15 December 1974, Going Home
Regulus
He was sitting in a train compartment all on his own. Sirius wasn’t with him, but that was unsurprising. He was probably trying to avoid interacting with any and all members of their family until the last possible second.
Regulus had a feeling that Sirius was going to make Christmas hell. Sirius had gotten a letter that year requiring him to be at the station with Regulus, ready for their parents to pick them up. After the fiasco with Sirius coming out, he was no longer allowed at the Potter’s overnight. It seemed he wasn’t going to be allowed to go over for any of Christmas either. Knowing Sirius, he was going to make this everyone’s problem and Regulus was not looking forward to it.
So here Regulus was, heading home for the Christmas holiday, bracing himself in preparation for the inevitable drama.
The train rumbled along its tracks, finally slowing. Regulus pondered why they even took it. Trains were a Muggle invention. Surely pureblooded witches and wizards had better ways of getting to and from the school. He knew you couldn’t apparate or fly a broom directly into the grounds, but you could to Hogsmeade. It’d be annoying to bring all your luggage those ways. Maybe a Portkey then? Too many students might get Portkey-sick. He stared out the window. They were stopping now, having pulled up to the station.
There were footsteps outside in the corridor. Students getting ready to depart, saying premature goodbyes to each other that they’d only have to repeat once they’d properly gotten off.
The compartment door slid open and Sirius peeked his head in.
“Oh,” Sirius said, like he was surprised to actually find Regulus there, even though that clearly had to be the reason he’d opened the door in the first place. “There you are. Come on then.” Sirius’s head disappeared back into the corridor. He wasn’t going to wait for Regulus.
Regulus didn’t sigh. A long time ago he might’ve, but he’d learned to suppress that kind of thing. Now holding it in was second nature. He got up, set his shoulders, and left the train.
Sirius was there on the platform. He didn’t look at Regulus, he just stood waiting. Regulus came and stood beside him. They were almost the same height. They waited together. Students were picked up, the crowd thinned, and after a short time Regulus spotted their mother. He turned to tell Sirius, but he had spotted her as well. They moved to meet her halfway.
“Your father went to look for you further up. He’ll be back this way in a minute when he doesn’t find you and then we can apparate,” their mother said in lieu of a greeting.
Regulus thought again how they could’ve done this from Hogsmeade, but he thought better of asking her why they didn’t.
“Hello mother.” That was Sirius, being rude of course. “How lovely to see you.”
Regulus wanted to be home already. People kept looking at them, and he had just heard a murmur or two about something or other “Black” from around them. He was tired. He straightened his back even more. He was not going to let Sirius’s behavior reflect on him. He was better than that.
Their mother didn’t acknowledge Sirius’s words. She deliberately turned her gaze to Regulus.
“How are you? Slughorn says he thinks you’re doing well. We’re so proud of course. Your father wrote to him- oh here’s your father now. Come. We can discuss more later.”
The three of them were led by their mother along the platform to their father. When they reached him, he gave them a brief nod.
“Right then, We’ve been here long enough, we can apparate now. Ready Orion? Boys?”
Their mother took hold of Sirius’s arm, rather firmly it seemed, as if she thought he might try to run for it at the last second. Orion took hold of Regulus. In one swift, synchronized movement, they turned on their heels and were pulled away.
They arrived at no.12 Grimmauld place, landing on the doorstep. Regulus had traveled side-along before, but he had yet to get used to the sensation. He had to pause, feeling a bit wobbly. Sirius was fine of course. He walked into the house ahead of Regulus. Regulus followed a second after, entering just in time to see Sirius start systematically flipping off every portrait right in front of their parents.
Neither the portraits nor their parents were pleased. Their mother looked ready to kill. Sirius had only got as far as the foot of the stairs before Walpurga's voice cut the air.
“Sirius. Orion. Black!”
Their mother raised her wand.
Yes, this holiday was going to be hell.