Song for the second part of this chapter: Skyfall - Adele

TW: Mentions of death

- - - - -

Regulus Black

"I love you, Regulus," Meredith said, her voice trembling. "Please come back for me."

I nodded at her, blinking away the tears that were wetting my cheeks. Before I could cave into her pleads for me to stay, I pulled my hands away from her, stepping towards the door.

I hope she knows how much it's breaking me to leave.

The sounds of her sobs cause me physical pain as I open her bedroom door and step out into the hallway, closing the door behind me.

I rushed down the stairs, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible. The longer that I'm near her, the more likely I am to give in to her wishes. But, I have to do this. I want to do this. This is for me just as much as it is for defeating the Dark Lord.

I slammed her front door behind me, walking through her front yard and past the wards.

Grabbing my wand, I prepare to apparate.

I still have one more person to talk to.

The world spins around me before my feet land on solid ground and I catch my bearings. I look up at the building towering over me. I pushed open the door and went straight for the lift, pressing the button for the third floor.

Meredith had mentioned to me where he lived. Apparently he moved here a week after we left Hogwarts.

The lift dings and the doors open, and I step out into the hall. It's well past midnight now, and the hall is illuminated only by the occasional ugly light fixture.

I walk down the hall until I reach apartment 3C.

I raise my fist and bang on the door, not caring if it woke up his neighbors. My fist rapted against the wooden door, the sound echoing throughout the empty hall.

It's not long before the door is flung open.

"Bloody hell-"

He rubs his eyes and glares at me.

"Black, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Well, hello to you too," I muttered. "I need to talk to you."

Jack frowned at me. "What is so urgent that you woke up the entire floor?"

I push past him, stepping into his apartment. Jack starts to protest, but shuts the door behind me. He doesn't look the slightest bit pleased that I'm here.

"Why are you here?"

I glanced around his apartment. Considering the fact that he only moved in two weeks ago, the place is in pretty good shape. There's a couch and armchair in the living room, a coffee table, and a few boxes in the corner that still need to be unpacked.

"Black-"

I turned back and looked at him.

"I'm going away for a while, I don't know when I'm going to be back," I said. "And I need you to swear on your life that you will take care of her."

Jack stared at me with a confused expression on his face.

"I'm not an idiot, I know that you're in love with her."

His jaw tightened, his expression telling me all that I needed to know.

"So if you really love her, then you'll be there for her. You take care of her and protect her. Don't let her mope around about me, don't let her get too sad," I continued. "Because I'm not going to be around to make sure that she's okay."

Jack spoke up, his tone steady. "What do you have planned?"

"It doesn't matter, all that matters is that you'll be there for Meredith. Promise me that you'll be there for her."

"I promise," Jack said. "I'll always take care of Meredith.

I nodded, "Good, that's all I needed."

Jack stared as I started towards the door. My hand gripped the cool metal of the door handle, and I turned back to look at him.

"If you fuck this up, Trouche, I will come back just to punch you in the face," I said, completely serious.

He nodded, "I won't."

I didn't say anything else before I slammed the door shut behind me. I took the lift back downstairs and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

I took a deep breath before pulling out my wand and apparating back to Grimmauld Place. I take the steps two at a time and unlock the front door. I closed the door quietly behind me, not wanting to wake my mother up.

Just as the door latches, Kreacher pops into the foyer.

"Master Regulus is home," He says.

I nodded, "I'm ready to leave now, Kreacher."

His mouth turns into a quick frown before his facial expression becomes neutral.

"Is Master Regulus sure?"

"Yes, Kreacher," I said. "We have to leave tonight."

Kreacher nods in understanding.

"Can you take me there now?" I asked.

Kreacher grabbed on to my hand and snapped his fingers, apparating us out of the foyer.

- - - - -

The cave was pitch dark, and I couldn't make out anything around us.

"Lumos."

The light from the tip of my wand illuminated the cave, bouncing shadows across the vast area. I could see that we were standing on the rocky land on the edges of the cave. There was a small island in the middle of the lake, a crystal basin reflecting the light from my wand.

"Master Regulus must find the invisible boat," Kreacher said. "Kreacher thinks it's over there."

He pointed to the cavern wall with his tiny hand.

I followed in the direction of his hand, nearing the edge of the lake. I reached my hand out blindly, coming in contact with a rough material. I felt around, making out the shape of a boat.

Kreacher stood next to me, staring at the lake with disgust.

We both got into the boat, and it took off on its own, leading us towards the island.

I peered down at the water, but it was so dark that I couldn't see anything. What was below the surface of the water that was upsetting Kreacher was a mystery to me.

When we got to the island, I stepped up onto the ruinous land.

"Kreacher, no matter what happens, you take the locket and you leave, okay? You hide it where no one can ever find it."

"Kreacher says it has been a pleasure to serve the Noble House of Black."

I stepped up to the basin, my hands shaking at my sides.

Be brave.

Kreacher had told me everything already, so as I stared into the poison-filled basin, I accepted my fate. Meredith's face flashes into my thoughts, but I push all thoughts of her aside. My angel.

I scoop the poison into the shell beside the basin.

There's no turning back now.

I drink the poison in one sip, and refill the shell.

By the time that the last of the poison goes down my throat, the basin is completely drained, revealing the Horcrux. I reached into the basin, grabbing the locket in my hand.

That's when the burning starts.

I dropped to my knees, an unbearable burning sensation in my insides. I yelled out in pain, gripping the locket tighter.

My vision was swimming, the world dancing around me.

Kreacher's face came into view, but there were several of him. He took the locket out of my hand.

"Master Regulus-"

His face was replaced with my mothers face. A disapproving look etched across her face as she pulled her wand out.

I flinched away just as her face was replaced with Sirius's. He was angry, yelling at me for being a coward.

Then Meredith showed up.

She was crying, her sobs muffled.

I screamed out in pain, the burning feeling intensifying.

"Water-," I muttered. "I need water."

My throat felt dry, like it was closing in. I crawled over to the edge, needing just a sip of water.

"Master Regulus must stay away from the lake!"

My fingertips barely dipped under the surface when I was being pulled back, back towards the center of the small island. My double vision went away, only to be replaced by a ringing in my ears.

The surface of the water broke abruptly.

Dozens of Inferi started to rise out of the water, climbing towards me.

I clutch my stomach, trying to ease the burning in my body.

The Inferi edge closer, prowling towards me.

I leaned my head back against the basin, the edges of my vision going black.

At least I won't die a coward.