𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter thirty-one; The Siblings of Hogwarts
" No, no one cares about Maddie like I do. "

  REGULUS BLACK WAS pissed. It had been a very long string of events that led him to the position of nearly punching James Potter in the face, and it had all begun with a life-changing decision.

  "Hello," Regulus cleared his throat, loosening his emerald tie slightly. Bluebelle was looking up at him with a scrunched brow, the girl not to sure what to say to the younger teen. "Have you seen Madeline lately?"

  "She's in our dorm," Bluebelle replied after a moment, "Not taking visitors."

  "I need to speak with her."

  "You don't talk like a 16-year-old, y'know."

  Regulus' jaw was set, obviously growing irritated with the blonde. "Look, can you just tell her to meet me?"

  "Where?"

  "She'll know where."

  Bluebelle's face was twisted in confusion as Regulus walked away briskly, all he could do is hope Madeline would wind up in the Astronomy Tower that night.

ϟ

  "What's wrong with you?"

  "What did you need to talk to me about?" Madeline questioned through a froggy voice, pulling jumper sleeves to form paw-like hands.

  "Maddie, what's wrong?" Regulus questioned, his anger and anxiety washed away quickly as he stood from his spot on the edge of the Astronomy Tower's balcony. The wind had ruffled his hair into a messier state than normal, but this was the least of his problems.

  "Nothing," Madeline lied poorly, "What's going on?"

  Regulus stared at the brunette for a moment. It was strange that suddenly the boy was taller than she was, Madeline could assume he was as tall if not taller than Sirius now. When they first spoke he'd been barely shorter than her, and now the girl wondered when he had his growth spurt.

  "Can I come stay?" Regulus blurted, "With you?"

  Madeline's face softened, her fists unclenching which allowed the sweater to inch back up her hands. Regulus looked nervous, like suddenly the brick wall, the barrier he put up between himself and any other living thing, had been broken down to nothing but rubble.

  "Of course," Madeline finally responded, though her voice was extremely quiet, "Straight to my house this summer?"

  Regulus silently nodded, tightening his face slightly. He snuck a look back at the sky, turning back to Madeline with a clear face.

  "What's wrong?"

  ". . . James found out," Madeline said carefully, "About me and Sirius."

  "And?"

  "Well it started with James shouting at me, then me shouting at Sirius, then James shouted at us," The brunette continued, "And then I shouted at James."

  "Are you okay?"

  "I don't know what to do anymore," She mumbled after a moment. "It's just a giant tangled mess and I want out."

  Regulus stood still, and after a moment he pulled Madeline into a very stiff hug. The girl tried to hug him back, but only wound up laughing at his attempt to rub her back.

  "Stop!"

  "I'm sorry," Madeline laughed, pulling away from the boy, "Sorry, Reg."

  "So," Regulus sighed, "James is what's wrong?"

  "I suppose," She shrugged, "And, of course, now I. . . can't be with Sirius."

  "This is disgusting and I don't want to talk about it but just date him."

  Madeline's eyes blew wide as Regulus spoke quickly.

  "You both really fancy eachother and I reckon if two people care about each other the way you two do, they should just go ahead and be together."

  Madeline's lips lifted into a gentle smile, which made Regulus breath out a long sigh.

  "I'll see you tomorrow," Regulus said, "Maybe."

  "You're moving in," Madeline stated, "It's too late now."

  Regulus rolled his eyes, leaving the tower quickly. And despite his hardened exterior, Regulus Black was quite touched that Madeline Potter cared about him oh, so much.

ϟ

  "Oi!"

  James furrowed his brows, turning away from Lily Evans to find Regulus taking large strides towards him.

  "What the hell's your problem?" Regulus questioned angrily, stopping mere feet from the duo.

  "Regulus, calm down," Lily tried, not wanting to deal with a fight.

  "You claim to care about Maddie so much," Regulus continued, undeterred, "But you're the twat causing her the wost pain!"

  "Don't talk to me about my sister," James' anger flared as he realized why Regulus approached him. "Not when you dumped your brother the second he got a better life!"

  "You don't know shit about my family!"

  "Yes, I do!" James shouted, "You think I don't know that you and Sirius weren't always enemies? That your mother hurt you both whenever—!"

  "James!" Lily shouted, making the boy fall silent, "He cares about Maddie like you do."

  "No, no one cares about Maddie like I do," James snapped, whirling on Lily, "She's my little sister, I'm not going to leave her like some arse, whether she sees it or not I take care of her and I'm not just going to stop!"

  "She wants you to!" Regulus' voice rattled the walls, shocking James slightly. "Madeline can't breath!"

  "You don't know what you're talking about."

  "Yes, I do, because I actually listen to what she says," Regulus yelled, a vein now prominent in his neck, "You want to be a good big brother, but really you just need to be Maddie's big brother! It's not a selfish thing, and the second you make it one, you're mucking it all up!"

  "Reg, come on."

  Regulus was still fuming, and didn't register that it was Sirius pulling him away until they turned a corner. The youngest Black quickly shoved Sirius harshly away, though the boy didn't look rattled by this.

  "Was I a selfish brother?" Sirius questioned after a moment.

  "That wasn't about you," Regulus snapped, "It was about Maddie— who feels like shit and you haven't even spoken to her."

  "She ran away from me!" Sirius defended, flinging his arms out helplessly, "You think I want her to be hurt— no one wants Maddie hurt, alright, Reg?! You aren't her bloody white knight, we all care about her!"

  Regulus tightened his jaw, staring at his brother. They were the same height now. And even if Sirius couldn't breathe and realize it, Regulus had taken into account that he'd grown into the same features Sirius had. The sharp nose and jaw, only slightly unruly hair, their looks gave the familial bond away before anything else did.

  "She should still be in the Astronomy Tower."

  "Thank you—"

  "Yeah, it's not for you," Regulus said coldly, walking briskly past his brother.

  And while Sirius Black was saddened by it, by his own temper coming out to play, because no matter what people thought he truly did want his little brother back, he couldn't dwell. He had to find Madeline and figure out where the hell they stood because not knowing was far worse than heartbreak had felt.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
i don't want anyone to
say reg asking to stay was
anti-climactic. not the kind
of kid who'd have a heart-to-heart
and pushing someone to do
something they aren't comfortable
with, even if it's talking about
a traumatic experience, isn't
okay, cool, or the way a friend
would act thank you, goodnight!