Chapter Text

Epilogue

Somewhere along the west coast of Scotland stood a house, made up of cobblestone that looked like it had been placed over 500 years prior. The house had no windows and the roof was made up out of a patchy thatch of hay, something that couldn’t survive the never ending Scottish rain. It seemed in every way unwelcoming to the few people who could see it, eerie even maybe, as if it came straight out of a horror movie. Though, only the most advanced wizard and witches could even come close to breaking through the protective spells cast over the area. Even if they did, the house would seem completely empty from the outside.

From the inside the house didn’t seem any more home-y. Sure, there was a fireplace, some candles for light and even some plants for potions, but there was something about the brick walls and constant sound of wind and rain that made the place feel dead. In the middle of the room stood a table, almost empty aside from two cups. Next to the fireplace stood two wooden chairs and a stool, surrounding the warm spot as if boy scouts had been telling each other creepy stories around it.

Even though they weren’t boy scouts, Evan still thought the conversation they were having by the fireplace the night prior was something of a thriller itself. Evan Rosier, Slyhterin, death eater,
one of lord Voldermorts most trusted followers, had as of a few weeks been in a situation he’d never expected to find himself in. If you asked anyone at Hogwarts, Evan Rosier would be described as charming, loyal, and often playing around the gray area of people’s norms and values. He was smart, but never stood out with his grades, not when he had his sister by his side, who was by far the brightest witch in their year.

“What’s going on in that brain of yours, Rosier?” A voice, low and smooth, pierced through the silence.

Evan snapped his neck around, immediately pulling out his wand as he pointed it at the person who had just entered the room. This person was dripping, wet from the rain and had clearly just been outside for a long time. Evan knew who this was by looking at him, but just because this man had the appearance of Regulus Black didn’t mean that it was actually him.

He kept his wand pointed, steady, as he took a step closer. “What’s your mother’s full name?” He asked, suspicion in his eyes and tone, he looked terrifying.

“Walburga Irma Black.” The man replied, before walking past Evan and sitting down on one of the chairs facing the fireplace. “Throw me a drying spell will you? I’m freezing.”

Evan nodded, casting the spell and pouring the other a cup of water, heating it up with his wand as well. He sat down next to the other and handed him the cup, which earned him a small nod of gratitude.

“So.” Evan started. “Did you…?”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but Regulus knew what he meant. “I did.” He replied, tone neutral as it always was. “Could you fetch Crouch for this?”

“It’s that big?” Evan asked, but got up anyway without waiting on a reply. He knew Regulus, he knew that it was serious if they all had to be there for it.

He made his way over to the bedroom. It was a small room, a bit smaller than the living room and there were three mattresses on the floor, each in its own corner. They were covered by thin sheets, way too thin to make it through the night without shivering awake every few hours.

They took turns sleeping. The protective spells may have been strong, but so were some of the wizards and witches looking for them. Someone had to be awake at all times. Evan felt a bit bad for waking up his friend, who had only slept about an hour before.

“Barty.” Evan whispered, keeping a safe distance. “Barty, wake up.”

He didn’t wake up, he only mumbled a sound. If Evan were an enemy, Barty would be dead.

“Crouch.” The blonde tried again, louder this time, but still without success. He rolled his eyes, typical. After a few more tries, he had finally succeeded and Barty was following him to the living room.

Regulus looked away from the fireplace for the first time since he’d arrived back at the safe house. “Took you long enough.” He said, eyebrows raised slightly. “You’re going to die in this house if you don’t turn on your fight or flight instincts.”

“They’re called instincts for a reason, Black, now spill it and shut it.” Barty replied, clearly annoyed.

They sat down, all facing Regulus who had gone back to staring at the fireplace. “I found it.” He said once they settled down.

Barty and Evan looked at each other, a mix of emotions on both their faces. Relief, fear and panic. “You did?”

Regulus nodded. He too didn’t seem too thrilled about it. “It’s in a cave, on the Irish north-coast.” Regulus went on. “I will get it tomorrow at noon. Evan, it’s your turn to sleep then, Barty will be on the lookout.”

Evan frowned. “What?” He asked. “No, no no no. We’re all going. That’s what we signed up for when we left, remember?”

“It’s too dangerous.” Regulus said. “Kreacher almost died trying to enter the cave, I’m not risking it when this is only our first one.”

“We’re not even sure if there’s more than one.” Evan said, still a little taken aback by Regulus suggesting he should do it alone. “Maybe we’re in luck for once.”

Barty scoffed, eyes also locked on the fireplace. “As if.” He said, shortly.

“Well, that’s not usually how it goes, is it Evan?” Regulus said. There was a hint of emotion behind his usually lifeless gaze, though his voice never trembled. “Just stay here tomorrow. I can do it myself.”

“You can’t.” Barty replied, making Regulus snap his head towards him with narrowed eyes. “You know the dark lord, you know his ways, his power, what he’s capable of. That cave is probably filled with traps and curses to kill you. You need someone to come with you.”

Regulus shook his head. “I will do it.” He said. “You two did enough just by being here.”

Evan let out a small laugh. “We’re not your trophy wives, Black.” He said. “And we’re all going. End of discussion. Now go to sleep you two, it’s still my turn to be on watch.”

Without a lot of complaining, but a very annoyed stare, the two of them went over to the bedroom. Evan stayed seated at the fireplace, thinking about the things that lead them to this moment.

It was crazy to think only a month ago they had been in the dark lord’s mansion, plotting the murder of a bunch of muggles. Now they were figuring out how to end it, the violence, the constant fear of what may happen. They weren’t away from fear in the least, not at all. Not yet, anyway. They had to overcome a much bigger challenge than being minions to the dark lord.

When they found out it were horcruxes which were keeping him alive, they felt doomed. They didn’t know what to expect, only that they were objects containing the infused souls of people who were murdered and the one who murdered them. It took them three months to find out, yet they were terrified instead of relieved after finding out.

Undercover as death eaters, they had been spying on the dark lord’s meeting, hoping to get a clue out of it, a clue to where the horcruxes could be. It never happened, the dark lord was smarter than that. Little did he know, they had Regulus. Regulus Black turned out to be somewhat of a search dog when it came to dark magic, he felt its presence, it came to him in his dreams.

This was how they found out a horcrux was hidden in a cave. The problem was, they did not know which cave. Not until Regulus had been woken up by a drenched house elf, only a few hours prior to him coming back soaked like a puppy. The house elf had been hysterical, hitting itself with its fists and crying over and over again how he was defying his master and how he should be punished for it. Regulus hadn’t said much before he apparated away with the house elf, leaving Evan completely clueless. Though, he quickly figured where the house elf was taking him.