Book II: Age of the Pheonix

Chapter XVI: R.A.B

Music Theme: Desperado - Eagles

June 1959 - Knockturn Alley

Fleamont Potter hated the visits to Knockturn Alley, mostly because he knew he'd be in for a lecture if Euphemia discovered he was there. He knew it was dangerous, as a former member of the Wizengamot, to walk through the streets filled with criminals. Still, no apothecary outside Knockturn had a supply of Fairy Wing that could meet the demands of his hair tonic.

Fleamont was departing the apothecary, his arms holding a full crate of supplies when he nearly dropped it at the sight of an old classmate of his. The man was slender and pale, so different from their school days. He looked almost fragile and sickly. "Regulus?" Fleamont said stunned. "Regulus Black."

"Hello Potter," His voice and tone hadn't changed. Every word sounding as if it was spoken with arrogance, and yet his expression was different. He seemed more sincere than as a boy. "Surprised to see you here. I'd hope you're just as surprised to see me, but I doubt your perception of me has changed all that much."

"You seem different," Was all he could say as he sized up the older man. "I saw you at Gareth Longbottom's funeral talking to his son last year. I would have come over but... well, there wasn't much to say."

"No. I suppose not. I doubt anyone outside of the Longbottoms really cares to exchange words with me," he gave an embarrased smile then added, "Euphemia's good?"

"Very good," Fleamont said stiffly. "She's pregnant."

"Is she? Fleamont, congratulations. I'm thrilled for you, really I am. Someone for my godson to go to school with. Perhaps he'll be a better friend to your boy than I was to you."

Fleamont was unsure how to reply to the man who seemed so distant from the school bully he'd once known. His eyes just gazed past him to the store on the corner from which Regulus had emerged. "Borgin and Burkes? Not where I expect Blacks to get their decor, but then again you weren't a conformist were you?"

"I'll take that as a compliment," Regulus said with a grin. "No, I um," his face grew sad, "I had some possessions to sell. I won't be needing them anymore and I needed the funds."

"Are you doing well, Regulus? I hope you don't take offense, but you've looked better."

"I'm not exactly in the pocket of my family anymore, Potter, and not all of us are famous potioneers," He chuckled. "But don't worry about me. I don't have much of a life left to fund anyway."

"Hey now," Fleamont laughed uncomfortably, "You're only a couple years older than me. Here." He set down the potion crate and picked a vile of fairy wing from it, extending it towards Regulus who glared at it. "They're quite valuable I promise."

Regulus merely smirked at the gesture, "I don't take charity, Potter. Especially from you. I told you that a long time ago."

"Right," Fleamont tucked the bottle in his pocket and apologized.

The two rivals stood in silence a long moment before Regulus spoke up, "You could do me one favor though."

"What is it?" Fleamont raised an eyebrow, uncertain where he was going.

"One day, if a young member of my family manages to work their way free of the generational prejudices that plague my family tree... will you help them?"

"Help them how?"

"Just be there for them. I know first hand that speaking out against my family is a life sentence to a world of loneliness. It's what I had to do for morality sake, but I hope there's a better future, a happier one, for anyone else that follows my path one day."

"Sure, Black. I'll keep an eye out for the little rebel."

"Thanks, Potter." He extended his boney hand and Fleamont shook it. "Good-bye now."

"Goodbye, Regulus."

The summer showers began to trickle down but Regulus seemed not to care as he moved away from Fleamont, calling back to say, "Oh. There was a young man speaking with Burke while I was having my items appraise. He was in there inquiring about a locket when he saw you through the window and asked me to give you his regards. Then he went out the back door. Strange little fellow. He said he worked for you at the Ministry. Said his name was Riddle."

"I know you don't take charity, Black," Fleamont said as he shuddered at the name, "But take some advice. If you see that boy again, walk the other way and don't look back."

The men parted, and Fleamont found an alternative vendor for Fairy Wing after that, never stepping foot near Knockturn Alley again.

12 Grimmauld Place - 1980...

Regulus lay awake, staring up at the ceiling in his room as the tick of the clock echoed in his ears. He'd never felt so alone in all his life as he thought through Kreecher's story of Regulus the First. His Great Uncle made a sacrifice for the sake of something he couldn't understand. Why would he risk it all for a generation that hadn't been born yet. There was never a guarantee that generational trauma would break. Still, Regulus thought through the years since Regulus the First's passing. Andromeda had married a muggle-born. Sirius had run away and his Uncle had funded the whole thing. Multiple cousins had married for love into blood-traitor families instead of pureblood ones. Regulus pondered that phrase, "blood traitor" and attempted to recall the first place he heard it. Was it Bellatrix? Was it is father? Did he ever bother asking what it meant or did he just start saying it as a description of those who didn't do exactly as they were told. Even then, who's to say what he was being told was the right thing? How would he know the true traitors weren't the blood purists as traitors to the human race. The muggles had fought war after war over the centuries on the argument that men were created equal and no race was surpriror to the other, yet now the wizards decide there's an exception to that? It didn't make sense. Is that why wizards don't like muggles? Are the muggles wrong about equality? Surely for wars to be waged and end in the same conclusion that race doesn't determine someone's value, then there has to be something to it.

Regulus sat up angrily and rubbed his head. These weeks, shut up in this house with nothing but his thoughts, had been too much. He was going mad and just wished for someone to tell him what to do as he'd done his whole life.

A snap was heard beside the bed but it didn't startle him. Instead he felt relief. "Kreecher." He'd been waiting for his return, per Regulus' command to come home as soon as Voldemort's task was done. "What took so long?" He heard no response. "Kreecher?" Regulus lifted his wand from the nightstand and said, "Lumos." His light cast onto the floor where he saw the shriveled body of an elf, incredibly thin and pale. "My god!" He leapt out of bed and kneeled beside his house elf. "What happened?!"

Kreecher just groaned, unable to open his eyes, "water..."

Without hesitation, Regulus lifted the only friend he'd known from the floor and grabbed his glass of water from the nightstand. The moment Kreecher felt the water on his lips, he turned into an animal. He used ever bit of strength he had to drink as if it was his first taste in days. "Aquamenti" Regulus muttered over the glass to refill it and allowed Kreecher to drink more. He set the glass down when the elf was done. "Kreecher what happened?"

The elf just rest his hand atop Regulus' arm and held him tightly. "Dark Lord... Needed to test..."

"Test what? What did he do to you?!"

"Security charm... 'tis strong..."

"A security charm? Why you? If he knew it could do this to you?!"

"Kreecher tis nothing... just an elf... nothing more..."

"You're a great deal more! You're more to me! What you are and who you are makes no difference." Kreecher fell asleep of exhaustion in Regulus arms. He looked down at the small creature and pondered how Voldemort could unleash such pain on a servant. He contemplated what Kreecher had muttered, that elves were seen as nothing. It wasn't true though, not to Regulus. Every soul is equal. He glanced down on his arm, saw his Dark Mark and thought of Kreecher's words - "Tis only ink."

Regulus didn't have to think anymore. He knew where he stood. He knew what he believed.

"Blood is thicker than ink... and we all bleed the same."

Malfoy Manor...

"Bella!" Narcissa stormed into her sister's home and quickly located her in the main hall.

"Sister dear. I'm not late for brunch am I?"

"What are you doing here?" Narcissa panted.

"Is it a crime to be in my husband's home? Did you expect us to live with you forever?"

"Don't think I don't know why you're staying with us. It's because you've been using this home as a bloody-" she stopped and covered her ears when she heard screams echo from the basement, "As a bloody prison for Voldemort!"

"Well I tried to have Rudy extend the basement to feature a state-of-the-art dungeon but it was between that or remodeling the bed chamber."

"Who are you keeping down there?"

"Mostly muggles that saw a little too much when we were out on missions. Dear old Edna is still there."

"Enda?"

"Edna Bones, of course. The Prophet said she was arrested by the Ministry but that was just the cover story. Barty brought her here for Rudy to have some fun with," she chuckled.

"Who else?" Narcissa snapped.

"Don't raise your voice at me!" Bellatrix yelled then composed herself. "Or do you already know and that's why you're here?"

"Lucious told me where you were yesterday. What he didn't tell me was who all you brought back."

"Oh keep your blonde hair straight. Andromeda got away with that mudblood husband and their brat," Bellatrix grunted. "But their little friend wasn't so lucky. Thought he was a hero."

"Who?"

"Why ask questions you know the answers to, sister?"

Narcissa took a breath and started towards the basement but Bellatrix grabbed her arm, "You won't speak with that blood traitor, Narcissa."

"I'll do what I damn please!"

"He bewitched you in school just like that mudblood bewitched Andromeda. Maybe she was too stupid to fall for it, but I won't let you throw away what you have like she did."

"I'm not throwing anything away! I married Lucious, didn't I? I'm carrying his child! I just want to make sure you haven't mutilated someone who always treated me with respect."

"Respect?! He knows nothing about respect!"

"Just because he didn't sell his soul to blood purity like we did, doesn't make him-" She stopped when Bellatrix slapped her across the face. Narcissa was startled as she clutched her cheek and stared, wide-eyed at the one person who she thought would never strike her. Bellatrix and Andromeda grew up being smacked frequently by their parents and older relatives, so they did what they could to sheild their youngest sister from physical abuse.

"I've worked too damn hard to make sure you had everything, Narcissa. I've ensured your future. I've seen the world that we are about to be handed and made sure we were on the front of it - that YOU were on the front of it. You think your pathetic husband wouldn't be obsolete to the Dark Lord if it weren't for me? You think your child would be safe if it wasn't for me?! You heard that Prophecy Snape shared, Cissy. You think just because your child is due in June that the Dark Lord will take his chances? The only thing keeping your child safe is your loyalty. I will not have you start a pattern of defiance now and start disparaging our cause simply because you feel sympathetic for an old school mate you used to snog with! Do you understand me?"

Narcissa, still in shock, nodded slowly and her sister released her arm.

"Good. Now go home."

Narcissa turned away from the basement steps, hearing screams that echoed up them and knowing who they belonged to. A tear fell from her eye but she caressed her stomach. She thought of the man she was turning her back on, but knew she had to for her child. Now, her family was all that mattered.

Bellatrix descended the steps and passed the bodies of the innocent muggles who Rudolphus and his brother had had their way with. Some who still lived whispered pleas for mercy, reaching out to her as she passed for mercy.

"Rudy!"Bellatrix called.

"Here my darling."

She rounded the corner and found him towering over Marvin McKinnon, his face almost unrecognizable from the blood and swelling. "Having fun?"

"Of course. McKinnon here never had much success at dueling practice in school, so I thought I'd give him some pointers."

"Any luck?"

"No. Not a word on where his family is."

"And you checked their castle?"

"Still in ruins when Mulciber when to investigate."

"What of Longbottom?"

"Says he doesn't know."

"My resolve is stronger than your curses, Lestrange," Marvin whispered. "I can last longer at torture than you can last in your wife's bed."

Bellatrix cackled at that and Rudolphus' eyes darkened. "Crucio!"

Rudolphus turned to Bellatrix, ignoring Marvin's cries as he writhed on the ground. "Did you get rid of her?"

"Yes. But I don't want him here. She's still got feelings for the little shit. I've sent her home for now but she'll be back. She's got our father's stubbornness."

"She's also got a soul," Marvin groaned as the curse faded. "You think I don't know who you're talking about?"

"Crucio!" Bellatrix aimed casually and he seized again on the ground.

"What about letting someone else take care of him? Forrestor mentioned to me that he's in need of leverage for a special project. This could be just what he's looking for. Plus, when he's done, Fenrir can have him to satisfy his lust for McKinnon blood."

"It's an idea. But the day is still young," Bellatrix said as she watched Marvin, "And he's not fully broken yet. Get what you can from him. He wanted to be a hero after all. Let him learn what that costs him."

McKinnon Castle...

Marlene sat in the kitchen, staring into the flames in the massive fireplace. She lifted her hand and took a breath, thinking through the element before her. "Come on..." She used all her focus and energy to concentrate when the corner of one of the flames seemed to move towards her. She jumped up in shock and backed away, knocking her chair to the floor.

"Some good that power will do you if you're afraid of it, kiddo," Fabian said upon entry.

"I'm not afraid," she muttered as she picked her chair back up and offered it to him.

"Don't let me kick you out, McKinnon. I'm just coming to have some peace and quiet before your rowdy family wakes up and starts bickering again."

"Can you blame me? How would you feel if you discovered your whole life was a lie."

"I'm still not convinced I wasn't adopted. I've got significantly more personality than the rest of my family," he grinned but it faded when he saw she wasn't in the mood. "McKinnon, look. I know you're upset. But he's your brother. One day, you and your siblings will be the only ones who have shared memories of childhood, the friends you made, and those you've lost. Is it worth shutting him out?"

"I'm slightly annoyed that you can be this insightful so early in the bloody morning," she chuckled.

"Are you really mad at him, Marlene? Or are you mad at the fact that you're having to start grief for your father from scratch?"

"Damn," she grunted. "You sure you aren't a therapist?"

He laughed and said, "I guess I'm just thinking a bit deeper these days. After all, we are dealing with Seers and Prophecies now. Not child's-play anymore." He finished prepping his coffee and took a sip then looked to her and said, "So, did your brother bring back any news from Andromeda's last night?"

"Not sure. He's still asleep."

"No he isn't? I knocked on his door this morning and he didn't answer."

"Well I've been up since dawn and he didn't come down here. I thought you were going to wait up for him last night."

"I thought you were."

Suddenly there was the pop of an apparation outside the castle grounds. Fabian and Marlene exchanged a worried glance and Marlene extended her hand to the fireplace mantle where her wand sat. "Accio." Instead of her wand flying towards her, though, a flame flew just past Fabian and onto her fingertips where she shreiked and shook it off. She was startled by the magic, but Fabian just took her wand and passed it to her.

"Impressive. Just try not to burn the place down again," Fabian said and led the way to the door. He watched carefully and spotted someone searching the ruins, levitating rubble and searching for a way in. "That's Ted." His attempt to have Marlene wait was futile as she insisted to follow him. They both met Ted, startling him a bit as they emerged from behind the veil and pulled him in. "Ted?"

"Prewitt!" Ted panted.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Where's Marvin?" Marlene added.

"Lestrange and Malfoy found our house. They attacked my family. We got away but Marvin, he-" He looked at Marlene. "I'm so sorry. We've no idea what they've done with him. Andy and Dora are with Dumbledore now and he told me how to find you."

"They took him..."

"I just went back to the house. There wasn't a sign of him but then again..."

"Then again?" Marlene asked anxiously.

"It's burned down."

Marlene's stomach turned as she pondered the possibilities. It wouldn't be lost on a Lestrange to trap a McKinnon in a burning home as a sick, poetic death sentence. "I-I'll get Angus..."

She raced back into the house and Ted and Fabian silently exchanged looks with each other. "I had to leave him, Fabe," Ted said ashamed. "I had to abandon our best mate to save my family. He was giving us our only chance."

"We'll get him back, Ted," Fabian rest a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I swear. Come on in."

They followed after Marlene who already was atop the stone steps, racing to Angus' room. Shell called, "Angus! Angus wake up. Marvin needs help. We have to-" she opened the door to Angus' room, took one peek inside and screamed, "Oh my Gods!" And slammed the door back. She turned with a blank stare, her eyes wide like she'd seen a ghost.

Fabian reached the top of the steps, "McKinnon? What is it? What happened?"

"Marley!" Angus called as he rain shirtless out of his room followed by Gideon who was fastening his pants. "I know you just saw some things but-" He froze seeing Fabian just as Gideon crashed into his back and halted as well.

"What the hell is going on?" Fabian asked.

Marlene was still in shock. She didn't even turn around to face him. All she could say was, "My brother has been kidnapped. We're going to get him. You two clearly are too busy." She looked at Fabian. "Prewitt?"

"I'm right behind you , Marlene." He said as she passed.

"Fabian-" Gideon called as his brother attempted to leave.

"She asked me how I would feel if I discovered you lied to me, Gid. I guess I know now." He stormed down the steps, "Now keep it in your pants long enough to get my friend back."

12 Grimmauld Place...

Regulus had nursed his house elf back to health but time was against him as he knew Voldemort would seek the creature out if it was discovered he'd survived and shared the truth, that he'd used the elf to test the defenses of a charm created to protect an ancient locket.

"Just a locket? Was it heart shaped? Or did it have any writing on it."

"Kreecher cannot read, Master Regulus," the elf said from his seat in the large armchair where Regulus had wrapped him in a blanket.

Regulus stopped his pacing and turned to the bookshelf behind him in the study. He swiftly drew his wand and said, "Wingardium Leviosa," as he levitaged an entire shelf of books with intricate covers towards the elf. Kreecher took great care to examine each one until he pointed to a copy of Great Wizards of House of Slytherin. "The letter on the locket is just there, Master."

"An S?" Regulus asked, allowing all other books to collapse onto the floor, but keeping the one Kreecher spotted in his hand.

"Yes and it was curved like a snake, golden and shaped like a... like a..." He formed his hands into a bit of an oval and added, "just not too round."

"Blimey," Regulus muttered as he flipped open the book. His years of Pureblood indoctrination began to benefit him as he remembered the tales of Salazar Slytherin and the many paintings of him in Slytherin common room. Regulus found a portrait of the Hogwarts co-founder in the first chapter and pointed the locket out around the mans neck, "is this it, Kreecher."

"Yes! Yes!" He grimmaced at the expressin on Salazar's face. "No wonder he's so sour. Kreecher didn't even touch the artifact but could feel its darkness."

"What do you mean?"

"Not normal magic, Master. The darkness in that locket felt like a harness of evil. Kreecher hasn't seen such magic since the days of Master Sirius the Second. His magic was of another world, dark and forbidden."

"I remember," Regulus remember the family rumors that Old Sirius, wrecked by the death of his mother so suddenly became obsessed with spells of immortality. "I remember his diaries were provided to Hogwarts' restricted sections for advanced studies of Dark Arts but I was never allowed to retreive them and see what he wrote. Bellatrix always boasted about how she got her hands on one of them and read about what killed the old man. He tried putting his soul into a vessel called a Horcrux but failed the spell and instead died instantly." He shut the book in his hands and gazed at Kreecher. "Do you think Voldemort succeeded at the spell?"

"It makes one inhuman to split their soul," Kreecher said not wanting to think on it further.

Regulus pondered the facts. Voldemort was becoming inhuman. Every time he saw the Dark Lord, something about his features changed. The characteristics that made him a man were stripped away. He'd already given one item for safekeeping to Naricssa - the Journal. Most likely it was the only thing that held the secrets to his plan. Regulus knew from recent Death Eater meetings about Voldemort's selected targets - Charles Delaney, The Potters, Robert Ogden. He hadn't given a reason other than, 'They knew too much of an old friend of mine.' Regulus recalled Voldemort describing the journal entrusted to Malfoy as belonging to 'his old friend' and then saying he was taking 'other insurances' to guarantee his victory.

"He's not talking about an old friend, he's talking about himself!" Regulus blurted out. "Voldemort doesn't want to be a man, Kreecher. He wants to forget the man! He wants to be an immortal being. He wants to create Horcruxes to ensure his immortality and he's found out how to do it. He picked an artifact of great value that he knew nobody would ever destroy or replicate. He was going to let you die - he'll let anyone die in order to achieve what no Wizard has ever done before. He's going to be immortal and bring about this world of hatred and darkness. Purebloods ahve just been brainwashed into being his bloody slaves!"

"But if the locket already is cursed," Kreecher muttered, "Then the Dark Lord has succeeded. What can be done?"

"What can be done?" Regulus repeated and listened to the clock as it ticked away. "I could go to Dumbledore. I can tell him what I've discovered?" He shook his head, "No, they never let a Death Eater get that close to Hogwarts. Aurors would never believe me either and by the time I convince them, word of my capture would reveal my true intentions to Voldemort and warn him."

"Master Regulus should leave. Kreecher and Master Regulus will go away to a safe place."

"He can find me, Kreecher," Regulus ripping up his sleeve. "He'd track me down like a dog. The moment he searches my mind he'll know what I've discovered and kill me. I'm a dead man walking!" When he heard the words aloud, the realization set in. It was true. The moment Regulus decided he was against Voldemort, he'd sealed his Death Warrant.

"Master could go to Master Sirius for help."

"Sirius gave up on me long ago. I tricked him at the Ministry. He'd just think this was another trap. Besides, if I share any of this discovery with anyone it will make them a threat to Voldemort and he'll kill them too." Regulus looked at the family tapestry on the wall. He looked at the picuture of Regulus Black the First. "Nobody knows his story. Regulus died at the hands of his brother in order to take the fall for an unborn kid - maybe me. Maybe Sirius. Maybe even one of our cousins. He didn't know that his plan would work, but had to do it just the same because he couldn't allow innocent people to suffer at the hands of a tyrant who was so wrapped up in dark magic and the desire for power that he lost sight of humanity. Now nobody tells his story... and nobody will tell mine."

"Kreecher will, Master. Kreecher always will."

"No," Regulus said softly holding back tears as he realized what he had to do. "No, Kreecher. What we are about to do, you cannot share with anyone." He opened the book once more, gazing on the image of Salazar Slytherin's locket. He knew exactly the jewels and metals within his mother's jewelry box that would fashion into a nice replica. He'd leave note within it, so Voldemort had no doubt that his demise was aided by a blood-traitor - a title that Regulus now took great pride in bearing. "You must do exactly as I say and leave me as soon as I tell you. You cannot share what you've seen with anyone as they'd likely relay it to Voldemort."

"But what if Master Regulus doesn't survive? Or what if he is captured and killed?"

Regulus kneeled in front of the elf, wrapping the blanket tightly around him and musering all his strength to hide the tears in his eyes. "Then Master Regulus will die having peace that he had a true friend in you, Kreecher. Even if nobody else knows the truth at least you'll know I wasn't a total failure."

"Not a failure, Master," Kreecher said as he embraced his friend around the neck. "Never a failure to me."

Later at Knockturn Alley...

Fenrir stumbled in, slamming the door to Max Forrestor's flat behind him. The bare and dark apartment already was as dingy as the rest of Knockturn Alley, but Greyback's presence darkened and dirtied it even more as his stench filled the place. Max wrinkled his nose as the odorus werewolf entered, blood on his hands.

"Good evening sunshine," Max said then sipped his coffee. "Bad night at work?"

"Living the dream, Maxy. Living the dream," Greyback hissed then picked up the coffee press with his bloody hands, ripped off the lid and plunger, and downed the rest of the beverage.

"By all means," Max sighed. "I was done." He turned his eyes back to his paper and went on, "Where the hell have you been? Haven't seen you since the Hogsmede stakeout."

"Let's just say I discovered something that night that enraged me and I didn't want to take out my agression on you," he wiped the blood off his hands and onto the arm of the chair he plopped in.

"Not on the chair, Fenrir. The last cleaning charm barely got it up. So what happened? Was it your mutt sticking it to you?" He couldn't help but smirk, "I'll admit it was amusing to watch from across the street."

"That's just the half of it... I could have ripped that little shit's tongue out for speaking to me that way."

"Then why didn't you?" Max listened as Greyback took steady breaths to ease his temper. "Fen... Use your words."

"... She's pregnant," he grunted as he stared coldly ahead. "I could smell it in her belly. It's Lupin's."

"Delaney?"

"That little slut has been trying my patience as she attempts to keep the man stronger than the wolf. I've waited fifteen years, Max. Fifteen years for Lupin's wolf to take hold and be the first of his kind. A strong man in control of his werewolf but rid of his soul so that nothing can stop him - no earthy attachments. Now not only has that bitch found a potion to try can suppress his wolf, she's going to get herself knocked up so he has a kid to care for?!" He pushed himself out of the seat and tossed the carraffe across the room where it shattered, Max barely reacting. "Well I've stopped playing nice, Maxy. I'm going to make sure that Lupin remembers the only wordly attachment he's allowed to have is me."

"You can't kill her, Fenrir," Max said cooly from his seat.

"Why the hell not?"

"Let's just say I made a friend in Hogsmede. He probably thought he was helping the girl by revealing this but now we may be able to use it to our advantage."

"What did he say?"

"It's a long story, but we can't kill the girl without risking the fall of Voldemort."

"Awwww," Fenrir said, clasping his hands together and squatting as if addressing a child. "Cute. You think I want to help Voldy Woldy?" He shot back up and shouted, "I don't give a damn about your Dark Lord!"

He stormed towards the bedroom while Max leaned back in his seat and waited. Greback took off his coat and tossed it on the floor then drew his wand and flicked it at the water pitcher and basin in the corner that Max usually prepped for him and went to wash the blood of when he saw his coat moving on the floor. "The hell?" He raised his wand to levitate the coat away and revealed the bleeding, bruised and bound body of a young man who was barely contious. Without much of a reaction, Greyback simply calmed himself, stepped out of the room and moved back to Max who didn't lift his eyes from the paper.

"Something wrong?" Max called.

"Not that I don't love when you get me presents, Max, but you don't strike me as the type who would be up for a threesome."

Max just smacked down the paper and gave an annoyed look to Greyback, "You mean you don't recognize the boy?"

"Can't say I do. Face is pretty banged up."

"And here I thought you'd be pleased at your opportunity for justice." Max set down the paper. "You mentioned the other day that our forces were failing at being proactive and you were right. As soon as we get the Guardian, we run the risk of Dumbledore's forces getting wise and turning them in to the Ministry. We have to ensure those blood traitors have a scapegoat... someone they can blame so they rest easy, thinking the Guardian is not a threat to them."

"And you had this kid in mind as a fake Guardian?"

"I did until now." He scratched his chin and gazed to the window that was so fogged up and dirty it was pointless for him to look through. "Your little perdiciment with Delaney may make her a better option."

"She'd never sit still while we frame her."

"Not willingly. But she wouldn't let someone's brother die. Not after the loss of her own."

Greyback contemplated then peered around the bedroom wall to the boy again. He stared down at the signant ring on the boys' finger, a family crest upon it that Fenrir knew well and his grin became sinister. "Who'd you say this was, Maxy?"

"Marvin McKinnon."

"What's left of him," Greyback chuckled. "So. We get Delaney out of the way, humbling my mutt in the process, maybe even get to kill one of Atticus McKinnon's spawn in the process and convince Dumbledore's little friends that the Guardian is taken care of."

"Exactly," Max replied smugly.

Greyback looked to Max and couldn't help buy smile as he recognized the young man's expression. Max's plan couldn't be stopped now that his heart was set on it, his mischievous mind partnering with his dark soul. Greyback craved the man's pride as if it was something he could devour.

"I'll be damned," Greyback chuckled, "To top it all off... you know who the real Guardian is, don't you?"

"Yes, Fenny," Max grinned. "I think I do."

The Crystal Cave...

"This is the place, Master." Kreecher said as he held Regulus by the hand, leading him to the cave. "Do not look at the cave walls Master. They aren't stone! Tis Kalling Cyrstals. Known for-

"Known for disguising themselves as whatever gemstone the viewer desires and luring them into a death trap. I know my magic minerals and fungi, Kreecher."

"Then Master will know what that is," he pointed ahead to the mouth of the passage that had poisonous devil's snare across it. "Don't get too close." He held Regulus' hand and apparated them to the other side of the snare revealing a dark lake before them. "Get down master,"

The cave swarmed with vampire bats, all advancing on the two victims who dared to enter their domain. Regulus drew his wand and aimed above them, "Aqua Eructo!"

The bats still advanced and Kreecher clung to regulus, "Water charms don't work in the cave master! Tis jinxed."

"Immobolus!" He tried and the bats stiffened and fell to the ground lymp and stunned. Regulus gave Kreecher a pat and said, "It's ok." He used his wand to illuminate their surroundings and saw an island, no larger than a baseball mound, in the center of the water. "Is that it?"

"Yes, master."

Regulus extended his hand, his eyes fixed on their destination but Kreecher didn't take it. He glance beside him to the elf who nervously twiddled his thumbs. "I'm sorry, Kreecher."

"Master is sorry?" He looked surprised. "What has Master Regulus done wrong?"

"I should have freed you before this. I can see this upsets you, but it has to be done. If I don't survive this though, I want you to be free so what Voldemort did to you can never happen again." He began to unbutton his black vest but Kreecher gently took his hand to stop him.

"If Master frees Kreecher now, he will take Master Regulus home where it's safe."

"But this has to be done, Kreecher."

"If Kreecher is to leave Master Regulus behind, it will not be of Kreecher's own free will... for I could never do such a thing to good Regulus."

"Good Regulus?" He boy repeated, his heart beginning to break. He gazed across the water as his fate began to solidify in his mind. "I... I don't want to die here Kreecher."

"Then let us go, Master. Let us leave this place."

Regulus just pulled the fake locket from his pocket and cluched it tightly in his palm, the sight of it blurring as his eyes started to water. "Now, Kreecher." He squeezed the elfs hand. "Take me over there now. Before I change my mind."

The elf did not hesitate at the command, as he had no choice, apparating the two to the uneven mound of crystals. The basin Kreecher described was there. The enchanted water that had nerely killed him fully replenished. Inside was the locket of Salazar Slytherin. The darkness Kreecher mentioned was choking the very air out of their surroundings and replacing it with feelings of sadness, darkness, greed and death.

"Tis called The Drink of Despair, Sir," Kreecher warned.

"You remember what I said?" Regulus' voice was now frantic. Though his mind was calm, his heart was racing, his young, breaking voice echoing back to him in the cave as a reminder that he was simply a boy.

"Kreecher remembers, master. I'm to take the locket and destroy it."

"It will all work out," Regulus said as he held the fake locket in front of him, a note to Voldemort inside which cemented Regulus' treason.

"I'll replace the locket and come after you when the effects of the potion fade," he choked back anxious tears as he lifted the first scoop of water from the basin. "Get the tea ready. I'll need it after this." Regulus took the first swig and instantly felt as the the liquid was choking him from the inside. "T-this vest of mine will look splendid on you, Kreecher." He drank again. "I... I'll have to... get it tailored... to your s-size.." He now downed each scoop more and more to attempt to speed the process, but it dragged out as pain-filled as it could. Regulus started to shout in pain, falling to his knees. "Help Me!"

"Master told Kreecher not to obey once the drinking started!"

Kreecher was forced to stand aside, as he was commanded to do, watching as Regulus pulled himself back up and kept drinking the potion. He cried out, "How about now, brother?!" He shouted through choking sobs. "Am I weak still?" He cried, his moans echoing all through the cave until the swelling of his throat wouldn't allow more than a gasp for air through. He forced his face forward so he'd have no other option than to suck the last bits of the potion in as he attempted to gasp for breath.

Finally the locket was free and his trembling hands grabbed it as he fell backwards onto the jagged rocks, the locket slipping from his hands as he began to tremble on the ground. Kreecher placed the locket in the basin and scooped the cursed locket. "It's finish master!"

"K-Kreecher..." Regulus choked out but his elf had no other choice as the command was to leave as soon as the locket was switched and abandon Regulus to await the curse wearing off. "G-go.." Their eyes met once more as the elf vanished, Regulus noticing the small creature had begun to cry just as he apparated.

The boy clawed at his throated, ripping off his necktie as the drink of dispair tore through his body. He cried in pain from thirst and attempted to cast a water spell with his wand, but none worked. The water at the ledge of the mound called out to him and he pulled his whole body by his hands, crawling towards it for relief. But as Regulus reached forward to the dark waters, what he thought was the reflection of his hand was actually one last defense of the cave Kreecher had not foreseen.

Inferi, dead bodies risen from their graves and turned into creatures of the deep. Regulus pulled back as one emerged and kicked at it. Weak from the potion though he was unable to cast off the multiple creatures that climbed the crystal mound towards him, clawing and hissing at him, pulling at his clothing, his hair, his flesh, dragging him towards the waters. Regulus' cries were the only thing louder than their shrieks as he struggled against their clutches. The only grace they afforded him was the removal of his dark mark as one of them clawed so deeply into his arm it removed the skin altogether.

Despite it's removal though, Regulus did not escape the fate of service to the Dark Lord. For as the Inferi dragged him screaming into the depths of the water, stripping his body beyond recognition, the necromancy curse took root. His body would remain in these dark waters until summoned with the rest of the Inferi to defend the crystal cave and anyone else who attempted to drink its waters.

Regulus Black's soul however would not face a similar fate. It had been saved long before the first sip of the potion. It had never truly been lost. The boy who laughed with brother, volunteered with the first-years in potions, played quidditch and charted stars was still very much alive in the memory of his true friend Kreecher who back at 12 Grimmauld Place had setup the tea and waited, Slytherin's locket still in his palm as he muttered. "Tea's getting cold, Master Regulus... time to come home. Please Master. Please come home."

AN: Writing this did bring me to tears. Regulus was just a scared kid. Also I know he passed sometime in 1979 but I wanted to take the time needed to show his arch so I appreciate your understanding there.