Disclaimer: No offense to the website, but if I were JKR and I owned Harry Potter, I wouldn't be bothering to post here.
"No," he says, and blinks.
The word feels strange on his lips. He wanders fleetingly when he last refused a command from — from anyone, really. Then he remembers where he is, and what he's just done, and breaks out into a cold sweat.
The Dark Lord raises an eyebrow — or what would be an eyebrow, if he had any hair. "Did I hear that correctly, Mr. Black?" His voice is soft and deadly.
Regulus isn't sure what madness has possessed him, but he knows that he's right, knows that his refusal is right, knows that if there's anything he's ever truly needed to do in his life, this is it. He needs to get out.
"No," he says again. "I can't — I won't — I can't! Please — I just — I don't want to do this anymore! I can't, I can't do it anymore — just — just let me leave, I promise I'll never tell anyone anything — just please —"
"Quiet, little Regulus," the Dark Lord says, coldly amused. You will have your wish. Did you not know? You can leave my forces any time you wish . . . and we can ensure that you will never tell anyone a thing . . . Bellatrix, would you do the honors?"
Regulus's mind flashes promptly to a Memory Charm — but no, they can be broken —
Oh God.
They're going to kill him.
"No," he says hoarsely, backing away from his cousin. "No." He bumps into the wall, and sidles along it, away from Bellatrix, but is met with a right angle. She has him cornered.
She's raising her wand, a cruel smile on her lips. This is a test for her, he realizes — to see where her loyalties truly lie —
"Please, Bella, no!" He's begging now, sliding down to a kneeling position on the floor, still pressing himself back against the wall as though he thinks he can go through it if he pushes hard enough.
You will be able to go through it when you're a ghost.
"Please . . ."
Sirius wouldn't beg.
The thought is a bizarre one, to strike him right now. Sirius is out of his life — he has no brother, he hasn't had a brother in years, not since he was thirteen.
But at the moment, he doesn't care.
He wonders if Sirius will even know he's dead. And if he does find out, whether he'll even care.
Sirius always did think he was a spineless idiot. This is just the end Sirius would have predicted for him — on the floor and begging for his life.
Suddenly, he is not afraid.
Slowly, he gets to his feet.
Bella looks surprised; she takes a step back and her eyes widen, but her hand remains steady.
Regulus feels winded, as if he's just run a race. He's half-slumped against the wall , breathing hard, but his gaze is steady and unblinking.
"Sirius was right," he whispers, voice wobbling but conveying undeniable certainty. "All along. Sirius was right."
Bella's face twists with rage; she raises the wand high above her head and brings it down, crying the deadly words for all to hear.
Green light flashes.
Voldemort smiles.
Bellatrix laughs, a sound to send shivers down the spine.
In the corner, Regulus Black slumps to the floor, eyes wide and unseeing.
There is no ghost.
A/N: I recently fell in love with Regulus Black. Well, not love — but I realized the possible scope in writing him and it made me squirm with delight. So here it is. Expect more Regulus in the future. Please review; reviews it make me feel very happy. I reply to them on my LiveJournal (the homepage link on my profile).