2. Welcome to the Family

Kenwood fell with a sickening thud and hit the floor, a surprised expression still on his face.

He killed him… Regulus just killed a man… He realized this and ran. Ran as fast as he could out the door, to the elevator and out past the fountain. Once he got onto the streets, he found a deserted alleyway and apparated home. Then it hit him. He just killed a man… Everyone would know it was him too. He was the only one who stayed after. He was the one who gave the note to the security guard for the dead Kenwood they would find on the 4th floor.

He walked back up to his door and strode inside, saying nothing to his family. Just packing enough clothes and money to last until he could find Voldemort again. He ran down the stairs and heard his mother and father talking in the kitchen. He saw Kreacher sweeping up on the opposite side of the room. For once, he would have given anything to stay in this house but he knew he couldn't. He went straight for the door, yanked it open, and left. He never saw his family or home again.

He wandered for a day, staying in the shadows and spending most of his time at a pub down Knockturn Alley where ministry news didn't spread. While there, another death eater walked in. What luck! He only knew the man by his voice, but went directly up to him and told him who he was and to take him to Voldemort. He directed Regulus to Voldemorts current hideout. Voldemort heard what he had done and was looking to shelter him. Not for his own sake, but because Voldemort didn't want him talking to the Aurors if they caught up with him. Was this the kind of family he wanted?

When they got to the old house Voldemort was hiding out in, he was waiting for him, sitting in the corner of what used to be the old kitchen of the house. He could tell it was the kitchen by the practically ancient rusty gas oven and the scattered pots and pans all over. When he got farther into the room, Voldemort spoke.

"Well done, my servant. You showed true loyalty to your master. Although it could have been more stealthy and cleaner, no one can argue with the results. Come here, I will give you what you've been after for all this time. Your new family."

Regulus stepped forward, almost numbly. Did he even care anymore? His life was over. He was branded a murderer. If he was ever seen in public again he would be sent to Azkaban for life. That is, if he wasn't killed on the spot.

He walked forward and faced Voldemort for the first time. This is what he wanted for so long, but yet, he didn't feel any less empty. In fact, he felt totally cold to the world. He realized that he had given up his life, his friends, for a man that only wanted him to murder and kill innocent people. But what did he have left? This was the only person who could accept him now.

"Hold out your right arm." demanded Voldemort.

Regulus did as he was told and held out his arm. Voldemort performed an incantation and a skull and snake appeared on his arm.

"What's that?"

"Just think of this as your new family crest." replied Voldemort snidely.

Regulus slowly massaged the new mark on his arm wondering what it meant, when Voldemort spoke out again.

"Now, I have a new mission for you. Seeing as you have proven that you are not afraid to kill, I have someone I need… disposed of. It was a man that you probably once knew. He was in your same house and even your same year. He has voiced out against me. I don't like that."

"What's his name?" asked Regulus coldly.

"Damien Marksby."

"Wha… What? Why him?"

"Do not question me. Just do it by the weeks end. If you fail, I advise you not to return here. Your welcoming would be… most unpleasant."

Regulus left the room in a total state of shock.

Would Regulus really kill his old best friend? He had to. It would mean power and respect the likes of which had never been known to him. He steeled his will and started to figure out how he could possibly sneak into Damiens' house. Especially when the whole wizarding community was after him. He went up the creaky, ancient stairs. He found a room and put his things beside his bed. His new home.

He though about what he had to do constantly. It was haunting him. He didn't want to, but it was either his life or Damiens.

He decided he would do it. He would have to do it at night. It would be too risky in the day. He decided that he would use a disillusionment charm and sneak to his house. When he got there, he would sneak into the house through a window or door and kill Damien as quickly and quietly as he could.

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Night came, and Regulus was prepared. He cast the disillusionment charm and prepared himself to leave. He got together his thought and reassured himself one more time that he could do it. He walked out behind the hideout and apparated to the woods out behind of Damiens house, landing near a large old oak tree probably close to one-hundred years old. It would be easy to get to Damien once inside the house because his house, unlike Regulus', wasn't very big. He slowly and stealthily made his way towards the house. When e got right up next to the house, he pressed himself up against the window and sat.

Regulus was now shaking uncontrollably. He looked up through the window. Damien was sitting in a low, comfortable looking chair facing the television set he had against the back wall in his den. Perfect position for a strike. He would never know what hit him.

Regulus got up to walk towards the door. He lifted his hand to put on the door handle.

What was he doing? He was seconds away from killing his friend. From literally stabbing him in the back. Was he so much of a coward now that he could not even face him?

No, he was a Black and he would not stoop to being someone's lackey. If it came to down to Regulus' life or Damiens', Regulus would stand up and be a man for once and face what he got himself into. He realized that he didn't need power or respect, he just needed to be understood and to be loved. Two things which he did not have now because of his own mistakes and two things he could never get while he was with Voldemort.

Regulus turned around and walked back into the woods. He realized that the only way he would be able to feel full again would be to stop being a death eater. As Dumbledore tried to warn him before, though, it was not that simple. If he said he wanted to quit, Voldemort would kill him on the spot. He made the decision that, if it killed him, he would rid the world of Voldemort and his followers.

It was at that moment that Regulus Black finally gained his own respect.