Lady stardust

Regulus was furious with sirius! As he had every right to be. But Blacks were raised to forgive there family members (well unless the family member is sirius.) but none the less Reg let sirius accompany him places.

It was minda nice haveinf his brother back. It seemed for so long that sirius was more of a brother to James than him another benefit of sirius was James avoided him like the plague. So staying away was easier.

———-

When reg had class sirius was alone. In classes his friends ignored him so he ended up skipping most the time just roaming the halls witch meant he was given detention most nights. And by some magic he never had Remus as head boy over seeing his detention.

Sirius had pleanth of plans on how to apologize to remus but none of them ever seemed genuine enough. Sirius missed remus. He missed him more than anything there was no longer someone there to love. Someone to be with and share his every thought with. The person who loved his was gone and there was nothing he could do about it.

"So does this mean your coming home with me for christmas this year?" Reg asked one morning at breakfast. Sirius haddent even relized it was late December. "Hmm uh yeah I guess." He mumbled. Reg shyly smiled. Well at least sirius would be there.

————

Everynight regulus stayed up barley getting a hour of sleep he looked more tier and sickly than ever. His mind was flooded with thoughts of his imoendjng fate. He briefly debated trying to tell james but even at the thought of it his bracelet tightened. "Right sorry." He mumbled.

Regulus longed for james more than anything it had been over a month since they last talked but occasionally James caught him staring longingly at him from across the great hall. Reg really hoped James could move on. Maybe go out with Lily or soemthing she was nice.

———

The morning everyone was to go home Reg decided to say a final good bye to James but there was no way he could do this in person so a letter was written in dark green ink.

'Good bye love, I hate not talking to you but know I never will be able to again I love you and think I always will but I hope you stop loveing me hell knows I deserve it,Im sure that there are so many people more fitting to love you, just let them. And if your willing forgive sirius he really misses you all I can tell. You were the best thing that ever happened to me and Im so sorry for whats about to happen im sure you will find out soon, as per usual my heart is your, R.A.B'

He sealed it in a matching emreld envelope.

He turned the letter repeatedly in his hands trying to calm himslef.

"Im going to find a compartment." Sirius sighed Reg could tell he did not want to go home. Suddenly James apeared on the other end of the platform talking and laughing with remus and peter.

Reg tenitivly walked over and tapped his shoulder. James turned around stunned by who he found standing there. Reg shoved the letter in james's arms before running away as fast as he could.

———

"Are you alright?" Sirius asked seeing the look on regs face. Reg nodded his head. "Probably not." He muttered sliding into a seat. "Oh."

———

Winter break at the Blacks was the opposite of how it was at the potters. While the potters house had a warm glow and the smell of cookies and other assorted foods and a cozy feel the Balck family home was cold and dark walking through the house reg could feel his bones ache from the cold. He always forgot how unwelcomeing it was. There was no smell of cookies and dinner instead there was a clean medical sent puncuated with the smell of old cigaretts left in the ash tray by his mother.

Sirius went straight up to his room of course his parents knew he was coming but neither wanted to see the other.

——-

The next 3 days were the worse of Regs life the crucioing happened offend so he stayed in his room writing his thoughts in his journal there was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen...unless?

It was christmas eve around 7 or so the dark lord was to be there in 2 hours when Regulus had a idea. He could run away?

Or kill himself but that would be plan be the best thing to do would be to leave wirhout looking back. He could go to France or america and open a shop maybe adopt a pet he would write a final letter to sirius and maybe in twenty years when his parents would sure be dead he could come back.

Regukus quickly grabbed a big bag from his closet and clothes. He sobbed throwing things in it he did not want to leave not really but what choice was . There.

———-

Sirius was walking upstairs he felt as though he was about to pass pit his parents finally told him what was about to happen to reg.

He heard crying and slaming of things from regs room. He quickly burst in. He saw his brother crying on the floor with the clothes and books around him. Sirius would not try and stop him. "What do you need help with?" He asked instead. Reg pointed to a pile of books and pictures . "Pull out the book marks." He sobbed. Reg never used conventional book marks he preferred using little pieces of memory a cinema ticket or a flower things like that.

Sirius and him set in silince exept for the crying as they packed the bags. Sirius almost cried too seeing the pictures of a younger version of himself and a reg a version that belived in the good of the world and that there were better places.

One picture in particular made sirius almost cry it was taken the day before he first went to hogwarts.

A young way the age of 11 grinning at a smaller boy the age of 10 who was gazing at sirius's record player he got as a going away gift from his cousin andromada. Sirius remembered how that moment felt the anticipation of finally going paired with the guilt of leaving his brother but in that moment they were truly happy listening to the newest songs of the late 60s and early 70s.

He smiled and pocketed that picture for himself.

"Master regulus master sirius your mother requests you now the dark lord will be here in a hour." Croaked creature. Regulus felt his blood run cold. Sirius turned to hik and nodded. "I will go first you run the other way got it." He wispered. Reg nodded.

He hesitated for a second before hugging sirius. "Thank you, for everything." He said. Sirius smiled it was bittersweet his brother would be safe but he would still be traped. "Im glad I was your brother."

——-

Sirius followed creature down the hall. Once out of sight reg picked up his bag and started running the opposite direction to the back escape.

He was almost free he could feel it! But right as he got to the door a figure apeared. "Where do you thibk your going?" She asked. "Sissa." Reg pleaded. "Please I have to go I dont want this ans I know you dont either just think of alice." He begged.

She tenses up at the mention of the name. "No we must do whats right I shall marry lucious and you shall take the mark." She said shakily. "But-" reg started to say. "No we have to reg you and I have always been in this together we have to do it, please once lucious and I marry you can come over when ever you want come on." She begged.

Reg nodded there was no way out a wsnd was held to his chest he had to go. "Come on." She sighed grabbing his wrist.

——-

"Sorry auntie reggie's hair was a mess I had to fix it." Narissa laughed pulling him into the family room. Walburga scrunched her nose. "Hmf I still think it looks wrong this grown out."

"Im going to the toilet mother I will be back." Sirius said shooting regulus what was meant to be a sad look but there was a certain glint in gis eye. Did Sirius have another plan?

Regukus looked down at his bare hands he felt nacked witb no rings but they were no appropriate for this accasion, his one vice was a string tied around his neck with a gold ring on it that hung under his shirt.

The ring was a gift from james, the last gift james gave him a gold ring engraved with the sun amd stars. James and regulus.

———

Sirius came back and there was more silence. "Oh this should be a joyis accasion cheer up Regulus is riseing up amd fordilling his role." Walburga said bitterly. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah wa-hoo." Sirius sighed sarcastically.

There was a loud knock at the front door. "Oh he must have come early." Walburga said sharply. She stood and wiped off her dress before makeing her way to the door.

Regulus winced as it opened. Maybe after he took the mark while his family celebrated reg could sneak off to the bathroom and end it all. He thought. How could suicide give him hope.

"Potter what do you want sirius cant come out right now." Walburga sneered. Reg gasped and looked to the door. Sure enough james potter stood there in the cold on christmas eve.

———

"Im not here for sirius." James said sharly. "Oo is that so well im intrigued." Walburga smirked.

"Im here for Reg." He said firmly. Walburga rasied her eye brows not expecting this. "What do you mean potter?" She said through her teeth. "Im taking him with me, if he'll have me no one deserves to be treated the way he is and sirius." James siad peerkng throuvh the door frame. "Sirius come too mum mised you come on pleaee." He begfed.

"Leave now or else." Walburga comanded pointing her wand at James. "Not without them." James said firmly standing his ground.

Walburga smirked spinning her wand in her hand. "Than you leave me no choice." She said flicking her wand.

A pain like James had never known shot through him a fiery blistering hot pain ripping him apart. He shrieked and howled as he fell to the ground. The cold snow only made the pain worse. "Nooo." Yelled Sirius running to the door. Reg shoved past him and his mother. "Mother stop your huring him." Reg pleaded runing to hold James's body.

Walbuga chucled. "Am I now?" She flicked the wand again sending another wave of pain through james paired with another blood curtling scream.

"No stop." Reg weaped pulljng out his wand. "Regulus get back in here now your future and this family is worth way more than a little friend." Walbuga commanded condescendingly.

Sirius slipped walburgas wand out of her hand and into his own. "Hes not a little friend he Was-Is my boyfriend and I love him he is the best person in this world you will not hurt him any more!" Regulus screamed furiously at her. "Your a cold condescending abusive woman and I deserve better I wont stay here any more." He said calmly despite how much he was trembling.

"Regulus arcurous black how dare you disrespect our family like that! This is ridiculous you are not Gay!." Walburga scofed. She flicked y hand but noticed her wand was not there. "My wand! Ever is my wand!?" She gasped.

Sirius grinned holding it up. "Reg run get James out of here now go to Effies i will meet you guys at home if possible got it." Sirius said smiling despite how nervous he was.

Reg nodded and helped the barley concease James to his feet. Sirius sprinted inside with walburgas wand while s James and reg allerated away. As a last ditch attempt walburga fumbled around and pulled a knife out of her sock and threw it at the swirl that was her son and James.

———-

"Help help Mrs Potter." Reg called once he realized there was a knife stabbing into James's shoulder.

Euphimia came bustleing out of the house "What oh Jamie!" She cried seeing her son. She grabbed James and pulled him into the house while shouting for her husband. Regukus follwed after her. "Effie what happened?" Fleemont asked concerinly. He looked over at regulus. "Your regulus right?" He asked.

Reg nodded. "Its Jamie hes hurt Regulus what happened." She asked set james down on the couch before running to find for her first aid posions. "I um James went to save me I dont jnow how he knew but he showed up to save me and my mother cursed him and threw a knife Sirius is still there." He said nervously.

Effie looked over at monty. "Go get our son." She said. Monty nodded and ran out the door not even grabbing a jacket.

Effie got to work casting spells and useing muggle medicine. "Most the crucio effects should be gone and his shoulder looks stable for now I just have to change the bandages in a few hours." She said out of breath.

Regulus had been by James's side the whole time not darinf to look away from him. "Regukus?" Effie asked. "Oh um Yes mrs potter." Effie gave him a sad smile. "Just call me Effie, would you like some tea?"

Reg looked from james to effie to james again. "Dont worry he will be alright now how about I get you that tea and you can tell me how you know our son?" She said compassionately.

———-

Reg looked at his cup nervously. "I met james last year, Christmas time I came to bring sirius to our parents home but James awnsered the door. We talked and ever since we have been close he is my favorite person." He said trying to avoid the real reason he and James were so close.

Effie smiled sympathetically. "Jame is a good kid...what about you though would you like to stay here?" Effie asked.

Reg let out a small gasp. Effie wanted him to stay? Even after james was hurt he wanted him to stay. "You would let me?" He asked. Effie chuckled. "Of course dear Monty and I never have liked your parents parenting style much." She chuckled. . "Thank you." Reg saiid smileing. "Of course dear."

————

A half hour later the front door burst open and sirius ran in with a black and blue eye. "Effie!" He yelled. He ran into his .Real. moms arms. "Im home." He wispered. "Sirius are you alright do you need tea,food,anything ?" She asked smiling. "hows james?" He asked worried. "Hes asleep on the couch I belive your brother is over there too James will be alright just needs rest." She smiled looking over at regulus sittong in the dark liveing room only lit by the fire place as he queezed James's hand.

Reg smiled. "Thanks Effie.", "has he told you?" Sirius asked. "No." She said softly. "But..." sirius asked. "I can tell, " she paused "your brother really cares for him," shs said. Sirius smiled. Effie knew,she always knew.

"Um." Sirius said tenitivly. "Yes sirius?" She asked seeing the nervous expression on his face. "Its just I wanted to say you’ve been a better mom to me than my mother has ever been Thank you." He said nervously.

Effie smiled. "Thank you sirius, Im so sorry your mother is the way she is but I will always be here if you need a mom." She said.

—————

"Reg?" James groaned waking up. "Mrs Effie! Sirius hes up!" Reg exclaimed. James tried to focus on the face in front of him even without his glasses he knew, Regulus was here safe.

"Your here." He said reaching for his glasses. Reg stoped him and place the glasses on his face. "Your not sopost to move that arm." He said smiling despite the his tears. " Your crying?" James asked groggily. "I know I'm sorry it's just I never thought I would see you again." He said gently touching James's cheek.

"Reg?"

"Yes Jamie."

"I still Love you."

Reg could not control himself now he was sobbing uncontrollably. How could James still love him! After this mess James still loved him. What a idiot!

Regulus leaned his forehead into the couch and cried into it until Effie and sirius walked over. "What's wrong dear?" Effie asked worried.

Regulus leaned back laughing along with crying now. "Your son is a idiot." He laughed. "He still loves me."

Effie smiled at Regulus than at James. "Love never makes someone a idiot, it makes them smarter." She said.

James set up more. "Come on Reg lets get you real food you haven't eaten today." Sirius said helpung his brother up.

———

Once Sirius and regulus walked away effie smiled at her son. "Hey mum." He said. "Yes James."

"I do really love him." He said. She moved a strand of James's hair behind his ear. "That's good Jamie you have so much love to give im so proud of you."

———-

"Sirius how did he know?" Reg asked takeing another bite of his food. "Know what?" "how did James know to come?" Reg asked as if it were obvious. "Oh when I went to the bathroom I sent a patronus to tell James and ask for help." He explained.

The front door opened again it was Pete. "Is James alright? I heard what happened I called Remus already!-" he paused seeing sirius. "Oh sirius." He wispered. "Is he alright?" He asked again.

"Hes asleep again just gave him more potion, hello peter." Effie said greeting the sandy haired boy.

Then Remus ran in. "I heard something about James being hurt and Regulus and sirius were involved what happened??" He asked terrified, but when he saw sirius standing there his gaze softened . "Moons im-" sirius started to whisper. But Rmeus didn't care he just ran into sirius's arm hugging him for the first time in almost two months. "Save it black." He chuckled. "Im still mad at you." He said but it was not very convincing after all remus was smiling and had his fave barried in sirius's hair.

"You sure?" Sirius asked sarcastically. "No." Remus responded. Sirius smiled.

They gazed into each other's eyes. Everything was right again the moon had its star and the sun had his. Sirius held Remus's face with one of his hands. "Im still so in love with you." He confessed. Remus paused he could never fully forgive sirius for what he did but maybe for todsy he could pretend. "That's alright." Hee said softly. "Can I still be with of?" Sirius asked. "Its a little to late to say no now." Remus laughed as he pulled sirius closer kissing him.

———

Over the next few hours they all bustled around the house waiting for James to wake up but eventually the clock struck 12 "mary christmas." Sirius said as he helped effie mix up some coco.

"Its christmas." James said quietly as he smiled at regulus who was still siting by him. "Mary christmas Love." Reg said softly kissing James's forehead.

Regulus peered out the window into the dark street as the glistening snow fell to the street.

Look around regulus could still see himself and James at this time last year dancing around the house or arguing in the street.

Of course it all started on Christmas eve and now a year later it felt as if it was ending on Christmas eve too, not there Love ending of course but the mess and chaos of the last year now. He was safe and truly happy with James the boy he loved.

———