The First Year
13th December 1981
Regulus was finally getting a hold of his situation. With the help of brewing some childsafe dreamless sleep potion. He had decided it was in Harry’s best interest so the poor boy could sleep through the night again. Harry was obviously traumatised from halloween night and his days spent at that house. In turn Aurora settled back down and wasn’t awoken alongside Harry.
Now Regulus had a new problem coming up. Christmas. It would be their first Christmas without the promise of everything they thought they would get after the war. When James and himself had talked about what it would be like after the war. Christmas had been described at a long wooden table, filled with everyone. Remus, Sirius, Barty, Evan, James and Lily. Dorcas and Marlene. Mary and Peter. Emmaline, Regulus, Pandora and her husband. All one big happy family.
Now it was just him and the twins. Alone because the wizarding world was in complete awe of the-boy-who-lived, Harry deserved the freedom to not live under the weight of that title. It left a very small christmas table. He knew James loved christmas. It honestly had been an obsession with him. It was the only reason Regulus spent time putting up decorations in every room of their home. A giant tree in the sitting room, twinkling lights, garland, and tinsel was in every nook and cranny. Little wreaths and candles that smell like pine trees, cinnamon and sugar cookies.
That is why he introduced the twins to an advent calendar but instead of candy he decided to use books instead. One new book for bedtime every night leading up to the day. Today he decided they should spend some time outside and enjoy the fresh snowfall.
“Regs?”
Regulus blinked back and let his mind refocus on the small boy in front of him.
“Oui, mon petit soleil?” Regulus smiled at the boy in front of him.
(Yes, my tiny sun?)
Harry furrowed his little brow at Regulus before he spoke again. “Brooms for flying?”
“I should have guessed. Yes, You can fly.” With a soft sigh he pushed himself up and went to grab the brooms from their spot just inside the backdoor.
Regulus was going to have to look into securing the summer home soon. The twins loved flying and the backyard would not be big enough once they got older. He handed both of them their respective brooms. Auroras was a firebolt toddler broom, while Harry had a comet toddler edition. Harry favoured playing seeker, chasing around the little snitch with a recklessness that made him both proud and worried. Aurora edged towards the chaser position. Choosing to throw the little quaffle through the hoops. That still did not stop them from attempting to play together. At least it started out nice until they started fighting over the toys. The gods have mercy on his soul when those two start fighting.
25th December 1981
On Christmas morning they gathered in the living room together. Everything inside Regulus hurt, his bones had a deep ache and his stomach had knots. He watched as the twins opened their gifts. New books, and new toys. He even got them some new pjs. He snaps photos with the camera and everything aches. This wasn’t how things are supposed to be. The table feels empty when they sit down to eat dinner. The house is too quiet and empty. He sends a couple of the photos to Lupin. He writes a simple Happy Christmas/Merry Yule on the back of a photo.
31st December 1981/1st January 1982
He stayed awake alone. With a single glass of firewhiskey he counted the seconds alone. The twins peacefully asleep in their nursery. He let himself wonder about the others still alive. What was Remus doing tonight? Did Sirius regret his choice while he rotted away in azkaban? Are Pandora, Barty and Evan together? With a heavy sigh he finished the drink in one go as the countdown hit zero. Happy New Year.
30th January 1982
Regulus wasn’t sure what the protocol was for the birthday of the deceased mother of the kids you are raising. Do they celebrate it? Acknowledge it? He wonders what James would do in his shoes. If he was alive and had to figure out this day.
Potter would definitely find a way to celebrate Lily's life with the kids. With some more thought it is decided they'll have some cake and he can share some stories about Lily. He might not have been close with the other Gryffindors but James had told him many stories during their Hogwarts years. Though Potter had always kept his stories about Evans to a minimum and spoke more freely on his gang of marauders. He still had things he could share. Snape had been one to ramble about the brilliance of Lily as well.
That night after dinner and some cake for dessert, Regulus sat in the nursery and told the twins a story about their mother. Lily Evans was a lot of things. She has always been described as the kindest and most intelligent witch of her age. She loved deeply and whole. When the school became dark and the war raged on beyond the safe halls of our school. She acted as a light, a saviour. During her last year at Hogwarts she could be found comforting other students who had missing family members or had been called a terrible slur.
This one memory I can share with you both about Lily is the day she punched Severus Snape in the face. The boy in question had been a childhood friend to your mother before coming to hogwarts. From what I learned over the years is that after he was sorted into Slytherin a distance formed between them. They tried to remain friends but the threat of war and different groups of friends led to them walking down different paths.
Snape had become friends with blood supremacists. Your mother was a muggle born. That fateful day I had been sitting in a hidden little nook and reading quietly to myself when I heard the raised voices. Peaking out I saw Lily, Snape, James, Sirius, Peter and Remus all standing together. Lily was yelling at James and Sirius to bugger off. Your father could be a right git and in a moment of wanting to show off to your mother and the people who had gathered to watch.. He flipped the other boy into the air and his robes had fallen over his head. Without missing a beat your mother shoved James to the ground causing the spell to break and sending Snape crashing back down to the ground.
Not saying a word to anyone else she turned around and tried to help her friend back up. Only for him to scream back in her face that he did not need the help of a filthy little mudblood. Now, we do not say that word normally because it's a bad word. When you get older I’ll explain it more. Lily has always had more tact and simply just smashed her fist into Snapes face. There had been a very loud satisfying crunch. The punch was filled with so much force the other boy actually fell back onto the ground.
She simply turned after that and left. Now, here is a secret. I packed up my bag and quickly chased your mum down. I didn’t speak a lot of words to her. Just called her name to get her to stop and I simply grabbed her hand to quickly heal the bruises that had started forming on her hand. Giving her a quick smile before turning and disappearing back down the hall. We did not interact again after that. Happy Birthday, Lily.
27th March 1982
Regulus had decided they would do the same thing for James' birthday. They had cake after dinner and went to the nursery after so he could tell them a story about James. The first time I met your father was the year before I started. We all went to the platform to see Sirius off. They never did pay that much attention to me and I disappeared to look around a bit while they fussed over Sirius. Neither of us was paying attention when I walked straight into James. I tumbled backwards but before I hit the ground hands reached out and pulled me back into standing position. Your father had the warmest honey brown eyes I had ever seen. He smiled at me and started apologising right away.
“Sorry about that. I got separated from my parents and wasn’t paying attention. My name is James Potter.”
“My name is..” Regulus paused for a moment.
His parents called him Regulus and all their mean friends. It was his name but he didn’t want James to call him Regulus. Sirius called him Reggie but only Sirius, Andy, Cissa and Bella called him that.
“You may call me Reg.” James beamed at him.
“Reg.” He pronounced it slowly, testing it out before he kept speaking “Is that a nickname?”
“It’s actually Regulus.” Before I could even finish speaking James decided to interrupt me.
“Oh! Is that after the star? The one that is part of the Leo Constellation? The heart of the Lion. Regulus also means little prince if I remember correctly or was it king?”
“Yes. Regulus can mean either but I prefer for it to mean little king. How did you know that?” He stared up at James and eyed him curiously. His parents don’t approve of the Potters but James seems pretty okay.
“I read about it in one of my textbooks. Are you in your first year too? Can we sit together on the train?”
“No, I am actually here to see my brother off. I’ll be in attendance starting next year. Maybe we could sit together next year?” Before he could answer a voice called through the crowd.
“James!”
“Oh, that would be my mum. I better go but yes. Next year you must come and sit with me.” He quickly gave Regulus a quick hug before turning and taking off towards the voice. “Bye, Regs!”
All I could do was simply wave a goodbye before I turned back towards where I left Sirius and our parents.
Happy birthday, James.
25th June 1982
Happy birthday, Regulus.
31st July 1982
Happy Birthday to the twins. I wish things had been different. Presents are ripped open and Remus sent a gift for Harry. It’s a simple little deer outfit. A smile crossed his face and he snapped some more photos to send Remus. Even if Lupin can’t be here he can at least witness both of them growing up.
31st October 1982
One year, and painful memories.
Regulus didn’t sleep during the night. It was finally here. The one year mark from the day James and Lily died. It had been difficult leading up to the date. Harry himself seemed on edge. He watched as Harry would jump at any sudden movement. He had included photos of Lily and James on their alter this year. Watching as Harrys’ face filled with tears over the photos.
7th November 1982
Harry has been mine for one year now. Safe from terrible muggles, from dark wizards, or any others who would mean him harm.