“You need to calm down. Stop crying for fucks sake.” Regulus said firmly.
“I can’t calm down, Regulus! You’re here.” Sirius sobbed out. Seeing his brother for the first time in six years really spurred up some emotions in him.
“I- is that good?” Regulus questioned carefully. Scared his brother might break down even worse if he said the wrong this.
“‘Is that good?’ Huh, ‘Is that good?’. Of course it’s bloody good Regulus. I just don’t understand why you are.”
Regulus sighed. He had been expecting the question. And in reality, he wasn’t really sure. He didn’t even plan on leaving until he did. Well, leaving the company. He left Grimmauld the second he could afford a place of his own. His parents hadn’t liked the idea at first, but him joining the company at only eighteen seemed to ease their doubt.
Now though? Five years later, what had happened for him to wake up?
Mr. and Mrs. Potter had died. That had happened.
“The funeral.” he whispered. Deciding it was answer enough. Sirius also seemed to think so.
Regulus had only met the parents who took his older brother in once. On the platform before his sixth year at the boarding school. Sirius had ran away only a month prior when he met them. But even though it was only a fifteen minute conversation that had remained a secret to everyone, Regulus had put them in that special place in his heart, reserved for the few people he loved.
“Oh,” Sirius breathed. “You- you didn’t go though. It was last week.” he continued.
“I know. I know, now. But I didn’t know. Not until three days ago.” Regulus explained. Their funeral had happened on the Friday the prior week, he found out on the Tuesday the week after. He didn’t even know they had passed away.
“You didn’t know?” Sirius frowned. Regulus shook his head. “But it was on the news?”
“Yeah, but I don’t check the news. Because the company is also on the news. I’m barely ever on my phone, let alone social media.” Regulus explained. He had been good at keeping up with everything happening around the world, always knowing what was happening everywhere. He had been since school. But when the latest news and gossip suddenly started being about Regulus himself. He deleted everything.
“Shit. I- how did you find out?” Sirius rubbed his face with his cold hands. They hadn’t even gone inside yet. Sirius had opened the door a minute after Regulus had knocked. But broken down before a word was even said between them.
How did he find out? “Well-”
Regulus had walked in on his mother hissing into her phone, ‘He can’t find out. You will do everything to keep this information from him.’, was what he had heard before she noticed him. He hadn’t thought anything about it at first. But then his phone had been mysteriously smashed on the Monday the week of the funeral and it took an awfully long time to repair. After eight days of the so called ‘repair’ he caved and went and bought a new phone.
The first thing he did was call Barty, who he knew would have the inside information. His friends were all currently away, for work or for family. And Regulus was having a ‘vacation week’. But really he was just locked up in his flat with his books and cat. So he hadn’t tried to contact them the whole week. But Barty had picked up on the second ring, Regulus had informed him about what he had heard, and Barty told him what had happened.
On Wednesday Regulus sent his resignation letter without any explanation. His mother was furious, but she couldn’t do anything about it, because it stated in his contract that he had every right to leave whenever he wanted. That was stupid of them. Thinking Regulus would stay loyal to the very end.
“- so that’s basically what happened.” Regulus finished after his explanation. When Regulus had finally set up his phone properly the day before, he saw that the deaths of the famous Mr. Potter and his wife was really all over the news. He had immediately felt bad, he couldn’t imagine what the people they care about felt. Seeing it on the internet every day.
Regulus wanted to hurt his mother, and what was better than to expose the family company's biggest secret.
Sirius sighed, “Jesus. I- fuck, wait, come in. It’s freezing in the building.” They sat down on the soft couch. The flat wasn’t big, but enough for the two people who lived there.
“Sirius, I’m really sorry about what happened. About everything, what I did. And I’m sorry about Mr. and Mrs. Potter. I know you loved them as family.” Regulus said sincerely.
“It’s- I- it’s okay.” Sirius voice cracked. “I know- I know you didn’t want to be with them. It’s fine, I- I’m also sorry.” he said through his tears.
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for. You did what you had to, and I did what I thought I had to.”
“Okay. Can we be okay? I’ve missed you so much.” Sirius started sobbing. He’s very emotional, he had always been. But when they were young he showed it through anger, rather than tears.
“Yes. Please. I’ve missed you too.” Regulus whispered. Scared his voice would break if he spoke normally.
“Hug?”
And they hugged. For a little too long, Sirius seemed content with the long hug. But Regulus, as much as he had missed his brother, got slightly uncomfortable with physical touch.
“Okay, this has all been very sad.” he said eventually. Sirius let out a wet laugh and released Regulus from the hug.
“Yeah, and you’re the one who’s said all the sad things. So, maybe, say something happy.” Sirius said.
“Something happy. Hmm, do you want to know a secret?” he asked. “Is it happy?” Sirius questioned. Regulus nodded. “Then, yes.”
“Okay, well, dad’s dead.” he said.
“That’s close enough,” Sirius laughed, “Now tell me something real.”
“I did. Dad’s dead. That’s the secret.” Regulus stated firmly. Staring at a shocked Sirius.
“How?!”
“He’s been dead for a year. But mother has been keeping it secret because it would ruin the company if people found out.” he explained.
“I- this- wha- I-”
“Yeah, sort of how I reacted when she told me. He had been dead for two months before I found out.”
“That’s- that’s so messed up. But- um, what are you going to do with this information?” Sirius asked a little more formally.
“I’m going to expose it of course. Will you help me?”
“Fucking yes.”