For Katie, who forces me to believe that someday I might good enough. Thank you for dreaming big enough for the both of us.

For Tim, my beta, who will debate with me about my grammar until the world ends or J.K. gives me rights to her characters, whichever comes first. xD Thanks for putting up with me.

For Worm and Sweet, who indirectly motivated me to write a fanfic, whether they know it or not.

"I cannot."

"Why not?" Severus hissed, leaning forward in his chair. "You said he meant nothing to you!"

"He-" The young man paused and looked away. "He doesn't."

"Liar," Severus spat.

"What would you do?" The younger man asked helplessly, drifting his gaze to the dark carpet below.

Severus hesitated. "I'd kill him."

This time it was Regulus who smirked, and whispered, "Liar." A cold, mirthless laugh escaped his lips. "You've never killed, Severus. Why would you start now?"

"The Dark Lord does not doubt my loyalty. He has never felt the need to test me with such instructions."

"What if he had?" Regulus shot. "What if it'd been you who'd been asked to kill him?"

Severus stared back defiantly, eyes glittering coldly. He said nothing.

"You wouldn't kill him..." Regulus began softly.

Severus' eyes narrowed suddenly. "Have you forgotten that the little piece of filth tried to KILL ME?!" He roared. He was also aware that he was on his feet, though he hadn't any recollection of standing. "He would have had me die at the hands of one who had no choice in the matter! He made my time at Hogwarts miserable! It's because of him that I owe Potter a life! He damned me to this miserable life!"

Severus, upon realizing that he'd been shouting into the face of the other, froze for a moment and then stepped backward, dropping himself back into his chair. "He deserves to die," he added maliciously, shifting his gaze to the dying fire in the corner of the room.

"You wouldn't kill him..." Regulus repeated with a tiny smirk. "No matter what he's done to you..." He watched the eyes of the elder carefully, and the slightest shift in expression told him that it was true. He gave a hollow laugh. "We aren't so different, you and I, Severus. We both share a profound hatred for the same man, yet neither of us would kill him, even if our lives depended upon it."

Severus made no motion to reply, but his eyes softened as the fire died altogether. The pair of gentlemen sat, bathed in moonlight, completely silent for a few moments.

Then Regulus spoke again, more earnestly this time. "We don't belong here, Severus. We chose the wrong side! Don't you see? We don't have-"

"You chose the wrong side," Severus corrected furiously, fixing his gaze back upon the young man. "I know where my loyalties lie. I believe in the cause that we are fighting for. I know-"

"You blinded FOOL!" Regulus exploded. "Do you really know where your loyalties lie? You have placed them in the hands of a murderous terrorist, not in those of some political radical! Our goals are not to be accomplished by noble dueling, as we thought, but by way of cold-blooded murder! The Dark Lord will destroy anyone who disagrees with his means, including any one of his own! How long until you are instructed to kill, Severus?"

"So, you're willing to just throw it all away for someone you never loved- never cared about?!" Severus sputtered wordlessly for a moment, before demanding furiously, "Why?"

A sad gleam entered the eyes of the younger, and he merely replied, "Never is a long time, Severus..."

Severus watched Regulus' eyes carefully, and the truth hit him like a wave of cold water. It was true. Regulus had actually cared for the man that he'd once called 'brother'. The bond, however it had been stretched, somehow remained unbroken. Somehow, this faithful, radical Slytherin cared for the piece of Gryffindor filth...

"So this is how it is?" Severus asked dejectedly. When Regulus made no reply, Severus quietly reminded him of the consequences.

"You will pay with your life."

"I know."

"Is he really worth that?"

"A hundred times over..." Regulus replied, looking away and blinking back tears.

"Your sacrifice will be in vain," Severus told him. "Sirius will never even know of it. He will dismiss your death as cowardice. He will refuse to give you the respect of showing up to your burial. You will always be remembered as one who served and disobeyed the Dark Lord-- a traitor to both sides. Sirius will hate you, even in your death."

"I have no doubt."

"Then why?"

"Because I must. Because this-- this life is wrong. Because Sirius was right about me. Sirius was right about the Dark Lord and the entire anti-muggle movement. Right about everything. And for that..." Regulus returned his gaze and said pointedly, "For that, he deserves to live."

Severus stared into the traitor's eyes for quite some time, his own eyes boring into them, searching desperately for any sign of a lie. There wasn't any. He couldn't have known, that in a week's time, he'd put himself into the same position. Couldn't ever have guessed that his hardened heart would break so swiftly. Could never have fathomed that he'd feel exactly the same way before long. For now, Regulus was the traitor. After what seemed like ages, Severus picked himself up from his chair and regarded Regulus coldly for the last time.

"Fool..." he muttered quietly. And with that, he swept from the room and was gone.