Marauders Era Short Stories

The Complicated Relationship Of Sirius & Regulus Black

TW: mention of abuse and death

Crunch—broke the vase in their living room waking up their great-great-great grandparents' portrait along with their mother, Walburga. Little Regulus and Sirius who were only five and seven years old respectively broke the ancient flower vase. It was more Regulus' fault than Sirius's but sensing the danger that was coming their way Sirius put his index finger on his mouth—indicating Regulus not to talk.

"What are the two of you doing out of bed?" came the cold voice of their mother.

"N-nothing," as Sirius spoke the cold red eyes of his mother looked down at the floor, just beside his feet where the shattered pieces of the broken vase lay. Regulus' left foot was bleeding making him cower in pain but Walburga barely paid attention to that. Her eyes went to Sirius again.

"Black's don't stutter, they own up to what they did," slap! Walburga's cold right hand collided with Sirius' warm left cheek making it warmer. "How many times have I told you not to touch anything in this house? It's way past your bedtime!" another slap! Sirius' lower lips trembled but he held the tears that were trying to escape his eyes. Only at the delicate age of seven he almost mastered the art of holding his tears. It's no use crying. The punishment will be severe if he reacts, he learned it the hard way. 

"Look at me when I'm talking to you," with a great effort Sirius looked at his mother. Her eyes were the same as always red, cold, and filled with anger. Sirius immediately wanted to run, to hide but she already snapped her head towards Regulus and Sirius leaped to stand before him, to shelter him. He was the only good thing this house had and he'd do anything to protect him.

"It was me, mother!" he said loudly, "I broke the vase. I made him get out of bed at this hour. I did it. It was my fault," slap! Sirius whimpered.

"Black's own up to what they did," she glared at Regulus who was hiding behind Sirius. "If you try to cover up for him ever again the punishment will be worse Sirius, I'm warning you!" she started shouting. "Go up to your room, both of you! Before your father comes and—" Sirius didn't let her finish because he knew the sentence wasn't the one he'd want to hear. Grabbing Regulus' hand he ran towards their room a tear escaping from his eye.

"Kreacher!" he shouted as soon as they were in Regulus' room shutting the door with a loud bang.

"Master called for Kreacher?" the old house elf bowed, his nose touching the floor.

"Get up!" Sirius was glaring daggers at the elf. "Regulus is bleeding. Do something." the elf snapped fingers and disappeared. 

"Sirius," Regulus spoke quietly, "Don't take your anger out on Kreacher. He didn't do anything." 

Regulus' voice seemed to get him out of a trance. His quickened breathing became slower and he wiped the tears out of his eyes before sitting beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright?"

Regulus nodded. "I think I'll be fine. Although it hurts a little I don't think we have to cut off the leg, right? I mean it's just a small cut, nothing serious—" Regulus rambled on making Sirius laugh. It was a technic Regulus learned to keep Sirius' mind off of their mother and father. He'd talk and talk and talk to the point where nothing made any sense and Sirius would laugh, laugh like there was no tomorrow.

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"Sirius," Regulus heard James Potter's voice when he was walking to his history of the magic class. He wouldn't have stopped to listen if it wasn't for James' voice being stern and quiet while saying his brother's name. "It's not healthy for you. You need to talk and I don't care what you say. You are my brother whether you like it or not,"