Upside Down Mirror: Saving Regulus (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Desires

The boat traveled across the water getting closer to the glowing green light as Sirius and Regulus conversed, but by the time Regulus questioned why Sirius was getting mad at him for throwing his life away leaving his older brother wondering why the younger Black devalued his own life in the way he did. In the back of his mind, he attempted to plot some method of saving his younger brother, only to discover planning wasn't working.

Remus would likely argue it wasn't his strong suit while Sirius would argue that he didn't have enough details, which made him even angrier at Regulus. "No. Anger isn't quite the right word for how I feel." He could though, see the shape of an island in the green glow and Kreacher shivering, looking even more pitiful than usual. Regulus stepped out of the boat, heading towards a basin from which the green glow emanated from. Sirius followed, finding himself glaring at the basin. "What is that?"

"That?" Regulus turned towards him, his facial features cold and emotionless making Sirius wonder if he was still upset about, or all things, Sirius being upset he wanted to throw his life away. "That's hardly important?"

"Hardly important?" Sirius glared at his younger brother. "Do you even hear yourself?"

"What's inside of the basin is far more important."

Sirius wasn't sure if the thing in the basin really was far more important than his brother's life, yet he knew that wasn't what Regulus meant despite the fact it felt that way given how his brother didn't seem to value his own life. "And what per se is inside the basin?"

"A locket." Of course, while Regulus seemed to think a locket was important for some reason, Sirius couldn't see why the item was important. His younger brother turned his head away from the basin. "You and Kreacher need to destroy it."

"You're..." Sirius wanted to chew his younger brother out for implying yet again he didn't think he would make it out alive without giving any real details regarding what was going on.

"Kreacher does not want to work with the filthy runaway." Kreacher, Sirius couldn't help but notice that the House Elf was more on edge than usual nor did he like the way he glared at Sirius.

"It's an order," Kreacher.

"Regulus, I still don't know what is going on here. You've been overly vague, but already told me you don't expect to get out of this alive." This of course made Kreacher begin to rail, not to mention cling to Regulus, his bony little fingers twisting into the cloth of Regulus' clothing.

"Could you just leave it alone?" Regulus glared at him, one hand touching the top of Kreacher's head. "I didn't have to bring you along."

"Yes, well, you also haven't told me exactly what I am supposed to do."

"I did. You're going to help Kreacher destroy the locket he hid here."

"Regulus..." Sirius closed his eyes. "I still don't know anything about what is going on, but remember what we talked about in the boat and how not everybody understands your thought process?"

"When the locket is removed from the basin, Kreacher will take you somewhere safe so you can destroy the locket. I don't like the headmaster of Hogwarts, but he'll know what it is." Regulus stood there, a hand still on the top of Kreacher's head while the thing continued clinging to him, his fingers twisting into his brother's clothing while glaring at Sirius.

"A safe place? Do you really think I'd let that thing know where I live, let any of the safe houses I might know of?"

"This isn't a trap Sirius, but if it makes you happy..." Regulus turned his head towards the family House Elf. "You're not to tell anybody the location Sirius tells you."

"Kreacher already knows where the filthy runaway is when he wants to find him." Kreacher's words made Sirius cringe. "As much as Kreacher hates it, Kreacher can not betray a member of the House of Black even if said filthy runaway broke the mistress's

heart."

Meaning Kreacher would definitely turn him in if he could, which simply made him hate the House Elf even more. Regulus continued looking at the House Elf while Sirius silently fumed, but then he turned and looked at his brother. "Well. Since Kreacher already knows where you live, that should work as the safe place he takes you?"

"That..." Sirius took a deep breath. "That's beside the point. That is so beside the point."

"Well, since you're avoiding giving me an answer I'm ordering Kreacher to take you there unless you give him an order to take you somewhere else."

"Me, give an order to..." Sirius pressed his mouth shut, then said, "You're not one to talk about being evasive which his answers."

"Am I?" His attention turned back to the bin, yet Sirius couldn't help but feel there was a slight look of fear in his brother's eyes. He stepped over, looking at the green liquid filling the basin.

"I don't see a locket."

"You didn't think he wouldn't have some kind of defenses?"

"Regulus..."

"It's a potion, Sirius."

"A potion?" Sirius felt like throwing up. "And how do you..."

Before he could ask Regulus how he knew all of this let alone where this place was, the importance of the locket still evading him, Kreacher interrupted him. "Kreacher will drink the potion Master Regulus."

"No. I'll drink the potion." Regulus took a deep breath, then continued speaking while Sirius found himself holding back yelling at his younger brother, knowing full well drinking said potion was a good idea. "No matter what happens, no matter how bad things get, I need you to continue giving me the potion Kreacher."

"What the bloody hell Regulus!" Sirius felt his throat tighten, no longer able to hold back, at least not completely. "What the hell did you even bring me here if I was to watch you die, you little twat.

Regulus turned, giving him a look that Sirius couldn't decipher. "I wanted a chance to say goodbye."