Sirius was enjoying a relaxing evening by the fire after another successful prank pulled off by the marauders at dinner.
“I can’t believe how big his head got!” said James, tossing another sweet into his mouth and chuckling loudly.
Even Moony had a small smile on his face, partially hidden behind whatever new book he was reading. They were the only ones in the common room, and therefore weren’t keeping quiet about their prank. However, Peter was always one to worry.
“Professor Merriweather might retaliate though, we meant it to hit Professor Bronsworth….he never seems upset” Peter said with a twitch of his hands.
Sirius simply rolled his eyes, “Grow a pair Wormtail. He’ll never know it was us.”
“As if anyone else would think to hex a professor. Think a slytherin would pull that. Absolutely not. It’s always a gryffindor, and if it’s a gryffindor it’s us,” Remus said ruefully, shaking his head.
Unbeknownst to the rest of their little group, as Prongs throws a pillow at Remus, and they begin squabbling over the appropriate level of rule breaking, Sirius’ thoughts were drawn to a small aspect of Remus’ comment. Slytherins were notorious suck-ups. And none were more obedient than his brother.
Regulus was always the perfect brother. While they were close as children, and Regulus was proud of Sirius becoming a Gryffindor, he was always too frightened of first their parents then his peers, to think for himself. Sirius knew he would be shunned for being in Gryffindor, but he had never expected his sweet, loving brother to fall right in line with all the rest. Soon after Regulus was sorted into Slytherin, he pulled away from Sirius. Well, if that’s what Regulus wanted that’s what he would get. It wasn’t Sirius’ job to make his brother fit for normal company. If he wanted to suck up to blood supremacists and meddle in the dark arts, that was up to him. Sirius just wouldn’t have any part in it. Any part in him.
“Sirius? You alright?” Peter asked, pulling Sirius from his thoughts.
“Fine.” Peter had always been annoyingly perceptive. He picked up on things largely missed, and Sirius knew he could mask his feelings just as well.
“Just reminiscing on our success today,” he threw an arm around Moony and smirked at Prongs, “we are just too good, lads. We should have a drink.”
Peter chuckled and rolled his eyes, “Well that’s my cue to head to bed, I still have that transfiguration essay to write in the morning.”
Despite Peter’s departure Sirius was still in the mood to celebrate, and turned to ask for some goods from James’ secret stash upstairs.
Unfortunately James’ attention was swiftly diverted by the arrival of his ‘one true love’ Lily Evans, through the portrait hole. Sirius rolled his eyes and followed James’ gaze only to surprisingly find Evans already walking over to them.
Now, Sirius rarely says it to him, but Evans would rather listen to a mandrake all day than go on a date with his best mate. But, Sirius wasn’t about to bust that bubble. So low and behold the vision of Lily Evans purposely walking towards the group was quite the shock. Granted, she wasn’t so much joining them as following her wayward, and slightly odd, best friend - Pandora Trelawney.
Pandora stopped right in front of them, turning to Sirius, “Sirius have you seen your brother?” She had a nervous look on her face.
Sirius would admit he was rather vocal about his disdain for the little coward, so anyone, especially a near stranger like Pandora, mentioning his Slytherin relative, was quite disorienting.
“He’s right beside me I think you’ll find,” he responded, gripping James’ shoulder and adding a slight sneer.
Evans grabbed at Pandora’s sleeve, “Okay I told you, now let’s just go…” But Trewlaney remained rigid, instead moving to kneel down in front of Sirius.
“Sirius please. Have you seen Regulus? Did he come talk to you? Tell you anything?” She looked close to tears now.
“Pan, what is this about?” Lily took the words right out of Sirius’ mouth.
“I wasn’t aware you were friends with the little snake Trelawney,” he drawled, reminding himself of his mother and quickly changing tactics, “He and I don’t really interact do we,” he finished with a more even tone.
She shook her head, a strand of long blond hair coming out of her plait. Sirius didn’t think his condescending tone had permeated her anxiety riddled manner, “Fine call…call Kreacher then. Please Sirius.”
Sirius paused for a beat before responding, “How do you know about Kreacher? Wow he really won’t shut up about that damn elf will he.”
Pandora simply grew more agitated, angry even, “Listen to me you arrogant fool! He’s not here!” Her eyes grew wide and true tears fell now, “He loves that elf, he wouldn’t let any harm come to him!”
James stepped in, looking wide eyed at Evans who, for once, met his gaze. They both looked as alarmed as Sirius felt. A creeping sense of foreboding was chilling his bones.
“Pandora what has happened?” Lily asked once more.
“I don’t—I don’t…” she seemed to stop breathing a moment before yelling, “Kreacher! Kreacher, come back! Bring him BACK,” her voice broke on the last word.
Everyone looked frightened at the mad look in Pandora’s eyes. But all were surprised to hear a faint pop and the shrivelled form of a house elf appear in the midst of the common room.
Sirius had never seen Kreacher look so pitiful. His fuzzy ears were damp and his entire being shivered as if he had spent the autumn evening swimming with the great squid. Deep tear tracks were etched in his face. But no tears fell. He looked as if he had cried them all away. The elf hobbled towards the group, frozen in shock by his arrival. After one long minute he reached Pandora and held his hand out to her, dropping something into it.
“Master orders Kreacher give Mistress Pandora this,” his voice was hoarse, cracking every other word, “Master says she’ll know what to do.”
Pandora was still. Tears were pouring down her face. As Sirius looked closer he saw her figure shaking as violent breaths were taken at lightning speed. Lily tightened her grip around Pandora’s shoulders, and Sirius felt James move closer to him.
“Krea….” she paused for breath, “Kreacher…”
He didn’t let her continue. For some reason Sirius immediately thought of what bad manners that was. How his mother would beat Kreacher if she knew he had cut off a witch.
“Master Regulus trusts Mistress Pandora above all. He…he…he loved her.”
There was something wrong with this sentence. Beyond the apparent relationship between his younger brother and this Gryffindor classmate which had apparently eluded even the people they were closest to. Lily’s look of shock was evidence of this. However, neither elf nor witch took notice of Sirius’ inner turmoil. Very well. He needed answers.
“Kreacher. Where is Regulus?” he asked.
James moved to hold Sirius’ arm and Remus moved close behind him. Their physical proximity was a comfort, but Sirius didn’t understand why they did it.
Kreacher slowly looked at him, “Master Regulus told Kreacher not to speak of tonight to anyone but Mistress Pandora.”
Sirius didn’t know house elves had the depth to look as horrified or as angry as Kreacher did at this moment. He slowly and purposefully turned to Pandora, who was staring at him with tears pouring down her face. Sirius irrationally thought that she should compose herself in mixed company. It didn’t do her any favors, the redness around her eyes.
“Master Regulus told Kreacher to look after Mistress Pandora,” Kreacher seemed to have found new tears to continue etching their way down his wrinkled face, he reached out and gently put his hand on Pandora’s closed fingers, “Kreacher tried to drink instead but Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to make him drink.”
Sirius didn’t understand what the hell Kreacher was talking about. The stupid elf had finally lost his mind, what was he wasting time explaining instead of bringing Regulus to the clearly distraught Pandora. Though he hadn’t talked to his brother in ages Sirius decided he would make an exception just to reprimand him for concerning her. His father had always told them to listen to their future wives. Clearly it hadn’t been best for their upbringing but Regulus would probably do well to listen to the nice gryffindor, a muggleborn’s best friend. Sirius would never have to worry about a wife but Remus was surely a level voice to listen to—
“Master Regulus is dead.” Kreacher’s choking voice cut off the rambling of Sirius’ thoughts.
Distantly he registered screaming. Sirius still didn’t understand. His brother was only 16. Regulus couldn’t be dead. He was too young, his whole life to change his mind, leave his parents, build his own future. Regulus couldn’t be dead. He was Sirius’ younger brother. Sirius was older. Sirius was supposed to die first. And Sirius hadn’t spoken to him in years. Sirius always knew there would be time to fix their relationship. He had time. Regulus couldn’t be dead.
Pressure was on both sides, James holding his shoulders and Remus his hands. Regulus was alive. Why were they holding him so tight? He turned to look at the blond witch. She was screaming. She looked like she was dying, like her heart was ripped out. That is what death looked like. Not his brother. Lily had her arms similarly wrapped around Pandora. It seemed as if she was struggling. Pandora was fighting and shaking.
‘Someone should help her’ he thought.
Why were James and Remus holding him so tight? He wasn’t moving, not like Pandora. She was hurting, she was dying, someone should help her. She loves Regulus. Regulus loves her.
Distantly, he realised why Kreacher’s sentence had sounded so wrong. Loves. Loves. Loved? Loved.