Romantic Homocide

Sirius gulped helplessly. Biting his lip so hard that the scab was tempting to rip again. “At least… that’s what I think.” His delicate skin now beaming red. 

“You think that your brother, Regulus Black, killed your parents. As in the ex-owners of this building?” Remus had his hands in his hair. “I chose the wrong building to live in.” 

“Well, um.” He slowly began collecting loose papers from the floor and taking small steps backwards. “I don’t think it’s bad that you live here. Personally I wouldn’t have chosen it, but… look what it’s brought us.” 

Remus ripped the trash bag out his hands. “You are not going anywhere. Get back in my apartment right now!”

“Mhhm.” 

Back in the living room with the wall still gaping the hole, Sirius was a fidgeting mess, unloading the stray files he collected in the passageway onto Remus’ couch. With nothing but scattered eyes and a bleeding lip. 

“You need to tell me what’s going on right now if you want me to help you.” He demanded firmly.

Sirius paced anxiously. “I don’t want your help anymore, it was a mistake involving you.” 

“I’m already involved! I saw the bloody bodies, I know about the tunnels, and now I know that there might be a murderer on the lose and it’s your brother!” Remus pleaded. 

“You're right.” HIs head sagged above his shoulders. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry… just tell me what’s happening.” 

Sirius’ pouty lips parted, crimson drying on the corners. “I moved back to convince Reg about leaving. I knew he’d snap eventually, and I’m scared this was it. So I need to find someone frame for their murder so he doesn’t go to jail forever.” 

“Huh uh.” Remus set down the trash bag and flicked the cap to the bottle of vodka Sirius had left behind and took a seat on his couch. “Is that all?”

“Well… yes?” 

“Lovely, what’s your plan?”

Sirius stared at him quizzically. “You still want to help me?”

“Yeah.” He answered simply. Remus didn’t know why, but he found the hardest thing was leaving Sirius alone. Like magnets trying to turn a blind eye from each other. 

8:30 P.M. 

Lily:  
bro im on the roof 
bring cigs!!!

Remus: 
cant
busy

Lily:
how are uuu busy???
got plans i dont know about ?
fake ass bitches

Remus: 
smth came up with Sirius 
idk what i can tell u but ill see u tmr? 

Lily:
and he gets faker 😭🤚 
i got a shift tmr, see u tuesday tho!!

She sighed, putting her phone in her back pocket, then turning to scan the ground for any cigarette ends. There was one right near the exit that looked like it hadn’t even been lit yet. As Lily bent down to grab it the door slammed open, knocking her to the ground. 

“Ahh.” Lily seethed, rubbing her bruising side.

The woman who had opened the door quickly closed it. “Oh my god! I am so sorry!”

“No, no it’s okay.” She smiled up at her to find Mary from the night of the murder. James’ and Sirius’ stunning friend with the tight curls that was currently swept back into a bonnet. “Hey you're Mary right?”

Mary nodded happily. “Yeah, and you’re Lily?”

“That’s me.” She pushed off the ground with a hand from Mary. “Are you here for a smoke break too?”

“Mhhm. I usually go on my fire escape but it’s a Sunday and that means James will conveniently be outside just ‘breathing in fresh air’ and start asking me a million questions about his lesson plans.”

“He really takes his job seriously then?”

Mary dug into her red leather jacket, retrieving a packet of cigarettes. “There at the constitutional convention and I just know he's gonna want to incorporate Hamilton in that somehow. I do not have the patience for James singing today.” 

They both paced their way to the ledge overlooking the city. The sirens and the people. “Are you a singer? You have the… the essence.” 

“Thank you.” Mary laughed. “No, I’m a model actually”

“Really? That’s so cool.” 

Mary placed two cigarettes in between her lips and ran her thumb on the metal of the lighter. Bringing the flame to the ends before inhaling deeply and giving one to Lily, who accepted with a grin. “Thanks. It’s nothing big, but it pays the bills.”

“I’m sure it does, you’re… well you’re gorgeous.” Lily fiddled with her cigarette in her fingers. “I don’t why James isn’t all over you.” 

“He’s not exactly my type.” Sighing deeply, Mary watched the cars stuck in traffic. “And don’t even start, you are beyond beautiful.” 

“I’m five foot two with non-existent boobs and jeans that never fit right.” 

“You’re amazing.” She said with the calmest eyes. 

Lily her ears burning as her heart picked up. “Thanks, I guess.”

Mary sucked on her cigarette and flicked the ashes onto the street. “I mean it… don’t die not knowing that.”

There was sickly sweetness behind it all. But standing on the roof of Grimmauld Place, with just a few feet below them the apartment of the deceased Walburga and Orion, it felt dim. A heaviness in the air that didn’t just linger… it stung. “Did you know Walburga?”

“Not intimately, no.” Mary pursed her lips. “James, Sirius, and I all went to the same boarding school up-state. Walburga researches everyone who lives here and when she saw we were all in the same graduating class she tried to evict James… but never me. I don’t know why.” 

Lily took a deep drag. “She never said anything?”

“I think she thought I could turn Sirius straight, and then they could add diversity to their title.” She chuckled, bringing her fingers to cover her face. “It’s funny to think I used to admire her.”

“You did?”

“Of course, she was this powerful entity that took what she wanted. I wanted that.” Mary blew the smoke smoothly from her lips. 

“You don’t want that anymore?” Lily asked carefully.

“Everyone wants that… I just realized you didn’t need to be a dick to do it.” 

11:09 P.M.

While dialing the take-out place, Remus was still sorting through all of the files. Every scrap he examined and researched. It was cute. More specifically, it was cute when his tongue poked from the side of lips while thinking. The way his brows sank when he couldn’t read a word. 

Sirius was beginning to think that the other needed glasses but was one of those people who would never admit it. 

Again. It was so cute. 

But these were normal thoughts someone would have of the guy helping you investigate your parents murder. It wasn’t even a crush. It was passing, factual, thoughts on his attractiveness. 

“Which dumplings will you be ordering?” 

“What?” Sirius blinked. Retraining his focus on the call.

“Which dumplings are you ordering?” 

“Uhh…” He waved to get Remus’ attention. “Do you eat pork?”

His tongue poked out again and Sirius almost melted. “Yeah I eat pork.” He nodded finitely.

Sirius couldn't help the smile that broke out onto his face. “Great um… can we get an order of Jiaozi dumplings.” Moments later, with the food on the way, he rejoined Remus on the couch. Sitting only a few feet away. “What are you thinking about?”

“I don’t know, but I’m finding some things that… are you sure your brother’s the only one who could’ve done it?” Remus spoke slowly. 

“I guess, yeah, there definitely could be others.” 

“The only way someone could have gotten into that apartment, besides the front door, are the tunnels or the roof. The tunnels make the most sense and the only other people that could know about them would be… past owners.” With every word, Remus was becoming more electrified. The more the conclusions came, the more his eyes lit. 

Trying to keep a neutral expression, Sirius asked. “What are you- what do you mean?” He knew exactly where Remus was going. Sirius could practically see his thoughts floating above him. Biting his lips with a little too much force, he tried to remember that Remus was trying to help. That he was cunning and ambitious. That honesty wasn’t an option with him as he was bound to figure it out eventually. 

“The past owners, they called themselves the Death Eaters. Weird name, I know-” Sirius felt his vision crumble piece by piece. His throat especially heavy. “And from this paper you can see that your parents didn’t buy this building, they were given it.”

“Really?” He tried to act shocked. 

“Yes! That’s weird right? Your parents were just any other people at that point. Why would this shady organization just give them the building?” Remus was now standing, pacing on his carpet. 

Sirius stood as well, walking towards the window. “That is weird.” He watched the street below, avoiding Remus’ eyes. That’s when he observed a limousine park right in front of the building. Sirius hadn’t seen one of those in years. A short man emerged and slammed the door shut. The man waited for the limo to leave before stalking his way down the street in the opposite direction. 

In a flooding realization, he noticed it was Regulus who was nearly running away. 

“I-I have to go.” Sirius skidded past a confused Remus, and jumped into the hallway. Abusing the elevator button with his pushes. 

“What’s happened?” Remus questioned from his doorway.

“I’ll be back, I promise.” 

Finally the elevator door shut, and he was itching to get to ground level. Grasping his fingers anxiously. On the street, Sirius ran with all force. Spotting his brother two blocks away. Eventually he caught up to him. Tackling him to stop.

Regulus instinctually knocked Sirius right in the nose, causing blood to start gushing into his hands. 

“What the fuck was that?” He groaned, wiping the blood onto his shirt. 

“What was- You- what are you doing?! You fucking jumped me!” Regulus seethed. 

Sirius dubbed over panting. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” 

“What? What do you want?” He coldly frowned at him. 

“You-” He huffed in between breaths. “You haven’t responded to my texts, and now you’re running away from Grimmauld.”

Regulus gritted his teeth. “I’m not running away from Grimmauld.”

“You were, and I still need to know if you’re coming to the meeting tomorrow night?”

“Why? So you can rub in my face that you were mom’s favorite?” 

The scab on his lips broke again and Sirius frustratedly cried out. “That’s not what this is at all!”

“It is.” Regulus gave him a stone-like rake of his eyes. “You moved back for this and now you’re taking what’s mine.” 

“I moved back for you, you fucking piece of shit!” His cheeks prickled as chest squeezed reluctantly. “It was all for you.” 

“That’s complete bullshit. You’ve thought I was helpless since I was sixteen.” Regulus’ features remained even like a statue. Taunting Sirius’ lack of composure.

Sirius sucked in a harsh breath. “You were working for them!”

“I didn’t know any better.” He closed his eyes defiantly. 

“No, no, because you still think that building’s yours from all the dirty work you did for them.” 

Finally, something cracked inside of him. Sirius could see it. “You weren’t there to do it. You left! You left me!”

“It wasn’t my choice.” Sirius sniffed the drying blood from dripping any further. “You know it wasn’t my choice.” 

“You got out easy.” His jaw trembling to hold on as lifeless. “You and your sparkly little personality that they could send away and pray would change, because you were the heir. I was the little girl that they used as a shit rag… it’s too late Sirius. You can’t change what happened. I’m always going to be haunted by them.” 

“So am I. They hated me for who I am just as much as you.” Sirius explained with pleading hands. 

“No.” Regulus shook his head. “For you, our parents died a long time ago. Enjoy running Grimmauld. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. You always find a way.” He began to walk away.

Sirius  turned from him before he could see the tear stray from his eye. “At least I’m not a Death Eater.” He muttered under his breath. But he knew Regulus would hear it. He always did. 

9:35 A.M. 17th October 2022

“Remus, are you there?” Sirius banged at his apartment door. It was the morning after his fight with Regulus, and he had just realized he never went back to Remus’ place. Leaving all of his things there. But truly he wanted to see him again. 

After a long string of heavy footsteps, the door swung open. Sirius didn’t miss the smile that immediately grew on the other’s face.

“Hi.” He smiled back.

Remus bit down on his grin and waved for the other to come inside. In the apartment, Remus led him to the bathroom where he promptly started to brush his teeth. “You know, this whole waking me up every morning is dampening my morning routine.”

“I didn’t wake you up yesterday.” Sirius watched him through the mirror. Taking in the taky rose wallpaper and dainty little sink.

Through the toothpaste, he responded. “No, that was Lily, but the sentiment is still there.”

Sirius fought a flustered stutter. “Did… did Lily pick out this wallpaper too?”

“No.” Remus laughed awkwardly with the toothbrush still in his mouth. “No, that’s me being too lazy to switch it out from the last people.”

“How long have you lived here?” 

“Erm… I moved here when my first paycheck cleared. Didn’t care for living in Wales too much. I think that's what? Seven years?”

“Just your luck.” Sirius gave an apologetic look, that he hoped conveyed a sort of lovely charm. “Uhh, did you find anything after I left?”

Remus rinsed and spit out the water into the sink before lifting his head, and met Sirius’ eyes once again in the mirror. “Yeah, a lot.”

“Like…?” He prodded cautiously.

“Did you know the Death Eaters were still up and running. They’re an organization anyone could- well not anyone, but almost everyone. If you prove yourself worthy and what not” Remus turned to face him completely. “Your parents obviously did because they were a part of them, even before buying the building. But the real kicker is that they left a week before their death.”

Sirius gulped with a wavering breath. “They left?!”

“Yeah isn’t that- wait did you know about the Death Eaters?” Remus' face ran with worry. 

Shaking his head he answered. “No um… well… maybe.”

“Sirius!” 

He forced himself to remember that Remus had to know. No matter how shameful. “I didn’t know they left.” 

Remus tilted his head in confusion. “But you did know about them.”

All Sirius could do was nod. 

“You have to be honest with me.” He grabbed at his shoulder in a calming gesture, staring at his lip. “There’s no need for that.”

Sirius hadn’t noticed blood trickling down again. The scab had just closed that morning. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” 

“I…” He swallowed down his spinning head. “I think this murder is a lot more complicated than I thought.” 

“No shit.” 

He spent the rest of the day with Remus. Reading every document and file. Because with every passing minute, Sirius trusted him more. Trusted the feeling of hope he gave him more.

A typical fight with Regulus would have him in a paralysis for days, but with Remus he couldn’t even remember it. Like for a moment, it never existed. 

Not that Sirius wanted it to go away. He wanted to remember everything about their fight. Because unlike his parents, Sirius still loved Regulus. And a fight was just a battle in the war. Even if it did remind him of Walburga a little too much. 

The day turned into night, and the residents began to fill the lobby one by one. Scanning the crowd, Sirius clapped his hands together with a slight nod. “Thank you all for coming.” He stood on the doorman’s desk to address everyone. “I’m sure you’re all concerned about the new ownership of the building. I would like to thank you all for being patient and cal-”

“We have not been patient! I’ve been to the fiftieth floor at least a hundred times in the past two days, but no one can give us an answer!” Someone yelled. 

Everyone murmured their agreements. 

Sirius blinked, but continued nonetheless. “Okay, so you haven’t been patient. Whatever.” He paused, hearing the revolving door release another person… Regulus. “But let’s get back to the main focus.” 

He smiled at Regulus, who was finding his place in the crowd. When he did, he gave a small acknowledgement back. With less emotion than the day before Sirius knew he was shutting him out. Giving less and less. 

Drawing his focus back to the crowd, Sirius announced with a delicate hestiance. “The new owner of the building will be Regulus Black.” Watching everyone break into discussions. 

Regulus’ eyes balked. “What?” He saw him mouth. 

“He will be taking over all responsibilities, effective immediately.” Sirius motioned for the other to join him on the desk.

He made his way through the mess of people with stern shoulders. Sirius knew he was trying not to smile as everyone stared. “I-I didn’t think you would…” Regulus whispered as he pushed himself up. “Why didn’t you say something before?” 

“The building is now under his name.” Sirius waved a dramatic arm in front of him. “Any questions or concerns will be directed towards him.” 

“What?” Regulus asked under his breath whilst smiling towards their residents. An acquired skill. 

“You wanted this.” He answered quietly. “But if you really have to know, I was always going to give it to you.”

“Oh.”

About half an hour later of answering questions, and scowling at a beaming James Potter, the group was finally starting to disperse. A soothing chatter of mundane conversations carried as the people began calling the elevators. 

Once the two brothers stepped off the desk however, they were greeted by another person approaching them. 

“Hello, my name is Dorcas Meadowes. I was the lead investigator on your parents' case.” She offered a hand. 

Regulus’ stage smile faltered the tiniest bit, but accepted her hand and shook it politely. “Yes, you were the one questioning me.”

“I was.” Dorcas confirmed. “I thought I would let you two know that the case has officially been ruled as a suicide. They’ll announce it tomorrow in the news.”

Sirius choked a bit. “I’m sorry? You said suicide?”

“Yes… I’m so sorry for your loss.” She nodded sympathetically. 

“That was definitely a murder.” He strongly urged as there was no other explanation. His parents weren’t the type to off themselves. They were the people that got murdered. Brutally.

Regulus clapped his back firmly. “Don’t mind him… he’s just in shock.”

“Of course.” Dorcas pursed her lips before walking away. “On a brighter note, I’ll be moving into 21C. Hopefully I’ll get to see you both again.” 

“With Marlene?” Regulus didn’t skip a beat. He truly knew Grimmauld inside and out. 

“The one and only.”