New Family
Sunday 7th January 1973
It felt like he was still dreaming when he woke up. He had fallen asleep on the couch in the common room again, as happened sometimes. The weak January-sunlight shining through the window, lighting the room. The silver decorations shimmered as it did, making Regulus feel at ease. An angled glass on the side table projected a rainbow on the floor.
Growing up, he learned to think in black and white, there was no need for unnecessary side thoughts. That's what everyone said, apart from Sirius, he showed him how to be happy, how to care and love. He showed him what it's like to feel alive.
Although he still had trouble with it sometimes, he would keep trying, he would try because he never learned how to give up. His parents told him giving up was weak, but that wasn't what made him carry on trying. It was Sirius who just did his own thing and would never give up fighting for what he loved, so Regulus wouldn't either.
When he finally figured out he was trans, he had gone to his parents when he wanted to transition. It was the scariest thing he'd ever done. He knew his parents wouldn't accept him, but he couldn't keep living in a lie. He couldn't be stuck in someone he was not. So, he tried. They agreed to let him transition, they needed an heir, preferably male, after all. And that wouldn't be Sirius, that much was clear at that point. They hadn't said it out loud yet, but Regulus knew when they lost hope.
They were harsher, not as scared to lose Sirius anymore, punishing more. He couldn't forget any of the nights when he would sit at the top step of the stairs, listening to Sirius' screams, coming from downstairs. Regulus knew his parents waited until he'd gone to bed. Trying to keep as much of their bad side covered, just so he wouldn't get it in his head to run away. But He knew. He made himself listen, knowing it was his fault, hating himself a little more after every scream. He even counted in the beginning, even when he didn't have any fingers left to count on.
He knew Sirius would be leaving at some point, he hoped for him it would be soon. Though it would be a lie if he didn't say that he hoped even more that he'd stay. That he'd choose him above the absence of them. But they both knew he would take the first chance he got, so Regulus would wait for that day, and go with him. He wouldn't live in that stupid house without Sirius, he wouldn't live anywhere without Sirius.
Sirius was what brought colour to his world, no black to be found. No Black to be found. Now he was amongst others who were pure happiness, others like him. He could see how much of a relieve going to Hogwarts was for Sirius, and Regulus was happy. For him.
Going to Hogwarts made him realize that he didn't belong anywhere, but that he can change as well. He already did, he made amazing friends and he felt happy to be there. He was actually enjoying simple things, like the morning sun shining through the window. It was the happiest he'd been in his life, and it didn't even feel like the limit.
"Hey Reggie!” Barty exclaimed, as he entered the common room.
Regulus groaned, “Merlin, you don’t have to yell.”
“Mhm,” Barty nodded “I don't have to, but I can.”
“You're such an arse” Sometimes Regulus didn't understand why he was friends with Barty, he could be a lot at times. But even though he despised too much noise, and he could get overwhelmed sometimes, Barty knew that as well, and would know when he had to cool it down a little. It's a weird kind of balance, but it made Regulus feel secure.
It was like that with all of his friends, that only parts are the same, and the rest is the exact opposite. Pandora had the calmer, and quieter atmosphere around her, like Regulus. He lacked the positive mindset she had. Which was the opposite of Dorcas, who was as pessimistic as you get them, but with the energy of a niffler in Gringotts. He did appreciate her rationality a lot. He seemed to have the most in common with Evan, who was both calm, and had a more realistic view on things, but even with him there were differences, Evan was much more social than him, for one. Of course he didn't expect to find someone that was exactly the same as him, but he had heard so many stories from Sirius about Potter, that he'd silently hoped to find someone that would understand him the same as those two knew each other.
“You love me, really,” Barty laughed, as he slouched down on the couch next to Regulus and flung his legs over Regulus's.
“How do you deduct that from me saying that you're an arse?”
“Because,” Barty smiles, “you do. Even if you say I'm an arse.”
“Sure,” he laughed, raising an eyebrow.
“Shut up, you do.” Barty poked his side, which send Regulus into giggles.
“Okay, okay! I surrender!” But Barty kept tickling him. “Just-” He grabbed a pillow from the couch, “stop-” he hit Barty with it, “tickling. me.” Barty finally stopped, but Regulus hit him an extra time, just because he felt like it.
“Oww, I literally stopped, what more do you want?”
“Do you actually want a list?” He dared Barty
Barty's eyes widened comically. “Nope, never mind, I take that back.”
Regulus smirked, “Are you sure? You asked so nicely, wouldn't want to ignore that.”
“Yes, I'm sure.” Barty glared at him, “Bitch,” he muttered.
“What was that?” Regulus raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms. Waiting for his answer. “Too scared to speak up, Crouch?”
“Bitch,” he said again, daringly this time.
He knew Barty wouldn't just give up his pride. Neither would he though, So, from that point on it would be a constant game of back and forth. Regulus wasn't feeling it today though.
He hummed, “If you say so.”
To that, Barty frowned. “What's going on?”
“Nothing, why?”
“You basically admitted you were a bitch”
“I did not, I just decided you weren't worth my time.”
“Ouch. You have no reason to be this mean to me black.”
"Do you want a list?”
“For Merlin's sake Reg, not again!” Barty exclaimed.
He grinned, “Okay, okay.” He dropped his head back against the couch and sighed, “I was just thinking.” he could feel Barty looking at him in suspense. “It's just- my birthday is next week and-”
Barty cut him off. “It's your birthday next week? Why didn't you tell me? I'll never be able to find something in time!”
“Barty, calm down. I don't want anything anyways.”
“That's ridiculous.”
“Of course you would think that.”
“What's that supposed to mean.”
“That you're acting like a child.”
“Plot twist! We literally are.”
“Yeah okay, but we're not five anymore.”
“I can still like presents.”
“Clearly.”
“Anyways. You were thinking about your birthday next week, that you should've told me about.”
Regulus rolled his eyes but moved on. He knew how stubborn Barty could be. “Sirius and I used to sneak out to have a picknick on our birthdays, the only exception I can remember is last year because he was obviously busy with school, and his new friends. Now I don't know if he wants to continue the tradition this year. Sirius's birthday was in November, so we missed it that time already. We weren't really talking at the time. But now I don't know if he wants to.”
“I'm pretty sure he does.”
“How would you know?”
“Just the fact that the first thing he does when he walks into the grand hall is checking if you're okay.”
“Now, why are you looking at my brother.”
“Because I fucking despise him, and you know you should always keep an eye on the enemy.”
“Did you actually call my brother 'the enemy'?
“Yeah, I did! He better stay the fuck away from our Reggie. Your ours now.”
“Oh?” Regulus raised an eyebrow
“Me and Evan are your new parents, Dorcas is the annoying teenage sister, and Pandora is the toddler that loves everything.”
“Why is that scaringly accurate.”
“Because.”
“That's not an answer.”
“I just made it one.”
"That's not how it works-”
“So, Regulus. What do you want for your birthday?”
“Merlin, you're infuriating.”
“Aww, thank you!”
Regulus smiles, he's apparently got a new family, which he didn't know was a thing ten minutes ago, but wouldn't change for anything in the world. It kind of scared him, it made him see how that was how safe and loved he should feel in his real family. Thank Merlin for his friends.