September 1966
The noble and most ancient house of Black was blessed with two heirs. Two handsome boys. The House of Black were followers of the old thought. “Toujours Pur.” “ Always Pure.” They held themselves high above others. Being part of the Sacred Twenty-eight, they were supreme in the wizarding world. They were a family that had always been pure. And they acted it. Walburga Black and Orion Black were taught at a young age of their place, and they were determined to raise their boys the exact same way.
Sirius Orion Black, born in 1960, was the first heir of the House of Black. He was supposed to inherit it all.
Regulus Arcturus Black, born in 1961, the second heir. The spare. The replacement in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Any mistakes.
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September 1966
Sirius ran down the hall, his brother was racing behind them. A game of tagging each other, running around the house, laughter ringing off the walls that were decorated in moving family portraits. Sirius rounded a corner, laughing widely. A broken vase. Sirius and Regulus paused, wide-eyed. Panic filled Sirius as he kneeled in front of the priceless family heirloom.
Walburga came around the corner with a scowl on her face. She looked down to see her oldest son kneeling in front of the vase with wide eyes. He looked up at her with tears in his eyes.
“Mum, I’m sorry. I didn’t see it.” He spoke quietly.
“Silence. You should have been more careful, Sirius. Regulus go to your room.”
Sirius watched as Regulus turned, leaving the room quickly. Panic filled him with the idea of being punished. He did not know what his mother’s punishment would be.
“Stand with your face to the wall.” His mother said coldly.
Sirius obeyed thinking she would just put him in the corner like she usually did. He thought he was being let off easy with just some wall time. That’s when he felt the first strike of the cane against the back of his leg. It made him cry out, tears filling his eyes again. He felt his knees almost buckle from the force. He whimpered lightly, fear filling him. He cried out as the back of his other leg was struck. This went on for a few more strikes until his leg gave out and his knees hit the floor. Tears dripped down his cheeks.
“Have we learned our lesson, Sirius?” Walburga asked, holding the wooden cane.
Sirius nodded weakly, looking back at his mother. Tears were in his eyes as he stared up at her.
“Go to your room. Now.” Walburga spoke coldly.
Sirius nodded and walked away, heading up the stairs to his room. Every step made his legs ache. He passed Regulus’ room, seeing him sitting on the bed.
“Sirius,” Regulus called out.
Sirius entered his brother’s room, trying to hide the limp.
“Mummy hurt you,” Regulus whispered.
“Yes.” Sirius nodded.
“How?”
“Wooden cane.”
Regulus visibility winched at the mention of a cane being used. The boys sat in silence on the bed until their mother called them down to dinner. They both walked downstairs in silence, sitting down at the kitchen table as Kreacher served them their dinner. Roast lamb, green beans, potatoes, and gravy. They ate in silence as their mother and father talked about their day.
That night Sirius could hear Regulus in his room crying. It was the late hour of two o'clock. Sirius crept into Regulus’ room to see the silhouette of Regulus curled around a pillow. Sirius crept over to Regulus and climbed on the bed, curling around Regulus in a sign of comfort. Sirius and Regulus soon fell asleep, curled up against each other.
Sirius woke the next morning and crept out of his brother’s room before his mother or father saw him comforting his brother. Crying was seen as a weakness. Something terrible. Boys should hold their emotions in a bottle. Never letting them surface from the deep. Boys were supposed to be strong. Noble. Boys don’t cry. It’s what their mother told them all the time.
Sirius sat in his room in silence. Thoughts raced through his head on why his brother could have been crying last night. Maybe it was because of what their mother had done to Sirius that day. Maybe that was what had upset his brother. This was the first time Walburga had used such severe punishment. Most of the time it was standing in the corner for half an hour. Or kneeling on rice for a while.
After an hour, Sirius heard his mother walking through the hallway, heading downstairs. Sirius had memorized his family’s footsteps. He always knew who was coming towards his room. He got up, heading downstairs for breakfast. His brother was already downstairs, of course, eating breakfast. Sirius hardly ever heard his footsteps. He was like a cat. Always watching. Always silent in his walking, unless he wanted to be heard. Sirius sat at the table and smiled at his mother.
“Good morning, Mother.” He spoke in a soft tone.
“Where were you last night? You weren’t in your room when I went to check on you.” She questioned him.
Sirius couldn’t just tell his mother that Regulus was crying and he went to comfort him. That would show weakness on both sides. They would probably be punished for it.
“Regulus and I were talking last night. We couldn’t sleep.” He spoke sheepishly.
“About what?”
“ School in 5 years. How I will be leaving for some months. I’m excited.”
Walburga smiled widely and tilted her head.
“And I am certain you will be a great Slytherin. You will do our family justice I hope.”
“I will do my best, Mother.” Sirius smiled lightly.
Breakfast continued in silence beside Walburga and Orion talking about going to Orion going to the store for groceries and supplies for the house. Sirius sat quietly as he glanced over at his brother. His brother pretended not to listen, but Sirius could see the gears working.
The day continued in peace, Sirius and Regulus spent the day playing and laughing. Sirius’ legs were still bothering him but he ignored it for Regulus’ sake. They played until dinner. They ate quickly and were excused to continue playing. The day was peaceful, an unusual state for the Black household. But the day was good. And the boys enjoyed their day until sleep took them.
Sirius was constantly followed for years by his brother who kept saying he wanted to be just like him. They played and chased each other. Sirius constantly protected his brother from their mother’s anger when they would do something against her rules or broke something. He took the punishments for his brother. He took the beatings. He took the kneeling on rice. He took the standing on his tiptoes in the corner for twenty minutes at a time. He took it all for Regulus to keep him safe and free of hurt. The whole time, Regulus wanted to be just like him.