Regulus watched, as Bellatrix sent the green light, hurtling into Sirius. The veil swallowed him whole. Remus held Harry back as he screamed and fought, and a single tear rolled down Remus's cheek. A tear for his last friend leaving, his only love finally escaping the mortal world. "Oh Siri." He murmured. He got up and began walking to the station, where Sirius would soon be. He sat on the bench at the station, tapping his foot anxiously. Sirius didn't know of his betrayal to Voldemort. Likely he still hated him. Regulus had watched over Sirius every day he'd been here. He watched Narcissa too, and Luna, Pandora's girl. But mostly he watched Sirius. Then Sirius was there, his big brother, curled up on the ground.
"Moony! Moony!" He sat up, looking around dazed. He spotted Regulus and withdrew, backing away, still sitting on the polished stone floors.
"Where am I? This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real. I need to get back to Remus. I need to protect Harry!" Regulus got up, and sat beside Sirius.
"It's real. You're dead Siri. Just as I am."
"No! You're lying! You're not even real!"
"Sirius. It's okay. Your okay. You're dead." Sirius collapsed on himself, and Regulus pulled him in, and wrapped his arms around him. "I was supposed to protect Harry "
"Remus will."
"I've abandoned Remus."
"He'll be okay." Sirius just shook his head. Eventually, Sirius pulled himself together, sitting up, still beside Regulus.
"For the afterlife, this place is rather empty."
"It's just the station. Loved ones pick up newly-dead people here. Usually it takes longer, but I was watching. I saw it happen."
"How did you die?" Sirius whispered
"I betrayed Voldemort. He has horocruxes, you know the soul splitting things father taught us about. I tried to destroy one. It drowned me."
"You betrayed Voldemort?" Sirius said, looking in his eyes.
"Yeah." Sirius had a ghost of a smile.
"Do you want to see your friends?" He had guessed Sirius would be ecstatic at this, but was surprised when Sirius recoiled and shook his head.
"They hate me."
"Why would they hate you?"
"I'm the one who insisted on switching secret-keepers. I'm the reason they're dead. Then I was supposed to be Harry's guardian, instead I got locked in Askaban while their only son was abused. And now I've left Harry again."
"They don't blame you Siri, I'm sure. Do you remember my friend Pandora?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm the reason she's dead. I recruited her to help me with the horocruxes. I asked her to find a spell to destroy them. She was my best friend, and of course obliged." He paused, a tear rolling down his cheek. "She tried really hard. Especially after my death, finding that spell consumed her life. And one day, when she was working, the spell backfired. Killed her. Because of me, her husband is without his wife, Luna, my goddaughter is without her Mum." He sucked in a shaky breath before continuing. "We're all dead. Blaming people doesn't do much."
"I'm sorry Reg." He shook his head
"I should've been there to help you."
"You couldn't." He paused, trying to think of a way to help Sirius. "What about Marlene? Let's go pay a visit to her and Dorcas."
"Okay." Sirius said shakily. So Regulus led them to where be knew they would be, this little garden where they would sit and talk, or lay in the grass peacefully. There was a pond there, any reflection could be used to look into the mortal world. He had seen Marlene watching Mary an awful lot. Pandora was sitting with them, tying a flower crown, just as she used to when they sat in the great lawn in their adolescence.
"Hey Dora, Cas, Marlene." The girls looked up, and Marlene's jaw dropped.
"Oh Sirius." She ran to him, and threw her arms around him, sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her too, patting her shoulder in a brotherly manner.
"Hey marls."
"I've missed you." She sniffed, as she released him.
"I've missed you too."
"Have you gone to see Lily and James?"
"Um. No. I feel a bit..guilty. You know." She nodded.
"Yeah. I saw what happened. It was painful to watch. Peter killed me personally. But you should see them. I talk to them everyday, they watch over you all the time."
"Really?"
"Yes you prick. James is your best friend, I'll go with you."
"Me too." Regulus nodded. Sirius wavered but gave in.
"Okay." Regulus gave Pandora's hand a quick squeeze.
"See you later. I hope you were watching Luna in that battle. She was amazing." Pandora beamed.
"I know!" Then the three of them left to where Marlene said James and Lily were, the woods. Soon a stag running about came into view, as the redhead girl looked up from her book, where she sat leaning against a tree laughing at the stag.
"Lily!" Marlene shouted out
"Hey Marls!" She said, not looking behind her. But the stag looked at them square on, and it transformed into James.
"PADFOOT!" He screamed, pulling him into a full body hug, sending them both to the ground. Sirius hugged him back with as much force, and they didn't let go for a full minute. Lily smiled, giving him a gentler hug
"We've missed you. Thank you for watching over Harry." Sirius shook his head
"I'm sorry, I g-" Lily shushed him
"You died protecting him pads. And none of us knew...about Peter. He was our friend. Don't be sorry." James said "We missed the whole fight, but the Prewett twins were watching for Ginny, and came and told us. We went to the station but you weren't there. Regulus had already fetched you."
"Thank you." Was all Sirius could say.
In the afterlife, it seemed everyone was at peace. But Regulus never really had been. The guilt and regret of dying before reconciling with Sirius had always been at the back of his mind. And he had been alone for two years before Dorcas had passed. And even then, she spent most of her time with Marlene. Evan had died that next year, Regulus had been watching. It had been more or less suicide. He purposely outnumbered himself with Aurors, and died. The only way he had gone against the dark lord was in death, that was the reason he'd given Regulus on why he'd done it. He wanted out. It had only been four years ago, that Pandora had died. She of course ran to him with open arms, her best friend. Evan had been more difficult. She was angry at his loyalty to Voldemort, but they had eventually moved on. The twins always did. But Regulus remained trapped, regret swallowing him, wondering everyday what could have happened if he'd left with Sirius.
Sirius and him quickly found their own spot. They liked this little cliff with a willow tree. A small creek went by, that Sirius used to watch Remus and Harry. Lily and James often occumanied them, which lead to Marlene coming, then Dorcas, Evan, and Pandora. It was a happy group.
Note: in this tonks and Remus never married cuz I said so
The group was lying there that night, watching the last battle years later. Barty had by now passed, but unfortunately he had remained loyal to Voldemort through and through. Evan was destroyed. Sirius was leaned over the creek, watching Remus fight side by side with Tonks. It was a peculiar friendship Regulus thought, but Sirius was happy that Remus wasn't alone. Bellatrix and Dolohov appeared from practically nowhere, out numbering them. The green light shot through them both, and they crumbled. Sirius gasped. Regulus put an arm around him, pulling him up.
"Lets go get them." He said softly. "You guys stay her and watch, for Harry, and Luna." Regulus hugged Pandora quickly, who was chewing through her nails with anxiety.
Once they got down to the station, both were already there. Sirius ran into Remus's arms, kissing him unforgivingly.
"I'm sorry, my moony." He murmured
"Don't be sorry."
"I love you."
"I love you too pads." Remus looked into his eyes. Regulus thought he'd never seen two people more in love. Remus placed his scarred hands on Sirius's cheek's, admiring him. Sirius smiled so genuinely, Regulus thought his jaw would break.