Halloween Gift from hannelore
Author: _hannelore
Title: Brothers
Characters: Regulus Black, Kreacher
Rating: PG
Warnings: canon character death, Inferi
Summary: Moments before Regulus orders Kreacher to return him to the cave, he unburdens his heart to the only one who would ever listen.
Notes: Happy Halloween, everyone! Thank you, dear hp_halloween for the years of autumnal drabbles and thank you to pauraque for the beta. ♥
Regulus held onto Kreacher. Whether it was slime or water that soaked the house-elf's filthy shirt, Regulus didn't care. Kreacher was safe.
He could feel the elf's frantic heartbeat. Regulus closed his eyes, remembering so many things he had unburdened onto his childhood friend.
"Master Regulus," Kreacher croaked. "I have to go to him."
"Tell me about the Inferi."
"Dead things that move." Kreacher shuddered. "They would have killed Kreacher had Master not told Kreacher to return right away."
"I have a secret to tell you," Regulus said. Kreacher looked up at him with his pale sunken eyes.
"I once hoped that Sirius and I would be brothers under the Dark Lord's reign," Regulus said quietly. "More than once."
"Master still believes this?"
"No," Regulus said firmly. "You are my brother now, Kreacher. We're going back to the cave."
---
As the Inferi dragged him down, Kreacher's cries still rang in his ears. His last wish was for Kreacher to escape. But now Regulus's anguished thirst was quenched and he felt strangely at peace.
Regulus caught his last glimpse of the night sky, and before bony fingers pierced his heart he focused on a single word:
Brother.