Renewal

Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters nor the World of Harry Potter. They are the creation of JK Rowling. I do however, own a few original characters that might be seen in this story. This story is written purely for enjoyment and I do not make a monetary profit from it in any way.

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I have been fascinated by Regulus Black since he was first mentioned in JKR's Harry Potter book series. I felt that Sirius Black's opinion of his brother really could not be trusted. He did not seem close to Regulus after he went to Hogwart's and the teen years are really very important for our development and growth into adulthood. I think Sirius missed out on knowing his brother and I think that Sirius jumped to a lot of conclusions. I also think that his mother purposely played favorites, which would have harmed the relationship between the siblings.

I have also read some fabulous de-aged stories recently on this site. It made me wonder about a story in which Regulus Black did not die in that terrible cavern full of inferi but was instead somehow de-aged into an infant and had to grow up all over again. My story shall adjust the timeline of events or alter them completely. I ask that readers please remember that this is an Alternate Universe from the Harry Potter Canon and so some things will naturally be different.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy!

Prologue: The Hidden Cavern

December 22, 1979

He was thirsty, so very thirsty. Had he ever felt such thirst before? He could not remember. His mind was a jumble of thoughts, of images, each more horrible than the last. He could not make sense of them. "Siri." He croaked the name of his brother and felt the tears fall down his cheeks.

As a child he had idolized his older brother. Sirius was so vibrant, bouncing and full of life. Though it aggravated their mother, Regulus thought it wonderful. Sirius was brash though and that he had gotten from their mother, the formidable Walburga Black.

He missed his brother. He had been missing Sirius for a very long time though. His brother had turned away from him even before he had gone off to Hogwarts. It was not that surprising really. An overactive boy of eight, Sirius had grown tired of Regulus being a tag-along. Younger than Sirius, Regulus could not always keep up with his older brother when they were children. When Sirius left for Hogwarts the ties that had once bound them seemed severed though it would take Regulus a few more angst filled years to realize it. Sirius had become closer to their second cousin James Potter and he and James had decided that they would be each other's brothers. Regulus would not have minded that so much if it had not been Sirius' idea that James should replace Regulus. He was thirteen when he finally stopped trying to gain Sirius' attention in any way. His brother did not want his attention, would rather forget he existed. Regulus was not so pitiful as to continue to rush after his brother like a pathetic tag-along when he was so clearly unwanted.

Some part of Regulus understood that he had willingly ordered his House-Elf, Kreacher, to feed him a poison. He knew that his thirst was due to the poison and how it had soaked into his tongue and his mouth. He knew that he would die without aid. His thoughts were jumbled as he stumbled toward the edge of the lake where he could clearly see the water. He was so thirsty. He was dying without water. He huddled at the edge and stared into the lake.

He wanted to see his brother again. For a moment he could remember what it had felt like to be a child again, afraid of dark monsters and rushing into his brother's room. Sirius had let him curl up into the bed with him and had promised him that he would protect him from monsters.

"Liar." His voice was a croak.

He huddled shivering violently upon the rocks and swayed back and forth trying to calm himself. He was so hurt, so weary, so thirsty. His mind was a jumble that no longer made sense. Why did he not simply reach into the lake, cup some of the water with his hand, and take a drink?

He shivered violently at the thought. Some part of his mind still screamed that he was not supposed to drink from the lake. There were monsters in the water. The thought had him jerking back and slowly scrambling back up toward the basin that had held that horrible poison. He did not stop until his back touched the basin and then he curled into himself and began to weep.

"Regulus."

He had no concept of time. He did not know how long he had been there, thirsty, hurting, with his mind feeling as though it were bleeding and torn into.

"Regulus!"

He wanted to see his brother again. He wanted so much to go back to those golden days when Sirius did not hate him and would play with him and talk with him without his voice sounding so full of hate.

"Regulus! Can you hear me?"

Someone was touching him, moving him. He tried to jerk away from the touch. A whimper of fear escaped his throat. The lake had monsters in it. One of them must have risen to claim him.

"Oh Regulus, boy, what have you done to yourself? What poison did you drink? Do you know what it was called?"

Someone was speaking or maybe they were snarling. The monster. Yes. It was snarling at him. He tried to move, tried to get away but he could not move and the monster had him.

"Drink this."

Something was being poured into his throat and he tried to resist at first but he was so very thirsty. He became pliant, losing the will to fight. He drank deeply of the liquid poured down his throat and vaguely recognized some of the words being said over him but he could not make his mind understand them.

He opened his gray eyes to stare up at the monster and was confused to see a woman instead of a monster. Her raven-black hair held silver streaked through and it was pulled up into a simple style that kept it away from her face. Her eyes were a soft blue-gray and they were staring down at him with a steely determination. He knew this woman, she was important to him but he could not remember her name.

"It will be alright, Regulus." The woman said as she finished her incantation. "I will take care of you."

The words washed over him and felt like more than a mere promise. He felt the tingle of magic and knew it had the worth of a vow. She would take care of him? He liked the sound of that. Letting someone take care of him for once sounded nice. She began her incantation again and Regulus closed his eyes. Once more he thought about Sirius and those golden days when his older brother let him curl up safe and warm in his bed to hide away from monsters.