Family Line

  Sirius had always been too loud, too rebellious, and too outspoken for a Black. Every year that passes, Sirius gets worse and Walburga’s punishments escalate the same. The punishments lasted longer, were more cruel, and took longer to heal. Regulus didn’t understand how that didn’t deter Sirius, how he just kept going, but it wasn’t until Sirius’ fifth year that Regulus realized he might’ve wanted it.

  Something had happened between him and his friends, Regulus knew. Sirius had done something so awful that even James didn’t so much as look at him for months. Regulus felt like Sirius must have been punishing himself for whatever it was that made his friends completely avoid him. Regulus had also seen the way, that Sirius had changed since then, even when his friends seemed to have forgiven him months later, even now that he was dating Remus, Sirius never went back to normal. He had shrunk into himself those few months, drawing less attention to himself as if he were trying to disappear all together. None of the marauders really went back to normal either, no matter how hard they seemed to try. It didn’t matter how much Regulus had tried to coax it out of James, even those awful nights when he’d cried in his arms about it, James wouldn’t tell him what Sirius had done. Neither would Sirius. Regulus had thought with the marauder’s forgiveness that Sirius would be better, that he wouldn’t seem to seek Walburga’s punishment like retribution for whatever he’d done. But Sirius acted like he thought deserved it, and he owed in blood, Sirius was worse this year.

   Regulus knew within the first two days of winter break that Sirius was going to be worse than usual, but it was like he was shouting through an invisible barrier between them, trying to reach Sirius, to prevent him from doing something he couldn’t take back. Sirius would just shake him off, saying it was in his nature to oppose Walburga at every turn, joking that he was her curse and he’d only stop when he was dead or gone. Even though he said it in a joking tone, Regulus felt cold at the insinuation, the memory of Sirius this past year, the dead look in his eyes haunted him. 

  The Blacks threw the biggest and most extravagant Christmas party every year on the 23rd, invitations reserved for only the most elite of society, and of course the paparazzi. It was the event of the year, talked about in all the news for weeks, so it was a shock to everyone when Walburga had mentioned casually to Regulus that this year would be small. Not only just the Sacred 28 pureblood families but an even smaller circle of socialites. Walburga had threatened Sirius extensively in advance, (although Regulus knew he stopped caring years ago), saying that a crucial guest was attending and her boys were to be presented to him as the perfect heirs. They’d heard whispers of a dark wizard rising, muggle disappearances, and strange marks in the sky, and seen the dark tattoo on Bellatrix’s arm. They weren’t allowed into any meetings until they were 17, but Sirius knew what was going to happen, what he’d be expected to do. He and Regulus had been packed to leave for a while, it was just a matter of when. He hadn’t expected them to leave that night, but he guessed he shouldn’t have been too surprised considering Sirius was getting more and more bold when it came to opposing Walburga.

  Regulus was relieved that Evan was there at least, they could share in their misery of being born into stuffy families that controlled their every move. Regulus and Evan did what they always did at these parties, found a respectable place to stand and drink, observing everyone else and muttering to each other. Sirius came by a couple of times to commiserate but Walburga kept pulling him away to force him to speak with some older purebloods about something that wasn’t shared with Regulus. Two hours into the party, this special guest Walburga had mentioned had not shown, and it was looking to be the same as every pureblood party, except the ballroom was filled with fewer people. Regulus tracked Sirius with his eyes the whole night nervously like he’d found himself doing too much this year. Walburga had been keeping him on a tight leash and it was putting Regulus on edge, Sirius was behaving for now, it was only a matter of time.

  On the third hour of the stuffy party, Regulus finally relaxed a bit, his brain pleasantly fuzzy from the champagne. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but he wasn’t the hopeful type, so he kept an eye on Sirius for the most part. He was pretending not to watch as his mother bent down towards Sirius’ ear, a tight hand on the back of his neck, whispering with a smile on her face. To outsiders, it probably looked like a loving mother sharing a joke with her son, and it was by design. You’d have to pay attention more to see the way Sirius went stiff when she had her hand on him, the way his hands clenched in his pockets, and the way his mother’s eyes were void of emotion despite the smile pasted on her face.

  Sirius turned his back on her as soon as she pulled away, and Regulus could see the way his face had drained of most of its color, and the way the corner of his eyes were tightened with strain. But he made his way over to Regulus and Evan leisurely, his demeanor as arrogant and confident as ever, his long curls artfully coiled and shiny with product, brushing his shoulders lightly. The look on Sirius’ face was the least convincing, his eyes were duller than usual and his typical grin too weak. Sirius couldn’t help but show all of his emotions on his face, he was bigger than life, the exact opposite of Regulus, he didn’t know how to hide how he felt behind carefully constructed walls and white lies. When he was within reach, he plucked the glass out of Regulus’ hand and downed it in one gulp, shaking his head as he swallowed,

  “Gonna need something a lot stronger than champagne,” He said with a wince, and Regulus glanced over his shoulder, finding Walburga watching them. He fought the urge to grimace, schooling his face into the cool indifference worthy of a Black. 

  “Good luck,” Evan said, looking down his glass, “They’re not serving anything good tonight. I might have to start smuggling firewhiskey in just to get through these dumb parties.” 

  Sirius clapped him on the shoulder, his face gaining a bit more color with the flush of champagne, “That, dear Rosier, is a fantastic idea. I’m actually pissed at you for not thinking about it sooner.” 

  “No, it’s actually a horrible idea. Getting piss drunk in direct view of our families would be a death sentence, and you both know it.” Regulus rolled his eyes, always has to be the sensible one, no matter that he’s not the older brother. “What did she say to you, Sirius?” 

  “That special guest will be here any moment now, and I’m expected to impress him. To pledge allegiance to him on behalf of our family.” Sirius’ face twisted like the words were sour on his tongue. 

  “My father’s had the same talk with me. Guess this guy is a big deal, but if he’s a pureblood, I don’t understand why we wouldn’t have met him already. Not like there’s many of us left.” Evan said with a shrug, much more nonchalant about the topic, like he didn’t care his life was to be signed away in service to a stranger. 

  Just then, there was a murmur amongst the crowd of guests, and a whooshing sound as a black smoke weaved its way through the room, transforming into a man in a fine tailored suit, walking through the crowd as it parted for him. He didn’t look particularly special, just a balding, middle aged man with sharp features and undeniable arrogance. Regulus didn’t think he looked like anyone he’d seen before, and couldn’t put his finger on what pureblood family he must be from. The man turned to face the crowd, raising a hand calmly, effectively silencing the murmuring crowd. 

  The man smiled thinly, “Friends, welcome to a new beginning. You are here because you are the purest, the foundation of wizarding society, and you will be the first to taste what I have to offer the world of wizarding supremacy. Mudbloods and muggles have invaded our territory for too long, convincing others that we are all equal. But we know the real truth. Together, we will do much, restoring the world to its original balance. The nonmagical and mudbloods will serve us in their rightful place. Pure, magical blood will reign supreme again.” The crowd applauded loudly, and Regulus felt a bit sick, but he applauded alongside Evan anyway, knowing his role and hating it. He tried to ignore the way that Sirius just stood there, arms limp at his sides and muscles tense. “You will call me Lord Voldemort, and together we will bring down every power that stands in the way of our cause.” The crowd raised their glasses to Voldemort, and Regulus dug his elbow hard into Sirius’ ribs, anticipating what he was going to do. Regulus and Evan raised their glasses with the rest of the room, and Regulus felt that awareness again, the one that told him his mother was watching. He elbowed Sirius again, but Sirius just stood there, jaw clenched and hands balled in his pockets. 

  “Sirius.” Regulus spoke out of the side of his mouth, “Not tonight.”

  “I’m not a puppet Reggie, and we’re not staying long enough to swear our allegiance to him,” Sirius muttered under his breath, looking straight forward. The crowd drank to their leader and Regulus could feel panic rising like a wave within him, he knew his mother would kill Sirius for this. Regulus only managed to open his mouth before he felt someone sling their arms around both Sirius and Regulus’ shoulders, his vision temporarily blocked by long dark curls. 

  “Cousins!” Bellatrix sang, punctuating the word with a painful squeeze to their shoulders, “Auntie wants to make sure you two understand what you’re being asked to do before being presented to the Dark Lord. Family meeting in the drawing room. Now.” She forcefully turned them towards the doors, walking them out as the party went on around them. Regulus glanced back at Evan with wide eyes and Evan looked back at him sympathetically before averting his eyes and taking a deep drink from his champagne. Bellatrix practically threw them into the drawing room with a cackle, drawing the doors closed behind her. They were alone in the room, and Regulus held his breath as Sirius drew his wand, But Bellatrix was ready when she turned to him. “Expelliarmus!” Bellatrix said before Sirius could even open his mouth, launching him across the room with the force of it and sending his wand on the other end of it. Sirius got to his feet red-faced, looking ready to punch Bellatrix, stupid enough to fight even wandless. 

  Walburga and Orion walked in before he could make a move, and Regulus gripped his wand in his pocket, eyes bouncing between them and Sirius anxiously. “I will give you one last chance, Sirius. You act as if you are not expendable, but I promise, you are. You will pledge your allegiance or your brother will do it for you while you bleed out on the floor. What do you prefer?” Walburga spoke with perfect calm, venom dripping from her lips as she cast a silencing charm around them. 

  “I will not pledge allegiance to that maniac and neither will Reggie!!” Sirius yelled, he made to grab Regulus, but Bellatrix cast a diffindo, slicing the hand that had reached for him. Walburga grabbed Regulus by the arm and shoved him behind her carelessly, putting herself between the brothers and towering over Sirius. She placed her wand under Sirius’ chin, forcing him to still, though he glared at her defiantly. 

  “This could be much more painless if you just gave in, Sirius. You have no choice, so why make it hard on yourself and everyone else?” Walburga said through gritted teeth, her calm mask slipping. Sirius raised his head and spat in her face boldly, a Gryffindor with a death wish, his icy blue eyes glittering with anger.

  Walburga struck Sirius, cutting his cheek with her ring, and aimed her wand at his leg, slashing down with a yell, her face contorted in rage. “Afflicto!”

    Sirius’ leg snapped with a cracking noise that echoed around the room, and he collapsed with a scream that sounded wrenched from his lungs. Regulus could hear Bellatrix laughing and jeering behind him delightedly. He watched them with no breath in his lungs, screaming in his head but terrified to move. She’s going to torture him to death and make me watch, he thought, not for the first time in his life. Sirius bit his lip to keep his moans of pain in, blood running down his chin with the effort, struggling to get up and Regulus begged him inwardly to just stay down and take it. Bellatrix came forward and kicked the arm Sirius was using to support himself from under him, sending two swift kicks to his stomach as well. Sirius coughed and sputtered, blood flying from his mouth.

   Regulus gripped the wand in his pocket harder, wracking his brain for any idea, any way to get them out of this. He couldn’t duel his parents and Bellatrix alone, they’d take him down in an instant and that wouldn’t accomplish anything. If Sirius survived this, maybe they could escape later, but he wasn’t sure his mother wanted him to survive. Wasn’t sure he wasn’t about to witness his parents murder his brother and then present Regulus to Voldemort like nothing happened. Regulus wasn’t as brave as his brother, wasn’t as strong, he didn’t know what to do. As if Sirius could hear his thoughts, he met Regulus’ eyes and gave him an imperceptible shake of his head, don’t do anything stupid, Reg. Regulus was trying to hide the trembling that was wracking his body as he watched helplessly as his mother and Bellatrix stood over Sirius, kicking him down every time he tried to get up. Bellatrix was yelling obscenities at him while his mother just watched coldly. They stepped back only when Sirius was half-conscious, no longer fighting to get up anymore, bleeding in multiple places, and curled in a fetal position. 

  Walburga tilted her head, watching detachedly as Sirius fought for breath, coughing wetly. “Are you done fighting, Sirius? Because I am done giving you chances,” Nobody was watching Regulus, as he eased his wand out of his pocket, terrified and trembling but unsure of what else he could do. His eyes were locked on Sirius, who barely raised his head in acknowledgment, blood pooling underneath him and his leg bent at a weird angle. Walburga raised her wand when she was met with silence, and Regulus didn’t think he just reacted, 

  “Expelliarmus!” Regulus yelled, surprising himself with how strong his voice was, his mother’s wand flying out of her hand. His chest heaved with fear and adrenaline, stumbling to stand in front of Sirius, shielding him as best he could. I guess we’re going down together, big brother, Regulus thought a little hysterically, as he faced his mother’s shocked face. She screamed something that fell on deaf ears, he’s never fought back before, never once in his life, and his head was swimming, his wand arm limp next to him with his terror. 

  “Crucio!” Bellatrix screeched and Regulus’ vision filled with red lightning and pain that swallowed up everything else. He hardly felt his head slam against the floorboards as he collapsed, convulsing, the pain like searing knives on every inch of his skin was too all-consuming, every nerve igniting. He’d never been cursed before, and never with the cruciatus, but it felt like his soul was trying to forcefully exit his body, the pain entirely too much to handle. Regulus didn’t know if he was screaming or not, and couldn’t form coherent thoughts beyond the fact that he must be dying. He tasted blood flooding his mouth, and choked on it, he thought he could hear Sirius sobbing and begging next to him but there was a darkness creeping in the corners of his vision promising relief, Regulus let it take him gladly.

  “Mother! Please! Please, you’re killing him,” Sirius sobbed, blood and tears mixing on his face, unable to move towards Regulus, his injuries still weighing him down. Sirius had never begged Walburga for anything, never submitted, but it had never been Regulus’ life on the line before. “I’ll do anything, please, please Mother! Anything!” Sirius never feared death himself until he watched Regulus convulse on the floor under the cruciatus curse, unconsciousness or something worse finally pulling him under as Bellatrix let up on the curse.

  Walburga smiled down at him, the first real smile she’d ever given Sirius, “I know you will. If I had known this was all it would take, I would’ve done it sooner. We will have to tell the Dark Lord you two are unwell for the night as you can’t return to the party in such a state. But take me at my word, Sirius, you will do as I say if you wish to protect him, and you will play your role well .” Sirius just nodded through sobs, trying to drag himself towards where Regulus lay still on the floor. Walburga sneered and turned on her heel, exiting the room with Orion and Bellatrix following behind. 

  “Regulus,” Sirius cried, gasping in pain as his broken leg shifted underneath him, stretching a bloody arm out towards his brother. He dragged himself close enough to curl his fingers into the fabric of Regulus’ robes, “Reg, please, wake up. Please,” Sirius pleaded, managing to pull himself slightly upright, leaning over and patting his cheek, trying to ignore the blood on Regulus’ face and the way his body spasmed with leftover convulsions. After a few minutes of trying to shake him, Sirius’ strength ebbed and he fell, his head on his little brother’s chest, listening to his weak heartbeat through his robes. 

  Regulus felt the pain in every inch of his body before he'd even opened his eyes, as well as a strange weight on his chest. He cracked his eyes open with a pained groan, his vision unfocused and head pounding as if he'd been stampeded by a pack of hippogriffs. He let out another groan and felt the weight on his chest shift, the blurry and bloody sight of Sirius' head popping into view. "Reg! Hey, w-we're okay." Sirius' voice was hoarse and pained.

  "S'ris?" Regulus mumbled, trying to raise his head to see him better.

  "I’m here,” He croaked, gripping the front of Regulus’ robes in both hands. “Merlin, you scared me. Never do that again, Reg," 

  "M’sorry, I had to try... They were going to kill you," Regulus answered, his voice faint in his own ears.

  "I know," Sirius sucked in a pained breath, "We have to get out of here, tonight. But my leg, I don't think I can stand." 

  Regulus blinked harshly, trying to clear his vision. He turned his head, wincing at the pain that shot through his entire body at that small movement, the floo was just to the left of them if they could make it out. Regulus could also see his wand resting against the pot full of floo powder next to it. He wasn't sure he could stand up any more than Sirius, but they didn't have much choice.

  "Help me sit up, Sirius. Just try to pull me with you," He found his voice was just as hoarse as Sirius' was, crackly and sore from screaming. Sirius got himself to sit up slowly, pushing from his elbows before grabbing Regulus' shoulders and pulling him up too. Regulus bit his tongue to hold back the scream that threatened to break free at the movement, nausea suddenly overcoming him. He vomited to the side instantly, the blood mixed with champagne was concerning, but they had more pressing matters. Sirius held him up by the shoulders, both of them leaning heavily on the other, just barely upright. "Merlin, Sirius how are we supposed to get out of here," Regulus moaned, his eyes screwed shut against the nausea and pain. 

  “We don't have a choice, Reg," 

  He nodded, all they had to do was make it a couple of feet toward the fireplace. Regulus turned so he was on his hands and knees, giving himself a moment to breathe through the pain before making his way unsteadily to his feet. He nearly collapsed, his vision still blurry and his head only increasing in pain now that he was upright. But Regulus pushed through anyway, swaying on his feet as he offered a hand to Sirius, unsure if his weight would just pull them both to the ground immediately. Sirius reached up, grasping his arm and getting his good leg underneath himself, pushing all of his weight onto that and using Regulus to steady himself. They both groaned in pain, trying to be as quiet as possible, somehow managing to get their feet underneath them. Regulus put his arm under Sirius trying to take his weight off his bad leg even as his vision tilted, head pounding with every movement. They half dragged each other across to the fireplace, stopping often when one of them was too close to collapse, knowing they might not be able to get back up again. By the time they made it, they were both panting and sweating, having no energy to speak. Regulus' vision was darkening again as Sirius grabbed Regulus’ wand and the floo powder from the pot, steadying his other hand on the wall to keep himself upright. Sirius glanced back towards Regulus with concern as he sagged against the wall more and more, speaking clearly and firmly before throwing down the powder. He gripped his little brother's hand in his free one as he said,

   "Potter Manor!"