╔═══════════════╗
autumn 1979,
regulus black and 
the horcrux
╚═══════════════╝

The nights were only lonely when Sirius had been assigned a few missions, some weren't too difficult and he would come back without a scratch on him. However, missions like that one had been recently assigned to him, she stayed awake throughout the night, only sleeping when Lily gave her a sleeping draught.

"Aimee you need to sleep," Lily said, sitting with her, "them four boys have gotten into more trouble than we could imagine, while ever they have each other they'll be fine,"

"I know, I think I'm just worrying because there's nothing to distract me,"

"Why don't you bring the girls home,"

"We've talked about it, and we can't do that to them," she sighed, holding Lily's hand, "You should see how happy they are at Grammy's they can play all day, they have their cousins there with them it's got to be better than watching me and their dad worrying and fighting,"

"Fighting, I thought you and Sirius were fine,"

"I didn't want him to go on this mission, I know his cousin is supposed to be there and she's ruthless, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him," she looked down at her lap, "If he died tonight, the last thing we said to each other would have been an argument-

A loud noise from outside drew the two women to reach for the wands they hurried outside, rushing to the four figures in the distance. Lily wrapped her arms around James and Remus, they were both fine, just a few cuts and bruises. Aimee halted her stride as she noticed Peter was holding Sirius up, she rushed over to them.

"Sirius," she cupped his face, lifting his head up to look at her, "Sirius," eyes flickered open, a small smile appeared on his face.

"I'm sorry,"

"What?" she questioned

"I shouldn't have yelled at you-

"Don't it's forgotten, I'm just glad you're home,"

***

Sirius had been on strict orders to rest, while his injury wasn't anything that a potion couldn't fix. Dumbledore insisted that he stayed at home until he had fully recovered, Peter had been staying with them to help around the house, and keep Sirius up to date on Dumbledore's orders.

Aimee was going through the post, she had another letter from her grandmother, Amelia had successfully managed a night with no children waking up. She smiled as she read through the letter, she took the letter over to Sirius, it then dawn on her that she hadn't heard anything from Regulus in a while, no letter or call on their rings.

She understood that he may not have been given a chance to contact her, however, she was worried about what might have been happening back at Grimmauld Place. While Sirius read over the letter, Aimee gestured for Peter to go to the kitchen with her.

"Would you be able to stay with Sirius a little while," she asked

"Erm sure, yeah, where are you going?"

"I just a little worried about Regulus, I'm just going to check him, I shouldn't be too long,"

"Yeah, I'm sure Sirius can look after himself, but I will stay with him,"

"Thank you," she hugged Peter, smiling at him as she walked into the living room to say her goodbyes to Sirius, "I'm going to see Reg, I won't be long I promise," he nodded, she leaned down to kiss him, "I love you,"

"I love you more," he told her, she smiled

"Not possible,"

***

She arrived in London she cautiously made her way to Grimmauld Place, her mother could have been lurking around somewhere. She knocked on the door, she creased her brows it didn't usually take Kreacher this long to answer the door. Once he did answer the door, he coughed, unable to utter a word.

"Are you alright?" she asked as the elf tried to speak, "I don't need to know if it's too difficult for you," she held her hands up to prevent him from straining himself. She hurried to Regulus' bedroom, she creased her brows when she saw a bag packed.

"What are you doing here?" Regulus asked, she spun around

"Nice to see you too, are you going somewhere?"

"I know where he's hiding it," he said, picking up his bag, "and I'm going to get it,"

"What?" he walked straight past her, out of the door, "Reg, just wait a second," she grabbed a hold of his robe, "what do you mean?"

"The Horcrux, I know where he's hiding it-

"You can't go alone-

"I'm not Kreacher's coming with me,"

"Kreacher!" she exclaimed, "He can barely stand, no offence," she told him as the elf was stood between them, "I'm coming with you,"

"No, you're not,"

"I'm older and I say I am," she said, holding her hand out to Kreacher

"Real mature,"

"Come on, we haven't got all day,"

Kreacher took both of their hands apparating them, they landed on a rocky ledge, surrounded by harsh waves from the sea. She stumbled Regulus held her close to him, steadying her from falling backwards, he looked all around him.

"Kreacher are you sure this is the right place?" Regulus shouted unable to hear himself over the waves crashing into the side of the rocky ledge.

"Yes, master," he took their hands again apparating them closer towards the caves.

Aimee stood close to Regulus as they wandered through the dark caves, she held her hand against her stomach, taking a deep breath, feeling nauseous after apparating twice within a short period of time.

"Lumos," Regulus cast, giving them more light as they carefully looked around every corner. The Dark Lord wanted his Horcrux protected, he could have many magical curses ready to attack them at any moment, Kreacher waddled over to the edge of the water,

"Master must make payment to pass," Kreacher explained handing Regulus a sharp piece of stone,

"We can't we swim across?" he questioned

"Too dangerous master,"

"I'll do it," Aimee spoke,

"No way," he held the sharp stone above his head, preventing her from reaching it, he slit his hand, wiping the blood along the wall, he stumbled a little,

"Reg, are you okay?" she asked, as he became unbalanced,

"Yeah, I'm fine, come on," he gestured for her to follow him, as a small boat appeared from the water.

Kreacher joined them, as they floated slowly across the water, she looked all around her, she glanced down into the water. All she could see was black filthy water, if there were anything down there they wouldn't know until it was too late to react.

Regulus stepped out of the boat, once Kreacher told him this was where they needed to be, this was where the Dark Lord had left him to die. It seemed the Dark Lord unestimated the abilities of house-elves as Kreacher managed to escape. Regulus held Aimee's hand helping her out of the boat, they walked cautiously to a basin, which had been filled with a potion.

"Master must drink, until the potion is finished," Regulus looked down at the basin remembering just how close to death Kreacher was after drinking the potion himself.

"Take her out,"

"What?" she questioned

"Kreacher take Aimee out,"

"But master-

"That's an order Kreacher,"

"Reg, you can't do this alone," he would turn around to face her, Kreacher took Aimee's hand apparating her out of the cave, "REGULUS!" she shouted hoping he could hear her. The elf apparated back inside the cave to him.

"Do you have the other one?" Kreacher nodded, handing Regulus the fake locket that they had made, he opened the locket hiding a note inside.

To the Dark Lord

I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B

Aimee paced along the outside of the cave there was no way she could back inside, she tried to apparate. Though it seemed elf magic was different. She heard a horrid scream coming from inside the cave hoping her imagination was playing tricks on her. Kreacher apparated back to her, she plead with him to help.

"Kreacher, don't leave him in there, I know it's hard but please try and resist his orders, don't leave without him," tears fell from her eyes.

Kreacher quickly handed her the Horcrux, as soon as her fingers touched the Horcrux, she could feel the dark magic that plagued the legendary heirloom of Salazar Slytherin. Kreacher unknowingly followed Aimee's orders and retreated back into the cave.

"No Master!" Kreacher yelled as Regulus was close to touching the water.