Chapter 1
“I hate this,” Regulus muttered.
He stood between Barry and Evan, his two best friends and roommates, observing the party going on around him. He wished he had faked sick. He wondered how anyone could enjoy events like these. A bunch of pureblood sods waltzing around like they are the most precious being alive. All while seeking useless validation from their peers.
“Regulus, mate, you look ready to kill someone.” Barth said looking at him with concern, “Are you okay?”
“How long until we can leave?” Regulus asked.
“Reg, your mum will beat your arse if you bunk off her party” Evan replied, chuckling.
“I bet she’d be too drunk to notice,” Regulus said, rolling his eyes.
He looked around from where they were situated, leaning against the wall. Most of the Sacred 28 families were there, the last pureblood families of London. Of course, there were a few exceptions, the Potters and the Weasleys to name a few, families who didn’t agree with their “ideals”. Regulus found the whole blood supremacy thing idiotic. Who cares if their parents were muggles, they’re still magic. Sirius taught him at a young age that your parent doesn’t define you, he knows muggle-borns who are better at magic than most pureblood he knows. Hell, he knows some that are better than HE is, and he’s a straight-O student.
He continued to scan the room catching sight of a familiar face, his brother, Sirius. Sirius usually doesn’t spend the winter holiday at Grimmauld Place. So, Regulus was surprised when their mother requested that he return home for Christmas.
Watching his brother, he could feel fear and anxiety radiating from him. Sirius and Regulus have always had a special connection. Regulus always assumed it was from the days they would spend together in the dark when mother would lock them in the hall closet. One of her “lighter” punishments. Sirius had a different theory, their cousin Andromeda used to tell stories about them when they were little. They always could read each other’s emotions, feel how the other was feeling, and know when they were in danger and need help. Andy and Sirius believe the connection must be magical. Regulus scoffed; his brother was always a bit gullible.
Sirus’s head turned and he caught his brother’s gaze. Regulus felt his brother’s relief as he started to approach Regulus and his friends. But before he could get up to meet his brother and female figure blocked his path.
“Running away already cousin?” Bellatrix greeted
“Hello Bella” Regulus replied dryly
“Don’t be such a tosser Reggie, what are you doing just standing about?” She asked looking around. “Got your eye on a nice pureblood girl?”
Regulus wrinkled his nose, no matter how much his family tried to set him up he was never interested. His parents chalked it up to his aversion to relationships, or because of his “problem”. He let them think what they want, they could never learn the truth.
“Oh don’t look at me like that, Bellatrix grinned, “I’m sure there’s a pretty pureblood out there for you”
“Thanks, Bella, but I’m not interested” Regulus replied through gritted teeth “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the washroom.” He said, trying to push past his cousin.
Bellatrix grabbed his arm “Oh but Reggie, your father sent me to fetch you. He’s making a toast and providing us with some, entertainment.” A shiver went down Regulus’s spine at the word “entertainment” worried about what that implied.
“Come on cousin,” Bella said smiling sweetly, “And bring those two goons of yours” she gestured towards Evan and Barty.
“They’re my friends,” Regulus snapped, wincing as Bella’s grip tightened on his arm “And don’t call me Reggie.”
Evan and Barry glanced towards him, worried. Regulus nodded and signaled them to follow him as Bellatrix dragged him into the main dining room.
The walls of the room were a dusky grey, stretching all around the giant area. Most of the guests were already in the room, with the rest filling in from other areas of the house. Bella dragged Regulus over to where his family was waiting. Bellatrix took her place next to Rodolphus, her husband, and Regulus took his place next to Sirius. Regulus looked over at his brother, confusion clear on his face, Sirius just shrugged, equally as confused as he was. They were interrupted by Orion Black tapping his champagne glass with his knife, clearly already tipsy. A red flush was evident in his cheeks.
“Good evening, friends and families,” Orion began, “I’d like to thank you all for coming with us to celebrate this wonderful holiday…”
Regulus began to doze off as his father began to recount stories and memories, to entertain the crowd. Thinking about what his friend Pandora was doing and trying to catch eyes with Barty or Evan. Suddenly, his mother’s voice snapped him out of his trance.
“And we’d like to toast to our Dark Lord, supporting us in our mission to rid the world of tainted and unpure blood.” Walburga Black toasted
Her statement was met with cheers from the crowd. She waited for the noise to die down before continuing.
“Our family is fully prepared to embrace the Dark Lord in every aspect of our lives” Walburga declared.
Regulus felt the fear and dread radiating off Sirius, and he was sure he felt the same. The timing was too suspicious, the speech, requesting that Sirius come home for the holiday. He grabbed his brother’s arm, eyes widening with fear.
“We are even preparing for a new member in our ranks this coming summer” Their mother continued.
Regulus’s heart sped up
No, not him, anyone but Sirius
He couldn’t breathe
I need him, I can’t lose him, not like this
“Our eldest son Sirius will take the mark this summer!” Walburga announced.