"For success, attitude is equally as important as ability."

Walter Scott

IX

Desperation filled the air as Sirius tried to apparate the group out of Grimmauld Place, only to find that there was an anti-apparition block in place. He cursed quietly, realizing they were trapped. Thinking quickly, Regulus suggested they attempt to use the floo network. He and Hermione would buy them some time by confronting the Death Eaters.

"Are you sure about this, Reggie? It's risky. You could get killed," Sirius said, concerned as he looked at his younger brother.

Regulus smiled grimly, his determination shining in his eyes. "I'm sure. It's the least I can do to make up for my past mistakes. Besides, Hermione is with me. She's the brightest witch of our age. We'll be fine."

Hermione nodded, giving Regulus a reassuring smile. "Trust us. We'll meet you at the safe house as soon as we can. Now go, before it's too late," she said, urging him towards the fireplace.

Sirius hesitated, torn between loyalty to his friends and love for his brother. But he knew he had to go. He nodded, briefly hugging them. "Be careful, both of you. I'll see you soon."

He then turned to the others, who were anxiously waiting. "Let's go. Grab some floo powder. Follow me to Prewett's Park, and remember to speak the destination clearly. Stay close and be vigilant. We don't know how many Death Eaters are here."

As the others hurried towards the fireplace, Hermione and Regulus descended the stairs, prepared to face their enemies. They tightly grasped their wands, their hearts pounding. They knew their chances of survival were slim, but they also had a duty to fulfill. They had to destroy the Horcruxes, regardless of the cost.

Reaching the ground floor, they were met with an unexpected and chilling sight. Walburga, Orion, Pettigrew, and two other Death Eaters stood before them, blocking their way. Their presence served as a haunting reminder of the danger they faced. Walburga's voice dripped with venom as she berated her son, labeling him a traitor.

"How dare you, Regulus? How dare you betray your family, your blood, your lord? You are a disgrace to the Black name. You are no son of mine."

Orion nodded, his face contorted with anger and disappointment. "She's right, Regulus. You have disappointed us beyond measure. You have sided with the enemy, the scum of the wizarding world. You have betrayed everything we stand for. You have no place in this house."

Pettigrew, standing behind them, snickered with malicious glee. He had been the one who revealed the location of the Potters to the Death Eaters. He had pretended to be their friend, but he was nothing more than a traitor, a worm, a rat.

"Hello, Regulus. Hello, Hermione. What a surprise to see you here. I hope you don't mind my presence. I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you. Thank you for making my job so easy. You see, I've been watching your every move. I've reported everything to the Dark Lord."

With a wicked grin, Pettigrew raised his wand, pointing it at Regulus. In a cruel twist of fate, he cast a curse, hoping to end the wizard's life. Reacting instinctively, Black deflected the dark spell, causing it to rebound towards Peter. Still Pettigrew dodged it with speed, laughing maniacally. The curse struck one of the other Death Eaters, instantly killing him. The sight of them assembled sank Hermione's heart. They were outnumbered and running out of time.

Filled with determination, the witch invoked an ancient time manipulation magic, uttering the incantation "Temporis Moratorium." In an instant, a shimmering aura enveloped her and Regulus, slowing down the very fabric of time. They moved with an otherworldly grace, as if time itself had become their ally. Seizing the opportunity, Hermione skillfully guided them across the room, their movements defying the laws of time.

"Come on, Regulus. We must escape. Follow me," she whispered, pulling him along.

Regulus nodded, following her lead. He felt a strange sensation, as if he floated within a dream. The Death Eaters were frozen in place, their faces twisted with rage and confusion. His parents stared at him with hatred and disgust. Peter grinned wickedly, wand still raised. He experienced a mix of sadness, anger, and pity. He wished things could have been different, that they could have understood and loved him.

But it was too late. He had made his choice. He had to follow Hermione. She was his friend, his partner, his secret love. The witch was the only one who truly understood and cared for him. She was the only one who mattered.

Reaching the door, Hermione opened it with a flick of her wand. They stepped outside, the cold wind brushing their faces. They scanned their surroundings, ensuring no one was watching. The street appeared deserted, save for a few stray animals. They breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they had made it.

As the effects of the spell gradually faded, the aura dissipated, and time resumed its normal flow. Without hesitation, before any curses could be cast by the Death Eaters, Hermione apparated herself and Regulus to safety, leaving behind the chaos and danger that consumed Grimmauld Place.

The two materialized in a secluded alley near the Black's ancient home. Exhausted and relieved, they collapsed onto the ground. They looked at each other, weak smiles on their faces.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, wrapping her arms around him.

"I'm alright. Thanks to you. You were amazing. You saved us," Regulus said, kissing her forehead.

Hermione blushed, feeling a warm glow within her. "I'm just glad we're alive," she replied, snuggling closer to him.

Hermione had just finished explaining to Regulus the grim truth about Voldemort's death. She described how the killing curse had rebounded and killed him. As she looked around nervously, the witch sensed that they were not alone in the dark alley. Suddenly, they heard heavy steps approaching, followed by a harsh voice.

"Who goes there? Show yourselves, you filthy blood traitors!"

Recognizing the voice as one of the Death Eaters who had been hunting them, Hermione urgently grabbed Regulus's arm and whispered.

"Come on, we have to go. Now!"

The two twisted on the spot, feeling the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a tight tube. A moment later, they found themselves standing on a desolate stony beach. The wind howled in their ears and the waves crashed against the rocks with relentless force.

Regulus shivered, both from the cold and the shock of realizing they were at the beach near the Horcrux cave. He couldn't help but wonder why they had come to such a remote and inhospitable place, and what dangers awaited them there. Turning to Hermione, who looked pale but determined, he asked.

"Why are we here again?"

"This is the place where Voldemort hid the locket that belonged to Salazar Slytherin," she explained. "I think this is the best place to destroy his Horcruxes. The magic here is dark enough to power an even stronger Fiendfyre."

Regulus felt a jolt of recognition. He had stolen the real locket from the Dark Lord. The wizard had also paid the ultimate price for his betrayal, almost dying in the same cave where they were heading. "We have to finish what he started," he said.

Hermione nodded, her eyes shining with admiration and sympathy. She reached into her beaded handbag, which seemed to hold an endless amount of items, and retrieved a small wooden box. The box was covered with intricate runes and symbols, and had a faint glow around it. Black felt a surge of curiosity and fear. He had a feeling that the box contained something very powerful and dangerous.

"What's in there?" he asked.

"It's a warded box, and the Horcruxes are kept inside with an undetectable extension charm and some blood magic. I'll cast Fiendfyre on the box," The witch hesitated, then continued. "The cursed fire can destroy anything, even Horcruxes. Still it's very hard to control and very dangerous to use. That's why I chose this cave, to keep it contained. But once we open it, we have to be very careful. It could consume us as well as the Horcrux."

Regulus gulped, feeling a knot in his stomach. He wondered if they were truly prepared to face such a perilous challenge.

"Are you sure this is the only way?" he asked.

Hermione nodded again, her expression grim.

"It's the only way I know. We don't have the sword of Gryffindor, or a basilisk fang, or anything else that can destroy Horcruxes. We have to use what we have. And we have to do it fast. Come on, let's go. The cave is not far from here."

Hermione carefully placed the box back into her handbag and signaled for Regulus to follow her. They approached a dark and ominous precipice that towered over them like a menacing creature. As they drew closer, Hermione halted and aimed her wand at the cliff face. The entrance to the cave was hidden by a powerful enchantment, and they needed a sacrifice of blood to reveal it.

Taking a deep breath, the witch pressed the tip of her wand against her arm. A sharp pain shot through her, and a thin line of blood appeared on her skin. Ignoring the sting, she flicked her wand, sending a spray of blood onto the rocks. Hoping that it would be enough, she said. "Revelio."

A hidden entrance materialized, revealing a narrow tunnel that led into the depths of the cave. Taking a deep breath, Hermione took the first step inside, and Regulus trailed behind, feeling a chill run down his spine. He couldn't help but wonder what horrors awaited them within the cave and if they would emerge alive.

They walked for what seemed like an eternity, the tunnel twisting and turning in unpredictable ways. The air was damp and musty, and the walls were rough and jagged. Black could hear the steady drip of water and the occasional screech of a bat. It felt as though they were descending into the underworld, and he wished for a source of light to guide them. Deciding to cast a spell, he brightened their surroundings.

"Lumos maxima," he announced, pointing his wand upward.

A brilliant ball of light shot out of his wand, exploding in the air and illuminating the entire tunnel. As the darkness receded, they spotted a shimmering basin in the distance, emitting an eerie green glow. Surprisingly, the basin appeared much closer than expected, as if some strange distortion in space had occurred within the cave.

"Look, there it is," Hermione pointed out. "The basin where the locket was hidden."

Regulus felt a mix of grief and anger surge through him. He clenched his fists and declared, "Let's destroy the Horcruxes."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Alright. But we must be swift. The inferi still inhabit the lake, and they will attack if we disturb the water. Are you ready?"

Regulus nodded resolutely. "I'm ready. Let's do this."

With great care, Hermione lifted the lid of the box, the absence of the protective enchantment filling her with a combination of anger and numbness. She explained to Regulus that their mission was to unleash the destructive power of the Fiendfyre within the cave, but they had to act swiftly to avoid its wrath.

"Listen, Regulus. This is crucial. Once I cast the Fiendfyre, we must run. No stopping, no looking back, no hesitating. We need to escape the cave as quickly as possible and apparate away. Do you understand?"

The wizard nodded, concern etched on his face. "I understand. But what about you? How will you control the Fiendfyre? How will you prevent it from consuming you?"

Hermione smiled sadly, her voice filled with resignation. "I won't. I can't. The Fiendfyre is too powerful for me to control. I can only direct it towards the Horcruxes. I cannot stop it from spreading or from causing harm to myself. That's the price I must pay. That's the sacrifice I must make."

Black felt a surge of emotion, and blurted out. "No, Hermione. You're the… best friend anyone could ask for. You can't leave me."

The witch looked at him with a mixture of affection and sadness, and replied. "Regulus, you're very kind. You've been a great help to me. And more."

Leaning in, she kissed him softly on the lips. A jolt of electricity ran through the wizard, and he kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her. Warmth filled his chest, and joy his heart. But time was running out. They had to act.

Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes. A spark of determination and a hint of fear were visible in them. He murmured. "I love you, Hermione. I love you more than anything."

The witch echoed. "I love you too, Regulus." She took a deep breath, and asked. "Are you ready?"

Nodding, he levitated the open warded box containing the Horcruxes near the basin at the center of the lake. Raising her wand, Hermione shouted. "Fiendfyre!"

Unleashing the curse, she watched its flames dance and devour everything in its path. But the unexpected happened – her body succumbed to the strain of casting such a powerful spell, and she collapsed into Regulus's arms. A shock and a panic filled him.

Looking at her, he saw that she was still breathing, but barely. All her strength had been used. He couldn't lose her, he realized.

"Please, Hermione, please wake up," he begged, holding her tightly and sprinting out of the cave. The sound of rocks collapsing behind them, sealing the entrance to the cave, reached his ears. A surge of relief filled him, as he realized that they had succeeded in destroying the Horcruxes. All the same, a pang of fear also gripped him, seeing that his witch was still unconscious. He wondered if she had used too much of her magic, or if the Fiendfyre had harmed her in some way.

Reaching the edge of the beach, Black realized that he couldn't apparate to the Order's safehouse, as he had never been there before. He had no choice but to go back home and ask for help from his parents or Kreacher. They, he hoped, would be there and would be able to help him. Perhaps Orion and Walburga would finally understand why he and Hermione had done what they had done.

Arriving at a scene of horror, Regulus' hopes were shattered. His parents lay lifeless in the drawing room, their bodies covered with blood and wounds. Aurors were everywhere, examining the scene and casting spells. His mother's favorite vase, smashed on the floor, caught his eye. So did his father's wand, broken in half. The family portraits, slashed and burned, made him shudder. A wave of grief, and a burst of anger, overwhelmed him. He wanted to know who had done this, and why.

The wizard was about to collapse, when he heard a familiar voice.

"Regulus? Regulus, is that you?"

Looking up, he saw Sirius. But now, there was no hate in his eyes. Only shock, and sorrow, and concern. Tears streamed down his brother's face, and tears filled his own eyes. A flicker of hope, and a touch of love, stirred in him. Feeling like he had found his brother again, the younger Black wished he could embrace him.

But he couldn't. Unable to let go of Hermione, he clung to her. Leaving her alone was not an option. He held her closer to his chest, and pleaded.

"Sirius, please, help me. Help Hermione. She's hurt. She's dying."

Black looked at Hermione, who was still in Regulus's arms, and felt a pang of guilt and pity. He knew that the witch had joined Regulus in his quest to destroy Voldemort. He also knew that they had fallen in love, and that they had risked everything for each other.

Sirius took a deep breath, and urged. "Come on, Regulus. Let's take her to St Mungos. Maybe the healers can help her. Maybe there's still hope. I'll talk with Marlene and see if she can do something."

Marlene Mackinon was his girlfriend and also worked at the hospital as a mediwitch and used to help the Order everytime someone was injured in an attack. He led Regulus to the fireplace, and threw some Floo powder into the flames. Sirius stepped into the green fire, and announced.

"St Mungos, Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."

He disappeared, and Regulus followed him, holding Hermione close to his chest. He hoped that Sirius was right. He hoped that they would have a chance to live, and to love, and to be happy. Together.