It is late December of 1975. The Hogwarts castle is covered in a blanket of snow. The air outside is freezing as you stand against a tree, staring off into the Black Lake absently. You were feeling a reprieve from the excruciating pain that radiated throughout your left arm from your dark mark. You looked up into the falling snow, breathing deeply and watching the lamp post light play with the cloud of air as you exhale.

Behind you, you heard the soft crunch of snow and figured it was one of your friends coming out to join you, maybe offer you a smoke. When you heard his voice, you froze. Regulus. Your childhood best friend. The man you've known since you both were 6 years old. The man who grew up in a death eater household just like yours. The man you were forced to meet when you were children because your parents wanted the both of you to make friends with a child from another sacred 28 family. You didn't turn around as he spoke, scared to face him.

"What the fck were you thinking?" Regulus shouted at you. He was livid. Honestly, you expected it, you had taken the dark mark for him after all. The mark meant for him was seared into your arm instead. "My parents summoned me home and told me the spot was filled. I was relieved to be free of it until they told me who the fck took it instead! What the hell? You took the damn dark mark for me??"

There was the explosion. You sighed and then turned on your heel to face him, taking in his furious expression and the fear behind his eyes. His brow was furrowed, his lips twisted into a scowl, his nose scrunched in frustration. He was not happy.

"Regulus I-"

"Don't!" He cut you off. "Don't make excuses! It was my fight! You weren't supposed to get wrapped up in this!" His eyes were glassy with tears he fought tooth and nail to hold back. "They chose me! Not you! You were free of it! You had time! You had time to find a way out and you just... gave it away for me!"