("To the Dark Lord—)

Until now, Regulus didn't understand why and how he was so fortunate. He journeyed into the den of danger, the Emerald Cave, prepared to die. He knew that no matter how it ended, his fate was sealed by Death himself. By all counts, he was supposed to be dead.

(I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.")

But he wasn't.

("And he ordered – Kreacher – leave without him. And he told Kreacher – to go home – and never to tell my Mistress – what he had done – but to destroy the first locket. And he drank – all the potion – and Kreacher swapped the lockets – and watched… as Master Regulus… was dragged beneath the water… and…")

Regulus was dragged by Inferi, and his last attempt was to urge Kreacher to go – "Kreacher!" he shouted – but Kreacher took it as an order to get him out. He managed to apparate Regulus out of the cave. I meant to die, his mind screamed. In a delirious state, he again ordered Kreacher to leave him, to destroy the locket, and to not speak to anyone of what had transpired.

("I have stolen the real Horcrux—)

Loyal as he was, Kreacher did what he was ordered and left him albeit hesitantly. Master Regulus already looked half-dead, and Kreacher wanted to help, but his master's word was a house-elf's highest law.

(—and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.")

And Kreacher left, so sure that his master would not be too long for the world.

Regulus was sure he was going to die too, feeling pain deep in his bones. He couldn't keep his eyes open anymore, his vision blurring with dark spots. He was going numb. Seconds turned to minutes, and finally, he was out.

Regulus vividly remembered when he woke up. A soft voice was asking him to take it easy, while someone's touch – equally soft – kept him from moving too quickly. When he opened his eyes, pain shot through him as light registered his vision.

"How are you feeling?"

When he could finally see, Regulus saw a beautiful woman whose dark complexion made her freckles stand out like constellations in the sky. Her curly hair was kept in place by a cloth while her eyes, the color of a tree's bark, shone with concern.

"Who are you?" asked Regulus, suspiciously. "Where am I?"

The woman raised her eyebrow and frowned. "Well, I guess you're doing alright if you're that grateful."

She stood up and Regulus finally could see her figure, and his eyes widened as he recognized the woman. She retained her beautiful features, but she had grown, accommodating the growing human inside of her.

"Celestine Tremblay."

Celestine Tremblay was one year above him in Slytherin. She was a dignified pure-blood that was prim and proper. She was extremely skilled in Transfiguration as Regulus remembered one of his housemates being turned into an otter because they were disrespecting someone. Walburga had once thought that she'd be a perfect match for Regulus.

Tremblay gave him a wry smile. "In the flesh. Though I suppose, it's Rosier now."

Rosier? Regulus' blood ran cold. The Death Eaters had found him out. The Dark Lord had found his deceit and betrayal. They were going to kill him.

"Breathe, Black!"

In his panic, Regulus scrambled when Tremblay-Rosier tried to reach for him. He dashed straight for the door but he felt the heaviness of his body and for the second time, he passed out.

He woke up disoriented the next time and found that he couldn't move. He was going to be killed. He knew terror flowed in his blood as he could hear it being pumped by his heart. His eyes moved wildly, frantically finding an escape. He tried to will his body to move but he couldn't. It was heavy.

"Oh, you're awake," said Tremblay-Rosier as she entered the room.

"You cursed me."

"I did no such thing. When you first woke, you've been unconscious for nearly a month. When you jolted your body into action, it shut down because it had not recovered its strength just yet," she snapped. "You fainted. That was no fault of mine, but yours."

The woman sighed. "Though I suppose, it's partly mine for not being clear. Yes, I was married to a Rosier – but not the one you know."

She paused, looking down at the direction of Regulus' wrist. He felt the urge to cover it but he realized his body was covered by a heavy sheet. She looked back at Regulus with a guarded expression.

"I brought you in with the assumption that they had hurt you… That was the only reason I can think of why I found you alone, near death, on the shore. Am I wrong?"

Regulus understood that she meant the Death Eaters. "No. They didn't hurt me. But I did something against the Dark Lord that he must never know."

"What happened, Regulus? By all accounts, you should be dead. I had an extremely difficult time with your bruises but Merlin, your body was filled with toxin that I couldn't even imagine."

Throat beginning to scratch, he had trouble getting the words out. "I c-can't… Please, ask no more of the matter. This is for your safety."

Tremblay-Rosier nodded. In his mind, a scene filled with horror of a cave's crystal water… of a green potion… of slimy undead hands… of being unable to breathe. Regulus shut his eyes and shuddered a breath.

When Regulus joined their ranks, he was enthusiastic. He wanted it. But he soon realized, he had no choice in the matter. It was why Bellatrix was so adamant to mentor him, she knew the Dark Lord was agitated of the Blacks. She felt the need, the pressure to bring someone in—and he was the only choice.

Make no mistake, Regulus had wanted it. That's why he could fully say, here lying and unmoving, he regretted it. He regretted ever taking the Mark. But he soldiered on… for his family. For their safety.

As days went by, Regulus gathered his strength back. He found out that Tremblay was married to Evan Rosier's disowned brother, Louis. Her husband had no qualms denouncing blood purity – and as it happened, so did she. She also insisted that he call her by his first name.

Regulus was reminded of Andromeda who was as dignified as any Black but thought that blood purity was ridiculous.

"So, where is your husband?" asked Regulus, one day. He had noticed Louis' absence the longer he stayed in their fairly humble cottage.

When she spoke, Celestine's voice was tinged with fondness. "He's in an expedition. He had always loved discovering things and chasing after knowledge."

"He seems wonderful. Does he know about me?"

At this, Celestine turned serious. "No. We have to make up a plausible excuse for you. My husband would never allow a Death Eater in his house, even if you had defected."

"I can just leave."

"You've nowhere to go. If you leave and you die, that would weigh on my conscience. Stay."

They came up with a plan that involved Human Transfiguration. From that day on, he was known as Regulus Tremblay – the disowned brother of Celestine. Of course, Regulus had to maintain the spell on his Mark and his features. Every trace of being Black had to go. But even through this deceit, Louis Rosier was a far smarter man than both of them had expected.

In hindsight, they should have expected that the ruse would not stand. After all, Louis Rosier was a Ravenclaw. When at last Louis came home from his expedition, he did not question the presence of Regulus nor did he confront his wife. But when Celestine had given birth, Louis had dragged Regulus out of the house. When he took a good look on Louis, his jaw was clenched and his eyes were hard as he stared at Regulus.

"You are not Celestine's brother."

Regulus opened his mouth to argue but Louis did not give him a chance. "She had no other siblings; of that I am certain. When I arrived, I had checked for an Imperius or a Confundus but she didn't appear to be tricked, which means it was a conscious decision to hide your identity. She is my wife, and that meant trusting her.

"But trusting her does not extend trusting you. I couldn't even probe your mind lightly which meant you're a highly skilled Occlumens. I do not know who you are, and I have no problem with your presence as long as my wife trusts you but now, I have an infant son. If your continued presence endangers my family, I will not hesitate to kill you. Do you understand?"

At the end of Louis' speech, his wand was being held against Regulus' neck. Regulus did not doubt him to make good on his promise – after all, he was still a Rosier. He grew up with people being blasé with curses and killing. Shakily, Regulus gulped and nodded in reply. Only then did Louis withdraw his wand, and without so much of a look, turned back to his house.

Regulus left after a week. Celestine had tried to stop him but he had thought it over, and Louis had a point. He might endanger the family with his presence if he continued to stay. Regulus decided to come clean and admitted to Louis that her wife had been hiding a Death Eater who betrayed his master. Without a beat, Louis had just said: "Good on you."

"Do visit your godson sometimes," said Celestine as she carried Victor. Regulus was dumbstruck when the Rosiers told him that they wanted him to be the child's godfather, but he had accepted. Offering a finger to Victor, the infant immediately latched his tiny hand on it while gurgling.

Regulus committed to memory the infant in front of him, so much more a Tremblay than a Rosier. His eyes were the shade of a tree's bark and his curly hair soft. His face peppered with freckles like constellations on the night sky near his tiny, aquiline nose. Victor's skin was smooth and light brown, a perfect mix of his parents. In Regulus' mind, he had no doubt the child would grow up to have Celestine Tremblay's shrewdness and Louis Rosier's intellect.

Never in his life did Regulus feel as light as he did at that moment. All the darkness pervading his history had seemingly been enveloped by a warm, soft feeling that Regulus did not know how to describe. But he knew that the melancholy mixed with it was due to the fact he was leaving.

Regulus wandered for almost a year, living off of Obliviating people to get food and to have shelter. He could not go back to his family, not when it would mean handing them a death sentence. He would never put them at great risk. He understood Louis better now.

He could go to Sirius or perhaps Dumbledore, but no. That would clue in the Dark Lord. He couldn't risk it.

And so, he also avoided places where wizards and witches were found for fear of being discovered. Regulus might have been brave enough to defy the Dark Lord once, but he wasn't sure he would survive the second.

But he fulfilled his promise to visit from time to time, watching Victor grow. Louis and Regulus even struck up amicable conversations whenever he visited.

When he heard the Dark Lord had fallen, he jolted so hard he could hardly believe it. He didn't know how long he stayed unmoving, but he sat in shock. The Dark Lord – dead? It was unheard of, positively naïve in the state of things. But the wizards and witches from all over were careless in their joy, they were celebrating in this Muggle dwelling he found himself hiding in.

Then, he heard laughter. He was surprised to learn that it came from him. He laughed hoarsely. Hollowly. Kreacher must have succeeded in his task. He wanted to visit his elf, to call him and tell him what a good job he did. But despite every inch of him wanting, he resisted.

Regulus laid low for a few weeks. He didn't dare expose himself in case there were still supporters of the Dark Lord at large. Word reached him that his cousin Bellatrix had tortured the Longbottoms to insanity. It wasn't far-fetched that other supporters might do the same.

He had heard Sirius blew up Muggles when Peter Pettigrew confronted him, that he was the one who betrayed the Potters. But that – that couldn't be true. Others were idiots if they believed Sirius would do that to his brother in all but blood, Regulus thought bitterly. Sirius might have blown up the Muggles, after all, he was particularly known for his volatility but it just wasn't possible that he would betray James Potter. The one who had been more of a brother to Sirius than Regulus ever was.

But without any more information, he couldn't do anything. He couldn't even surface lest he face the same fate his brother now did. Regulus wasn't like Sirius who faced challenges and circumstances, head-on. He couldn't perform capable feats of courage and bravery, unlike Sirius whose reservoir was full of countless stars.

To Regulus, bravery was like a comet. It rarely showed up; and when it did, it seemed to last for mere moments. What a disgrace. But he struck an idea – the Rosiers! Celestine and Louis could help him, and could give him information regarding the circumstances that surrounded the death of the Dark Lord, the case of his brother, of what other upheaval was happening in light of recent events.

Admittedly, he wanted to check with the Rosiers immediately. But there was still danger, so he didn't. When he arrived, he wished he had visited earlier. What he came back to was not a pretty sight. The humble cottage they lived in was wrecked. Regulus ran inside, his heart hammering in his chest.

What welcomed Regulus was this: chaos. Furniture was upturned, broken pieces of glass everywhere, and scorch marks on the walls and posts. What filled Regulus with dread was the bodies lying on the ground. There were two Death Eaters and Celestine Tremblay's lifeless body.

Regulus had no time shedding tears as he ran upstairs, his heart stricken with fear. Blood was ringing in his ears, pounding with every second that passed. His godson. What about his godson?

Heading straight towards Victor's room, the door was already ajar with a body lying on the doorway. Regulus dashed and he saw Victor being nestled in the arms of a bleeding Louis Rosier. The child was sleeping comfortably, nuzzling into his father's embrace unaware that his mother was dead and his father would soon follow.

Louis' eyes shone as he saw Regulus standing over the dead body of Amadeus Avery.

"T-Take… take him…" urged Louis as Regulus frantically kneeled before him.

"No. No, you're not dying… Your son needs you, Louis. Get a grip."

With great effort, Louis snorted with a shake of his head. "My father's friends did a number on me… I managed to bring down Randolphus Lestrange while Celestine killed Magnus Mulciber. But Amadeus… the bastard killed her and tried killing my son…

"It's clear that I will not live to see tomorrow, Regulus."

It was true. As he took a closer look, Louis was sitting on a crimson pool. His own blood. Staring straight at Regulus' eyes, Louis pleaded.

"Take him. P-Protect him… Keep him… safe."

Regulus nodded as he cradled the sleeping child.

"Go to my room. Take the small purse… It has everything you will need… bit of galleons… documents… things I left for Victor… for when he's older," said Louis, already losing consciousness. But he held on as his bloody hand grasped Regulus' shoulder. "Look me in the eye and promise, Regulus. Promise me that my son will grow up safe and loved."

It took a few moments for Regulus to find his voice. When he spoke, it was thick and heavy.

"I promise."

"I.. r-regret that my s-son will g-grow up with— without u-us… b-but—" he sat up, shifting his body to get close to the infant comfortably cradled in Regulus' arms. In doing so, his body convulsed in pain and Louis gasped as he tried to contain it. His tears were wetting his cheeks, mixing with blood.

Gently, Louis planted a kiss on Victor's forehead. "—at least he'll have y-you."

Louis looked at Regulus, cracking a small smile before his eyes fluttered shut, drawing in his last breath, and finally, death took him. Trembling, Regulus stood and was surprised to feel wet tears dampening his cheeks, making their way down his face. He wiped them, it would do no good to wake the child with his tears.

He looked down at the steady rise and fall of the child's chest, peacefully unaware of the war-torn place and this cruel world that took his parents and left him alone, vulnerable, with only his godfather. Right then and there, Regulus made up his mind.

("I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.")

He would keep this child safe. No matter what. Regulus Black was dead. Long live Regulus Tremblay.