Atlantis
Cold hands wrapped themselves around his throat, their skeletal fingers pressing indents into his larynx, deepening with every twitch of his muscles.
His laboured breathing went unheard as his brother’s screams echoed throughout the flat that resembled more mansion than anything. Regulus could hear his mother’s screeches and his father’s silence. Both loud and holding presence in their own right.
He could feel the hands encapsulate his lithe frame as the harder he fought the stronger Sirius’s screams got. He couldn’t escape their frigid caresses. It was the same song and dance that never seemed to end. They were pulling him back, fingers digging into his bones…he couldn’t breathe…he couldn't scream. Black spots blinded his already murky eyes.
Reg.
Reg!
REGULUS!
He gasped as his eyes flew open, jolting up in bed and thumping his head against Barty’s who was hovering over him. “Fucking hell!”
“You were clawing at your neck again.” Barty groaned as he leaned back on his legs, rubbing his forehead yet his eyes remained firmly on Regulus. Assessing.
“I’m fine B.”
“You’re not...” he muttered, eyeing Regulus shrewdly as if he could somehow pinpoint his cause of hurt and eviscerate it, “...but you will be.”
Regulus sighed but wisely chose not to comment. Barty would argue with him until his last breath if he could. “Where is everyone?”
“Dora had to send a letter to Rosie and Evan went with her. Cas is in the bath.” Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled slightly. His racing heart already calming as Barty’s voice grounded him. “Was it the same?”
Regulus nodded but gasped as Barty placed his cold hands at the back of his neck. When did he get so warm? The dungeons were naturally cool, not warm but also not biting cold. The castle made sure that her children would always be comfortable no matter the weather.
“Firefly and I finally got the camera to run on magic last night.” Barty smirked, rubbing soothing circles at the base of his neck “You wouldn’t believe the things we’ve captured on it.”
A lazy smirk stretched across his face as he could only imagine what sordid shit the two of them got up to together. They were inventors that rivalled Victor Frankenstein. May Merlin and Morgana help the Ministry if they ever decide they were bored enough to overthrow it.
Dorcas emerged from the bathroom soon after smelling faintly of his soaps while Barty was in the midst of distracting him from his swirling thoughts. She sat herself next to him, putting on her rings and beads as she listened to Barty talk their ears off. Sometime later Regulus detangled himself from said boy and left the two of them debating on his bed to get ready for the day.
Was it foreboding that his left eye twitched as he disappeared into the bathroom?
–
The great hall was filled with chatter as per usual yet Sirius was unusually quiet as he stared at his brother. The most interaction they’ve had since that night was Sirius waving to Regulus a day later who simply raised a haughty eyebrow at him. He spiralled after that. Remus had to get James from class to calm him down.
Sirius had written to Effie everyday since. He didn’t know where to begin in fixing his relationship with Regulus. He’d fucked up.The first and most important rule for them was to take care of their own. Family first. Even if his only family was Regulus and Andy who was already disowned. In his rebellion to disobey every fucked rule they imposed on him he’d broken the one that meant the most.
He was spiralling.
Remus told him he needed to give Reg space. Effie had agreed. He didn’t know how to do that and it took both Rem and James holding him down from going up to his brother. It hurt. He deserved it.
Days passed as Sirius watched Regulus at every meal. He rarely attended dinner. He watched as Crouch threw his hand around him, the way the Rosier boy smirked at them. Dorcas and Pandora he learned the strange girl’s name was, were their own kind of trouble. They were protective in the way James was of him and wasn’t that a thought.
The bloody snakes were taken by him. He had his own friends who cared as much as his marauders did. He had watched him in the halls and in the potions class they shared. People knew him even if he didn’t talk to them. The teachers adored him.
He was all these things yet Sirius didn’t take the chance to know. He knew Reg was always a bright kid and got straight O’s. He didn’t know that he actually liked learning until Moony told him. They even studied together sometimes for Merlin’s sake!
Sirius was sitting picking at his bacon in the great hall when hoots broke him out of his revere as the owls flew in with the morning’s mail. One, as usual, landed in front of Wormy who was an avid critic of The Prophet. The rest of them didn't bother with it.
Prongs was in the midst of discussing another prank when the great hall seemed to fall into a stilling silence before someone –he suspected it was Crouch from the unhinged cackle – began to laugh, “Holy shit!”
“Huh….” Pete muttered before he slid the papers towards James who began to laugh and handed it to Remus who then groaned and gave it to Sirius.
The Prophet’s headline had his eyes widening as his head whipped to look at Regulus who was already staring at him then back to the paper– ‘Upheaval in the House of Black! Lord Arcturus Black revokes the Head of House title from Nephew and takes seat on Wizengamot!’
“Sources state that Lord Black was unaware and greatly disheartened to learn of the current state of affairs of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black thus stated that his return ‘was necessary and long overdue’. This morning Lord Black has made a statement informing the Prophet that a new heir to the Head of House was chosen as the family was to be restored to former greatness.
Our readers may wonder to themselves who this new heir may be. An insider states that discourse is among the family as the disownment of Regulus Black was futile as he remains the heir to this Ancient house. When asked about the disownment of the other young heir Sirius Black, Lord Black simply smiled but no comment was to be given. –”
Sirius stopped reading as an eagle suddenly swooped in and dropped a letter with his house crest in front of him. Before he could move to touch it, Regulus was suddenly behind him, grabbing his hand and eviscerating the letter that unfolded and was about to read itself. His wand was out but Sirius just knew he hadn’t used it.
Sirius sat eerily still, eyes wide as they darted from the ashes of the letter to his brother who was now sharing indecipherable glances with McGonagall who was already storming over from the head table.
“Messrs Black, please follow me to my office.” With that she banished the remains and briskly walked out of the Great Hall with Regulus in tow.
“Go Pads. We’ll be right there.” Remus pushed him off the bench and towards the door.
He followed them in a daze. Minnie and Regulus spoke as they took quick strides to the transfiguration classroom yet Sirius didn’t hear much of it.
“I can ward him and the Potters from Wally’s mail. Everything will be redirected to my Gringotts account manager. With Uncle taking up the seat he’s most likely going to get in contact with the Potters to check in on Sirius.”
Regulus snapped his fingers and conjured some parchment, muttering to himself as Sirius felt a firm hand on his shoulder that shook him out of his reverie, “Mr Black.”
“What the fuck is going on?!”
“Mr Black!” Minnie admonished with her signature glare leaving his brother to sputter out apologies.
Regulus’ mind was whirling, his magic giddy and stretching out to the castle as it wrote a letter to gringotts. Walburga had some nerve sending Sirius mail. He knew she was batshit but never stupid. No, his mother dearest was as calculating as they came which was why it didn’t make sense sending a howler to his brother in Hogwarts if she wanted to remain in perfect pureblood society.
What the fuck was going on indeed.
“Sit and hush if you could, would you? I’ll explain if you give me the chance.” Regulus rubbed his temples and threw himself on one of Minnie’s loveseats as she got out her good tea and biscuits. She tsked at him but didn’t admonish him for which he was thankful.
And so he began informing his brother of the recent changes in their ancient family since he left. Thankfully Sirius remained quiet until the last of it. “Uncle is mending yours and Andy’s link to the family. He only learned what was happening when the family magic lashed out after I left and it alerted him of Wally trying to eviscerate my magic after I betrayed her, bla, bla, bla. Oh! And he barred ours and Cissa’s Mother and Father from the ancestral homes…that should be it.”
Regulus took a sip of his tea as he watched the information finally process for Sirius, “I’ll kill her!”
“You would have to wait in line, she’s at the top of Barty and Dora’s shit list and only second on Ev and Cas’.” Reg lips twitched up into a semblance of a smile.
“She’s at the top of mine too.” Minnie’s lip curled in distaste, making Regulus turn to smirk at her. Oh how he knew just the extent of her distaste for Wally dearest. Woe to those who trifle with Minerva McGonagall for the lion had claws and endless lives.
“Anywho,” Regulus took another sip of Minnie’s finest tea, “you need to warn the Potters to tighten their wards against any mail. Better yet, Min can you owl them too and ask if they would allow my account manager to add an extra ward? Wally has finally lost it if she was willing to send a cursed letter where everyone could see. If she’s not hiding her disapproval then it's practically war.”
“It’s Hogwarts Reggie. We’re safe here. She can try but the most she’d be able to do is send that cursed letter.”
“You’re underestimating her.” Reg sighed, not surprised that he didn’t know the depth of their mother’s viciousness. Sirius knew her anger, all fire and brimstone, disgust and disappointment. But Regulus knew her false sense of love and safety, he knew the way she would take all the goodness in you and twist it. He knew her manipulations and he’d be damned if she hurt them again.
“She’ll hunt your friends if she cannot get to you. The only reason she wants you is to get to me. She has a score to settle. I embarrassed her by playing her game and winning. She’s out for blood, her reputation is in tatters and I'm sure this is the fall from grace that would make her the target of sneers.”
“I’d advise you listen to him Mr. Black. It would do you more good than harm.” Minerva eyed Sirius who opened his mouth to argue but shut it when she raised a delicate brow. “Now out, the both of you, potions is about to begin.”
“Later Min.”
Regulus was already out of her chambers and down the hall when Sirius caught up to him. “I’ll write mum and let her know.”
“Mum?”
“Yeah. Effie let me call her that when I came to live with them.” Sirius grinned a full smile that Regulus thought made him look like he was a normal kid. But fuck if Reg’s heart didn’t twist at that.
He didn’t dare dwell on it. No, he ached for far too long for it to hurt any more. He would be fine and he actually believed it.
“That’s good Sirius. I’m glad.” And fuck it if he wasn’t sincere.
“Hey Reggie?” Sirius stopped walking as they turned a corner to the stairs.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you…for this morning…and for offering to help with the Potter’s warding.”
Regulus stood silently as Sirius suddenly threw himself at him. He flinched but quickly pulled himself together by the grace of mother magic and awkwardly patted the boy’s back. “You can let the fuck go now.”
Reg rolled his eyes as his brother released him, making Sirius huff out a strained laugh, “Good to see you’re still bloody annoying.”
“Oh, that hadn’t left.”
The silence sighed around them, filling the spaces the soft swaying of the trees didn’t nor did the bustling of students hurrying to classes. He expected himself to be uncomfortable with his brother, antsy even yet he was fine – if you count feeling nothing as being fine. The world continued spinning and maybe just maybe he would be fine.
Magic thrummed at his fingers as if it knew his friends were near and knowing his magic, it probably did. As they walked down the stairs and into the dungeons, Reg could make out the sound of said friends doing Salazar knows what. “And here’s our favourite little victorian goth, our darling edge lord if you will, the one and only slytherin prince.” Barty and Evan cheered as he got close, making him groan.
Why did he even put up with them?
Because you’re all bloody codependent and probably cannot survive without the other? Because you idiots decided to do a skewered blood adoption bond in second year? third year? that you and Dora found and adapted so you wouldn’t die?!
Right. That’s why…
“But Barty if he’s the prince then where art thou frog be, thine one true love.” Cas fake swooned into Regulus who caught her, rolling his eyes.
“It’s too early for this.”
“AHHA there art thou frog! Cometh upon us oh slimy one – OUCH!” Barty began to point at James Potter who was standing wide eyed and smiling next to Lupin, before he yelped as Regulus backhanded him in the back of his head.
Reg kept his eyes on his idiotic friends who watched him with utter amusement. His eyes never strayed even if he felt the older boy’s stare at the back of his neck, penetrating through his very existence. “Shut up and go the fuck to class…please for Merlin’s sake.”
All four of his friends blinked at him oh so innocently before Evan grinned and winked to the someone behind him, “Only because you beg so nicely.”
Merlin he hated them.
–
“Are you a glutton for degradation?” Regulus eyed James who fell into step with him, hands in his pockets.
They were on patrol and Regulus had called James an absolute idiot as he was babbling on about his newest prank even though he was HeadBoy. James had simply grinned and told Regulus that he trusted him.
“You’re pretty when you call me an idiot.” James smiled at Regulus who rolled his eyes yet James spotted the light flush on the tips of the pale boy’s ears. So what if he was being a little forward? Sirius and Regulus’ relationship was tentative but fine.
“Whatever you say Potter.”
“Oh so we’re back to Potter now? What happened to James?”
James watched as Regulus sighed and rolled his eyes, green mini flames dancing across his fingers as they walked. He couldn’t help but admire the boy. He had an ethereal beauty like the elves in the children’s stories his mother used to read to him. James craved to touch him, feel his magic on his skin.
By the Gods he could get drunk off of just watching Regulus and his magic. It was an addicting show and he knew after all the years of watching the younger boy that he never showed his magic to people. Not like this.
“Fine. James. Happy?” Regulus smiled sarcastically, making James grin.
“Deliriously so Reggie.”
“You’re something else James Potter.” Regulus’ lips twitched into an amused smirk.
“Thank you.”
“Now come on idiot, I do not want to be out here all night.” And Regulus suddenly grabbed the sleeve of his shirt and dragged him along the hall, his magic caressing his wrist and somehow James knew it wasn’t intentional or perhaps he was just used to feeling for Reg’s magic in the school that he became attuned to it.
Regulus didn’t let go of his sleeve for the remainder of the night even as they ushered students back to bed. In the moments the castle quieted, James talked softly about any and everything and Regulus listened. As much as he called him an idiot he never told him to shut up. Hell Reg even asked questions when he talked about his childhood.
As patrol came to an end, Regulus pulled him into the kitchens. “Taking me on a date Mr. Black?”
James grinned as Regulus glared at him, a slight flush returning to the boy’s ears as he was bent talking to Millie. “Only in your darkest dreams Potter.”
“We can make that happen.” James winked, making Regulus roll his eyes and continue to ask for tea and any sweets they had remaining. He needn’t do that as the lovely elf rolled her eyes and snapped a tea service into existence.
“Master Regulus should know better. Millie takes good care of you since firsts year.” The elf huffed and patted the boy who simply watched her in amusement before apologising.
James was full on grinning as Regulus turned to face him. “What?”
“You’re lovely, you know that?”
“And you’re delusional.” Regulus eyed him as he shrugged, a smile still etched across his lips. Merlin he took James’ breath away. If only he could just pick him up and put him in his pocket.
“Only when it comes to you, love.” James hummed as he took a bite of a cinnamon roll, eyes closed as he savoured the sweet treat.
“Drown yourself.”