Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Forum, Season 10, Round 6

Team: Holyhead Harpies

Position: Beater 2

Prompt: The Dance of Dragons / took inspiration from the themes of "a war/bad fight fought between two parties of the same family/a family feud" and "a story told in multiple parts".

Optional Prompts: [pairing] Remus/Sirius, [object] a cursed piece of jewelry, [relationship] siblings

Word Count: 2995

Warnings: Possession, mild language, mild violence, canon divergence

Notes: Canon divergence in the sense that the Blacks have the locket and that it ends up in an entirely different place than in canon — it ends up in Regulus' hands sooner, and he does something different with it.

Act I: The Beginning

Part 1

Sirius hadn't been intending to find it. He'd only meant to prank his brother, and then he'd seen it. Gleaming innocuously on Regulus' bedside table, it seems to taunt him. Mocking him with whispers swirling around his ears, and he shuts them out, but —

"It can't be," he whispers, stumbling back and landing on the floor with a resounding thump. He doesn't care if anyone has heard him, all he can see is that damned locket. What is it doing here?

In Regulus' room. It could only mean —

"Sirius?" That's his brother's voice, his footsteps running into the room, his brother's gray eyes, staring down at him with a hint of panic. "What's the matter?"

The spell shatters and Sirius clambers to his feet, all thoughts of mischief forgotten. "What is that," he says, anger surging through him as he gestures wildly behind him, "doing here?"

Regulus blinks. "Oh, that," he says calmly, which grates on Sirius' already fragile nerves. "That's just something Mum and Dad gave me. They said it's an old family heirloom."

"Old family heirloom," Sirius hisses vociferously. "So that's what they're calling it now." His hands ball into fists. "You need to stay the fuck away from that thing, Reg. It's —it's cursed. You need to toss it, or better yet, destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Regulus plants his hands on his hips, a stubborn glint appearing in his eyes. "Mum and Dad gave me this, they'd never give it to me if it were cursed, you're lying —"

"Listen to me." Sirius grabs his brother's shoulders, gazing deep into his eyes. "Mum and Dad — they know it's cursed. They tried to give it to me a few years ago, and — you don't know what that thing's capable of, Regulus. It's evil, it'll torture you, drive you mad until you can't think of anything else except what it's telling you."

"You're insane, Sirius." Regulus glares at him. "There's no way the locket can do that, and besides, Mum and Dad would've realized it by now and broken it somehow. They wouldn't just keep a cursed object lying around like that."

Sirius pinches the bridge of his nose to try and relieve some of the pressure. "You don't understand," he pleads. "They haven't been just letting it lie around. They've been saving it for you. Ever since I returned it to them, they've been keeping it for you. They know you're more likely to take it, do what they want with it, and sway you to their side. Please, please don't listen to them."

"No." Regulus digs in his heels. "You're just jealous that they gave me something valuable. They told me that this would only strengthen my magical capabilities. I will be strong — stronger than anyone in my year. It's not my fault that they want me to make up for your failures."

Sirius draws a sharp breath. "That's a low blow," he says, but he knows he can't get through to his brother — he can see the ambition already taking root, and knows that Regulus doesn't regret his words. "I made mistakes because of the locket's influence. It drove me to do things that I would never do."

"You were just weak," Regulus retorts. "But I'm not. I will live up to our — my family's name. I will not shame them as you have."

Sirius doesn't recognize this version of Regulus. The boy standing before him is not the soft-spoken, bright-eyed brother he'd grown up with, but someone entirely different. Someone whose outer shell had hardened into something more impenetrable and less impressionable to everyone — except his parents.

Sirius' shoulders slump, admitting defeat in this battle, but this fight is long from over.

He can only hope that he gets through to Regulus before it's too late.

Part 2

"I need you to do something for me," Sirius murmurs to James, the noise of the platform around them ensures that he is unheard. "I need you to make sure that Regulus doesn't sit with us on the train."

James gives him an odd look. "Why? Regulus never sits with us on the train."

"Just…" He feels a pair of eyes on him and swivels his head, making eye contact with his brother. The message is clear on Regulus' face. Don't say a word to James.

"We need to talk."

Act II: The Rise

Part 1

"...Wow." James leans back in his seat, hands clasping in his lap as he processes the information. "So you're telling me that my boyfriend has a possessed locket that's going to influence him into performing dark magic?"

Sirius nods. "I'm scared for him," he confesses somberly. "It forced me to do things I would never do — it wanted me to harm others. As much as I don't like Snivellus, I never wanted him to be led into that trap. The locket wanted me to one-up him but in the most brutal way possible, and I made the mistake of listening to it." He lowers his head, guilt washing over him. "Among other things."

"Well…" James hesitates and Sirius whips his head up. "I understand what you're saying. That locket is dangerous. But…I saw Regulus wearing it at the station, and it doesn't seem like it was really affecting him. He was behaving normally."

Sirius resists sharp words but doesn't soften his tone. "James," he says urgently. "The locket is unpredictable. It may not be affecting him now, or maybe it already is. Maybe Regulus is already listening to it. He's good at covering up his emotions. Hell, he warned me against even mentioning it to you, which means he probably doesn't want you to know about it. You have to believe me." He glances beseechingly at each of his friends, his eyes resting on Remus.

His boyfriend swallows heavily. "I believe you," he says. "But if even you weren't able to get through to him, what's to say that we — or even James — can force him to give up the locket? It seems as though he's hellbent on upholding his duty."

Peter nods quickly, and Sirius can't believe them. "What the fuck?" he says harshly. "You lot are supposed to be on my side! Why are you defending him?"

But before any of the others can respond, the sliding door opens, and Regulus stands there, arms crossed. His eyes roam around the compartment, taking in their tense postures, and his eyes narrow. "Sirius, a word?" he asks, his voice dripping with faux politeness.

Trepidation blooming in his stomach, Sirius nods jerkily and follows his brother outside until they halt just in front of the loo.

"Just a word of advice," Regulus says quietly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of threat. "Don't turn your friends against me. I don't want to have to do something I'll regret, especially to James." In the dim light, Sirius swears his brother's eyes flash scarlet and he involuntarily shivers.

"I was right," he murmurs. "The locket has already started warping your mind." He takes a step forward, toe-to-toe with Regulus. "Don't you dare lay a finger on my friends. Otherwise, I'll do something I'll regret."

Regulus' lips purse. "Worse than what you've already done?" he sneers and Sirius grits his teeth, even as the words sting. His brother brushes past him, whispering, "Stay out of my way. I won't hurt you."

Sirius watches him walk away, worry burning in his gut.

He has to save Regulus.

Part 2

Throughout the year, Sirius keeps an eye on Regulus, though the fact that Regulus is in a different House — a rival House — and one that Sirius had adamantly refused to make any friends in makes it a complicated job. There's James, but James, despite believing Sirius, had maintained a neutral stance, torn by his loyalty to both brothers.

This is bullshit in Sirius' opinion, because James had known him longer than Regulus. But begrudgingly — he would never admit this aloud — he'd respected James' decision, despite numerous attempts to convince him otherwise, because James getting involved personally would have meant more people getting hurt.

This is Sirius' battle, and he doesn't intend for anyone else to venture into the crossfire, namely his friends. Remus especially, because he can't stand the thought of Remus being hurt. He had been an immeasurable source of strength for Sirius, always willing to talk things out with him and listen, even if he couldn't take sides.

Regulus doesn't seem to be acting strangely. Not in an obvious way. But in the rare glimpses he catches of his brother, Regulus turns his head away, or he glares at Sirius vehemently, as though he's daring the older boy to confront him. And Sirius almost does, every time.

Until one day, when he catches Regulus curled up in a corner of the library, staring blankly into space, his eyes glazed over, and muttering under his breath. Sirius can't hear him so he emerges from the safety of the bookshelf, approaching his brother the same way he would approach an agitated hippogriff. "Regulus?" he asks cautiously.

Regulus doesn't appear to hear him and continues to mutter under his breath, but now Sirius can hear him, and what he hears is chilling. It's not Regulus' voice, but something — someone else.

You must show everyone that you are better than them. Don't listen to those fools. They are weak. They may laugh at you now, but one day they will be struck by the magic you wield, cowering in the face of your indomitable power. You are stronger than all of them. Even those who are close to your heart are no match for you. You will conquer all.

Shit, Sirius thinks, backing away from his brother, and that's the moment Regulus looks up. His eyes are unmistakably scarlet. His face is twisted into something cruel, inhuman, and Sirius is seized by panic. Oh fuck. Oh Merlin. What do I do?

And that's when Regulus, in one fluid motion, draws his wand and lunges for Sirius.

Act III: The Climax

Part 1

"I'm worried about them," James says, chewing on his lip, gazing at Remus. When his friend doesn't speak, he continues, "I'm…not sure what to do. It's been almost a whole year, and they're still not speaking to each other. It doesn't seem like the locket is doing anything to Regulus, but Sirius will not change his mind. Honestly, I'm starting to doubt that the locket is cursed at all. Maybe the curse wore off?" He looks hopefully at Remus, who shrugs.

"I dunno," his friend replies. "Dark magic isn't something to be trifled with, because of how…capricious it is. It may be reacting differently to Regulus for any number of reasons. Maybe because he's less resistant to it, or…maybe the curse has worn off. But the former is more likely, given how persistent dark magic is."

"But that's the thing. It's not doing anything, and Regulus is still Regulus." Memories flash through his mind, of all of the good moments he and his boyfriend had shared throughout the year. Surely he would have noticed if something had been amiss — if Regulus had been acting, well, evil.

Remus blows out a frustrated breath. "Again, I don't know, James," he says. "My knowledge is limited to whatever's not in the Restricted Section of the library."

Something sparks in his mind. "The Restricted Section?" James murmurs. Raising his voice, he says, "Maybe there would be something there that could help us understand what's going on!"

"Really, Prongs?" Remus grumbles. "You can't seriously be thinking of sneaking into the Restricted Section."

"Oh c'mon, Moony," James cajoles. "It's not like we haven't done it before. And I, for one, would like to know what's going on. The sooner we know, the sooner we can set things straight, right?"

Remus bites his lip. "I don't know," he says hesitantly. When James opens his mouth, he rushes to explain. "Believe me, I'm as tired of this as you are, I want them to patch things up, and I want them to be okay. But both of them are so stubborn." He lowers his voice, even though there's nobody else in the room besides them three. "We need to figure something out soon. Sirius told me he thinks Regulus might be on his way to becoming a Death Eater, just like their parents."

James can feel all of the color draining from his face as shock pulses through his body, and it's only out of sheer will that he manages to croak, "What? Regulus wouldn't…he isn't…"

Remus holds his hands up helplessly. "He told me that that's what his parents tried to do to him, in a more explicit way than what they're doing with Regulus. With Regulus, they…more or less lied to him, got it in his head that it's his destiny to be the strong heir since Sirius fucked up. And Regulus…he was probably waiting for this chance after years in Sirius' shadow."

James buries his head in his hands as agony ripples through him relentlessly. "I don't b-believe it," he says, voice cracking. "I can't believe it. Regulus can't be —"

Remus murmurs words of comfort, but comfort isn't what James needs right now. He needs answers once and for all. He needs to know.

Reaching over, he snatches the Marauder's Map from his bedside table and unfurls it, uttering the magic words and watching as ink spreads across it. He searches intently until he finds Regulus' name — and his blood runs cold as he sees the name hovering next to it.

"Prongs?" Remus asks but James is silent, gazing at the two names intertwining until his vision blurs. Then he rolls up the map.

"I think we may be getting answers soon," he says grimly, standing up.

Part 2

Sirius' back slams into a bookshelf behind him, the pain hardly registering in the face of his brother advancing on him. Regulus' eyes burn menacingly and he has his wand raised, and Sirius is fumbling for his own, not quite sure how he's going to defend himself against his kin.

Regulus' mouth opens, but once again, it's not Regulus speaking. "I told you to stay away," the voice snarls. "You had your chance. I fear I was too merciful. He refused to touch you. But he doesn't have that choice anymore."

"You talk too much," Sirius snaps. "Impedimenta!" It's the first spell that comes to mind, but unfortunately, it doesn't buy him much time — just enough for him to slide along the bookshelf while pointing his wand at Regulus.

A war rages within his mind. He has to break the curse holding Regulus captive, but he can't do it without hurting him.

But he takes too long to think, and a Stunning Spell misses him by inches. Part of him is surprised — it seems like Regulus has a little bit of control left, that he's not aiming to kill.

Where is Madam Pince? He considers crying her name out, but before he can, a Silencing Spell hits him and it's like his lungs have been bound — his throat closes, he can't speak —

"Finally," says the malevolent spirit gleefully. "Time to —"

Sirius flattens himself against the bookshelf as the Stunning Spell sails towards Regulus, knocking him down. Astonished, Sirius turns, only to see Remus standing at the end of the row, lowering his wand. James flanks him, looking stunned.

Remus is the first to move, hurrying to Sirius' side and frantically checking him over. "Are you hurt?" he demands, and Sirius numbly points to his throat. Remus performs the reversal spell on him, and as his voice returns, so does the overwhelming reality of the situation before him.

"Reg…" he croaks, stumbling towards the body. "He was — I was —"

"He's just Stunned," Remus murmurs, laying a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "He'll wake up soon, but we need to decide what to do now."

Leaning into his boyfriend's touch, the answer reveals itself to Sirius with startling clarity. "We need to take off the locket. But we need him to take it off."

Act IV: The Fall

Part 1

"I —" Regulus rubs his head where it had cracked against the ground. "I don't remember much of what happened. I came to the library. I felt funny, so I sat down, and then —" He breaks off, gazing forlornly at Sirius.

Shivering in James' arms, Regulus looks more vulnerable than ever. A far cry from the boy who had just attacked him. Sirius wants to reach out to him — that's his baby brother — but he doesn't trust himself to speak. Not yet.

"I don't know what overcame me," Regulus murmurs. "I wasn't myself, I almost hurt you, and —" His gaze visibly falls onto the locket lying next to him. "You're right, Sirius, I need to get rid of it. It wouldn't stop whispering in my ears, goading me into doing things I would never do."

"What about Mum and Dad?" Sirius doesn't give a shit about what their parents say, but he knows Regulus values their opinion.

Regulus stiffens. "I'm not sure," he admits. "I need to find out why they gave it to me. But I can't give it back to them — who knows what they'll do with it?"

"Toss it in the lake," Sirius suggests. He means it as a joke, but Regulus' eyes widen.

"You may be on to something."

Part 2

The locket lands in the water with a splash. Sirius leans against Remus, drawing comfort from his presence. On his other side, Regulus appears to be doing the same, shifting closer to James. All four of them watch the locket sink until they can't see it anymore.

It's gone, Sirius thinks with relief. It's over.

"It's over," Remus whispers, only meant for Sirius' ears. "You're free."

Sirius turns his head. Regulus is already looking at him. Their eyes meet, and Sirius can see his own emotions reflected. "Yeah," he says. "We're free."