Chapter One
To Mr. Regulus A. Black,
We are pleased to inform you that your status has been determined to be: Little: Class: Baby.
Please expect an additional owl within the next week with a delivery and more information.
Regulus wanted to burn the letter. In fact, he probably should. If his mother ever saw it… well, he actually didn’t want to think about that.
“Incendio.” He whispered, watching the paper turn to ash as the flame consumed it.
Just his luck. A baby. Being a little was bad enough in itself but at least the older ones could be a bit self-reliant. Regulus had expected to be a little (though he would never admit it to anyone), but he was hoping to be a bit older. For Salazar’s sake he had to go back to school tomorrow. Was he just supposed to hop on the train and pretend like everything was fine?
In the back of his mind he wanted his brother. Sirius had always been there to protect him, Sirius had always known what to do, but Sirius was gone.
That was fine. Regulus could make a plan, he was very good at planning. All he needed to do was never let anyone find out he was a little and never regress in front of another person. Easy.
He was already good at making himself seem unapproachable. And if anyone did try to approach him, he had full confidence in his ability to find an excuse to leave. Avoiding people was his specialty.
He crept across the cold hardwood floor of his bedroom and slid under a thick comforter. He reached under his pillow and grabbed hold of his kitten. Regulus used to sleep with his kitten every night but he was far too embarrassed to bring him to school. Now he only allowed himself to cuddle with his stuffie during the summer and winter holidays. It was one of the only things that made him like being at home.
The light of the moon beamed into his room through the cracks in his curtain and pictured the night sky as he drifted off to sleep.
—
James woke at dawn. Though he wasn’t at school and the Quidditch season wouldn’t start for another month, it was a habit of his to rise early.
He got out of bed and began to stretch, then walked over to his curtains and pulled them open, letting in the soft morning light.
From the other side of his bed, there was a groan. Sirius had fallen asleep in his room again. Over the years, James learned that he much preferred not to sleep alone. Sometimes he wondered why Sirius had his own bed when he pretty much solely slept in James’ room.
“Come on pads, rise and shine.” In response Sirius yanked the covers over his head and James sighed, “Mum said we’re leaving in a couple of hours and you haven’t even finished packing yet.” Sirius ignored him.
James decided to leave it be and made his way downstairs. His mother was laughing at something their elf Dolly had said as they cooked and his father sat at the table reading the Prophet.
He went into the kitchen and bid everyone good morning. “James! Perfect timing. Will you be a dear and set the table for breakfast?” He gave his mother a quick hug and went to do as she said.
“Sirius still sleeping then?” His father called from his chair, setting his paper aside and standing up to help his son.
James grinned, “Course he is. Says he needs his beauty sleep and all that.” His father laughed and they continued to talk as they laid the table out for five.
His mother called that breakfast was ready and Sirius appeared at the top of the stairs not a moment later, rubbing his eyes tiredly. James dragged him over to the table and sat him down. “Is worms coming over for breakfast then?” He asked mid yawn.
James looked at the clock, “Nah, bet you he’s lost one of his chocolate frog cards and is tearing up his room looking for it.”
Sirius laughed, “Remember the first time Remus got one?”
“The one with Dumbledore and his phoenix?”
“Swear I saw steam coming out of his ears he was so jealous.” James and Sirius burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter and their mom made a stern face and put her hands on her hips.
“You two leave him alone for Merlin’s sake. Need I remind you of the World Cup incident?” That shut them both up very quickly. Both of them had been appalled when Peter got personally invited to the final game by the entire team of North Macedonia after showing them muggle magic tricks.
“Speaking of Quidditch, James, have you decided how you’re going to proceed with tryouts this year?” The sound of his father’s voice caught James’ attention.
He quickly went into a rant about several tryout options he had in mind. It was all James had been able to think about during the summer. The team needed a chaser, seeker, and keeper now that Frank, Alice, and Archer had graduated. Technically they needed a new beater too because Sirius had been taken off of the team, but James was set on getting him to try out again.
After breakfast things began to get a bit chaotic. “Sirius dear, please don’t put off your packing next time.” Their mom was currently watching as Sirius rushed around to get all of his things together.
“I’m so sorry Effie- James have you done something with my copy of Rubber Soul?” Sirius was currently tearing apart the entire third floor as he frantically tried to find all of his things.
“Pads you packed it last night.” James said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Their father called down from the sitting room. “Boys we can mail you anything you forget, the train leaves in twenty minutes we really need to be going.”
“Yeah we’re coming dad.” James called.
Sirius looked at James nervously and whispered, “Um Prongs?”
“Yeah?”
Sirius glanced around the room to make sure that they were alone, “Can you um- it’s just that I- well sometimes-“ James waited patiently for him to say whatever he needed to. “It’s just that I can't find my pacifier anywhere and sometimes I really need it to fall asleep so could you help me look for it?” Sirius mumbled.
“Oh yeah. Sirius of course I can. Here just, why don’t you sit down, I can find it.” James led Sirius to his bed and sat him down and then started to look for the pacifier. Sirius hugged a pillow to his chest as he watched James search.
James was trying to find it as quickly as possible because he could tell it was making Sirius very anxious. Not just that he didn’t have his pacifier but that he had asked James in the first place. His regression was not something that he liked to talk about, even though he had told James months ago.
“Wait, you were engaged to Laura Selwyn? But then why did…”
“James I- they didn’t make me leave because I’m…gay.” Sirius explained, “On the night that I left, she… she used legilimency on me and she saw…” he trailed off.
James gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me Sirius.”
His friend's eyes bulged, “No! I want to, it's just,” He took a deep breath. “James I’m a little. My mother saw a memory of me when I was regressed and she… she…” Sirius couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence.
James pulled him into a tight hug. “It’s okay Pads. I’m here.”
James opened the drawer to Sirius’ desk and pulled out a bold red pacifier with a little lion that he recognized as Sirius’ favorite. “Found it. Ready to go?”
Sirius gave no response so James called out again, “Padfoot?” He turned around to find Sirius nodding off on his bed and he smiled.