NIGHT SKY DEVOID OF STARS

Lullabies

Regulus sat in the head master's office, both his parents sat opposite him, he kept his face neutral, a practiced mask, yet his eyes still felt so heavy

  Everything is a haze after he saw his brother's corpse, he can vaguely remember sitting on the floor with knees pulled to his chest as his cries reduced to silent sobs, it's a blur when someone tells him that his parents are in the headmaster's office and he robotically comes to see them

  Regulus can barely feel anything and as he looks at his parents, their eyes, cold, his Father looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, his Mother's scowl that seemed to be etched in her face looks sourer

Why? Why do you look like that? Your son just suddenly died today, why do you look like that?

   Regulus felt sick as his parents converse with Dumbledore, he tried to make out what they are saying but it's like his ears have cotton stuffed in them

"...disowned"

"disgraced the name…"

"He's not our son"

   Regulus bites the inside of his cheek, his fists balled tightly, his ears selectively picked up those words

"Regulus, you'll be home for two days, We expect you at dinner" he was snapped out of his thoughts but before he can reply his parents are already storming out the study

   Regulus followed suit but not before looking at Dumbledore who doesn't seem to be going to move or do anything from his seat

    He turned away and followed his Parents, at the entrance of the office he bumps into James Potter , who at least had the mind to step aside and Regulus walks past him

    He's as absent as he was back in the headmaster's office, even when Professor Slughorn assisted him in using his office fireplace network to floo to dinner with his parents and even offered him condolences

  

    He arrived directly at the dining area where, his eyes looked around at the people who are already seated

"Good evening" He greeted, and sat down on his place,back straight with all the manners beaten into him

He looked at everyone, his cousins especially, Bella whose eyes are wide and manic alongside her grin, Narcissa holds the same blank expression as him, the long forgotten space where Andromeda should be and he wonders…

He wonders if they know, if they've heard

His mother and father arrived and as customary , the moment the master of the house picks up his utensil they would start eating as well

"When are you officially announcing Regulus as heir" It was aunt Druella who asked his mother and father the question

"Tomorrow, Regulus would formally be announced at dinner" Father answered