Chapter 3
When Sirius woke up the next morning he stretched and opened his door when he heard voices downstairs. He quietly walked down the stairs and saw Effie and James making pancakes in the kitchen. He didn't see Monty anywhere so he assumed he had already left for work.
The stairs creaked on his way down and Effie picked up her head to stare at Sirius. She smiled kindly and beckoned him over, " Sirius sweetheart, while James is at school today I have to do some grocery shopping and we can pick up some extra things for you if you don't mind tagging along."
Sirius tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear as he nodded at Effie before yawning tiredly. Effie yelped suddenly and started shoving James's backpack at him and yelling that he would miss the bus if he didn't run. James left the house quickly and then the silence that surrounded the house felt suffocating.
Effie put a couple of pancakes on Sirius's plate as well as some orange juice before starting to clean her kitchen. She hummed as she cleaned and Sirius watched her in amusement and awe not being able to help the comparisons he was making between Effie and his mother. She informed him that they had to run to the grocery store and then a convenience shop down the road that would have some clothes and necessities that Sirius could look at.
She also told him that money was not an issue and he didn't need to worry about wanting something. Once he had finished with breakfast he thanked Effie and put away his dishes before running upstairs to get dressed.
He brushed his hair and put on a battered pair of jeans with a tight band shirt that exposed a bit of his stomach and paired it with his Converse. Most of the clothes that Sirius had, came from his cousin Andy or things he had secretively bought when he was still living at Grimulald Place with his parents since they were strict on what both of their sons must look like.
He rushed back downstairs where Effie was waiting and they bundled into the dark maroon minivan. Effie noticed his shirt and put on Queen which had Sirius and Effie singing the entire ride to the store.
Effie told Sirius that he could grab his cart and put some things that he would like to eat in his cart while she did the basic shopping that she normally did. He was shocked at the freedom that Effie was giving him but grabbed his cart nonetheless and started down the snack aisle. He put a couple of bags of chips that he liked and some that he knew Regulus liked just in case.
He started looking down the drinks isle when he bumped into a man and turned around to apologize but stood staring in horror at who he bumped into. Kreacher his old caretaker stared back at him before clasping down on Sirius's arms and getting close to his face. He spoke firmly, " Sirius I don't know what the hell you are doing here but take Regulus and get out. Your parents paid off the judge in charge of the trial and they only got 2 years. They are about to be released and I have no clue what they are planning."
Sirius just stood there frozen until Kreacher shook him and growled "Sirius!"
Sirius started to shake and felt tears slide down his cheeks before saying, " I don't know where Regulus is" and letting out a small sob. That's when he heard Effie's heels making noise as she stormed down the aisle, " What the hell are you doing?" she yelled at Kreacher.
Sirius broke free of Kreachers grasp and wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand before looking up at Effie. She checked on Sirius before turning to Kreacher and saying, " Who the hell do you think you are? Kreacher looked upset and turned to Sirius and said, " What the fuck do you mean you don't know where he is?" but when it was clear Sirius was too distressed to respond he turned to Effie a bit nervously but responded anyway.
"I'm Sirius's old caretaker, Sirius knows what he needs to do." He gives Sirius a pointed look before walking out of the aisle and leaving. Effie turned to Sirius and said, " What was that about then?" but Sirius just shrugged and started biting his nails now terrified of his parents getting their hands back on him or Regulus.
He realized that he needed to find Regulus immediately. He concluded that he might need some help to get back into the part of town where Regulus was staying and he vowed to explain things to Effie and Monty so that they could help him.
Effie and Sirius checked out and got all of the groceries before going to the next store where Sirius picked out a few new pairs of jeans and shirts. He caught his eye on a leather jacket that was there and Effie noticed, he was overjoyed when she bought it for him.
When they got home later that day he helped Effie put away the groceries and then headed upstairs to take some time for himself. When James got home from school the pair went outside and swam in the pool for a couple of hours before Monty got home and told them to come inside and wash up for dinner.
Sirius was so distracted from running into Kreacher. He was so worried for Regulus and what would happen if his parents found him before Sirius did. Honestly, Regulus would be in more trouble than Sirius because, on the night of his parent's arrest, Regulus was the one who called law enforcement and told them to stop their parents. Sirius was more forthcoming in the interviews that took place afterward but Regulus made the call.
His parents found out and knew that Regulus had made the call which means that not only would he suffer for it but they would kill him for it.
Of course that night Regulus was punished heavily for calling and trying to save Sirius from their parent's wrath but it wouldn't compare to the punishment he would receive once their parents were let out of prison.
It wasn't shocking to Sirius that Wallburga and Orion Black had paid off a judge to get less prison time but he wasn't expecting them to be released so soon.
He was scared. He knew he needed to find Regulus quick.