Sirius Leaves for Good
Grimmauld Place wasn't always miserable, at least as Regulus remembers, Sirius might forever disagree the place they grew up in was nothing but hell on Earth. It used to be a place of warmth before their father got ill and their mother slolwy fell into the Black madness and it was up to their older cousins to teach them the ways of the pureblood world.
It wasn't until Regulus saw the cruciatus curse used on his brother that he finally realized his childhood was long over.
Regulus didn't know a lot of things like why his Mother was so adamant about being perfect or why his Father wouldn't try and fight his illness. He didn't know why Bellatrix's husband was so eager to help him with his studies and introduce him to the world of politics, or why it was such a big deal to his family when he asked Kreacher to make him a cup of coffee one morning instead of tea because he missed the occasional cup at Hogwarts.
What Regulus did know was that questioning any of this was not worth the pain it would cost him. He would know as he watched his brother go through it time and time again, fighting the same battles he would never win.
"WHY? WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE SO FUCKING PERFECT ALL THE TIME? FUCK YOUR PERFECTION MUM, FUCK-"
"Crucio"
The screaming lasted for over an hour, Regulus wanted to help he wanted to go into the other room where he knew his brother was in so so much pain, he wanted to help help help.
"You make me sick Sirius"
Go, go, move your feet. Regulus chanted silently to himself, go, open the door, open the fucking door.
"You are nothing but a fucking fag"
Open the fucking door.
"You are nothing, you are no son of mine"
Alas, Regulus did not open the door, instead he sat there crawled in the corner tears streaming down his face, hating himself for being such a fucking coward.
There is once thing in the Black household that is far scarier than the screaming sessions that go down between his brother and his mum and that is the silence that follows after, never knowing how far his mum had gone, how far she was willing to go.
Siruis had left that night, at exactly 3:34am, Regulus knew because he sat there on the red carpet of Sirius's room not daring to say a word as Sirius packed his bag.
"Come with me" Sirius pleaded breaking the silence.
"Sirius you know I can't"
"Reggie they won't touch us at the Potters, James said it was an open invite for both of us. His parents have direct floo to their lawyer, we would be protected."
"You know that isn't why I can't siri. someone has to take care of Dad"
"Fuck dad" Sirius said bitterly
"You and I know you don't truly mean that" And he didn't, neither of them could truly hate their Father, the man that taught them how to fly, how to ride in their summer home in Italy, neither of them could hate the man that would let them stay up late making a mess in the kitchen making cookies. They couldn't hate the man that loved them so much when they were younger.
Regulus sighed, already planning the fallout of Sirius leaving along with his protection of his own.
"I have to take care of Dad until he's gone"
"Bu-"
"No Sirius, we both owe it to him, and if you stay here any longer she will kill you"
Sirius paused, staring at him through red rimmed eyes, a bleeding nose, and smiled bitterly.
"The hat got you so wrong, you should have been a fucking hufflepuff."
Regulus grinned, knowing he won this fight for now.
"Maybe but I out witted it before it could realize that. Now go before she realizes you left."
"You fucking bastard" Sirius mumbled, taking a step torwards Regulus, "Please be careful".
Regulus just nodded, please let this summer be okay, please let Siruis make it to the Potters safely.