Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chair
Regulus looked up from where he sat under a large oak tree, just to see Remus coming around the side of the house.
The reveal of Regulus’ new identity was only days old; Regulus had spent most of his time hiding about and moving stealthily so no one would have a moment to say much to him.
While he denied being afraid of what the others would think, he couldn’t lie to himself.
“May I?” Remus gestured to a spot not far away, but still under the shade of the tree.
Regulus nodded before going back to his book.
Remus sat down in the spot he’d asked to, keeping a few feet distance between them. The spine of his book made a satisfying crack as he opened it.
Regulus tried to concentrate on his book, he really did. After rereading the same page three times without comprehending a single word, he hastily shut his book and set it down beside him and glared Remus’ way. “Well?”
“A deep hole full of water.” Remus responded without looking up from his book.
“Whatever you have to say, spit it out already. Go on, laugh at the freakshow.” Regulus sneered.
“Brilliant. You saw right through me, Regulus.” Remus deadpanned before rolling his eyes.
“Why else-”
“You’re not the only one who likes to read outside.” Remus shrugged as he fixed his bookmark into place and set it off to the side. “Go ahead, have your Black Dramatics™ fit, you have my full attention now.”
“My what?!” Regulus demanded.
“Don’t worry, your brother has his fits too. I’m well versed in how to handle them by now.”
“You’re assuming I’m going to throw a tantrum-”
“You’re assuming I’m going to, what exactly? Spew some hatred at you? You’re assuming you know how I think. You’re assuming a lot about me and expect me not to assume you’re about to throw a tantrum when you share the same tells as Sirius?” Remus scoffed. “I’ve been handling Sirius Black for seven years now, I think I can handle his younger brother.”
“What?” Regulus sat stunned. He’d heard his correct pronouns used by Effie and Monty, even overheard James referring to him as he once, but the term ‘brother’ leaving Remus’ mouth seemed to hit him. His brain felt as though it shut down and had to restart. His eyes fell to his hands in his lap.
“Your brother has been one of my best friends for almost seven years now, I think I can handle his little brother.” Remus spoke slower, softer than before.
“One more time?” Regulus whispered as his eyes welled with tears.
“You’re Sirius’ little brother, Regulus.”
Regulus looked over to see Remus smiling softly at him, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. “For you, it’s brother. For me, It’s the first time Monty referred to me as son.”
“For you?” Regulus whispered as he kept eye contact with Remus.
Remus nodded. “I’m like you.”
“How?”
Remus smiled sadly in understanding. “My only saving grace was my mum listening to me as a child. My father walked out long before; I don’t know if he even knows. Mum worked with Poppy; she gives me my potions on time at school. The Potters have been instrumental in helping with everything. Mum’s a muggle, so all of the magic ended up falling on the shoulders of Effie and Monty. Effie scoured the world for ancient and hard to find books for hidden glamours for people like us.”
“And Hogwarts?”
Remus shrugged. “Minnie’s good about it. She, Mum and the Potters fought for me to be put in the boys' dorms. Monty threatened to go to the ministry. I don’t know how hard it will be for you in Slytherin, but we have your back.”
Regulus nodded dumbly.
“If you choose to start the potions and have questions, or need help with the glamours- or anything really, you can come to me.” Remus assured him. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll be by your side.”
“Thank you.” Regulus whispered as tears ran down his cheeks in steady streams. “I was so scared about what Siri might think of me.”
“He thought so.” Remus hummed. “James was worried it was him.”
“It was everyone, kind of.” Regulus admitted as he shut his eyes.
“I know how it is.” Remus confirmed. “You’re not alone anymore. We can share the burden, and you don’t get to tell me no about this. I know how much you want to deal with it all on your own, but that’s not healthy. Let us shoulder some of the weight.”
“I don’t know how.” Regulus cried quietly.
“Well, lucky for you, James and I taught one Black brother already, we can teach another.” Remus nodded as he saw Regulus open his eyes. “Now I have a stash of goods in my room here, want to go be a stupid teenage boy for a bit?”
Regulus nodded gratefully as he wiped his tears.
Hours later, James and Sirius found the pair of unlikely friends curled up together on Remus’ bed, sound asleep and surrounded by chocolate frog wrappers and empty bottles of butterbeer.
Sirius spelled the rubbish into the bin beside Remus’ bed while James laid a lightweight blanket over each of them.
Before leaving the room, Sirius picked up Remus’ muggle camera and snapped a photograph. He grabbed a pen from Remus’ desk and scrawled ”Regulus’ first sleepover!” along the lower margin of the photograph before quadrupling it. He laid two copies on Remus’ desk and took the other two for himself and James.
“Do you think he’s going to be okay?” James asked hesitantly as they left the room.
“I think Reg is going to be just fine.” Sirius smiled softly. “Break his heart and I’ll break your face, Prongs.”
James stopped dead in his tracks. Sirius turned back to see James staring at him wide eyed. “I- Padfoot-”
Sirius put his hand up in a ‘stop’ gesture. “Prongs. I love you, I’ve known you for far too long to not notice. Just- don't hurt him.”
“I’d never.” James vowed before sighing. “I doubt he’d even like me like that.”
“Oh Prongs, you stupid, stupid man.” Sirius rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Looks like you’ll just have to find out.”
“And we’re okay? You’re okay with- with the possibility?”
Sirius shrugged. “It’s weird to me. Him being my brother, you being my chosen brother. Feels almost like incest, but if you’re into that, I suppose.”
Sirius laughed louder than he should have as he watched a flurry of emotions cross James’ face.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine with it.” Sirius shook his head once he finally calmed himself. “If there’s one person that could be good enough for him, well, I think it’d be you, Prongsy boy.”
“Thank you, Pads.” James’ eyes lit up with hope.
Sirius thought, for not the first time, that maybe, just maybe, they were all going to be fine.