Chapter 7
Regulus skipped the party. He didn’t want to come face to face with Sirius again, and he was avoiding James, who had texted twice, and called 4 times. He decided he liked Lily, but the idea of seeing her and James cosy up all night would stir up feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge. So he skipped the party.
He spent his Friday night watching a documentary about economics, instead, treating himself to a large bowl of noodles, and an energy drink while he watched it. It was rather boring but better than facing everyone. He half-watched the documentary, dozing in and out of sleep a few times, and the other half paying barely any attention. Lily texted him at one stage, wondering if he was going to show up, but he ignored it, turning his phone around.
He fell asleep at some stage, although he couldn’t remember when. He just knew he had because a bang on his door woke him up. He blinked into the darkness of his living room, his tv casting a dull light from the wall as it played standby images. He slowly clambered to his feet, wondering if Lily had decided another pizza night was needed, as he faded towards the door. He turned the lights on as he went.
He passed the clock in his kitchen telling him it was 2 am, and frowned, hesitantly pulling open his door. Sirius was sagging against the door frame.
Regulus almost jumped back, but he managed to stand his ground, eyeing his brother cautiously, as if he was an animal that could strike at any second. He held onto the door, balancing himself as his brother eyed him. “What are you doing here?”
Sirius staggered to stand straight, and strode past Regulus, into his apartment. Regulus hovered by the door, unsure about what to do before finally shutting his front door, following his brother into his kitchen. “What are you doing here?” He repeated.
“Came to visit my brother!” Sirius sang, and Regulus winced. He was drunk. Very drunk.
“It’s late, go home,” Regulus murmured.
“Do you have any drinks?” He questioned, spinning around. He began searching the cabinets, looking past boxes of cereals, and glasses.
“No.” He hadn’t picked up anything new since Lily had left a few days before. It didn’t stop Sirius from continuing his search. “Stop looking, I really don’t have anything.”
Sirius huffed, spinning around to glare at him. “Fine.”
Regulus sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, what are you really here for?”
Sirius leaned against the counter behind him, crossing his arms as he glared at his younger brother. “You know, I had a party tonight,” he began. Regulus said nothing, waiting for him to continue. “And you know what everyone of my friends talked about? All night long?”
“Enlighten me,” Regulus mused.
“They all wanted to know where you were!” Sirius snapped. He seemed disgusted by the thought, making Regulus want to fold in on himself. “Lily said you’re a wonder, apparently! You had her here for drinks! And had breakfast with your little fan club! Mary was very disappointed you didn’t show up.”
“I’ll send a condolence letter soon,” he shrugged.
Sirius shook his head, slowly, obviously unimpressed with the attitude his brother was exhibiting. There was a beat of silence between them that felt tense. They’d fought like this before, probably their entire adolescence. But they hadn’t fought in so long, it stung Regulus more.
“Do you not have any of your own friends? You have to steal all of mine?” Sirius questioned, leaning away from the counter. He’d said that to him before, years ago, when he found out Regulus was friendly with James. Regulus lowered his eyes, staring at the counter in front of him. “You’re in your first year! Make some friends in your own year! You don’t get to take everything from me! You have the family, you’re the fucking heir! The least you can do is stay away from my friends!”
Regulus stared at the counter, unable to do anything, or say anything. “Promise me,” Sirius pointed at him. “Promise me you’ll stay away!”
“I promise,” Regulus murmured after a dejected silence.
Sirius glared at him, looking up ever so slightly before finally leaving, slamming the door on his way out. Regulus didn’t let himself fall apart until he was sure his brother was out of the building.