A Son for a Son
Sirius doesn't know where to start. It’s so unexpected
They walk silently toward the nearest carriage. All three of them need a moment of silence as the shadow of their mother fades in the distance, not one of the Black’s children looks back.
- Regina ? your hair so long now
what he doesn’t says is “my little brother hair are cut short now”
She says :
- You like it ?
She didn’t say : “Are you proud of him ?”
- Very much !
He helped Regina get on the train. Sirius reach out to help one more :
- your turn..
“What.. his name ? again ?” How did he forget his little brother’s name ? It is the worst thing he ever did. Asking isn’t an option. It’s a name Sirius never heard before.
- no need. Is the quick answer Sirius gets.
Regina finds her way to James, it’s now or never if Sirius wants to have a word in private.
- wait !
Sirius grabs Regulus' arms.
- what ?
- we need to talk, don’t you think ?
- We had all summer to talk!... if you wanted to. This sentence is full of accusations. Sirius usually misses underlined messages but not this one. Sirius didn’t came back for summer, yes, he knows. Regulus looks up, from the looks on his little brother's face… Brushing this off isn’t the move.
_______________
at the same time in the Hogwarts express
- Hola ! you must be Sirius's little sister, but are you Leonie or Regina ?
- James ?
- Yeah
- Sirius didn’t say you were brown.
James eye’s widen and Regina’s face turns red. James laugh to this, because what else is there to do?
- didn’t he ? Can I take your suitcase little girl ?
James waits for her to agree, but Regina is too ashamed to speak. She hands him her suitcase instead.
- take a sit !
- i’m sitting next to Regulus
- Who ?
Sirius and Regulus are approaching. Regina take her chance, as fast as she can :
- Sirius called “her” Leonie but it’s my brother, it’s my brother’s name, he is Regulus. Remember it.
James hands leaves the suitcase compartment so slowly. He carefully nods and takes a step back to not freak her out more. Merlin ! she must look like a frightened lost kitten, right now. It did came out more desperate than how she expected. She really failed every step of the way with “the James Potter.”
It's too late now. Regulus and Sirius enter James sight :
- Ho hey Regulus !
- I'm not sitting with a Griffon d’or, let’s go Regina
..
- Regulus !
- okay, James said, he wasn’t actively listening anyway. He was only focus on : not, messing, up, to not call Sirius sibling anything else “Regulus, Regulus, Regulus, Regulus, it’s Regulus”
- No ! it’s not okay James, correct Sirius.
Sirius leaves James' carriage to run after Regulus and Regina.
Regina is looking back, but she doesn't drop Regulus' leading hand.
- Regulus !
the train starts moving under their feet. Regulus opens one carriage and closes it after Regina.
In the rush he didn’t check if the carriage was full or not.
He turns around praying it wasn't full.
A boy it's sitting by the window
- Hello ? My name is Barty ! Sit
He is surrendered by many suitcases because he is too short to put them above his head on his own. Barty moves the one next to him to free some space.
- Thanks, Regulus is so relieved.
the door fly open :
- Regulus ! you own an apology to James
- over my dead body ! Now get out !
- So you won’t sit with us but this random kid could be as much as a Griffon d’or as James or me in a couple of hours.
- Me ? Never ! Barty reaction is immediate
- You stay out of this
Sirius wants his kid gone.
- Barty, I think we are going to be great friends. Nice to meet you !
- Nice to meet you too ! what’s your name ?
- Regulus black !
- Regulus, I'm talking to you ! his big brother is losing his patience.
- you don’t get to call me like that Sirius
- Barty since we are going to be in the same house, same dorm and all, do you want to be my new Best friend ?
- laisse-moi savoir si tu préfères son surnom ? Leo like I used to ??
The threat makes Reglus' blood run cold. Until Barty take his hand to shake firmly
- HAHAaa sure ! your funny enough
- I know what you are doing and it's ridiculous, Sirius is no longer entertained
Regulus voice is like a whisper now, his act is falling apart :
- you started it..
Barty stand up and use is most intimidating 11 years old voice :
- I think my new best friend wants you to leave !
Regulus is thankful for the backing up, for the welcoming seats.
When Regulus opens his eyes Sirius is gone. Regina is having an episode of dissociation, she will come back to her when the tension in the air fade.
Regulus lets out all the air trap in his lungs
- You’re okay ? mate ? Who was that ?
- My big brother. Thanks for the helping hand, I don't hold you to what you said earlier. The new best friend part.
- I liked that part !
later at the buffet table
- How was your little trip to King Cross ? ask Remus when he sits next to Sirius.
James shrugs his shoulder when he give his take on the matter :
- It wasn’t boring for sure !
Sirius correct the statement :
- It was awful Remus. Mother turned my little brother into a perfect little puppet !
no word coming out of his mouth can be trusted.
James announce the big new so Sirius don’t have to :
- He made it clear : He —don’t— want to be in … Griffon d’or.
Remus put a hand on Sirius shoulder :
- Oh I'm sorry Sirius… I know you would have loved to have him with you, but… we never know.
Peter sit next to James in front of Sirius :
- It won't be the first time a Black bit the odds ! Peter wink at Sirius.
- And your sister ? Ask Remus.
Sirius straightens up :
- Regina ? you're supposed to stay with the first year
Peter and James turn around to find little Regina Black at the Griffon d’or table.
She leaned toward the table in between Peter and James. James moves to the right, Peter moves to the left. Regina carefully avoid touching them when she to put a letter in front of Sirius :
- It's from mom. Maybe..You shouldn’t read it.
She looks concerned but she doesn't waste more time where she isn’t supposed to be.
Sirius stand up so fast but don’t shout :
- Regina wait ! if you had the choice, you would choose Griffon d’or ?
- Mate, don't ask her that.
James catches the double edge to the question. This one is the same type of question as “choose between your mom or dad, right now” You don’t want the answer. Especially when you are obviously hurt.
- I choose him. Sirius don’t act surprised.
She don’t look back but the way she walks out, she is visibly upset.
The sorting ceremony starts. Sirius waits for his friends to focus on the sorting hat,before opening the letter.
“Sirius this letter is addressed to you
I path as been made for Regulus Black
If i can’t make him a boy,
I will made him a proper heir
for the noble house of black.
There is not a doubt in me,
I raised a Slytherin
Don’t bring him down, with your impure thoughts.
Don’t think i don’t have my eyes everywhere
A Son for a Son.
Walburga Black.”
- REGULUS BLACK ! the sorting hat shout
The verdict don't come right away. Sirius hopes are up to the roof ! He crushes the paper
“please, please, please, please, don’t let her win, please not my baby brother.”
SLYTHERINNN !
it’s over, it’s done. He is the enemy, Sirius' eyes turn cold. The word written on this letter by his mother's hands reaches his veins like a deadly poison.
“His mother replaced him”
“his sister didn’t chose him”
“his brother is lost”
His thoughts are so loud.
Sirius doesn't have the space to listen no more, later Peter will tell him, a bit surprised he didn’t register the information. His little sister too was sorted in slytherin. More precisly the hybrid house of slyth-puff. But that nuance won't make much difference.