The water was warm and an astonishing shade of blue, almost luminescent. The water surrounding Pandora was serene and welcoming, almost comparable to a comforting embrace from a long-lost loved one when needed the most. Pandora relished in the sensation of being submerged as if the water was cleansing her of all her worries and sorrows.
However, the tranquility was short-lived, as the water suddenly turned cold and dark, a stark contrast to the warmth she had just experienced. Skeletal and decaying hands emerged from the depths, grabbing at every part of her body, their icy touch seeping into her very soul. She was being pulled deeper and deeper, the more she struggled, the more they seemed to tighten their grip. Panic and hopelessness began to overwhelm her. Then, a hand grabbed her hair, yanking her head back, and suddenly she was face to face with a horrifying realization.
The face that appeared was twisted with anguish, and the eyes that stared back at her were not her own, but a pair she recognized instantly. How could she not? They belonged to the boy she had loved, the boy who had left her behind, the boy whose fate she had always feared.
Regulus.
The silver eyes that had once sparkled with life were now dull and lifeless, the light in them extinguished. Their eyes kept each other's gaze for what felt like an eternity, Pandora's own hazel eyes filling with tears as she watched the last remnants of her best friend slip away. As the hands continued to drag them both deeper into the abyss, Pandora reached out in a desperate attempt to save Regulus.
Just as their hands were about to touch, hands pulled her upwards, pulling above the water of her bath, her chest heaving. The concerned face of her twin brother stared back at her, his eyes filled with worry.
"Pandora," Evan said. "what are you doing?"
"I don't know," Pandora replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I must have fallen asleep."
"Try not to do that again, you could've drowned if I hadn't come in to check on you when you didn't answer." Her brother scolded as he stepped away and turned around to give her some privacy to get out of the tub.
Pandora simply nodded, wrapping her towel around herself as she stepped out of the tub. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, the haunting image of Regulus' lifeless eyes still burned in her mind. She wondered if she should say something to Evan about the disturbing vision, but something stopped her. She had never hesitated to open up to her twin about her visions before. But then again, Evan had never tried to keep secrets from her either. All the secret meetings, the letters, the way he had been acting lately, the glances between him and Barty. The pang of hurt she felt was nothing to the fear of what the truth might be.
People thought that she was always lost in her head, oblivious to the world around her, but Pandora was far more observant than anyone gave her credit for. For instance, the secret relationships of the people around her were easy to pick up on, especially when it came to the people she cared about. Her brother's romance with Barty Crouch Jr. was one of the worst-kept secrets, despite their feeble attempts at subtlety. Regulus' failed relationship with James Potter, she discovered way before, her best friend confided in her about it after they broke up.
As she thought about all of this, memories of Regulus came flooding back, their inseparable bond, their laughter, their hopes and dreams, all of which had slowly shattered when he chose to join the Death Eaters. And right now, her brother was showing the same signs as Regulus once did, the same lies, the same secrets, the same path leading towards darkness. A path she would not follow.
So Pandora kept quiet, for now, as Evan started telling her about his plans for the day.
"I'll have to go soon, I don't want to be late meeting Barty. We're going to take a look at that new shop that opened up in Diagon Alley." He said as she started to get dressed. "Regulus was supposed to come with us, but he canceled at the last minute."
At the mention of Regulus' name, Pandora felt a lump in her throat.
Her silence must have concerned Evan, who then asked "Are you sure you're okay, Panda? I could stay back if you want me to."
"No, no, I'm fine." Pandora replied, forcing a smile "You go have fun with Barty. Tell him I said hi".
Evan nodded, still looking slightly uncertain before leaving the bathroom. Pandora waited until she heard the Floo activate before collapsing on her bed.
She had to find Regulus. No sooner had that thought entered her mind that she determinedly made her way to her closet and began pulling out some clothes. Just as she put her shoes on, she heard the crack of apparition.
Pandora froze, heart pounding, as she turned to find Kreacher standing before her, his eyes filled with a mixture of grief and terror.
"Kreacher…" Pandora whispered, her voice trembling.
The house elf did not speak but instead handed her a crumpled piece of parchment, his bony fingers shaking.
The contents of the letter made Pandora's blood run cold.
Parchment slipping from her fingers, Pandora let out a heart-wrenching scream that echoed through the halls of the Rosier estate. Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground as the words sank in.
"Pandora,
I'm so sorry. I never wanted to get you involved in this. But I don't know who else to turn to.
I've made a terrible mistake, one that may cost me my life. I shouldn't have joined the Dark Lord, I know that now. But it's too late, I'm in too deep. All I can do is try to make amends for my sins. I recently discovered the Dark Lord's greatest secret, the one thing that could finally bring him down.
Panda, he made a Horcrux.
He took Kreacher with him to hide it and left him to die there. But I had ordered him to come back when the Dark Lord was finished. He came back on the verge of death and told me everything.
I'm going to get the Horcrux, but I don't know if I'll survive this, so I'm writing this in case I don't make it. I can't let the Dark Lord succeed, I have to stop him.
I'm so sorry to drag you into this, but I need you to promise me that if I don't make it, you'll find a way to destroy the Horcrux. It's the only way to defeat him.
But please, Panda, don't come looking for me. It's too dangerous. I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of my mistakes. I've made my choice and I have to face the consequences.
I think I won't be able to come back alive this time. I promise I will try my best to survive and come back to you.
But if I don't, please promise me you'll destroy the Horcrux. Kreacher will help you. You are his new mistress now.
I'm so sorry, Panda. I love you. You have always been the light in my life.
-RAB"
Through her tears, Pandora clung to the letter, her mind not being able to fully process what she had just read. Kreacher said nothing, only holding the locket that contained the Dark Lord's Horcrux in his trembling hands.
It couldn't be true. Regulus couldn't be dead. The boy she had grown up with, her best friend, her other half, he couldn't be gone. Maybe there was another explanation, maybe... But as she watched the locket tremble in Kreacher's hands, something inside her snapped. It wasn't denial she felt; it was fury. Furious that he had chosen to fight this battle alone, furious that he believed she couldn't help him. But more than fury, a sense of unwavering purpose consumed her. He wasn't dead, he couldn't be. She would find him, no matter the cost.
She needed a plan. Something as important as this was not something she could handle alone. But who could she trust?
Evan and Barty were out of the question. Their newfound allegiance to the Dark Lord made them untrustworthy. She knew they would want to save Regulus but she couldn't be sure they wouldn't turn them in instead. That thought broke her heart. Besides, Pandora couldn't risk them finding out about the Horcrux.
Maybe Dorcas could help. But, that wasn't possible. Dorcas cut contact with all of them when she graduated and joined Dumbledore's side. Pandora feared that Dorcas might not trust her anymore and she did not have time to convince her otherwise. She might not even want to risk her life for a Death Eater, regardless of Regulus' change of heart.
Pandora's face scrunched up in frustration. There was no one she could rely on. There was no way she could go after Regulus on her own, and with the Dark Lord's Horcrux in their possession, she couldn't risk anyone finding out about it. She needed someone who would not question why Regulus needed to be saved, she just needed someone who would be willing to risk their life for him.
Sirius was the first person to come to mind. But would he even listen to her? When he was in Hogwarts, he distanced himself from Regulus after being sorted into rival houses. Their relationship became strained to say the least. In addition, when Sirius was disowned he made it clear that he had cut all ties with his family, including his younger brother. Would he really be willing to go on a suicide mission to save the brother he had all but given up on? And yet again, she didn't have time to explain everything to Sirius and try to convince him when every second could determine Regulus' fate.
She couldn't think of anyone else, except… perhaps… no. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to ask James Potter, of all people, for help. But Pandora had no choice. James Potter loved Regulus Black, even if he pretended to hate him now. And if anyone could save Regulus, it was him. She didn't have any other option. If he refused or hesitated even for a second, she would have to take matters into her own hands, even if it cost her life.
Squaring her shoulders, Pandora looked up at Kreacher with a new sense of determination. She grabbed her wand and with a voice full of conviction, she uttered the words that would set her on a path from which there was no going back.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM".