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Nervous.
Regulus took a deep breath.
—which did not make him feel any less nervous.
It was the first time Regulus had seen the main family since Gideon and Fabian Prewett had taken him in, schooling him from home while taking him to Hogwarts for school activities like Quidditch practice and Quidditch matches. There was, when he went, the stirring rumor that Walburga was livid, and he ’d never made her livid as Sirius did.
“Here,” Lucretia said, having had the advantage of now being a Prewett, holding out a glass of champagne. It’s the holidays, so you should actually enjoy them.” She reached out, pinching his cheek slightly, then going to pinch the other one, startling him.
“That,” Regulus paused, not thinking she would ever be the type of Aunt that he heard the rumor of doing the
“They’re a little rosier now and look much healthier, I hope. And maybe she’ll think,” Lucretia pushed her lips together. “Maybe she’ll recognize your stay with Gideon and Fabian as the good thing it was.”
“You think so?” Regulus said, still holding the glass in his hand. “Because….”
“Of course it was!” Lucretia placed her hands on either side of his face. “I have not seen you smile in forever.”
“I’ve still got the” Regulus frowned. “Because he’s been defeated.”
“We’ll get you through it. The trials.” Lucretia said, sweeping her arm around his shoulders and pulling him into a hug. “And we’re going to be a family again just in time for the holidays.”
“Except we’re not,” Regulus said, taking a deep breath and heading into the drawing room at Uncle Ignatius’s place. Even though he knew his Aunt Lucrettia liked toLucretiasmiling, he couldn't smile. The home was highly decorated, far more than Grimmauld was the last few Christmas and filled with more warmth—in fact, the only time there was warmth at the family home.
And soon, the Prewett family and the Black family were there. Walburga arrived with Orion, frowning at him, glaring, obviously wanting to say something about him running away and wanting some space to figure things out. He tensed, his glass of champagne not yet touched, bracing himself for her to come hurtling over just as she did whenever—
“Merry Christmas,” a familiar voice said, making the entire Black family tense up at their sudden appearance while Regulus stared wide-eyed. “And ba-humbug of sorts.”
“Sirius Orion Black!” Walburga said, her attention turning to him. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s not a Black family Christmas, but a Prewett family Christmas,” Sirius said. “And yes, someone invited me.” Regulus watched Sirius look at him before looking away.
Walburga walked over. “Really? Showing your face here. You….”
“Don’t make a scene,” Arcturus said, giving her a look that made Sirius shrug; what was going on as he always did? Only, there wasn’t yelling, as it was a Prewett family Christmas and the Black family didn’t want to look bad.
And then—
Orion moved away from his mother, coming over. Regulus ’ eyes widened, surprised his father was smiling at him. “You look well.”
“I guess.”
Orion then embraced him lightly. “I’m glad you’re doing better, and if you want to stay with your cousins longer, I’m fine with that.”
Regulus frowned, looking at his mother.
Orion noticed. “Well, there’s that. Don’t mind her. She needs to get used to you growing up, becoming an adult.”
“I don’t feel like I’m growing up,” Regulus said, frowning, still worried about dealing with the ministry. “And you do know that I’m going to be going on trial?”
“We’ll get through this,” Orion said. “As a family.”
Regulus wasn ’t sure, feeling still that the Black family was on a different page from him.