Song for the second part of the chapter: Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

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Meredith Black

December 28th, 1997

"Where's dad?" Elio asks.

I can hear Cassie start crying from upstairs. It took me so long to get her down for her morning nap and I got about thirty minutes to shower before Atlas and Elio woke up. I'm in the middle of trying to make breakfast and Cassie is crying for me to come to get her.

"Is breakfast almost done?" Atlas asks.

"Can you make bacon too?" Elio adds.

Cassie lets out another scream so I quickly stop what I'm doing to go upstairs to get her. "Just let me go get your sister, then I can make some bacon," I tell the boys. "It might be another fifteen minutes or so."

One of them mumbles something in response but I'm already exiting the kitchen. When I reach the second floor I go into Cassie's room and get her from her crib. I pick her up and hold her until she stops crying.

"It's okay, I'm here," I say. I bounce her slightly to try to get her to stop crying completely but she's been fussy all morning.

"Dada," Cassie says. She sniffles from crying and I have to fight the urge to start sobbing.

"I know, I know," I say. "Dad's not here right now."

She buries her face against my shoulder and makes a sound like she's going to start wailing again. I hold Cassie and bring her downstairs, where Atlas and Elio are arguing in the kitchen. I don't even know what they're arguing about but they're yelling at each other.

"Boys, stop arguing," I say.

They both go quiet and turn to look at me. "Sorry, mum," They both apologize.

I strap Cassie into her highchair and she smiles and starts babbling at her older brothers. Atlas makes funny faces at her to keep her entertained while I finish breakfast. I use magic to start cooking bacon while I finish cooking the pancakes that have managed not to burn solely because of magic.

It's been less than twelve hours without Regulus and everything seems to be falling apart.

I can manage all of the kids on my own whenever he would get stuck late at Grimmauld Place talking with Sirius and just decide to stay the night, but the universe is apparently out to get me today.

I get about fifteen minutes of peace while Atlas and Elio play with Cassie as I finish up breakfast. I'm setting plates full of food on the table when Elio asks again.

"Where's dad?" He asks.

I feel tears pricking at my eyes so I turn about to go grab silverware. "He had some business to go take care of," I answer.

"When is he coming back?" Atlas questions.

"I'm not sure," I say. "It might be a little while."

Elio frowns, "Will he be home before we go back to school?"

I shake my head. "No, I don't think so," I say, begging my voice not to waver.

"He didn't even say goodbye," Atlas says, sounding disappointed.

"He left really late last night," I explain. "He-," My voice cracks, "he left in a bit of a rush."

Atlas stops eating his pancakes and sets down his fork. "Mum, are you okay?" He asks. Elio copies his motions and pauses to look at me. Cassie continues to babble in her highchair while making a mess with her food.

"I'm fine," I say, my voice wavering slightly.

"Mum, when is dad really coming home?" Elio asks, his voice quiet.

I shake my head. "I don't know, love," I answer. "I think it's going to be a while." My one goal as a parent was to never let my kids see me cry, but when the tears in my eyes start to fall I can't stop them.

Atlas hugs me first, followed by Elio. They hug me tightly like they're trying to take all of my pain away for a minute.

"It's okay," Atlas says, "Dad will be back."

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Regulus Black

Late February, 1998

It's eerily quiet in Knockturn Alley. There's little light illuminating the alley. All of the street lamps either don't work or flicker on and off.

I haven't been to Knockturn Alley since I was eighteen and it's bringing back lots of memories that I don't quite want to remember. Nineteen years ago I was looking for information on Horcruxes, but this time I already have a Horcrux in my possession. This time I just need something to destroy it with.

I walk past Borgin and Burkes. The storefront is dark except for a single light sitting on the register counter. There's a man behind the counter who looks to be sorting some things, but he doesn't see me walk past.

Several shops down from Borgin and Burkes is an apothecary. It's not unlike the apothecary in Diagon Alley, however, this one sells more things relating to the dark arts. All of the lights are on but the store is dimly lit and looks rundown.

The bell above the door rings as I enter the store. I start browsing the aisles and aisles of shelves when I hear footsteps coming up behind me. I turn and come face to face with the shopkeeper, Rosalie Flint.

"Regulus Black," She says, a surprised look on her face. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was hoping that you have something that I need," I reply.

She raises her eyebrows at me. "Interesting," She hums. "Finally decide to come back to the winning side? So much wasted potential, Regulus."

"Don't," I say, my voice stern.

"Well, that's no way to talk to your family, is it?" She says. She says it in a joking tone but her face is stern and her jaw is tense."

"We are not family," I state.

Rosalie shrugs, "Not closely, maybe, but you're a Black. We're all related in one way or another."

"I'm not here to talk about that with you. I'm here because you have something that I need," I explain. "Help your family out then, would you?"

Rosalie smirks, looking incredibly amused. "What do you need, Black?"

"Basilisk venom," I say.

"Planning any lethal murders?" She asks. "Not many uses for basilisk venom that seem to fit those righteous morals of yours these days."

I stare at her. My jaw tenses out of annoyance. I forgot how much Rosalie Flint pisses me off, and how much all of the people my parents would've sided with are.

"It's none of your business what I'm going to do with it," I answer.

"I have it," Rosalie says. "But it's going to cost you a steep price." She looks me up and down in a way that makes my skin crawl. "I take it you have more than enough money though."

Less than ten minutes later I'm leaving Knockturn Alley with a vial of Basilisk venom in one of my coat pockets, and Helga Hufflepuff's cup in the other.

I apparate out of Knockturn Alley and land in a forest. My tent is set up and I can feel the wards working to keep everything hidden and silenced from the outside world. It's too dark to see anything now, especially since I'm miles and miles away from other people.

I walk into my tent and set the vial of Basilisk venom and Helga Hufflepuff's cup on the table. I walk over to my bag that is sitting on the floor next to my bed and dig through it until I find the knife that I found when going through my father's study at Grimmauld Place.

I open the vial of Basilisk venom and dip the knife into it. Any other item would've started to disintegrate, but since the knife is goblin-made the venom has no effect on it.

My brain is surprisingly calm right now but I take a deep breath anyway. I raise the knife and plunge it down into Helga Hufflepuff's cup.

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We're so close to the end guys...