Chapter Text
In the dead of night, two marauders stood in front of a muggle town house on Grimmauld Place. They were very cautious when coming there. With the news of the You-know-who returns from Harry, they couldn’t help but to be paranoid of Death Eaters following them.
“I never thought I would ever come back to this place,” Sirius states as he watches his childhood home appear between the 11 and 13 townhouses on Grimmauld Place. 12th Grimmauld Place appeared darker and less maintained with the years of it being uninhabited. “I guess this can be no better reason to return to this hell.”
“We could always find someplace else, Pads. Doesn’t have to be here,” His best mate, James suggested. He understood very well why Sirius never wanted to return to the house that brought him so much pain and anger.
”No. It’s- uh- it's fine. My father’s wards will keep the Order from being found. Let’s hurry inside,” Sirius says, clearing his voice.
The duo approached the house and stopped at the handless door. Raising his wand, Sirius tapped it against the door to open it. The door slowly creaked open, allowing the Gryffindors into the House of Snakes. Just like the outside, the house was dark even with the gaslights igniting with their presence.
James looked grimly at the overdone snake decor that appeared in most of the wood furniture. However, Sirius had only taken a step inside and knew that something wasn’t right.
”James, wait.” Sirius called out. “Somethings not right. This place has changed. Orion and Walburga have never once redecorated this house throughout the many years I’ve lived here.”
“Are you sure? Looks to be a standard pureblood Slytherin family home,” James says thinking Sirius was being paranoid.
”I am sure. My parents would never display a picture of me in the open,” The Black says, handing James the photograph of his younger self with his dead little brother, Regulus. The younger Sirius had his arm around Regulus, who was smiling in glee. “This was taken by Andy. Before she was disowned and married Ted. Mother would never have this lying around, not as long as she lived here.”
”James. Someone’s been living here.” The dog animagus states before a loud banging sound had echoed out from down the hall. Both wizards whipped out their wands ready to protect themselves.
The two slowly walked down the hall while being mindful of the creaking floorboards and the troll leg that was an umbrella stand. Further down the hall from them, they heard one of the doors creak as it moved away from it’s frame. Instinctively, they aimed their wands without firing at the figure but they were quick to notice that it wasn’t a grown wizard they were aiming at. It was a child. More specifically a boy around 10 years old with slightly wavy black hair and grey eyes.
The boy froze like a deer in headlights when saw them. James glanced back and forth from his friends to the boy. The resemblance between the two of them was uncanny. It was without a doubt that the boy was related to Sirius but how was the question. Their wands slowly lowered as they didn’t want to accidentally harm the boy.
The boy slowly started to back away from them before turning on his heels and running away. “Daddy!”
”Shit,” James spat lowly as he and Sirius bolted back towards the door. The only instinct was to escape because they never thought that anyone would still be living here.
But their path was blocked by two large black cat-like creatures that had jumped out. The creatures hissed at them furiously. A spell had knocked their wands out of their hand before either of them could do a thing about the creatures.
“Alain, Au Pied,” A commanding voice ordered soon after. The creatures hissed angrily before emerging into one. Though it still sat by the door waiting for the order to attack. “Well, well, Sirius. Never thought I would ever see you come walking back here after you ran away.”
A chill ran down the dog animagus’ back as he had heard his name being called. Turning their heads, they saw a smaller version of Sirius standing before them with the 10 year-old clenching his clothes.
“Regulus”