Chapter 2
Harry was going to kill whoever invented Victorian house stairs, there was no way that all those creaks weren’t purposeful.
The entire way down he was praying that his hood wouldn’t slip, his skin wouldn’t show through the powder or another bloody person who knew his parents would go off about his eyes again
He found Sirius in the drawing room, looking down at a book with a fond smile on his face, his eyes were distant, as if reliving a memory.
“Sirius?” He asked regretfully, not wanting to interrupt his godfather who so rarely seemed happy these days.
He glanced up, eyes sparkling with unshed tears, “Haz!” His face split with a grin, “Come sit! How are you? How did you sleep? Have you eaten? Do you need anything?”
Harry hesitated, “What are you looking at?”
He laughed, “Just silly old family albums, nothing important. What can I do for you?”
His voice sounded light, but Harry could tell by now when he was faking it, “Just… not feeling great right now. Could I look with you?” He didn’t want to ruin whatever was happening with his godfather right now. It was probably all in his head anyways.
Sirius smile flickered, “Sure prongslet, come sit.” He shifted slightly and Harry came over, settling down beside the long haired man.
Looking back up at him was a boy clad in emerald green robes, sitting on a well groomed broom and proudly displaying the snitch he had clearly just caught. He ruffled his black curls, a motion that reminded Harry of what he had heard of his father, and blinked his grey eyes…
Oh fuck.
Glancing up quickly at Sirius, Harry realized that maybe his eyes and Harry’s new ones weren’t all that similar.
But there was no mistaking the cloning of the eyes in the picture to the ones now hiding beneath his glasses.
“Who’s he?” Harry asked, placing his hand lightly beside the picture.
“My younger brother, Regulus Black.”
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James felt Regulus tense beside him.
He dropped his hand to squeeze James’ and glanced over at his husband panicked, “What’s he doing here, what could he possibly want with us?” He hissed.
James ran his thumb soothingly over Regulus’ hand, pushing down his own anxieties, “Maybe he just wants to congratulate us, about the baby.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, “About yours and Lily’s baby,” he mumbled.
“Reg-“
Gone was the soft love that his husband eyes had held earlier, now when his eyes opened, only anger, and an undertone of fear that only James could detect remained, “And why is it ‘urgent’ for him to congratulate us anyway?! He brings nothing but trouble and bad news, I don’t want to hear what he has to say about my son.”
James gently took Reg’s face in his hands, “We might as well hear him out, I’d be more worried if it was something bad and we weren’t properly warned, and if it’s good news then great!”
Regulus softened, slumping into the bespectacled boys hands, “Fine, but if I’m right you owe me”
James smiled, “Of course my love.” He ducked his head forward to press their lips together.
James laughed when he came up and saw that Lily had attempted to give them some privacy by turning around, “No need for that, we’re done snogging.” Regulus just missed him with a poorly aimed smack.
The three of them made their way over to where Lily had supposedly given birth, James supporting Regulus as they went. When they got there Regulus went to a side chair, covered in James’ cloak, and reluctantly handed the baby over, muttering some warnings to be careful. And James, being James, of course had to pretend to almost drop his son, like he’d ever let anything harm his baby boy.
Lily ruffled her hair and rubbed her eyes, attempting to look like an exhausted new mother, before climbing into the bed and slipping under the covers. James pressed a quick final kiss to the top of what he guessed was Regulus’ head before beginning to walk around, bouncing his son.
Just in time too.
James swallowed nervously when he heard the knock. He didn’t usually let his near constant anxiety shine through the layers of happiness and excitement. He was James Potter. Everything would be fine. He was James Potter. He was hope.
“Come in.” He called.
He really wished he hadn’t.
After all, it would be very hard to be James Potter after everything changed.