#Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

[magnificentandstrange]

[ladyknight33]

Severus Snape, The Lost Lily, and A Certain Kind of Courage

Not enough credit is given for the type of courage that allows an insecure boy to stand in enemy territory and apologize. It is the same type of courage that has allowed him to behave as a spy in the most dangerous situations of the story. The books inform us that Severus has insulted Lily multiple times, perhaps indirectly, when in conversation because of his constant acquaintance with Slytherins who referred to her as a Mudblood. In order to maintain relations with his Housemates, he needed to use the same vocabulary otherwise they would ostracize him along side the rest of the school. The books also say that Lily forgave him frequently for these transgresses and even defended him to her friends. Because of these references, she might not have had the slur directed at her from Severus’s own mouth. Only in passing in referring to the Muggleborn population. This could explain her outrage at the callous behavior Severus gave her following the “Worst Memory” incident and why she never forgave him.

To better understand why Lily took the derogatory slur so harshly, one needs to understand why Severus would have lashed out in such a horrid manner. Many readers insist that there is no forgiveness for this behavior, but circumstances pushed him into a no win situation.

First of all, the Marauders attacked Severus unprovoked. (This isn’t say that Severus never attacked first, but in this instance he was the victim) James Potter’s attacks were less harmful in the physical sense, but emotionally they caused embarrassment and lasting mental damage to Severus from the inability to defend himself.  Second, Lily attempted to call James’s off no less than six times (HP OotP, Ch. 28). Fueling Severus’s embarrassment to have a girl defend him yet again when James actually relented. 

“There you go,” he said, as Snape struggled to his feet again, “you’re lucky Evans was here, Snivellus –“

“I don’t need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!”

Lily blinked. “Fine,” she said cooly. “I won’t bother in the future. And I’d wash your pants if I were you Snivellus.” (HP OotP Ch. 28)

There was a moment hesitation in Lily’s response that suggests surprise and shock, inferring that Severus had never referred to her directly as a Mudblood. Lily not one to be insulted returned in kind which no doubt destroyed Severus’s heart. His one friend and defender had abandoned him. This was likely the moment when Severus knew he had made the most grievous error of his life.

This error was fueled by years of influence by Slytherins such as Malfoy, Nott, and Mulciber. Severus had grown accustom to the slur’s constant use in casual reference and was expected to use the term without hesitation. By this point in his schooling years he was probably having to hide his interest in having Lily as a friend publicly in order to stay friends with his Housemates. 

The stress and embarrassment of the situation in such a public manner likely did cause Severus’s vocabulary to slip out the insult. He needed to appear as the consummate Slytherin in the eyes of his racially bigoted friends and he had to appear self reliant in terms of the stereotypical male who does not seek protection from women. Most all cultures have this image of a strong male and seem to indicate that needing a female to fight his battles is considered weak. Given the home life of Severus Snape he likely learned this behavior from a strong willed Tobias Snape. 

While no one is free from fault, circumstances, stress, embarrassment, shame and anger do cause people to say and do things they would otherwise not do. This combination of emotions does cause people to act irrationally. Teenagers are the best examples of people making irrational decisions. Everything from trying illegal drugs, drinking and driving, and defying a parent because of a simple misunderstanding are examples from real life. Granting another chance to people who do make horrible decisions while stressed is up to the victim of the attack. In this case, Lily decided that there could be no more chances.

Now with the emotional state of Severus Snape explained, it is time to talk about the courage it took to stand in front of the Gryffindor Common Room demanding to see Lily. He threatened to sleep there which meant he did not care about the rules or how the students of Slytherin would laugh at his decision. At that moment in his life Severus cared about nothing more than apologizing and seeking forgiveness for what he had done. Admitting fault is a difficult thing to do at the best of times, carrying with it the shame and humiliation all its own. Doing so publicly takes great courage. This is the courage of doing what must be done. 

Severus Snape, who is not like by many people, influenced by hatred and bigotry, and faces ridicule for his choices, is able to swallow his pride and do what he knows is right. Argue that this is only because he does not want to loose Lily Evans and that would be correct. At this point in his life he has very little support in the social structure. He needs all the friends he can find. At this point in his life sexual interests have not been revealed. There is no evidence that he sought after Lily for anything other than a friend. 

The courage it took to stand there and listen to Lily reject him while trying to apologize is breathtaking. This is the courage that allows him to stand before great evil and not waver. He has already felt the guilt of being unable to save what is lost. So he tries to salvage what he can. At this turning point in his life he is crying out for help but is unable to express himself. He wants to do right but his only outlet pulls him deeper into Voldemort’s grasp. With his last bridge of friendship with Lily burned, he likely had no more strength to resist the inclusion he felt with his Death Eater friends.

He still had the strength of mind to feel concern for Lily’s safety. Keep in mind that when the prophecy was first heard and reported no one knew who the child was. Severus had made the only choice he felt was left to him by becoming a Death Eater and in his mind getting even with Dumbledore by reporting the prophecy would have been high on his list of priorities. It was not until Voldemort chose his victim did anyone know who was in danger. Severus probably felt extreme guilt at passing the information, but he could not have known that Voldemort would choose the Potters as the most dangerous. 

To his credit, Severus had the courage to ask the Dark Lord to spare Lily’s life. Many people, including Dumbledore, ask why ask for only the woman’s life. The reason is clear. Voldemort had chosen his victim and if Severus Snape had ask for the family to be spared then he would appear to be a traitor and destroyed. He could get away with asking for a woman he had loved since childhood. Voldemort knew of sexual desires and assumed Severus asked for a woman because he desired her. This is where the sexual definition of love started to develop. Severus never claimed it was true only that Voldemort made that assumption. Severus allowed the assumption to stand because it shielded him from suspicion. 

When he begged Dumbledore for Lily’s life, Dumbledore accused him of only caring about her. Given the known history that would be a safe assumption. Of course Lily is Severus’s first thought. She was his first and only best friend. There would be some resentment over James Potter putting her in danger. But notice that it was not Dumbledore who insisted on protecting the family. Dumbledore asked “why did you not ask Voldemort to save the whole family?” which is a ridiculous thing to ask the man trying to kill said family. Severus was the one to volunteer the request to save the family. Yes, he wanted Lily safe and understood that to do so would require saving her family. He would not see James and Harry killed for the sake of one person.

Severus made a dangerous choice in seeking out Dumbledore. He is shown to be afraid during the confrontation, starting out by begging, “Don’t kill me!” Severus knew this meeting could easily end in his death or imprisonment and Lily was more important than either. His courage was fueled by fear at this point, but he still knew what had to be done and was willing to face the consequences.

During the Voldemort’s second rise to power, Severus hung between trust and traitor. He walked in two worlds where people refused to believe he was truly on their side. Constantly having to put up with the comments and insults. He bore this as best as his bitterness allowed him. But when faced with the task of killing Dumbledore, the courage needed to complete it was overwhelming. From Severus’s own memories it is known that he did not want to do as ordered. As shown with Draco Malfoy, killing is not so easy a task when one’s heart is not evil. This again is the courage of what must be done. Not because it is right, or because it is glamorous. But because it is the only option to reach the end goal. 

Traditional heroes would have balked at killing a friend who would otherwise die a horrible death. Readers curse Severus for this action, one among many. If this horrible decision had not been made, then the ability to protect the students at Hogwarts and pass along vital information to Harry at the right time would never have come to be. 

No matter how furious the Order of the Phoenix was at Severus’s actions, they needed him to do the dirty work of spying for them. With the information he brought them, they could then be the heroes everyone expects.

[dailyquotes6563]

Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

[healing-your-inner-child]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[thatslytherinqueen]

Tonks 😊💜💜💜

[nudistrose]

Call Her Phoenix Rose 🐦‍🔥

[bblinkppotterr]

Yes I want more of Harry think of her glowing cheeks and Cheshire cat smile while DA 💝💝💝

brought to you by harry unconsciously watching ginny practice her patronus in the middle of DA when he’s supposed to be teaching

[n1ght-vngel]

MORE HARRY POTTER MEMES

[l-egionaire]

You know, I remember that line in Order of the Pheonix where Hermione says the Ministry would realize Sirius wasn't a real Death Eater when they start rounding up real ones, partially because he doesn't have the Dark Mark, but......why would that be evidence? Like, the story behind Sirius was that he was a spy in the Order for Voldemort, so why WOULD he have the Dark Mark? Having it would blow his cover.

[asianfrootloops]

once again saying that if you want to read a book about magic and wizards and them being sorted into cliques, you can try red magic by jen mcconnell. LIKE THE ONLY PEOPLE I'VE MET WHO'VE READ IT IS THE FRIEND WHO INTRODUCED ME TO IT AND THE FRIEND I INTRODUCED IT TO. till now i've only read the first book but it is really good and it even ties in different mythologies so if you're in the riordanverse you would probably like this too. FORGET HARRY POTTER ALREADY ITS NOT SOME MASTERPIECE.

[magnificentandstrange]

[a-feller]

When reading a book, watching a show or a movie, or even experiencing real life, I often find, when a major character or important person dies, I mourn, not so much the person but more their loved ones, the great bond lost and the incredible damage done to them. Over time, almost subconciously I have grown to value a great bond of love, lust, friendship, romance, great platonic love, or that weird sixth thing two inseperable stray cats have, almost as much as human knowledge, something I greatly revere. This is most prominent in fantasy worlds, where for certain there is some haven beyond the barrier of death, where a person and their knowledge can go to live in harmony after whatever happened to them. Yet leaving their loved ones behind for years to come, perhaps forever. Maybe it is more amplified in the real world, or universes like the star wars one and my belief of real life, where there is no life after death. Just nothing. All bonds severed by death's scythe in one fell swoop.

I will list an example for every book/tv show/movie I can. Spoilers ahead for: The Bad Batch, The Scythe series by Neal Shusterman, Harry Potter, Trials Of Apollo, The Six of Crows duology, The Lord of The Rings

The death of Tech, a clone from the bad batch. His close, paternal bond with Omega, shattered as he sacrificed himself before her eyes, the unrequited mutual love with the pirate lady whom he promised he would come back safely and of course the rest of the bad batch, now a gaping hole within their group.

The death of Tiger, the Best friend of Rowan in the scythe series, slain by people he was played by and his body contorted into a new one for Rowan's greatest enemy. Their friendship gone and spited by the monstosity created from his headless corpse.

The death of Sirius Black and the huge damage it did to Harry and Remus Lupin. Harry losing his first ever loving paternal figure he can remember and Lupin losing a dear best friend (or more considering what half of you post about)

The death of Jason Grace. Killed slowing down an unkillable enemy to save his friends and close-ex-lover Piper McLean, leaving behind at least a dozen dear friends who fought, battle after battle together, almost dying time and time again, only for him to fall far away, after it was meant to be over. And specifically Nico Di Angelo who as anyone who read the book will know had a priceless, unique friendship with him that simply could not be created with another.

The death of Matthias Hevlar, just beggining to fit in with the people around them and his romantic relationship just springing up with Nina, those bonds once again shattered, and the last thing he asked for was a kiss (hold up just gonna go cry for a second).

Edit: The edit is here for the smoothness of the post. I cannot believe I forgot. The very ones who inspired me to make this post in the first place. David and Genya from the Grishaverse and the King Of Scars duology. Another romantic one I'm aware however they had just had a wonderful ceremony, a proper marriage at last. And then David left to go do something and the city was attacked by bomber planes. He wasn't seen throughout the following fight until Genya noticed his absence at the end. They later pulled his body out of the rubble. Some ink Genya was fussing over still there. Queue the funeral, Genya, in private afterwards reads from his notebooks containing all the little things he picked up on that make her happy (hair, skin etc). I am genuinely tearing up just thinking about it. David was also a leader and a role model to the other Grisha, especially other fabrikators. Close friends with Nikolai and Zoya. All of these bonds gone.

The leaving of Frodo Baggins. This one is a little different as he isn't dead but to all of his friends but Gandalf and Bilbo, he is. Never able to be seen or contacted again, no way to hear or feel them either. Sam, who carried him up a mountain. Refused to leave his side ever. Pippin, Merry, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, All his shire friends, All the people they met along the way. Those bonds were shattered as if he was dead.

This last one is very different. It takes place in the real world. This death is obviously a thousand times more important then any of the others. A real human with thoughts, feelings and of course friends. This person is Technoblade. Funny, kind, skillful, he was friends with pretty much everyone he played with, best friends with those like Philza and of course the people around him in real life. The innumerable amount of people he either just made laugh, or helped get through some really dark times. Like me. 10 million people. Bonds reasonably one way but still there. 10 million people. Bonds snapped like rubber bands. All his friends. Online and off. Those he helped, those he inspired. All grieving with that bond suddenly a gaping hole, all lost. o7 Techno. Fly high.

Edit: I cannot believe I forgot. The very ones who inspired me to make this post in the first place,

[rosie-love98]

Which Is Supposed To Be Marlene?:

Is she the brunette or the blonde? Have either actress been identified?

[healing-your-inner-child]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[undercoverduggarblog]

at first i thought it was just carlin, but then i saw the actual website has it misspelled. i’m begging fundie influencers to use spellcheck

[jegulushouse]

Regulus & The Cave

⦁ Harry, in cannon, is a pseudo-horcrux because Voldemort murdered Lily Evans Potter but Lily's love-protection-thing protected Harry from the killing curse meant for him and backfired on Voldemort who's soul was so damaged and unstable from creating many horcruxes that his remaining soul like shattered or something and part of it attached to the nearest living thing: baby Harry Potter. He's not a proper horcrux because Voldemort didn't intend to do it and didn't complete the process with the spell.

⦁ In my AU, Harry is a pseudo-horcrux like canon but it happened differently. Lily wasn't murdered. Instead the act of killing baby Harry is the required horrific act of murder but the backfire which killed Voldemort instead is the required death. I broke the required cold-blooded murder part into two parts; the remorseless intention and action(s) toward murdering somebody and the death of someone. You'd need both to create a horcrux and would accomplish both in a cold-blooded murder. A situation where someone died to protect an attempted-murder victim wouldn't create a horcrux unless the person trying to commit murder (and a horcrux) casts the completion spell then and there. Voldemort did it unintentionally because he was already unstable then died via backfiring killing curse.

⦁ The idea that Harry would become a (pseudo-)horcrux didn't occur to Regulus. Like with Snape in cannon, Dumbledore didn't tell Regulus or the Potters that Harry had to die for Voldemort to truly die.

⦁ There's debate on when Regulus Black's birthday is. Google said June 25 which I like bc mine is June 24. I'm going with June 25.

⦁ Regulus discovered that Voldemort made a horcrux a few weeks after he graduated when he nearly killed Kreacher. Voldemort was counting on the house elf dying.

⦁ Regulus switched sides and went to Dumbledore not long after his 18th birthday with his horcrux information. Dumbledore already knew and suspected multiple. Regulus thought it was only the one.

⦁ It was Regulus' who didn't want to tell his brother that he was a double agent. He thought Sirius would give him away, even in an effort not too. Besides, he figured since he believed when he joined that it was the right thing to do, that he deserved his brothers hate.

⦁ Besides, he'd likely die trying to get the horcrux or he'd be killed by Voldemort if he figured him out. Or he'd die fighting this war.

⦁ Point is, Regulus had enough painful memories of not being good enough for anyone but Sirius' mattered and he just didn't want to hear about how he was too late. Utter failure was easier to handle than Almost There.

⦁ When he entered the cave, Regulus was aware there was a very realistic probability of him dying in the cave. That's why he brought Kreacher.

⦁ Regulus would've liked a more thought out plan but when it became evident that the Potters were out of time, he knew there wouldn't be another chance soon.

⦁ If all went right then Dumbledore would be at the Potters and Voldemort would walk right into a half baked trap in which Dumbledore could kill him.

⦁ What would more likely occur is Voldemort showing up at the Potters with back up death eaters and Dumbledore wouldn't Kill him and people would likely die.

⦁ Depending on Voldemort's mood or the presence of werewolves, it could be a blood bath.

⦁ Whatever happened, Voldemort was occupied and if he felt Regulus destroy part of his soul, well he'd be occupied by a task which he would never delegate to a follower which gave Regulus a sliver of a chance to get away undetected. If he survived.

⦁ Horcruxes are very dark magic and Regulus assumed that Voldemort only dared to make one. Some of his work was centered around that assumption which lead to him believing that Voldemort would feel the destruction of his horcrux.

⦁ I imagine if Regulus found himself on a salt water beach sometime after the war that he'd be unsettled by the sound of water, especially crashing against rocks, combined with that strong salt water taste in the air and on his lips. A light way of saying it would be a PTSD trigger.

⦁ Regulus ordered the house elf to bring him to the location of the horcrux about a year after Kreacher nearly died.

⦁ He'd spent that year (6/79-6/80) studying horcruxes with Dumbledore. Trying to find any and all information on them that they could.

⦁ The problem was that horcruxes are consider so dark that even most dark wizards would be horrified by the creation of one. The practice of hiding the written words, not writing more and not saying anything to the newer generation in hopes of the knowledge being lost to history seems to be the favored practice. For Regulus and Dumbledore and even Riddle, that made getting information a very difficult challenge.

⦁ The first time he was there, Regulus studied the cave opening. His skin itched from the magic radiating within.

⦁ He knew he wasn't ready to go inward and he was careful not to preform any magic of his own to decrease the chances that it would become known to Voldemort that Regulus, or anyone, had been there and didn't die in the process. It was doubtful that Voldemort would think to look for Regulus' trace but it wasn't a chance worth taking. Kreacher used the minimal needed magic since the house elf magic trace is much more difficult for a wizard to pick up on.

⦁ I reread Chapter 26 "The Cave" from Harry potter and the Half-Blood Prince to write this with proper details. It's when Dumbledore brought Harry to the cave holding Slytherin's locket and drank the green potion.

⦁ He spent the majority of the following year preparing to get and destroy a horcrux; Voldemort's horcrux which meant also studying the magic and habits of Voldemort himself. He practiced defensive and useful spells like he was a 15 year old student again preparing for his OWLs. He still didn't feel ready in October of '81 but it was time.

⦁ The waves crashed against the rocks and wind howled as it tossed his curls around. He could taste the salt in the air and it stung his nostrils when he plunged into the icy waters.

⦁ Kreacher clung to the hood of his cloak as he swam toward the cave opening that took the appearance of a large crack splitting a huge rock into two. Further into the opening, the jagged crack became a narrow tunnel, which during the low tide should be empty or shallow enough to get inside.

⦁ A simple drying spell followed by a heating charm on his clothes calmed his shivers in a few minutes but the uncomfortable itch of the magic within the cave became more pronounced as he carried forward.

⦁ The tunnel lead to a den-like opening where it appeared to be the end. Regulus knew it was an illusion. Like the first time, Kreacher lead Regulus to a particular spot of rock wall. "It is hidden, Master."

⦁ Regulus waited a moment before realizing the elf wouldn't act without an order so he pulled his wand from his robes and made the entrance reveal itself.

⦁ "Blood, Master. It requires payment. Kreacher is will--"

⦁ "That is fine, Kreacher. I can do that." Regulus interrupted. He knew that already too. The elf offered last time as well. Like then, Regulus brought his wand to his right forearm and sliced his arm open, about two inches and only deep enough for blood to spill over the curve of his arm and on to the desired rock.

⦁ He went too deep the first time and didn't heal it very well so it left a small two inch scar on his right outer forearm.

⦁ Behind the entrance lie darkness.

⦁ "Lumos." He muttered. The black lake was just as he recalled it; still and dark and so large he couldn't see the other side nor the cave ceiling. The distant green hue remained too.

⦁ His wand lit the way for him and Kreacher but the darkness was so much bigger then his light and completely surrounding them.

⦁ This is as far as he went last time.

⦁ He turned to Kreacher and crouched to his level. "Understand me here. Don't touch the water. Be very careful about that. You are to follow my every order, okay? If I say 'Leave me to die' then I mean leave this place and me here to die. You act if I fail, not the other way around. Otherwise, you're a mostly useless insurance policy if I don't die. Now stay close."

⦁ They walked with Regulus leading and lighting the way until Kreacher stopped. Regulus noticed quickly that he was no longer being followed when he couldn't hear the house elf's shuffling in the eerie silence. He turned around and saw Kreacher crouching to inspect the still, black water. "What is it, Kreacher? Do you see something?"

⦁ "There's a boat here, Master. It's also hidden. Under the water, Master Regulus."

⦁ Once he knew it was there, raising the boat was a simple task. Kreacher went in first, then Regulus and the boat began moving on its own. It knew it's route. Soon Regulus and Kreacher were surrounded by still water with nothing else in their line of sight.

⦁ Regulus would've discover the bodies in the water by wand light like Harry did in cannon but after the crap he's seen as Voldemort's follower and a soldier of active war, he wouldn't be so shocked.

⦁ He would've thought them simply to be dead people but he could feel the magic around the boat, under it. They might be dead people, but they weren't simply that.

⦁ The boat took them toward the green hue which turned out to be a small island with a glowing basin carved from rock. The thing that glowed was the solid, emerald colour of the potion inside the basin.

⦁ Regulus summoned a stick and swirled the potion but it didn't make the potion any clearer. It didn't do anything.

⦁ Then he chanced touching it but he couldn't; he was stopped by an invisible barrier which didn't allow skin contact.

⦁ He did everything Dumbledore tried with Harry in the 6th book; Vanishing, parting, scooping and siphoning it away as well as transfiguring and charming it to change form. Obviously, it all failed.

⦁ "I have to drink it." He said, not really to Kreacher. "It could be poison. There's no other option."

⦁ "Master Regu--" "No. I didn't bring you here to die."

⦁ Regulus stared into the green potion. What would it do if it didn't kill him?

⦁ (He ignored the part of him which wanted Sirius, the part of him that suddenly wished he at least wrote a letter before leaving or risked the hurt to tell Sirius that he figured out how to be good.)

⦁ Then he squared his shoulders and looked down to Kreacher. "Alright, here are your orders. They may be my dying orders and I expect you to follow through. I don't know what's going to happen, or what I'll do or say so you are to make sure I drink all of it and anything I say, any orders I give to stop or slow down or anything that means I'm not drinking that potion, after I start are to be ignored until I've consumed the whole potion. Do you understand me?"

⦁ "Yes, Master Regulus, Sir." "Okay, and if it kills me, try to get the horcrux and go, in that order, but not at the expense of your life. If you must, leave it. Save yourself. Don't waste efforts on my body; the tapestry will let people know."

⦁ Telling a house elf to be obedient is redundant but if there was a time Kreacher may disobey, it would be to save himself from being without a master.

⦁ Maybe it was wishful thinking, like he hoped Kreacher cared, because there other Blacks beyond Regulus.

⦁ Regulus summoned a goblet, filled it from the basin and raised it half-heartedly. He recalled a time he and Sirius were little and they still played hide and seek. Kreacher was always 'it' and they kept a score board. Then he downed the goblet's contents.

⦁ He refilled and emptied the goblet three times quickly. The dizziness and gut cramps hit sudden and hard but he fought to keep upright. And drain another goblet.

⦁ That cause the dizziness the wash over him in a wave taking his hearing. He could distantly hear Kreacher calling for him and Sirius too. When did Sirius get here? He couldn't be.

⦁ For moment he thought he dropped the cup as it left his hand until it levitated to his lips and he remember to drink it. He didn't notice when he squeezed his eyes shut, as if that would help.

⦁ The goblet was empty and gone and pain coiled in his guts, raising in his chest. Then the goblet was back at his lips. "No.. 'S no good." He tried to swat the cup but he fell instead. When did he grab the basin? Letting go wasn't smart, was it?

⦁ "Master, must drink."

⦁ "No, no.. I don' wan'.. Please, no.." In his fall, he made himself low enough for the house elf to grab his face and pour the potion down his throat.

⦁ The goblet left and returned. "Please, no more."

⦁ Pain snaked up his spine and he shrieked. Yet the goblet returned with more.

⦁ "No more, no more,"

⦁ "You got yourself into this position." Why was Sirius here?

⦁ "'S'r'us, 'm good." He needed to tell him. A distant part of Regulus was sure he was dying so he needed Sirius to know. Sirius might still hate him, but maybe a little less if he knew.

⦁ Another goblet. "Good at following blindly. First our parents, then your stupid friends, then the Dark Lord. Even Dumbledore! And now, a house elf. Ouch, that's pretty low."

⦁ "No, 'm not foll'ing.. the Dar' Lor'. 'S wha' 'm saying."

⦁ "You're gonna die in here." "S'rry. I didn' mean to."

⦁ "It won't be quick. You should stop." "I don' wan' it."

⦁ Regulus, unfortunately, had plenty of experience with the torture curse. And he'd take another round over the pain that came with the ninth goblet. Pain and alertness, his fav combo.

⦁ At first, it didn't click that the shrieks and sobs were his.

⦁ "St-Stop! Please! Just please! Sirius, help!"

⦁ Another goblet. "No! I want to stop!"

⦁ Another. "Just Kill me! Kill me, please!"

⦁ Final goblet and blissful darkness.

⦁ He woke crumpled over on his side covered in sweat and feeling like a dried out cucumber. Water.

⦁ He lifted his head and found Kreacher wasn't anywhere in sight.

⦁ Water. He needed some water.

⦁ He coughed and dropped his head back down to the dirt. He saw the goblet next to him. "Water." He rasped. He really needed some water.

⦁ "Water." He made a weak hand motion at the cup.

⦁ He move toward the still water in a pathetic crawl with arms and leg that refused to listen to him.

⦁ The water roared to life the instant he touched it with his fingers. A pale and skinny undead hand grabbed his wrist and started pulling him face forward.

⦁ Such an odd angle to be at, eye level, as hundreds of Inferi broke that surface.

⦁ He wasn't so thirsty anymore, like contact with water was a cure, and he knew he wouldn't be able to escape them.

⦁ Kreacher was gone. He must've thought Regulus died and followed orders.

⦁ Then a loud crack echoed throughout the cave followed a moment later by a plethora of light and warmth from directly behind. Only when the ring went over his head and over the water, scaring the Inferi off and back under the water did Regulus see that it was fire. He pushed himself onto his back and saw Dumbledore wielding the ring of fire with his wand and beside him was Kreacher who was wearing a locket.

⦁ "Up, my boy," Dumbledore said, using a single hand to heave Regulus up by the arm and bearing over half his weight while maintaining the fire. He did so with surprising strength and ease. "You've done well."

⦁ "Where's Sirius? He was here. I think he was."

⦁ "Sirius is at St. Mungo's. He was never here."

⦁ "No. No, healers.." Regulus muttered, tipping toward delirious again.

⦁ They used Kreacher to apparate out of the cave.

⦁ (Doing so would alert the Inferi but Dumbledore could handle so it was a worthwhile quick method. Reg wanted to sneak in, but he nearly died and that element was no longer important.)

⦁ Regulus was out of it leaving the cave. Kreacher brought them to Grimmauld Place. (It would've been left to Reg by his parents.)

The Black Brothers Reunion (01:00 November 13 1981)

⦁ I initially thought Sirius would be angry or something every time I go to write that, I can't. So I changed the tone; Sirius isn't angry. More tired then anything else.

⦁ Regulus recovered from the potion quickly but it lowered his already low immune system response and immediately after, he caught a severe stomach bug.

⦁ Regulus felt the wards being tempered with and found someone sitting at the bar in the drawing room, preparing two glasses. He wandered closer under the dim lighting, wand ready in the sleeve of his night shirt, and got a better look.

⦁ Part of him would've rathered an intruder. He was more ready for that.

⦁ "Sirius." He said stiffly.

⦁ "Reg." Sirius sighed, sitting back in his chair (though Reg was no fool, tension rolled off his mock relaxation) and pushing the one of the drinks forward, "I'm not doing this sober. How ill are you?"

⦁ Dumbledore told him. Sirius probably shouldn't've been surprised; Regulus was sick a lot growing up and Sirius took care of him before Hogwarts.

⦁ "I have no desire to up anything else. You drink though."

⦁ Sirius left the two glasses. "Are you going to sit?"

⦁ Regulus' hair was grown out a bit, falling in front of his eyes and mussed from sleep. He was using it to hide his eyes from Sirius. He'd feared this moment, Sirius could say many things and Regulus is pretty sure none would sooth the creeping anxiety.

⦁ He sat next to Sirius, keeping one stool between them. He was tired and he wanted sleep almost as bad as he wanted water in the cave.

⦁ Then, in the cave too, the only thing he wanted more was Sirius.

⦁ He just wished he had the energy to explain himself; the ability to make his brain think. "Sirius, I--"

⦁ Sirius placed the back of his hand on Regulus' forehead. They both ignored his flinch and Reg tried not to feel seven. "I know, Reggie. Lily and Dumbledore told me. Lily said there's a couple things that can't be shared but you were helping us. You save James and Lily and little Harry. She said in more ways then one."

⦁ "They did?" He couldn't resist leaning into Sirius' cool fingers. Sirius wiped the tears away as soon as they spilled down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I-I'm really sorry, Si-Sirius--"

⦁ "Shhh, it's okay." Sirius whispered, standing and pulling Regulus with him. "C'mon, you have a fever."

⦁ Regulus followed easily, a true testament to his exhaustion, and didn't stop trying to explain himself. "I messed it up- so bad, I m-messed up. I want- want to fix it. Sirius, I t-tried. I want to- to be like you; g-good."

⦁ "You are, Reg. You did good, okay? It's okay." Sirius murmured, as he lowed Regulus it the nest spilling out of the closet. "You're okay."

⦁ "Don't go." Regulus mutter, sounding like they were little again.

⦁ "I won't." Sirius said, sinking down to sit beside the nest.

⦁ Regulus saw him through rose-tinted glasses, Sirius thought, if he was his model for a good person.