Chapter Fifty-Five
Regulus forced himself to calm down.
Walk.
Don't run.
Strode, as if with purpose, passing other Death Eaters that didn't even give him a second look, back down the corridor that led to the twelve doors, searching for the nearest exit. He could not be caught running. Not yet.
What did Pettigrew know?
What would he tell the Dark Lord?
These were questions he needed to be thinking rationally about.
In the immediate minutes, his mind had just cried out; "he knows!" "He knows!" "I'm dead!" "Run!" "Run!"
But the true extent of his betrayal was not revealed in those ten seconds with Pettigrew. He did not know about Lily Potter in the shadows. Or the horcruxes he hunted. Or his allegiance with Dumbledore.
For now, Regulus was just an idiot who, after receiving his first call to arms, had decided – hey, I don't really want to do this anymore. I shall just forgo my task and blow up the Hall of Prophecy – with all the subtly of a blasted Gryffindor – blowing my own chance at getting out of the Dark Lord's Circle alive in the process and be on my merry way but, hey, it was all worth it just so the Dark Lord didn't get his hands on a prophecy he, well, didn't really need in the first place.
His seeming idiocy and lack of restraint was comforting, at least, for others who would quickly come under scrutiny – for Lucius, for Severus – but the little that Pettigrew had seen was enough to sign Regulus' death sentence.
Why had he never considered this before? What he would do if Severus' blasted girlfriend was to show up during one of his missions. His excuses, his attempts at protecting her, had been just as idiotic as his, seeming, actions; why hadn't he just told Mulciber he had wanted to shag her, first, before they killed her, and then dragged her away? It wasn't as if others had not done so in the past.
But it was too late for intelligent thought, now.
Regulus was masked. Thankfully. It wouldn't take long for his master to figure it out, for the others to confirm his post when the battle concluded, but the anonymity in the meantime bought him precious time to get the fuck out of there.
He scrambled, almost breaking into a run, when he finally caught sight of a door that led to a side stairwell, a house-elf passageway, bursting through it and, only then, when he knew he wouldn't be seen did he allow himself to speed up. Descending the stairs briskly, stumbling over some of them, as his feet struggled to meet each step for he was desperate to take them two at a time.
Down and down, until he could go no further, and he burst through another door, finding himself in the kitchens. Empty. He tore through it, seeing the door that led to the grounds.
He burst out, eyes scanning the area, and saw nothing but he could hear the battle that still raged overhead in the Ministry.
Good. More distractions. Regulus needed all that he could get.
Regulus squeezed his eyes shut and when he tried to concentrate, tried to unravel the mess that had just happened in his mind, he heard the harsh pants of his own breathing coming out, evident lack of composure, or perhaps it was because now he was running. Running faster than he had ever done in his life. Running for his life.
By morning, he could be dead. Would be dead.
A masked Death Eater suddenly appeared in front of him, as if materialising from the shadows, just as he was preparing to disapparate.
"Regulus?"
Regulus' eyes widened, and the panic he had been attempting to get under control suddenly flared up tenfold, and he grabbed the other by the arms, yanking him back into the nearest alcove, his voice a hiss; "Severus! What are you doing here?"
"What is it? What happened?" Severus demanded, knowing something was wrong instantly, reaching up to yank his mask off.
"No! Leave it on!"
"Wha –"
"I'm dead!" Regulus hissed, trying to gather the thoughts he had just been having, trying to quickly impart as much information as he could to him, in the little time they had; "It's bad, it's really bad. Cover blown. Life on line. Witnesses and everything!"
"Calm down!" Severus hissed, sounding anything but calm himself; "Tell me what happened."
"There's no time! He could be coming here right now. And what the hell are you doing here? If he catches you, you're dead! We're both dead –"
"Stop rambling!"
Regulus drew in a breath, forcing himself to do as Severus said and calm down. What he said was valid, Pettigrew wouldn't have stayed behind until the battle concluded, he would have gone to the Dark Lord immediately. And either he would come to them directly – was he important enough to warrant that? – or they'd be getting a pretty nasty summons any second now.
He released the breath he'd drawn in, shakily, as Severus waited impatiently; "Listen. It was Pettigrew. And he knows nothing. For now, he thinks I just –", he was suddenly cackling, because this was so ludicrous he could do nothing else; "– that I just singlehandedly, destroyed the prophecy, blowing up the entire chamber in the process, and then murdered Mulciber. And then attempted to kill Pettigrew as well. That's it. Nothing else."
And then Regulus pulled himself free from Severus' grip, not realising how tight the hold they had on one another was until he did so; "That's all. So..." He made to disapparate.
"Regulus."
He didn't think he'd ever heard so much emotion in his friend's voice before and he glanced back, even though they couldn't see one another's faces.
Both could only see the masks.
But each knew what lay underneath. And Regulus briefly wondered if this was it, if this was the last time they'd see one another, but there was no time for sentimentality.
The only chance they both had was to get out of there. Now.
Regulus was about to say so.
And then the Dark Mark burned. Long and hard and the rage was apparent, even then.
Regulus released a breath, shaking his head, panic rising and his voice a harsh whisper; "Gotta go."
And then he was gone.
The battle was over.
The Death Eaters retreating as quickly as they had come.
Lily had taken cover, creeping quietly amongst the rubble left behind in the Hall of Prophecy, when the first of them had arrived. No doubt in response to the commotion that had unfolded. And she heard the voiced reactions to the one who lay dead only a few feet from the entrance; Mulciber, she had realised when the mask had been torn from his face.
He and Regulus had been friends.
He and Severus had been friends. The three of them running with one another, and several others, Lily remembered, when they had all been children back at Hogwarts.
But the arriving Death Eaters had barely had the chance to investigate; barely travelled more than four or five shelf widths into the room before they had all suddenly departed without a word.
Leaving in a brisk, steady stream until she was left alone once again.
Left to unravel the muddle and face the reality of all that had just happened.
Lily walked back into the entrance chamber in a daze.
Regulus Black had saved her life.
And, now, he was going to be killed. She knew there was no other outcome for it.
She could barely even muster up a reason for why it had happened, why his cover had been blown – yes, the prophecy. Right. He had helped her. He had joined her in her goal, destroying it, and had succeeded in keeping its contents from Voldemort. But, now, the price was going to be his life.
Lily felt sick.
"Lily!" Sirius was in front of her and she felt worse when she met his eyes.
Sirius' brother had saved her life and now he was going to die.
"Sirius," she whispered, shaking her head; "We…we have to get back to Headquarters. Now."
He didn't ask anything else, didn't get a chance, for she strode right by him. Not even waiting to see if he was behind her. Needing to get to Dumbledore, to get to someone, anyone, who could fix this.
But, she knew, there was nothing that anybody could possibly do to help Regulus Black now.
Regulus burst through the doors to Malfoy Manor, not even knocking.
There was no time for that.
"Malachi!"
"Regulus?" Narcissa stepped out from the drawing room, in a nightgown but still remarkably wide awake, considering the hour – waiting for Lucius – looking concerned; "What's wrong?"
"There's no time. Where's Malachi?"
"He's asleep –"
"Malachi!"
He tore up the stairs, no hesitation in his steps now, even as his cousin called up the stairs after him; hurrying up on his heels, panic in her voice, as she quickly realised something was very, very wrong.
"Where's Lucius?"
"He's fine!" Regulus shouted back, reaching the door to the guest room he knew Malachi frequented when he stayed there, and burst it open; his son was already out of bed, bleary eyed but obediently heading towards the door at the sound of his father's voice.
"Dad?"
Regulus seized him under the arms and turned, fleeing from the room.
There was no way he could leave his son behind. The Dark Lord would use him, use him to draw him out, and then he'd kill them both.
"Regulus!" Narcissa was still hurrying after him, the fear palpable in her voice, and then he remembered the cover; protect the innocent. Not just the spies. The innocent needed to be saved. Him coming here had the potential to make the Malfoys look as complicit in his actions as he; marking them for punishment, death if the Dark Lord felt particularly murderous about it all.
He turned, hoisting Malachi up onto his hip, the rehearsed words beginning before he had even completed the full 180-degree movement; "I'm sorry, Cissy. I'm not who you think I am."
Narcissa hesitated in her footsteps, meeting his eyes with a frown, but Regulus thought he could see the realisation in her eyes. The dots coming together. His defection becoming clear.
Lucius and Narcissa had been suspicious of him for a while. But neither had put voice to their doubts.
He couldn't let her speak them now. Couldn't let her confirm it.
She had to look innocent. She and Lucius.
Or Lucius would die with him. Maybe his cousin, too. More blood on his hands.
"It's okay. You'll understand soon."
"Regulus." Her voice was a whisper, with just as much emotion in it as Severus' had breathed out only minutes before.
"Bye, Cissy."
He ran.
The only sound in the mausoleum was the sound of the Dark Lord's boots on the ground.
His voice in the air.
A seeming reluctance from all others merely to breathe, lest they draw on his wrath for themselves.
They all knew how it worked. Regulus was not the first to defect.
Granted, this incident was a far more dramatic declaration of defiance than had even been demonstrated before. No one, even the ones who had opted to defect outright, have ever been so stupid before as to do so; to behave so brashly.
What the hell was Regulus thinking? Blowing up the Hall of Prophecy! Regulus had been almost manic with panic when he had relayed it to him, outside the building, as he had prepared to run and Severus was certain there was more to the story than what he had managed to tell him.
Regulus knew better than that. He was not an idiot. And yet what had led him to behave as such was a question that plagued him and Severus couldn't help but remember the conversation that they had had, merely hours before, when he had almost pleaded with his friend that the prophecy be kept from the Dark Lord's hands.
Was this why Regulus had acted so? Was the threat of the prophecy so great, had almost been delivered to their master, that he had ended up blowing his own cover in an attempt to conceal it – all because Severus had demanded it of him?
Severus forced the thoughts away; seeking blame for the current circumstances doing nothing to help the situation whatsoever.
Regulus' actions would be revealed, with time, when Severus saw him again.
He did not let himself consider any further the fleeting thought that, perhaps, he wouldn't.
"I have long believed –" the sinister glint in the Dark Lord's eyes belied the lazy drawl with which he spoke, "-that there has been a traitor amongst us."
The Dark Lord's movements were slow, precise, as he swept around the centre of the circle that had formed; all living Death Eaters present with the exception of one.
Regulus Black.
"Dumbledore's Order being far too aware of our movements, even seven years ago, when my intentions to hunt the Longbottoms became apparent. And so, I let them believe it was Potter. And, as expected, the old man's focus had been entirely upon them. So much so, that my mission was completed with ease or, would have been so, if not for the measures they, alone, sought to take to defy me."
Severus pushed all uneasiness he felt aside; as all charges that could be laid as his feet were being laid, instead, at Regulus'. Culpability was dangerous territory when trying to maintain control.
"The boy was foolish to believe I was unaware of it. His Foundation very easily giving himself away long before I had even returned to you. It was very evident that Regulus Black had turned away from us all."
Severus gathered his memories, all those that he would need, pushed them to the surface. Compartmentalising. Preparing himself. Bring the right ones to the surface. Lock the others away. Maintain composure. The Dark Lord could not be aware he was doing so.
"Though I did receive assurances –" the Dark Lord's eyes were suddenly on Severus; "- that this was not the case."
Severus tensed, preparing himself, but the onslaught didn't come.
Not yet.
"Your task is simple, my friends; find me this traitor. Return him to me. Alive, if you will, for I shall not grant the pleasure of his punishment upon any other than myself."
It would be slow. Regulus would suffer. And they would all watch.
"Go." He hissed, with a wave of the hand.
The Circle began to disperse.
"Oh, and my friends?"
All froze.
"Do make a good show of it, won't you?"
Silence.
And then there were murmurs. Chuckles. Slowly nodding heads.
They made their departure.
Severus fell into step behind Lucius.
"Not. You. Severus."
Severus' blood ran cold. But he was expecting this. He knew it would come. He was Regulus' closest friend. He had vouched for him; staked his life against the other's. And, perhaps more condemningly, he was also the Dark Lord's spy within the Order, within Hogwarts, and if his master believed that Regulus had been the spy within his own circle, that it was he who had relayed all the details that Severus, himself, had done so to the Headmaster, then Severus had done the Dark Lord a most gross disservice.
Even if not a traitor himself, if he could somehow manage to maintain his composure, his own cover, he had most definitely fallen short in his duties as the Dark Lord's eyes and ears upon Dumbledore.
It was very likely he would not survive to see the dawn.
"Well, Severus?"
The Dark Lord's attention was entirely upon him, now that they were alone; the atmosphere so still, so silent, that the sounds of Nagini slithering beyond his line of vision was all that could be heard when the Dark Lord ceased to speak.
"I can offer you no excuses, my Lord. My failings are…most inexplicable. Even to myself."
"Ah. Then you deny any complicity in Regulus' actions."
"Regulus' actions were foolish, my master. Most brash. Not something I would expect even from the most imbecilic of defectors."
Perhaps he was letting his own fury at the situation shine through a little bit. But it would do no harm. In this case, it may even add plausibility to his arguments.
The Dark Lord gave a low chuckle; "Fallen from your esteem so quickly, Severus?"
"He deceived me, my Lord. A friend."
"Wounded pride, I sense."
"Yes."
"And so easily deceived. Do tell me, Severus, how is it that I am supposed to put my own faith in someone so easily fooled by a laugh, a smile, whose main purpose within my Circle is to deceive and fool, arguably, one of the most accomplished wizards of our age?"
Severus dipped his head; "The old man has taken me into his own circle of trust, my Lord."
"Not so much so that he was willing to reveal to you that there was another within ours." The Dark Lord's eyes blackened, suddenly, and then bore right into him; "Or did he?"
Severus almost stumbled backwards under the full force of the assault, as his memories were suddenly torn forth to the surface of his mind but he was ready. Had been preparing himself for it since the moment Regulus had spoken the words to him. But the Dark Lord's attack was brutal, punishing, and his mind felt like it was going to combust under the pressure as memory after memory came forth, as if in a blur. So many of them. All of himself and Regulus.
Himself and Regulus at the Foundation.
Himself and Regulus at home.
At functions and parties.
Together during Christmases at Malfoy Manor.
All flittering by; their friendship, their relationship laid bare for their master to see. But not a single instance of treacherous discussions, of questionable actions came forth; locked away in the deepest recesses of Severus' mind. The box where he kept them all; his own deceit and the complicity of those who had helped him. Regulus. Lucius. Lily was in there too. And his most questionable discussions with Dumbledore. All locked away in that little corner, which the Dark Lord had no idea existed; unable to tap upon it.
Yet.
Severus flinched, hand coming instinctively up to grasp at the side of his head, when the Dark Lord ripped himself free from his mind, violently, leaving him disorientated and unsteady in the aftermath.
It took him only seconds to recover.
And then he met the Dark Lord's eyes once again. Preparing himself. Ready for the next attack.
The Dark Lord's gaze bore back at him, his expression contemplative.
Then the red eyes glinted.
"Surely you had suspicions, Severus, for your memories reveal a camaraderie which often belies a deeper understanding, a trust one might say, in one another. An amity which, perhaps, may even supersede one's own politics. Even one's own ambitions. Young Regulus never confided in the man to whom he clearly considers himself…family?"
"He did not, my Lord. If Regulus did consider himself as such, our relationship evidently did not supersede his own aspirations. But then, history has demonstrated that the Blacks are known to be more than willing to forsake even family if it means accomplishment in their own desires and endeavours. Loyalty is not something the family can justifiably boast."
The Dark Lord tilted his chin down, a slow smile spreading; "You dare to speak of them in such a way, Severus? The ancient and most noble house?"
"I do. My own experiences, particularly this most recent one, only fortifies my assessment."
The Dark Lord made a grumbling sound, low in his chest; a laugh. And then it lengthened, becoming an approving chuckle; "You have mettle, Severus. I grant you that." The grumbled laughter continued.
Severus allowed his lips to twitch, when the Dark Lord seemed to expect him to share in the enjoyment.
Barely a minute and then the Dark Lord's amusement died away and he stared at him, once again, with that glint in his eyes that told Severus this wasn't over.
"And yet I find myself…disappointed in you. Most disappointed," and the Dark Lord's tone seemed to suggest that he truly was; "One of my most promising, my most well thought of and you have failed in the task to which you have so devoted yourself to, even for the past seven years, even when others within this very Circle sought to forget my legacy."
Severus lowered himself, somewhat; "I can do nothing but plead your forgiveness, my Lord. And your leniency."
"Which you know better than to do."
"Yes."
"Even if I should grant you either, Severus, there is still an unresolved matter which needs to be addressed and I know you are too gifted in your cognizance to have doubts as to what the consequences are to be."
Severus met his eyes, as the Dark Lord went on.
"I asked you if you were willing to stake your life against that of Regulus Black's and you conceded without hesitation. Your hindsight in the matter now is irrelevant. Because, Severus – and I'm sure you are aware – that when you make a deal with the devil sooner or later…he will come to collect."
The Dark Lord tilted his head to the side, his voice softening as he spoke, making Severus' hairs stand on end with the fear that suddenly gripped him because, yes, he did know. He knew very well. Words were not going to be enough; "And yet, I regret it."
With a sigh, the Dark Lord lifted his wand, pointed it in Severus' direction;
"Crucio!"
"We have to do something!"
"I'm afraid there is very little we can do for Regulus Black now."
Lily stood before her old Headmaster, desperation gripping her; "But he did it to save me! We can't just do nothing, Professor; they'll kill him!"
"As Mr Black was well aware when he opted to draw his wand on those within his own circle. And, as much as I may wish to offer my assistance to him, there is nothing that can be done at the present moment that will do so. For now, the boy's best chance is to go underground until tensions simmer."
"You have to do something now!" Sirius snapped; "That's my brother, Dumbledore!"
"We shall conduct our own, discreet, search as soon as we are able. No doubt Death Eaters are watching our every move, expecting that we may attempt to retrieve him, therefore we must proceed cautiously. As things stand now, the Order remains engaged with reports of attacks within the villages."
"Attacks?" Lily frowned.
"Death Eaters; no doubt conducting a searching of their own."
"Fuck this; if you won't do anything then I'm going after him myself!" Sirius announced, furiously, storming from the room.
And it was only then that Lily allowed herself to address the other matter that had been on her mind, turning back to Dumbledore urgently; "Professor, what about Severus?"
Dumbledore met her eyes, an almost coolness in them when he did.
"Surely…surely this will affect him, too?"
"Indeed it will, Lily. I will not lie to you; Severus' situation at the moment is incredibly grave."
"Then we have to do something!"
"And what would you suggest?"
"I don't know…we could go and…and help him? Or get a message to him – warn him –" Even to her own ears it sounded ridiculous.
"He no doubt is already aware of the circumstances and is probably with his old master as we speak. Any attempts by the Order, by yourself or, especially, by me would only solve to put him in even greater danger than he already finds himself. His connection to Regulus Black, alone, is incriminatory enough at the present moment and any communication between himself and the Order at this time will only serve to weaken his chances of survival."
Lily felt her panic increasing, Dumbledore's words only confirming her fear that it was his life that was at stake this very moment and to do nothing was incomprehensible in such a case; "But he's a double agent, isn't he? Voldemort knows that! He'd expect you to be concerned –"
"No, Lily. I have conceded to your demands once already this night and will not do so again. In this matter, my resolve is set and I ask that you have faith in Severus' abilities to handle his own fate. He has demonstrated an uncanny aptitude at conversing his way out of difficult situations in the past, which is promising for him, and shows a capability in the role which has, so far, never before been achieved. Indeed, Severus' skills of deception far exceed those of Regulus Black's and we do not want to damage any credibility he may be able to establish by acting recklessly which, I know in this case, is driven, not by rationality but by something quite the opposite. And I urge yourself and Severus to think carefully in the future – should there be one – when you find yourselves driven to such extreme measures by said feelings."
Lily almost gaped at the virtual slap down her old Headmaster had just given her.
"Now." Dumbledore stood, looking tetchier than Lily had ever seen him – she had rarely seen anything but the warm, grandfather-like persona he presented to the children of Hogwarts; "It is incredibly late. And yet, I find there is still much to be done. As such, I'm afraid I must bid you farewell."
Lily met his eyes, silently, lowering them and giving a small nod.
Even as her stomach twisted and churned with the thoughts and feelings that plagued her. The guilt, knowing that is was her own actions and, yes, as Dumbledore had just implied, her refusal to back down and let things play out without her own interference, that had led them to this point.
She had demanded she go to the Department of Mysteries that night and it was she that had then gone on to the Hall of Prophecy by herself, forcing Regulus Black's hand upon encountering her. Even when Dumbledore had told her not to. Even when she knew Severus would have said the same, had she asked his opinion of it.
And, now, Regulus Black was hunted and God knows what Severus was going to have to endure as a result.
Death?
Lily felt her breath catch at the thought, eyes squeezing shut.
Lily heard a sigh and then felt a hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes opened, meeting Dumbledore's once again, and now the familiar warmth was back as he regarded her; "Have faith, Lily. As I said, Severus has endured a great deal of perilous circumstances before and, so far, has managed to escape them all relatively unscathed. And, while I may be overstepping boundaries by saying so, I have a feeling that, at the moment, Severus is aware that he has…" Dumbledore smiled; "Well, a great deal more to live for now than he has done in the past."
Lily met his eyes and they twinkled. She gave him a small smile, even as her own eyes watered, and nodded, lowering them as she did.
Dumbledore made a small laugh and when she looked back at him he was still smiling; "Good night, Lily."
"Good night, Professor."
Lily didn't get far.
Merely steps from Headquarters and a quick disaparate back to the house, before Dumbledore's patronus found her once again, calling she and all available Order members back to the field.
Location; The Aurelius Foundation.
She went immediately.
In the middle of the night, the chances of there being victims inside the building were small but it was still possible. Further, there was a chance Regulus Black may have made a stopover there, or perhaps even Severus, if there was any particularly damning evidence within the building that they needed to gather or destroy.
If that were the case, neither were present now.
The only living beings there was that of Death Eaters and Order members and the purpose of the Death Eaters was simple; destroy the building.
Some engaged them in the darkness; a 'crucio' fired in the night, a 'sectumsempra'.
But, upon realising the goals of their opponents, that there was no threat of civilian casualties, the Order fell back; stood watching amongst the trees on the outskirts as the Death Eaters carried on with their objective.
Screams and screeches, not of pain, but of relish reached their ears; savage and unrestrained. The unmistakable laughter of Bellatrix Black filling the air. The laughter and cries of other Death Eaters as they stormed the building; brutal and determined in their movements.
'Confringos' blasting out objects from the windows with flash of lights and a smash as the glass gave way.
The flashes of lights continued, soaring between window frames, coming in and out of her line of vision as they fired forth within the building. Further items hurled from the heights, landing with a crash onto the decking outside.
It seemed to go on forever until, finally, the Death Eaters emerged once more; but they weren't done.
Each of them lining up, one by one, side by side, raising their wand as if it were a well-rehearsed ritual, and light shot forth from each of them when all stood in place, in almost perfect synchronisation; and, as they collided with the building, the shockwave was enough to send even the Order members standing in the distance to the ground under the force of it, as a ball of fire rumbled, expanded and climbed higher into the air, blasting everything within its vicinity to nothingness.
Manic laughter met her ears once again. Jeers. Cries of devotion to 'the Dark Lord'. Along with others such as 'burn Regulus Black'.
And then another light fired forth and, above the ruins of the Foundation, the spectre of a skull appeared, a snake slithering from its mouth.