Chapter Text
When Regulus arrives at the annual meeting at the beginning of August, and he sees who the newest addition to the teaching staff is his first thought is “you’ve got to be fucking joking.”
The day had started out easily enough. He had left his apartment that unassuming Friday morning he had felt happy. He had a date with a nice muggleborn witch the night before which had ended pretty well. He didn’t expect there’d be a second. It had been a long time since he had been in a relationship. 15 years to be exact. He wished Kreacher a good morning, accepted the mug of coffee, ate a croissant and using the Floo Network, made his way to his chambers at Hogwarts.
***
When he had applied for the job of potions master he knew it was a long shot. He knew that at least half the staff were wary of him. “Traitor.”
“Murderer”
“Just like the rest of his family”
"Death Eater"
He had only ever visited his brother once. To ask why. Why betray his best friend? Why kill them? Sirius had only laughed to his face. “I am not the traitor little brother. Though it is my fault they are dead - to that I’ll admit.” He had passed Bella on the way out who had laughed and jeered at him, lunging for his wand before being thrown back by invisible wards. “Who’s the snake in the grass Reggie - who betrayed who?”, before crackling loudly. Regulus ignored her and kept walking. Bellatrix had been crazy long before the locked her up. The jeering was picked up by other prisoners, other Death Eaters he had helped lock up. “Who’s the snake in the grass? Who’s the snake in the grass?”
As he walked to the apparition zone he heard a dog howl. A low mournful sound that left him momentarily confused - were there animals on this godforsaken rock?
But he had gotten the job. And life was busy. He ignored the whispers and the rumors. He ignored the sinking feeling in his chest when he had to pass through Godric’s Hollow. He tried to push all thoughts of the family his family had ruined.
And it worked.
Until it didn’t.
Until Harry Potter showed up at Hogwarts and the guilt threatened to consume him whole.
He was an intelligent child. He had Lily’s brains and James’ mannerisms - so he wasn’t surprised at all when he was sorted into Gryffindor.
He was witty and joyful and honestly one of the brightest students he had the pleasure to teach. He was a perfect mix of them both and it broke his heart to see the fame that followed him.
The fame induced by his brothers actions.
The fame that came with the end of a war and left him without family.
When Dumbledore had approached him that year and asked him for his help in the protection of the Philosopher's stone, Regulus had crafted a riddle most wizards would struggle with.
He didn’t know whether to be proud or worried that one of his students had managed to crack it. Miss Granger was undoubtedly the smartest student of in her year.
And Voldemort… Regulus had been terrified. There was no doubt that he would return one day. And it was nerve wracking because he knew that Voldemort would know by now that he had betrayed him. That he had told Dumbledore everything, that not all Blacks would serve him or carry out his will.
Then it was over.
It should have been over.
He had thought it was over.
Harry had been sent home with a bunch of photos, most taken from the box Regulus had placed in his vault at gringotts. He was happy to see them gone. Too many memories.
Quirrell was dead. Voldemort gone.
It was over.
And then Harry’s second year started and Regulus was forced to work with the most idiotic, self centered, prick he had ever met.
Then the chamber was open.
Students petrified. Ghosts petrified. Animals petrified.
Ginny Weasley taken.
And again, Harry had stepped up and done so much more than what he should have had to. Defeated Voldemort again. Destroyed a Horcrux.
Oh yes. He remembered what they were alright.
He had talked to Harry, to ask how he had destroyed it.
Then as the year closed, under the guise of collecting Basilik venom for potion ("very rare. Very expensive. Headmaster would you mind if-"), he had destroyed the locket.
Regulus and Kreacher had both cried that summer. The locket which had long since plagued the pair was destroyed.
***
Sitting on his desk was the Daily Prophet. He goes to scan the front page and freezes as he see’s a familiar face looking back at him.
The words blur in front of him. “Escape” “Dark powers” “Most loyal Servant”
But it's the picture that holds his attention. The maniacal laughter his body shakes with is enough to rival Bellatrix’s.
His anger flares. “Incendio”. The paper is alight. Regulus watches it burn and prays they find Sirius before he finds Harry.
He flees the rooms.
When he arrives at the meeting and takes his seat he lets his eyes wander to the chair where a man is resting his head on the table. He wonders who the newest Defense teacher is.
He gets his answer as the man dressed in a shabby suit raises it head. He can’t stop the words before they are out of his mouth.
“What the fuck?”
“Regulus!” he glances to his left to see Minerva glare at him.
The meeting starts.
As soon as it ends Remus is out of his seat, Regulus not too far behind them. He hears a third chair scrape back but the quiet voice of Dumbledore follows. “Leave them Minerva, I dare say they have a lot to discuss”
They walk in silence for a bit, until they come to a hill where they can look down over the Black lake. “Long time no see Regulus. You wouldn’t believe how shitty today has been for me.”
Regulus turns to see his old friend. And Remus gives him a sad half smile. He opens his arms. And the two men cry for their shared loss. The future that was ripped from them. The life they could have led. The friends they lost. The man they thought they knew.
The evening gets darker. They part ways.
Regulus hopes Remus finishes the year in a better state the last two did.