Chapter 1
July 24th, 1972, Early Morning, Black Manor
An unfamiliar warmth filled the room as Regulus slowly woke up. He had a slight headache from not getting much sleep the night before, but other than that he felt weirdly content and comfortable. He laid there, unmoving, for a while, savoring the feeling he knew wouldn’t last long. He was about to fall back asleep when Sirius burst into his room, a letter in his hand.
“Rise and shine little brother!” he cheered happily making his way to the edge of Regulus’s bed. As Sirius sat down Regulus sat up and adjusted to a more comfortable sitting position.
“What is it?” Regulus asked drowsily, still half asleep.
“Guess what came today..” Sirius said in a sing-song tone. Regulus groaned.
“What came today Sirius?” Regulus asked, not in the mood to play into Sirius’s theatrics. Sirius gaped at him, eyes full of disbelief.
“You’re kidding me.” he gaped, “You have to know.” Regulus rolled his eyes at his brother, feigning annoyance. He tried to bite back his smile, however he was unsuccessful.
“I really really don’t.” he admitted, a bit embarrassed about the fact he really did have no clue what his brother was going on about.
“Oh my dear Reggie what will we ever do with you.” Sirius sighed dramatically. Regulus chuckled and planted a playful punch on his brother’s arm for using that nickname.
“Ok actually what came?” he asked, crossing his arms and giving his brother a look.
“Your Hogwarts letter, obviously. Did you really forget that was today?” Sirius laughed fondly and handed his brother the envelope that contained his letter. Regulus reached out gingerly and took it. He looked at it in awe, the warmth in his room increasing. Excitement filled his stomach and he peeled open the envelope and read the letter inside.
“Dear Mr.Black, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.” he read aloud, excitement dripping from his tone and filling the room. Sirius smiled brightly and fondly at his little brother.
“Aren’t you excited Reggie? You finally get to escape this hell hole that we call a house with me! I’ll introduce you to all my friends. They’ll all love you.” Sirius said excitedly, eyes full of joy and anticipation, “You can help us with our pranks! The things we could all do together Reg!” Regulus felt himself filled with an alarming amount of happiness at this thought. He imagined him and his brother running around the school together, joking around with each other and his brother’s new friends, occasionally hexing Ms.Norris when Filch got particularly annoying. Regulus hadn’t met Filch quite yet but Sirius told him things about the grubby little man that made Regulus dislike him already. But then Regulus realized something that sent everything crashing down.
“I won’t be a Gryffindor like you will though Siri.” he muttered sadly. Sirius's smile fell. The warmth that filled the room faded a bit. Regulus hated that. He wanted to be able to make that feeling return and it seemed Sirius did as well.
“You don’t know that Reggie.” he said, his facial expression and voice hopeful, “I wasn’t sorted into Slytherin so there’s a chance you won’t be as well.” Regulus wished that was true. He wished there truly was a chance that maybe he wouldn’t be sorted into Slytherin, but they both knew there wasn’t.
“We’re different Sirius. You’re brave and courageous, and I’m not. You stick up for yourself and me all the time and I just sit there. I let it happen.” Regulus said softly. Sirius and him sat there in silence, the warmth fully draining out of the room.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re sorted into Slytherin” Sirius broke the uncomfortable silence. Regulus stared at him in disbelief.
“Oh really?” Regulus dryly chucked.
“It really doesn’t! We can still be friends. It doesn’t matter what house you’re in.” Sirius said, honestly believing what he was saying.
“Oh yeah because your friends would love to hang out with your snobby Slytherin brother.” Regulus snorted.
“Come on Reg. They’re not like that.” Sirius muttered, directing his gaze to his hands.
“Oh really? Are you sure about that? Come on Siri, you've told me all about the hilarious pranks you’ve pulled on the entirety of Slytherin house with your friends. I’d be your enemy.” Regulus said, resentment lacing his tone.
“We wouldn’t- I’d never-” Sirius stuttered helplessly. Regulus sighed.
“Get out Sirius”
“What?”
“I said get out. I just-” Regulus sighed and buried his face in his hands, “I just need a moment to fully wake up, okay?”
Sirius sat there for a moment, just staring at his brother with a confused look upon his face. He eventually got up and left the room after quietly muttering, “Okay.”
“Sorry.” Reg barely breathed as the door slammed shut behind Sirius, leaving Regulus alone, his room returning to its usual cold and foreboding feeling.
Regulus hated when he and Sirius disagreed or fought. His brother was the only person Regulus had. Regulus and Sirius had been extremely close since practically the minute Regulus was born. The ‘abuse’, as Sirius likes to call it (Regulus prefers to stay away from that word when talking about his parents), had made them even closer.
However Regulus could feel Sirius slipping away from him the day he came home for Christmas in his first year. Sirius no longer wanted to fly with him or play the muggle card games their mother hates. All Sirius wants to do is write to his friends or talk about his new friends. The only thing Sirius has been able to talk about since he’s been home is James Potter. Brilliant Saint Potter. Sirius had also briefly mentioned two boys named Remus and Peter but it was never as much as he talked about James. Regulus hated that. As selfish as it was, he wanted his brother back.
Shortly after Sirius had left Regulus heard a timid knock on his bedroom door.
“Who is it?” he called out.
“It’s Kreacher, young master. Mistress Black has sent me up to inform you that you need to eat and then get dressed. You have tea scheduled with another family in an hour, young sir.” the familiar voice of the family house elf called back from behind his closed door.
“Thank you Kreacher. Please inform my mother I will be ready in thirty minutes.” Regulus said fondly as he finally got out of bed.
“Of course, young master. There is no need to thank Kreacher, Kreacher is only happy to serve.” The house elf said. Not even a second later Regulus heard Kreacher's small footsteps retreating down the stairs to carry on his message to his mother. Regulus groaned and stretched out, fully waking himself up. He headed to his wardrobe and got ready for the day.