TIMELINE: 1 1/2 mo after torture thread. Long enough for Sirius to heal. Lily Preg 4 1/2 mo. No prophecy just yet so Potters not in hiding.
Regulus isn't sure when his vindictive anger has turned into a real plan, but it has over the past few weeks. Kreacher is doing better but he'll never be the same - Regulus wonders if the same will happen to him. He knows what to do though. He creates a replica of Salazar Slytherin's locket and folds a note into it cleanly, sealing it waterproof afterward. He smiles grimly at it and leaves it at home when he goes to meetings. He has to wait for the right time. There's another couple of weeks' preparation afterward, though it's for his new job spying on the Order.
(He has to be able to withstand torture, they say, as though the Order are the ones that torture people for information. It's fine. He can take it. They don't break him. It leaves them satisfied with his skill. Will make the Order believe he's defected, they say. Regulus wonders if they realize they're not being consistent with their reasoning.)
Finally, finally, he's meant to be sent off on his first mission to them. It's harrowing to think about what he's really going to do, but Bellatrix kisses his cheeks and tells him he'll be wonderful and he manages to smile at her, knife-like and smug. If they think he disappeared on the job, it means they won't suspect him of doing anything wrong. They won't go after his family. All right. That night he gathers what he needs, which isn't much. The locket, himself, Kreacher. It's enough.
He almost laughs aloud when he's meant to cut himself to pass wards. What a smug fucking bastard, he thinks, not for the first time, slicing open his palm jagged and raw. It hurts, but he's used to that. He's practically in a maelstrom of worry as they progress, Kreacher leading the way. It's only when they've ridden the small boat all the way to the center - to the potion - that Regulus comes back to reality, staring down at it. Right. He has to do this. Kreacher knows what to do. Make sure Regulus drinks it all no matter what, then switch the Horcrux with the fake locket. Then leave him there to die and go destroy the real one. It's a simple line of reasoning to follow. He starts drinking the potion on his own, dipping the goblet in and bringing it to his lips, hands shaking.
His entire body feels as though it is on fire.
Every nerve in his body is singing in desperate pain, feeling in equal parts burned away and raw - maybe they are both, he doesn't know. He manages to get through half of the potion before Kreacher has to help him, sitting on the ground as the Elf pours more of it down his throat, crying himself. Regulus can't see - what he can see is the way everything terrible he's ever done in his life is played back behind his eyes. Joining the Death Eaters, hurting people, not being able to save Sirius. He's going to die but he deserves it for everything terrible he's done, doesn't mind it because he can finally do some good--
--Kreacher is already switching the lockets when something slices through the torturous haze. Something he hasn't accounted for.
They don't know how to destroy it. Kreacher doesn't.
"Kreacher," he gasps out, desperately - "take--to Dumbledore." It's all he can get out before the thirst consumes him utterly and he crawls toward the water. By the time Kreacher finishes deciding whether Regulus means the locket or himself he's being dragged into the water and there's a yell of alarm, a small hand grabbing him, and a loud crack--
Side-along Apparition with a House Elf hurts more than it does with people. Or maybe it just does because every part of him is dying. But the thing about House Elf magic is it ignores the wards of Wizards and Kreacher is able to take him directly to Dumbledore's office inside Hogwarts, soaking wet and sobbing and laying at his feet bleeding and broken. Even Dumbledore doesn't know what to do with him but Kreacher explains and he can help, settling the younger Black brother in hiding and tending him until he's able to travel.
It takes days, but finally he's well enough to be moved. There's permanent damage to his right leg and he'll never walk without a cane - his nerves really were being singed away - and he's pale and wan and sunken but he's stable and that's all they can ask for right now. Dumbledore chooses where to take him carefully before bringing him along to an Order safe house, pausing outside before sweeping in. It's the house that Sirius is currently at, naturally.
Regulus inhales sharply because he never expected to be here. Never expected to be alive. Never expected to be forced to face Sirius again, to account for his failures with a man that surely hates him. He stands rail straight and resolute in the entry even though he's gripping so tightly to the head of his cane that his knuckles are white. It's a little funny maybe, that he looks well put-together even while so clearly ill.
Finally, Dumbledore speaks, booming as he ever does when he's calling for attention. "Mister Black, if you would come here and assist with our newest ward? I'm afraid I can't stay long."
DO U WANNA STEAL A HORCRUX
Regulus isn't sure when his vindictive anger has turned into a real plan, but it has over the past few weeks. Kreacher is doing better but he'll never be the same - Regulus wonders if the same will happen to him. He knows what to do though. He creates a replica of Salazar Slytherin's locket and folds a note into it cleanly, sealing it waterproof afterward. He smiles grimly at it and leaves it at home when he goes to meetings. He has to wait for the right time. There's another couple of weeks' preparation afterward, though it's for his new job spying on the Order.
(He has to be able to withstand torture, they say, as though the Order are the ones that torture people for information. It's fine. He can take it. They don't break him. It leaves them satisfied with his skill. Will make the Order believe he's defected, they say. Regulus wonders if they realize they're not being consistent with their reasoning.)
Finally, finally, he's meant to be sent off on his first mission to them. It's harrowing to think about what he's really going to do, but Bellatrix kisses his cheeks and tells him he'll be wonderful and he manages to smile at her, knife-like and smug. If they think he disappeared on the job, it means they won't suspect him of doing anything wrong. They won't go after his family. All right. That night he gathers what he needs, which isn't much. The locket, himself, Kreacher. It's enough.
He almost laughs aloud when he's meant to cut himself to pass wards. What a smug fucking bastard, he thinks, not for the first time, slicing open his palm jagged and raw. It hurts, but he's used to that. He's practically in a maelstrom of worry as they progress, Kreacher leading the way. It's only when they've ridden the small boat all the way to the center - to the potion - that Regulus comes back to reality, staring down at it. Right. He has to do this. Kreacher knows what to do. Make sure Regulus drinks it all no matter what, then switch the Horcrux with the fake locket. Then leave him there to die and go destroy the real one. It's a simple line of reasoning to follow. He starts drinking the potion on his own, dipping the goblet in and bringing it to his lips, hands shaking.
His entire body feels as though it is on fire.
Every nerve in his body is singing in desperate pain, feeling in equal parts burned away and raw - maybe they are both, he doesn't know. He manages to get through half of the potion before Kreacher has to help him, sitting on the ground as the Elf pours more of it down his throat, crying himself. Regulus can't see - what he can see is the way everything terrible he's ever done in his life is played back behind his eyes. Joining the Death Eaters, hurting people, not being able to save Sirius. He's going to die but he deserves it for everything terrible he's done, doesn't mind it because he can finally do some good--
--Kreacher is already switching the lockets when something slices through the torturous haze. Something he hasn't accounted for.
They don't know how to destroy it. Kreacher doesn't.
"Kreacher," he gasps out, desperately - "take--to Dumbledore." It's all he can get out before the thirst consumes him utterly and he crawls toward the water. By the time Kreacher finishes deciding whether Regulus means the locket or himself he's being dragged into the water and there's a yell of alarm, a small hand grabbing him, and a loud crack--
Side-along Apparition with a House Elf hurts more than it does with people. Or maybe it just does because every part of him is dying. But the thing about House Elf magic is it ignores the wards of Wizards and Kreacher is able to take him directly to Dumbledore's office inside Hogwarts, soaking wet and sobbing and laying at his feet bleeding and broken. Even Dumbledore doesn't know what to do with him but Kreacher explains and he can help, settling the younger Black brother in hiding and tending him until he's able to travel.
It takes days, but finally he's well enough to be moved. There's permanent damage to his right leg and he'll never walk without a cane - his nerves really were being singed away - and he's pale and wan and sunken but he's stable and that's all they can ask for right now. Dumbledore chooses where to take him carefully before bringing him along to an Order safe house, pausing outside before sweeping in. It's the house that Sirius is currently at, naturally.
Regulus inhales sharply because he never expected to be here. Never expected to be alive. Never expected to be forced to face Sirius again, to account for his failures with a man that surely hates him. He stands rail straight and resolute in the entry even though he's gripping so tightly to the head of his cane that his knuckles are white. It's a little funny maybe, that he looks well put-together even while so clearly ill.
Finally, Dumbledore speaks, booming as he ever does when he's calling for attention. "Mister Black, if you would come here and assist with our newest ward? I'm afraid I can't stay long."
He's not talking to Regulus.