Two Brothers
During the Winter Solstice Ball at Malfoy’s manor, two young boys were hiding under a staircase. The younger one sat against the wall, breathing heavily, while the older cautiously looked around to check if they were alone.
“Finally” he said, sitting down right next to his brother. “I hate those stiff, boring parties.”
“At least Cissy and Andy are here” replied the other, still breathing shallowly from the run. He took a chocolate frog out of his pocket and quickly bit its head off.
“They’re teenage girls, Reggie, and by definition it means they’re insufferable.”
“But they’re cool,” he said with an expression of honest disbelief. “They go to Hogwarts.”
“In two years' time I will go there as well! And for sure I will be better than them.” He huffed.
“Oh, jealous, aren’t you?” Regulus mocked his older brother. He unpacked another frog, snapped its neck and put it back in the box, looking annoyed at the trading card with a bearded wizard.
Sirius frowned at the accusation. “Take that back!” He poked his brother’s arm. Then a brilliant idea came to his mind. He quickly jumped on Regulus and started tickling him on the neck.
Regulus was laughing uncontrollably and tried to escape his older brother.
“Siri- gah! Stop!” He was now lying on his back. The only thing he was able to see was his brother’s smudged face. “I take that back! I take that back!”
“Dear boy”, Sirius perfectly mimicked their mother’s disappointed voice. “I don’t think you fully regret your actions. You know you’ll have to suffer the consequences.”
They were battling on the floor, the room was full of their laughter. Regulus strongly pushed Sirius and they both fell into the open space.
By this moment, they had heard the approaching steps of their father and quickly gathered themselves, stood up next to each other with their backs straight as arrows.
“Where have you been off to, sons?” He reprimanded them and checked his pocket watch. His eyes fell onto the older one.“Sirius, you should’ve known better than that. It’s important for you to make acquaintances with other boys your age before you leave for school.”
Sirius, in fact, was not ashamed at all. He looked back at their dad’s face with ease. The same couldn’t have been said about Regulus. Although he hadn't been the one scolded, he looked shyly at his boots.
Father waited for an answer, and when Sirius said none, he sighed “Follow me”.
They walked up the stairs and through the corridor full of proudly looking paintings of wizards and witches arguing with one another.
As they moved closer to the ornate silver doors of the ballroom, Sirius fixed his buttoned-up shirt and the blue waistcoat with dancing foxes. After that, he smoothed his dark hair, stood up even straighter and put on the world’s most innocent smile. The heir to the noble and most ancient house of Black with all his boyish charm. Always praised by grown-ups at parties. Well, those who didn't know him personally.
They entered the room and left father’s side in favour of their cousin’ presence. On the left side of the table sat Narcissa, Andromeda and Bellatrix — the latter was a surprising sight for the boys, because they'd been told she was to stay at Hogwarts this year.
“Bella!” exclaimed Sirius, and ran towards her with a broad grin on his face.
“Why, hello little snake” she looked at him fondly. “I thought I’d been deprived of my favourite cousin's presence this time.”
“Watcha doing at school? Have you jinxed that giant squid already?” Sirius mumbled excitedly.
Regulus noted absently that his brother's attitude to ‘insufferable teenage girls’ never applied to Bella. He had always treated her as a role model and thought of her as the most powerful of their lot. She, of course, loved the attention and cherished Sirius’ hero-like worship.
“Reggie” Cissy distracted his attention from them. “How’re you enjoying the party?”
“Quite,” he smiled. “Aunt Lucretia gave me some chocolate frogs, and I got a new card — Crice. Oh, and another Dumbledore.”
“The old man has his eyes everywhere,” said Andy, grabbing a biscuit from the table. “Like Santa.”
“Who?” Regulus frowned, confused.
“It’s just a muggle taradiddle.” Sighed Cissy, patting his left shoulder. Then she gazed fiercely at her older sister. “You shouldn't tell the boys those stories.”
Andromeda’s lips were drawn in a thin line. She didn’t respond.
Swoosh!
Biscuits and fruits disappeared from the table, and the main meal took their place. The cousins sat closely to each other right where they were talking before. The dinner began.