Potter-Black

“Master Black, Master Black,” Regulus heard the knocks on his door grow louder as the servant tried to get him to come out.

“Master Black we really should be going now,” no, Regulus thought. I shouldn’t be going at all. Sirius should. Sirius should be here.

“Just a minute Kercher,” he said from behind the door fixing his tie and overcoat. Before opening the door, he took a moment to himself to really take in what was going on. Within the next week Regulus would be launched into society after his foolish brother abdicated last season it left him to be the new heir for the noble house of black.

Regulus remembers that night very well. He rembers his mother sending him from dinner, he never really left, he knew she was going to do something to Sirius. He knew he had to be there. He rembers relighting the fire and seeing his brother on the floor, blood spilling on the carpet he looked inches away from death. He remembers cleaning him up and sending for the Potter boy he knows Sirius cares for. He remembers sending him in Potters arms hoping praying the boy will offer him safe heaven. As the door shut that night Regulus turned back and he knew. That Sirius was now out and he was in. he was now the heir. It all fell on him

“Good your ready your mother and father are waiting for you in the carriage,”

“Thank you, Kercher.” Regulus said giving a polite smile as he made his way down. By the time he made it down his parents were already in the carriage looking equally as late.

“Regulus you are late,” his mother snapped as he made his way in sitting next to his father.

“Apologies mother I only wish to look my best when meeting the queen,”

“Hmm good we have a lot of fixing to do this season after the act your brother pulled last season,”

“I’ll be sure not to make the same mistake,”

“You better not,” said his father from his side.

“Remember Regulus you can’t mess this up the eyes of the ton are on you, today and tonight. We want to find you a prosperous and noble match,” his mother said.

“Yes mother,” he replied looking out into the streets of London.

                                                                  -----------------------------------------

“So, Potter what are your intentions for this seasons,” Peter said leaning back into the carriage.

“You know what I want Pete. I respectable, suitable a match will make my mother happy,”

“So, a love match,” said Michal.

“I’m not that daft Michal, my parents were unusually lucky with  love match. I don’t believe I’ll marry for love,”

“So, what will you marry for?” asked Pete,

“To shut the ton up,” while James comment was meant in snide the only response he got from his friends was polite sniggers and laughs.

“So, you’re really telling me you have no prosects in mind,” asked Michal.

“The diamond idly,”

“Oh, and you think the diamond will have you,” teased Peter.

“I come from a respectable family, good breeding,”

“Yes, but what about what happened with your family last season especially your mama,”

“The ton surprisingly enough respects my mother for the generosity she offered the elder black, besides I don’t care what the ton says nothing will ever make me regret Sirius’s presence in my life,”

“I know your disappointed he couldn’t be here mate,”

“Yes, Michal I am, I do appreciate you being here I just hoped the queen would be kinder,”

“We all do mate,” said Peter turning his head to view the palace from the carriage window, “Well we’re here, brace yourself mate.”

--------------

Regulus stood in the backrooms of the palace calm as he checked his tie in the mirror, around him were clusters of ladies and their mama’s all having meltdowns and anxiously waiting for their turn to be presented to the queen. In the midst of them stood Regulus who was now being relaunched as the heir of the noble house of black. As much as he hates Sirius for putting him in this position, in this moment he no wish greater for his brother to be there right next to him, or even in the crowd as he walks out. Regulus doesn’t really take into consideration the women around him, he knows he should as he is to find a match this season but he knows due to his status he won’t have to try much. But one girl did catch his eye, well her hair did. Out of the corner of his eye Regulus caught glimpse of a head of flaming locks of crimson hair, e turned to see the girl being forced into a head piece by her mother as her sister (he assumed) stared at her displeased.

The doors opened marking the beginning of the presentation, Regulus knew he was going up last so instead he took to stealing glances at the crowd from the openings of the door. Finally, it was him the girl with fiery hair and her sister in the room. Regulus caught the girls eyes as she was about to go up and sympathised with her enough to mouth the words,” good luck,” which she returned back with a nervous smile.

“Presenting Miss Petunia and Lily Evans presented by their mother the honourable lady Dalilah Evans,” Regulus heard from the presenter as Lily and Petunia walked out. After a minute the door opened again and Regulus took  sharp breath in as he took his place at the foot of the aisle.

“Presenting the heir of the noble house of black, Regulus Arcturus Black,” he felt like he was going to vomit. It hadn’t hit him till now that he really was the heir. He let go of the breath he had been holding as he walked down the aisle. He kept his sight fixed on the queens crown not daring to look elsewhere. He could feel the ton watching him, breathing down his back, assessing his every move. He moved up the alter to stand a few steps below the queen, he remembers Sirius’s season so he knew how this would work. The queen extended his hand and Regulus lay a soft kiss on her outer fingers before kneeling into a respectful bow. And it was respect the ton adored the king and queen Longbottom. Especially Alice, Regulus included.

“Welcome Regulus,” she sighed looking at him with kind eyes,”

“Thank you, your highness.”

----------

James waited impatiently throughout the presentation, watching girls walk down the aisle he hoped every time that one would be names the diamond and James could just go home. But nope, the ladies of the ton had just chosen to be incompetent. Every lady looked the same as the next, all but one. As the two last ladies of the presentation walked out to meet the queen James felt drawn to the girl with fiery hair. Lily Evans. She looked like a breath of cool summer air. Lily and her sister walked up to the queen. Alice looked down to meet the girls as they lifted her their heads. James watched as she walked down next to Lily cupping her chin and kissing her forehead,

“You,” she said softly,” you shall be my diamond,” Alice said looking out towards the ton.

Her, James thought her. Cool now James could go home.

James unfortunately could not just walk out of the presentation not when he knew there was one more person left to be launched. He heard as the presenter spoke introducing the new heir of the noble house of black.

“Presenting the heir of the noble house of black, Regulus Arcturus Black,”

Sirius’ brother. James didn’t know much about Regulus; Sirius wasn’t one to talk about his family. He knew Regulus’s name and that he was two years younger than Sirius. Sirius turns out had forgotten to mention to James that his brother was drop dead gorgeous. James couldn’t rip his eyes away from Regulus the whole presentation. He wore a cutting suit, his cufflink shining in the sunlight and his loose curls were brushed and gelled back, yet James could still notice the odd one fall towards his side.

Oh, him it has to be him.