Chapter 1
“Sirius, are you sure you want to be in here?” Regulus asked in a hushed voice.
“Of course I’m sure, Reggie! You are my baby brother after all,” Sirius replied once he shut the door to his brother’s room. “Anyway, I brought the suit you were talking about with me if you still want it…” He trailed off.
“Really?” Regulus’ eyes lit up.
“Yup!” Sirius replied.
“Sirius! Regulus! Come down and set the table up. Your aunt Druella will be here any second with your cousins,” Walburga’s shrill voice cut through the house.
“Looks like the old bat finally needs us, Reg,” Sirius snarked. Regulus quickly shut him up with a loud “ Shh! ” as they made their way downstairs. He wondered who was invited. He hoped the Rosiers would be there. Regulus really missed Pandora and Evan.
Regulus and Sirius worked mechanically and silently while setting the table, they had done this before every gathering their mother decided to have. Which was often. Regulus knew his brother was anticipating the moment Walburga would walk out of the room and in all honesty, he was too.
Soon, as predicted, Walburga left them with their dog, Kreacher in tow. “So, Reg, who are you hoping to see today?” Sirius asked as soon as their mother left.
“Pandora and Evan. You?”
“I’m not entirely sure since everyone is pretty boring - no offence - but maybe the Pettigrews will be around again. Peter was quite friendly the last time I saw him. Or, I suppose, that would be the first time I saw him. I saw him only once but I hope to see him again,” Sirius took a moment to breathe before starting, “Hey Reg-” Both him and Regulus jumped at the sound of their doorbell. Regulus always hated that fucking thing. It was always so loud and seemed to cut through the air whenever it rang.
“Ten pounds it’s Bella. She always loved to let the bell ring for as long as humanly possible didn’t she?” Sirius chuckled and Regulus almost did but the Lestrange family, Malfoys, Narcissa, and their Aunt Druella strolled in the dining hall with Walburga and Orion guiding them.
“Please, asseyez-vous ,” Orion gestured to the many, many chairs placed around the table before taking a seat himself.
“Now, as you all know,” Walburga started, "We are throwing a party to congratulate Orion’s promotion as C.E.O of the Black Family Business. This is the biggest party we have ever hosted and we expect it to go as smoothly as possible. I have also decided to invite a few more families that have not attended any of our gatherings in the past so please try to make a good impression,” Walburga finished as she glanced pointedly at Sirius.
“Who are these families, Walburga?” Lucious asked. Regulus absolutely despised Lucious. He stole his favourite cousin away from him! How was it that he got the attention of Narcissa but Regulus couldn’t just because Lucious put a ring on her finger?
“The Potters, Lupins, and a couple others. I am sure you have heard of them. I expect our guests to be arriving soon so be prepared. Toujours Pur ,” Walburga’s shrill voice snapped Regulus out of his daze.
“ Toujours Pur ,” Everyone at the table, including Sirius, choroused in reply.
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“Remus, are you almost ready? We will be late,” Lyall’s voice travelled through the house.
Remus ignored him.
“Remus?” Lyall’s footsteps could be heard going up the stairs as he spoke.
“Remus!” His father knocked on his door.
“Yeah I’m ready, I’m ready!” Remus swung open his bedroom door and shoved past Lyall.
Once he got his shoes and coat on, Remus followed his father to the car who put in the GPS for the Black Manor. They were going to a party celebrating the promotion of one of the Black family members. He had no idea why they were even invited but Lyall insisted they went regardless. Remus remembered that Peter had gone to one of the Black family’s gatherings a few months ago. He said it was incredibly boring but Remus thought that maybe it would be a bit better since James and Peter would be there too. Peter informed him and James who to steer away from to avoid making a bad impression which Remus was forever grateful for. Thank fuck for Peter Pettigrew.
Eventually, they pulled up to the Black Manor and Remus spotted James leaning against a wall.
“James!”
“Remus!” James reached for a hug and Remus hugged him back.
“Where’s Pete?” Remus asked upon realising he was missing.
“He fell sick last minute,”
“Just our luck isn’t it?” Remus chuckled.
“Yeah, sounds like it. Anyway, shall we, good sir?” James stuck his elbow out for Remus to link arms with.
“I suppose we shall,”
Remus glanced over his shoulder and found his father in a conversation with a man who looked very important. His father caught Remus’ eye and beckoned him over.
“Hey, James? I’ll meet you inside,” Remus muttered before leaving his best friend’s side and unwillingly joining his father.
“This is Remus, my son,” Lyall announced. Remus tuned out the rest of the conversation. He wondered how long it would be until he would be able to talk to James again. How many people would there be inside the house? There were already at least seventy people around them and they hadn’t even made it up the drive yet. Remus guessed there would probably be at least a hundred people between him and James when he makes it to the front door. Maybe even two-
“Remus!” Lyall’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts, “Go inside with Barty.” Barty, Barty, Barty. Why did that name sound so familiar?
“What about James?” Remus protested, not wanting to leave his friend and definitely not wanting to talk to the son of some man his father had just met.
“Remus, I will not repeat myself again. Go inside with Barty.” His father ordered.
“Fine,” Remus started walking away before he stopped a few metres short of the door. Oh! Barty attended Hogwarts with him. Barty was in the year below, year 10. He was always hanging around some blonde haired boy and girl that looked alike. Remus assumed they were twins. What were their names again?
“Oi, Lupin! You gonna move or not?” Barty pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Barty? What sort of name is that?” Remus retorted instead.
“Think my name is funny, do you?” Barty snarked.
“Yes actually, I do,”
“You know what’s even worse? I was named after my father. Fucking hate that man. Couldn’t name me something normal like ‘George’ or something could he? No, he just absolutely had to name me ‘Bartemius Crouch Jr,’ Barty complained.
“You mean to tell me two generations of the Crouch family are named Bartemius?” Remus couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him.
“Yeah, yeah, yock it up,” Barty rolled his eyes before continuing, “Anyway, I’m going to head inside, try and find Reg and Sirius. Later Lupin.” He called, already making his way inside.
Remus followed a moment later to make his way to the food table where the chocolate fountain sat with a bowl of strawberries.
“I knew you’d be here,” A voice called behind him. James.
“You know me so well,” Remus smiled, looking like a guilty child.
“Yeah, well I wouldn’t be that great of a friend if I didn’t,”
“I met someone,”
“Oh?”
“No, not like that,”
“Oh.” James said, disappointingly. Remus gave him a funny look.
“His name is Barty. He seems cool enough and I think he’s friends with Regulus and Sirius,”
“Barty? Why does that name sound so familiar?” James asked.
“Well, he was named after his father Bartemius Crouch,” Remus recalled, “And he attends Hogwarts. Barty’s a Slytherin in year 10.”
“Small world, I suppose,”
“Yeah. Anyway, do you know who Regulus and Sirius are exactly?”
“They’re the sons of Orion, the guy who got the promotion. I heard they’ll be starting at Hogwarts next term. Maybe we’ll find out then,”
“Just gotta get through Christmas break then,” Remus clapped a hand on James’ shoulder as they walked outside to the patio with a few chocolate covered strawberries each.