Shared Scars

Thursday, November 2, 1972

The day had come. Just as Narcissa had said, Regulus had received a letter from Walburga asking him to meet his brother and cousin on November 2nd (Sirius's birthday).

The letter remained intact in a drawer ever since. Regulus had discussed the matter with Sirius, Reggie was partly looking forward to spending time with his brother, but he had seen the disappointment in Sirius's eyes when he had told him, he wanted to spend his birthday with the marauders and Regulus understood it.

He was already dressed, all in black, with the snake brooch on the right side, uncomfortable but elegant.

— Well well, who's getting married? — Barty teased when he saw his friend come out of the bathroom —

— Ha ha, very funny Barty… is it that bad?

— Nah, it just looks like somebody threw a bucket of black paint on you — Barty received a punch from Evan in the side — Oi! Hey, it's true, don't deny it Evan, we see the same thing! — Evan sighed and rolled his eyes. —

— What is the occasion Reg?

— Wait, don't you know? — his two friends shook their heads — they make you leave the common room empty and they don't tell you why?

— Nah, Slughorn told us it was important and private, no one asked any questions, —Barty added nonchalantly —

— It's my brother's birthday. My mother wants me and Narcissa to have tea with him.

— Oh well, that's…okay? are you Ok? Evan asked looking at Regulus.

— Y-yeah, yeah, sure, I know Sirius doesn't love the idea, but our mother has ordered it and Narcissa will make sure it's done.

— Mate, your cousin terrifies me — Barty said trying to release tension —

— She terrifies me too — the three laughed —

The Slytherin common room was left empty. Only the two Blacks remained there. Narcissa was wearing a Slytherin green knee-length dress with a
shirt collar. Regulus thought that she was blending in with the curtains and made an effort not to laugh, he knew Sirius would laugh when he saw her.

The eldest of the Black brothers arrived. Narcissa had specified the attire he was to wear so Sirius was looking the most elegant he had been since the start of his term. A black suit, practically identical to his little brother's, but without the snake brooch.

— Sirius! Happy birthday! — For once, Regulus couldn't help but be a child and cheer as one does on a birthday. Sirius smiled. —

— Welcome cousin. — Narcissa nodded in greeting. Sirius looked her up and down, back to the room, then back to her. He started laughing out loud. —

— Cissy, I didn't know this was a costume party! If you had told me, I would have dressed up as the Gryffindor room rug.

I knew it, Regulus thought to himself, not avoiding a little laugh.

— Assez de ces bêtises immatures Sirius Orion, plus vite nous commencerons, plus vite nous finirons ! Tu veux partir avec tes amis de sang sale, n'est-ce pas ? — Narcissa used French when she got angry and none of the Black brothers dared to change it —

— Plus que tout au monde — He put on that mischievous grin that he used to annoy his parents —

— Alors, asseyez-vous tous les deux.

— Comme vous voulez, madame curtains.

— Sirius, tu ferais mieux d'arrêter, viens, on va prendre un thé. — Regulus whispered so only his brother could hear. —

— Ennuyeux — Sirius smiled and Regulus followed him to the table. —

Regulus knew that if his brother kept prodding Narcissa, she would tell Walburga and it wouldn't do him any good, so like the good brother he was, he tried everything he could to get Sirius to behave.

Three hours had passed already, and silence had filled the room for the last half an hour. Sirius was moving his leg up and down, clearly impatient, waiting for Narcissa to indicate that he was free from that familiar torture they called a birthday celebration. He looked at his little brother who was stirring the tea grounds with the spoon as if they were going to suddenly reveal an impressionist painting.

The image of Regulus took him back to one of the first birthdays he remembered celebrating, perhaps one of the only happy ones. It had been in 1969, in August, Regulus's eighth birthday. Sirius had spent weeks organizing something special for his little brother. Magic was not allowed for him, so he had resorted to creativity. He had collected a lot of white papers that he had coloured with Regulus' favourite colours and with them he had made a huge sign in which it was read:  BIRTHDAY. Sirius had cleaned up his room for the first time in months and had hidden Reggie's gift by doing a scavenger hunt with clues that he would have to find. Finally, he lightly decorated the garden to organize a home game of Quidditch that they would play with his cousins and some other family members that afternoon after tea and the traditional Black meal. No one was quite sure how Sirius got Walburga and Orion to allow so many childish preparations, but for once they did allow it.

Sirius looked at his brother again and remembered those bright eyes that Reggie had had when he was 8 years old. Somehow, they were still recognizable.

— Have you both finished? — Narcissa's voice brought Sirius out of his flashback —

— Aha, can we go?

— Please — she said, getting up — happy birthday Sirius — Narcissa left the common room —

— I better go, James must be... — Sirius said as he picked up his jacket from the backrest —

— Can I give you my gift first? — Regulus said quietly, but with confidence, which made Sirius raise his head towards him —

— Gift? You’ve bought me something?

— Ehm… yes well… I know it's not one of the muggle vynils that Andromeda sends you, but I thought you'd like it…

Regulus pulled out his wand and within seconds a tube of paper was floating next to his older brother. Sirius took the tube and unwrapped it. It was a poster of his favourite Quidditch team, like the one his mother had torn up for him a few months ago. He stared at it watching the images move. He remained silent for a few seconds. Then he looked up again.

— Thanks Reg, it was my favourite poster. How did you get her not to break it?

— I asked a fourth-grade student to get it for me and he gave it to me a few days ago.

— I… thank you — Sirius smiled and hugged him —

— You are welcome.

There was a moment of awkward silence. Sirius found it inappropriate to leave after that, but he couldn't wait to show it his friends. Regulus knew that in a matter of minutes he would be alone in the room.

— Ehh, Reg, I'm sorry, but I should...

— Go, yes, don’t worry — he smiled —

— Thanks, see you.

Sirius ran out of the room and suddenly, Regulus was alone.