there's nothing wrong with you (there's something wrong with the village)

Regulus Black arrived on the Potter’s doorstep in the dead of night, exactly two weeks after Hogwarts released its students back to their families. Hair matted to his neck with blood from the long laceration where his head had slammed into the coffee table when the Cruciatus Curse ended. His expensive dress was ripped where he’d shortened it after tripping over it repeatedly as he ran through the quiet streets of Godrick’s Hollow.

Fear shot through him as he approached the small porch, finding Effie looking over him with sadness in her eyes. “Oh my child.” She whispered as he came close. He was sure she could see his blood-covered face from the porch.

“Is Sirius here?”

Effie shook her head and looked up toward the full moon.

“Ah, I didn’t think, my apologies.” He nodded sharply before turning.

“Please, stay. You’re welcome here.”

Regulus met her eyes, looking for anything even close to deceit, but instead he found nothing but soft, tired eyes.

He nodded and followed her in.

He wasn’t surprised when Effie informed him, he’d had multiple broken bones. A wrist, three ribs, fingers and toes- everything was numb to him. He knew there would be damage, as the torture had begun in the early evening.

After Effie healed his injuries, he’d gone to the loo to shower it off.

Looking at himself in the mirror, his hair wet, long and heavy, he couldn’t stand the image staring back at him.

In the top drawer, he found a pair of scissors. He doesn’t remember too much of the process, but by the time Effie had found him, the hair that had once hung close to his arse, was now just past his shoulders in come chunks, while others were as high as to his ears.

“What are you doing, love?” Effie asked softly as she stood in the doorway.

“It’s still too long!” Regulus sobbed as he clipped another bunch of inky black strands, immediately letting it all fall from his hand as he grabbed another handful.

“Will you let me help you?” Effie wondered aloud. “I can take it as short as you’d like.”

“I-I don’t- I-” Regulus’ breathing was laboured as he tried to find words to explain what he was- why he was there.

“Let’s start simple, can I come closer?”

Regulus nodded. He watched her as she came further into the room.

She stood in the scraps of his once perfect hair while he stood in the ruins of his once perfect life.

“Turn, face the mirror.”

Regulus did as she asked.

Her eyes found his in the mirror. “May I touch you?”

Regulus held his breath as he nodded.

He didn’t like to be touched by anyone, but he wanted the hair gone.

She started running her fingers through the choppy length, the sensation was surprisingly soothing. “Do you know about how short you want it?”

“Short.” Was all he could find to say.

“I can do that.” She nodded as she grasped the scissors still in Regulus’ right hand. She looked at him in the mirror, to meet his eyes. “May I?”

Regulus let her take the scissors from his hand.

The first long snip of the scissors to the hair at the back of his head brought fresh tears to his eyes.

“What is your name, lovely?” Effie hummed, not taking her eyes off of the scissors as she snipped away at the locks.

“Ca-”

Effie cleared her throat. “Your name sweetheart, what is it?”

“Regulus.” He breathed. It was the first time he’d said his desired name out loud. He’d decided on it over two years earlier, but he’d never been able to bring himself to speak it.

“Ah, Regulus, the heart of the Lion.” She smiled softly. “Arcturus, I’m supposing.”

Regulus nodded eagerly, desperate for someone to understand. To understand him.

He let her continue, as he’d zoned out. Off to a place in his mind where he fantasized, he could live as Regulus.

“Regulus?” Her voice broke through the fog.

“Yes?” He cringed at the sound of his own voice.

“Look.”

Regulus blinked his eyes clear before peering into the mirror. His hair was short, so short, the lack of weight made him a bit dizzy. He ran his fingers through what was left. The sides and back were quite short, but the top was a bit longer, it sat in two waves, falling to the side. Just enough to keep a bit of personality.

Without the length, his high cheekbones were on display, his sharp jaw looked more pronounced than he’d ever seen.

“What do you think, Regulus?” Effie asked calmly.

Regulus whirled around and attached himself to the woman, throwing his arms around her neck. “Thank you, Mrs. Potter.”

Effie shook her head as she wrapped her arms around the young boy. “It’s Effie, baby, my name is Effie.”

“Thank you, Effie.” Regulus cried softly.

Effie nodded. “I don’t know what you’re going through, but I’ll help you any way I can. Monty has some potions that might help, I know of a few glamours that may help too. I can teach you after breakfast.”

Regulus pulled back, tears streaming down his face.

“This is why they hurt you, isn’t it?” Effie asked, her tone calm but the fire in her eyes blazed betrayed her calm demeanour.

Regulus nodded his head.

“Oh, my sweet boy.” She pulled him into her arms once more. “You’ll always be allowed to be yourself here.”

“No one knows- not even Sirius.” Regulus whimpered into the embrace.

“Do you want to tell them?’

Regulus pulled back and nodded again. “I have to.”

“Do you want help?”

Regulus looked back in the mirror, at himself, then at her eyes, watching his face. “Yes.”

Effie gave him a small smile.