Chapter 1
Sirius POV:
Sirius shouldered open the door of the bar, hands deep in the pockets of his leather jacket. It wasn't the smartest idea to wear such a light jacket in such cold weather, but Sirius couldn't bring himself to care.
The bar was loud, the distinct smell of alcohol filling the cramped space. Sirius made his way to the bar and ordered a drink.
"Cheers," he mutters quietly to the bartender. He leans against the counter and scans the room for anyone he knows. He told his friends he wanted to be alone, so it was stupid for him to look for them now, but he couldn't help it. He takes a sip of the cool liquor.
"What brings you here tonight?" The bartender asks. Sirius turns to him.
"Felt like getting drunk. Sometimes it fixes your problems."
"Or makes them worse." Sirius shrugs. "Special occasion?"
"I guess you could say that. It's my brother's birthday. My brother Regulus. Our parents shouted a lot so he hated loud noises, parties too."
"Well, where's Regulus tonight?"
"Oh, he killed himself last year. Kind of wish he'd left a note, you know what I mean?" The bartender stays quiet. "Sorry, didn't mean to dump all this on you.
"No, it's fine." Sirius takes another swig of his drink. "I'm sure your brother cared about you very much."
"Can't say I think the same. I left him alone in that fucking house when he was fifteen. It's all my bloody fault."
"It's not your fault. He would say the same."
"It's not like he talked to me once I left. Glared, yes, sneered at, of course, but never a conversation." Sirius downs the rest of the drink and slams the empty glass onto the counter. He wipes his mouth. The bartender stays quiet again.
"I'm sure he still cared about you."
"Then why'd he do it? Hmm? He didn't even leave a fucking note."
"I don't know."
"Nobody really does, do they. They provide comforting words, and a place to stay, but they can never tell you why. They knew him less than I did! And they say that he 'still cared about me' as if I hadn't destroyed our relationship years ago. I'm going home." Sirius places some coins on the counter next to his empty glass.
"Wait!" Sirius turns around and the man hands him a receipt. "I hope I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, I guess. See you." Sirius crumples the receipt and stuffs it in his pocket without looking at it, and opens the door.
He takes a taxi, and shucks off his jacket when he gets home. It started raining as he was walking up the drive, so his hair and clothes are soaking. As he hangs the leather jacket, he feels something in the pocket. The receipt. He takes it out and walks to the rubbish bin the throw it out, but sees ink. He uncurls it to find that it wasn't a receipt at all.
Call me if you ever need to talk <3
Just below that was a phone number. Sirius hesitates, but ends up putting the paper on the counter and walking to his bedroom to change into a different t-shirt and sweatpants. He sits on the sofa and pulls out his phone, preparing to text James that he's home safe. He turns on the screen to see four messages, each from a different person.
Lily: Hey love! Make sure you stay safe. We love you so much, Sirius.
Sirius: I know you do
Remus: Call me if you need to talk, baby. I'm here for you, we all are.
Sirius: Thanks Moons
James: text me when you get home.
Sirius: I'm home and safe.
Marlene: Come over any time! I got a new eyeshadow pallet for us to review.
Sirius: I'll come over later. Maybe 10?
Sirius checks the time, 8:57. He could... no, too soon. Well... he gets up and walks to the kitchen, copying the numbers from the paper into his phone. He calls.
Bartender POV:
He'd just gotten off his shift when his phone rings. Unfortunately, he's in a taxi on the way home. He declines the call, but texts the number instead.
I'll call you back in seven minutes. I'm going home.
Unknown Number: ok
When he's home, the first thing he does is call the number back.
"Hello? This is the bartender, right?"
"Yeah. You ok?"
"Why? Why did you want to contact me? You don't even know me."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. I've never met you before in my life." He feels his skin feel like it's melting off.
"Look, Sirius, you have to promise you won't freak out." The hand holding his phone with is his usual hand again.
"I never told you my name."
"Can you facetime? You won't believe me otherwise. I can explain everything."
"I- fine." He accepts the facetime option as his whole right arm goes back to normal. "Hello, Sirius." He feels himself shrinking, the pants he's wearing pool on the floor.
"Who are you?"
"It's a long story. Just wait a second." They wait as he feels his hair change to a darker color.
"It looks like magic."
"It is magic, you nimrod. I know you're a wizard. I am too." He blinks, and when he looks at himself in the camera, his eyes are dark gray again.
"I know those eyes. Who are you?"
"It's me," he says, once he feels his voice box changing. Sirius' eyes widen when he hears Regulus' voice.
"This is either some cruel joke or I'm really drunk," Sirius says, voice tight.
"Neither. It's me."
"Fucking prove it, asshole."
"Ask me anything."
"What game did we play growing up?
"Hide and seek. You always hid in the cupboard with the fake back wall on the third story. It took ages to find you simply because of all those stairs I had to walk up each time."
"Regulus?"
"Yeah, it's me. I didn't die. I just... I needed a break. From people. Magic. Gryffindors, Slytherins, fucking Hufflepuffs. We're all the same, in the end? So I joined the muggle world as my roommate, Johnson. He's a squib and lets me take his hair for polyjuice."
"Why didn't you ever contact any of us?"
"I-"
"Oh, we were the people you needed a break from. Me?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry, Sirius."
"It's ok. Um, James?" Sirius asks hesitantly, worried for the reaction it could warrant.
"I haven't told him, yet," Regulus adds.
"That's ok," Regulus smiles slightly at his brother. His brother. What a wonderful word. "And Johnson the bartender was right. I do care about you, very much."
"I love you too," Sirius replies softly. "But I have to go. Marlene bought makeup and we have to test it together. You should... text me later. "
"See you. And I will."
"Regulus?"
"Hmm?"
"Is your roommates name really Johnson? Damn, I thought Sirius was bad."
"Shuddup you kiff," Regulus says, but he's laughing. They say another round of goodbyes before Regulus hangs up. "His phone is out of his hand for approximately five seconds before it buzzes again. He checks, and has a message from the 'Unknown Number'. He'll have to change that.
Unknown Number: I forgot something!!! HAPPY BRITHDAY!!"
Unknown Number: **BIRHTDAY
Unknown Number: **BIRTHDYE
Unknown Number: **BIRTHDAY
Unknown Number: YEHA I DID IT!!
Unknown Number: fuck
Regulus smiles and shakes his head at his brother's antics. He'd missed this.