Patches
Regulus Black has some of the worst luck humanly possible. And that’s a fact. Four months into his first year he had learned that he was accidentally enrolled in all the wrong classes. He hadn’t been paying attention in any of them due to him already knowing almost all of the material being taught, so he simply never noticed. Regulus spent the entirety of his winter break catching up on his missing schoolwork.
In his third year, Evan made him laugh so hard he choked on the Mandragora leaf he’d been nursing in the corner of his mouth, it was the morning of the full moon. He had cried that night knowing he had to withstand that horrible taste of dirt and tears for another month.
Much later into his third year, he woke up to a crack of lightning. His shoes crushed the morning frost as he scrambled to the east side of the Hogwarts lake, next to the forbidden forest. A place no one dared to go. Dirt got under his fingernails as he quickly dug out the leather box he had buried 3 weeks before. He sighed with relief after opening the box seeing a bright red vial inside. He closed the box with a click and carefully placed it in his satchel.
Later that day, he had walked into the Room of Requirement silently praying that nothing would go wrong. As he whispered “Amato Animo Animato Animagus” for the last time he almost keeled over with anticipation. He calmed himself down and slowly tipped the vibrant red vial down his throat, a pain almost as bright as the very potion he was drinking bloomed in his chest. His ears wrung so loudly that he had to sit down. His heart hammering as he gasped for air, feeling his body shift and twist trying to keep shape. Hours later, he looked into a mirror, a small black cat with stormy grey eyes staring back at him.
This has to be a joke.
But the worst reminder of his constant terrible luck was his own brother’s unusually empty bedroom. Lacking the older boy’s presence, the room had become an extra storage closet for his mother. Regulus often stared at the closed off room across the hall, half expecting Sirius to walk out wafting the smell of freshly painted nail polish and old coffee. But he did not. The room remained closed, only being opened when his mother told Kreacher to fetch her an extra tea cup or book. Just his luck. He had been left alone to deal with his family. Abandoned by the only one of them he tolerated.
During the summer before his sixth year, his mother informed him he would have to take the Dark Mark. Regulus left the house that very night quietly sneaking out not to wake anyone up, just as his brother had done the year before. He packed only his school books and clothes, he had nothing else of value in that house.
Knowing no one else would take him, Regulus found himself in front of the Potter estate. He dug his nails into his palm as he knocked on the door. He heard a muffled “I’ll get it!” which was followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. The door creaked open and a smiling Sirius Black greeted Regulus. A pause. And then a gasp.
“Regulus?” The boy in front of him spoke, his words so quiet Regulus could barely identify his own name.
“Hi Sirius.”
Living with the Potters was an adjustment. Instead of the stale white light and angered voices he was used to, he woke up to soft sunlight tickling his eyes, the sounds of polite small talk drowned out by the chirps of birds. He was allowed to eat whenever he felt like it, he could lounge in the living room without anyone telling him to straighten his back and uncross his legs, he could wear whatever he wanted, and finally, Regulus' favorite part of his newfound freedom; he could read whatever he wanted.
His mother never allowed him to choose his books himself, she was the only one that could decide what he spent his time on. Regardless of that, Regulus always found peace when he was reading. He found comfort in the stories that only lived on pages. When Regulus stumbled upon the library across the hall from his room he almost cried from excitement. Fleamont had gladly told him to take whatever he pleased. There, he fell in love with muggle literature and poems. He would spend hours and hours tucked in the sofa that sat in the library reading and annotating books.
ੈ✩‧₊˚
Regulus and Sirius had been dancing around each other for around two weeks before James decided he had enough of it. They were sitting at the dinner table in awkward silence. Every now and then Sirius peeking over to Regulus his eyes filled with guilt and worry. A cough and then.
“Sirius, I swear to Merlin if you don't apologize right now.” Regulus looked over to James mouthing a thank you, the other boy only slightly smiled in response. To be frank, Regulus wasn't mad at Sirius, at least not anymore. Of course, at first, he was furious. He had cried almost every day for weeks after Sirius’s departure. He would lash out at his mother, which would often end with dark purple bruises painted on his wrists and ankles, which would then result in more crying.
He meant to confront his brother, but when he got to Hogwarts he saw Sirius. And his anger melted away as soon he saw him. Sirius was happy. His eyes usually sunken were fresh with sleep. His smile was so genuine it hurt to look at. Regulus’s anger quickly faded into something more of jealousy. Sirius was finally free. Free of the Blacks, free of Regulus. And Regulus didn’t want to ruin that for him. So, he never acknowledged Sirius his whole 5th year. But apparently not talking to your brother can lead to some miscommunication.
“Regulus I am so-”
“Don’t apologize…Please don't apologize,” Regulus picked at his food, he could feel eyes boring holes into his head. “I'm not mad at you. Not in the slightest. I-I understand why you left me. I only would've told you to stay, and that's not what you needed. ” Silence followed his statement.
“I still should've said goodbye.” Regulus shook his head at Sirius.
“Sirius it's fine.”
“It's not. And I do not want you to pretend it is.”
“Sirius.”
“I've decided. I won't allow you to forgive me. Not until I've earned it.”
“Sirius, you can’t actually be serious right now.”
“I am. You may have forgiven me but I don't feel like I've forgiven myself. And I think it just feels better if I think you're still mad at me I guess? Just let me have this.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Sirius asked
“Okay.” Sirius smiled at him, Regulus smiled back
ੈ✩‧₊˚
The Potters lived next to a meadow of green and pink. A small stream stretched across the property. Regulus made it a habit to sneak out at night and let his anamagi out. Regulus sat quietly next to the old oak tree one particular Wednesday night watching the sunrise. A rustle in the tall grass ruined his silence, he turned his head to see a large black dog staring back at him. Cold grey eyes looking into his own. They sat there for a moment processing whatever was happening. Another beat of silence and then the dog wasn't a dog anymore- It was Sirius.
“Is that you Reggie?” His brother looked back at him. Regulus decided that there was truly no point in hiding this from his brother especially when he had just revealed himself, so he slowly shifted back to his human form.
“I told you to stop calling me that.” He crossed his arms, and a breeze of cold wafted up his back as he was reminded that he was still in his pajamas.
“How long?”
“How long have I been asking you to stop calling me that? Around-”
“Not that dumbass. How long have you been an Animagus?”
“Oh, since third year,” His brother gaped at him a strangled noise coming out of his mouth. “Sirius, shut your jaw.”
“Sorry, but third year? Thats…That's almost three years!”
“Yeah, I can do the math.”
“Oh stop it, I just, I don't know why didn't you tell me?”
“I don't know it just felt nice. To have something no one knew about. Something that couldn't be controlled.”
“I get it.”
“I know you do.” Regulus looked over to his brother who had walked over next to him watching the sunrise fester and spread. They sat quietly for what seemed like hours, Sirius seemingly growing impatient spoke again.
“We did it fifth year.”
“We?”
“The boys! You know… The marauders,” Sirius looked at him “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
“Yeah, you shouldn't've.” Regulus giggled, Sirius looked like he just struck gold.
“I don't know! I just got excited!”
“It is pretty nice”
“We should go on a run sometime. James, you and me I mean.”
“I don’t want James to know.”
“That’s okay. You can tell whoever you want.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime Reg.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚
The rest of the summer went by quickly. Regulus, Sirius, and James all arrived at the station together, Sirius insisted Regulus sit in the same train car as them and Regulus agreed.
He sat down with Sirius and James but shortly after the train started moving the other two boys left him to go look for Peter and Remus. He sat alone for a bit, eventually pulling out the book he was currently reading, perfectly content with how the train ride was going so far.
“The Invisible Man hm? I didn't know you had taste Regulus.” Remus Lupin sat down across from Regulus, the younger boy couldn't help but notice that he had grown the last time he'd seen him, somehow he was even taller.
“I just picked it up this morning, I haven't really had the time to start it yet.”
“It's quite a good read, but I think H.G Wells best book is The First Men in the Moon.”
“I'll have to read that next then.”
“I can lend you my copy, it's really such a hassle to try and find muggle literature in the library.”
“That would be delightful, thank you.”
“Of course. It might be nice to have someone to talk about this with. Your brother is too much of a dimwit to even pick up a book, let alone read it.” Remus rolled his eyes and Regulus snorted.
“Chocolate?”
“Sure.”
And that is when Remus Lupin and Regulus black became best friends.
ੈ✩‧₊˚
Evan had pulled Regulus into a bone-crushing hug as soon as he saw the smaller boy. He rested his head in between Regulus’s shoulder, a faint smile on his lips.
“I heard that you left. I'm so proud of you.” Evan whispered into his shoulder. Evan had left his family four years earlier. Regulus doesn't exactly know where he goes over the summer- he won't tell anyone, but he knows Evan is safe and that reassures him.
“Thanks, Evan.”
Regulus sat in his bed trying to fall asleep. But his thoughts were like marathons, once started they never stopped. He eventually gave up and got out of bed walking down to the Slytherin common room. After making sure the coast was clear Regulus turned into his cat form, creeping down the Hogwarts halls. As he entered the Gryffindor common room he found Sirius, on the communal couch.
“I was waiting for you.”
“How did you know I was coming?” Regulus simply meowed hoping that it got the message across. Somehow Sirius understood.
“I don't know I just had this feeling.” Regulus gave him a look and Sirius lightly chuckled.
“Come on up to my dorm we can find a place for you to sleep tonight.” Regulus didn't argue and followed Sirius up the stairs and to his room. Sirius found a nice spot in between the window and the bookshelf. He also found a spare pillow and fluffed it up. Regulus curled up and slowly drifted asleep.
ੈ✩‧₊˚
Regulus was woken up by a hand petting his back. The hand slowly moved up to his head, scratching his ears.
“When did we get a cat?” James Potter said. Suddenly, Regulus was very awake.
“I found him wandering the common room last night, I think he’s a stray.” Sirius replied.
“Doesn't Peter hate cats?” Remus asked
“He’ll get over it,” James answered smiling up at Regulus. “Should we name him?”
“No.” Both Sirius and Remus said in unison.
“Why nottttt.” James looked over to his friends pouting.
“Because you’ll get attached.” Remus chides.
“And also because I said so.” Sirius added. He looked at Regulus and gave a vague symbol the Regulus was guessing meant get out. Regulus got up and stretched yawning and started towards the door. He stopped and looked back to Sirius waiting for him to open the door for him. Regulus walks off hearing a quiet “by kitty” as he walks off