1
Regulus was confused of course he was he’s only a child with so much weight on his shoulders, a weight full of terrifying truths. The only person who he could confide in being his older brother, a bright star in the dark sky surrounding them. Regulus never understood how his brother could be so.. normal though being born into the Black family.
And Regulus knew he would never understand, his brother was the embodiment of everything their parents did not want, while Regulus was the perfect scapegoat.
Regulus had only left for a week to visit their family in France followed by their father, leaving their mother and Sirius alone.
Sirius had refused to come along citing how he had better things to do (“what like homework?” Regulus huffed staring at the ceiling, “What do you take me for? A nerd? No way I’ll have Moony do that for me on the train home” Sirius barked with a wide grin) But Regulus didn’t know what he would come back to.
When Regulus and their father arrived home after a long week of reunions Sirius was nowhere to be seen. It was unusual the older boy normally setting a trap for the floo just to piss off their parents, but nothing awaited them. Not even a smidge of glitter.
And once Regulus had settled down in his room again, he went looking for his brother, checking the elder teen’s bedroom. But instead of finding his brother he found no Sirius, his room sat just the way it was when Regulus left which was confusing. Once Regulus had made sure Sirius wasn’t there, he left not wanting to be ogled by the inappropriate pictures of muggle ladies on the walls.
Regulus went looking over the ancestral house, checking the random hiding spot Sirius normally hid in, the places where he normally schemed over his next pranks, and even the kitchen. But even after hours of looking his brother was nowhere to be seen or heard from.
When Regulus finally arrived for Tea in the latter afternoon Sirius was still nowhere to be found. The boy was puzzled Sirius never skipped meals unless he was sick. Regulus decided to worry about that after he had eaten, being famished from the travel home and searching for his brother.
He sat quietly on the emerald green upholstered chairs staring at his plate filled with simple grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and some green beans and corn. Once his mother had arrived sitting opposite Regulus and angular to his father who sat at the head of the table, they began eating in silence.
Creature could be heard faintly cleaning up in the kitchen along with the sound of silver on porcelain. Soon enough their father began retelling of their tails from France, not much to talk about in Regulus opinion but whatever.
Soon they fell into silence again before his father finally asked what Regulus had been thinking of the entire afternoon.
“Where is that boy? He should have been down here by now” Orion rumbled his eyes fixated on the stairway glaring as if said boy would walk in.
“He left, decided to wallow off at his traitor friend’s house instead of being a true heir” Walburga almost whined trying to sound heartbroken but all Regulus could hear was malice. She was happy Sirius had left if only for a little while and knowing her she probably forced him into leaving.
Regulus sat there sourly upset at his brother for leaving him to deal with their parents alone even if only for a couple days.
Regulus would one hundred percent be getting him back for this when he arrived home.
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At this point Regulus was beginning to believe something bad had happened to Sirius, he had never left home for this long without talking to Regulus, it was scaring him.
He was scared his mother had followed through on her threats of handing Sirius to the dark lord and letting the man “fix him” on top of that their parents hadn’t left Regulus alone all summer constantly pestering him about ideology and who he was going to choose, their family or his traitor brother.
Regulus felt secluded and scared so much was being put onto his frail shoulders that he didn’t know what to do anymore. He just wanted his brother. The one person to understand him. And so he left. It was probably around 8pm when Regulus had left to muggle London, he didn’t want his parents to hear the floo or stop his letters from being sent again.
He wandered the streets aimlessly looking for what Sirius had described as a telephone booth; he had said if Regulus ever needed him while he was away, he could go to one and contact him.
It took over an hour to find one. It was bright red with little windows in it like Sirius’ letter had specified. Regulus opened the envelope he had taken with him. It had a letter and some coins, the letter explained he had to put the coins in and dial the numbers and then Sirius would pick up.
Regulus did as told and held the phone to his ear as he put the numbers in soon hearing a ringing tone. The idea that Sirius might have lied, and this was all some sort of prank filled Regulus’ brain with doubt, and he began chewing his short fingernails.
Soon the ringing ended and the sound of laughing filled the other end, Regulus hurried to make sure the other person heard him, “Hello?” He hurried out the laughing stopping.
“Hello?” A confused voice said on the other end. “This is Regulus, are you there?” Regulus jumbled out in relief of hearing his brother’s voice.
“What? Is this a prank call? James!” Regulus heard bickering on the phone before he called for Sirius’ attention again.
“When- when are you coming home?” Regulus hiccupped he hadn’t meant to become emotional, but he missed his brother, missed the hugs he gave and the way he made hot chocolate for Regulus after their parents had said or done something particularly bad.
“Reggie? Oh, Reg it’s not- I’m not- I am home reggie” he said quietly almost sounding like he was afraid, but Regulus could tell he felt relieved to say it.
“What about me? Why am I left here while you get to go home” Regulus cried his voice breaking like the heart in his chest. He didn’t want to be left behind; it was terrible his parents making him choose sides he was to young to understand.
“Reg, we’ll figure it out I promise I jus-“ The call quickly cut off the elder boy making Regulus bawl harder, his tears begging for comfort, Regulus pulled his heavy arms up to his scalp holding tightly to the raven strands as he fell deeper into the pit of despair. His brother wasn’t there anymore, Sirius couldn’t protect Regulus; not from so far away. And they both knew their parents wouldn’t let Sirius back.