Chapter 8
Sirius hated his family, but there was always, and likely always would be, a soft spot for his baby brother. Fifteen years old now, and Sirius had to admit, he knew something was wrong with Regulus. He was not stupid, he knew that there would be some sort of comeback for Regulus once Sirius left, but he had thought...after all their parents had always loved Regulus more. Now he was beginning to wonder if he had miscalculated. Regulus had been frantic and panicked the first time he saw Sirius. To the point that Crouch and Rosier had to step in. Now, seeing Regulus talking to Malfoy and Bella? There had clearly been something. Somewhere along the line Sirius had made a mistake, and his baby brother was paying for it.
There really was no love lost between him and his bitch of a mother and coward of a father, but seeing Regulus stumble-for Sirius had seen Regulus' slight tumble out of the Slytherin table, even if it was not entirely noticeable to everyone else-seeing him not even touch a bite of his breakfast...he knew that something had gone wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. Sirius leaving had only been good for Sirius, it would seem, and he had not even taken time to consider how things could go for Regulus. In his defense, he had honestly thought that Regulus was the favorite, now he could not help but rethink this. Was Regulus truly the favorite? Or did he just not draw attention to himself? Was that his armor? Diverting attention away from himself so he was not punished? Perhaps what Sirius saw as favoritism had really just been their parents not noticing him.
Of course this meant that Sirius would need to get to the bottom of things. He would have to figure it out. If Regulus was in danger, and more danger than Sirius, in that god forsaken house, he would need to rip Reggie from their parents clutches. He was only just realizing that he had never really talked to Regulus. Most of their talks ended in fights, but Sirius had noticed his brother had been distant after Sirius' first year. Something had to have happened, right? Or was it Sirius that was distant? Time always blurred in that house, and sometimes it was difficult to know what what was, and where was when. One thing was certain, though.
He had to talk to Regulus.
And not one of their typical talks, that would ultimately end in a fight. Sirius would need a calming draught, and probably a peace draught before he even attempted to speak with Regulus, that way he could keep a clear head. He needed to have a real sit down and figure out the situation. Perhaps a bit of veritaserum wouldn't be too bad either. The only issue was, Slughorn hated him. He had hated him before, probably because he could not become a part of his stupid little collection of prodigy and future greats. Sirius had never been all that great with potions period, and then add to it that he was a Black in Gryffindor, and now he was disowned? Slughorn would spare him no favors.
James though, or even Remus...they could get away with it. If all else fails, as well, Sirius could just sneak in and steal the potions he needs. He did not think Remus would be on board, but he did know that both his best friend and boyfriend had been aching for him to have a real talk with his brother, and if he insisted that this was the best way, then he knew he could persuade them to help him out. That was if they even needed to know-which Sirius was certain that they would.
He would need to get past Regulus' friends, though, who had always seemed to cling to his side no matter where or what. Rosier, and Crouch Jr. A strange group of friends, but a fiercely protective and loyal one as well. Sirius was also almost certain that Crouch's propensity for violence was almost on par, if not exceeding, Bellas' sudden spike in blood lust.
Which posed another problem. He did not fail to notice the glares of his cousins, and his younger cousin's husband to be. No, he had to do much more than just get Regulus alone, procure some potions, and have a civil conversation with his brother for the first time in five years. He would need to avoid some unbearably nasty curses from his brother's little protection squad now. Why Lucius was involved, Sirius did not know, but what he did know was that it could not be for a good reason.