Be brave and stupid.
In a dark room lies a boy. Sound asleep. There is a creek, then a whisper is heard. “Reggie.” The unknown figure whispers into the dark. And then again, “Reg.” The sleeping boy shifts, pulling the covers with him.
“Regulus.” This time, the voice is louder and impatient. The boy hears his name being called and jolts up. He looks around as his eyes adjust to the room, almost frightened of something or maybe someone.
The boy's eyes relax as he notices who is calling for him. He reaches his hands to his eyes, rubbing them like he had just been crying. “Sirius, what the fuck are you doing?” The boy, Regulus, says in a questioning tone louder than he anticipated.
“Calme-toi.'' Sirius speaks even quieter than before. The switch in language worries Regulus. He isn't sure why Sirius is even in his room, why he is in Regulus’s room speaking French and telling him to be quiet. He scans Sirius's face in the hope of an answer. “Est-ce que tu pleures?” Regulus asks even more concerned now. He doesn't think he's ever seen his brother cry.
“Non, je ne suis pas.” Bullshit Regulus thinks, but he does not say it because his brother, who seems to only hate him lately, is sitting here crying. In Regulus’s room. And he doesn't want to start a fight. Because for once in his life, Sirius seems serious.
It's silent for a moment because Regulus doesn't know what to do. How to comfort someone. He honestly doesn't know how to talk to his brother anymore. Sirius isn't talking either, it's as if he couldn't speak or did not know what to say or how to say it. Until he does.
“I need to leave,” Sirius whispers all so suddenly. This doesn't surprise Regulus, Sirius sneaks out all the time and goes to Potter's house. But this time seems different. Since when has Sirius given a thought about Regulus' opinions on sneaking out for the night. “Okay?” Reg answers warily. “Have fun? I don't fucking know what you want me to say.”
“Regulus, I mean leave this godforsaken house.” Sirius starts “Leave for good.” Regulus's heart drops. Shatters into a million different pieces. He couldn't believe it. Oh my god, he was going to be left here all alone. He's going to have to be the heir. He.. he.. His heart starts to beat quicker and quicker and breathing suddenly becomes the hardest task in the world.
“I mean, we. We need to leave this place.'' Sirius says determinedly. And for some reason, this seems so much worse. Regulus isn't stupid. If he leaves he’ll have nowhere to go. If he leaves it will be harder. They wouldn't get away with it.
“No, I cannot leave.'' Regulus responds. “We can't leave.'' Sirius eyebrows wrinkle. “Regulus, I know it will be hard..” Reg interrupts him before he can speak any longer. “No, we can't… we wouldn't both make it out.” he starts “We’d have nowhere to go.”
“We can go to the Potters,” Sirius answers. Regulus sighs “You mean you can go to the Potters. They don't want me there. Not an evil Slytherin like me” he finishes with a roll of his eyes.
“Don't you know, James’s mum was a Slytherin.” Sirius says bluntly. “Plus, you're my brother, they aren't going to throw you out on the streets.”
This surprises Regulus. He doesn't expect that the famous James Potter’s mum would be a Slytherin. He doesn't know how to respond. He still thinks they wouldn't want him there. He'd be out of place. Regulus doesn't see why Sirius is even trying. Sirius hates him.
Regulus and Sirius both flinch as a crash is heard downstairs. Sirius panics, “C’est maintenant ou jamais, petit frere.” Regulus doesn't know what to do, he couldn't live without his brother. No matter the amount of times he's been ignored by him over the summer. “Sirius..” he starts to mumble. Another crash is heard.
“Je suis désolé regulus, mais je pars avec ou sans toi.” Sirius states. His voice is final, set in stone. And Regulus isn't sure what to do. He feels pressured. He fights with himself but he can't see how staying here could overrule leaving. He doesn't want to be left behind. He doesn't want to be left alone. So in a moment of panic and pressure, he agrees. “Oui, d’accord, je vais y aller.”
—---
They are walking down the stairs, trying to be quiet. Trying to be safe. They just need to get out of that door. Regulus is worried because if they are caught, he isn't sure he'll ever truly be safe again.
And then they hear it. A crash. And then they see Walburga, their mother. “What are you doing?” she screeches. “Sirius, I thought I demanded you stay in your room.” Shit. Shit. SHIT. See Regulus knew this wasn't a good idea. He knew, and he tried convincing his brother. But his brother is stubborn and a Gryffindor so of course he just wouldn't listen.
“Go back to your room now!” Walburga screams, even louder to the point where his eardrums feel like they are about to burst. “Both of you!” his eyes widened. What are they supposed to do? There's nothing left to do. We need to go to our rooms. Now. Before it gets worse. I look over to Sirius, hoping he'd be thinking the same.
Fuck, of course, stupid, brave, reckless, stubborn Sirius was in fact not thinking the same. Regulus could tell he was committed and ready to fight. And maybe Regulus envied Sirius for this. Because deep down Regulus knew Sirius was right. This was their only opportunity. It was now or never.
And maybe it was stupid of him, but he decided for once in his life he was going to act recklessly, be brave, and goddammit, be stupid. And sure he might most definitely regret this later, but right now he's gonna be stupid as shit.
“No,” Regulus says strongly, he is intent on going through with what he promised to himself before. And by the look on both Sirius and his mother's faces they were not expecting him to say anything, just to turn around and go back to his room. “We're leaving,” Regulus seemed to have triggered something in Sirius' brain, maintenant ou jamais. “For good. We are never coming back to this fucked up place.”
“CRUCIO!” It was sudden and surprising but the more Regulus thought about it, not all that much unexpected. Like Sirius had said, this place, and the people in it are fucked up. Sirius falls to his knees, in pain. His brother may have somewhat of a tolerance because he's protected Reg for so long. But Walburgas strong. And Sirius is really only a kid. So it hurts.
Regulus already decided he was going to be like a Gryffindor, just this once. So he does the stupidest thing he thinks he's ever done before. As Walburga goes to scream crucio once more, he bolts at his mother's wand, pushing it out of her hands.
He's successful, but the curse still leaves her wand. And it hurts. Regulus suddenly feels so much guilt for the pain his brother had to endure. But he's glad because just this once, Reg decided to be brave and stupid and protect his brother instead of himself.
Sirius is suddenly in action. It's blurry for Regulus; he's not really sure what happens next. But he hears a crucio. And it isn't his mother saying it, because he still has Walburgas wand. He isn't sure if Sirius ever regrets using a forbidden curse, but he doesn't think he would if it were him. He would do it. To protect Sirius. He thinks, as his eyelids slowly shut bringing him back to before all of this, to sleep.