JANUARY 29, 1979 | THE NEW MOON
[TW: blood]
Late at night on January 29, dark marks burn.
The Death Eaters are called to Lord Voldemort’s side at Stonehenge and OCTAVIUS BURKE is instructed to bring the children that have been in his care for months. They appear to be well fed and in good spirits, though that is only because they’ve no idea what’s coming.
The Dark Lord’s plan is slowly revealed as the Death Eaters listen in rapt attention. Each child will be evaluated and sacrificed in ascending order of magical power. After the last sacrifice, Lord Voldemort will perform a ritual with their blood before absorbing all of the power, which is magnified due to the lunar cycle. Tonight, the first new moon of the year, is the perfect opportunity.
Lord Voldemort uses his wand on each child, testing their individual magical capacity with a spell long hidden in dark arts texts. Each child is placed at a certain point of a pentagram laid in the center of the Stonehenge. What he finds near the end, however, is disconcerting.
There is not enough magical power to complete the ritual, due to the younger ages of a couple of children. Though the children were tested upon their kidnappings, they have not increased their magical capacity as quickly as Lord Voldemort had hoped and he is unwilling to wait much longer to complete the ritual.
He must find a substitute. And quickly.
It is a surprise to all in attendance when he announces that a Death Eater will need to be sacrificed to ensure the full capacity of the dark ritual is met. As REGULUS BLACK is the youngest, he is chosen for the opportunity. Though family is heralded as greater than all by most purebloods, the Death Eaters in attendance say nothing, merely watch as the Dark Lord executes each child in succession, his wand opening their throats as OCTAVIUS follows behind him, collecting drops of blood in a silver chalice.
He pauses for a moment at Regulus, acknowledging his regret at the wasted potential under his breath before Regulus, too, slumps to the ground.
At the moment the moon changes, Lord Voldemort lifts the chalice to his lips and absorbs all of the power of the children and Regulus, a light flashing around the pentagam as it is completed.
Regulus’ body is given to CHARLES AVERY & RICHARD SELWYN to dispose of. CHARLES & RICHARD implicate the Order for the death, leaving the body on the steps of Gringotts where it is found by the goblins in the early light of morning.
On January 30, the wizarding world wakes up to the shocking death of a pureblood scion. Though pureblood society is rattled, its members soldier on and all anyone can speak of at events if the unfortunate death of a young boy with such potential.
The newspapers print little else for weeks and even the most liberal of wizards are heard speaking ill of the vigilantes who dared to murder an innocent.
Regulus’ funeral is held on February 5, though it is closed except to family and close associates.
You may roleplay until February 9, 1979. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.