2. Voldemort

Regulus woke with a start, remembering that today was the day he went back to Hogwarts. He hurriedly threw on his clothes and grabbed his trunk but when he looked at his clock, he saw that it was only six in the morning. He put his luggage back down and sat on his bed waiting for the knock on his door that meant Kreacher had made breakfast.

It soon came and Regulus slowly made his way back down the carpeted stairs and into the kitchen to eat his food before his parents woke. He hated the awkward silence that always came when he was with his family. He ate fast and carried his plate to the sink for Kreacher to clean later. He decided to give another go at the herbology homework so he went upstairs only to find his parents arguing again, but this time it wasn't about Sirius. He heard something about Voldemort and how he was leading an uprising for purebloods. When Regulus snuck closer to the door, the talking stopped and the door flew open. His fathers furious face was inches from his own.

"Get back downstairs! Since when do you perceive you have the right to eavesdrop on your parents' private conversations?" and he slammed the door.

Regulus did as he was told and took his things downstairs. He though it odd and a little unnerving that his father would yell at him like that. Not because he was ever nice to him, but because it was very rare that Regulus' father lose his composure. It must have been something serious for him to be so sensitive about the issue. He knew his family was all for the purification of the wizarding world, but something now must have changed. They never spoke of him with fear or anxiety like he heard them use when they were talking earlier.

When he got to the living room, he sat down next to the window with his herbology work and started to try and rework some of his answers. By the time his parents finally came downstairs, it was time to go and he thought he had at least scrapped an Acceptable on his homework. He shoved his parchment back in the book and put it in his trunk. He went to say goodbye to his mother and she gave him some money for the year and went back into the kitchen. No hug or kiss, as was all the greetings a partings in his family. He went to tell his father he was ready when he turned around and snapped at him.

"Where are your things? If you make me late again today you will regret it." said Regulus' father.

"They're in the living room, I just have to g-"

"Then why are you still standing here giving me excuses? Go get them."

And with that, his father strode out of the room towards the den. Regulus grabbed his trunk and cloak and went to meet his father. When he got there, he noticed just how unusually on edge he was. He had a very rigid look on his face and he seemed to be rather pale. He kept looking around nervously which was very uncharacteristic of him.

"I'm ready" Regulus said.

"About time. Hold on. I don't want you to fall away from me while we're apparating and have to waste time looking for you."

Before Regulus could even tell his father he was ready, they apparated. Regulus held tightly and then suddenly, the busy platform of nine and three quarters appeared in front of him. He looked around and saw the smoke rising from the trains smoke stack and all the children with their parents. He went to turn around, but as he was turning he heard a loud pop and his father was gone again.

A little saddened (but not surprised) that his father didn't even give his emotionless, formal goodbye, he picked up his luggage and proceeded to board the train. He found an open room and settled his things on the top rack and sat next to the window. He watched as the other children kissed their parents goodbye and all the families stood together talking. He again felt that emptiness inside him that he knew could only be filled by family. Family that he would never have.

A minute or two later, some of his school friends joined him in his compartment. Damien and Amelia showed up wearing their school robes and both sporting their houses scarves; a green woven one with a serpent on the end. Of course, all the Blacks had been Slytherin except for Sirius. Sirius was not a regular Black, though…

Regulus listened as he heard about their vacations and all the fun their families had as they all gathered. He heard about the magical snowball fight Damien had with his little brother and about how Amelia tried muggle skiing for the first time. His mind was elsewhere though. How was this Voldemort powerful enough to scare his father? He heard about him before and how he wanted to "purify the wizarding world", but he had never seen anyone evoke such a reaction from his father, let alone by just talking about him. He decided to ask his friends and see if they knew anything more about him.

"Hey, guys, what do you think of this fellow Voldemort?"

"I don't like him. I mean, anyone who even comes up with a plan as sick as that can't be that great." said Damien.

Amelia and Damien talked about that for a moment until Regulus interrupted them.

"Yes, but I can't help but be a little impressed by the amount of respect he is getting already…" said Regulus.

"Respect and fear are two different things. I've hear rumors of some of the things he has done. None of them I wish to repeat." said Amelia.

The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was spent talking about this figure who was supposedly going to cleanse the wizarding world of muggle-borns. Regulus wasn't sure if he liked this idea very much, but he did admire him a little. Anyone who could command such respect had to have great power. And with great power came respect. Something Regulus always wanted…

The train whistle blew, which meant that they were nearing the station. Regulus took his school clothes from his trunk and went to go change. He found an unoccupied compartment and changed as quickly as he could. After he was changed, as he walked back to his friends compartment he passed all the other compartments with the other children in them. They all seemed a little on edge and not quite as happy or loud as they usually are. He could even swear that as he walked, he heard people talking about Voldemort, but then Regulus just decided he was imagining things and walked quietly back to his friends.

When he got back to his compartment, he looked out the window right beside his seat and noticed just how gloomy and downcast it was outside. Almost as though even the weather knew something wasn't right with this whole Voldemort situation…