── Saturday 21st August 1971

REGULUS STOOD BEFORE HIM. His brother didn't care for his reasons. Those familiar eyes held nothing but pure hatred. He'd left. He'd left his baby brother behind, ran off to that stupid school, and Regulus hated him for it. Sirius didn't know what hurt more, the wand - merlin, Walburga's wand - pointed at him, only centimetres away from where his heart beat, and his heart beat like crazy, or those steely eyes - because Sirius knew those eyes, Sirius knew his mother's eyes more than anyone else's.

The eldest son of Walburga and Orion Black was blubbering, his hands pressed against the wall, "Reggie-" he croaked as he collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.

"Don't. You're not my family. You're just disgusting," the younger boy seethed, his bitter chuckle echoing through the eerily quiet room, accompanied by Sirius' painful sobs. "You're not anything to me."

"Regulus, please listen-" The wand that had been by his heart merely seconds earlier had found its way to the eleven year old's neck.

"Shut up." Those eyes - mother's eyes - cut through his soul like a sharpened blade. Sirius knew the word before his brother's mouth formed it, "Supplicium."

He scrambled up, panting heavily, and he realised he was crying. Blacks don't cry. Sirius reminded himself, his eyes refusing to close in case the dream flashed through his mind again.

"Sirius?" a small voice whispered from the door, and a figure approached his bed. Reggie clambered onto it, careful not to make a noise, because Merlin forbid their mother's scoldings if she found them awake so late at night.

Sirius didn't say anything, he stared at his brother for a moment, and then his briefly frozen face broke into a painful expression once more, ugly tears running down his pale cheeks. He felt his brother's arms tighten around him and he hugged back, tighter and tighter, like, if he didn't, his dreaded nightmares would come alive.

Five minutes later, his younger brother had snuggled in beside him, their small hands intertwined even as they lay down.

"Did you have the scary dragon dream again?" Reggie asked, quietly; sleepily, glancing up at him.

"Yeah." he lied, looking into his brother's soft, grey eyes. Those eyes could never turn hard, not towards him - Reggie didn't need to know about the horrid nightmares that said otherwise.

"Mummy said you have to grow up and stop being mean to our family." he replied, with a smile so genuine Sirius couldn't help but simply nod as his brother dozed off. He attempted the same, content with the certainty of his thoughts: They'd always be brothers, no matter what.

── ✧ ──

VISITING DIAGON ALLEY would always excite young Regulus Black - even if he'd only been twice before - once before his cousin, Narcissa's, first year and then three years later after the girl and her sisters had convinced Walburga to let the two boys go.

However, this visit was a worrisome exception to the exhilaration. Regulus couldn't hide the slight frown on his face as Sirius' eagerness made its presence aware with that continuous grin of his.

He didn't blame his brother for looking forward to today - well, not really, but the feeling still left a bitterness about him as he walked beside said beaming Sirius. Narcissa and her elder sisters, Andromeda and Bellatrix, strolled closely in front of them, speaking amongst themselves about boys out of all things.

"-are we ever going to meet this angel of yours, Dromeda? Honestly, as long as he's pureblood and treats you well - I couldn't care less!"

"That is such a fib, Bella. You're always bugging Lucius."

"I didn't say I wouldn't tease." she drawled. "Besides, Lucius is annoying-"

"Can you believe it, Reg?" Sirius said suddenly, bringing Regulus' attention away from their cousins' conversations as Sirius grabbed his hand and rushed over to the window of Ollivander's Wand Shop, which they'd been passing by a moment ago. "I'll get my wand here! Today! Can you believe it, Regulus? I finally get my own wand!"

Regulus nodded, turning to look at Sirius with a small smile, "Can we go inside?" he asked, despite himself. Sirius shook his head. "Why?"

"Mum said buying a wand should always come last, something about tradition, and how only mudbloods break it," he shrugged, crinkling his nose, "I think it's stupid."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"But it can't be that st-"

"Sirius? Regulus?" Andromeda's voice called out, Narcissa trailing not far behind her as she approached them. The brunette paused for a moment and then smirked, realising what both brothers were up to. "Just a little longer," she said, patting Sirius' head as he grinned up at her. Andromeda grinned back. "So, I want you to meet someone."

Sirius' face fell, a disappointed groan escaping him whilst the younger boy looked over at Narcissa, perplexed, "Come on, Andy. I don't wanna meet some boring prat."

The girl's mouth curved into a mischievous smile that replaced her previous grin. "Since when have I ever had you meet a boring prat, Sir?"

"...Well, there was-"

"Oh, shush. This person isn't boring." Andromeda rolled her eyes, and Sirius stuck his tongue out in response. The girl snorted, slinging an arm around her cousin's neck before glancing at Regulus. "Do you want to come as well, Reg?" she asked, looking at him. "I'm sure they'd love to meet you, too."

He hadn't expected to be put on the spot so abruptly, Regulus opened his mouth to reply, but was beaten to it.

"Reg can stay with me." Narcissa said, gesturing for them to go with a subtle wave of her hand. The two did exactly that and the blonde turned to the youngest black, offering him her hand to hold. "So," she started, "how's my favourite cousin on this fine day?"

"I'm okay." He took her hand. "If Sirius hears you say that, he'll be really offended."

The corner of her mouth twitched and Narcissa shook her head, "I'm sure Sirius would get over the betrayal eventually."

Regulus shrugged, "Who's he going to meet?" he asked her, voicing his curiosities because he was almost sure Cissy would answer him.

Narcissa hesitated, which interested Regulus. Who could Andromeda possibly be seeing that had her sister, out of all people, uncomfortable? The brunette wasn't known to rebel; at least not as much as Sirius.

"Dromeda's been mingling with the Fortescues... they're blood traitors - she's making me keep it from our parents and Bella. I wouldn't even have known, had I not seen the evidence. She doesn't usually associate." Narcissa sighed, crinkling her nose and that Regulus understood. It was no secret, not even to the ten-year-old, that the youngest daughter of Druella (neé Rosier) and Cygnus Black would go to extreme lengths for her family. It was something he admired the blonde for, but obviously that meant she didn't enjoy keeping quiet. In fact, he'd often seen Narcissa be reprimanded for her habit of sharing almost everything with the other Blacks and Rosiers.

"But Bella knows? She was here a minute ago - she knows everything. Bella knows, right, Cissy?"

Narcissa shook her head, pushing back a stray lock of her hair. "She's been busy with Rodolphus, trying to get mother off her cloak about a faithful marriage. Ever since she's gotten that mark-" the girl stopped mid-sentence, pressing her lips together. "I'm sorry, Regulus. I mustn't speak so unnecessarily."

Regulus stared at her, small eyes narrowed slightly. Mark? What mark? "It's okay, Cissy," he said, sneaking a glance over to where his brother had disappeared. Sirius always talked for no reason too - Regulus liked it. He liked listening to other people talk. Especially Sirius.

Narcissa squeezed his hand and Regulus realised her gaze had followed his. "You don't want him to go, do you?" she asked, softly.

He stiffened. Regulus had thought he'd been doing a good job of hiding the fact - his parents would hate knowing he was getting upset over such small things. He looked up at Cissy, eyes now wide as if they were those of a scared puppy, "Don't tell mummy."

She nodded, lips pursed. "I felt the same way when my sisters left, anyways."

── ✧ ──

the amount of sad songs i listened to writing this chapter.
"if you want love, you gon' have to go through the pain."
yuh im sobbing HELP

also the info on supplicium, if you're wondering:

it was made by a black and is basically a spell to compose people. it honestly works a lot like dementors do (y'know the no happiness gist), but isn't as strong. the only reason i made it is because crucio is a one way ticket to azkaban and walburga wouldn't be dumb enough to use it so freely - at least not yet. it's basically like sectumsempra - it's dangerous, but not well known enough to be illegal.

and yeah i was so out of inspiration for this chapter <3 like can't these hoes just hate each other already pls 🙄✋

28.02.21