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Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Regulus knew that it would never last.
When James told him that he loved him, Regulus knew that it was too good to be true, but he was happy to have him, for as long as James was willing to be his.
When he was ten years old and was waiting for Sirius to come home after his first year at Hogwarts, he was afraid.
He was afraid that Sirius would make friends who would make him forget about his little brother. That year was one of the worst years in his life, not knowing if his brother would be the same as he was before. Even at ten years old he knew that his parents didn’t love them like parents should love their kids. They loved the idea of their perfect family. Two sons who could make them beautiful heirs and keep that image of their perfect family.
And when Sirius finally came home, he knew that this image their parents created was gone for good. He should’ve known a lot sooner, when he got the message that Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, but his face and that newfound confidence with which he carried himself showed Regulus that he was right to worry.
He was happy, of course, happy for his brother to have found friends, to have found himself, in a way.
But then he started talking about James. James Potter. Golden boy and the best person Sirius had ever met. (Sirius’ words, not Regulus’)
“Reggie, you don’t know how great he is! He was so good at spells, even in the very first week! And his family! They sound so great Reggie, his parents take him on vacation, to places he actually wants to go! I wish I was his brother, so that I could have his family too!”
The whole summer, Reggie heard nothing but ‘James, James, James.’
Of course, his brother also talked about other people, but it was James who told Sirius all year, that he was worth more.
James told him that his parents would gladly take Sirius with them when they go on their next vacation, and James told him that he was now his new brother.
Regulus hated him from the moment he heard Sirius talk about him the very first time.
Sirius already had a brother.
He had a family.
And sure, their family wasn’t perfect like James’ was, but they always had each other. Regulus and Sirius. No matter how many times their parents told them that they weren’t worthy of their family name. That they didn’t know how to carry the responsibilities they have. But every night, after their parents went to sleep, one of them would sneak into the others bedroom, and they would lie in bed for hours to talk about their future.
“We’re gonna make it out of here Reggie. Just wait, in a few days I’ll be on my way to Hogwarts, and them I’m going to learn soo many spells, and I’m going to be strong. I’m going to be strong enough for the both of us, don’t you worry Reggie. I promise you, that I’ll protect you.”
That was the thing Sirius said to him the last night he snuck into Regulus’ room before he went to Hogwarts.
But not even a week later, Regulus realized that he would never make it out. When his parents found out that Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor they were furious. But they couldn’t do much about it, with Sirius being safe at school. So, Regulus was the one who got punished.
It was always obvious that their parents wanted to keep that image of a perfect family, and the minute they found out about Sirius, they gave up on him and all their attention went to Regulus.
They wanted to make sure that he didn’t follow in his brother’s footsteps and they gave their all to show Regulus as much.
So, even before Sirius came home, Regulus knew that everything would change.
His parents would never allow them to be able to sneak into each others room again. Never again would they be able to lay there for hours to talk about their future. But still, he trusted Sirius. He trusted that he would keep his promise.
After that he swore himself to never trust another person again.
He knew he lost his brother to James that summer. And he hated James for that.
Regulus needed his brother.
He needed him, not because he couldn’t protect himself, no, in the year when Sirius was away and his parents gave Regulus hell, he learned how to protect himself.
He already was a very skilled wizard and he didn’t need Sirius to protect him from his parents.
But he was his brother, and he promised him, that he would never leave him alone.
He broke that promise the minute he met James and Regulus swore to himself, that he would never forgive them both for that.
But that was before he went to Hogwarts.
That was before he met James, and before he fell hopelessly in love with him.