The Black Family

1
August 31st, 1976

Regulus woke up to the sounds of yells from Walburga and Sirius. Regulus went downstairs to see Walburga and Sirius fighting, as usual. He decided he wouldn't step in, knowing that it would not end up well if he stepped in. His father gave him a stern nod, while Sirius and Walburga both spoke. ‘Morning Regulus.’
Regulus nodded back at his father, and answered Sirius and Walburga. ‘Morning Sirius, morning Maman.’
Walburga and Sirius continued yelling at each other.
Regulus sat down at the dining table, and his father summoned Kreacher to bring the breakfast. Sirius and Walburga finally stopped screaming and they sat down too.
They ate in silence, except for his parents scoffing at Sirius. Suddenly, Walburga spoke. ‘Have you slept well Regulus?’
Regulus decided it was best not to respond sarcastically. ‘Yes Maman’
Walburga simply nodded. ‘Good.’
Breakfast slowly drew to an end, when Walburga spoke. ‘Sirius, go to your room. Now.’ Sirius responded, defiantly. 'But Maman, i-' Walburga interrupted Sirius. 'No buts. Go to your room.'
Sirius eventually stood up, defiantly, and went to his bedroom, but Regulus was sure that he heard Sirius mutter: ‘Bitch’ under his breath. Walburga seemed to have heard it as well, because she yelled: ‘Sirius Orion Black! You will not curse at me! Come back this instant!’
Sirius sighed and walked back to Walburga, and Regulus' eyes widened slightly when Walburga aimed her wand at Sirius and said: ‘Crucio.’
Regulus felt a little guilty, but he hid it. Walburga then spoke to Regulus in a cold, harsh voice. ‘Regulus, you continue.’
Regulus didn’t want to do it, but knew that if he didn’t do it, he would get punished, and he didn't want to get punished.
He took out his wand and whispered: ‘Crucio.’
Sirius screamed, as tears rolled down his cheeks, when Walburga motioned for Regulus to make the curse worse. Regulus did so, only because he didn't want to get in trouble, but he immediately regretted it. He stopped the curse, and Sirius trembled as he fell to the floor, hard. Walburga had a smirk on her face, one that Regulus hated. Walburga told Regulus to help Sirius to his room, and lock him up in there. When Regulus had brought Sirius to Sirius' room, he dragged Sirius to Sirius' bed, and Sirius seemed to have just enough strength to say something to Regulus. ‘Reg… W-why did you do that?’
Regulus knew they weren’t allowed to talk, so he turned around, left the bedroom, and locked the door behind him. He felt guilty for what he had done to Sirius, but he didn’t show it, as he wasn’t allowed to. He went to his room, and when he was inside his room, he sat on the bed, when all of a sudden, he heard a knock at his bedroom door.
Immediately, Regulus tensed up. 'Come in.’
Walburga was the one that entered, and she nodded sternly. 'Regulus. I wanted to speak to you about your brother.’

Regulus didn’t respond, but just nodded. He thought he knew what she was going to say. Walburga closed the door behind her. ‘As you know, he is heir to the Black Family. We are planning on making you the heir as soon as he leaves. He is bound to leave soon anyway.’
Regulus forced himself to nod, still feeling guilty for using the cruciatus curse on Sirius. ‘I would be okay with being the Black Family heir, Maman. Unlike my blood traitor brother.’
Regulus could’ve sworn he saw his mother smile at him, but it would have been too quick to see. Walburga spoke again. ‘Good.’ She turned around to leave. ‘Oh, and Regulus?’
Regulus tensed again. ‘Yes Maman?’
‘You did well at breakfast today. You certainly showed him who’s the better Black.’
Walburga left it at that and left, as her words hung in the air.
Regulus got ready for the day, feeling guilty for using the Cruciatus on Sirius. At lunch later that day, Regulus saw Kreacher go up to Sirius’ bedroom with a plate of just 2 slices of bread and a water bottle.
He went downstairs, feeling guilty for Sirius, but he didn’t show it, as he knew he would get punished if he did. He went to the kitchen, where his parents were waiting for him.
Regulus snapped out of his thoughts when Walburga spoke. ‘Regulus, you didn’t talk to your blood traitor brother, did you? Kreacher told me you talked to him.’
Regulus felt a pang of frustration at the old house-elf, but once again, he hid it. ‘No Maman. I didn’t even leave my room since I brought him to his room.’
Walburga hummed. ‘Seems like one of you is lying. Legilimens.’ Regulus felt a claw-like hand in his mind, his mother had been performing Legilimency on him again. She had been doing that alot lately, and Regulus was getting sick of it. Finally, the annoying feeling of the claw-like hand in his mind faded, and he saw his mother looking at him with pride.
‘You didn’t lie to me, Regulus. I'm proud of you.’ Regulus nodded and sat down, feeling relieved.
Walburga summoned Kreacher, as the old house-elf looked up at Walburga and Regulus with nervousness. Walburga seemed to enjoy that, because she smirked while she said: ‘Kreacher, you have been lying to me. Meaning you disobeyed me. You shall be punished for this.’
Kreacher immediately tensed up, and Regulus was sure that the house-elf looked scared for a second, but it was so quick, he couldn't be one-hundred percent sure.
Walburga took out her wand, and pinned Kreacher to the wall. Regulus knew she enjoyed it as much as she enjoyed punishing his brother. Walburga kept Kreacher pinned to the wall for at least five minutes before finally letting go and setting even more chores for Kreacher to do. Kreacher quickly scurried off but came back because he forgot something that fell, and Regulus had to hide his chuckle.
After lunch, he went back to his room to pack for his fifth year. He suddenly heard Sirius screaming again, and suddenly there was the sound of floo powder, and Sirius had presumably left. He heard Walburga’s footsteps walking past, to the Black family tapestry. He heard her yell: ‘REDUCTO!’ It was official. His brother was removed from the tapestry. He felt empty. There was nothing he could do. He continued to pack for his fifth year, knowing that if Sirius told his friends everything, that they would hate him, and consider him a dark wizard.