Chapter 14
They were going back to the Slytherin dorm, when they saw Sirius standing at the door with Remus Lupin looking at his blank face.
Remus and Sirius had been hiding under the invisible cloak when they saw Regulus appear holding a letter, just as Sirius was about to call him out they noticed another person’s presence, Narcissa was standing at the door, leaning against it.
They watch as Regulus turns around once he sends his letter, Sirius could see Regulus wasn’t surprised to see Narcissa at all and there was no trace of so-called scare Regulus said. Two of them noticed that Narcissa had casted a silence charm. They watch as Regulus shows a lot of emotions, surprising the two having been used to the younger boy’s indifferent and cold face.
Sirius was held back by Remus when he saw Regulus crying, they stood there as the two people outside talking.
Then once Narcissa left they saw Regulus actually took out a handkerchief and wiped his face the tear traces were gone. His sad and depressed expression was gone and the tears that had been lingering on REgulus face also disappeared.
They didn’t know what to feel as they finally realized Regulus was actually acting, they even watched as Regulus held a small bottle with tear image on it with his two fingers as he muttered loudly enough for them to hear it and it was filled with sarcasm. “Quite useful, I didn't even need to imperius myself to cry. Praise Barty’s big brain heh.”
Sirius didn’t know whether to be happy or sad that his little brother was good at acting, better than himself. He had thought his brother was naive but he had underestimated him. Remus was impressed at how fast Regulus had gotten into acting as soon as he saw Narcissa. They took off the cloak seeing as Regulus was walking towards the door.
“Reggie!!” Sirius threw himself at Regulus for a hug, Regulus controlled his urge to dodge Sirius' bear hug. Draco beside him snickered, Regulus rolled his eyes. “Siri what are you doing here!”
“I was hiding from Minerva!” Sirius happily exclaimed, he was very glad that his brother allowed him to hug him.
“What have you done this time?” Regulus asked, clearly helpless at his brother’s antics.
“Reggie! I didn’t do anything bad!!! I just pranked some students!” Sirius feeling wronged.
“Siri, your scale of bad is a little bit croaked like Bella’s love for the dark lord!” Regulus calmly stated as if he hadn’t just mocked his cousin. At that Sirius let out amused bark and he hugged Regulus more tightly as he had missed his brother dearly.
“Reggie! how could you compare me to Bella?” Siris let out fake offended gasps.
“Dear brother, isn't it because your favorite is Bella?!” Regulus nonchalantly said, making Sirius cling on to his brother as he let out a horrified gasp. “Reggie! Who told you such nonsense?”
Regulus without batting an eye answered in deadpan face.“When you were 6 years old.”
“Hahaha, right I did say that when I was 6 because Bella had found out my misdead and threatened me with it!” Sirius in one breath said that.
“It’s your fault that you didn’t listen to me?” Regulus raised his eyebrow.
“Reggieeeee let’s not talk about her! What were you talking about with Cissa?” Sirius asked, completely ignoring Remus' eyes that was telling him he can’t ask so directly.
After all Sirius knows his brother better than Remus, he knows Regulus hates to talk in riddles straight to the point.This will give Regulus the time to figure out whether you are just curious or hýou have other intentions but by talking in riddles will make him suspect courtesy of their parents.
“Notting important.” Regulus casually answered, while Sirius rolled his eyes in exaggeratedly. “What nothing important! Were you two just having an acting competition?”
Regulus nodded seriously, Sirius stared at him with unknown emotion before sighing. “Alright then tell me when you are ready.”
Regulus let out smile, dazzling Sirius who hadn't seen his little brother’s smile for a long time. Sirius was glad that he hadn’t tried to push Regulus into telling him, he had a feeling that Regulus will tell him when he was ready.
Unknown to Sirius, his brother had picked up his mysterious cousin’s bad habit.
Remus, who was actually forgotten by two brothers, watched in complicated feelings as two brothers interacted with each other. They were extremely close to each other as if they don’t have any boundaries when it comes to each other like the way Sirius cling to Regulus, he hadn’t never seen Sirius doing it on anyone or Regulus allowing it, Remus had seen Regulus hexing anyone who tried to do same as Sirius.
What really astonished Remus was Sirius’ patience and fast giving up on pushing Regulus to answer his question. Remus had known Sirius's ability annoying anyone to tell the truth and he was extremely stubborn until he had his answer.
He watches as they change the subject naturally to their uncle.
“Siri, I and Uncle Alphard have a question for you!” Regulus said as he supported Sirius by one hand while the other hand patted on Sirius’ head. Sirius, whose animagus is a dog, felt good at Regulus' gentle pattings and let out a hum. “Do you want to inherit uncle Alphards title and wealth right now or just inherit his wealth whilst the title will be put on hold until uncle Alphard retires?”
Sirius' heart stirred as he listened to Regulus, knowing that Walburga must have blocked his gringott account as soon as he left.
He had thought he would need to work as soon as he left Hogwarts but it seems his brother and uncle had already prepared for him. Although he decided to be an auror but it will take a time, time is money. He can’t always depend on Potters even if they are alright with it.
Two brothers talked for a long time before they separated.
Sirius with a straight face devoid of emotion, his eyes filled with serious and deep concentration. Making Remus feel strange, who was used to Sirius’ cheerfulness and chaos.
Sirius didn’t know what was going on but he was sure that his little brother was planning something, for Regulus to even go as far as fooling and acting Narcissa, whatever he was planning can’t be that simple. ‘Reggie, what are you planning?’
Sirius knows although his brother isn't as brave as him but once he puts his mind on something, he will do whatever it takes to achieve it. That is worrying him, Sirius hoped Regulus' intention wasn't very serious as he guessed. After all Sirius doesn't wish to lose a brother. Knowing well that Regulus will not hesitate to die for it to succeed.
‘This can't be done! I have to find a way to know what Regulus is trying to accomplish…’ Sirius didn’t notice that he had walked past James and Peter who were sitting on the common room sofa and calling out to him as he walked past them into his dorm.
Remus shrugged when he saw his two mates look at him in confusion and questioningly. He explained everything that happened in the owlery. It was clear that the reason why Sirius acted like this was Regulus.
They just didn’t know why and how, from what Remus said everything was normal. Then Peter let out a startled gasp as he looked at James and Remus in shock. “Normal!”
“What?” James puzzledly asked, Peter took deep breaths before saying. “They had normal conversation!”
“Yeah, and?” Remus said not really understanding before a realization occurred. “When did Sirius have such normal conversation? Without his playfulness and sarcasm?”
James also understood what Peter was trying to say, and thinking back realized that Sirius never had serious and normal conversations. It always had been playful and dramatic, for two Black to have a normal conversation was just strange and weird considering those two were filled with sarcasm and dark humor.
Back to Regulus, he had just entered his dorm under Lucius watchful eyes.
Draco explained everything that happened to Barty and Evan, this way no one will hear their plan or Regulus was just acting. They were living in a magical world where there is a chance of eavesdropping spells casted in here.
Everything was going steady, Evan had finally got the letter filled with the names of students while he was slowly entering the circle as a spy. Barty was getting ready to sneak out for his mission. With help of Draco, he learnt a countless amount of defending and killing spells.
Barty was going to sneak out on the day of the quidditch match between Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff.
Draco had finished his marionette and could finally possess it, he was going to pretend as Barty.
And so their days were filled with secret duties while studying, Regulus had finally got Narcissa’s trust after weeks of performing and had put bait in water waiting for Lucius to bite it.
Draco's heart stirred as he saw Sirius watching Regulus, Evan and Barty(him) thoughtfully. As if he was trying to figure out something. Draco knew at that moment Sirius was suspecting them and started to notice something! The question was when and how?
Draco thought back on their action those past days and found nothing that made their movement suspicious. So then when did Sirius start suspecting? Draco in disguise as
Barty locked eyes with Sirius before he secretly motioned Sirius to follow him. Draco stood up from his seat, gaining Regulus and Evan’s attention he smiled at them mouthing ‘later’ then left.
Sirius had been watching his brother and friends from the moment they arrived at the great hall. There was nothing missing but Sirius felt something was going on, how Regulus and Evan were a bit tense while Barty was actually drinking tea gracefully..-?
Sirius blinked then took another look at Barty wondering if he was hallucinating. But really that boy was actually gracefully drinking and eating? Sirius slowly moved his eyes to the other two to see they were looking at Barty in disdain and speechless?
‘So I wasn't actually hallucinating or was cursed?’ Sirius thought he grabbed a glass filled with pumpkin juice sipped slowly when he saw Barty sneakily grab Evan’s waist that got him nearly choked on.
He watched as Barty said something that made Evan red as tomato before releasing him and Regulus sneered with a mocking face but his eyes were full of amusement. Sirius was good at reading his little brother’s lip sync from what his little brother said. *Don’t think i didn’t notice the silencing charm last night lasted 5 hours.*
Sirius this time really spit out his drink, thanking Merlin that no one was sitting in front of Sirius Black.
Everyone in Gryffindor and professors stared at Sirius, wondering what in the bloody hell Sirius Black was up to, professors were wary as Sirius had been unusually quiet and calm those days.
Sirius blushed as he awkwardly rubbed his head, after that everyone returned to their own things. It was his Reggie’s fault that he made himself embarrassed, Sirius really wanted to hex those two brats for deflowering his little innocent brother’s mind.
‘How dare they! My little innocent Reggie’s mind it’s no longer pure!!’ Sirius was determined to make holy water for his brother!!
Putting aside his inner drama, Sirius goes back to observing the kiddos.
‘Gaunt manor-? Tom, and uncle Alphard …?’ That was all Sirius could read of because Regulus was either looking down, right and rarely up. Sirius frowned at the thought of Gaunt manor as it had been destroyed and fell down a long time ago so why was Regulus mentioning about it also who is Tom?
Sirius was perplexed at those two things but one thing he immediately thought of was that he could ask his uncle about Regulus’ plan, of course without showing that he was as clueless as his so-called parents.
Sirius continued observing them, when he accidentally looked in eyes with Barty. They stared at each other for a long while, before Barty stood up from his seat and motioned him to follow. Sirius, without thinking too much or telling his friends, left quietly.
He followed Barty into a corner where no one was and would not see them nor notice them. “So? Regulus’ brother, why are you observing us?”
“I have a name although I don't mind you calling me that.” Sirius wasn’t going to admit that he was watching them at all. Barty let out a sigh as if resigning to his fate, it was extremely similar to Regulus when he was done with Sirius’ shits.
“Yeah, whatever Sirius Black! What do you want?” Barty rolled his eyes as he said that.
“Can’t I look at my brother?” Sirius asked, he wasn’t nervous at all. He saw Barty letting out a sigh. “If you were only going to look at him then you can but why are you observing us? One would think you were watching criminal suspects.”
Sirius didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his obviousness, before he could even retort he heard a helpless voice of Barty. “Why are you two brothers so alike when it comes to your facial expressions after getting caught?”
Sirius did roll his eyes very hard, while thinking. ‘Are you serious?’
Barty seemed to find it funny, as he started to laugh aloud. How could he not when Sirius really looked like Regulus when he was annoyed. After laughing for a while, Barty finally stopped and looked over Sirius. “Alright then since you were just looking at your brother cause you missed him. We will leave it there, I am going back.”