Regulus Black the Potions Master

Capítulo 40

Regulus Black

Regulus entered the Headmaster's office to find Dumbledore petting the phoenix on its perch. The sword, still smeared with blood, is on his desk next to the platter of lemon sweets.

"Dumbledore," the professor greets.

He approaches the desk, taking a closer look at the sword that he always saw only on display on the office wall. The only relic of the founders that hadn't been corrupted and turned into a Horcrux.

The silver blade bearing Godric Gryffindor's name was soiled with basilisk blood and poison.

"This is an impressive discovery," Dumbledore said, still paying attention to the phoenix.

Indeed, the discovery that horcruxes could be destroyed with basilisk poison, and still have one at his disposal - already dead - to destroy the others. He had waited for this for fourteen years, for a chance, an answer, a real hope of defeating Voldemort once and for all.

But at what cost? He had just handed over the mandrake restorative potion for Pomfrey to administer to the victims, in a few hours the children would be fine, but the experience they had lived through that year would be imprinted on everyone's mind forever.

Regulus has known from an early age that in war many things are done for victory, but he doesn't feel comfortable with the lives of so many children in the line of fire. Because in the end, they will always be the ones who get hurt the most, no matter who wins. If there are any winners.

"I'd prefer it without everything involved," he replies, "but we can't go back in time."

"Correct, young man."

Regulus rolled his eyes and finally looked away from the sword.

"So, you've returned to your position, and Malfoy has lost him on the Parent-Teacher Council." This is very amusing for Regulus, he can feel his lips tightening into a smile, but he restrains himself.

"I've been thinking, with the new findings, we can finally put an end to our little problem."

Regulus nodded, choosing to ignore Dumbledore's choice of words so as not to stress himself out.

Come to think of it, maybe he should hang out with fewer Gryffindor boys, it would do his mental health good.

"Since Mr. Potter was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets, and the only one with the skills to do it again, I think it's a good idea for him to stay in the castle over the summer to help us with our project."

"You want him to destroy the Horcruxes himself," Regulus replied, "because he hasn't been traumatized by one enough?"

"I don't intend to tell him what they are."

That's good, it would be a terrible conversation to tell a child that he's killing pieces of the soul of the man who killed his parents.

"So what will you tell him?"

"I'll invite him to stay and help you with the collection of basilisk-based ingredients."

"And occasionally stab objects with the fangs of the same animal."

Regulus bit his tongue. The plan was shit, but it would work, he wouldn't argue this time. The boy will be safe at Hogwarts, the Horcruxes will be destroyed and he'll have a large stock of expensive and rare ingredients, considering the year he's had, Regulus will take whatever victories he can get.

How nice, it would be a terrible conversation to tell a child that he is killing pieces of the soul of the man who killed his parents.

"So what will you say to him?"