It was a cold windy night at 12 Grimmauld Place, Regulus and Sirius had climbed up onto the roof it was normal for them in the winter holidays but what was out of place was that it had been Regulus that had asked Sirius up onto the roof. Sirius was weary at first but eventually agreed. The whole time Sirius was confused until Regulus uttered the words “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do”. The words triggered a memory from years ago of Cissa and Andy fighting before Andy left then it clicked. You see Cissy and Reg had a habit of talking in riddles and it was the only way you could talk back at certain times. Reg knew. Reg knew Sirius was thinking of leaving. Regulus knew it was inevitable and was going to happen eventually but recently Sirius had been acting out of place, so Regulus decided to try one last time to get him to stay. Sirius could hear the desperation in Regulus’s voice but knew he couldn’t stay he didn’t want to die in this dreadful house so simply said the words he heard Andy mutter all those years ago “Two can be as bad as one it’s the loneliest number since the number one”. Those words confirmed it for Regulus he had officially lost his brother, he knew he could go with Sirius, but he just couldn’t do it. Then he heard the distance voice of his mother saying “Come on boys, Orion’s going to be home soon I don’t want you hurt for being out there” so he silently left the roof and by the morning Sirius was gone.
They had been back at Hogwarts for 2 weeks and Sirius had been constantly worried for Regulus’s safety. He was free he wasn’t meant to be worried, but he couldn’t help noticing the limp regulus walked with and finally when he saw the bruise on Regulus’s arm he snapped and stopped Regulus in the halls. Regulus had been walking back to his dorm with Evan, Barty, Dorcas and Pandora when he was stopped by his newly disowned older brother who borderline screamed at him the words “Why Reg? Why didn’t you leave with me? Why didn’t you ask to come with me” Behind him Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew, MacDonald and Evans looked like deer caught in headlights. Regulus knew behind him his friends were ready to attack his brother so he turned around and gave them a look which they knew meant ‘I can deal with this’ then turned back to Sirius and said, “I couldn’t.” Regulus knew one wrong word and his father would be on him in seconds, but he also hated lying to his loved ones so decided to keep it neutral. Although all of that shattered the second the words “Why reg? You know the potters would take you in seconds and you I both know you don’t want to stay in that hell so Why?” came out of Sirius’s mouth. The mention of the Potters and their perfect life finally made Regulus snap, and the words just came pouring out. “I can’t do it Sirius. Okay. I can’t live that happy little life. I can’t hang out with Perfect Potter and Pettigrew. I can’t talk to Lupin, Evans and MacDonald. Okay I just can’t.” You could hear the curiosity and emotion in Sirius’s voice when he said “But, why?” The tone of voice made Regulus give in and finally tell him “It’s not me Sirius. Okay. I can’t live in a cottage on the fucking moor. I can’t leave my family and no not Orion I can’t leave Evan, Pandora, Barty or Dorcas. Okay. I can’t.” “So, you’d stay in that house just for those pricks?” “You do not get to talk about them like that. They are my family; they are my everything. I wouldn’t be alive today without Evan. I can’t live without them; I can’t live without Pandora’s crazy potions or Dorcas’s demon summoning or Barty setting fire to everything in sight or Evan’s experiments. They’re not what you think. Okay. Sure, were all crazy but were not Blood Supremacists, were not evil. This is my world. I can’t stay in your world. I love you Sirius, but I can’t do it. I can spend time with you and your friends but living in that all they time and not being able to talk to them I just can’t” regulus’s voice cracked at the end and looked at Sirius with a mix of defeat and relief. After all that all Sirius said was “I know, they’re your family but I don’t want you stuck there.” To which regulus moved forward looked at Sirius with a small smile and said, “I can’t go with you Siri, but I will get out I promise” and walked away. In the morning plastered all over the Daily Prophet was ‘Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black along with the heir to the Crouch and Rosier family, Dorcas Meadows, Evan and Felix Rosier have gone missing.’ When Sirius saw this he felt a giant grin spread on his face. Just as Remus was about to ask him if he was okay a letter dropped in his lapped with the simple words ‘ I’ll come back when it’s died down, in France currently in an apartment Panda bought. I think I might die from the sight of Ev and B making out I mean I get they love each other but they’re like my brothers do they have to do it in front of me? If your worried I won’t come back don’t worry, we have to get Felix back for when he goes to Hogwarts anyway plus I’m pretty certain Cas would drag me back just for one look at Marls. Don’t reply, I don’t want it tracked. I love you Siri.
-R.A.B’
Sirius’s smile stayed on his face for the rest of the day and every time he felt low he remembered his little brother was finally safe which was an understatement as Regulus Black was having the time of his life in France with his family, sure him and Dorcas missed their unrequited crushes but not even that could put a downer on their time in France.