you are so precious to me (baby mine)
Sirius was dreading the reaction to what was going to happen today. Regulus needed to be checked over by Madam Pomfrey but there was no way he’d take it well. And there was the other question he needed to ask. He suspected he knew the answer but he still needed confirmation.
Regulus was happily eating some cut fruit with his hands, having refused to touch the bright purple plastic fork he'd been provided with.
And then Sirius came over and said, “Can we talk, Regulus?” Regulus. Not love, not Bug, not even Reg. Naturally, he jumped to the worst possible conclusion. He would have had a full-blown panic attack if Sirius hadn’t immediately reassured him that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I just need to ask you a couple of questions, alright love?” Reg nodded.
Sirius steeled himself to ask the one question he needed to know but didn’t want to hear the answer to. “In the last few summers, has mother been… unkind to you?” His heart nearly leapt out of his throat as Regulus froze. And the damning confession that proved his guilt was delivered as his sweet, sweet baby brother nodded.
Struggling not to let his own raging emotions show, he kissed his baby brother’s soft downy head. “Thank you, bug.” Taking a few deep breaths he did his best to make sure none of those emotions showed on his face.
“Is she the reason you hid that you were a little?” Another nod. It took everything in him not to turn and punch the wall in frustration and anger.
After he calmed down, the conversation continued. “There is absolutely nothing wrong or shameful about being a little. Once again, do you understand?” He was skeptical and Sirius knew it, but he nodded anyway. “That said, it is not healthy to do what you were doing. You put yourself under a considerable amount of stress. That’s why I want to go to Madam Pomfrey so she can check you over. Alright?”
Regulus froze. If it got out, Mother would be so upset. She would hurt him! Sirius continued.
“There won’t be anything told to anyone but you and me, Bug. Unless we decide to tell someone, no one will know.” Eventually, the results would have to be disclosed if they were going to make a case that their mother wasn’t fit to be guardian and hold guardian rights, but bringing that up now would be counterproductive.
“I need you to cooperate with me then and agree to let Madam Pomfrey give you a check-up, alright?” And so, Regulus agreed. He was whisked off to the infirmary. Those minutes, walking through the crowded hallways, were so awful. He could feel the stares even with his head firmly hidden.
“You’re being so brave, Bug. I’m so proud of you,” Sirius whispered as they continued. Regulus was practically shaking in his arms. “It’s alright. Everything will be alright, love.”
Finally, they made it and Sirius immediately caught sight of Lily. He’d asked her to go ahead and explain the situation so Regulus wouldn’t have to spend more time than necessary in an uncomfortable place.
“Hey bud. Lily’s here. She’s a friend of mine. Would you like to say hi? She’s nice, I promise. Mostly,” Sirius added in a half-whisper.
“I heard that!” She called. Regulus peeked out from his hiding place and saw a pair of kind eyes looking back at him. The redheaded woman smiled. “Oh wow! Look at that pretty face! We definitely know who the better-looking brother is.” Regulus giggled as Sirius gasped dramatically, “Oh, you wound me, Lily, you really do.”
“You’ll survive, I’m sure.” They smiled at each other before Madam Pomfrey approached. Sirius greeted her and then she instructed him to lay Regulus down on one of the beds. Lily accompanied them, and Regulus found himself grateful. There was something about her that made him trust her instinctively.
And so, for what felt like hours (it was thirty minutes), he was poked and prodded, and various diagnostic spells were cast. Finally, when it was all done, Madam Pomfrey called Sirius out to discuss the results, and he was left alone with Lily.
Sirius nearly collapsed in relief as Madam Pomfrey informed him that there was no lasting damage, at least physically. All injuries had been healed almost immediately after they had been inflicted. He pushed down his guilt at the laundry list of injuries the scan brought up.
“There is definitely enough evidence to make a case that Mrs. Black will be an unfit legal guardian,” she said, turning to him and raising an eyebrow. “I assume you will put yourself as a candidate for his official caregiver?”
“I will.”
She sighed, “Your mother may not be able to do anything to prevent it, but if his head of the family does not agree, there is very little that can be done.” He knew that too. And he knew what Arcturus Black would want in return as well. He would try to avoid it, but he would do anything for Reggie.
Madam Pomfrey handed him a copy of the folder for reference. “I will begin the process of having Mrs. Black declared as an unfit guardian. Ministry officials from the Department of Classification and Child Welfare will need a statement from you and possibly Regulus. They will also want his medical history. They might even perform their own diagnostic.”
“When will this happen?” Sirius asked. One one hand the sooner it was over, the better but on the other hand it would be incredibly overwhelming for Regulus.
“A case as serious as this? Between tomorrow and the day after. If you want to make the transition as painless as possible I’d recommend you find a way to have the official caregiver documents ready and signed by then.”
Well fuck.