Chapter 2
Remus slowly opened his eyes, looking around him. He found that sometimes he still couldn't quite figure out where he was and it would scare him. Then he would look over and see James and Sirius and it wouldn't be afraid anymore. He was safe and he was home.
Everything did change when the three boys, plus Peter, were in their fourth year. Regulus came to live with them. Peter had been offered the chance to live with the Potters but he turned it down. He was happy right where he was. Sirius had begged for Monty and Effie to get his brother out but there wasn't much they can do unless they could prove that the Black family was not meant to raise children. Sirius yelled that his entire life was proof enough then he felt bad. The Potters were doing everything they could and he knew that. They didn't deserve his anger.
Then, one night in the summer between third and fourth year, Regulus showed up. Remus and James were uncertain about him, they always had been but Sirius loved his brother so they said nothing and let Regulus join them in their room. The youngest insisted that he didn't mind being alone in the guest room but Sirius shut him down and demanded that Regulus be in the older boys' room just like Remus had a year prior.
"What happened?" Surprisingly, it was Remus who asked first, staring the younger Black brother down. Regulus shifted uncomfortably as his bed, which was actually a transfigured broom, and lowered his head. His brothers friends intimidated him even if he didn't show it.
"What always happens. I just had enough this time. They told me to get out if I was going to be an ungrateful brat and traitor so I went upstairs,packed everything and left. I couldn't do it anymore" Regulus explained, his voice shaking.
"They called you a traitor?" Sirius couldn't believe what he was hearing. He has always been the traitor, not Regulus.
"They've been doing that for the past year and a half. Believe it or not, I did defend you after you left" Regulus responded quickly. Sirius blushed and looked away. He hadn't been sure if Regulus would stand up for him or not after he ran away but it was nice knowing his brother still had his back.
"Your welcome to stay" James cut in, though he didn't look like he meant that. Remus understood why. Sirius was fine. Remus and James knew him and knew what he was like but Regulus was a closed book. A book that has been around vulgar, dark things for the past twelve years. Neither of them wanted to risk the chance of being blasted to pieces in their sleep.
"Yeah. The Potters won't mind, they practically adopt every miserable child they see" Sirius motioned to Remus and himself as if to prove his point. Remus glared at him and kicked him in the side.
"I'm not a miserable child. And I'm not staying. I sent a letter to Andy and her mudblood husband. They're letting me stay with them until I find somewhere else to go" Regulus responded, his eyes dark. Remus rolled his eyes; he hated that word but he knew it was part of their vocabulary for the Sacred Eight.
"Don't use that word" Sirius scolded, glancing cautiously at his friends who were both looking really ticked off. Even though James was a pure blood, he wasn't like the Sacred Eight. He'd probably get his mouth washed out if he ever dared to use that word.
"Whatever" Regulus rolled his eyes this time and Remus clenched his fist into his jumper to keep from punching the kid. This was exactly why he didn't want Regulus to stay. The Potters was a happy, safe place. With Regulus there, it wouldn't be.
"Siri, why don't we give him some space? He must be tired and I'd like some tea" James linked arms with his brothers, leading them downstairs. Regulus' eyes darkened even more and blazed with fury at the nickname. That used to be his! He called Sirius that! Sirius nodded, looking at his brother and then looking away as if he had been burned. Remus glared at Regulus as he followed the shorter boys down to the kitchen.
"He can't stay" Remus blurted out.
"He's my brother" Sirius argued.
"Sirius, when I met you, I knew that you were different from your family. But Regulus, he's too much like them. I don't know about James or the Potters but I'd rather not have the first place that's actually felt like home be turned into a prison where I have to watch my every step because of him" Remus explained.
"Regulus isn't like them!" Sirius insisted.
"Isn't he?" Remus responded. He knew very little about the younger Black brother but from what Sirius has told his friends, Regulus was easily swayed and very set in his family's ways. There was no changing him.
"If you don't want me that's fine, I'm not staying long anyways" Regulus said from the bottom of the stairs. Remus slowly turned to face him.
"He didn't mean that" Sirius tried to diffuse the situation. Regulus just stared at Remus, neither of them breaking contact.
"Yes he did" Regulus nodded, causing Remus to look away. Regulus turned and ran upstairs and Sirius followed him. Remus and James didn't move; this was going to one hell of a ride.