Willow Tree
July 23rd, 1967
Sirius Orion Black
Sirius Black was seven years old when he first ran away.
It began as an innocent thought, Quick and stupid but that made it all the more intrusive. So, he decided he would. He would run away.
Being seven- nearly eight- Sirius Black did not think this through. At all.
Mother had just gone on one of her rampages. Something about blood-traitors and the ministry. Upon spying Sirius, she had decided to take her rage out on him.
Again.
He'd had enough. Selfishly, not thinking of his little brother hiding in the corner of his room, he left. Barefoot.
Later, he would cringe at his stupidity. Where would he have even gone? No shoes? No control?
Father was out- as per usual. Somewhere. Anywhere. Nobody knew where Orion spent his free time. But at the age of seven, Sirius had a pretty good idea of where he was and what he was doing.
Sirius was nursing his wrist. It felt broken. It didn't matter though, if it was Mother would fix it. Nothing to constrict the heir.
Nothing physical, anyways.
He was barefoot walking stupidly on wet grass outside the grounds of his 'home'.
This is where Sirius would stay! Nature! He would be like a... Like a pirate! Only without the sea! Yes. Sirius the pirate. He smiled at the dream.
He liked the way the small blades of grass tickled his feet. It felt like a small freedom. The start of his piracy!
He sat down under a willow tree. Green vines acting as a layer of protection from the life that was number 12.
He heard rustling from above him. Scared it was his mother coming to bring him back - or worse, Bellatrix! He looked up.
A boy. A boy stared back at him. Green eyes that looked brown. Big and small scars scattered along his freckled face. Brown mousy hair that flopped over his forehead.
Sirius stared. And the boy stared back.
And then the boy moved to dangle by his legs on a branch. Hair swinging above his head.
Sirius gasped.
"Your wrist? Is it okay?" the boy questioned.
"Who are you-" was all that came out
"Remus Lupin. Lovley to meet'cha" Remus replied.
"Sirius. Sirius Black. Nice... To uh- Nice to meet you, Remus Lupin."
For a pirate, he was acting awfuly shy.
Remus grinned and then looked at his wrist again. Smile fading slightly, he stared very intently at Sirius' wrist. Something popped and he felt his breath hitch.
He moved his wrist in circular motions. It felt better. Normal.
"Merlin! How did you do that!" he breathed, still twirling his wrist.
Remus tapped his nose.
"Thas' a secret, Sirius Black."
"What! No, teach me! Please!" he begged.
Remus looked startled by his sudden pleas but he quickly recovered.
Swinging himself off the branch, back flipping as if it was nothing and landing perfectly on his feet.
Sirius gaped.
"No." he smiled.
Not used to being told no, Sirius blinked like an idiot and Remus just laughed.
It was a sweet sound. Not mocking.
Soon, Sirius was laughing with him.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed like this.
Remus sat down next to Sirius on the tree. It was wide enough to fit both of them, shoulders bumping.
"So! Sirius Black, whaccha doin' round 'ere. You sound a bit posh... You don't look posh though..."
He gave Sirius a once over.
"Are you posh?"
Once again, Sirius was at a loss for words.
"I'm going to be a pirate" was all he could say.
Remus laughed again. It was like music. Catchy.
Sirius stiffled a laugh in honor of his pride.
"What's so funny then! Out with it!" This just seemed to make Remus laugh harder.
"Stop laughing at me! Why are you laughing!" He scowled.
This made Remus quiet a bit. "sorry. S' just- You have such a posh accent but you want to be a pirate! I've never met a posh pirate before..."
"You've met a pirate!" was all Sirius took from that.
"Uh... Well, no."
"Oh..."
"I think I'd like to be a pirate aswell, you know" Remus inquired.
"We could be pirates together!" Sirius shouted, excited- like a dog.
"Yeah." the boy smiled softly. "Yeah, we could- we'd sail the seven seas! Nobody could stop us!"
And for some stupidly childish reason Sirius started to tear up.
The boy panicked.
"Hey- why- what- why are you crying- um. Don't cry" Remus soothed, waving his hands around manically, not touching Sirius.
"Im sorry. I've never had a friend before. A proper friend"
Remus started to tear up aswell.
"Yeah, yeah neither have i."
And then they both started to cry.
It was stupid. Sirius wasn't a cry baby but- this felt so... Natural. The boy- Remus Lupin felt like home. Real home.
So he cried.
And so did Remus.
"Where'd you get the scars?" Sirius whispered, hugging his knees.
Remus flinched. "I..I can't tell you. Sorry."
"Oh. Okay." he said, staring at the way the willow vines twisted and tangled. And after a while- "Did it hurt?"
"Did what hurt?" Remus asked smartly.
Sirius rolled his eyes turning to look at Remus. Remus didn't look at him.
"The scars."
Remus didn't reply for a moment.
"Yeah. It hurt. A lot."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
An uncomfortable silence came over the two.
"Who hurt your wrist?" Remus mused.
Sirius shut his eyes and hugged his knees tighter.
"My mum."
"Your mum?"
"My mum."
"Why?" Remus asked.
Sirius had never really thought about that; Why? Why did Walburga Black hate him so much?
"I...I'm not sure."
"Oh. Okay then. Do you want to see something cool, Captain Sirius?"
Sirius smiled so wide his cheeks hurt. Captain Sirius.
"Why of course, Captain Remus."
Remus wore a smile as big as Sirius'.
He stood up, and so did Sirius.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut and stuck his hands out, puffing his cheeks.
And then something happened.
The willow branches started to sway and twist more rapidly, the wind picked up and all sound ceased.
Flowers sprouted upon the vines. White, yellow, blue, purple- even orange!
And then they sprouted all over Remus' body. On his face, his arms, his legs.
Sirius gasped and touched one.
"You're like a garden" he whispered, staring at the flowers
"So are you." Remus replied and Sirius noticed the flowers sprouting. Sprouting on his scars. The grotesque aftermath of a battle won by his mother. Made into a sea of colours.
Tears weled in his eyes. "They're beautiful. It's beautiful." he chuckled.
"I do this sometimes to help me forget about them. The scars." Remus shifted his weight from one foot the other.
"Thank you for showing me."
"You're welcome. Thank you for not being scared of me."
"Why would i be scared of you, Remus?" Sirius laughed a bit because of how absurd that was. Remus was not scary! He was Remus! Captain Remus, if we're being formal.
"Everyone usually is. Dad hides me sometimes. People take one look at me and... Fear. They're ways afraid."
"Well...then they're cowards! You're Captain Remus! You're not scary, you're brave and loyal! But not like a Hufflepuff. Never like a hufflepuff" Sirius made a funny face.
Remus' laugh shook the ground.
"I should probably go. It's really, really, super late." Remus said.
It was true. The night had come and gone. The sun was beginning to come up.
"But...Okay. If you have to go, you have to promise I'll see you again. That we will meet here. Tomorrow or the next day. Where do you live?"
Remus smiled sadly. "I don't live in London."
"What... But... You have to live in London! How else am i supposed to see you!" Sirius cried.
"We'll find eachother. We have to. Captain Sirius. Captain Remus. We'll sail the seven seas. Nothing can stop us." Remus whimpered.
"Remember me okay? Sirius Orion Black III. You can't forget."
"I wont. I knew you were posh. 'Sirius Orion Black III.' Well, Im Remus John Lupin. I'll see you later, Captain."
"See you."
And then he left.
July 24th, 1967
Regulus Arcturus Black
Regulus was hurt. Sirius had left- left him. He hadn't even said anything.
Regulus had sobbed into his brothers pillow that night, pretending his brother was in it's place.
How could you do this?
How could you do this to me.
How could you leave?
Mother had questioned him when she realised Sirius had gone.
"Where is he!" she'd slammed into his room, startling Regulus and causing him to drop the book.
"Where is your insolent brother, Regulus."
"Sirius isn't here?" Was all he said.
"Would i be asking you if he was not?" his mother snapped
"No mother."
"Exactly. Don't act like a common fool, Regulus. It's beneath you."
"Yes mother." Regulus hung his head in shame as his mother stormed out of the room, cursing his brothers name.
Sirius came back.
The next day. His mother was furious. Shouting spell after spell after spell.
When she was done, Regulus ran down the operatic-like staircase and rushed to the shrunken form of his brother.
He knelt down beside his brother.
"Where were you! Are you okay? Um. Um. Kreacher!" Sirius was crying softly. Still unconscious.
"Kreacher is hear to serve young master Regulus!"
"Hi, Kreacher. Can you help him?" Regulus replied pointing at his brother and biting his nails. Tears forming in his eyes.
Kreacher looked over Sirius with distane but still obeyed. Snapping his fingers a gruesome crack emented from his brothers body.
"Thanks- Thank you. Kreacher, would you mind helping me carry him to bed?"
"Master Regulus is being welcomed. I will help Young Master Regulus carry Young Master Sirius to his room."
Regulus smiled, showing his teeth.
Sirius Orion Black
When Sirius came to Regulus was there.
At his bedside holding his covers.
"Hey" Sirius said.
"Hi.
And then Regulus was crying.
"Don't leave me again please. Please don't leave me with her again. Please Sirius, please"
And Sirius felt so guilty. He hadn't thought about him. Hadn't thought about Regulus.
Hadn't.
Should've.
Hadn't.
He hugged his brother.
"Never again, Reg. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Regulus sobbed.
And for the first time in his life, he prayed.
Please. Please, anyone if you're out there. Please. Haven't we given enough? Please what did we do. I'm begging you to keep Regulus safe.
Please.
Please.
Please.
Please let me see Remus again.
The brothers fell asleep, hugging eachother. Tears drying and heads lulling.