Made it out alive (or not?)
July 27th, 1974
Dinner at Grimmauld Place was never a fun affair, especially if someone at the dinner table couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
“So what? He almost got straight O’s! Isn’t that good enough?” Sirius remarked appalled after Walburga had brought up how embarrassing it is for a Black to receive an Acceptable in Defense against the Dark Arts Class.
“Regulus can do better. And watch that mouth.” she spat back, sparing Sirius a warning glare before turning her attention back to her food.
Sirius opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it after he saw Regulus giving him a look that meant ‘leave it’ and mumbled a quiet ‘bitch’ instead.
Regulus’ eyes widened. Walburga slowly looked back at Sirius and said in a calm but dangerous Voice “What was that?”
And Regulus knew that was it. Sirius always got her unnecessarily worked up and the night would always end in curses, shouting and blood, with Regulus tending to Sirius’ cuts and bruises before even checking his own. Regulus always spent those nights in Sirius’ room, so neither of them had to wake up alone during the night, crying or shaking from nightmares.
Sirius locked eyes with their Mother “Oh, you didn’t hear me? I said, that you’re a cold, heartless bitch who cares more about blood status than her children”.
Regulus froze.
One moment they were sitting at the dining table, the next Sirius was on the floor, shouting out in pain.
“You dare dishonor me? You dare dishonor the Noble House of Black?
Crucio!”
Regulus couldn’t breathe. His vision was blurry. Was he crying? What kind of curse is that? Mother never used that one before. Why is Sirius screaming? I don’t see any blood.
“Crucio!”
It was horrifying to watch. His brother was writhing on the floor, shouting out in agonizing pain. What’s wrong with Sirius? What’s going on?! Tears were streaming down Regulus’ cheeks.
Before Regulus could think, he jumped up from the dining table, falling to his knees where his brother was being punished.
“Stop it! please! It’s hurting him!” He cried out, holding onto Sirius.
“Get away from your blood traitor of a brother. Or do you want to be punished as well?” Walburga
She had stopped with the cursing by now, but Sirius was twitching all over, crying silently. Silently, because his throat was so raw from screaming.
Regulus looked up at his mother, got up, and stepped back. She looked pleased.
“Go talk some sense into your brother. I have important matters to discuss with your father.” She told Regulus, leaving them alone in the dining room. Sirius’ cheeks were stained with tears.
As soon as the door closed, Regulus immediately kneeled back down beside his big brother.
“Siri? Sirius what’s wrong? I can’t see any wounds, where does it hurt?”
Sirius just shook his head
“Please Sirius, you have to tell me. Tell me where it hurts, I don’t know what curse that was” Regulus said a bit more panicked now, helping Sirius roll onto his back.
Sirius tried to say something, but it just turned into a coughing fit.
Regulus quickly got Sirius some water and helped him sit up against the wall.
Sirius took the water gratefully, and downed the glass in one go.
“We have to leave Reggie.” Sirius managed to whisper, his voice wavering. He wasn’t sure if Regulus had heard him or not, but when his little brother stared at him in disbelief, he knew he did.
“Sirius, we can’t” Regulus said quietly
“Reggie, please. She’s only going to hurt us more. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of this house, I’m sick of her, I’m sick of-“
Sirius was cut off by another coughing fit. Regulus filled up the glass with water again and handed it to Sirius.
“Sirius, we haven’t got anywhere to go. Mother and father will find us. How could we be safe?”
“We could go to the potters, reg. I’ll keep you safe. Okay?- please reg” Sirius begged his little brother
Suddenly, from outside the room, wooden floorboards could be heard creaking. Both of the brother’s heads snapped towards the sound, and regulus froze for a moment, before looking back into his brother’s eyes.
“Okay.” he exhaled.
Sirius looked at Regulus.
“Okay?” he asked, looking hopeful.
“Okay, let’s do this. C’mon, let’s get you up.” Regulus confirmed, helping Sirius stumble over to the floo network.
The sound came closer. It was their father this time. Both boys could tell by the sound of the footsteps. After all, their life was a big game of hide and seek. If you got found, unimaginable things would happen.
“I’ll come right in after you, alright Siri?”
“Alright.” Sirius took a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.
“Promise you’ll come, Reggie?” Sirius asked.
“I promise” regulus answered.
Sirius nodded at that, smiling faintly at regulus before speaking:
“Potter Manor”
Green Flames
Sirius vanished.
James Potter loved the Summer.
Every summer, his parents took him to all kind of different muggle places. He loved seeing how muggles lived and entertained themselves without magic.
Though, sometimes he felt a bit lonely. He was an only child, and even though he had his two childhood friends, Peter Pettigrew and Marlene McKinnon, he couldn’t help but wish for a sibling. Someone who was just like him, someone he could communicate with, without needing to speak a word. Sure, he was close with Peter and Marlene, but more often than not, he realized he was different. They never had as much energy as he did. They never talked as much as he did.
So, when he met Sirius Black, it felt like all his wishes came true. He had someone who would never get tired of him. He had someone who would always listen to what he has to say. He had a brother.
Today was no different than any other day at Potter Manor. He had Marlene come over to practice hitting bludgers and scoring goals for the upcoming quidditch season. James swore he’d lose it if slytherin won the house cup again.
He also wrote Remus a letter, updating him on the results of the latest quidditch match, learnt to make strawberry macarons and reorganized his room.
Something he also did, was miss Sirius.
It was around 10 o’clock at night while he was brushing his teeth in the upstairs bathroom, when he heard a loud noise coming from downstairs. It sounded as if something had fallen down. Or someone.
James froze before spitting out the remaining toothpaste into the sink, rushing out of the bathroom and practically jumping down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, he stopped to see what was going on.
That’s when he saw Sirius, lying on the floor in front of the floo network, covered in tears, twitching and coughing.
James didn’t waste another second.
“Sirius!” James called, kneeling beside Sirius.
“Hey, you surely don’t mind if I stay here for a bit, preferably forever, right?” Sirius said sheepishly, his voice sounding raw. He attempted a smile.
James couldn’t help but breath out a laugh. “Come on mate, let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?”
“James, what in Merlin are you do- Sirius!” Euphemia rushed over to her boys when she saw the scene.
The Potters didn’t know what went on in the House of Black. They knew Sirius was being mistreated, and kindly offered their home as a place to stay if Sirius ever wanted a different home. Sirius had let James know that he might be coming over unexpectedly.
“Hey Effie! Mind if reg and I crash her for a bit?” Sirius flashed her a grin.
She carefully pulled Sirius into a hug on the floor. “Of course dear. Is regulus coming today as well? That’s was his name, right? Like the star?”
“Yeah like the star-“ Sirius froze, he frantically pulled out of the hug and looked around himself.
“Padfoot, what’s wrong?” James asked carefully.
“Reg- where’s Reggie? He was supposed to come in right after me. Where is he? James- where’s Reggie?”