Chapter One Hundred-Sixteen
A few days after his trip to Diagon Alley, Regulus was in his bedroom back at Grimmauld Place, waiting and wondering if the owner of the apothecary would have procured the basilisk venom by the time he returned in three days. The whole week had been filled with anxiety on his part, and he hoped he had been successful. Judging by the state of things, Voldemort seemed to be gaining power by the day, and Regulus didn't know how much longer he could take being a spy. He could feel his life wavering on the line between safety and condemnation.
It was true that Dumbledore had been satisfied with his work in Knockturn Alley that day, but Regulus hadn't been in contact with the headmaster since that evening. He had nothing new to report, and Dumbledore hadn't called on him.
In his frustration, Regulus stopped pacing and flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling for several long minutes. He could hear the ticking of the clock on his desk nearby, and his eyes drifted to the object, watching as the second hand rotated agonizingly slowly around the face. He felt his eyelids growing heavy in his boredom and was just above to slip into sleep when a jolt from the Dark Mark alerted him.
Sitting bolt-upright in bed, Regulus grabbed at the mark in pain. He hissed and stood, taking his cloak from its place draped over the desk's chair and threw it around himself. He reached for his mask and black robe and Disapparated.
It wouldn't do to keep his master waiting.
Regulus pulled on his mask and robe, concealing his identity among all the others, identically dressed. He took his place in the back, being one of the youngest Death Eaters.
When everyone had arrived, Voldemort stood in the center of the circle and greeted them, and Regulus listened as the Dark Lord went on about his usual claims to take over the world and whatnot. All these pointless words were simply meant to rally his followers, so Regulus didn't take much interest in them. They were nearly the same every time.
What followed would be plans worth taking note of, so Regulus focused his attention on Voldemort as the evil wizard continued.
"Yes, we have come very far," Voldemort was saying, "but the question begs - Are you all truly faithful followers? The time has come when your loyalty will be tested. Victory is on the cusp. Surely you all wish to be present to celebrate it with me?"
Everyone was nodding and murmuring their agreement, and Regulus played along, but suddenly, Voldemort's voice interrupted, cold and angry, "But I have reason to believe you are not all so loyal... or that you haven't all been completely honest, at least. Regulus Black, why don't you step forward?"
For a second, Regulus thought he had misheard. The Dark Lord's voice echoed in his ears, and realization struck him. He felt his stomach clench and hoped he could muster up enough courage and cunning to evade Voldemort's suspicion. Steeling himself, he stepped forward through the ranks, ignoring the whispers around him and came to stand in front of his lord.
He bowed and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robe. "Master," he murmured.
"You may stand and face me like a proper wizard," Voldemort instructed.
Regulus didn't say anything, but nodded and did as asked. As he gazed into Voldemort's reddish eyes, he tried his best to keep his composure calm and collected. Voldemort stared straight into Regulus's eyes, and a moment later, Regulus felt a push on his mind. Putting his Occlumency into action, Regulus kept from the Dark Lord what he most likely wanted to see. The probing continued for several minutes, and Regulus began to feel his ability to keep the Dark Lord out waver. Suddenly, the memory of his recent trip to Knockturn Alley played out, and Regulus tried not to cringe and cry out.
Finally, Voldemort retracted and surveyed Regulus. He seemed too cool and relaxed for Regulus to believe it real.
"So," Voldemort eventually stated, "you were in Knockturn Alley trying to procure basilisk venom just a few days ago. A most interesting thing to be doing, don't you think? One might wonder why," he cut in sharply, "you would be needing such a thing, unless you have been up to something you shouldn't be."
Regulus didn't say anything.
"And using Polyjuice to hide your identity to top that... I can understand not wishing to be caught by the Aurors or one of Dumbledore's little friends, but surely visiting a place like Knockturn Alley wouldn't make such a thing necessary? What have you been hiding from me, Regulus Black?"
"Nothing, my master," Regulus lied through his teeth.
"Lies!" Voldemort hissed, now letting his rage show. "You were foolish enough to get caught by one of my spies, and you cannot deny what you were doing in Knockturn Alley. I never asked you to procure basilisk venom for me, so you have no business doing so. This is not the only time you have done something behind my back. Does stealing something from your cousin sound familiar?"
Regulus felt his insides turn to ice. Without realizing what he was doing, he frantically searched the gathered crowd of Death Eaters for Bellatrix and Lucius, but couldn't tell them apart from anyone else.
Narcissa hadn't kept his secret after all!
"Bella was foolish to have told you anything... or to have told anyone for that matter," Voldemort continued, glaring at the Death Eater who had to be Bellatrix. "Regardless, your story is feeble. I intend to find out what else you have been doing, and if you have indeed done so, you have ruined something I've worked years on doing. Whether or not that it the case, you wouldn't be here to know it!"
Regulus wanted to run, to disappear. He tried, in vain, to Disapparate, but he knew it was useless. He resorted to the last thing he could do. He fell to his knees, prostrate in front of Voldemort, and begged.
"Please, my lord! I swear to you - I have only been loyal to you! What I've done, I've done because I thought it best to protect you and in your best interests! I'm sorry that I did it behind your back, but my first thoughts were always of you!"
"Lies! All lies!" Voldemort bellowed. "Crucio!"
Regulus now fell all the way to the ground, his body shaking in uncontrollable pain. After Voldemort ended the curse, Regulus's body was left twitching, and he gazed at those around him. Bellatrix had removed her mask and stepped closer to him.
Kneeling next to him, Bellatrix whispered, "You disappoint me, cousin. And here I trusted you."
She stood again and pointed her wand at Regulus, not a hint of sorrow on her features as she hit him with the Cruciatus. She held it even longer than Voldemort, and when she finally relented, Regulus thought he must have lost his mind. Thoughts weren't coming as clearly anymore.
"One more thing," Voldemort said almost conversationally. "You may be wondering how I found you out. Ever heard of an Animagus? A shame you didn't look more carefully, because a bee fluttering about in the middle of winter would have been a dead giveaway to another with half a brain. You are a waste."
Regulus felt his heart sinking, and his last thought before everything ended were hopes that the world might one day be a little better because he'd done his small part.
"Just... do... it..." Regulus croaked.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, and a green bolt of light shot from his wand, hitting Regulus squarely in the chest.
The boy of only eighteen stopped moving.
Voldemort might have chuckled under different circumstances, but if his suspicions were correct - if Regulus had figured out the Horcruxes - then he would need to move fast to kill the one who the prophecy marked as his equal.
"Enough," he told his followers. "You have seen what happens to those who are disloyal. In a few days' time, I will be making a bold move, a move which will cement our position to take over the wizarding world, once and for all. You are dismissed."
One by one, the Death Eaters seemed to pop out of existence. Voldemort was left to contemplate what he wanted to have done with Regulus's body. He decided sending it directly to Dumbledore would be a clear message.
x x x x xThe following morning, Severus and Lily were awakened by a somewhat panicked voice calling them from downstairs. Throwing on house robes, they left their bedroom and went to find out what the problem was. Severus was shocked to see Dumbledore standing in their sitting room. He hadn't even recognized Dumbledore's voice at first, since he rarely ever heard the headmaster this upset. That, combined with having just woken, made Severus startled and confused.
Lily was right behind him, holding her belly from further exertion.
"What's the matter?" Severus asked, now alarmed.
"Regulus is dead," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head.
Severus and Lily's mouths were hanging open slightly.
"This... just can't be," Lily stated in disbelief. "What happened? Was he found out?"
"It would appear so. Voldemort took the liberty of sending his body to me as proof. I have already checked. It is indeed Regulus."
"Then what does this mean for the Order?" Lily questioned in a small voice.
"For one thing, it means Regulus wasn't successful is procuring the basilisk venom," Severus pointed out grimly. "Do you suppose Voldemort suspects?"
"That could very well be the case," Dumbledore confirmed, "which is all the more reason we need to destroy the remaining Horcruxes."
"Let me do it, sir. Let me get the venom. I know-"
"Severus, no!" Lily intervened shrilly. "Are you mental? Look what happened to Regulus! You are not risking your life like that!" She gazed imploringly at Dumbledore. "There must be another way," she nearly begged.
Severus sighed and didn't press the point.
"There may be," Dumbledore replied, "but it would be extremely dangerous. While waiting on the venom, I did much thinking about the experiences I've had with Dark Magic. Years ago, I was friends with Grindelwald-"
"What?" Lily asked, aghast. "But I thought you defeated him years ago? Weren't you enemies?"
"Not always," Dumbledore admitted, obviously ashamed. "I was initially blinded by his ideas, but then saw the truth. The point is, he was a master at many spells I haven't ever tried myself. I have never actually done Dark Magic, but I was tempted as a young man, very tempted. Because of that, I have stayed away from it-"
"That's all very well and good, Dumbledore," interrupted Severus impatiently, "but what method are you referring to? How do you propose we destroy the Horcruxes?"
"Fiendfyre," Dumbledore said, almost too simply. "We owe it to Regulus to finish this work."
"We also need that bastard gone, preferably before my son is born," Severus said savagely. "Very well, Fiendfyre. Any idea how to control it if you've never used it?" He had heard of Fiendfyre, after all, but had no experience with it.
"I will need to be somewhere where no one else will be hurt. Should something happen to me-"
"Don't say that, sir... please!" Lily pleaded. "We've just lost Regulus. The thought-"
"My dear," Dumbledore said gently, "I know it's hard to hear, but it's a very real possibility."
Realizing that Dumbledore might very well lose his life when trying to handle Fiendfyre, Severus felt he had better make his peace with the old wizard now... just in case.
Severus stepped forward a bit and addressed the headmaster. "Sir, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but you-" He paused, not sure how to express himself properly. "I mean, you and I..."
Dumbledore smiled slightly, perhaps bemused by Severus's attempt at gratitude. He placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.
"It's okay, my boy. You don't have to say anything. I already know. You..." as Dumbledore said this, he turned to Lily and addressed her, too, "you both have made me proud. I have no doubt that when the time comes, you will finish Voldemort forever. I have lived a long life and known many wizards and witches, but you have shown the very best of humanity in your selfless actions."
Lily's cheeks were now drenched with tears, and even Severus felt the sting in his eyes. Blinking several times, he replied, "You'd better tell me your plan, then. We will need to follow up... just in case."
No one uttered the words, but death, it seemed, was hanging over them and might persist for some time.
Author's Note: Yes, I can already hear you hating me for killing Regulus, asking, "Why? Why did you do it?!" Try not to hate me too much, as you need me to finish this story, but let me explain: I never saw Regulus surviving this fic. I'm sorry, but that's my opinion. I like him very much, and he was fun to write, but unfortunately, the spy always winds up dying, some way, somehow. Some of you pretty much had it pegged that Reg would die from the beginning, and I know many, many of you are fond of him. So... I'm sorry, truly! No flames, please.
I think I kind of set that up in the previous chapter and had a lot of you worried, anyway.
You're now asking: Will Dumbledore die? I won't tell you, so please don't ask. You'll just have to read the next chapter (in a few days) to see.
On a whole different subject, this is late, but I wanted to share some lovely artwork LilyHBP did for chapter 111: http:// lilyhbp . deviantart . com / art / Departing-102744035 (remove spaces). Thank you, Lily!
Finally, happy Thanksgiving to any American readers out there! (I extend that to everyone else, but since you don't celebrate it, you probably wouldn't know the difference). :)
