3
Sirius doesn't know what he just heard come out of Regulus' mouth but it sounded insane. Apparently, other people thought the same.
There was a big commotion of 'hows' and 'whys' before one voice in particular sneaked its way through the crowd.
When Dumbledore spoke, everyone listened. "Mr. Black, why do you assume time travel?"
Regulus glares at him. "Because the last I remember it was 1979, and if you are telling the truth," Regulus nods towards Andy, "and the tapestry does say I'm dead. Then I'm from a different timeline." He states that it's an obvious conclusion.
"Black has a point Dumbledore," Snape said, the slow drawl of his voice just as annoying as it was back in Sirius' Hogwarts years. As much as Sirius would love to counter Snape's point he couldn't, time travel was really the only logical way, and it wasn't very logical at all.
Once the room was quietened down, Dumbledore ordered that the meeting was done and that Regulus needed to stay behind for an interrogation. Regulus didn't protest, but Sirius knew he wasn't just going to down the veritaserum and be done with it, although Sirius was quickly ushered out of the room before he could see what happened.
Remus and Sirius found the kids lingering outside the door, trying to hear what all the commotion was about. Poor Molly was quickly berated by her own children leaving Harry to talk to Sirius.
Remus nodded in understanding and went to his own room so Sirius could explain the limited information to Harry. As Sirius expected Harry had many questions.
Sirius sighed, "Harry, I'm sorry, this is all confusing to me as well. That person who appeared was my younger brother, Regulus, I showed him to you on the tapestry."
He was met with a confused look. "Sirius, you told me he was dead, and that person was certainly not dead."
Sirius couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Yeah, that's what he said too. Look kid, I don't know how he got there but, Regulus thinks time travel was involved."
Harry sighed. "If you need to know about time travel, Hermiones the one to talk to."
Sirius feels bad for the kid, he was under a lot of stress lately because he used magic underage, and Dumbledore was doing fuck all to help him.
"Thanks, Harry," Sirius replies with a smile before walking off to try to listen to what's happening with Regulus' interrogation.
Sirius walks up to the door to find Moony pushed up against it.
Sirius grins, "Moony? eavesdropping? You're just like the kids."
Remus whips around, "You're hardly one to judge considering you're here for the exact same reason Sirius." He says with an unimpressed look on his face. "shut it, I'm trying to listen."
Before either of them could hear a thing the door in front of them swung open to reveal, a slightly frazzled and angry, Regulus. He gave the pair a withering stare.
"I'm in the order." He says plainly and then storms upstairs.
Remus and Sirius look at each other before Sirius storms upstairs right up after Regulus.
"Sirius, don't it's not worth it," Remus calls after him whilst Sirius continues to climb up the stairs two at a time.
Sirius slammed the door open to Regulus' room and walked, not so calmly, towards him.
"What do you mean, you're in the order? Regulus what the fuck happened?" Sirius grabbed his brother by the shoulders and physically shook him, maybe he could shake all the stupid ideas out of his head.
"Dumbledore put me in the order, for my protection and because he needs my help. Sorry that all you think I'm capable of is evil, whatever the fuck evil even means." Regulus swiftly replied back, tongue sharp.
"You're protection?" Sirius let go of Regulus, "What do you mean, who do you need protection from?"
"The dark lord, of course, I never took you for an idiot Sirius."
Sirius took a second to process the information. "You defected?" He asks as Regulus pushes past him only to be met with Remus by the doorway.
"Yes, I defected." Regulus turns back towards Sirius. "Who has control of Kreature?"
Sirius furrowed his eyebrows, "Kreature, that batty old house elf? I do."
"I need you to call him for me." He says immediately.
"What, why? Regulus you need to start explaining." Sirius said firmly.
"I don't need to explain anything, Sirius, just call him." Unfortunately for Sirius, Regulus was being a lot more stubborn.
Sirius calls Kreacher and the familiar little house elf appeard.
Kreacher clasps his hands together and looks to the floor, "What would the filthy blood traitor master want from poor Kreacher?" Sirius sighs, Kreacher Isn't really allowed in Grimmauld Place anymore since he called Hermione a mudblood and screamed at her to get out. She insisted that she was used to it but Sirius wasn't having it.
"Kreacher!" Regulus exclaimed. Sirius remembers that Regulus always did like Kreacher more than most people like their house elves.
Kreacher turned around, "Master Regulus! But, you died in the water. My eyes must be playing tricks on me." He says and bangs his hands into his eyes like that would help. Regulus bends down, grabs Kreacher's hands, and pulls them away from the house elf's face.
"Kreacher this is urgent, do you have the locket? The one from the cave."
Kreacher nods hesitantly. He snaps his fingers and in his hand appears a gold locket. He hands it to Regulus, "I kept it safe like you asked, hid it in the library but when all the filthy blood traitors and mudbloods moved in and started burning books I took it back."
Regulus looks up towards Sirius, thanks Kreacher, and stands up. "Burning books? What books have you been burning?" He asks, a glower forming on his face.
"Never mind that." Sirius hissed, "What is that locket, and why is it so special?"
"Answer my question and I'll answer yours," Regulus says, clasping the locket so tight it turns his knuckles white.
Sirius sighed, he knew Regulus would be angry if he told him that the order had been burning books that held knowledge about dark arts. "Mother books, the old ones that date back centuries."
As he expected, Regulus wasn't all too happy. "What? Sirius those books are so important, do you know the knowledge they hold?" Regulus raises his voice.
"And that's exactly why we have to get rid of them, what if they fall into the wrong hands?" Sirius shouts back at him.
"Who are the 'wrong hands'? Me?" Regulus asks defensively.
"Potentially, yes!"
Regulus went back downstairs after that.
Moony slipped into the room and gave Sirius a comforting look. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, It's just hard having him back now. It's all been so sudden." Sirius replies. Moony walks closer and pushes him into a hug.
"It is going to be different for you, him instantly popping back into your life." He says, "But you'll get used to it eventually."