Chapter 2
“Oh fuck…” Sirius mumbled, his grip on Remus’ hand tightened. His eyes darted between the three Slytherins, who stood just down the hall. His gaze stopped on the boy in the middle. The boy who stood just a little shorter than the other two, but shared the same sharp jawline, same pale complexion and the same, boney frame as Sirius.
Remus picked up on what was about to happen in seconds and pulled Sirius a little closer to him. They were just going to walk past and it was going to be okay and nothing bad was going to happen. That was stupid, wishful thinking. Honestly, Remus should have known better than to have expected peace from the two brothers. Peace hadn’t been known to Sirius from any of the Blacks since he ran away.
The fateful moment the trio spotted the boys they started shouting Sirius’ name, making their way over to Remus and Sirius, with looks in their eyes that meant trouble.
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Sirius watched the breath move in his brother’s chest, who now stood before him. They hadn’t been in close quarters like this for months, they’d both made quite a deal over ignoring each other. Which Sirius hated, the pair used to be so close and practically inseparable.
“Sirius.” He said quietly, a name he hadn’t dared to speak in too long.
“What do you want Regulus?” Sirius loosened his grip on Remus, and he gently dropped his boyfriend’s hand, stepping forward just a little, almost as if he wanted to put Remus behind him, to protect him from his brother.
“Not only are you friends with the likes of a half-blood, but you’re dating one as well? What would mother have to say about you? Do you have no shame? Honestly, I’m not shocked at all that you were disowned, you’ve forgotten your place, your family. A Gryffindor, openly a queer. You had potential.” Regulus sighed, slipping his hand subtly into his robes in search of his wand, not breaking eye contact with Sirius once, he needed what he said to burrow deep into that warm lion heart of his.
“Take that back Regulus.” Sirius’ words came out a little wobbly as he blinked back the growing stinging in his eyes. He couldn’t cry in front of them. “What have they done to you? You were my Reggie, my best friend and now you’re suddenly this! You promised you’d never be like them, you promised me.” The hurt and sense of betrayal became very apparent in Sirius’ voice. The hurt and anger from his words mixed with the sudden regret of running away and not taking Regulus with him became instantly overwhelming. It was as if every night they would spend hidden under the cover of darkness, talking about how they would break the Black curse, how they’d never be their parents, didn’t matter anymore, like it never happened.
“You have no right to that nickname anymore. My name is only Regulus to you. God, you were always so naïve Sirius, what made you believe I would ever be like you? Mother and father were right, you’re nothing but an embarrassment to the noble Black name.” He spat towards his brother, knowing his words will dig in. Regulus’ eyes darted quickly between the pair that stood in front of him, with the curse on the tip of his tongue, he wasn’t sure which one to hit with it. Remus was a strong consideration, hurting Sirius was his goal and going for his boyfriend would be sure to do just that, but that seemed too predictable.
But he was quickly snapped out of his thoughts by one of his friends’ horrific attempts at French. Both Sirius and Regulus visibly cringed when they heard him, his French was somehow came out with a British accent, never had the brothers heard the language they grew up on be violated in such a way. It was almost enough for Sirius to forget him and Regulus’ differences.
“What the fuck are you trying to say?” Both Regulus and Sirius snapped at the same time. He immediately shut his mouth and pouted in defeat.
“That phrase you always say Regulus, your mum signs all her letters to you with it.” He seemed almost embarrassed, both brothers rolled their eyes and Remus just stood confused.
“Toujours pur Barty.” Regulus spoke the words effortlessly and perfectly, French was his first language after all. “Always pure. The motto of my family, a motto that Sirius here must have forgotten.”
Those words immediately buried into Sirius’ skin, deep into the core of his very being, so much deeper than everything else Regulus had said. That phrase, his mother would scream it at him before punishments. She would scream it before locking him in the basement or in the cupboard for days, in the dark and cold without food and water and nothing but a pot to piss in. Before she would hex him for acting out, for not getting the grades she expected or for even talking back or out of line. It was the phrase that was written on the family tapestry, it was the words his mother would repeat to him every day when he was at home. It was hell and a reminder of what he ran away from. Sirius was instantly overtaken by his brothers’ words, the phrase chanting in his head over and over again, the memories mixing into his thoughts so badly that he could barely process anything that happened next, it was as if the entire world faded from him, slipped from in between his fingers.
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One of the boys stood beside Regulus, a blonde boy, not much taller that Regulus took Remus’ attention for just a split second too long. He looked so uncomfortable, not managing to look at the two Gryffindors and his body language screamed “I don’t want to be here”. It was almost as if he didn’t agree with Regulus. Remus almost took pity on the boy, Evan, he thinks his name is. But he didn’t have time for pity as his attention barely managed to catch on his now quiet boyfriend, which worried him, Sirius was never quiet. But that silence didn’t last long before the screams ripped through the air. Screams of his lover that he never wanted to hear.
Sirius dropped to the floor in front of him, writhing around on the floor at Remus’ feet, ungodly, bloodcurdling screams filled the hallway. Remus immediately began to panic, dropping to his knees and grabbing his boyfriend’s shoulders and attempting to sooth him.
“Sirius! Sirius it’s okay, it’s okay.” Panic flooded his voice as he offered his hand to Sirius, a hand that he immediately took, the best he could. He’d never seen the Cruciate Curse being used before, but he knew the signs and what it looked like, the Unforgiveable was as recognizable as Avada Kedavra. Remus winced a little the paler hand squeezed his own, hard enough his knuckles turned white.
His attention immediately turned back to the Slytherins, two of which were giggling to themselves, laughing at Sirius. “Knock it the fuck off Regulus!” Anger now replacing the panic in his voice, Sirius still screaming and squirming around beside him, breaking his hand. Regulus held the curse just a little longer, maybe a few extra second before the younger Black cancelled it and his brother went still, barely breathing and limp on the floor.
“Are you happy now Moony?” Regulus mocked, nudging Barty who was still laughing a little, paying no attention to Evan who stood still and quiet, just as he had been since Regulus’ little speech. His gaze now fixed on Sirius.
“Don’t you dare call me that, you hypocrite.” Remus lifted Sirius up, who had now let his hand go fall from his lovers and propped him up against the wall of the hallway, it was almost a relief to have him sat against the wall, able to see the slow rise and fall of his chest. Even though his eyes were closed, and his bruised cheeks clearly tear stained, he was alive. He brushed a piece of Sirius’ hair behind his ear, out of his face and ever so gently pressed a kiss to his forehead. Shaking out the pain in his hands.
“Padfoot…” His words were quiet and worried. Sirius groaned in response and that groan of pain was enough to reawaken the wolf inside of him once again. The wolf that was still so protective over the already battered black dog. Without a second thought Remus lunged at Regulus, knocking him backwards. His vision was red, the wolf wanted to kill, even if it was the black dog’s brother. Anger boiled his blood as he threw the first punch, it was almost a relieve for Remus when his fist connected with Regulus, he wasn’t entirely sure where he’d hit but he was knew it was good by the sound.
He was winning, Remus was taller and stronger and angrier than Regulus but that doesn’t mean he was left untouched. With his wand knocked out of the way, Regulus had no choice but to scratched and punched back, knocking Remus in the face a few times. They were both bleeding by the timed Barty decided he just had to get involved. He grabbed Remus by the back of his robes and pulled him off of Regulus. He was preparing to do some damage of his own, revenge for hurting his best friend, while Evan tended to Regulus.
Before Remus could regain his focus or even process who had dragged him away, Barty was on him. The Slytherin was a similar height to Remus and a match in strength, so this was not going to be as easy for him, considering he had used most of his energy on Regulus.
The pain of his bloody nose, split lip and budding bruises were finally setting in as Barty managed to land his first punch on Remus. His knuckles were throbbing, busted and bloody but he was fighting for Sirius, so he was going to fight until he couldn’t fight anymore. He refused to give up.
Pain was really setting in by the time he registered the blood on his hands, he wasn’t sure of who’s blood it was, but it was there. Barty was faltering as well, his hits weaker and doing less damage but there was no doubt that significant damage had been done. Remus wouldn’t be surprised if his nose was broken, and he was sure that kisses would be impossible for a little while. Eventually him and Barty called it quits, they had been fighting for what felt like forever all though it had been no more than five minutes. It’s surprising what damage you can cause in such little time.
They pulled apart with a mutual truce, barely even looked at each other. But by this point Sirius had regained some strength, at least enough to open his eyes and the look he gave Remus was almost as painful as his wounds. He had just fought his brother, Sirius’ baby brother. The guilt began to replace the pain, anger and dwindling adrenaline. Remus wiped away as much blood as he could onto his robes before crouching next to Sirius.
“We need to get you back to the dorms.” He spoke quietly, the taste of blood in his mouth making him cringe a little and Sirius did nothing but nod, allowing Remus to help him up, still too weak to do much himself. They both knew they’d have to talk about this, but now was far from the time.