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“Stop it, Sirius! You’re going to kill him!” Remus called out, although, in Sirius’ mind, Remus was freaking out over something relatively minor.
“Sirius, he’s your brother,” James said.
“Who’s a bloody Death Eater!” Sirius said, continuing to sit on the younger Black, shoving snow into Regulus’ mouth.
Everything started when Sirius decided to randomly barge in on James after a Quidditch match, one that Gryffindor managed to royally lose due to how fast the Slytherin Seeker—whoever that was, as Sirius didn ’t himself right know—managed to catch the bloody snitch. He’d done it before, going in towards when he knew James would be finished, snarking at any of the Slytherin who loitered too long unawares, but today he was in the right mood as he stormed in there, not caring that everyone was still showering, including James.
Remus had very predictably stayed outside, clearing his throat and telling Sirius he shouldn ’t be messing around. He’d gotten into enough trouble of late, so it was only Peter who followed after him, hanging right behind him.
“Bloody Merlin,” James called out, his eyes widening before squinting at Sirius as his eyeglasses were missing. “What are you doing, Sirius? I’ve not had a chance to get out of the shower yet, let alone get dressed.”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before,” Sirius said, rolling his eyes as he looked over the Slytherin who were now hurrying to get out of the shower and get dressed because he decided to show his ugly mug—not that it was actually ugly—early.
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed onto James ’ arm hard. “Oi. Whatever is the matter?”
“What is Regulus’ doing in here?”
“What do you mean?” James’ squinted, batting Sirius’ hand away. “He’s on the Slytherin Quidditch team, so why wouldn’t he be?”
“Since when?” Sirius said, glaring at his younger brother, who hadn’t yet noticed his entrance like the other Slytherin had and thus hadn’t vacated the premises.
“Since bloody forever,” James said, rolling his eyes. “How could you not have known?”
“I’m not my brother’s keeper,” Sirius said rather snidely. “He’s never been in here before.”
James let out a humming sound. “He’s usually the first of us who’s gone. Doesn’t like to linger. And how could you not….”
“Not bloody surprised,” Sirius said. “Little prick has always liked his privacy.”
“…know your brother is Slytherin’s Seeker?” James said.
Sirius flinched, remembering hearing so many times that Black had caught the Snitch and Remus having to tell him the game was over, so he should have known, and yet, “but I’m shocked he’s even here, given all of their rules. They ’d think it beneath him, showering among plebeians.”
Which was when he decided to sneak over as his younger brother still hadn ’t noticed his and Peter’s intrusion into the locker room. James turned his head, watching Sirius, squinting as he did so. “Sirius, what are you doing?”
“Going to have a little fun.”
“Come on. He’s your brother.” James said, hurrying to finish his shower and get dressed.
“I thought Sirius didn’t consider him family,” Peter finally piped up.
That was when Regulus noticed his presence, quickly buttoning his slacks before reaching for his shirt, which was when Sirius saw it. He quickly got out, grabbing onto Regulus ’ arm. “What is this?”
“Let go,” Regulus said, giving him a death glare.
“When did you get the Dark Mark?”
“That’s none of your bloody business,” Regulus said, jerking his hand away and pulling his shirt on before quickly gathering his robes in one arm with the rest of his things, leaving the shirt unbuttoned as he headed for the door, not caring that snow covered the ground outside, let alone the way the air clung to his damp hair.
Sirius reached out, grabbing his brother by his shoulder, yanking him around so that Regulus dropped his book bag as he attempted to button up his shirt, his entire body trembling from the cold as air puffed out. He then shoved hard, the second button not finishing as Regulus stumbled, his robes now dropping. “Of course, it’s my bloody business.”
“When have you ever made my bloody life any of your bloody business!” Regulus snapped back, a rare thing.
And Sirius reacted, pulling his fist and clocking his younger brother in the nose, causing him to fall backward into the snow, the whiteness stained with a few drops of blood. Regulus turned as Sirius pounced, pinning his younger brother ’s arms at his sides before reaching for a handful of snow to force Regulus to eat, his anger getting the better of him.
“Stop it, Sirius! You’re going to kill him!” Remus called out, although, in Sirius’ mind, Remus was freaking out over something relatively minor.
“Sirius, he’s your brother,” James said.
“Who’s a bloody Death Eater!” Sirius said, continuing to sit on the younger Black, shoving snow into Regulus’ mouth.
“He bloody well deserves it,” Peter said.
“What in Merlin’s name is going on here?” McGonagall said, yanking Sirius off his brother and pulling him to his feet.
That was when Regulus hauled off and slugged Sirius in the nose, to which McGonagall grabbed onto him. “My office. Now.” She nodded her head. “Remus. If you can bring Mr. Black’s things rather than letting them sit in the snow getting wet.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Remus said rather meekly.
“He’s a bloody Death Eater!” Sirius said, not caring at the moment what would happen to his brother once he revealed that information.
McGonagall ’s eyes widened. “I understand you’re not fond of your younger brother, Mr. Black, but it behooves you not to lie.”
To which Regulus, the soft idiot he was, pulled back his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark, much to McGonagall ’s horror. “Correction. Dumbledore’s office.”
Which was always meant big trouble compared to regular trouble, and they were thus both there, the head of Slytherin having been brought in a while—
They had to summon the family.
And, from Slughorn. “Apologies for not having said anything sooner.”
Sirius gave the man a dirty look, while McGonagall gave him one of her looks as well. Dumbledore, on the other hand. “Yes, well. What are we to do? Turn our students who haven’t yet done anything against the law over to the ministry?”
“You mean the ministry that’s lying about him?” Regulus said.
“Lying about him?” Sirius turned to look at his brother. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about….”
Whatever his brother was going to say became forgotten, as their parents showed, the two people Sirius didn ’t want to see. Walburga screeched the moment she arrived. “Fighting? Both of you?” She sneered at her youngest, which felt like a first. “I expected better of you, Regulus.”
“Yes, well….” Regulus looked away, not looking the slightest bit ashamed.
“Don’t you dare, yes, well, me young man! I got enough of that from your older brother before he decided to run away from home as he did!”
“This isn’t just about fighting, though,” Dumbledore said, clearing his throat.
“And what, pray to tell, could this be about?” Walburga said, turning her wrath on the headmaster, who didn’t bat an eye.
And, of course, Regulus had to show his Death Mark off again. Their father saw a look of horror on his face, clearing his voice as he did so. “Walburga. His arm.”
“What about his arm?” Walburga said, rolling her eyes at her own husband before looking down, and then, “Regulus Arcturus Black! You horrid, horrid child! What have you done!”
“Well, didn’t expect that,” Sirius said, chuckling and looking away.
“That’s enough from you, Sirius Orion Black,” Walburga said, making him turn back, seeing the look of confusion on Regulus’ face at her actions.
“Oh. Wait. Your issue is that he showed it publically without batting an eye, isn’t it? Why then did you think it a good idea to let him be marked, mummy dearest?” Sirius said, sneering at her.
“I’m sorry,” Regulus said meekly. “I wasn’t supposed to show it?”
“No, you daft idiot,” Sirius snickered. “Even I bloody know that.”
“But I showed….” Regulus glanced at Slughorn, who admitted to knowing.
“Wait.” Sirius hadn’t expected his father to react, turning to look at Slughorn in horror. “You knew and didn’t tell us.”
“Regulus was under the impression,” Slughorn said, frowning.
“Under the impression of what?” Orion said. “That I’d approve of this madness?”
“It’s not madness,” Regulus said, which made Sirius look at his younger brother as if she were quite mad.
Orion turned, looking at Regulus while Walburga looked at Regulus in horror, then he looked at his wife. She continued staring. “You deal with him. I’ve never been able to deal with his—that madness of his.”
“I’m not insane,” Regulus said.
Sirius watched his father let out a deep sigh, getting down on one knee and placing his hands on the armrests of the chair his younger brother sat in. “Regulus, my sweet boy.”
“Yes, father?”
“What were you thinking?”
“Meaning?”
“Why did you get the Dark Mark?”
Regulus gave his father a strange look. “Why? Because you wanted me to?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Bella said so.”
“Bella?” Walburga let out a snort. “That girl. I’m going to kill her.”
“How about we leave Bellatrix to the Auror,” Dumbledore said.
“So you didn’t approve of Bella’s birthday present?” Regulus said, which caused Walburga to let out a sound of exasperation and walk over to the window as if she—of all people—were trying to fight back by yelling.
“No, darling boy.”
“That’s a lie,” Sirius said.
“Your father isn’t lying, you horrid….”
“How about you let Sirius speak?” McGonagall said. “We might be able to get to the bottom of this.”
“Get to the bottom of this?” Sirius sneered at her—the woman who gave birth to him. “She knows. She was all for it, Regulus taking the mark, just as she was all for me taking it.”
“What the bloody Merlin are you talking about?” Walburga said. “When did I ever?”
“I don’t think you did,” Orion said. “But is this the reason you ran away? Because you thought we would….”
“Would the two of you just stop lying!” Sirius said. “And yes! It’s bloody the reason I ran away! I was sixteen, and you wanted me to have the honor of taking his mark.”
“And who told you that?”
“Nobody had to tell me,” Sirius said. “Everyone knows you support his cause, so I would be expected to take the mark.”
“No. I mean, where did you get the idea that you were supposed to take the mark at sixteen from?” his father asked. “It was Bella, wasn’t it?”
“That,” Sirius stared. “Yes.”
Orion took a deep breath. “We Blacks are above that.”
“Unless you’re a wench like her,” Walburga snapped. “Oh. I’m going to….”
“Wait. I wasn’t supposed to?” Regulus said.
“Regulus, you joined up with a madman who likes to torture and kills children.”
“He wouldn’t let Bella do that!” Regulus protested. “I mean, she does kill people on the other side. It is a war. And she probably likes torturing them because this is Bella we’re talking about, but he would disapprove of that!”
“Are you insane?” Sirius said, then looked away.
“Regulus, what exactly is your understanding of this war?”
“Oh. That. There’s our side, the good side.”
“Are you bloody kidding me?” Sirius said. “Your side is the right side?”
“Yes, well, your side abuses House Elves,” Regulus sniffled.
“What the bloody hell are you talking about!” Sirius said.
“Well, you go on and on about Muggle this and Muggle that, but you can’t even treat Kreacher with kindness!” Regulus said.
“And that’s why your side is the right side?”
“Yes, Sirius! That’s why my side is right, yours is wrong, and then there’s Bella!”
“And then there’s Bella?” Sirius glared. “What is that even supposed to mean?”
“It means what it means! You know Bella! She’s—different.”
“Different is a nice way of putting it,” Slughorn said.
“I don’t understand,” Walburga muttered. “What would he want with our youngest? There’s still a trace on him?”
“Prestige of having another Black?” Orion said.
“It’s because I’m good with books,” Regulus said, smiling as Orion and Walburga looked at each other in horror.
“Oh, there you go bragging again,” Sirius said.
“I’m not.”
“What does he mean by that?” Dumbledore asked.
“I’m thinking,” Orion cleared his throat.
“Regulus has, well,” Walburga took a deep breath. “When it comes to books.”
“Oh. You’re referring to his ability to memorize any book he reads completely?” Slughorn said. “It is quite amazing.”
“What?” McGonagall said.
Dumbledore sighed. “Then the reason—it has to do with Regulus having memorized everything in the Black family library?”
“Not just the Black family,” Regulus said. “I’ve read quite a bit from the Malfoy library, the Lestrange, Prewett. Practically every Pureblood library there is.”
“Goodness,” Slughorn said.
“What is going to be done? About my son?” Orion said.
“Well, I’ll put in a word with the ministry. They’ll want to know. But Regulus, he’s not done anything wrong.”
“Yes, but….” Sirius frowned, unsure of what to think about it.