Hiraeth

12

"Hey, uncle Reg?"

"Hmm, yea, little one?"

"Are you awake enough right now?"

"Depends. Why, what's up?"

"I have stuff to tell you about. It's related to the horcruxes." This was what got Regulus to stiffen up, and then slowly sit up. He turned to the little girl and motioned her to continue.

"Remember the girl I told you all about, Hermione Granger? Yea, well I talked to her yesterday and she told me some things I think you need to know." Regulus leaned closer, curious as to what the girl had to say.

"Not here, come on, let's go outside." She stood, beckoning her uncle to follow her. She slowly closed the door, making sure not to wake up the sleeping couple.  As the girl led Regulus more into the forest, they came across a flower field. There was a swing at the bag connected to two big trees. She walked over to it and sat down making sure it wasn't dirty. Just as Regulus did the same, Briar told him everything.

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"So.. you're saying there might be more horcruxes?" Regulus asked the girl, leaning back and running a hand through his hair. His black curls falling on his face, his grey eyes narrowed at nothing in particular. His jaw clenched, and his breathing unstable.

"Maybe. Because from all we know, what if Kreacher didn't destroy the necklace?"

"Hmm. What if he isn't alive?What if Potter's just making it up?"

"Uncle Reg. No matter how much I'd like to entertain that thought, Potter wouldn't just kill Cedric Diggory. I hate him, and he'd do a lot for fame but he idolised Diggory. He wouldn't go that far. And besides, I saw the bald bastard with my own eyes. He is very much alive." She told him, and then added, "Hey, it's okay. I know what you're thinking, and this time you won't be alone. You have me. We both can do this together."

"No! No way. I will not let you do this. There's no way I'm dragging you into this. Do you know how dangerous this is? You're still a child, you have your whole life left!"

"And so were you! You were also a child! You also had your whole life left. You had Natalia to fight for. Yet, you still did this alone. I have no one to fight for except those young muggle born children who live in fear of death eaters murdering their family. And besides, how are you going to stop me?"

"Briar, don't. You can not do this. I will not let you do this." Regulus spoke once more, but this time with more authority in his voice. And generally, if Briar wasn't so stuck on this, she would have backed out.

"While I really appreciate you playing the father role, trust me, I will do this. I will not let you force me to back out of this, I hope you know that. If you think you and Sirius were stubborn, then I am his child and your niece. I will not let something you fought so hard for, what the order fought for, what so many people died for go to vain. It is not fair that you ruined your childhood, planning to switch the necklace and defeating you know who just for this to happen. I'm touched that you care enough about me to try and stop me from doing this, but it will not work. I will destroy the rest of the horcruxes and do whatever I have to, to finally kill that unloved son of a bitch."  She finally snapped. Her voice taut, and her eyes focused on Regulus. The older man was taken aback by her tone, and realised Briar wouldn't back out.

"Fine. But you will share every single detail of everything with me." He replied to her pointedly, receiving an 'okay, sure' from the girl.

"Now, first thing. We need to find Kreacher, and ask him about the necklace. Do you want him to know that you're alive?"