Shattered

The next morning, Sirius woken up before the dawn. He had a very soft footstep for a dog of his size, but then, he wasn´t a normal dog. It would be ridiculous that an omen of death would nothing but silent.

He felt better. A lot better. He was aware that it couldn´t be the herbal ointments, because it felt like magic. He didn’t put a lot of thought on it. He has better things to do, after all.

Sirius crosses the hut and disappears back into the forest without waking Hagrid. He walks with confidence. He knows there isn’t a creature that can hurt him inside these woods. He had walk among them for years now and he is one of the most dangerous things inside it.

He is thirsty, so he goes to the lake. Once he has drink enough he jumps, deciding that taking a bath would be a good idea, he needs to be presentable for the day that awaits him.

He goes out and transforms back into his human form. He´s soaked. The wet robes wet adheres to his body and his dark hair is over his face, he´s faintly aware of this as the lake shows him his reflection. There is something off with it, but he decides to shrug it off. He doubts it’s actually important.

He takes his wand and whisper a drying charm, a reparo, and a glamour. Once he´s satisfied with his looks he walks to the castle. Breakfast should be soon; he needs to eat and cheek on his brother.  

He enters into the dining hall, going directly to the end of the table. Near the door. So he can see who enters and is close enough to the exit to react quickly if something happens. His favorite food appears in front of him: Rice balls stuffed with Natto and green tea.

It´s a meal his Mother would disapprove. But one he always had enjoyed, mostly for the simplicity of it. He sends a silent thanks to the house elves and starts eating. It seems to be actually a very good decision, because he feels like he hadn´t eaten in days and the onigiri are soft enough that he can eat them without puking.

The tea, on the other hand, is terrible. But Sirius force himself to drink it. It’s a good way to reinitiate his training.

His attention is captured when Regulus enters into the dining room, accompanied of a few Slytherins, one that has a hand over the shoulder of his little brother. Sirius narrows his eyes. Regulus is good at not showing his discomfort, but not that good to follow him. His brother is obviously uncomfortable with the older boy with long blond hair and blue eyes touching him.

He´s on his feet in the next second. Walking over where they are, catching with them before his brother can take a seat on his own table.

“Regulus.” 

His name hadn´t been said with that tone, and for that person, in years. So hearing it had startled him, not enough to make him jump, but enough to drag a breath. He turned, confused and irritated. He wasn´t having a good morning and Sirius presence would only make it worse.

He wasn´t the only to turn. Lucius did the same, with a smirk on his face; because all in the green and silver house knew that the rest of the Marauders had pushed Sirius out and for the last weeks the older son of the Black House hold had been a walking disaster.

Malfoy probably though he would find on his brother a victim.

He could not be more wrong.  

Sirius expression was calm; almost empty. Which alone is disconcertingly enough as his older brother was an emotional person. His face always had writing his sentiments, unless of course he had the “Black Mask” on, but even then, his eyes would let you tell how he was feeling in truth. Because, Sirius´ eyes contained a storm. They were always alive.

That was make it terrifying finding Sirius glance almost as empty as his expression, if not more. There wasn’t anger or disgust, nor anything else. For all his eyes were close to a cloudy sky, now the only think Regulus could think was of the void when he saw into them.  

If Lucius paling and closing his mouth with an audible snap is a tell, he isn´t the only one who found the change disturbing.

Sirius hand is over his right wrist before he can react, but once Regulus realizes his eyes snap to the grip, it’s not hard enough to hurt, but sure it feels like he would not be able to free himself without recurring to do something below himself.

Still, his brother is not looking at him at all. His empty gaze is focused on Lucius and the other Slytherin.

“If you touch my brother again. I will rip your arm off.”

It sends a shiver to all their spines. Not for the words in themselves, but for the way Sirius had spoken them. It was soft, almost absent-minded. Like he had not just promised to rip out a limb of other person.

Regulus know his brother can be quite savage and cruel. But this is entirely different. There is no malice, no uncaring satisfaction of seeing others suffer, no cold fury, no bloodlust. Nothing.  Maybe that´s the reason why he doesn’t fight when Sirius start pulling him over the Gryffindor table. And takes a seat when his older brother gestures him to do it.

He´s curious, because Sirius seems oblivious to the stares they´re receiving, but also because no one tells them anything. And there is an evidently gap from where they´re seated and where everyone else is sitting. Like half the table. It just not that obvious because it’s too early and there are no many students in the hall yet.

“Eat.”

His brother says after food appears and Regulus doesn’t move. It´s not actually harsh. But, the word is an order. Regulus should not feel that compelled to obey him. But it does. Because it feels like similar to Mother´s tone when she expects to be obeyed and the consequences of not doing it hanged heavily over his head.

So he does.  

And Sirius hums, pleased, as he refocus his attention on estrange cup filed with something that looks like tea, but Regulus had never seen on his life.  

Breakfast is quiet. They don´t spoke more to each other until Regulus is almost finishing his food.

“What´s your schedule for today?” His older brother asks, sounding somewhat irritated. Like it pains him to ask.

Once Regulus answers, Sirius nods and says. “I will walk you to your first class.” As he gets up, motioning Regulus to follow.

It’s weird. And uncomfortable. But also, nice, in the aspect that he was spending time with his older brother. Which is something that hadn’t happened since before he arrived to this school. And furthermore, Sirius was showing interest in him in a way that was not like a victim of a practical joke. It´s certainly enjoyable change.  

“Have a good day, Reg.”

Sirius says in a kind of joyful, mind-absent, tone that creeps him out. ´Cause it´s wrong. But also, finds curious that his brother almost sound like when they were children as he says his name; when Sirius still loved him.  

As he sees his brother go, he finds that he would not mind if Sirius stayed like this a little more.