── Monday 3rd April 1972

"I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE APPROACHING YOUR FIRST YEAR," the Dark Lord stated, his reptilian smile unnerving Regulus more and more as his words contorted it, "you must be excited."

Regulus' eyebrows knitted together just the slightest, confusion by the man's interest in his upcoming year at Hogwarts arising. "I guess," he responded, which in all fairness, wasn't a lie — Regulus was eager to go to school, to receive his own wand from Ollivander's, to learn new charms and hexes, and best of all, to speak to Sirius each and every day, to be the centre of his brother's attention once again.

Lord Voldemort seemed amused by his answer, perplexing Regulus even more. "I want to you to take a look around this room, Regulus Black." And so he did, taking in, a little more carefully, the sight of a few dozen pureblood wizards, staring at him with curiosity that only continued to fuel his ever-growing puzzlement. "All of our friends here are depending on what you can do for our cause," he continued, calmly.

Regulus faltered at that, "Our cause?"

"I trust your mother has taught you of the importance of keeping our community pure, and of those who threaten that priority," he dismissed. The boy tried not to frown. "To put it simply, I've a job for you to do during your years at Hogwarts and it is simple. Your mother has informed me of how exemplary you are at your studies, and as your role as a pureblood son of your heart, so I doubt this should be an issue? All you have to do is spy for me, be my eyes and ears in that school."

Regulus' eyes had fallen to his mother who sit stiffly upright, looking directly ahead of her. At the Dark Lord's final few words, he registered the subtlest clench of her jaw, "I don't know..." came his hesitant response. Spy for him? Regulus didn't particularly enjoy the idea of being a snake.

"Well, perhaps you're right, I wouldn't want to put this matter in the hands of an incapable child... after all, you may not even end up a Slytherin," he considered.

Regulus' gaze flitted to the Dark Lord's immediately at this, the word choice of incapable causing an instant surge of annoyance to power through him, "I'm not incapable," he stated rather sharply, frowning.

The man raised his eyebrows, his expression neutral, which Regulus, only at that moment, realised was an offer to prove his words, "Oh?"

"...I'll spy."

Regulus heard his mother make a barely noticeable choking sound, while Lord Voldemort sported a knowing smirk that made Regulus feel as if he could see right through him. "If you're so certain, then perfect." The man looked down at him one last time before he turned to discuss other matters, as if he knew that when it came to proving his worth, Regulus was willing to be a snake, a Slytherin and so much more.

── ✧ ──

── Sunday 18th June 1972

SIRIUS' FIRST YEAR AT HOGWARTS HAD FLOWN BY MUCH FASTER THAN HE HAD INITIALLY ANTICIPATED, and however desperately he'd missed Reggie, Sirius couldn't deny he had never felt more seen as he had with James, Peter and Remus. Sirius felt like he could accomplish anything as long as they, along with Reggie, were by his side.

The four of them sat in a circle, in the exact train compartment they had met, talking away as they snacked on some muffins that Peter had baked in the Hogwarts Kitchens - the small boy had befriended practically every house elf in there and they all collectively adored him. Sirius was just happy to have a midnight snack pass, honestly.

"The lot of you got any plans this summer then?" James asked, dusting cake crumbs off of his shirt as he did.

"Marls and I are going camping in Inverness with her brothers," Peter offered.

"Say hi to Nessy for me," Remus chimed in.

"I will if she shows up for once! We've been going for years, and I've still never seen her."

"Maybe she's scared you'll scream in her face like you did with that beetle in the dorm last week," Sirius teased with a grin.

"It was a spider!" Peter protested, "Beetles are so much better, I would never."

"If I remember correctly, Sirius, the whole lot of you were screaming," added Remus with a reminiscing smile. "It was like a really bad opera."

"It was on my bed!" Sirius exclaimed, "It got its creepy eyeballs all over my sheets and I had to change them."

Remus laughed, "You're so dramatic. What you planning to do this summer then?"

"Probably nothing," Sirius sighed, "You?"

"Same. The 26th is in about a week so I'll probably just sleep loads before and after."

"What's happening on the 26th?" James asked.

Remus faltered, "Erm... nothing. Just a family thing." Sirius frowned at his evident lie. "Actually, I think I need too go use the loo," the brunette added, rushing out of the compartment in possibly the most suspicious manner he could, much to the confusion of all three of them.

── ✧ ──

Sirius' father had barely said more than a few words to him since picking him up from the train station and apparating home. Though since his mother hadn't even shown up, he was slightly less bitter about only receiving a mere greeting and comment on how he looked well.

Upon arriving at the Black's dull London residence, Sirius was not too inspired by his return, and clearly neither was anyone else. There was absolutely no one to receive him as he recalled they all had for Narcissa's first summer after Hogwarts. Upon further consideration however, he assumed everyone was preparing the celebration for Andy's return instead. Sirius looked at his father, "When are we going to Andromeda's graduation party?"

Sirius' father regarded for him for a moment, before looking away and clearing his throat, which the boy found strange to say the least. But then again, maybe the man was just feeling a bit under the weather. It wasn't uncommon with him. "There is no party," came his father's distant response. "Go wash up, your mother and Regulus will be back in a few hours."

Sirius frowned, "Why not?" 

"I said go wash up," his father repeated, firmer this time.

Sirius huffed, heading up the staircase. Sure, avoid all his questions then, why not? Secrets seemed to be becoming a habit for the people around him. The boy tossed the little luggage he'd brought home onto his bed, opting to have a warm shower. Once he was done, he tossed himself onto his bed as well, staring up at the ceiling with a sigh. He wondered if James was in Wales already - his parents were taking him to Cardiff for the summer and how Sirius wished he could have joined him - actually, Sirius wished his family would take them places - places that weren't France, might he add. France was okay, but Wales sounded bloody lovely. Remus had told him he was Welsh too, when Sirius had made an inquiry about his accent, and he had thought that it was incredibly fitting since Remus was a lovely friend, most of the time.

Slowly, his door cracked open and Sirius sat up quickly, glancing over at it. It widened to reveal a small figure standing there with wide eyes.

Regulus. Reggie. His brother.

Sirius scrambled off of his bed, rushing towards the younger boy and trapping him in a tight embrace, a laugh escaping him as a relieved sigh escaped his brother. "You're okay," Sirius breathed out, hugging him even tighter.

"Not for long if you keep smothering me," joked Reggie, his voice muffled, though he made no move to let go.

Sirius let go, laughing again, "Where have you been?"

"Sorry. Mother insisted I go to Aunt Druella's house with her."

"But father says there's no party."

"Yeah, there isn't."

"Why?"

The boy blinked up at him, "You haven't heard?"

Sirius' face scrunched up, "They uninvited me? Those prats!"

"What? Where'd you... No! Also don't say that word." Reggie shook his head, hesitating, "Andy- I mean Andromeda, she..."

"What?"

"She's been disowned, Sirius. They burned her off the family tree."

"What?" Sirius stared at his brother in disbelief. "She what?"

"She ran off with a mudblood. Edward Tonks or something. She's going to marry him this winter because she loves him more than us so she's leaving us for him."

Regulus rambled on, but Sirius couldn't believe his ears. It wasn't true, it couldn't possibly be - Andy did love them. Between the five cousins, she was the most caring and compassionate, she'd never willingly leave. Uncle Cygnus must have tossed her aside. Disowned her, simply over loving somebody who wasn't a pureblood. Sirius scowled at the absurdity of it.

"Don't say that!" he snapped, though at Regulus' instant silence and taken aback expression, a hint of regret followed.

"...What part?"

"All of it, Reggie," Sirius said, his tone softer this time. "Andy did love us, it's not her fault she was disowned. It's Uncle Cygnus'."

"But.." Regulus stared at him for a moment then seemingly gave in, "Nevermind. Did you like Hogwarts then? You didn't come back for winter so I'd hope so."

Sirius tried not to frown at his accusatory tone. One bitter comment to another - Regulus was never this negative last year. "Mother said not to. I sent you a letter about it."

"I didn't get any letters."

This time, he did frown. Of course. He'd practically predicted that, hadn't he? Their mother was petty as ever, if nothing else. "Not even the locket?"

Regulus paused, as if thinking, "Actually, I did get that." A small smile appeared on his face as he untucked the locket from underneath his shirt collar. "I love it, that's why I forgive you, I've decided."

Sirius rolled his eyes, smiling back, "I got you something else too, for your birthday next week," he said, moving over to his bag to retrieve it.

"Really? What is it?" Regulus asked, following him over to the bed as Sirius handed him a messily wrapped package. His brother looked up at him and Sirius nodded excitedly for him to open it, and so he sat down on the bed and he did, carefully unwrapping the package to reveal a black, cloth-bound book, with a coloured gradient of floral patterns surrounding the title which read in print: Pride and Prejudice.

"It's by that wizard named Shakespeare, I'm pretty sure. I can read it to you every night this summer like we used to."

This prompted a small giggle from his brother, "It says 'Jane Austen'." 

Sirius' mouth formed an 'o' shape but then he shrugged, "I was close enough. My friend, Remus, loves it - I think you two would get along really well."

"I think I'll get along well with any pureblood after spending a whole year with Evan on my tail," his brother retorted with a small smirk.

"Evan Rosier? That's believable enough, he never shuts up." 

Reggie laughed again, "Sounds familiar."

"Haha, very funny. Well, Remus isn't pureblood, but I still think you two will get along - you're both into books and, if you ask me, you have similar humour as well. Oh, I wrote to you about James - you'd adore him - I adore him, he's my absolute best friend, not that the other boys aren't, but James and I have something stronger, I'd say."

"...Potter?" a sceptical tone had crept into his brother's voice.

Sirius nodded, "Hear me out, Reggie, I know mother and father have something against the Potters, but they're really not bad at all! Neither are the Pettigrews, for that matter, even if some of them are squibs. My friend, Peter, is insanely good at astronomy, though he's not amazing at other magic."

"They're blood traitors, Sirius."

"Don't talk about my friends like that. Blood doesn't matter in Hogwarts - I made this muggleborn friend, right? Her name's Mary Macdonald and she's stunning, not to mention hilarious. And then there's this other redhead James is obsessed with beating, and as much as I think she's a bit stuck-up, she's honestly pretty good at magic."

"You're friends with mudbloods too?"

"You should call them muggleborns," Sirius corrected, "James told me that other word's offensive."

"I don't care if it's offensive, Sirius!" Regulus exclaimed, standing up, "You can't talk to them!"

Sirius paused, narrowing his eyes at his brother as he surveyed his frustrated expression. "And why's that?"

Regulus' frustration morphed into something more timid at Sirius' sharp response, "Andromeda got disowned for doing that. I can't lose... that can't happen to you."

"Andy got disowned 'cause her parents are horrible! Mother and father may be moody gits, but they wouldn't disown me over my friends. They're not bloody psychotic!"

"Well you're already a Gryffindor!" Regulus retorted, "Everyone already doesn't like you, talking to dirty blood isn't going to help your case, Sirius!"

"Dirty blood?" Sirius repeated, scoffing, "Where'd you learn that? From mother or from your stupid dark lord?"

His younger brother went quiet, clenching his jaw as he looked away.

"Is it true then?" Sirius felt almost betrayed. "You're speaking with that monster?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Regulus muttered, rushing out of his room, still gripping onto his new book, before Sirius could even press him for more. 

Sirius stared after him. Merlin, Reggie, he thought, gripping the edge of his bed as he sat down. What the hell are you thinking?

── ✧ ──

not me updating what a miracle but anyways this chapter was so fun to write i love myself some angst xx regulus is going to hogwarts next chapter aww he's growing we're so proud

26.11.23