Regulus was walking down the halls thinking about how some stupid idiot caused his potion to spill in class and even though Slughorn exempted him there was a lot of hard work put into that particular potion. Also Even and Barty were just being so very annoying and usually, it was fine but well they were saying things about blood traitors and how they couldn't wait to join the dark lord. And just for a moment, he felt a surge of guilt. It's not that he doesn't agree with them but well it made Regulus think of Sirius, it's like he almost misses hearing the fights, missed the powerful energy that followed his older brother (no longer brothers) filling up every room he appeared in. He does not miss him. Sirius had runway almost one year ago during the Christmas break of the boy's 5th year. No one, not even Sirius knows that it was Regulus who stuffed the bleeding broken boy into the fireplace that fateful night that changed the fate of the Black brothers forever.
They haven't talked since.
It was November now and It was around 9 pm dinner had been over for hours. The halls were empty, filled with the soft glow from the fires. Regulus was in a hallway somewhere in the Westend of the castle just minding his own business when someone ran into his shoulder obviously in a hurry.
"Sorry," Said the all to familiar voice that drove a knife into his chest
"Sirius?" The boy stopped and turned and there in the hallway identical grey eyes locked and just for a moment it was like they were 10 again playing chase in the old halls of Grimmauld place. Alone for the first time in a year.
"Reg" Sirius said much more cautiously than intended. The two stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, slowly, subconsciously moving towards each other but what was really only around 5 seconds before Sirius spoke.
"We should really get going curfew is soon and Flinch is right around the corner"
"Yeah, you're right" They turn away from each other to keep walking. Sirius was and will forever be known as the impulsive one but what no one knows is as children Regulus was one of the most impulsive, kind, loud, and curious, kids to ever exist. Sirius was always the quiet one but over the years they flipped being forced apart as the world around them infected their very souls. So maybe that's why Regulus lets the words leave his mouth.
"Etoile" The brightest star in the sky turned once more shocked by the nickname he hasn't heard in years.
"yeah," said slowly
" I miss you" Regulus's eyes found the floor before starting to turn before Sirius spoke once more with a sigh
" I miss you too petite etoile" The second brightest star turned to the first and for a whole moment it was like their worlds crashed lighting up the sky in flames, pain, and something that hasn't been there for so long in him, in them both, hope. The most dangerous of emotions promising a future never to come.
"Are you ok?" Sirius the ever-protecting brother, broken so many times by the very thing he was meant to protect. So when he arrived at the Potters he didn't even think of going back for his little star. It's not like he didn't think about him at all, it is just that he believed the star died long ago when now standing in front of him silently staring as if everything he hoped the world to be was wrong is the very same little boy Sirius gave his world to. The hope had so quickly turned to guilt. "Reggie?"
"I'm ok, I'll always be okay, just as you were Siri, I'm where I belong" Fuck he shouldn't have said that, Regulus regretted his words.
Fuck
Fuck
Fuck
That was all Sirius could think. 11 year old Sirius would be so disappointed in him. How did this happen? How did he let them win? Fucking Walburga.
"No one belongs there, not if they don't want to"
Hope
" I think I do. It's my turn now, my turn to protect you" All the impulsivity that has been stuffed down for so long is just spewing out today isn't it?
"Regulus, Petit Etoile, Reggie, I am and always will be your older brother which means you never have to protect me. Come with me. Please"
Crash
Crack
Crack
Shatter
The mask that has been so very secure for so very long shatters when he hears the words that the small little, impulsive, kind, and curious boy had been yearning for. A slow silent tear slipped down Regulus's cheek catching the light and sparking just like the hope had. Within an instant arms were around him holding him just as he had after their mother hit them. The dam had broken and now Regulus was balling into Sirius's arms as his own silent tears fell as the stars sunk to the ground. The two hold onto each other for dear life sinking, drowning. Something happened right at this moment that could have ended so differently and in some other universe, it did. It ended in a cave and beyond a veil. Truth be told it ended much earlier but not in this one. In this world, one that is much kinder than the other. This is the moment the prophecy shatters and a world created, completely different is formed. The stars had finally aligned, soulmates held each other and the sun shone for so very long. Soon time passed and both boys fell asleep right there in the hallway curled up into each other.
Hours later when the morning light crept its way through the old stone walls that had seen so much growth, kindness, evil, pain, and despair but had never seen a scene so full of pain and forgiveness and just pure relief. The morning breeze giving life to the previously still castle, waking age-old portraits, and one very strict, very kind professor who while walking down a hallway almost missed the two brothers sleeping more peacefully than she had ever thought would be possible from two boys who had suffered so much and had so much more of a struggle ahead. And she definitely did not cast a notice-me-not charm or a warming one. She most definitely didn't smile, Most importantly she did not change the Gryffindor tower wards to allow Slytherins for the first time since the founder's days.
This story goes from a sad one ending in death, misunderstanding, and betrayal to one filled with love, forgiveness, and strength. The Moon and the Star are never separated, The Sun finds its Little Star and most importantly the Stars didn't crash and burn as everyone thought but a supernova was born.
The most beautiful ever seen.