Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. Everything belongs to JK Rowling, and I'm merely allowed to play around with them. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Chapter 7

-o-O-o-

Dear 'Mione,

I hope you're having good holidays, and Dumbledore isn't too hard on you.

I wish you good luck with your O.W.L.'s (I'm not meaning to scare you but they're really horrible). Only ten days to go!

If you ask yourself why I'm not writing anything about me in this letter, it's because I'm bored out of my mind and nothing exciting is happening.

Anyway, have good revisions (that must be hard),

Lots of love,

Lily.

Dear Lily,

I'm having fruitful revisions, thank you, although my Ancient Runes are giving me a lot of trouble.

I've got to find the courage to go through the last nine days of this!

Hope you fare well, love,

Hermione.

PS: Dumbledore is being very nice about it, and he says hello.

-o-O-o-

Dear Hermione,

I hope you're having a nice time and you aren't working too hard.

You can still dream about beating my results, anyway, if it makes you feel better.

But I bet you can't beat them! I got ten O.W.L.'s, six O's and four E's. Try beating that, hah! You'd have to learn the whole Hogwarts library by heart (like I did) and I bet even you can't do that in eight days.

Good luck!

Remus.

Dear Remus,

Believe me when I say I will beat your O.W.L. results. I know you're probably rolling your eyes and scoffing, but when I do get them, you'll be sent a copy. Just to prove a point.

I am the best. Better get used to that idea!

James invited me to his place, but he hasn't contacted me yet. In fact, you and Lily are the only ones who have written so far!

Well, at least I know I can count on you two. Although, I am expecting to hear news of Mary very soon! Soon, as in, before my O.W.L.'s come.

I'm really stressed, but I've only got seven days left! Love,

Hermione.

-o-O-o-

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, but my dad's been sick (don't worry, he's okay now) and I've been trying really hard to advance on schoolwork.

I'm sorry if I'm interrupting one of you revision sessions. I know I hated it when someone interrupted me. I just hope you can work a lot during these last six days before the exams!

I can practically see you bite your nails at this. Keep cool, girl!

Don't forget to breathe!

Mary.

Dear Mary,

You're right, I hate being interrupted too. It's a good thing your owl came at breakfast, then!

I'm writing this as dinner is being served. It's a lot of fun being alone with the Headmaster. I got to know the House Elves, they're really nice! I am surprised they are happy about being enslaved, though…

I guess House Elves and Divination are the two things I will never understand, they lack any logic. Only five days to go!

Good luck with your schoolwork! Love,

Hermione.

-o-O-o-

Dear Hermione,

After much deliberation with my mother, I managed to convince her to let you stay at our place during the last week of the holidays.

Don't think she didn't want you to come because she didn't like you, she said me and Sirius (who's living at my house) had better be… er… proper, if you get my drift.

Anyway, I managed to convince her I only had interest in Lily (no offence intended) and she is absolutely convinced Sirius is an angel.

I know right, what the hell? I'm more of an angel than Sirius will ever be!

Have fun and reply soon!

James.

PS: Only four days until your O.W.L.'s! Good luck!

Dear James,

I asked Dumbledore and he said okay for the last week of the holidays. I wasn't planning on working anyway.

I may have O.W.L.'s to revise but I don't have any holiday homework! In your face!

I'm sorry, I'm feeling a little giddy today… How are things progressing with Lily? I bet you haven't once written to her, you insensitive git! Do it now!

Only three days left, love,

Hermione.

PS: No offence taken.

-o-O-o-

Granger,

Don't expect me to apologise for not writing, because it would be a lie. And I know well enough not to lie to girls. You see, unlike my dearest brother, I am capable of brain activity and have the ability to think.

I did mention that I wanted you to write first, though. I do know better than not write to you, too, because then you would have my head off.

I can't really be angry at you anyway, since I know you are revising for your precious little O.W.L.'s, and I really shouldn't over-exert that Mudblood brain of yours. They're only two days away, eh?

My mother would have my head off for writing to someone like you, but I'll take my chances.

Until your reply comes,

Regulus Arcturus Black.

Black,

Are we on a whole name basis now? If so, then let me rephrase my beginning.

Regulus Arcturus Black,

There, better? Good.

I'm not sorry about not writing to you earlier either. Don't you dare say I should, either.

My O.W.L.'s are tomorrow, and I'm preparing for them eagerly. Dumbledore says I should keep cool, but I can't find it in me to follow his advice.

Go ahead, make fun of me all you want, but I don't even care anymore.

I'll just make myself a cup of coffee and send you this letter, then.

Nice owl, even if it tried to eat me.

Hermione Jean Granger.

-o-O-o-

Dear Lily/ Remus/ Mary/ James/ Regulus Arcturus Black,

I've done it! I've passed my O.W.L.'s! I'm so glad all of this is over! I'm pretty sure I did well, although I think I mixed up the date of the Blood Purity Convention… It was the eighth of September 560, right?

In any case, I'm heading off to Gringotts right now, so I'll be able to open a vault. I'm starting work next Monday, and I think it might be boring… Oh, well, I'll have to wait and see!

Love,/ Until later,

Hermione./ Hermione Jean Granger.

Hermione copied that letter five times with magic, erased the bits that weren't meant for the same person, and sent them off with five different school owls. Each hooted a little at the time she was taking to tie them up, but she eventually set them free.

She watched them fly off into the sunset, wondering how she would survive the next month with only letters to keep her company.

-o-O-o-

The man tightened his long black cloak around himself as he accelerated the pace. His long, silvery blond hair flew behind him as he roamed the streets of London. The Dark Lord had sent him on an important errand that day, and he didn't want to disappoint him.

As he walked past number 10, Grimmauld Place, a building started to appear out of thin air, pushing those next to it to the side. The man smiled. This was going to be easier than he thought it would. He climbed the couple of stairs that led to the door and gave a light knock. After a few minutes, a light turned on behind it and the door opened, revealing the surprised face of a middle-aged woman. "Lucius?" she asked, disbelieving.

The man smirked and lowered his hood. "The one and only." he admitted. "Good evening, Walburga. You look charming, as always."

The woman pinched her lips together. "What are you here for, Lucius. Surely you know Narcissa no longer stays here."

The man shook his head. "As a matter of fact, Walburga, it is not Narcissa whom I am looking for. I'm looking for your son."

Her face darkened marginally. "Regulus?" she asked, her voice tightening.

"Of course." he amended. "I was unaware that you had another."

She threw her nose up slightly in the air, before calling behind her shoulder. "Regulus Arcturus Black!" she yelled. "You'd better come down here soon. You have a guest!" she turned back to Lucius once she heard moving footsteps upstairs. "What do want with him?" she asked.

"It is not me who is in need of him Walburga," he admitted. "But the Dark Lord himself."

"The Dark Lord?" she asked, disbelieving.

He nodded. "He would like to offer Regulus a place amongst our ranks." he stressed the verb to make it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.

However, that was not the part Walburga had noticed. "Our ranks Lucius?" she asked. He nodded, and pulled back the sleeve of his cloak to reveal his Dark Mark. Most people cowered in fear when they saw such a sign, but Walburga merely stared in fascination. When she looked back up at him, she gulped. "I was unaware you had joined this movement." she admitted.

He pulled his sleeve back as a boy came rushing down the stairs. "Well Walburga," he said as Regulus went to stand next to his mother. "I can only hope you are happy for your son."

She gave a tight lipped smile. "I am." she said, and actually sounded so.

"Mother," Regulus questioned. "What's going on here?"

"Oh, a wonderful thing, Regulus dear, a wonderful thing." she told him, stroking his hair lovingly. "You have been chosen to join the ranks of the Dark Lord. You will rid us of all the scum that layers the Earth, oh! My hero!" she kissed her son's hair, even though he was taller than her.

"All right, now, Regulus." Lucius said. "We don't want to make the Dark Lord wait any longer." Walburga let go of her son and he, now wrapped in a black velvet cloak, stepped out of the house. His mother closed the door after him, still smiling.

The two men walked down the street, and finally Regulus found his voice. "Where are we going?" he asked.

Lucius chuckled darkly, making the younger man shudder. "We're off to the hideout, of course." he stopped suddenly, and Regulus almost bumped into him from behind. "Take my hand." he said, holding it out. "I'll Apparate us there."

Regulus took he blonde's hand cautiously, not feeling very reassured. They twirled together and he felt as if he was being squeezed in a rubber tube. A way too tight, rubber tube. It only lasted for a second, but when his feet touched the ground again, he started panting and clutching his stomach, wanting to retch all over the place.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Lucius said, not even looking back at him. Regulus held in another wave and looked up. "The Dark Lord does not appreciate wimps."

Regulus took a deep breath and steadied as the urge to vomit receded. He stood up, still breathing heavily, and looked around. He recognised the place instantly: his cousin Cissy had often told him about it, and how this was where she wanted to live when she was older. Even though he had heard about it, it was still a shock to see.

Lucius smiled. "Yes, I rather like my place, too." he declared smugly, before starting towards the gate. Regulus followed. The grounds were huge, but gloomy in the dark of the night, and the sixteen year-old boy half expected a hag to jump out screeching. The inside wasn't much better either. All that dark polished wood seemed too heavy, too dense… It just didn't feel right.

But what scared Regulus the most was the high, cold voice that he heard coming from the dining room. As both men entered it, silence installed itself. Half-terrified, half-admiring, Regulus noted the presence of known faces, some coming from his own family; his cousin Bella was there, as was Cissy. Severus Snape was there too, like Avery, Crabbe and Goyle. Most of their fathers were present as well, although Orion Black himself was missing.

"Ah, Regulus." a hiss came from the end of the table.

His eyes travelled towards its origin and he almost wanted to puke again. The man had a gaunt, pale face, with sunken features and bright, crimson eyes. His dark hair was shiny, but it lay too flat on his face to make him look like anything other than a corpse. He may have been handsome once, but that time was far gone.

"We have been expecting you." His voice was barely more than a whisper, yet everyone in the room could hear it loud and clear.

Regulus shuddered inwardly and threw himself to one knee, facing the ground. "My Lord." he acknowledged his presence.

"Yes, Regulus." the voice came. It sounded inhuman, almost snake-like. "You have been called here to have a chance to join this fight against the filthy blood that taunts us and dirties the land of our fathers. Would you like such a place?"

As he registered the words, another voice popped up in his mind. 'Don't do anything stupid'. He breathed heavily and cursed Hermione Granger for saying that to him. "It would be an honour, My Lord." he said, trying to ignore the Mudblood's voice in his head.

"Stand up, Regulus." the voice said. The Slytherin did as he was told, and was once again faced with the abomination that ruled this place. Lord Voldemort stood up too, and declared with his snake-like hiss: "We will now proceed with the initiation."

All the Death Eaters stood up, then, and followed the Dark Lord out of the room, and into a corridor. Regulus followed the movement. As they walked down to the dungeons, Bella came up to him and declared.

"You did well, Regulus." she was not much older than him, a couple of months, at the most, but still wore her mark proudly by the hem of her sleeve. She was rather small, but her extremely curly hair made up most of the height difference between them. "I am proud to call you my cousin."

Regulus' thoughts drifted to Sirius, then, and his voice rang in his ears: 'You are no brother of mine!' He shook his head. "Thank you, Bella." he said. "It means a lot to me."

She nodded and went back to take her place at the top of the line. The whole crowd entered a large, circular room, where a stone hostel stood in the middle. The tiled floor was littered with different layers of blood, although Regulus did not want to think about whose it may have been.

The Dark Lord sat down on a throne in the far side of the room, and declared: "Now, let the ritual begin."

Lucius came up to him and said "Take off your shirt." Regulus removed his cloak and shirt, leaving him only in his trousers and shoes. He shivered slightly as Lucius took his clothing and placed it in a corner of the room. The humidity of these dungeons could be felt and he wondered whether he would be sick in the morning.

Bella took over after that. She took his hand and led him to the hostel and motioned for him to lie down. As he obeyed her wordless command, he was reminded of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, with Madam Pomfrey fussing over him as he argued with her. She held both of his arms out and strapped all of his members tightly to the stone hostel, before regaining her place among the ranks.

The Dark Lord waved his wand, and some stones on his right started moving. Once they formed a large hole in the wall, the Death Eaters around him started chanting a gloomy incantation.

Lord Voldemort made a spitting, hissing sort of noise and out of the wall slithered a huge, black snake. Regulus' blood froze. The thing was about a foot thick and over ten feet long, with a head the size of a football, although not as round. He tried struggling against his bonds, but he was too tightly strapped.

The chants increased in volume as the creature inched closer, slithering to the left of the stone hostel. Sweat broke out on Regulus' forehead despite the cold, and Granger's voice rang in his head once more. 'Don't do anything stupid!' He almost wanted to punch that girl. What's her definition of stupid anyway?

The snake obeyed its master's command and raised its head for it to come to about Regulus' height. The latter noticed the darkness of the reptile: It was darker than a shadow at night in a dark room. Pure black, so dark you could barely see the outline of its scales.

Granger voice was repeating itself now. 'Don't do anything stupid!' The snake opened its jaws to reveal two shining fangs, as long as cutlasses. At this sight, Regulus almost fainted.

The chants got louder and louder, but he hardly noticed, what with the snake positioning itself high above his left forearm and Granger's voice still saying: 'Don't do anything stupid.'

Suddenly, the creature's head snapped down, embedding both fangs deep in his flesh. Regulus' back arched of the table and he let out a piercing scream, the chants still getting louder.

'Don't do anything stupid.' He felt the venom seep through his veins, although he could no longer see a thing, his eyes clamped shut as the agony wracked his body in waves.

'…do anything stupid.' The creature didn't appear to be moving, both fangs still pouring more and more venom in his bloodstream. Amongst the chants, he could hear something else, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

'…do anything stupid.' The bonds seemed to tighten around his wrists and ankles, or maybe it was just his thrashing that made them dig in his flesh.

'…anything stupid.' The pain was becoming so intense his eyes opened with the speed of light and he managed to shut his mouth, biting on his tongue and drawing blood to be able to catch his breath.

'…anything stupid.' Voldemort's cold laughter rang around the room, but he could barely discern it from the increasing volume of the chanting, now more sounding like hysterical screeching.

'…thing stupid.' He twisted his head to the side as he choked on his own blood, splattering it on the snake's face. It didn't seem to mind.

'…thing stupid.' He saw with horror the ebony venom seeping into his flesh, forming the distinct outline of the snake and skull and he started thrashing again.

'…stupid.' Granger said. '…stupid…stupid…stupid.' The chants reached an end. Voldemort stopped laughing. Pain, pain, pain. Slowly, although that was just a matter of perspective, the snake extracted its fangs from Regulus' forearm and went to lie back down on the cold stone tiles. '…stupid.' Blood started seeping from the two perfectly circular holes on his arm. '…stupid.' Voldemort was grinning from ear to ear as the snake slithered back in its lair. '…stupid.' Regulus looked back at his forearm.

The Dark Mark pulsed.

Everything went black.

-o-O-o-

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