Chapter 2
September 1st, 1972, Mid-Afternoon, Kings Cross Station
“You’ve got all your supplies and your books correct?”
“Yes mother.”
“Do you have your robes and actually proper clothes to wear outside of school hours?”
“Depends on what you consider proper.”
“Don’t toy with me boy.”
“Yes mum I’ve got the proper clothes.” Sirius sneered, rolling his eyes. Sirius side-eyed his brother after saying this, expecting Regulus to have had a reaction to this. Maybe a subtle eye roll of his own or a quiet snort, like the one he does when Sirius says something especially clever to one of their parents. However Regulus didn’t react at all. He was too enamored with his surroundings.
The chaotic bustle of platform 9 ¾ had Regulus completely infatuated. He could practically feel the magic buzzing off of all different kinds of magical families. He had been in large groups of magical people before, obviously, due to parties and gatherings his mother and his father hosted. However those parties usually contained the same type of magical folk, all pureblood wizards and witches, usually with…controversial magical specialties. This was on a whole new level. A nice, balanced mix of light and dark, dimmer magic that was more confined and proper and bright hot magic that was barely containable. Regulus loved the feeling. It made him feel both exhilarated and at peace at the same time. It was much better than how his mum’s ‘friend’s’ magic made him feel. That magic made him feel like he just woke up with a massive headache after staying up a little too late.
“Hellooo? Earth to Regulus..” he was brought back to the present moment due to the fact that his older brother was obnoxiously waving his hand in his face.
“What do you want, Sirius?” Regulus snapped and then grimaced at how harsh his tone had come off as. His gut twisted in guilt as he watched his brother's face fall for a split second before he attempted to replace it with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Woah chill Reggie. Just making sure you’re alive.” Sirius let out an awkward laugh and Regulus' guilt increased a considerable amount, “I’m gonna go find a place to sit on the train now. I’ll save you a seat, okay Reg?”
Regulus only nodded and Sirius gave him a quick hug before turning his attention to their parents.
“Well-erm-bye then, I guess.” They stared at Sirius blankly. Sirius sighed and turned in the opposite direction, towards the train, as he left Regulus heard him mutter something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Why do I even bother..”
As soon as Sirius was out of his sight their mother turned to Regulus and bent down to his level.
“You listen here and you listen good,” She whispered harshly into his ear, “I don’t want you talking to, associating yourself with, or even making eye contact with Sirius. Sirius has made his choice and it is not this family. We’re trying to sway him but for now Sirius does not exist. He is dead to us. I have eyes, Regulus. I will know if you disobey me. Watch yourself. Don’t be like your brother. Make us proud.” Regulus’ gut twisted uncomfortably.
“I-I’m sorry?” he managed, not believing, not wanting to believe what he just heard.
“You heard me boy now go, or else you’re going to be late.” His mother slightly pushed him towards the train. Regulus' legs shook as he made his way onto the train. Did his mother truly expect him to act as if the only person who truly loved him doesn’t truly exist? Who cares if he got sorted into the wrong house? Who cares if he’s making friends with blood traitors? His mother. His mother cares. But Regulus doesn't. But who cares what Regulus thinks. He isn’t trying to get disowned any time soon. So he’ll go along with his mother and her childish and shallow fight with her own son.
Because Regulus Black is a coward, because Regulus black would rather have his mother’s approval than stand up for and stand by his own brother. The only person in the whole world who has ever stood up for him in his whole life.
Regulus sighed and made his way through the large crowd of people in the corridor of the train to one of the only empty compartments left. He attempted to put his luggage into the compartment above head but failed miserably. After a few more minutes of attempting to fit it in and failing he gave up and flopped onto the compartment seat and simply set his luggage on the seat across from him. Regulus scurried to the window to take one last look at Platform 9 ¾.
He watched as crying mothers clutched desperately at their younger children and when other mothers tried doing that to their older children they would try to awkwardly pry them off of them, clearly embarrassed. Regulus wouldn’t care if his mother did that. He’d feel so lucky if his mother was like that. These teens didn’t know what they had. They just didn’t know. He sighed bitterly and slumped back down into his seat. Eventually the train started to move and parents frantically waved goodbye, some kids rushed onto the train, and some people’s younger siblings and cousins chased the train, waving goodbye. Regulus remembered doing that when Sirius had left for his first year. Regulus also remembered how he received a stern talking to afterwards about not acting in a proper manner.
Regulus had just gotten comfortable in his seat again when he heard the compartment door open and someone awkwardly cough. Regulus quickly directed his gaze to the source of the sound.
Standing in the doorway was a pale boy with an impressive amount of freckles. He had messy, straight straw colored hair. His light brown eyes blown wide open, as if he was stuck in a constant state of paranoia. After a moment the boy shifted, looking a bit uncomfortable and Regulus realized he must have been staring. Regulus still remained silent.
“D’you mind if I sit here? No one else will take me and everywhere else is full.” the boy eventually said, twiddling his fingers as he asked the question. Regulus merely shrugged then moved his luggage off the seat in front of him and gestured for the boy to sit.
“Er, thank you.” He muttered awkwardly and sat down in front of Regulus. A solid twenty minutes passed of the two sitting there in an awkward silence. The sandy haired boy eventually spoke up after a while.
“I’m Barty. Barty Crouch. Junior.” He said, a wide and nervous smile spread across his face. He held out his hand. Regulus considered the boy for a moment. He seemed nice enough and he’s heard his parents discuss the crouches before so he decided Barty would be the type of person his parents would approve of. He took Barty’s hand.
“Regulus. Regulus Black. Senior.” Regulus replied as he shook the other boy’s hand. Barty let out a nervous laugh and it shocked Regulus a little. Barty has a very interesting laugh. His laugh was very high pitched and sounded very psychotic. It almost sounded like an evil villains' laugh in a kids cartoon. Regulus decided he liked it.