If there was one thing Éponine excelled in, it was overanalysing everything that had happened recently. Since the attack on Sirius and James, she couldn't help but go over every single detail that had led up to that moment. Naturally, she blamed herself, knowing that she hadn't been the one to attack Sirius or James personally, but they had gone to the Grimmauld Place on her word. She swore to the moon and back that Regulus had seen the error of his ways and was willing to change because he made it sound so convincing.

The way he cried with regret over what he had done, the sound of his voice when he promised her that he was going to try and make things right. None of it made sense that he would go right back to the Grimmauld Place to prepare for an attack. Perhaps there were clear signs that Éponine had missed completely, too naive for her own good, wrapped up in a daydream of being together with Regulus again.

He had used her emotions against her and played her like a harp.

How could she have been so foolish? After a year had gone by where the two hadn't said a word to each other, Éponine actually believed that Regulus had miraculously changed his ways. In reality, he got close to her again, enough that she revealed just enough information so that he could use it against her. The fact that there was a threat of being thrown to a group of men as if she were a piece of meat, it was one of the hardest things for her to swallow.

Regulus knew the fear she had towards Ernest Nott, how Bellatrix had threatened her with something similar, and he had used it as a form of inspiration. Had she been the one to go to Grimmauld Place as he invited her to, she could only imagine the nightmare that awaited her.

And to make matters worse, the more she spoke with Sirius after he woke up in St Mungo's, she learned that Regulus had never sent a letter in the first place. Sirius never claimed to get one and  Éponine could only remember how Regulus told her, he had sent one out after the disastrous trip to Hogsmeade, only not to receive a reply from his older brother. At the time, she had been so prone to believing Regulus, thinking that Sirius was ignoring their letters due to his feelings being hurt.

He admitted to getting Éponine's letters, apologising for not writing back to her, but there hadn't been one from Regulus.

Eventually, she couldn't even talk to Sirius anymore for a couple of days. She was beyond relieved that he was alright, him and James making a full recovery in no time. But everything he had said back in Hogsmeade continued to echo in her mind, and while she wasn't angry at Sirius for being right, she hated herself for being wrong.

She had been so sure of Regulus making the right choices, she had been so willing to defend him, even against those she had come to care so much about if they weren't willing to support him, and for what?

Unable to face the majority of her loved ones, Éponine found herself spending the day in the company of Gian as Christmas approached.

Despite the cold weather that had long settled in, the two Slytherins sat out in the front garden of Gian's home. When he had received a letter from Éponine a couple of days prior, Gian fully believed it would be Éponine telling him how Regulus was adjusting to living with the Potters and perhaps Sirius was coming around to see the proof for himself. But instead, he was left with a letter that made his heart sink in his chest.

Not only did Regulus never make it to the Potters, it sounded like he never planned on going there in the first place.

James and Sirius had been attacked and Éponine, as usual, was blaming herself, even though it wasn't her fault in the first place. Yes, Gian knew that she could be too kind-hearted or forgiving in some respects, but even he had been fooled by Regulus, thinking that Regulus sincerely wanted to change for the better. Things had been going so well back at Hogwarts, only for it to just crash and burn as soon as they had to return to the real world.

Of course, Gian made no mention of the events to his parents, not wishing to worry them over such things. He only told them that Éponine was coming to visit him since she wouldn't be able to see him on Christmas day. Gian and his parents would be travelling to visit a few of his family members, so they wouldn't be home. But in the meantime, he was glad to be there for his friend since it looked like she could use a good hug and a long talk.

However, since her arrival, Éponine had yet to say much, greeting Gian's parents before they went out for some last-minute Christmas shopping.

"You really shouldn't be blaming yourself over this, Nin," Gian told her, hoping to break the awkward silence that surrounded them. " Regulus is the one who messed up, not you."

"I know, I know, but that's only half the problem," she sighed.

"Well, what's the other half then?"

She glanced over at him before looking down at her hands. "The problem is, even though everything is laid out in front of me, all the evidence is there, and I still don't want to believe it. I hate myself because of it. Sirius and James were in hospital and I don't want to believe that Regulus was behind it, even though they both confirmed it."

It became quiet again as Éponine shook her head at her own foolish thoughts, but Gian reached over and gently rubbed her back.

"I guess it's because you really love him. I mean, I don't know much about love in that sense, but I figure that's what it's like. You don't want to see the bad in them. To be honest, he had me fooled too. When he took that bludger on the quidditch pitch, I didn't believe he did it for me, but I believed he did it for you. I thought he loved you too, he just didn't know what to do. Kinda how like you were in the beginning. And then he came around and he wasn't bad to be around at all. I thought things were going to get better. I guess I fell for it too."

Éponine reached out and grabbed his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry he hurt you too, Gian," she said, " I know you weren't all for him initially. You wanted me to stick with Sirius-"

"Nin, I don't care who you date, even if it means no one, I just wanted you happy. Regulus made you happy before, but he abandoned you. Sirius made you happy, but then Regulus came back. I didn't know what to think, but if you were happy, I was happy."

A small smile finally appeared. " I think it would be just best if I didn't focus on any sort of dating for a while," she told him. "Sirius is great, don't get me wrong, but after what just happened, I don't think I'm going to be in the mood to date anyone."

"That's the spirit, Nin!"

And yet, while her little talk with Gian, including spending the day and then dinner with him and his family, was quite comforting, it still wasn't enough in Éponine's mind. She still needed to see the truth for herself.

Regulus sat by the fire in the Grimmauld Place, his eyes closed with a blanket draped over him. Exhaustion had long settled in and he felt like he could barely move, but he couldn't bring himself to fall asleep. He didn't even know what day it was, unsure how long he had been tortured by the other Death Eaters as a source of punishment before Bellatrix finally allowed him to go. She so graciously brought him back to the home, dropping him onto the floor before leaving. But not before she warned him that if he tried anything stupid, not only would he be punished but so many ungodly things would fall upon his loved ones.

Left on the floor, Regulus slowly and painfully made his way into one of the chairs, using his wand to light a fire before he just allowed himself to rest. He didn't know when his parents would be home, or even if Kreacher would return before them to prepare the home before they arrived. But he wouldn't be allowed to say much to them, Bellatrix said she would speak with them about his "sudden change of heart" before they were due to come back.

All in all, Regulus felt completely trapped.

He thought about disapparating from Grimmauld as soon as Bellatrix left, making his way to the Leaky Cauldron or anywhere he could call someone for help. But he feared as soon as he attempted to leave, there would be harsh consequences. Just thinking about what he had been subjected to as punishment, left him wanting to cry, but even then, he felt too weak to do so.

The only thing that stirred him from his state, was a knock at the door.

His whole body tensed, wondering who the hell was knocking since Bellatrix just made her way in without doing so and anyone else that was in her company often did the same. But the hairs on the back of his neck stood up when he heard the front door open.

"Regulus?"

He damn near choked on his breath as he gasped at the sound of Éponine's voice that echoed through the hall. Suddenly, Regulus found the strength to sit up, kicking the blanket off of him and reaching for his wand.

What the hell was she doing there? How could she show up looking for him after what Sirius and James had to have told her about that one night? She didn't sound angry either, she just seemed to be calling his name and Regulus didn't realise he could come to miss a voice so much over the course of a few days.

The sound of her footsteps grew near and came to stop as they reached the sitting room where Regulus resided. He managed to stand up and look over to see her standing in the doorway. There was a look of relief that swept across her face, only to quickly be replaced by confusion.

"Regulus, w-"

"What are you doing here, Éponine?" he asked.

The fear in his voice was masked by anger, how foolish could she be coming to Grimmauld of all places? Did they not relay the threat of what could happen to her if she were caught alone? Why was she so stupid? Why did she care so damn much to come looking for him?

"I-I-I don't know," she said, her wand twiddling around in her fingers, " I guess I just had to come see it for myself. Regulus, I don't understand, do you conjure that much hate for me over the course of a couple of years that you would go through all of that just to hurt me? You were so desperate to get my attention at the beginning of the term and for what? This? You were going to lure me back here...to torture me? Did I cause you that much anger? And you disguised it behind nights of cuddling me, kissing me, telling me that you loved me? Are you that much of a monster? Or is it something else?"

Her eyes scanned over his face, looking for any bit of sign.

"Did they hurt you, Regulus? Did they make you do this? You can tell me, I can help you-"

Regulus looked away because he wanted nothing more to be saved at that moment but he didn't think it would be that simple. Hours of being tortured had left his mind scattered and paranoid.

"After all these years, Éponine, " he said, " you're still just as stupid as the day I met you. You thought you were going to come here and do what? Rescue me? Rescue me from what? Being a Death Eater. Well, you can't because...I don't want to be saved. I want to punish and hurt people like you because you're a blood-traitor, who supports filthy fucking mudbloods!"

The way her eyes widened in horror, Regulus wanted to stab himself repeatedly.

"How could you say something like that after what you did for Gian? You said it yourself!" she yelled at him. "You caught the snitch for me but you took the bludger for him!"

"I lied obviously!" Regulus snapped back at her. "You can't be this fucking stupid! I lied to you."

"No," she shook her head at him, " you didn't. I know something is going on, Regulus. If you just tell me, I can help you. I don't believe any of this nonsense that you're trying to pass off-"

Regulus wanted to tell her, he wanted to tell her that her life, including his own, was on the line if he made the wrong choice in the eyes of the Dark Lord. He wanted to tell her that everything he did was because he was a coward and he couldn't face the idea of the consequences that were possible to come. But he couldn't tell her any of those things and as she tried more and more to reach out to him, Regulus knew he had to send her away. He had to do so in a way that she wouldn't come seeking him out again.

As she slowly neared him, Regulus thought he heard movement upstairs, and his thoughts instantly travelled to the idea of Bellatrix being there. If she heard any moment where he was second-guessing what he had been told, it would be the end of everything.

So, before Éponine could reach out and touch his hand, hoping to reach him, Regulus lifted his wand and pointed it at her.

He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to as he moved his wand to cast the spell.

Éponine's face erupted in boils and as she went to touch her face, Regulus launched her back, sending her in the direction of the front door. The way she hit the floor, he flinched and when he heard the painful yelp, he wanted to die. But he made his way to the hall and stood at the end as Éponine struggled to her feet.

"Get out of here, Éponine," he said, " don't come back here ever again. Blood-traitors aren't welcomed. Because of the past we shared, I'm willing to spare your life this time, but I won't be so kind the next time we meet. Now get out!"

The way she looked at him, covered in boils or not, Regulus could still see the hurt in her eyes and on her face. She said nothing to him as she opened the door and hurried out, slamming it behind her. He could hear the faint crack of her disapparating outside before he allowed himself to fall to his knees.

A/N:

Crazy how we're about to come to the end of Act I, can't wait for Act II.