Part I
Regulus was one year old when the fairy first visited him. He was known for giving awful gifts, which is why Andromeda had hidden the baby everytime he would come around. Sirius Black, Regulus’ brother, didn’t have it too bad, as he had received the gift of synergy. Of course, it had turned out to be a curse, as did most of Riddle’s gifts. The fairy had told Andromeda the gift would make him well-liked, and the young one would excel at bonding with people, of all kinds. From Ogres to Dragons, he had said. Which had been a twisted truth. Sirius Black, because of his gift of synergy, was forced to work with other people to actually achieve anything good. His magic (he had gotten the fairy gene from his father, when Regulus had their mother’s human gene) was uncontrollable if he didn’t cooperate with another fairy. And due to his incompetence, as the other fairies saw it, he was in fact not well-liked. Seeing the effect Riddle's gift had on the first son, Andromeda would hide the little one away at every opportunity.
Regulus and Sirius’ father, Orion Black, was away most of the time for his work. The man believed they never had enough money, and would always fish for more. So when he was travelling, it was the brothers’ cousin that would take care of them, along with the house elve Kreacher. The both of them were attending to the baby’s needs in his room when Tom Riddle announced his arrival. They could hear a bunch of bells ringing harmoniously outside the house, meaning a fairy was approaching.
“Quick, we can’t let him find the baby.” Andromeda pressed on.
“I can’t find anywhere to hide him!”
“The closet!”
“Do you want to suffocate him?” Kreacher asked in disbelief, it was truly an inconsiderate idea.
“Better than to receive a gift from Tom.” Kreacher shrugged, she wasn’t far from being wrong. He lifted the baby from his crib and did his best to hide him away fast. It was no use, Riddle was already in the room with them. He laughed at the sight and exclaimed himself joyously.
“Finally, we get to meet!” He exclaimed as he approached the baby and pinched his cheeks. The baby reached one of its small hands to hold the fairy’s pinky, no bigger than it. Regulus gooed and Riddle chuckled when Kreacher stepped back, turning the baby to his side in a protective way.
“Tom, it’s a pleasure to welcome you into the house, but we really don’t need anything.” Andromeda accentuated the ‘really’, trying to hint to the man he had to leave.
“Oh, I won’t be here for long, I’m just paying you a little visit.” Sirius simply observed the scene from the side of the crib, where he had been looking at his baby brother with an adoring smile. Andromeda spotted him and led him outside the room, trying to hold in the stress she was under, but as soon as she was out the door and only Sirius could see her, she let worry take over her expression. Sirius pouted, too young to comprehend the intensity of the situation or to feel the tension in the air surrounding Andromeda. He wanted more time with his little brother, and was mad at the man for taking him away from him. When he complained, Andromeda gave a quick kiss on Sirius’ forehead and shooed him in the playroom. She quickly got back to Regulus’ room and closed the door behind her.
“It’s getting late, we should get Regulus to bed.” Andromeda reached for the baby Kreader had been protectively holding but Riddle was faster. He took Regulus in his arms and rocked back and forth on his feet. It didn’t stop Regulus from erupting in tears when he was taken away from the familiar embrace.
“Sh sh sh, I’m about to give you your gift, you should be happy.” He frowned and as he said the words, an idea popped in his mind. Andromeda, who held Kreacher’s arm seeking for stability and comfort, itched to say something, anything that would convince Tom to back off, but she knew better. He knew no limits to boundaries and was so pleased with himself after each one of his gifts, no one could get through to him.
“I will give you the gift of obedience.” A spark swirled around his finger, pointing at Regulus’ nose. The spark left his hand and plunged at the baby to suddenly disappear. It almost looked like nothing happened, until the fairy spoke again.
“Stop crying.” He ordered, and Regulus listened. A mischievous smile stretched on his face. Once again, he was pleased with his gift. He wasn’t being generous, nor did he try to be. He only did it because really, he loved playing with lives, and nothing could stop him from doing so. He loved changing people’s futures for the better or the worse, it didn’t matter to him, as long as he had control.
That was the first order he received, and from then he would obey every single one of them. No matter how much his mind fighted against it, he had no control over his body the moment the words were out. Only Andromeda and Kreacher knew about the curse. They would always think before speaking to him, and even though sometimes they would slip up and say words that should be harmless, like “go ahead and stuff yourself” before a meal, “calm down” or tell him to stop whatever he was doing, they would always come back on their words. Regulus knew they never meant it, but he couldn’t help but hate them a little for it. Although to be honest, he hated himself more for not being able to fight it. Over the years, he worked hard to resist and fight the orders, but all he achieved was delaying the orders for as long as he could, and would end up obeying anyway. Regulus feared the day someone would tell him to kill himself, or to hurt himself. No matter how hard he fought against every order, he would never be able to break the curse.
When Regulus was 10, Sirius found out about the curse. Sirius was in his room, presumably alone, and Regulus wanted company. He bursted through the door and jumped on his brother’s bed, only to discover that Sirius had a friend over. Sirius and his friend, he would later learn the boy’s name was Remus, had been practicing magic. So when Sirius was casting a spell on his own, and Regulus had surprised him by opening the door brusquely, Sirius instinctively directed the spell at where the commotion came from. Without any surprises, the spell had turned out wrong and pierced a hole through the door, right where the younger brother had been standing a second ago. Sirius, exhausted and annoyed at the repeated failed attempts at magic, let all his anger out by yelling at his little brother. He had only meant to send him away from the danger he represented when he yelled the order.
“Reg! Get lost!” He spat the words and turned his back to his little brother to complain to Remus.
“No, Sirius-”
“Just leave already, Merlin I almost blew you up!” He says the last part exasperatedly, and focused on what Remus was explaining about spells, ignoring Regulus as he walked out. Regulus did exactly what he was told, and got lost in the forest behind their house. Andromeda and Kreacher found him a day later, and when they got back home, where Sirius stayed in case Regulus found his way back, his brother cried and begged for his forgiveness.
“I’m so sorry Reggie, I shouldn’t have been so mean.”
“It’s okay Sirius, it’s not your fault.” He tried to comfort him but was only met with an incredulous look from the older one.
“Of course it’s my fault! I almost killed you and told you to fuck off! You know I didn’t mean it, right, if you ever need something, you can come right to me instead of running away. I care about you Reg.” Regulus pursed his lips and struggled to admit the real reason why he left. He hated that part of him, hated being so weak that everyone had control over him, and he was powerless, utterly powerless and alone. From behind, where he had been watching, Kreacher stepped in and whispered to Regulus.
“You should tell him, what happened yesterday should never happen again. You can prevent it, Mr Black. He could put you at harm or worse-” Regulus cut in, nodding.
“Regulus, Kreacher, and you’re right…” He turned to Sirius who had been standing on the side, worry over his face. He never stayed silent for that long, especially when two people whispered, he would always feel excluded and butt in. This time, he could tell worry was eating him from the inside for him to not intrude a personal conversation.
“Sirius, I need to tell you something.”
“I’m all ears.”
“You know how Andy said that I successfully escaped from the fairy Riddle’s grasp my whole life? The one who gives terrible gifts-” He was interrupted by an irritated Sirius.
“Oh yeah that asshole, he deserves to be put in a dungeon. Fucking gifts my ass, yeah-” He was in turn interrupted by an outraged Kreacher.
“Have you no manners? Where did you learn such language, certainly not in this house. How can a child so young spit such vile words!” He was offended by Sirius’ lack of manners. From the corner of the room, Andromeda chuckled. Kreacher looked sceptical of her and gave her a distrusting look.
Kreacher always preferred Regulus when it came to the Black brothers. He was more peaceful, sharp and he would even call the boy an old-soul at heart. Sirius, though, was everything Kreacher despised. They would constantly fight about manners and rules as one believed they were fundamental, and the other couldn’t care less about them. At first, Regulus would find it funny, watching Sirius get scolded, but it quickly became boring and Sirius’ insubordination became part of a routine.
“Alright, enough. Can we focus back on my story now?” Regulus said, bored.
“Sure, dramaqueen.” Sirius picked at him, grinning. Regulus was deadpan.
“Stop interrupting. As I was saying, I never actually escaped him. He gave me the gift of obedience, which means I basically have to do what I’m told all the time.” Sirius waited for Regulus to confirm he was done, when when he gestured to him to speak his mind, Sirius did exactly that.
“What? That’s such bullshit! Excuse my language, your highness Kreacher, but what in the actual fuck? Can’t you ask Riddle to take it back?” Andromeda put a hand on Sirius’ shoulder to calm him down as he was getting worked up, and also because she had started to have heard enough cursing for today.
“You know how he is, if we were to ask, he’d just put a real curse on us.” She gave a tight lipped smile to Regulus. They all stood in silence, that is, until Sirius exclaimed himself a second later.
“There has to be a solution! A counterspell or a potion, someone else who could lift the spell? I could ask Remus, he’s quite smart actually, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping Reggie. You know, he was trying to help me with my spelling, and, yeah it ended with me almost killing Reg, but that was my fault entirely, he’s a good teacher. Good with spells.” He stared at Regulus, eyebrows raised expectantly. Regulus blinked multiple times, trying to take in his brother’s rambling. He gave up and sighed.
“There isn’t. It's better to just accept it and learn to live with it.” With those words, he left for his room upstairs. Andromeda looked apologetic while Sirius looked beat. If there was a solution, they all would’ve put a stop to this years ago.
Later at night, Andromeda visited Regulus while he put himself to bed. She sat at the foot of his bed, causing the bed to cave in under the additional weight. Regulus finished patting the covers around him and when he was satisfyingly tucked in, he stared at his cousin, who was staring at her feet.
“Ever since this morning, I’ve been thinking,” There was a bitter tone to her voice Regulus couldn’t help but notice. He knew this wasn’t going to be a positive bedtime talk. He waited for her to go on, dreading what made her look so gloom.
“You’re lucky you have us, you know? Not to sound haughty or anything, just, you know. Controlling people’s actions is a powerful, dangerous thing, most people would use it at their will, to gain from you. I’m afraid you could be in danger if anyone else, someone with bad intentions, were to know. What if you trust the wrong person, do you get what I’m saying?”
“Andy, I don’t think it’s necessary-” He straightened himself up as he thought about her point. He had trusted Sirius with the information, he was the only person he had ever told and knew he would never use the information against him. He was an impulsive prick, but Regulus knew he loved him. Then he thought about the people he didn’t trust. The people at school that would either push him around or ignore him. They would order him to run another lap in physical education class, and he would do so until the bullies tired themselves out. They would tell him to eat dirt, and he would until he made himself sick. They would tell him to bite them, and he would. He couldn’t imagine ever knowing peace again if the same people that tortured him unconsciously knew the real power they had in their hands.
He looked straight in the eye, and while he was very much uncertain of himself, he didn’t let it show as he answered confidently to Andromeda.
“Do it.”
“I hate to do this to you, but it’s for your own safety. I just want your best and you should-”
“Just do it, Andy.” This time, his voice was barely a whisper. He waited expectantly for the words, hating himself for not being able to just do better. To fight it better. Then his family wouldn’t have to do all of this for him, to go against their principles. She sighed, letting her body become limp along with the air coming out, looking resigned.
“Regulus… Do not tell in any way or under any circumstances what your gift is, do not let anybody know of it.” She looked away, and after breathing in and out, she left the room. She stopped under the doorframe and turned to face Regulus, a witting look in her eyes.
“I don’t know much about counterspells, but I know you. You have enough strength and tenacity in your heart to fight it. I know you don’t think so at the moment, but I can promise you, this curse is not forever. It’s in you, you just need to find it.” She left the room with a warm smile on her face, which only saddened as she walked away from the boy’s view. They both knew it was for the best, for Regulus’ well-being. But still, letting go of the ability to make the choice to tell his secret to his beloved ones, letting go even more of the little freedom he has, he can never get used to it. It makes him hate everyone and everything just a bit more.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Regulus was now 17 and lived only with his brother and Kreacher, and sometimes with his father. Andromeda had married her boyfriend, Ted Tonks, and together they defected to another city. Ted was an elve, and ever since a new king ruled over the city of Fell (after the assassination of the previous one), elves, ogres, giants, fairies, every creature other than humans were unfairly restricted by laws under new rules instaurated by the new king. So Andromeda and Ted started a family on a far land and would regularly send letters to the brothers.
Regulus was sitting at his desk, in his room, completing a work for class when he heard a knock on his door. He walked to open the door to the only person in the house who would have the decency to knock and not barge in like a madman.
“Yes Kreacher?” The latter looked stiffer than usual. To the tense appearance of the house fairy, Regulus apprehended what he was going to announce.
“Your father is back, he would like to see you downstairs.”
“Thank you, Kreacher.” He closed the door without another word and leaned in the door, his forehead hitting the hard wood. So his father was back, and he wanted to talk to him. That was a first. When his father was home, he would always leave as soon as he found another job. Regulus didn't mind, he didn’t like his father’s company as much as he liked his personal time. When his father was around, Regulus had to watch every move and words spoken, or his father could get angry easily. It didn't take much to anger him, and when he was in a bad mood, he would bark orders around at every breath he took, and Regulus could, of course, never evade them. He opened the door again, this time to an empty hallway, and walked to the living room, where his father was most probably sitting in his designated chair.
Orion Black was sitting, rubbing the bridge of his nose, eyes closed. He looked exhausted as Sirius was sitting on the couch facing him, asking questions relentlessly.
“Father, welcome back.” He announced himself by welcoming his father back into the house, even though they both couldn’t wait for the elder to leave again. His father opened his eyes and looked up at his son with a blank expression.
“Son. Please, come sit down next to your brother.” He shifted in his seat and straightened up his back as he cleared his throat. Regulus glanced at Sirius, but his brother was expectantly looking at their father, his eyes looking for any hint of emotion on their father’s stoic expression, waiting for the apparent news he had to announce.
As they sat next to each other, Orion couldn’t help but notice how different his sons were. Where one was leaned back, looking slump on the couch, spineless and no manners, the other looked poised, placid and sat so straight nothing could disturb the boy’s stillness. And yet, Orion knew his sons formed a team together, a family Orion was only related to by blood. They were a team, against their single enemy. He chuckled at the thought, which caused Regulus’ impassive look to break and frowned, while Sirius looked triumphant, to finally see an emotion on his father, one he could recognize.
“What do you need to tell us?” Orion cleared his throat once more.
“Boys, since your cousin left the house, and I travel most of the time, I fear leaving you alone might be… A bad idea. You might gain too much freedom when you are too immature, and I think you need the presence of a woman in the house. Make us seem less dysfunctional.”
“You don’t plan on marrying us to a woman, right? Cause, like, I don’t think it’s even legal, and I would make a terrible husband, there’s also the fact I do not want a woma- I mean I do not want to marry at the moment, Father, and to be honest-” Sirius was flustered by his words and was easily out of breath. Clearly, he was stressing to not mention a very important piece of information, and Regulus glanced studiedly at him from the corner of his eyes.
“What Sirius means, Father, is that we are perfectly fine taking care of ourselves. We have been doing well for quite some time now, and there is no need to bother a poor young woman, or anyone else.”
“Sirius, I don’t intend on marrying you, no. And regulus, you might want to rethink your words after I tell you both the reason why I called you downstairs.” He paused to look back and forth at the two brothers. “Your mother will start living here from now on. She will bring your cousins with her, Andromeda’s siblings.” He paused again, waiting for a reaction, or an interruption, but both boys were dumbfounded.
About a year after Regulus was born, their mother left them and their father to go live with her brother, whose wife was pregnant. Their mother, Walburga Black, and their father were having arguments about the politics of their current king, which led to arguments about their marriage. In short, Walburga, a human, believed her race superior, while Orion, a fairy, believed in equality between species, as was their king’s main politic. So her sister-in-law’s pregnancy was the perfect excuse to get away for a while. She ended up never coming back. She raised the two baby girls along with her brother and his wife, and easily became closer with them than with her own sons. Orion would blame it on the fact she knew that by raising babies that weren’t her own, if she screwed up, she could forget about them, like she did with their sons. Mind you, Orion was well aware he was an emotionally absent father, and was rarely home, but he stayed, which counted for something, maybe. What he didn’t know was that over the years, she came to love the girls as her own, when she completely dismissed the latters. So Orion thought he could make his wife learn to appreciate (at least) her two sons.
Sirius was two years old when Walburga left her family, so he doesn’t remember much. Kreacher would sometimes tell him he would have his mother’s mannerisms, and sometimes he could see her in him. As he grew older, Kreacher no longer saw her in him, but sometimes, Sirius would handle something just like his mother would, and sometimes, he would talk like she did. Sirius never cared for the house fairy’s comments, until now. He couldn’t imagine Walburga was a great and loving mother, but if she was coming back, maybe she couldn’t be that bad. He held hope.
Regulus, for his part, wasn’t sure how to feel about their mother’s return. She had left them, he had no memory to hold on to, not from Sirius or their father, so he wasn’t particularly excited to meet the woman. A part of him resented her for leaving him, maybe things would have been better if she had been there, maybe he would have different problems to deal with at his age. Relationship issues, coming-of-age bullshit, instead of life-or-death situations he was in every time someone was around. He thought of a different life for himself, where he would have a mother at home, and wouldn’t depend on a cousin barely any older than him to take care of him most of his young life. He knew it was too late for that now, but he also hoped Walburga would try to reconnect with them, and she could watch him grow into an adult. He hoped, but he didn't expect anything from someone who cared so little, she never even contacted them. Who let her name be known to her very own sons by the mouth of a stranger.
“She will live with you, along with your cousins Bellatrix and Narcissa. They are a bit older than you, but it should be no barrier to keep you from bonding. I’m sure you will learn to live together and learn lots about each other. They will arrive next week. I will be leaving after they arrive, we shall have proper introductions, am I understood?” He looked stern as he waited for confirmation from the both of them.
“Yes, Father.” Regulus spoke at the same time as his brother.
“We’ll see…” Sirius mumbled, but Orion was not pleased by his answer,
“Are we on the same page?” He repeated in an insisting tone. Sirius scowled but obliged.
“Yes, dear Father.” He exited the room with an arrogant smile, and when his back was facing the man, it transformed into a warm smile and thoughtful expression. Regulus would have to speak with him, so he didn’t get his expectations too high, he took a mental note. He sat on the couch, waiting for his father to dismiss him. When he airily waved a hand at him, Regulus went straight for the door leading to the outside world. He could not process everything that happened without moral support, so he did what he always did in moments of trouble. He had to find Pandora.