Only The Stars Know

His first memories were of curly hair and cloudy grey eyes, long fingers brushing through his curls, and a voice telling him stories of past adventures and of magic long forgotten.

"Harry do you realize how very special you are?" He always likes to shake his head at this question, selfishly wanting to hear the reason. A soft chuckle floats around him, "you are every and all things that make this world lovely. You my dear one are the beauty that escapes when the flowers bloom in the meadows and the love that flows between two people. You-" a soft kiss lands on his head "-are the meaning in my world and because of you I get to experience those things." Regulus turns Harry in his chair to smile back at him. Harry gently lifts his hand to Regulus' face, giggling.

"Your words are so pretty, Reggie."

"Well, the birthday boy deserves pretty words, doesn't he? Turning five is quite the accomplishment."

Harry jumps down from the chair, holding Regulus' hand, and does not let go even afterward.

"What are we doing today? We already had my birfday pancakes." Regulus chuckles again, and Harry frowns. He didn't think he said anything all that funny.

"Well, if you go check outside, I think there is something waiting for you." Harry's eyes grew big with excitement, forgetting any confusion. He bolts down the hall to the outdoor patio. There sits—the only thing Harry had asked for—a broom. The squeal that comes from him scares even a few birds in the trees.

"Can I ride it? Can I ride now, pleasssssse?" Regulus, now standing in the doorway, nods. Harry can tell he's laughing at him again, but this time, he can't help but join him. This has to be the best birthday ever, and he is only turning five! "Thank you, Reggie! I love it." He runs back into Regulus' arms, landing a big kiss on his cheek, a huge smile unable to leave his face.

"You're welcome, my little sun." The fond smile Harry adores so much, constantly trying to make it appear, grew on his face. "Now remember to be careful and remember your lessons." Harry can barely hear him, and he basically hops from one foot to another. "Oh, just go, you silly thing."

And then-

Harry has the best birthday morning ever.

Hours later, while they enjoy their lunch in the garden made up of all of Harry's favorites, Regulus can't help but marvel at his life. Six years ago, he was dead, as far as the world knew, jumping from place to place, searching, hoping that pieces of the Dark Lord would show themselves. Now, he sits across from a five-year-old kid who isn't even his but brings more meaning into his life than anything has before.

After Regulus found Harry at Godric's Hallow crying in his crib with Lily Evans lying in front of him motionless, her arm bleeding, wand still in her hand. He reacted quickly, unable to catch up to the details, to the pain, to the impact of what had occurred. All he knew was that Harry wasn't safe, and despite being hated, he had made a promise, so he grabbed Harry, a blanket, and a nappy and ran. He apparated to the muggle inn he'd been hiding at. The panic and fear coursing through his body didn't allow him to put Harry down for nearly five hours as he paced back and forth in his room. All he could think about was how desperately he needed to find Sirius. He couldn't do this; it wasn't his job or responsibility. Sirius was his godfather, gods help him, and Harry needed to be taken to him. But then, two days later, Sirius Black was arrested, and Regulus thought himself well and truly fucked.

After four years, nine different homes, and six incredibly close calls with death, here they are, the Boy-Who-Lived with an insane magical core across from an ex-death-eater with a wrongfully convicted estranged brother and a deep-rooted unhealthy attachment to the memory of his dead ex-boyfriend, about to come back to life and re-enter society to help release said (wrongfully) convicted brother and hopefully give Harry some semblance of a normal life before everything undoubtedly goes to absolute shit in the future.

The feeling of unease grows as Regulus watches Harry finish his lunch, still grinning so widely that it might be permanent. Returning to the wizarding world is a risk, but returning once that oh-so-important letter came would be much worse. Harry needs the world as much as the world needs him; he needs to take his place as heir to House Potter and any other houses Regulus suspects he may be connected to. He has been preparing Harry for this for years, endless etiquette training, the rituals of both the Black and Potter households (those he knew at least), as well as teaching Harry all the sides of history, trying to give him different perspectives that in the future may allow him to form his own. For the world is not black and white, not light and dark, and Regulus knew this beautiful boy would be a gem the world would only be lucky to catch a glimpse of.

He's terrified, truly, for Harry, himself, and their life. Returning and being put underneath the scrutiny of the world holds implications that are likely to change his and Harry's perfect little life they had built. This weight Regulus had been trying to hold above Harry, keeping him from having to carry it all, was becoming too much for him. Harry would begin to feel the unfairness of the world, the expectations of strangers, and the crushing feeling of always being watched. How is any of this fair? How could he make this right? Protect him for longer? Keep that smile on his face? What if they make it go away?

What if someone takes him away from me?

That thought. That debilitating, crushing thought creeps into his mind despite his best efforts to ignore it. Has been living as his curse for the past months. But-

One looks across the table, and he knows. He knows he can't keep Harry to himself. Because if Regulus is honest despite fears and outside pressures, the truth lies purely in his own selfishness. He doesn't want to give others pieces of themselves because this Harry, this cute, adorable, intelligent, happy little boy, is his, and he knows the world will want desperately to tear him away.

Over my cold, dead body.

Despite this, the world is waiting, and their time has come. It is time for Harry to take his place and for Regulus to resume his.

However, above all else, no matter what, Regulus will not forget that this little boy with emerald eyes and a smile able to melt glaciers is his light and his world, and nobody will destroy that, no matter how powerful or influential that person seems to be.

"Alright, dear one. Are you ready to go?" A small smile escapes him as Harry tries to shove another pastry into his mouth. Wide-eyed and still smiling, Harry nods. "Good. Now finish your chewing and go wash your hands, and then we will be off."

Harry hurries to finish chewing, still smiling and is obviously exponentially more excited about their upcoming adventure than Regulus.

"You remember everything I told you, yes? About what the outside world knows and thinks about us." He nods.

"I remember everything you said. I will be the most well-behaved wizard in all of Diagon Alley. Don't you worry." Harry then winks at him. Regulus chokes on his tea. Fucking hell.

"Where did you even learn that?" Harry cackles and runs off upstairs. Regulus smiles to himself. God, how he wishes they could stay like this forever, that his smile would never disappear. He has no assurance of how the world will react or what they will do, and he really has no reassurance about what Dumbledore will do. He has conjectures, every one of them worse than the last. To all but a few, the wizarding world thinks Harry has disappeared and assumes it was for safety reasons, as well as Regulus. Regulus is supposed to be dead. Has been dead for more than seven years. Even more so when the world learned he died, he died a death eater, and only three souls knew of his true allegiances. The panic again begins to bubble again inside him, the doubt creeping back. Maybe it isn't time yet. Perhaps they have a little more time to be happy, to be safe, to be just them in their perfect world-

"Reggie are you ready?" Startled out of his thoughts, he looks up and immediately knows he can't back out. The look of pure excitement on Harry's face could blind someone. His first time truly in the real world, and Regulus, for all the things he has done, the lies, the walls, and the secret life he has created, the reason he did it all simultaneously exists as the one who could tear it all down.

"Yes. Let's go, darling."

"You can't hide forever Reg."

Flooing into Diagon Alley is just as awful as it used to be as a child. However, Harry seems to think it is just absolutely the funniest thing ever that Regulus has soot all over his hair.

"Oh, stop it, you little brat," Regulus teases as he shakes the last of it out of his hair. Looking in the mirror, he considers that maybe no one will recognize him. He honestly does look different than before; his face, while still sporting his sharp features and high cheekbones, is fuller than it possibly has ever been. There is color in it where he knows there had been none before, and his eyes no longer sit sunken into his face. If he looks close enough, there is a light in them that he never noticed when he was younger until it was gone. He looks…alive. How long will that last after this, he wonders.

"Reggie," he feels a tug on his robes. Two big green eyes sparkle up at him. "Hurry up, please. I want to see it all. I can hear them."

Regulus looks out the window to see the people, so many people.

"The world, Reggie, I can hear the world!" And oh—he would give this boy anything.

"Alright." he moves towards the door and holds out his hand. "Don't let go of my hand." Harry nods and grabs firmly onto Regulus, and for the first time in years, with his real face, Regulus Black steps into Diagon Alley.