Between the lines
The concert venue was emptying out, but backstage was anything but quiet. Regulus paced the small green room, his steps quick and anxious, his bandmates scattered in various states of distraction. Barty and Evan leaned against the wall, locked in what could only be described as a whispered lovers’ quarrel—though “quarrel” seemed too mild a term for the heated energy between them. Dorcas was on the phone, fingers drumming impatiently on the table, likely negotiating the next leg of their tour, while Pandora fussed over an overturned cup of tea.
But Regulus couldn’t focus on any of that. His parents were here.
“Do you think they’ll leave quietly?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone in particular.
Dorcas glanced up from her phone, arching an eyebrow. “If you’re that lucky, I’ll start believing in miracles.”
Pandora handed him a fresh cup of tea, her expression soft with concern. “You don’t have to talk to them, you know.”
“Yeah, and give them another excuse to write me off completely?” Regulus’s laugh was dry, humorless. “No thanks.”
Before anyone could respond, a knock echoed through the room. The air tightened. Regulus’s pulse thrummed in his ears as Dorcas opened the door.
Walburga and Orion Black stepped inside, their presence as cold and imposing as a winter storm.
The tension in the room was palpable, a stark contrast to the electric energy of the concert only an hour before. Regulus’s bandmates shifted uncomfortably, but none of them left. If Walburga and Orion noticed—or cared—they didn’t show it.
“You have a lot of nerve, dragging the Black name through… this,” Walburga spat, her gaze sweeping over the room as though the very sight of it offended her.
Regulus straightened, his jaw tightening. “This is my life, Mother. My music, my band. You don’t have to like it, but you will respect it.”
“Respect?” Orion’s laugh was low and scornful. “Do you even know the meaning of the word? Parading around like a… common Muggle performer. You’ve disgraced everything we’ve built.”
“And what exactly have you built, Father?” Regulus’s voice rose, sharp with years of pent-up frustration. “A legacy of hate? A reputation that suffocates everyone it touches? Forgive me if I don’t feel like carrying that particular torch.”
Walburga’s face twisted with fury, but before she could retort, the door swung open again.
Sirius strode in, Remus and James close behind. The sight of his brother brought a brief flicker of relief to Regulus’s face, though he quickly masked it. Sirius, on the other hand, made no effort to hide his anger.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
“We’re here for our son,” Walburga replied coldly.
“You’ve never been here for either of us,” Sirius shot back, his fists clenching at his sides. “So don’t pretend to start now.”
Orion’s gaze hardened. “This is none of your business, Sirius.”
“The moment you walked into his space, it became my business.” Sirius stepped forward, his posture protective. “You don’t get to waltz in here and tear him down.”
“Stay out of this, Sirius,” Regulus said, though his voice lacked conviction.
“No.” Sirius turned to him, his expression softening. “You don’t have to do this alone, Reggie.”
The nickname nearly broke him.
Walburga’s lip curled. “Pathetic. Both of you. And who is this?” Her gaze flicked to Remus, disdain dripping from every syllable.
“Don’t,” Sirius warned, his voice low and dangerous.
“What, Sirius? Afraid to admit your… preferences? To flaunt them in front of everyone, just like you flaunt your failure of a life?”
It happened before anyone could stop it. Sirius lunged forward, only for James and Remus to pull him back. “Don’t you dare talk about him like that!” Sirius yelled, his voice cracking with emotion.
Remus’s arms tightened around him, grounding him. “She’s not worth it, Sirius,” he murmured, his lips brushing his temple in a comforting gesture.
But Sirius wasn’t calming down. “You’ve already ruined one son. You’re not doing it to him too.”
Regulus felt frozen, his parents’ voices blending with Sirius’s, the weight of it all crashing down on him.
Somehow, it escalated further.
James, who had been silent until now, finally stepped forward. “You know, for all your talk about family pride, you have a funny way of showing it. Maybe try actually supporting your sons instead of tearing them down.”
Orion’s gaze snapped to him. “And who are you to lecture me on family?”
“Someone who knows what it means to stand by the people I care about,” James said firmly, his eyes meeting Regulus’s.
That was when the tears started.
Regulus hadn’t even realized he was crying until he felt James’s arm around him, guiding him away from the shouting match. His vision blurred, his breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps.
“It’s okay,” James murmured, his voice soothing. “You’re okay.”
Regulus wanted to believe him, but the weight of his parents’ words clung to him like a second skin. He sank into James’s shoulder, letting the tears fall freely.
Behind them, Dorcas stepped in, her voice cutting through the chaos with surprising authority. “That’s enough. This is his night, not yours. If you can’t respect that, you need to leave.”
For once, Walburga and Orion had no retort. They turned on their heels and walked out, the door slamming behind them.
The silence that followed was deafening.
“I’m sorry,” Regulus whispered, his voice barely audible.
James tightened his hold on him. “You don’t have to apologize for them.”
Sirius approached, his expression raw with emotion. “Reggie… I’m so sorry.”
Regulus looked up at him, his eyes red and puffy. “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything.”
“I should have been here sooner,” Sirius said, his voice breaking. “I should have—”
“Stop.” Regulus cut him off, shaking his head. “You’ve done more for me than they ever have.”
Sirius pulled him into a hug, and for the first time in years, Regulus didn’t pull away.
The rest of the night passed in a haze of quiet conversations and tentative laughter. Sirius and Remus stayed close, their touches gentle but constant, a silent reminder of their unyielding support.
And when Regulus finally found the courage to speak again, his words were tentative but full of hope.
“Would you… would you come to my next concert?”
Sirius grinned, ruffling his hair. “Try and stop us.”