View Point
When the vase first shattered the atmosphere in the great hall changed drastically and Regulus closed his eyes, already knowing what would happen, he remembers this day with a startling clarity, not being able to forget it no matter how much he wants to. The first time their mother used the Cruciatus Curse on him. He can practically feel the tension in the air as the whole student body and teachers stare at the two terrified young boys, knowing that their reaction to accidentally shattering a vase wasn't normal. When the cutting hex hit his younger body there was an audible gasp as everyone was stunned into silence, only the wimphers from his younger self could be heard for a few seconds. After that it just went to hell.
When the screaming first started Sirius hand snapped out and clamped down on his forearm, not even turning his head to look at him as he did. It must have been an instinctual reflex, Regulus mused as he looked down at where his brother's hand was clinging to him, knuckles white with how hard he was clutching. He glanced up at his brother's face and took in the emotions there, hatred, anger, disgust, pure rage and fear, complete and utter fear. Regulus doesn't understand why that emotion is the strongest one on his brother's face, this has already happened and he doesn't even live with her anymore, so he doesn't have to worry about being spontaneously tortured at random moments of the day.
Regulus still can't bring himself to look at the screen even as he hears the younger Sirius beg their mother to stop, so he looks down, and what a mistake that was.
From up here he can make out the faces of almost everyone, seeing as he is still fucking floting in the middle of the room. He can see the emotions on their faces as they watch the darkest secret that occurs in the Black family.
He knows that pretty much everyone is aware that his family is bad and probably doesn't treat the members of it well, but to have hundreds of people watching as his mother tortures him and his brother makes him feel exposed, raw, unprotected. He feels like someone has stuck their hands into him and peeled him open for everyone to see and judge. He hates the feeling, he wants it to end and for everyone to forget what they have seen, because how is this fair? That hundreds of random people that he doesn't even know get to see him when he is at his lowest. For Merlin's sake he doesn't even willingly share this part of his life with his closest friends!
Regulus blinks when the begging of his brother cuts off, only to be replaced with the absolute uproar that all four houses start. It's kinda shocking to see his own house, known for being silent and stoic, making just as much noise as the other houses, standing up and making their opinion clear.
Regulus runs his surprised eyes over the hall, only to once again lock eyes with brown eyes hidden behind round glasses. Potter has always been an open book for everyone to see but Regulus has never seen the older boy with such a furious expression, the boy always seems to have a smile that lights up his whole face. Now though, now his eyebrows are furrowed, his lips pressed tightly together as if he is trying to stop something from coming out. His hands pressed into fists at his sides, shaking with the rage that was flowing off of him.
He looked ready to murder someone.
Probably his mother.
…
Is it weird to think that this version of Potter is actually pretty hot?
That last thought made Regulus blink harshly because where the fuck did that come from?!Potter is not hot!.....Okay he is attractive, he has eyes for Salazar's sake but that does not mean that the obnoxious twat is hot!
By now the two of them have been staring at each other for at least a minute and Potter is starting to look more confused than furious, probably wondering why he was staring at him like a loon. Regulus tore his eyes away from the older boy, turning to look at his brother that still hasn't let go of his arm, completely missing the slight pink hue on Potter cheeks.
“Pouvez-vous lâcher mon bras?” (Can you let go of my arm?) He quietly murmured, trying to gently pry his arm from his brother's strong hold.
“Non…” Sirius replied, equally quiet. Still looking at the black screen, a faraway look in his eyes, like he is still in that awful memory.
Regulus shook his arm to get his attention, having to do it more than once to actually get it.
“Ce n'est qu'un souvenir.” (It's only a memory) Comforting people has never been Regulus' strong point…
“Putain, c'est quand même arrivé Regulus!” (It still fucking happened Regulus!) Sirius said in a harsh whisper, finally looking at his younger brother, a mad glen in his silver eyes.
“Eh bien oui, comme il y a dix ans. Ce n'est pas comme si vous pouviez y faire quelque chose.” (Well yes, like ten years ago. It's not like you can do anything about it.) He drawled in a dry tone, Sirius apparently didn't like that answer because he huffed and looked away, but still keep a hold of his brothers arm though, like he physically couldn't let go.
The noise around them is only rising in volume, it is actually starting to overwhelm him. He is debating whether or not he should slip away into his head once again, maybe like that he wouldn't have to witness more gruesome memories, when Dumbledor decides to take his position as headmaster seriously and try to control the situation.
"Silence!" The old man once again shoutes, the loud noise echoing in the large room. The hall immediately falls silent as all students turn to look up at the teachers table.
He pauses before he speaks, observing the students before his gaze settles on the brothers.
“I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm incredibly sorry that the two of you have had to experience this, my boys.” Regulus cringes slightly at the name, he is not Dumbledore's ´boy´ , besides him he can hear Sirius grit his teeth, which baffles him slightly, he thought that Sirius worshiped the ground that the old cot walked on. Apparently not given the irritated look on his brother's face.
“Hogwarts and of course myself will obviously help with bringing justice to the two of you.” A dreadful feeling starts to spread through his chest and he can feel Sirius tense at the old man's words, it's his brother's harsh, dark voice says the thought that echoes in Regulus' mind.
“What?”
“Sirius, Regulus we have palpable evidence that your mother used an unforgivable, that in of itself is a crime worthy of a lifetime in azkaban, not only that but she used in on her own children making it child abuse.” The old fart said slowly, like he was talking to children rather than two traumatized teenagers.
“Il ne pense pas sérieusement pouvoir gagner un procès contre la famille Black, n'est-ce pas?” (He doesn't seriously think he can win a lawsuit against the Black family, does he?) Regulus said in disbelief, the dread blooming into a strange combination of rage, fear and amusement.
“Le vieil imbécile ne fera qu'empirer les choses mille fois…” (The old fool will only make things a thousand times worse.) Sirius said with a shake of his head, opening his mouth to tell the headmaster that he better not fuck things up more, that things are already fragile enough as it is after he ran away.
The screen started to change before he could rip the old fart a new one though…