Chapter Text
Friday, September 1st, 1972
The Hogwarts Express, 12:00pm
Regulus and Sirius were sitting on the Hogwarts express after their mother had just given Regulus a long lecture about what would happen to him if he got into the ‘wrong house’.
Regulus wanted to be in Slytherin.
He needed to be in Slytherin.
He couldn’t disappoint his family.
“Sirius,”
“Yeah Reggie.” Sirius smirked.
“Don’t call me that.” Regulus says, huffing.
“Why not?”
“Because, I’m not a child anymore.” Regulus says as he crosses his arms, looking ridiculously childish and immediately wanting to hit himself for acting that way.
“Tell yourself that Reg.”
“Shut up,” Regulus says, turning pink with his very posh accent defining momentarily.
“No” Sirius responds stubbornly, looking Regulus in the eyes.
Regulus was about to speak again when Remus Lupin, a tall, scrawny sandy haired boy entered the compartment.
“Remus!” Sirius exclaims as the older boy walks in.
“Oh,” Regulus starts. “Ça c’est le garçon que tu l’aime, oui?” Regulus teases.
Sirius turns a scarlet shade of before speaking again, “Juste arrête de parler maintenant Reg.” ( He mutters, probably looking more embarrassed than Regulus had ever seen.
“Dis toi-” Regulus started before being interrupted by Remus.
“Okay, look, as much as I love it when you speak French Sirius,” the older boy started and Sirius was now somehow an even darker shade of red. “I’m too tired for that shit.”
“Alright Remu,” Sirius started and then looked at Regulus. “Fine, English?” He asked, waiting for a response from his brother.
“I mean if you want me to say it in English then-”
“NO!” Sirius cut in before Regulus could say anything. “No.” he said, a tad bit calmer. “ju-just, uh, I mean, just, don’t talk about that in any language. Actually , just don’t talk at all.” He looked at him again. Regulus raised his arms in surrender and nodded with a quiet chuckle.
“Anyway,” Remus started cautiously. “I just wanted to tell you that James got ambushed by the girls and is being forced to sit with them until we get to Hogsmead.” He mumbles something along the lines of ‘ such a bloody ladies man ’ under his breath with a subtle eye roll.
“Pete’s with him then?”
“Yeah.”
“Why aren’t you?”
“Wanted to see you.” Remus says with a soft and genuine smile.
The blush on Sirius’ face that had been slowly subsiding grew bigger than ever.
Regulus nudges Sirius, "es-tu certain que tu ne veux pas me parler?” He says smugly.
“Ay, qu'est-ce que j’ai dit Reggie?"
"Qu'est-ce que j’ai dit à propos de ce surnom, Risi ?" Regulus says mockingly.
Before things got too heated Remus interrupted them once again. “Okay, enough of that.” he states clearly. “Hi, I’m Remus.” He says, reaching his hand out for Regulus to shake.
“Regulus.” He holds back the urge to make a snide mark about how he already knew exactly who the boy in front of him was, only because Sirius didn’t shut up about him or Potter.
“Nice to finally meet you, Sirius has talked about you a lot.”
If Regulus was being honest with himself, he didn’t expect that .
After an awkward pause Remus continued. “What house do you think you’ll be in then?” Remus says nonchalantly.
“I dunno,” He pauses for a second then continues. “Probably Slytherin.”
He could tell that made Sirius cringe, but only for a moment and he returned to his most neutral face. “But, when you think about it,” He starts again. “He’s really a Gryffindor.”
“Oh, will you stop about that?” Regulus turns back to Sirius.
“And why should I? Hm? It’s the truth, you’re just too much of a people pleaser and mama's boy to admit it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about Siri. I have all the characteristics of a Slytherin.” Regulus said defensively, trying to convince himself more than anyone.
“Keep lying to yourself Regulus. You know-”
“Okay, okay,” Remus interrupted once again before Sirius got too brutal. Remus was probably the only one person who could ever shut Sirius up. “Enough of that, you’ve already started fighting, what, 3 times already since I came into the compartment? Jeez, I thought we were bad.” Remus looks Sirius in the eye while saying that.
“Hello Lads,” someone who Regulus assumed was James Potter came bursting through the door. Regulus’ heart dropped the moment he entered the compartment.
At that moment Regulus’ want for his family’s love disappeared momentarily.
Maybe I am a Gryffindor…
He thought in a moment of weakness,
Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad, I mean, if I have Sirius and if I’m going to be in the same house as… him, then maybe it wouldn’t be that bad, or-
Stop. Why are you thinking that? You hate James. In fact, you decided to hate him about 11 months ago, when Sirius first mentioned him in his first letter from Hogwarts. He is stealing your brother from you. You hate him.
Well maybe he isn’t that bad, maybe I judged too quickly. Maybe-
He won’t like you.
But what if he does?
He won’t.
But-
“This Reg?” James’ voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Hm, yeah, um, okay, leaving now.” He left without another word to save himself from any further embarrassment.
The Great Hall, 7:00pm
The sorting ceremony was chaotic to say the least. Regulus was so trapped inside his own head that he didn’t even realise he was at the school yet, nor when his name was called. What got him out of this was a touch on the shoulder from a middle-age teacher, who, Regulus assumed, was Professor McGonagall.
“Mr. Black, it’s your turn now.” She said, urgently but not unkind, pointing to a chair in front of the teachers table.
“Oh, yeah, sorry Professor.” He quickly went up to where she was referencing and sat down.
“Hm, interesting mind you have dear boy.” A voice echoed through Regulus’ mind. He almost jumped, what the- “GRYFFINDOR.”
Oh I’m so screwed.
The hall was quiet for a moment until Sirius bursted up out of his seat and started clapping and cheering. The rest of the hall quickly followed, aside from the shocked Slytherin table who were sneering at him.
“Reggie!” Sirius’ voice broke out from the crowd.
“Sirius I-” Before he could finish he was wrapped in a tight hug from his brother. “Jeez, it’s not that big of a deal Siri.”
“Are you kidding? This is the most important thing that has ever happened to you.” Sirius pulled away from the hug. “You chose to not beg for Slytherin. I- I’m proud of you Reg.”
“Thanks Siri.”
“Okay, okay, enough with all the soppy stuff, come sit.” Sirius walked to the red and gold table, practically pushing another year 2 out of their seat. There were six other people around, James and Remus included. “This is Peter, Lily, and Mary. They’re my friends, and yours by association.”
“Hi.”