September 1st 1972
Regulus boards the train nervously, tripping over his slightly-too-big robes in his haste to get up the steps.
Sirius catches his arm and makes sure he doesn’t fall over, grinning all the while.
“Come on, Reggie, let’s get a carriage.” he says, tugging Regulus along by his sleeve.
Regulus is happy Sirius is here.
---
A boy comes into their cabin. He has brown skin and glasses and wild black hair that sticks up all over the place. He’s wearing Gryffindor robes.
Sirius glances up when the boy walks in, and in an instant he is out of his seat, laughing and greeting the boy noisily.
He turns back to Regulus. “Reggie, this is James! You know, I’ve told you about him.”
James looks at Regulus with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Baby Black!” he cries, and looks at Sirius before bursting into laughter.
Regulus isn’t sure what’s funny. But he’s sure about one thing. He hates James Potter even more now.
Two other Gryffindor boys join them in their compartment, and Sirius introduces them as Remus and Peter. Remus has amber eyes, freckled skin and honey coloured hair. He smiles at Regulus and Regulus can feel a flutter in his chest.
He ignores it.
Peter has dirty blond hair and brown eyes. He’s sort of plump, but in a nice way. He nods at Regulus in acknowledgment and promptly ignores him for the rest of the train journey.
Regulus watches Sirius and his friends chatter for a while, slightly envious of them all. He wonders what house he’ll be in, and secretly wishes he’s in Gryffindor just to be close to Sirius.
Sirius probably won’t care either way.
Who needs Regulus anyway?
---
They arrive at the Hogsmeade station and exit their carriage and suddenly everyone is rushing and running and shouting and squealing and Regulus can’t think or breathe or move.
He almost gets knocked to the floor by a group of fourth-years, and then by some third-years, and eventually he manages to get down the steps but now he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to be doing or where he’s going and *where* is Sirius?
He gets pushed along in the flow of people until he gets shoved out of the crowd and hits a wall behind him.
Regulus sinks down to the floor and looks desperately for Sirius in the *millions* of people here.
What else can he do? He’s lost, and alone, and his brother probably hasn’t even noticed he’s missing and, and, and-
He doesn’t notice he’s crying until he feels a warm hand on his shoulder and hears a voice in his ear.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” the voice says, while squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. “I need you to take some deep breaths for me, can you do that?”
Regulus shakes his head.
“Alright, that’s fine. I’m going to breathe in and out, and I want you to copy me, okay?”
Regulus cries harder.
The stranger takes a deep breath. “In.”
Regulus tries to copy them and ends up choking on air. This would be funny if it wasn’t so terrifying.
“It’s alright, try again.” the voice says, breathing in again. Regulus copies them and manages a shaky inhale.
“Good.” the voice praises. Regulus can hear the smile in their voice. “And out.” They breathe out firmly, and Regulus does the same.
They sit there for a while, Regulus and the stranger, and Regulus calms down eventually. His breathing goes back to normal and he can feel the tears drying on his face. He blinks, and the stranger squeezes his shoulder again. “Alright?”
Wait.
Now that Regulus isn’t in hysterics, he recognises that voice. He looks at the person sat on the floor next to him and sees a boy in Gryffindor robes, with glasses that cover his concern-filled brown eyes, and messy black hair.
It’s James Potter, of all people.
Regulus scrambled away from him and stands up, scrubbing at his cheeks. He glares at James.
James frowns. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
Regulus doesn’t answer. He’s spotted a familiar boy running towards them, toting shoulder-length black hair and a worried expression.
“Regulus!” Sirius exclaims when he reaches him. “Are you okay?”
Regulus considers the question. The truthful answer would be no, not really, but when is Regulus ever truthful?
“Yes. I’m fine, thanks.”
His voice comes out flat and cold. Sirius frowns, but looks at James. “Cheers for looking after him, mate.”
“No problem.” James nods. “He should probably get over to Hagrid, though; they’re about to leave.”
“Oh! Yes, of course.” Sirius smacks his forehead in exasperation and turns to Regulus again. “Right, you see that tall man over there?”
Regulus looks to where Sirius is point and does, indeed, see a tall man. He nods.
“Okay, you need to go over to him and he’ll take you and all the other first-years to the Great Hall to be sorted. Hurry, because they’ll be leaving soon.”
“Oh, okay.” Regulus nods. He takes a few paces and turns to say goodbye to Sirius, but the words die on his lips because Sirius is already gone.
Who needs Regulus anyway?