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NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER AND ATHENA found herself sat curled on James' sofa with her head rested on Dorcas' shoulder. She had a glass of rum and coke in her hand and was taking small sips as she watched James dramatically recreate the fight they'd been a part of in Paris.
"And then I was like don't touch my fiancé you dick" James called and I kneed him right in the balls before I hit him with a conjunctivitis curse"
"It was rather impressive" Lily smirked passively.
Marlene was laying out the photos she'd had developed over the carpeted floor carefully so that Sirius could see them.
"Why don't they move?" Sirius asked, leaning over Marlene's shoulder,
"It's a muggle camera you knob-head" Marlene sniggered.
"Ooh look at that!" Dorcas called, picking up one of the pictures. It was a photo of her posing in front of the Eiffel Tower, "I could be a model"
"Alright miss modest" Peter smirked as she placed the picture down.
"Pete you would have loved the bakery" Marlene gushed, "it had the best croissants I'd ever tasted"
"Don't" Peter groaned, "you'll make me jealous"
"Is Kennedy not coming at all?" Athena asked absentmindedly. Mary and Kennedy were the only ones absent. Apparently Mary was sick but Athena didn't believe that for a second, not that she was complaining.
"Nah she won't leave the apartment" Sirius shrugged, "she's alright though, just a bit hungover I assume"
"You lot need to stop inventing drinking games" James scoffed,
"You'll thank me at your next party" Sirius shrugged.
"Whose birthday is next anyway?" Marlene asked,
"Mine obviously" James rolled his eyes, "the big one nine"
"More like nine, the way you act" Athena scoffed.
"Woah woah woah" James smirked, "I did not ask to be attacked"
Everyone laughed and Athena turned to look at Remus. He was staring at the bottom of his empty glass as though expecting it to fill up on its own.
Athena felt as though they had made some progress from last week however he still wasn't himself. The problem was that Athena couldn't tell whether this was something to do with the two of them or simply having being placed under the cruciartus curse.
"We went up the tower" Marlene explained, "that's the view"
"That's... ah god I need to go to Paris" Sirius sighed,
"Yeah you do" James smirked, "we'll all go back together Padfoot"
"We better" Peter smiled, "I need to try those croissants"
"So what have you been up to while we were away Pete?" Dorcas asked,
"Not a lot" he shrugged, "there's not a lot we can do, I've been working in a bar a bit for some extra cash"
"Good for you" James smiled, "I should probably think about getting a job"
"It feels like life has paused because of the war" Athena sighed, "I mean... my parents are still sending me money and I'm nineteen years old, I should be earning my own"
"You will" Marlene smiled, "I think I'm going to take a medical course at the ministry, we have no idea how long this war is going to last and I'm sick of living with my family even though I love them"
"I told you" Dorcas yawned, "you can move in with me"
"I wouldn't be able to pay you Dee" Marlene sighed,
"You're my girlfriend, your presence is enough payment in itself... anyway you're at mine most of the time anyway"
"I guess" the blonde shrugged, "I'll think about it"
Athena smiled lightly, moving her feet into Remus' lap as she leant against Dorcas. Remus looked up in surprise but shot her a smirk before turning back to the group.
James opened his mouth to say something else when there was a sudden clatter in the fireplace behind him. He jumped about three feet in surprise as he turned around.
Kennedy appeared in a flash of green flames. For someone staying in an apartment and doing not much else she seemed very disheveled and out of breath. It took Athena a moment to notice that she was crying, a lot.
"Fuck Vulpes you gave me a—" Sirius began, "Kennedy?"
The girl stumbled forward and collapsed into Sirius' arms, clutching at his leather jacket as she sobbed into him. Athena had never seen her quite like this.
"What's going on?" Athena asked, jumping up quickly and moving over to her friend,
"I can't" she breathed through gasping sobs, "he's... fuck"
"Sit down" Sirius pulled her over to an arm chair and kneeled in front of her.
Athena did the same and watched Kennedy try and compose herself.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, "did someone break into the apartment?"
"I wasn't at the bloody apartment" Kennedy sighed,
"What?" Sirius frowned, "you barely ever leave"
"I do" she panted, "I just... I'm sorry I couldn't tell you but... fuck"
"Kennedy you're going to have to tell us what happened?" Athena sighed,
"He's... he's... he's dead" Kennedy cried out, "and I couldn't do anything to stop him"
"Who's dead?" Sirius muttered cautiously,
"Regulus"
Athena's heart dropped as she turned to Sirius. The face of the younger Black boy appeared in her mind, his slanted smile, grey eyes, black curls.
Sirius didn't say anything for a moment, his expression didn't change.
"What happened?" James asked.
"Regulus... he found something out about Voldemort... he's been trying to stop him and I've been helping somewhat" Kennedy explained, "but we didn't get very far well... until now"
"What do you mean?"
"Voldemort... he's making horcruxes" Kennedy continued, "it's where you place a section of your soul into an object and... well you can't die unless that object is destroyed"
"That's why he wants the cup" Marlene voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Regulus... well he found out where one of them was because... Voldemort took Kreacher... and Regulus was furious because he hurt him, left him for dead"
Sirius still hadn't said anything, in fact he hadn't moved at all.
"He started to go against Voldemort in his sixth year" Kennedy kept going, "he found out because Voldemort trusted him and after he took Kreacher... Regulus wanted to go and steal it".
"Where was it?"
"In some cave... we planned to go today because I knew you'd be at James'" Kennedy looked guiltily to Sirius who didn't move.
"So you went to the cave?" Athena pressed on.
"We got there with Kreacher" Kennedy nodded, "he explained how to get there... we had to give blood at the door and then there was a boat"
Kennedy paused between rasping sobs as she shook her head into her hands.
"Only one wizard could get into the boat... me and Regulus are both of age so... only he could go with Kreacher and... I had to wait"
"So where did the boat go?"
"Across the water to this big rock in the centre... it had a pedestal on it with poison in and... well to get the locket you had to drink it but it doesn't kill you"
"So he made Kreacher drink it?" Peter asked.
"Of course he bloody didn't" Kennedy cursed, "he loves that elf"
"He drank it?" Dorcas gasped, "what does it do?"
"I'm not sure but... he kept screaming and... Kreacher had to keep making him drink it because he'd been ordered to" Kennedy sobbed, "I was yelling at him to stop but he couldn't"
"Then what?" James pressed on,
"Regulus had a copy made.... of the locket" Kennedy continued, "he ordered Kreacher to swap them... he looked so sick"
"Then what?" Marlene asked, "you said the poison didn't kill?"
"No but he was thirsty, while Kreacher swapped the locket he moved to the water and tried to drink it"
Kennedy paused as she began to cry again. Athena placed a hand on her arm at a poor attempt at some comfort.
"There were inferi in the water" Kennedy cursed loudly, "they grabbed him... tried to pull him down"
"Inferi?" Lily frowned, "aren't they like... dead bodies"
"Yeah used as weapons" Kennedy nodded, "Kreacher tried to stop it and I tried to shoot fire at them but I was too far away"
"Fuck" James muttered,
"I was screaming his name... I couldn't get over there and then he ordered Kreacher... he ordered him to apperate me and him back to Grimmauld place"
"No" Athena whispered, "that's awful"
"I couldn't stop Kreacher and I was so annoyed but it's not even his fault... I mean... he had to do what he was ordered to do"
"He drowned?" Marlene asked warily.
"The last thing I saw was his head being dragged under" Kennedy sobbed, "and I screamed for him but he didn't hear... it was too late and I couldn't even do anything"
"It's not your fault" Athena mumbled,
"I shouldn't have let him" Kennedy shook her head, "I should have gone"
"No you shouldn't have" Marlene sighed, "Regulus wouldn't have wanted that"
"And you think I wanted this?" Kennedy snapped,
"Of course not" Dorcas smiled sadly, "that's not what she meant"
"Sirius?" Kennedy looked at him softly, "I didn't want to lie... I'm sorry I should have told you"
Sirius looked up as though he had been stuck in a dream.
"He's definitely gone?" He whispered.
"Yeah" Kennedy nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"
Kennedy began to cry again, placing her hands over her face to shield from everyone else's eyes.
Sirius stood up and started to pace around the room as Kennedy's head dropped to Athena's shoulder.
"He's dead" Sirius muttered, "Regulus is dead"
"Where's the horcrux?" Athena asked,
"Kreacher has it" Kennedy explained, "he was ordered to destroy it... I don't want to get in the way"
"You've done your part" Athena murmured,
"No I haven't" she shook her head, "I barely did anything... I just stood there, I just stood there and watched him die"
"There's nothing else you could have done" said Athena, "I know it's awful but you can't blame yourself"
"If we'd told the order" Kennedy mused, "we shouldn't have done this ourselves but... Regulus said we had to, he doesn't trust the order very much"
"You got the locket" Athena smiled, "you got the locket"
"I wish we hadn't... this isn't a fair price to pay"
"He died trying to stop Voldemort" James pointed out, "he was valiant and he proved a lot of us wrong"
"He shouldn't have died at all" Kennedy whispered, "should have been me"
"Don't say that" Sirius snapped, "don't say that"
Kennedy fell silent as she looked up at Sirius worriedly.
"Padfoot mate" James grimaced, "you want another drink?"
"No" Sirius stated, "I... I never treated him fairly, I tried my best to get him out of that house but- well- I thought he was like them"
"He was never one of them" said Kennedy, "just like I wasn't"
Silence fell as the lot of them looked around tentatively. Sirius had landed by the window, feet planted with his gaze fixed outside.
Athena thought back to the last time she'd seen Regulus at Slughorn's Christmas party. She hadn't said goodbye, she'd barely even talked to him. To be fair she'd never known him well but now she wished that she'd at least talked to him more.
She thought to how he had been the source giving the location of Vulpes manor, he was the reason that she'd gotten out of there when she had. Even though it had been because of Kennedy's influence, he still put himself him danger to help her.
She thought to how he'd helped save Kennedy. He'd snuck them into Grimmauld place but refused to leave with them himself. All this time it wasn't because he enjoyed being there, it was because he was gathering information on the inside. Trying to take down Voldemort.
Regulus had always been seen as a death eater, brought up to be a blood supremacist but in reality he'd been one of the good guys. He'd lost his life fighting to bring Voldemort down, he was more courageous than any of them.
"Let's raise a glass" Marlene muttered, "to Regulus"
"To Regulus" everyone raised their drinks into the air. Sirius turned and Athena could see that he was crying, tears etched over palled skin.
"He was my brother" Sirius muttered, "even if I thought he was one of them... I loved him, we grew up together... I looked after him and I cursed that I didn't get him out of that house, that life"
"It's not your fault" James pointed out, "you tried to help him"
"He was stubborn" Sirius nodded, "but he was smart, he was sarcastic and he always knew what to say... when they tortured me... it was him who helped me get out"
"Sirius–" Dorcas began,
"I should have seen through his deception, I should have known he wasn't like them. Out of everyone it was me who should have known him and... I feel like I don't even know who he was anymore"
"He was your little brother" Lily smiled, "he'll always be your little brother"
Sirius nodded as he moved back over to where Kennedy was sitting, pulling her forwards so she rested against him instead of Athena.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that" Sirius sighed, "I'm not upset that you lied Kenny... I'm just glad you're ok"
Kennedy nodded but didn't say anything for a little while.
No one knew what to say. This had come as such a shock to them all. Regulus had been so young. Only seventeen as his birthday fell in June... it wasn't fair that his life would be taken this early.
"They won't even be able to have a proper funeral" Kennedy cried, "they won't know he's dead yet... the other side... they'll find out from Kreacher"
"What if Kreacher gives the locket to Sirius' parents?" Marlene asked.
"He's been ordered to destroy it" Kennedy shrugged, "he's been ordered not to tell them, he can't go against that even if he wanted to"
"He loves my mother" Sirius sniffed, "but he loved Regulus more, Regulus was always his favourite".
"It's so cruel" Lily stated, "the way that house elves can't question orders... that must have been so horrible for Kreacher"
"It must have been" Kennedy nodded, "I know how it felt and... well Kreacher was on the island he probably thinks he could have done something to help"
"We need to tell Dumbledore... we know about horcruxes now it puts us a step ahead"
"How many is there?" Athena frowned, "he's obviously still making more if he's after the cup"
"I only knew about the locket" Kennedy shrugged, "but I assume he's made more"
"How do you make them?" Lily asked, "it can't be easy can it? Or everyone would do it"
"No it's not easy" James grimaced, "you have to um... use the killing curse"
"Oh" Lily froze, "oh gosh that's horrible"
"Splits your soul" Marlene continued, "so there must be a spell from that... but yeah it's horrible"
"We're not ready for an order meeting at the moment" Sirius pointed out, "it can wait... at the moment I just want to go home"
"That's completely understandable" Athena nodded, "it can wait"
"Do you think Voldemort will still try and get the cup?" Dorcas asked, "surely he can just find another object to put his soul into?"
"When he puts his mind to something he won't stop until it's complete" Kennedy mumbled, "so keep the cup safe... not that it'll make much difference, he probably still has more"
"Means there's one less to destroy" James pointed out, "this could be it... the key to finishing him"
"Let's hope" Marlene smiled warily, "I really need some good news sometime soon"
Kennedy and Sirius disappeared soon after that. The atmosphere wasn't the same anymore. Athena had filled herself a larger drink, lying against Remus and noticing that he'd barely said a word the entire day.
She felt guilty for her frustration as she stared at him. All Athena wanted was for him to open up. This should go both ways in a relationship, at least she presumed it should.
No one wanted to leave. The remaining seven were sat quietly but the company was enough for them to keep a clear head. Marlene had collected up the photos of France now, the happy memories seemed so trivial and so out of place in this environment.
"Right well" Peter sighed, "I need to get back and check on Mary"
"Yeah I could do with some sleep" Dorcas nodded, "you all ok?"
"Could be worse" James mulled, "presume I'm doing better than Sirius and Kennedy right now"
"I feel so shit for them" Athena muttered, "Kennedy loved Regulus and so did Sirius even if they had their differences"
"It's not fair" Marlene nodded, "he was only seventeen, seventeen"
That thought stuck with Athena as her and Remus stepped into the fire and disappeared back to their own place. Athena couldn't think of anything to say the entire time they got ready for bed.
It was only when they were lying together in the dark that Remus pulled her towards him and kissed her temple.
"I love you" he murmured and the words meant more now than they had in a while. They filled her with a sense of relief that she couldn't quite duplicate.
"I love you too" Athena replied, "things will get better"
"I have a feeling things will have to get worse before they get better" Remus muttered. Athena wished he hadn't said that, maybe if he hadn't she might have gotten some sleep.
☽☽☽
A/n
Words - 2938
Published - 8th March 2021
:(
Obviously this is diverting
from canon again
bc dumbledore will
know about the locket
But I'll work it out