Regulus Black could never understand halloween. He could never quite understand why it was celebrated by the muggles or why wizards celebrate it either, although he could probably blame a certain old man for that.

Beyond that, Regulus knew that there was something about this Halloween that things were going to change, something big.

It was a feeling that he got that night, strange, painful even, like a thousand needles puncturing his skin. Sadly enough, not the worst pain his ever felt, no, not even close. Although it was still strange, like a whole new pain, pain that he knew was not his own.

It could be his own, he figured that out when the Dark Mark never went away.

He tried, oh did he try.

Cutting it out, only to see such darkness went far more then skin deep.

Burning it, only to see it still darker then any color flesh can take.

Melting it off worked well, spilled everywhere, but it could not be seen and that was what mattered, gone for good he once thought.

But, no matter what he did, no matter how much he tried, he hears it. Pestering him, yelling, screeching at him to answer the call, telling him to listen, listen and obey.

Yet he won't, he never will, even if he hears it for a hundred years, no matter how much it fights, no matter how much seethes in agony, he will never go back. 

So hear Regulus is, that thousand needle feeling not going away, there it stayed 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes before it leaves and that the end, he felt lighter all of a sudden, like he could finally breath fresh air in a very long time.

He thought nothing of it much, not till the next day. When Kreacher arrived the next day, breakfast long past, popping in the room sobbing tears of joy and sadness all at the same time, Regulus could only offer him a handkerchief to help the elf in calming down.

It wasn't till the house elf finally spoke that Regulus was truly quite shook.

"His gone," Kreacher said in a croaking voice, "Master Regulus, the Dark Lord, his gone, Mistress is furious. A boy, a half-blood, killed him, the Dark Lord, vanished."

"For now," Regulus couldn't help but say.

Because for now the Dark Lord is gone and Regulus knew why; known why for what's felt like a long time now.

But for now, he is safe. That he can tell himself.

It wasn't until the start of December came that the fresh snow start to drop and the increase of Pepperup Potion at use did Regulus life take a turn.

It came as a knock on the door, wearing a hideous neon orange robe.

"Oh Hello Regulus, can I come in," Albus Dumbledore said, but before Regulus could said a word, the old wizard already made his way inside, "It's a lovely place you got here, quite clean."

Regulus had no words for how this happened but it was fair to say that by the time they sat down having warm tea with fresh baked pastries, he supposed his mind finally came according to what his mouth said, "What are you doing here?"

"You know, I was in a conference the other day, at the International Confederation of Wizards, and as the Supreme Mugwump I do take pride in my knowledge of knowing more then others, so imagine my surprise when I found out that a young man in France has been going around to different Wizarding Governments, helping and providing them with supplies and strategies to stopping the threat of Voldemort." Dumbledore said.

Regulus couldn't help but flinch, hearing the name. It made his left arm flex on instinct, feeling it prickle in quick pain.

"Of course I had no clue of what to expect, even more so when it was offered to invite the young man into a position at the Confederation. So there I was in France trying to find information, which I will say, came with some reluctance till I went to a lovely potions shop selling all sorts of potions that I never even recognized. Then I remembered my old friend Nickolas Flamel, mentioning about a young man that came from Britain with a impressive skill set in potion-making and an even more impressive skill in leadership. So say my surprise when I found out that a dead man was here, very much so, alive." Dumbledore said putting down his cup of tea with a small clink.

"In my defense," Regulus began to say, "I was unsupervised and a Black, if I didn't do something grand and ostentatious, I would have imploded with madness."

"Hmm, I suppose that makes sense. Never did quite understand what goes on in the Black Families mind, I'm sure you had already heard of your brother and cousin."

Not that Regulus didn't know of what Dumbledore was talking about but Regulus refused to hear anything having to do with his family. It was in his best interest and health to keep away from his family and their madness, but Regulus truly couldn't help but ask,"Which cousin?"

"Bellatrix, she got caught a few days after your brother. She, the Lestrange brothers, and Barty Crouch Jr got caught while torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom."

"Wait, my brother. Why would he be caught, his an Auror, wasn't he working for you?" Regulus said with disgust. Been awhile that Regulus would actually admit out loud that he had a brother.

"Yes, Sirius was working for me. But then something change, the Potters, Lily and James, went into hiding, there home was placed under the fidilius charm and then a year passed, I suppose something happened, because the next then I knew, alarms were going off in my office only to find out that Lily and James Potter were dead and there son Harry had killed Voldemort." Dumbledore said drinking his tea with a hum.

Regulus had no comment, it sounded impossible, the mere idea of his brother, betrayed the Potter left a knot in Regulus stomach.

But, then again, who was he to judge; there once was a time that Regulus thought his brother would never betray him.

He was wrong.

"Well this was fun. I'll be sure to see you again Regulus," Dumbledore said, and as quickly as he arrived, he left.

It was a strange relationship after that, Dumbledore would come over every month or two unexpectedly for tea, doing nothing more then converse. Strangely enough, Regulus found himself enjoying the peculiar company. Talking about potions or sweets; new laws and spells. It was right at the first week of September that a new conversation emerged.

"Regulus, I was you to become a potions master at Hogwarts."

"What."

"Well a potions master is someone who is well credited with making and producing potions while Hogwarts is a magic school in Britain."

"I know that; but why would I be a potions master at Hogwarts," Regulus asked.

"Well you are more then capable enough, and you won't be doing it alone. I'm sure your familiar with Severus Snape?" Dumbledore explained putting an absurd amount of sugar in his tea.

Severus Snape was a name Regulus hadn't heard in a while, he was a boy a year above him in Slytherin and seemed to be the living embodiment of negative spite because James Potter and Regulus own brother would make it their life mission to cause Severus trouble. Although Regulus never took Severus Snape as someone capable of handling students.

"Did he kill a student?" Where the first words out of Regulus mouth on instinct.

"No, no, not that I know of. I'm just worried he might need someone that he could befriend, well, at least someone that he would want to befriend. Not to mention it certainly would help the students in getting a suitable teacher, one that can understand the students more. Of course, I understand your disagreement, will arrange for Severus to handle the 5th and older years while you will teach the 1st though 4th years so not to detain you much from your personal work." Dumbledore said calmly.

"I can't," Regulus nearly shouted in an immediate reflex, "There is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, that you can say or do to make me go back." Regulus said putting his foot down, it wouldn't be safe. Heading back to Hogwarts, heck, heading back to British soil, was a certified death wish.

Dumbledore put down his teacup on his saucer, humming to himself, "Well I never did say you had a choice now did I," he said in a amused grandfatherly voice.

After that, every went like a blur for Regulus.

———
Now it was fair to say that the students of Hogwarts that new school year where quite surprised when Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. Came that day though the front entrance of Hogwarts, dragging a young man by his collar, who kept struggling to get out of the old man's grip with little luck screaming and shouting with his finger nails causing scratches to the ground to get a hold on something to get away.

This was the day they meet Regulus Black; Potions Master.

Bonus
•Just wanted to make sure there was a true explanation on Regulus background.

•Sorry if this went a bit dark.

•In case anyone wanted to know Reggies internal struggle and how much the Dark Mark effected him.

•Kreacher cares for master Regulus.

•People wanted proof that Regulus was dragged out of France; he WAS dragged out of France.