Tea
Regulus wasn’t supposed to go to this meeting but he did have to go to the next one which is not very good because the next meeting is next week and he needs to make sure Dorcas is alright. He doesn’t doubt that she isn’t doing just fine on her own but he worries.
~
Usually the fights people have in this house aren't that bad, but when you insult any of the Rosier siblings that's different.
Marlene had insulted both of the twins which really wasn’t a smart decision. Well, she technically insulted Regulus and his closest friends which makes her even dumber.
Felix, Evan, Pandora, Barty, Dorcas, himself, and surprisingly James and Sirius are all mad at Marlene. Regulus knows they are all mad at Marlene for different reasons, insulting those closest to them, insulting their family members, etcetera. Etcetera. If Regulus is being honest with himself he doesn’t know why James is upset.
Regulus knows that James is not the type of person to get mad at his friends so this is out of the ordinary. Regulus notices more about James than he even likes to admit to himself because it’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing because it’s a crush he was supposed to lose when he was eleven but alas it’s been almost nine years and that crush has not disappeared.
Regulus has, stupidly enough, not been able to get James out of his head since James came to his room and he really wishes his brain would shut off because it’s pathetic if he’s being honest with himself. It’s pathetic because it was probably only an act of lust. It’s pathetic because it
could never happen. It’s pathetic just because it’s him.
Besides James, Regulus has had other things on his mind. Much more important things that have a purpose.
Regulus has been thinking of his father. His father wasn’t the one who hurt him and Sirius, that was all Walburga. Orion had always been kind, or well, as kind as you can be in a house like the Blacks.
Orion had tried to make the house feel like a home when Walburga wasn’t around. Orion would bring Regulus and Sirius down into the dungeons to make chocolate chip cookies even though Kreacher could’ve. Orion would help Regulus and Sirius make snowmen in the snow when Walburga wasn’t there.
Orion had tried while Walburga was closed off and cold towards Regulus and Sirius. Regulus thinks he takes after Walburga in that way.
Regulus knows that people could try in their own ways. Maybe Walburga hadn’t been obvious when she was trying but he knows she did. Regulus knows she tried because if people were talking bad about Regulus and Sirius, she would defend them.
Regulus knows it's not the best but you can't expect much from the house of Black.
So Regulus has a plan. His plan might be a little irrational or ridiculous but it's important. At least it's important to him.
Regulus’ plan is to…retrieve his father from the Black house and recruit him to war.
Orion is old but his magic is strong and powerful. If anyone were to piss him off enough then that would be the last thing they did. Which is why Regulus needs him on his side of war.
Regulus had finally decided it was time to tell Sirius about his plan because Sirius was the only one who would be able to help.
He put on a green jumper. It was soft. He remembers when Dorcas had given it to him. It was Dorcas’ last year at Hogwarts and she gave it to him as a Christmas present before they went on break. He remembers when Barty had gotten so drunk that night he couldn't walk the next day. That was a very fun floo call Regulus got that break.
Regulus quickly pushed away the memory. It wasn't that he didn't want to think about it, he just didn't want to. If he thought about Dorcas anymore he's afraid he'll have a panic attack.
Regulus practically ran upstairs. No one was in the kitchen, or so he thought.
He heard two voices. He carefully walked just outside the kitchen. He moved at an angle so they wouldn't see him and he listened to the conversation.
He looked into the kitchen and saw that it was Lily and Mary. Mary was on the counter while Lily got them ice cream (that Felix insisted they bought the last time they were at the shops). Lily handed Mary a bowl filled with vanilla ice cream then began dishing her own.
Regulus noticed how Mary was staring at Lily. Her expression was so soft and loving.
“Hey Lils?” Mary's voice was soft, like butter. Regulus had always loved how soothing Mary's voice was but he would take that to the grave.
Lily hummed to let Mary know she was listening and Mary continued. “About our talk last night-”
Lily immediately looked up at Mary. “No, no please I can't talk about this right now Mary” Lily interrupted.
“Lily, you can't run away from this conversation forever” Mary said in protest. What fucking conversation?” Regulus thought.
“I am not running away from anything” Lily's voice was almost, angry? “All I’m doing is not talking about something simply because I don't want to” Lily turned back and continued dishing up her own ice cream.
“Lily, you've got to be kidding me. Last night we-”
“Don't you dare finish that sentence!” Lily interrupted quickly and also way louder then she had to.
“Lily we have to talk about it, please”
Lily rolled her eyes and put the ice cream away, she had finished dishing up her ice cream at least. Lily grabbed her ice cream bowl and turned to leave the kitchen.
Regulus quickly his right by the bookshelf. What he was wearing was reasonably dark, maybe he'd blend in.
Lily left the kitchen and Mary quickly caught up to her. “Lils, Lily please” Mary was carrying her bowl of ice cream while she followed behind Lily.
Regulus never got to hear the rest of their fight? Talk? Whatever it was because they had gone into one of the bedrooms. Regulus had put silencing spells on the bedrooms because he doesn't want to hear everyone's conversations and crying in the middle of the night.
Regulus managed to calm himself down and then went upstairs to Sirius' room. He knocked lightly on the door and heard moving around. Okay that's good, either it was Sirius or Remus awake.
Sirius opened the door and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Regulus. “Hi Reggie, what's wrong? Did something happen? Who do I need to hex? You look like something happened”
“Okay, first of all, calm the fuck down, nothing happened, you dont need to hex anyone, yet” Regulus said, trying to stop Sirius from overthinking.
“What the actual fuck do you mean by ‘yet’?” Sirius looked behind him when he heard Remus move slightly in the bed. He looked back at Regulus and walked out of the bedroom and softly closing the door behind him.
“What I mean is that you might have to hex someone depending on if you want to go through with this” Regulus explained and let Sirius lead him downstairs to the kitchen.
Sirius grabbed two mugs, probably one for tea and one for coffee. “Explain once I've had my coffee” Sirius said and began brewing coffee. He looked back at Regulus who was staring at the other mug still in Sirius' hand. “Oh, I-uhm I grabbed this mug because I was going to make you some tea. I knew you didn't like coffee and preferred tea, I mean I think you still prefer tea-”
“Sirius, yes, I still prefer tea. Thank you” Regulus interrupted. He hated it when Sirius began overthinking. Sirius had always been an over thinker while Regulus had always analyzed and calculated.
Sirius nodded after a moment and smiled slightly, probably proud that he remembered that. “Right, yeah, right” Sirius turned around once he heard that his coffee was done brewing and then began making tea for Regulus.
Regulus would never admit it-or maybe he would he doesn't know at this point- but he's actually very happy that Sirius had remembered that Regulus preferred tea. It was a small thing to remember but Regulus didn't think Sirius would remember anything about Regulus.
Sirius handed Regulus his tea and grabbed his own coffee. They sat down in the window seat that's in the kitchen. There was a book there with some blankets and pillows. It was a cold January night but people often sat here to read or watch it rain when it was quiet in the house.
Regulus held the warm mug in between his hands while he looked out of the window. It wasn't raining or snowing but it was quite cloudy outside, it was very calming, even if the trees were dead.
Regulus looked over at Sirius who was already looking at him. Regulus has missed Sirius, he can admit that to himself but he doesn't want to admit that to anybody else.
Sirius held out his hand for Regulus. It was a small gesture they used to do when they were kids when Walburga had just hurt one of them. They would do it just to remind the other that they weren't alone. Regulus has hated holding hands with people since Sirius ran away but now he's very grateful that hand holding is a thing. Regulus grabbed Sirius’ hand and Sirius smiled at him.
“You had something to tell me?” Sirius said and took another sip of his coffee.
“Yeah, yeah I did” Regulus looked back out of the window and took a deep breath, then exhaled. “I was thinking about father-” Regulus felt Sirius tense. “-I was thinking that maybe he would help us in the war. I know he's not the best person but he wasn't the one that would hurt us, that was all mother”
Sirius was still tense but after a few moments he spoke. “We would just be getting father?”
Regulus looked over at Sirius in surprise. He didn't think that Sirius would agree so quickly, or easily. “Yeah, just pére”
“Si je fais cela, serez-vous en sécurité?” Sirius said, his French just as smooth as it was when they were kids.
“Nous serons tous les deux en sécurité” Though Regulus’ was smoother.
“Je me fiche d’être en sécurité, je veux m’assurer que tu es en sécurité” Sirius' voice was firm and Regulus froze for a moment.
“Je me soucie si tu es en sécurité” Regulus' voice was quiet and strained.
“Je le serai, mais je dois être sûr que tu iras bien” Sirius was clearly trying to reassure Regulus but Regulus was persistent on this.
“Non, Sirius, écoute-moi. Tu seras en sécurité” Regulus really needed Sirius to believe him.
“Okay, I believe you,” Sirius said and squeezed Regulus’ hand. That was what made Regulus convinced he believed him. When they were children and they were trying to reassure the other that they were okay they would squeeze the other's hand. It's not much but Sirius remembered.
He remembered, he remembered, he remembered. Remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered remembered.
“What was that you guys just said?” Regulus looked at the doorway.
“None of your damn business, Potter” Regulus responded quickly but then Sirius flicked the back of his head.
“Regulus has a mission”
“You've gotta be fucking kidding me Sirius” Regulus said.
Sirius smirked. “Do you not think James could do this mission?”
Regulus clenched his jaw for a moment but then responded. “I suppose he could” Sirius was tryin
g, that was obvious, so Regulus can try. He can try for Sirius.
“Wonderful” Sirius turned to James. “So, Regulus has a mission…”