Archive of Our Own

It was dark in the cave, cold, wet, and bone-chilling. Bone-chilling to the marrow, in the way that reminds the living of the inevitable embrace of death. It permeated the cave, like death was an old friend to this cave, long before even the Dark Lord had beached these walls.

The chill of mortality was not unfamiliar to Harry Potter. Death had haunted him before birth, a prophecy tearing his grasp of normalcy from his hands. It had marked him for terrible greatness, for always being the hero. Time and time again, facing a monster of epic proportions. Only to be left on the outskirts of society, cast aside over and over. Harry was near his wit's end of being used for the greater good. But Harry never had a say in what happened to him or around him, the light's 'Golden Boy.' Harry didn't want to be in this dark cave with Dumbledore. He wanted to be in the Great Hall with Neville and Luna, not risking his life again for people that didn't care about him.

Harry was lost in his thoughts as Dumbledore led him to the rickety boat, the glass-like water breaking against the hull finally drawing him back into reality. Something was off with this place, a calmness bristling over Harry's skin. Harry got out of the boat and listened to Dumbledore issue his warning.

As he fed the potion to Dumbledore, urging him to swallow, he felt eyes on his back. Not an unusual occurrence by far for 'The Boy Who Lived.' Except within this cave, there were only two living beings. Dumbledore was lying poisoned on the rocky floor, crying out for death. Harry turns his head, looking for someone, anybody. But nobody was there. Harry shook his head and fed the last of the awful potion to Dumbledore. Reaching into the basin, Harry grabbed the locket. He looked at the crying form of Dumbledore while clutching the locket and realized. That this was not Slytherin's locket, it was an empty piece of jewelry left for people like Dumbledore like him.

"Water," Harry hears. Barely able to make it out over the sound of his ragged breathing.

Harry blinks as Dumbledore asks again, "Water."

"Oh, Water. Okay, um. Yeah," Harry quickly says as he grabs his wand. He points it at the basin and says, "Aguamenti." The basin fills with clean, clear water.

Harry tries to scoop out the water with no success. Harry grumbles angrily and tries again, the water passing through the crystal shell. Harry swears and looks at the dark water, beckoning him like it has all the answers he needs.

"Shit," he whispers to himself. Strangely he felt excitement, the feeling the water held secrets he was desperate to uncover. Harry glanced back at Dumbledore and then to the water. He walked carefully down to the edge and stared into the glassy black. The feeling of unease arose, then he heard it, a whisper. It was barely audible, even in the deathly quiet cave.

"Help," the whispers said. "James. Please," it cried louder this time. Harry's eyes widened as he saw a pale form below the black surface. Harry thrust his hand, breaking the glassy reflection, grabbing the pale boy. He dragged him out of the water as the boy latched onto him, scared to return to the watery grave. The boy had a mop of black hair, grey eyes, and pale skin. Harry gasped as the boy turned to look at Harry better.

"Who are you?" The boy asked.

Harry muttered, "You look just like Sirius. Why do you look just like Sirius?"

The boy shakes his wet curls from his face and sneers about to reply just as the water's surface breaks again and reveals zombie-like corpses.

"Oh shit," Harry says, backing away from the edge. The boy quickly followed, cursing right alongside him.

Harry turned towards the boy, "Introductions later, surviving now." The boy nodded and started firing spells at the horrible creatures emerging from the depths. Harry runs to Dumbledore and drags him towards the boat. "Time to go, Professor!"

The boy turns and scowls, "You brought Albus Dumbledore with you?!"

Harry thrusts Dumbledore into the boat and scowls right back. "No, he brought me."

The boy shakes his head and keeps firing off spells while walking toward the boat. Harry starts casting different fire spells he learned over the years of having Seamus as a roommate. The boy catches on and also starts firing fire spells. Once on the boat, they realize the creatures are getting bolder.

Harry looks at the boy, "We need more fire." The boy looks at him exasperated, "What do you want me to do, cast Fiendfyre?!"

Harry grins at him.

The boy makes a strangled noise, "You must be related to James Potter, both insufferable pricks."

Harry snickers and shoots down another set of inferni, "Well, do you know the spell or not?"

Dumbledore stands up, "That won't be necessary, Harry." He raises his wand without a word and a jet of fire releases from the end like water from a fire truck. Harry and the boy stare at the poisoned man who couldn't stand a minute ago.

Soon they are out of the cave, finally back on the rocky outcrop that Dumbledore had apparated them to the first time. "Sir, can you apparate us back?" Harry asks, looking at the fastly fading Dumbledore. Dumbledore looks at Harry, then at the boy, and squints. "Who are you? You're not supposed to be here."

The boy sighs and looks at Harry pleadingly.

Harry gently shakes the Headmaster, "Sir, can you apparate?"

Dumbledore blinks and says, "Of course, I can." Dumbledore grabs both of the boys and twists them on the spot.

Dumbledore had apparated them to the top of the Astronomy tower. He leaned heavily on both boys and whispered, "Severus, I need Severus."

Harry looked at the other boy who was staring with confusion and mistrust.

"I'll get Professor Snape, Dumbledore," Harry spoke. The boy's eyes widened with a dawning look of understanding. He and Harry both knew something was not right with him being there.

Harry grabbed his wand, "Expecto Patronum." The silvery stag expelled from the tip and looked at him expectantly.

"Professor Snape, Dumbledore is badly hurt." Harry glances at the now-stricken boy, "We are at the top of the Astronomy tower," Harry says to the stag. It nodded, its antlers shaking, and galloped off, leaving a small trail of whispy silver light dissipating.

Harry turned back to Dumbledore and the boy and saw Dumbledore had passed out. Harry sighed and helped Regulus lay Dumbledore down gently. Dumbledore looked frail and exactly his age. The boy, staring at Dumbledore with an unguarded amount of hate, seemed even younger in the light of the astronomy tower. Harry felt a slight urge to touch the boy to wipe the fright off his shoulders. Harry cleared his throat, and the other boy gave a jump, lost so deep in thought.

"Hey, I know you don't know me, so I'll introduce myself. I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

The boy looked at him baffled and nodded, "I'm Regulus, Regulus Black."

"Oh. Oh, you're-Oh," Harry said as eloquently as ever.

"Oh, is it? I know James didn't have a younger brother," Regulus chuckled softly and sighed. Harry sat down and looked at the boy sitting across from him.

"I'm his son," Harry whispered, staring at Regulus with concern.

Regulus leaned against the pillar with his eyes closed. He took a few shaky breaths and looked at Harry. Harry had begun to pick at his threadbare jeans.

"You look like Lily," he said breathlessly.

Harry started and looked up, "What?"

Regulus shook his head, "Sorry, I just thought you looked so much like her that you were also her son. My mistake."

Harry got onto his knees and put his hands out. "I am, but I always get the, 'You look just like your father.' I never hear someone say much of anything about my mother."

"Their mistake because no one could forget Lily Evans. I remember James chasing her since I could remember, my brother foolishly encouraging his interest," he shook his head gently. "I knew your mother at least better than I knew your father. We were both prefects and sometimes had to do rounds together. She was an ingenious witch and remarkably kind, though I'd say her stinging hexes hurt more than most."

Harry laughed brightly but had a sudden sad look flit across his face.

Regulus frowned lightly for a second, "I-" he breaks.

"Yeah," Harry says softly. "They're both dead."

"Oh."

"Oh, is it?"

Regulus shakes his head at the banter, "I'm guessing this isn't a recent development."

Harry chuckles darkly, "Only almost 16 years ago."

Regulus stills for a moment. "You have her nose, your eyes are very obviously Lily, but you have a softness James didn't. Less sharp edges and more respectful. Your mother was extremely kind, even to me."

"What do you mean even to you?" Harry questions.

Regulus starts to respond when they hear footsteps rushing up the stairs. He looks at Harry, panicked. Harry quickly says, "Snape is not a bad guy anymore, I think maybe. Snape hasn't killed or tried to kill me yet, so I think of him as good enough."

Regulus stares, "Why on Earth would that make someone a good guy?"

Harry shrugs and stands as Snape enters the room. He didn't want Snape to see Regulus and try to hex him. Snape enters the room with a flash of black but stills at those before him.

Snape looks at all three of them, his eyes growing large at Regulus Black sitting on the floor.

"I- but- You're dead," he mutters.

"And you're old, now do your job Severus," Regulus says with as much sharpness as he can muster.

Snape quickly closes his mouth and moves towards Dumbledore, who Harry had forgotten in light of the out-of-time, not-dead Regulus Black in front of him. Harry snuffs a twinge of guilt, refusing to feel guilty over Albus Dumbledore. Snape gets to work, asking questions about what happened, what the potion looked like, and how he responded. Snape pulled out a coin purse and summoned a bottle from the bag. He coerced Dumbledore to drink the potion and looked at the boys who had just been watching.

He turned to Harry, "I didn't see any boy. Dumbledore must've had hallucinations from the potion."

Harry stared, confused, then blinked in surprise. "I told him it was just me there. He wouldn't listen."

Snape nodded sharply and turned, not quite looking at Regulus. "She has everything you gave her before you left. I suggest hurrying."

He looked at Harry, "Don't look him in the eyes." He gestures toward Dumbledore.

Harry nodded, dazed, but agreed nonetheless. Snape cast Levius Corpus and walked down the astronomy tower with Dumbledore, never glancing back.

Once Snape was out of view, Regulus relaxed, exhaling a breath before turning to Harry.

"We need to leave Hogwarts."

Harry turned to him, "What, Now?"

"Yes, because I've been missing for years, the plan was for only two. I needed to throw people off my trail, but something went wrong. Sirius should've come help if Narcissa couldn't."

Harry couldn't understand anything coming out of Regulus' mouth, but Narcissa made him pause.

"Wait," Harry said. "Narcissa, like Draco's mom? What does she have to do with this?"

Regulus paused, "I'm glad Cissy finally had a kid. Is he the same year as you?"

Harry blushed lightly, "Uh yeah, he's uh. He's in Slytherin. We're both sixth years."

Regulus snorts and starts to laugh hard while walking.

"What? Why are you laughing at me?" Harry looks at the other boy, confused.

Regulus shakes his head, "I thought James was ridiculous."

Harry stops, "Wait, what do you mean?" Regulus walks further up ahead.

Harry breaks out of his confusion and chases after Regulus, "No, what did you mean, Regulus!"

Harry and Regulus slowly made their way through the castle toward the dungeons before Harry stopped him at a stairwell.

"I have to grab my stuff from Gryffindor first," he told Regulus.

Regulus sighed, "Of course, you're in Gryffindor. What do you even need?"

Harry sighed, "Look, I'll show you, but first, we need to get into my dorm and grab my stuff."

Harry hesitated, "And tell Hermione."

Regulus leveled him with a look, "Are you completely insane? Nobody can know I'm alive. It'll destroy everything and-"

"You've been dead for almost 18 years. You have no idea what's going on!" Harry silently shouts.

Regulus looks at Harry, shocked, then snickers, "I told you, so much like Lily."

Harry stops and stares at Regulus, his cheeks flushing bright red.

"Oh bloody hell, stop buttering me up and let's grab my stupid shit and go. Hermione will be pissed off as is."

Harry pulls out a Galleon and flicks it. Regulus looks at him, confused.

Harry smiles, "A communication tool, just told them to meet us outside the dorm."

"I'm sorry, them?!"

Regulus finally caught up to him just before the hallway, where multiple people would be waiting for them. He grabs Harry's wrist and stops him. Harry looks at him and gently grabs the hand holding his wrist.

"Regulus," Harry starts. "I promise that they can and will help. You're not in danger from them."

Regulus looks at him, uncertain if he should trust Harry, but nods. Harry turns and gently shakes their joined hands.

"Regulus, I'm serious. I honestly want us all to survive. I'm not going to throw you to the wolves. But if we're doing anything, we need help. And I need my friends."

Regulus looked down at their joined hands, surprised. He usually hated contact with others, but today was a strange day. Harry's hands felt comfortable in his own. It was what he didn't even know he needed. Regulus flushed lightly and pulled away, nodding, and marched forward. Harry was surprised and hurried after him. As he caught up, he smiled at Regulus. Regulus rolled his eyes but smiled, looking ahead.

As they rounded the corner, they saw a disturbance in the air beside the door behind a suit of armor. Regulus tensed while Harry walked forward confidently.

"Hey, guys! We need to get to the room. We have a lot to discuss," Harry said softly.

Five people appeared, two boys and three girls. A bushy-haired girl stepped forward and gently touched Harry's shoulder. Regulus felt annoyed at the sight of so many people and scowled. The girl produced a package. Harry smiled and thanked her, turning to Regulus, he smirked. "Hermione, she's my best friend. She knew what I came back to get."

Regulus rolls his eyes and looks at the other people that seem to be staring at him.

Harry looks between them and then gasps, "Oh! Oh yeah!"

Harry gestures to Regulus, "He's not a threat. We need to go before Filch gets us."

Harry then turns and walks in the opposite direction of the dungeons. Regulus follows quickly while the others trail behind him.

They all soon arrive in front of an ugly painting with trolls doing ballet. Regulus snorted.

Harry turns and looks at him, "Do you know this place?"

Regulus chuckles, "It's a hallway. No, I've never been up here. I thought it's funny they have a portrait of Sirius in ballet class."

Harry's jaw slackens, then snorts loudly, "Of course he did Ballet."

A tall boy with mousy brown hair opened a door that wasn't there before. Regulus blinked and looked at Harry.

Harry smiles and gently pushes Regulus through the door.

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement."