Sirius and Regulus stood beside each other, gazes averted and arms crossed. The oldest of the two had thought little about being asked to remain after class to meet with Professor McGonagall. There was merely the matter of his brother appearing a few minutes into waiting that earned a raised eyebrow and the silent treatment.
Three weeks into the school year. Seven months disowned. The feeling of guilt at leaving Regulus behind hadn’t gotten any easier, and he couldn’t explain that there hadn’t been a choice on the matter. Not unless he wanted to admit both parents had done more than simply sticking to using the cruciatus curse and occasionally smacking him around. There was no use in doing so - not when it came with the risk of ruining whatever warped view of family values his brother had.
The silence was becoming too much, leaving Sirius looking sideways in Regulus’ direction. They locked eyes, and he cleared his throat.
“What did you do?” Sirius asked, shifting his gaze to his fingers' chipped black nail polish. A glare was the only response, so he rolled his eyes. “No, seriously. What did you do? I haven’t done anything-” The rest of the thought hung in the air, the brothers sent flinching back since McGonagall’s office door opened.
The effects of the professor’s presence were almost immediate, earning a shift in posture from the Black brothers. Sirius and Regulus stood up straight and looked down at the ground, each moving their arms behind their backs and crossing their hands at the wrists. Even with the work done by Mrs. Potter over the summer, Sirius still couldn’t quite shake the traits his life-givers had ingrained in him.
“Sirius, Regulus,” Professor McGonagall greeted. Her expression was more serious than Sirius had seen in a while. It was enough to make him shift awkwardly on the balls of his feet. “Please come in.”
Entering the office caused him and Regulus to remain close to the door, aware that Professor Slughorn was also in the room.
“Look, if you are trying to get us to reconcile, it isn’t going to be that -” Sirius trailed off since Professor McGonagall hushed him.
“Sit,” She murmured, adding a “please” when the boys risked a glance at each other. “Neither of you are in trouble.” The additional statement didn’t ease the tension the brothers shared. They knew better than to hesitate and claimed the two empty chairs across from her desk, looking down at their laps.
“We wanted to check in,” Professor Slughorn murmured. The other professor’s presence did little to ease Sirius’ nerves. It had to be something family related. That much was obvious, but he couldn’t quite figure out what exactly since McGonagall and Slughorn had taken to handling his and Regulus’ outbursts separately.
“Get on with it then,” Regulus didn’t look up when he spoke. Sirius gave a nod in agreement.
It was the professors’ turn to exchange a wary glance. They hadn’t known what to expect going into things, more concerned about the brothers’ behaviors now that they were in the same room.
“The charms Professor reached out to the two of us,” Slughorn continued. Regulus took a sharp breath in, earning a look of concern from Sirius. Neither boy said a word, though, knowing there was likely more to be said. “Shared a similar concern about the two of you.”
“I have been on my best behavior this week,” Sirius murmured. “Not taking the blame for whatever Regulus did and certainly not going to tell him to behave.”
“I already said neither of you is in trouble,” Minerva grimaced and shook her head, realizing a blunt approach would be necessary. “I need an explanation.” There was a beat of silence where Regulus and Sirius properly exchanged a glance.
“Sirius, I suppose I am at fault for not having questioned it the first time it was brought up,” She sighed. The concerned looks from the brothers did little to make the conversation any easier. “But to have the same concern mentioned for both brothers…”
“Can you come out with it?” Regulus finally risked looking up at Professor McGonagall. He knew what would be brought up - that much he was certain of since the looks of concern from Dorcas and Evan had been just as bad as the charm’s professor’s expression in proving he slipped up.
The mask of disinterest was one he mastered well before Hogwarts. A close look would reveal a worried brow and quivering lip. Sirius could see right through it, but the professors wouldn’t.
“Why did you tell the professor the cruciatus curse is legal?” Minerva asked after another moment of silence. More silence followed. Sirius’ posture slipped. He seemed desperate to curl into himself. Regulus remained still, opting to raise an eyebrow and do the talking.
“Why do you need to know?” He steeled himself and elbowed Sirius in the side, regretting the decision since it made him flinch and sit upright. “Not helping.” Regulus’ whisper was low enough not to catch the professors’ attention and just loud enough for Sirius to hear.
"The curse in question is deemed unforgivable,” Professor Slughorn interjected. “It is alarming that two children from the same family have made the same statement about the curse being legal.”
“No one cared when I said it, so why is his saying it concerning?” Sirius’ voice shook when he spoke. He had never been good at disguising his emotions - a fact that Walburga pointed out when dealing out punishments - and would have been more than happy to let Reggie do the talking.
"You know how our cousins can be,” Regulus shook his head and commented, “Plus, it's well known that our family has an interest in the Dark Arts."
"I understand," Minerva sighed, understanding why she and Horace had decided to handle the brothers separately when their emotions got too intense. They had not even addressed the main issue yet, and it was already exhausting to deal with both of them at once. "But I have reason to believe something may be happening at home."
“Shouldn’t our parents be here then?” Sirius snapped. Anger, anxiety, and annoyance had taken over, and there would be no going back. “Get their side of the story since that was good enough every other time someone felt like prying.”
"Please be mindful of your tone, Mr. Black," Horace warned. "The concern is regarding your safety and that of your brother. We must gather information from both of you before involving your parents."
“No one cared when mum sent howlers berating me and threatening to make me wish I wasn’t born when I got home for the holidays,” Sirius spoke through gritted teeth.
At his request, the Potters hadn’t notified the school that they were taking over his guardianship. Apparently, it had been respected since the professors had yet to question it.
“Or questioned why he was the only one on the receiving end of the howlers,” Regulus added. “Surely that is of more concern than the confusion about unforgivable curses.”
Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn exchanged a look. There was a beat, then Minerva sighed.
“We weren’t able to step in until recently,” She admitted. “Now I need an honest answer. Were either of you exposed to the curse at home?” It was, unfortunately, the only logical reason they could come up with for the shared confusion before the brothers. Textbooks would have stated the legality of things.
Her question was met with silence from the Black brothers. Sirius was back to looking down at his lap, and Regulus had his eyes narrowed, gaze shifting back and forth between the professors.
“You are too late in trying to intervene,” Regulus shrugged. “And we don’t need to answer that. I know Father would prefer my keeping silent until someone can provide legal advice to me.”
“And your brother?” Professor Slughorn fixed his gaze on Sirius, an eyebrow rising when the teen wouldn’t look at him.
“Surely you heard the news from someone in your club, Professor,” Sirius whispered. An unexpected hiccough followed after his words.
“News?” Minerva asked, glare fixed on Horace since she was ready to fly off the handle if he held back information.
"I'm afraid I have not," said Horace, shaking his head. "Could you please explain what I've missed, Mr. Black?"
“I am no longer part of the family,” Sirius scowled, hands balling into fists before he continued. Angry tears fell down his cheeks, and he didn’t bother to wipe them away. “Kicked out since mum had enough of imperio and crucio failing to keep me under control. She introduced them at age four.”
“I am the heir now,” Regulus forced a smile, voice taking on an overly chipper tone in saying things. “More than enough memories to offer up if you need proof of what Siri said.”
The professors were concerningly silent in response to the brothers’ statements. It explained the bickering and explosive outbursts the two had shown from day one of returning to school. Explained the behaviors and left far too many questions left unanswered.
“The Potters took me in,” Sirius mumbled, needing to fill the silence from the adults. “Mum wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Regulus. She never…” He paused to glance at Regulus for confirmation. The two-year age gap between them had been worrisome enough since it meant he wasn’t there to shield Regulus once at school. Regulus shook his head and mouthed the word ‘never’ in response.
“Never needed to take the hands-on approach with him,” He shook his head. “Nothing to worry about on that end and nothing to worry about with the Potters taking me in. She made it clear I’m not welcome back.”
Minerva shifted her gaze to Regulus, taking in the younger boy’s appearance. Nothing stood out besides the confusion on unforgivable curses and offering to hand memories over. The latter was a rather bold thing to share, and she was almost tempted to ask if that was a jest or not.
“I can handle myself,” Regulus spat out upon deciding the Professor’s gaze lingered on him for too long. If the statement proved a lie, it would mean spending more time at Evan or Barty’s - both of which were homes he already frequented unless it was clear the entire family was required at Grimmauld Place.
“Was that all?” Sirius asked when neither Professor spoke up, taking on a haughty expression despite having given up more information than he could appreciate.
“The memories?” Professor Slughorn beat Professor McGonagall to saying anything. Sirius and Regulus took on matching annoyed expressions and crossed their arms over their chests.
“I am willing to give them up, but that is on Sirius to decide,” Regulus shrugged. “Nothing was ever done to me.”
“Only if Walburga decides to fight if the Potters try to properly gain guardianship of me,” Sirius grimaced. “Otherwise, I want things kept quiet. James doesn’t know the whole story.” He paused and glanced at his brother. “Regulus doesn’t either. That… may be to blame for our throwing hexes across the Great Hall.”
“Well, that is decided,” Horace nodded. “I have no other reason to hold them here unless you were looking for something more, Professor McGonagall.”
“That will be all,” Minerva answered. “I will need to document this conversation, though.” Not that anything would come out of it since the headmaster was all too content with allowing anything involving the pureblood families to remain strictly within the family’s jurisdiction.
The brothers didn’t say anything else upon being dismissed, keeping quiet until certain they were out of earshot of their heads of house.
“She threatened to kill me,” Sirius admitted before Regulus went to head downstairs. “Five minutes to gather my things and not a word to you since she wasn’t about to have me taint your thoughts.”
“She wouldn’t have,” Regulus blanched. Even in saying so, he couldn’t be so certain. "I wouldn't have gone if you had asked, but it was still impolite to disappear without leaving a note."
“No time for it,” Sirius shook his head. “I have the dagger scars to prove it.” He winced at the look of concern Regulus gave since he hadn’t mentioned the more physical aspects of their mother’s mistreatment toward him. “You only heard part of the yelling.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Regulus winced. “No wonder you ran then. I guess I should say I am sorry for hexing you the first day of school.”
“And I’m sorry I returned the favor,” Sirius grimaced. “Narcissa’s still being at school hasn’t made things any easier. Wasn’t like I could pull you aside and spill everything without it seeming suspicious.”
“No, I suppose not,” Regulus frowned. “I still care about you but… What else am I supposed to do besides act like I hate your guts?”
“I don’t know,” Sirius bit his lower lip, chewing on it a moment before continuing. “But if you figure something out, let me know. It would make everything a little easier if I don’t have my baby brother constantly giving me the cold shoulder.”
“I will,” Regulus nodded, then took off down the stairs. He wasn’t even in the mood for dinner anymore. Unsurprisingly, Sirius wasn’t either.