𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄||Regulus Black

prologue

1961

Sirius peered through the slightly open door inspecting it carefully until his eyes landed on a small figure sleeping so still in the middle of the room; occasionally whimpering every once in a while.

Sirius was baffled to say the least. He had heard his mother scream, cry and even shout all sorts of words and not a minute passed; they all start laughing and chatting like nothing happened, like his mother hasn't been tortured not late from now.

The maid held Sirius' small hand so hard, he was sure it's going to shatter.

After a while, when everyone else forgot about the matter; the two-year-old boy collected the courage and pushed the door open, revealing more bits of his mother's bedroom.

The emerald curtains were not fully closed; letting a sliver of light fall on the sleeping creature, which seemed to annoy him of sorts.

Sirius ran as quick as his little legs could go and closed the curtains or at least tried to, but still the small creature was unsatisfied and let out another small cry; frightening the toddler in advance.

"What are you?" Sirius wondered, crunching his nose when it didn't reply.

"That, my dear, is Regulus, your baby brother." said Andromeda, who had been watching the earlier scene unfold with amusement.

"Eda!" Sirius exclaimed and ran to hug her "I missed you too little one" she laughed at the little boy's excitement, even when the age difference is as much as nine years, Andromeda still felt as Sirius' mother.

The older boy let out a breath of wonder, seemingly lost.

"Come Sirius! look how handsome he is" Andromeda said and when Sirius did look at him; he didn't regret it

The baby boy had eyes as blue as the night sky, a few strands of black hair brushed neatly to the front with skin as soft as cream.

And while Sirius was considered a bit pale regulus was much paler with tiny little freckles dotted across his cheeks and nose

"Reggie" Sirius said, amazed and suddenly he launched himself at his baby brother to embrace him, earning a small smile in response.

And that was the exact moment Sirius black was the happiest little boy on earth.

  ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

At the age of five Regulus Black had his first panic attack, he never really knew what a
'panic attack' is.

He walked down the long stairs admiring the antique chandelier that was hung high upon the wall, each dangling string ended with a crystal star.

Sirius told him once that it was a metaphor as all the blacks were named after stars.

Furiously rubbing his eyes, the little boy who was too short for his age finally reached the only lit room

The voices became more and more clear with each step he took

He heard his father first "You are not to disobey us again you little prat!" Followed by a dry laugh from his mother "As if he ever listens!"

everything went silent for a few seconds and Regulus though it was over, just another fight like usual, but oh how wrong he was

A loud scream echoed through the old mansion, and it was not the last, another after another.

They were not just any screams they were Sirius'

The young boy came to a halt as soon as he recognized the voice, a painful storm growing inside his chest.

He quickly ran pushing the door open which revealed a cruel scene; Sirius black was sprawled on the ground panting heavily as each finger of his right hand dripped with thick droplets of blood and his parents staring upon his older brother with disgust

"Oh good thing you came young boy!" his mother grabbed him by the collar and shoved him next to Sirius "Now Sirius has been an excellent brother defending you hasn't he?" She said smirking slightly at him "But don't you think you should take some responsibility darling ?" She asked mirroring her younger child face as it colored with fear in mock sadness

"NO!" Came a loud grunt from the injured boy, hair sticking to his sweaty forehead

"I'll take it" Sirius added, his face grimacing with each movement he made, and their mother looked far more amused than she should be.

"Alright then" their father stated

"You stay and watch." he laughed sickly at Regulus forcing him to watch while his brother's scream became more and more high pitched mixed with agony as their mother resumed carving filthy words in his arm torturingly slow.

Regulus couldn't breathe, the world around him was spinning and everything was a blur, he took one last look at his screaming brother then fell with a thud on the ground

Once he woke up Sirius rushed to his side filling him with words of affirmation and relief and when regulus asked about earlier Sirius only replied with an awkward laugh explaining that none of this happened and poor regulus was only dreaming

Regulus could see his bloodstained sleeves but he didn't have the time to ask his older brother as he peppered him with hugs and jokes

That night, Regulus Black couldn't sleep and that's how his insomnia begun.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

The train station was crowded with families and students of all sorts and ages fumbling with their luggage as Orion and Walburga were picking a fight with a muggle parent.

Regulus hated the site, he hated everything that contained too many people, he hated the term of going through a wall, he hated being pushed, he hated the smell of different perfumes and sweat mixed together, he hated the noise and mostly he hated the fact that his only source of happiness is leaving.

Sirius on the other hand was thrilled, his eyes were wide and full of excitement as he inspected the place around him in adoration watching families bidding their children a farewell while others messed around jumping in and out of the train.

"look how many people go to Hogwarts" Sirius exclaimed.

Regulus glanced up at his older brother feeling a mix of confusion and pain, "Do you really have to go?".

"I'm sorry Reggie you know I hate leaving you" Sirius patted his younger brother gently.

"Doesn't look like it" Regulus huffed angrily.

Afterwards, their parents came huffing angrily, complaining about how muggles shouldn't be allowed to go to Hogwarts then proceeding to drown Sirius with threats and expectations, lastly patting him on the back not so gently.

While the boys hugged; Sirius could feel his shoulder getting wet from his brother's silent sobs.

"Hey! Look at me" Sirius palmed the boy's cheeks gently pushing his face upwards "I know you're mad at me for leaving, but you'll barely notice my absence, I'll send you lots of letters and before you even realize it I'll be back for Christmas!"

Come to think of it, he never did come back for Christmas.