She Didn't Raise Them
1972 Grimmauld Place
“You are a member of the Black family. How dare you stain our legacy? Frolicking around with that filthy half-blood!”
Sirius rubbed his cheek where Walburga had struck him. He gathered as much saliva as he could into his mouth and spat on her perfectly polished shoes. “Does it look like I give a damn what happens to your legacy, old hag?” He said.
Walburgas face contorted into a look of fury; staring daggers into Sirius. ”Pay close attention Regulus, to what will happen to you if you repeat your brother's mistakes”. Walburga drew her wand pointing it directly at Sirius's forehead “CRUCIO”.
Regulus flinched at the sight as Sirius lurched in pain. He tried not to scream but the pain was too great – too much to handle. He grit his teeth, tightening his jaw before releasing an agonized cry.
“Do not look away, Regulus, I didn't raise you to be fearful, and I certainly did not raise you to be weak”
The thing was, Walburga Black had not raised Regulus Black. Lord knows she hadn't given him anything he didn’t strictly need to survive, and had taken far too much in return.
Sirius Black, he had raised Regulus.
He, his brother who was only a child, (barely a year older than Regulus as a matter of fact) who shouldn’t have had to, but did anyway. He took care of him when he was sick, took all the cruel beatings in place of his brother, and whenever he couldn’t shield him from harm, he helped ease the pain that followed. His brother who had snuck into his room late at night when Regulus couldn’t sleep, to simply offer his company.
For Walburga Black to say something this outrageous was an insult to all Sirius had sacrificed in the name of Regulus.
Sirius’ cries were ongoing. His pain echoed throughout the walls of the Black Manor. Regulus wished for it to stop, wished to do something, and yet he didn't. He froze and he watched like the dutiful son that Sirius could never seem to be, as his brother writhed in pain.
He used to speak up, but Sirius was sure to scold him afterwards because there was no point in both of them getting hurt if it could be avoided. Sirius, now doubled over, heaved and lifted his head to look at his sorry excuse of a mother; His face cold and unblinking.
His mother stared back, though nothing motherly was in her gaze. She lazily flicked her wand while muttering the counterspell. The curse lifted, and though the constant pain had left, its reverberation still lingered. His posture straightened once more with the release of the curse.
“Sirius Orion Black, stand up, you are a disgrace to this family. Leave at once; you won't be having supper tonight” Regulus stood there, beside his mother in the stillness of the black walls that surrounded them, until Sirius was out of sight.
“What are you still doing here? You're starting Hogwarts in less than a month, you should be studying. It’s bad enough we have a blood traitor in the family, we needn’t a failure as well.” Walburga stared at her son a second longer then swiftly turned to leave.
Regulus was certain that as soon as their mother had walked away from the hallway Sirius had shown the door to his room a pair of thin middle fingers. This was the type of person Sirius was.
“Vas te faire foudre” he heard from the inside of the room.
He didn’t go study like his mother demanded, but waited outside Sirius’ room unsure if he should knock. He might be angry. Their mother might hear.
“Reggie? just come in” The door creaked open before Regulus stumbled into the room.
“I–uh,” Regulus started “I just wanted to see how you're doing.”
“Well, it's nothing new coming from our same old shitty mother” Sirius replied stoically.
“Sirius, I'm sorry.” Regulus mumbled. His eyes staring at his feet.
“Don’t be sorry. I mean it’s not your fault” Sirius’ response was forced.
Regulus could tell when his brother was acting tough in front of him because whenever he was, his smile wouldn't reach his eyes. Regulus shimmied his feet for a moment, thinking of what to say. Instead, he moved closer to Sirius, and wrapped his arms around him. A warm, comforting embrace, though he didn’t know if it was more for Sirius or for himself.