Regulus Black and the Necklace of Slytherin
Disclaimer: No, I am in fact not J.K. Rowling and therefore this story is based on pure speculation and most things in it belong to her. The only things I do happen to own are the characters you do not recognize and some of the plot. If my speculation is right, then I don't even own that...so...I own nothing.
A/N- This is my first non-L/J fanfiction. I'm trying to break out of my pattern and do something a little different. Lily and James will have minor roles in this fic but this is the story of Regulus Black and his struggles as a mislead Death Eater.
Full Summary: Who is the R.A.B? Regulus Black was more than just some cowardly Death Eater like his brother thought. Before his bittersweet death, he struggled to learn the differences between good and evil, cowardice and nobility & the truth and lies. Lies that shaped his whole, flawed being... As he attempts to do what he feels is right, his inter turmoil grows stronger until he himself can no longer deduce where his own loyalities lie...Let alone the important loyalities of others... Contains HBP spoilers and speculation.
Chapter One: The Death Eater's Curse
A young man, barely peaking to the age of seventeen, stood in front of his newly christened master. He was nervous; trembling with fear but he tried to conceal it as a tall, thin man stooped over him, dwarfing his height.
"I see you have finally come to join me," the man said casually, his red eyes staring into the young man's faint ones.
All he could bring himself to do was nod in response.
They say he's got it right, he thought, trying to put himself at ease, They think he's got good principles to say that muggleborns aren't worthy of us pure-bloods. Another thought flashed in his mind and seemed to put any sense of doubt in his mind to rest.
They'll be proud. A flicker of a smile appeared on his naive face. They will be proud beyond all belief.
And with that Regulus Black bowed humbly at the Dark Lord and spoke.
"I'm here to provide you with any assistance I can be useful for."
"Your intentions?" he questioned him, as though he could read Regulus' mind.
"Only to serve you, my Lord," he replied truthfully. He was fresh out of Hogwarts and had no intentions of anything to speak of. His only ambition was to uphold the family honor, which his brother had never done in any respects, as far as his parents were concerned. He had no choice but to try and make them proud. They had no faith in or use for those who did not live up to the Black name or do as they were told.
"Very well then," he said coldly, "Hold out your arm so Avery can mark you."
Mark me? Regulus suddenly felt very confused. Severus had never mentioned anything about 'marking.'
"It'll only hurt for a bit," a man Regulus supposed was Avery murmured to him with a twisted little smile on his face while he rolled up Regulus' left sleeve.
He was taken aback as he saw an iron hot brander coming towards the upper arm that Avery had just exposed. But he did not move away. He had family honor in mind and it wasn't going away.
It was the only thing he could think of to keep himself from screaming as the mark was branded hotly into his helpless, uncovered arm.