Restrictions

It had been a couple of months since Sirius left. Deciding that he couldn't take it in that house anymore. And apparently he couldn't take Regulus with him. Walburga was furious when she found out he had left, punishing Regulus for his brothers actions.

Regulus knew Sirius' plan. He hadn't talked to him in the gap between the beginning of summer and the night he left, so Regulus knew something was wrong. He had snuck into Sirius' room one time and had seen all the letters he and James had been sending each other, planning Sirius' escape. Regulus chose to ignore them.

The summer for the young black was horrible, torturous. Any time Sirius' name was brought up, either by Walburga or Orion or another black member, Regulus faced the punishment as there wasn't anyone else to punish.

Walburga knew she couldn't physically hurt the now heir to the Black family, she would get in trouble with the Dark Lord for something like that. So she would punish Regulus in other ways that she saw fit.

The whole summer, Regulus had been restricted from things. Leaving the house, warm water to shower in, hot food. Regulus actually thought that he would be lucky to have bread for dinner. Walburga was convinced Regulus knew something about Sirius' disappearance, so she would tease the boy.

At every meal, Regulus would join them but his plate stayed empty except from a piece of bread and a glass of water. Regulus would sit and watch as his parents ate the hot food cooked for them in hunger. The boy's body began to take effect of lack of food, his body began to look skinny and boney, his clothes hanging off his shoulders.

Regulus was glad when September 1st came around, he was finally allowed to leave the house (which he wasn't even allowed to do to go to Diagonal Alley to buy his new books). His mother stopped him just before he was about to run at the wall.

"You will not speak to that boy." Walburga said sternly, speaking of Sirius. "You will not look at him, you will not think of him, you will not have anything to do with his house friends. Do you understand me?" The cruel woman stroked Regulus soft hair, but they both knew it was not an act of affection.

"Yes mother." Regulus said, robotically. Walburga looked at him, eyes narrowed before nudging him towards the wall, indicating that he could leave.

Regulus tightened his fist around his suitcase and ran at the wall, not a single glance back. Most people would feel a bit relieved to arrive on platform 9 and 3/4, but now Regulus felt anger and sadness as he eyed his brother, hugging his mates parents as he got ready to go on the train.

Sirius turned in Regulus' direction, he must have felt the staring. But instead of the look Regulus had been expecting, which was a look of annoyance that Regulus was often given from Sirius, his brothers eyes widened slightly looking worried. Regulus quickly realised he must have noticed his weight.

Regulus turned away, making his way onto the train in search of Barty and Evan. He wasn't surprised to find the two with locked lips as they hadn't seen each other all summer.

"Could you two control yourselves until we get back to the dorms at least?" Regulus said, announcing his arrival. "At least that way I can just leave."

"Reggie!" Barty cheered, but Evan looked over Regulus, giving him the same worried look Sirius had given him. "Your summer must have been quiet then. Without your brother and all."

Regulus glared at him. "Don't mention my brother to me." He said. "And Evan stop looking at me like that."

"Sorry Reg, but you do look a little on the slim side." Evan said cautiously. "What has that woman been doing to you?" He asked.

"Nothing, leave it alone." The Black grumbled, crossing his arms and looking out the window. He can see Potter's parents waving to their son and Sirius as they boarded the train. Regulus had to look away.

"Well, my summer was boring thanks for asking. I had nothing to do." Barty announces, trying to stear the conversation in a different direction.

He talked for a while when the train started going and Pandora came to visit them briefly as well, joined by Dorcas. All in all, it was a boring train journey for Regulus.

When they got to Hogwarts, Regulus was thankful to be able to put his robes on, hiding his body a bit more to stop people from asking him anymore questions about his weight.

The first years were all sorted into their houses and the feats began. Although Regulus could barley eat much. He felt like he should keep punishing himself for Sirius leaving. But also because he hadn't eaten a lot over summer, his stomach was used to eating as much as he had done and he couldn't eat even half as much as he would've.

He could feel someone staring at him. Regulus looked up to see both Potter and Sirius staring at him across the room. Regulus glared at them and they both looked away immediately, Regulus rolling his eyes at them.

"Does he look different to you?" Sirius asked his best mate, sitting on their beds late in their dorm room.

"Who?" James asked cautiously, as if he hadn't been thinking about the younger Black since dinner.

"Regulus." Sirius says. "He didn't eat a thing. He plate was practically empty." James takes a deep breath, rolling over to face his best mate.

"I noticed." James also noticed Regulus' face looking slightly slimmer than it had been in June. He kept quiet about that, not wanting to worry Sirius more than he already was.

"They were doing something to him. My parents. They did something to him over the summer." Sirius says after a while, his hand crosses behind his head. "Maybe it's my fault?"

"It won't be your fault pads-"

"But what if it is? What if they're punishing him for the things I did?" Sirius mumbled.

"Look, we don't even know if that's what's happening. He might've just not been that hungry?" James tried to convince Sirius. "Y'know, we could just pull him aside in between classes or something and just talk to him."

"He won't want to talk to me anymore." Sirius sighs. "I left him. He probably won't even look at me."

James sighs too. Sirius is right. Regulus probably hates him, hates both of them.

'Never know until you try.' James thought to himself just as Remus and Peter entered the room.

"Moony!" Sirius lept out of bed, making his way over to his boyfriend, flopping on top of him for cuddles.

James stayed up all night, thinking about the young Black. He lied earlier, he did think Regulus' parents had something to do with this. But what and why he had no idea.

The next day, James had a free period before lunch so he decided to head back to his dorm to drop off his books. On his way, he saw Regulus making his way down the same corridor. James tried not to make it look suspicious as they walked closer to each other, then grabbing the younger's arms and dragging him into a wardrobe that just so happened to be there.

"Hey!" Regulus exclaimed, trying to protest against James' firm grip. James pushed him inside the wardrobe and locked the door, lighting his wand to see a glaring Regulus.

"Talk to me." James said bluntly.

"What?" Regulus asks, his mouth slightly agape and eyebrows furrowed.

"How was your summer?"

"... what do you care?"

"You didn't eat last night. Or at breakfast." James states, copying Regulus and crossed his arms. Fear and surprise crossed over his face as he thought of the pain his parents put him through over summer.

"That is none of your business." Regulus grumbles, no longer holding contact with James.

James was silent for a few beats, carefully watching Regulus. The boys arms weren't exactly crossed, more so wrapping around his stomach.

"What did they do to you?" James whispered. Regulus' eyes flickered to him then looking away just as quickly, swallowing down nerves.

"What ever happened, is none of your business. So stay out of it." Regulus glares at James just as a bell goes, signalling end of lessons for lunch. Regulus threw a spell at the wardrobe door and unlocked it.

James followed after him, watching as the young Black walked in the opposite direction of the Great Hall. James saw his friends and began to make his way over to them.

"Hey! Where have you been?" Peter asked.

"Had a free period. Just wondered around a little bit." James lied. He pulled Sirius back a little.

"What? I'm starving." Sirius groans a little.

"They did do something to him over the summer." James whispers to him, watching as Sirius' face changes, understanding immediately.

"You talked to him? What did they do to him?" Sirius questions, immediately concerned.

"He won't tell me. But he is very skinny." James explains. "He also just went that way." He points down the corridor, the opposite way that the two guys were going to lunch.

"But he'll miss lunch?" Sirius says, looking a little confused.

"I don't think he's eating. Like, at all." James says, trying to clear the confusion.

"They were starving him?" Sirius looks broken, as if Remus had just left him.

"We don't know that. But that's what I think." James replies, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets.

"We have to do something." Sirius says determinedly.

"Like what pads?" James asks. The other boy doesn't have an answer.

"Where were you?" Barty asks Regulus, walking into the dorm.

"What do you mean?" Regulus replies, looking up from his astronomy book. Regulus was already exceptional at astronomy but he enjoyed the reading.

"We're halfway through the term and not once have you shown up to dinner. Or lunch." Barty exclaims, leaning against one of Regulus' bed posts.

"I've been at breakfast. And I've been studying." Regulus motions to his books. In truth, Regulus was never that hungry after breakfast. Watching others eat made him feel sick, so he didn't go.

"That is one meal Reg. You need more than one meal in you!" Barty said loudly. Regulus rolled his eyes.

"What he is trying to say," Evan says suddenly, leaning against the room door, indicating that he had not long walked in. "Is we're worried about you." Regulus sighs, he knows he is hurting his friends but he just can't keep anything down. After no eating for almost two month, his stomach got used to eating small amounts of food and shrunk. If Regulus tried to eat more than he was already having he would be sick.

"You don't get it." Regulus says to his roommates. "I am really just not as hungry. If I eat too much I'll just throw it back up later." Barty and Evan shared a worried look with each other.

"What did they do to you?" Barty mumbled.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Regulus replied, beginning to pull his curtains shut. "Goodnight."

The young boy could hear his two mates mumbling to each other before more curtains closed.

"We could kidnap him." A voice in the dark said to James.

"Merlin! What the fuck!" James exclaimed, jumping up in his bed.

"Jeez mate, it's only me." Sirius lit his wand, making himself present. He had clambered into James' bed. "We could kidnap him."

"Kidnap who?" James questioned, still very tired.

"Regulus." Was all Sirius said. He didn't look tired, he looked as if he had been up all night thinking about it.

"Sirius, what do you mean 'kidnap him'?" James asked, sitting up against the back of the headboard.

"Regulus goes home for Christmas every year, he doesn't have a choice. I say, when we go home, we leave it for a couple days and then we just take him." Sirius explains, as if it was as simple as that.

James was silent for a couple of beats.

"And how exactly do you propose we do that? Without getting caught by your insane mother?" James said, trying to bring some sense into Sirius.

"Fleamont taught us to drive the muggle way over the summer, remember?" Sirius says.

"You expect us to drive into London. In the middle of the night. Break into your creepy house and kidnap your brother?" James runs through again. "Sirius that's insane."

"Yeah but it could work." Sirius answers. "I can't let him stay there, James. I can't lose him, not like that."

James could see it in Sirius' eyes. He wasn't going to drop this. He was getting Regulus out one way or another.

"We can discuss the details in the morning." James eventually says, rolling back over and going straight to sleep.

Regulus
As usual, you are expected home this Christmas. On December 26th, we will have a special guest for you to meet.
Walburga Black

Regulus crumpled the letter and shoved it in his trouser pocket. He knew exactly who that person was and he knew exactly what was going to happen.

"I'm meeting him." Regulus says to Barty and Evan, when they finally separate from each others lips. They were on the train back to Kings Cross for the Christmas Holidays.

"Meeting who?" Evan asks. Barty and Regulus shoot him a look.

"Santa." Regulus deadpans. "Who do you think?" Evan recoils slightly, holding his hands up in defence.

"So you're getting it then?" Barty asks. "The mark." Regulus nods.

"Don't really have a choice do I?" He answers. "They'll make me get it one way or the other." Regulus slouches back against the seat. Another student suddenly rushes past their carriage door.

"Who was that?" Barty questions.

"Looked like your brother, Regulus." Evan suggests.

"Whatever." The younger Black rolled his eyes. His brother had been trying to talk to him the whole term, him and Potter. They kept asking if Regulus was eating enough and what had happened over the summer. Regulus was sick of it.

"Christmas Eve." Sirius gasps to James as he sits back down, trying to catch his breath.

"What?" James asks. Sirius takes a deep breath, ignoring Remus' concerning look for the time being.

"I went to Regulus to see if I could get him to come back with me, to yours. And I overheard him saying-" Sirius coughs and breathes again. "They're going to mark him. On Boxing Day. We need to get him before then."

"Wait what?" Both Remus and James say.

"Who are you getting and why?" Remus asks.

"We're gonna kidnap Regulus." Sirius states, again ignoring his mental it sounds.

"You're going to do what?!" Remus shouts. "Sirius, do you know how much trouble you could both get into?"

"I'm more thinking about the fact that my little brother is being starved right now Remus." Sirius argues back. It was rare for him to shout at Remus like that, that's how he knew Sirius was serious about this plan. "I don't care what trouble I get in, as long as I can get him out."

James watches as the two boys communicate with their eyes. Remus sighs, knowing there was no convincing him otherwise.

"Fine." He answers solemnly. "I can't stop you." The train begins to pull into the station and James can see his parents waiting for him and Sirius.

The three boys begin to gather their stuff as they make their way off the train. They say bye to Peter, who had been in the girl's carriage gossiping.

"Just be carful, okay?" Remus places a firm hand on Sirius' shoulder, but James knows he means both of them. "And don't get caught."

"Moony, when have we ever been caught?" Sirius grins. Remus raises his eyebrows at the boy.

"Do you really want that list?"

"Not really."

"That's what I thought."

Sirius pulls Remus into a quick hug, knowing they'll not see each other during the holidays.

"You be careful too, Moony." James does say eventually. "Don't want you getting into any sort of situation with some of those boys from that home."

Remus rolls his eyes, smiling slightly. "Nah, I'll spend most of the holiday inside with a friend."

"You have other friends!" Sirius exclaims, scaring a couple of other students walking past. "Moony, how dare you?"

"Oh shush." Remus replies, the three of them laughing it off. They say bye one last time before James and Sirius separate from Remus.

"Hi mum." James says, accepting a warm hug from Euphemia.

Grimmauld Place is cold during the winter. There is never any heating in the house anyway and even though they have a fireplace in almost every room, they are never used.

Regulus spends the first couple of days in his room. His mother doesn't bother trying to get him out, it's not like he's eating anyway.

On the third day, the 22nd, Bellatrix and Narcissa (along with their husbands) come round for tea. Regulus is forced to make an appearance but avoids the food on the table.

"So, Regulus." Narcissa starts. Regulus looks up at her. He respects Narcissa, she's his favourite out of his three cousins, although he only sees two of them. "Big day soon."

"I'm sorry?" Regulus says politely but confused.

"The 26th? You'll be getting your mark?" She finally says, the crumpled letter in Regulus' school trousers suddenly coming back to him.

"Oh yes. I forgot about that for a second." He answers.

"You must not forget about it, Regulus." Walburga says, the rest of the room going silent, all attention in her.

Sometimes, she reminds Regulus of Sirius in ways. He knows Sirius would be deeply offended if he ever voiced this. But the way they both need the attention to be on them all the time, one way or another is similar to Regulus.

"Of course not Mother." Regulus says, almost robotically.

"This mark is a symbol of what you stand for. It shows which side you are on." His mother continues. "And you will be on the side that is right. The side that will win."

Regulus nodded, mumbling a quiet "yes mother."

"Good." Walburga responded.

"Great, now that your little speech is over," Bellatrix begins to speak. "How about we start practicing now?"

"Yes, what a good idea Bellatrix." Orion agrees. Everyone starting to put their teacups and plates back on the table.

"Practice?" Regulus questions, feeling very confused and slightly left out.

"We decided that because you are getting the mark, you need to know the curses." Walburga explains. "So why not start practicing now?" On the outside Regulus nodded in agreement, but inside he was screaming.

'No, no, no. It's too early. I shouldn't have to know how to do these curses now.' He thought as he followed his family outside. 'Sirius didn't even get to this stage. What do I do?'

"You ready for tonight?" James asks Sirius cautiously. It was the night before Christmas which was when the boys had decided to kidnap Regulus.

"What's happening tonight?" Euphemia walks into the living room where the boys are, taking a step on the sofa.

"Effie. Do you not know what tonight is?" Sirius exclaims, acting offended. "It's Christmas Eve! Me and James are gonna stay up to catch Santa."

"Catching Santa?" Effie pondered.

"Who is catching Santa?" Fleamont joins them in the living room, passing a cup of tea over to Effie.

"Uh, me and Sirius." James answers.

"Oh, Sirius. There's something we need to tell you." Fleamont begins. James, Sirius and Effie turn to look at him in curiosity. "Santa Clause... he doesn't exist."

James and Effie both sigh and roll their eyes at the joke.

"Well of course he knows-" James begins to say before he is interrupted.

"What?!" Sirius shouts, a hand clutching his chest dramatically. "But... who leaves the presents under the tree then?"

"That's me and Monty, darling." Effie added to the joke.

"Oh my god... my whole life I've been lied to." Sirius pretends to take deep breaths. "James... catch me." He the proceeds to fall dramatically into James, who laughs and pushes him off the sofa.

"Okay, but seriously boys-" Effie starts.

"But I'm always Sirius-"

"No!" All the Potters shout back at Sirius, who rolls his eyes.

"All we're saying is don't stay up too late." Euphemia warned.

"Don't worry mum, we'll be in bed in time for Santa to give us our presents." James and Sirius looked at each other, both sharing a secretive look.

"You ready?"

"Yeah. You put the pillows under the bed?"

"Why would I do that?"

"To make it seem like you are in the bed. Effie is gonna come in and think that my body is in bed, but for some reason your body is not?"

"We will be back before they notice."

"Yes and they won't suspect a thing when Regulus shows up suddenly the next morning and the car is out of petrol."

James rolls his eyes, grabbing the car keys off the hook and heading out. Sirius quietly closes the house door behind him.

"Do you actually know where you're going?" Sirius asked, getting into the passenger seat.

"I know how to get to London." James replied, starting the ignition and praying it wasn't too loud.

"Are you able to drive around London?"

James hesitated on his answer. "I can drive to Kings Cross then you have to give directions."

"That'll do." Sirius agrees as James pulls out the drive as carefully as possible. The car fell silent as James drove out of the neighbourhood and onto the main roads.

"So how exactly are we going to take Regulus?" James asked.

"What?"

"Well this whole plan was your idea, so how are we getting Regulus out of that house?"

"Uhhh...."

"You don't have a plan do you?"

"No."

James groaned. Great, now they had to think of an actual plan.

"Well, we'd struggle trying to get him to come with us. He'd argue and it would wake our parents up." Sirius explained. "So we need to make sure he's asleep, liked dead asleep. But he's a bit of a light sleeper..."

"So we'll need a spell that will keep him asleep or something?" James offered.

"Yeah, something like that." Sirius muttered. The boys were silent for a little while, numerous spells and thoughts going through their head.

"Oh!" Sirius exclaimed suddenly. "I know a spell, Moony uses it after a full moon so he can get a better sleep. It doesn't keep him unconscious exactly, it just makes fall into a deeper sleep."

"So if you use it on Regulus, he just won't wake up as easily?" James asked.

"Yeah basically." Sirius nodded. They were entering London now, it looked quieter at night as everyone was asleep, all the children waiting for santa.

Sirius began to give James directions, getting him to Kings Cross Station and then turning right, driving straight on until a square. They parked the car and walked to Sirius' street.

The boys stopped in front of a block of houses, James watching Sirius warily and he stared up at the house.

"Right. So what's the best way to get in?" James asked.

"Well, that's Reggie's room up there." Sirius points to one of the windows.

"What, the one with bars on the window?" James questioned, surprisingly still shocked that Walburga could be so extreme with her children.

"That's the one." Sirius sighs. "Although the bars are new. As a kid I used to throw rocks at his window when he wouldn't play with me, that's the only reason I know it's his." Sirius explains.

"Honestly, sounds like him." James answers. "So how do we get up?" Sirius walks over to the house.

"Think you could wingardium leviosa me up there?" Sirius offered.

"Excuse me?"

"What? We're 17, we won't get in that much trouble."

"And what if a muggle sees us?"

"It's like 1:30 in the morning. Whose going to be up at that time?" James gives him a deadpan look but sighs.

Sirius makes his way to the house and stands directly below the bared window. James pulls his wand out and reluctantly casts the spell. It takes a lot of effort but Sirius begins to levitate just high enough to grab onto the bottom of the bar.

"God, imagine what we could pull at school if we all did that together?" Sirius pulled himself up and smirked at James, who is shaking his head in disbelief.

Sirius holds onto the bars with one hand and with the other, he pulls out his wand.

"Alohamorra." Sirius says. Nothing happens.

"What are you doing?" James asks from below.

"Trying to get the bars to move." Sirius answers.

"You know there is a vanishing spell right?"

"Oh yeah." Sirius points at the bars again. "Evanesco." The bars disappear from beneath his hand but Sirius is quick to grab the small windowsill. He reaches down and pulls the window up, slowly as to not make a noise.

Sirius manages to climb through the open window, stuttering when he looks around the room.

It hadn't changed much since he left that night. The books were still pilled on the floor. The wall was still a sage green colour. The wardrobe and desk still in the same place. The double bed still layered with blankets.

And Regulus, tightly snuggled under them.

Sirius's breath caught in his throat as he looked at his brother, his first proper look at him since he had left.

James was right. Regulus was slim. Sirius could see the shirt hanging off his shoulder in his sleep. On a closer inspection, Sirius realised it was indeed one of his old shirts Regulus was wearing.

"Oi." James called from outside. Sirius stepped away from his brother bed and back to the window where James was standing on the ground.

"Sorry mate." Sirius performed the spell and James began to float up to the window. Although Sirius must have been really concentrating because James began to fly higher than the window and Sirius had to grab his leg to stop him from going any higher.

He pulled him into the room, trying not to make too much noise. James looked around the room, having never been near Grimmauld Placw before he was trying to understand what Sirius would have meant when he called it 'a ghastly place'.

Maybe the rest of the house is different compared to Regulus' room which was covered in books and papers, some pictures stuck to the wall.

"You pack a bag for him, and I'll do the spell." Sirius whispers to James, pulling him out of his trance.

"I won't know what to pack." James complained.

"Well you don't know the spell." Sirius argued.

"How about you do the spell, I'll make sure no one is coming and then you pack a bag while I get him in the car." James decides. Sirius nods in agreement.

James moves towards the bedroom door, curious to open it but doesn't dare. Sirius pulls out his wand and stares at his little brother who is sleeping peacefully as it is.

Taking a deep breath, Sirius lifts his wand and mumbles the incantation.

"Dornrösichen." He doesn't know if it worked or not, but Regulus rolls over in his sleep.

"Is that it?" James whispers from across the room.

"Yeah." Sirius replies. "Now you figure out how to get him out, I'll pack a bag."

Sirius decides on Regulus' school trunk instead. He packs Regulus' school clothes and a jumper, trousers and a couple shirts. He then grabs two books he knows Regulus would kill him for if he didn't pack them and some pictures on the wall. He tucks Regulus' wand in with his own.

Meanwhile, James has managed to carry Regulus out of bed and to the window, although becomes stumped at how to get him out.

"Hey, how exactly are we getting Regulus out the windows?" James asks.

"We could aparate down to the car." Sirius suggests. James turns to him, sighing deeply.

"We could have aparated here this whole time. And you didn't think to suggest that?" James accuses, trying to keep his voice at a quiet volume.

"Well you didn't think of it either, Mr Smartass." Sirius retorts.

"Fine." James grumbles. "I'll meet you in the car, you're driving." With an annoyingly loud snap, James and Regulus were out of the room.

Sirius flinched at the loud noise, freezing to listen for any other sounds coming from the house.

A door creaking. Footsteps on the landing.

Sirius promptly decides that Regulus would just have to do without some things. He closes the trunk, takes one last look at his little brother's bedroom, closes his eyes and aparates the hell out of there.

Just as the doorknob begins to turn.

When Sirius next opens his eyes, he's standing next to the car further along the street. He sees James lying Regulus down in the backseat, drapping a blanket over his body and making sure the seatbelt is on somehow.

Sirius makes a quick walk to the car, putting the trunk in the boot and getting in the drivers seat. As soon as James climbs in the passenger seat, the keys are turned and the ignition is on and Sirius driving out of there.

"Merlin, Sirius!" James exclaims, grabbing the door handle. "Slow down!"

"Someone was about to enter Regulus' room when I left, I refuse to get caught when I'm this close." Sirius explains, eyes flicking to the rear view mirror, looking at both Regulus and the window in the back.

"Oh shit. No one caught you did they?" James asks, looking back as well.

"No. I aparated too quickly." Sirius answers.

"Good." James replies, sighing in relief. Sirius still looks back at Regulus, struggling to keep his eyes on the road. "Hey."

Sirius looks at James breifly before looking back to the road.

"He's okay now. He's safe." James says to him, but he's not sure if he says it for Sirius' benefit or his own.

"Yeah, yeah I know." Sirius mumbles, deciding to focus on driving and not killing them. He can talk to Regulus when he wakes up.

Whatever sleeping position Regulus was in, it was uncomfortable. He must have moved in his sleep and ended up against the wall. Was the wall made of leather though?

Opening his eyes, Regulus quickly realised he was, in fact, not in his own room. Looking up, Regulus saw a ceiling, but this was really close to his face and definatly not the black painted one in his room. Regulus tried to sit up, urgently trying to see where the hell he was, but was pulled back down by something. So Regulus did the only thing he could think of doing.

He screamed. He screamed bloody murder. Wherever he was, it started to move suddenly from side to side, pushing him about. So Regulus continued to scream. The movement suddenly stopped and Regulus managed to get up, seeing his brother in a mirror.

"What the fuck?!" He shouts, causing Sirius and James to turn around in their seats.

"Us what the fuck?! Why are you screaming your head off?" Sirius shouts back.

"You fucking kidnapped me! I have a right to be screaming!" Regulus argues. He doesn't notice James getting out the car. "Where the fuck am I? Better yet, where the fuck are we going?" Regulus continues to shout at Sirius when a hand clamps over his mouth. Regulus starts to struggle again until he realises it's only James.

"Stop shouting, you'll make people driving past think we actually kidnapped you." He syays, slowly pulling away when Regulus calms down a bit.

"Well you did kidnap me." Regulus grumbles. He watches as James does another seatbelt up for himself and Sirius starts tge car again.

"We wanted to get you out of that house." James begins to explain. "We couldn't bare seeing you gp through that so yes, we kidnapped you. It was the only way." Regulus looks at him, arms crossed. Brown eyes filled with sincerity looked back at him and Regulus realised he meant it. They did care for him. They cared enough to practically risk their own lives to get him out of that house.

Regulus gives a small nod and looks out the window, watching the scenery roll past. "What time is it?" He asks.

"Uhhh, 4:51." Sirius replies.

"You know mum is going to kill us, right?" James says to Sirius.

"You're mum doesn't know what you're doing?" - Regulus.

"No?" - Sirius.

"Oh my god." - Regulus.

"It'll be fine." - Sirius.

It was around 6 in the morning when the boys pulled into the driveway of the Potter's house. James and Sirius climbed out first and Regulus followed hesitantly. James walked up to the house to unlock the door while Sirius pulled Regulus' trunk out of the boot of the car.

"You're safe now, okay?" Sirius whispers to him, warpping his free arm around Regulus' shoulders. "I'll make sure of it." Regulus nods again and they walk up to the house.

Just as Sirius puts Regulus' trunk down and the front door is shut, rushed footsteps sound from the stairs.

"Where in God's name have you two been?!" Mrs Potter shouts. Regulus feels Sirius jump next to him as he moves himself slightly behind his brother. "I'm up to put presents in your stocking's and you're bed is empty." She points at James.

"Told you you should have just put pillows in your bed." Sirius whispers.

"And yours is has the spare pillows in it!" Mrs Potter now points angrily at Sirius. Regulus sees Mr Potter come down the stairs in a red dressing gown, looking a lot calmer than Mrs Potter is. "I thought you two knuckle heads might have fallen asleep down here, but when I look out the window, the car is gone!"

James and Sirius share glances with each other as Regulus just watches it all unfold from behind Sirius.

"Who is hiding behind you Sirius?" Mrs Potter asks sternly. Sirius looks back at Regulus who looks at him with uncertainty.

"Effie, this is Regulus." Sirius moves to the side so Mrs Potter can see him. Her face softens at the sight of him. She looks between Sirius and Regulus, making the connection between the two.

"Regulus honey, why don't you go upstairs have a shower, I'm sure you're still tired after these two woke you up." Mr Potter says finally, taking Regulus' trunk and walking up the stairs. Regulus looks at Sirius who nods as an indication to follow.

As Regulus reaches the landing, he can hear Mrs Potter begin to shout at James and Sirius again. Mr Potter leads Regulus into an empty room that must have just been a spare room. He puts his trunk on the bed as Regulus stands awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"There's a bathroom accross the hall, I'm afraid it's cluttered with all of Sirius' stuff. Me and Effie are at the end of the hall next to the stairs, Sirius is accross from you and James is next door." Mr Potter explains, pointing in each direction. "I'm going to go downstairs and make a start on breakfast, make sure Effie isn't being too harsh with the boys." Mr Potter squeezes Regulus' shoulder lightly, the gesture feels a lot kinder than when Walburga had done the same thing at the end of the summer. He walks out the room, leaving Regulus in there alone.

Regulus closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, praying it wasn't another dream. When he opens the, he's still standing in the Potter's spare room and Effie is still scoulding James and SIrius downstairs. He smiles to himself, finally happy.