Chapter 2
One fateful evening, unable to resist the siren call of his unborn young, Regulus ventured back to the clearing.
His belly was now a round, heavy burden, but the anticipation of seeing Sirius again fueled his every step, it didn't matter to him that his brother was dating Lupin.
The night was quiet, the usual sounds of the forest muted by the thick blanket of snow that covered the ground. His paws left delicate imprints in the frost as he approached the place where his fate had been sealed.
The same place where he now laid bare and alone, without the natural heat of his love and father of his pups.
But as the night grew colder and the stars began to fade, reality crashed back in.
Regulus knew that he couldn't keep this secret much longer. He had to tell someone, had to face the consequences of his actions.
But even as he thought of the challenges ahead, a warm glow filled his heart. For in the end, he knew that he had been given a gift, a rare and precious connection that transcended the boundaries of their world. One that Lupin will never have.
As he felt the first flutter of life within him, he realized that he would do anything to protect these innocent souls, even if it meant turning his back on everything he had ever known.
The next day, Regulus approached Dumbledore, his heart heavy with the weight of his secret. He had wrestled with the decision all night, torn between the need for secrecy and the hope of understanding.
The headmaster's eyes searched his own, and for a moment, Regulus thought he could see the faintest glimmer of comprehension in their depths.
With trembling hands, he revealed his condition, the words spilling out in a rush.
Dumbledore listened, his expression unreadable. When Regulus had finished, the old man steepled his fingers and stared into the fire.
"You carry a great burden, young one," he said finally. "But fear not. I will help you navigate these troubled waters." His words brought a measure of relief, but Regulus knew that this was only the beginning of a long and difficult journey.
The weeks turned to months, and Regulus' belly grew larger still.
His fellow Slytherins whispered behind his back, casting sneers and suspicious glances his way. They knew he was hiding something, but none could guess the truth.
Regulus felt isolated, his secret a heavy weight that grew heavier with each passing day. Yet even amidst the whispers and the isolation, he felt a fierce love for the life growing inside him, a bond that nothing could break.
And then, on a night as cold and still as the one he had first encountered Sirius, the time came for the puppies to be born.
The pain was like nothing Regulus had ever known, a white-hot agony that tore through him, leaving him gasping for breath. But when the first tiny yelp pierced the silence, his eyes widened in wonder.
They were here, three perfect little bundles of black fur, just like their father's.
He knew he had to hide them, to keep them safe from those who would use them against him.
As he cradled his newborns to his chest, a fierce determination took root in his heart. He would do whatever it took to keep them safe, to give them a life free from the shadows that had consumed his own.
The thought of Sirius brought a bittersweet pang, but Regulus knew that their paths had diverged and that the man he loved would never love him back, not like how he loved him.
Yet he also knew that a part of him would always be with his pups, a silent guardian watching over them from the shadows of the forest, a testament to the night that had changed him forever.