Azkaban
Ravenclaw - 1. Clever
Star Chart - 8. Leonids Meteor Shower - Regulus Black
Religious Holidays/Events - 30. Kartik Purnima - Moon Gazing
History of Autumn - 14. A full moon
365. 264. Affordable
HPFC, Trick or Treat: Potter Family - 3. Relief