Mortal Once More

Mortal Once More

Sirius's Lover

And maybe I just don't wanna know

How low you're ready to go

I'm not gonna change, you can't make me whoa

You don't, you don't, you don't, you don't

You don't mean anything to me

You don't, you don't, you don't, you don't

You don't mean anything to me

You're what I never want to be

~Simple Plan

"Regulus and I had a little chat this morning," Sirius began, pacing his Auror mentor's office.

Moody looked at James, who had taken it upon himself as the offical best friend and moral supporter of Sirius to lie around on the couch reading Magick magazine. "Does that mean they had a fistfight?"

James never even took his eyes off the page. "No. A chat is just threatening. A talk is hitting."

Moody raised a grizzled brow. "What if magic's involved?" The aurors could use code words like this.

"Discussion." James turned the page.

Sirius eyed them impatiently even as he yet again ran through the unpleasant scene in his mind. Regulus had come to tell his brother that he had decided to honour their parents' wishes and join the Death Eaters. Even though Delia and Orion refused to acknowledge the fact that Sirius had even been born, Regulus still kept in quiet contact with him.

The younger Black hadn't reckoned on Sirius's high standards, however. After Regulus's soft announcement, Sirius had only smiled -- a smile that James, Remus, Peter and Moody would have recognized. Then they would have gleefully began taking bets on how few words it would take for Sirius to send the poor fool packing.

It took nine ("If I see you again, I will kill you.") and a slammed door. A rather mild flair of anger for the tempermental nineteen-year-old, but he refused to lose his temper with an idiot.

Moody turned back to Sirius. "Well?"

"They are going to find his body at the bottom of a river someday and nobody's going to hunt down the killer."

"Oh?"

"Yes. He has just confirmed my belief that they're all completely mad. My relatives, i mean. Except for possibly Andromeda."

Moody waited, and the whole story spilled out. By the time it was over, Moody was both thoughtful and interested. James hadn't moved a muscle, which was odd, since if Moody found it interesting, James would find it downright exciting. Sirius leaned over the back of the couch to peer at the article he was reading.

Magick's Top Ten Sexy And Sultry Summer

Honeymoon Spots

Sirius snickered. James, to be married in three weeks, was completely absorbed and didn't notice he was being laughed at until Sirius stole his glasses off his nose.

As James blindly lunged and Sirius easily dodged, Moody asked, playing along and pretending no to notice James's plight, "And how do you really feel about this?"

"Ready to become an only child," Sirius replied as he sidestepped. James rammed into Moddy's desk, knocking down a stack of files in the process.

"Okay, give them back," Moody ordered as he gazed mournfully at the files he would have to reorganize.

Sirius handed the glasses over and James, after putting them on and studying his best friend's face, said, "Gee, Padfoot, you look like you want to bite something. What happened?"

Sirius just rolled his eyes.

Cities grow, rivers flow
Where you are, I'll never know
But I'm still here
If you were right and I was wrong
Why are you the one who's gone
And I'm still here
The lights go out, the bridges burn
Once you're gone, you can't return
I'm still here
Remember how you use to say I'd be the one to run away
But I'm still here

I'm still here

~Verical Horizon

Three Years Later

Regulus stood on the island, shaking from the potion and staring at his prize.

He had watched, over the years, as the Dark Lord became less .... human, Regulus supposed, was the best word. He listen carefully to his crypic comments, and finally he had pieced it together: Horcruxes. Most likely more than one. Six, probably, Voldemort being such an idealist, with the seventh part of soul still inside his body. Seven, the most powerful number.

That's the problem with evil villains, though. They are all idealists. And that makes them terribly predictable.

He had been right.

But so had Sirius. Oh, Sirius, you were right. I'm so sorry I didn't listen. I guess I thought I could have both you and Mother and Father. I was so naive; so wrong. i wish I had chosen you.

He picked up the locket. So small and beautiful, yet so evilly dangerous. He pocketed it, then pulled out it's replacement. He was about to put it in the basin when his sense of irony came to the fore. How, with this blasted potion muddling his brains, he did not know.

I should leave a note.

He ahd the materials with him, so he didn't see why not. He knelt on the cold stone floor of the island and began to write.

To the Dark Lord

I know I will be dead long befor you read this

He did know it; no way was he staying with the Death Eaters.

but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.

I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destry it as soon as I can.

Obviously. Oh, Voldemort was going to love this.

I face death in hope that when you meet your match

You will be mortal once more.

He considered putting his name, but decided against it. Voldemort would knowwho he was. Initails would be fine.

R.A.B.

Perfect.

He folded it and slipped it inside the false Horcrux, then dropped it all into the basin. There was a clink as it hit bottom, then the potion replentished itself, obscuring the locket from view.

Mission acomplished.

Almost.

I tried to be perfect
It just wasn't worth it
Nothing could ever be so wrong
It's hard to believe me
It never gets easy
I guess I knew that all along

~Sum 41

"Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix shrieked cruelly, but Regulus died with a smile on his lips. It was gone. Destroyed. Forever.

You would be proud, Sirius.