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“I should go.”
Regulus stiffened, straightening up to look at his father, realizing those were the first words other than his name since the man had revealed Olivia to the family. He swallowed, fighting back the hurt he felt at hearing his father wanted to leave before saying something, anything, about how he felt, particularly after other members of the family had reacted—the reaction certainly wasn ’t what he or Olivia expected. He understood his father wasn’t a man of many words like others in the family could be.
It still hurt.
He looked away, trying not to let on to the fact his father had decided to leave and follow after his mother hurt him. Aunt Cassiopeia and Lucretia were busy fussing over Olivia and the dress Cassiopeia had gone and fetched for her to wear to the party. Pollux had calmed down since his daughter left, having voiced—Regulus never expected to hear anyone in the family be so open and frank about how they felt. However, he ’d not expected his grandfather to be keeping the secret he was.
“Orion?” Arcturus said from where he now sat.
“I’ll be back,” his father said, clearing his throat. “There’s something I need to do.”
“Please leave your wife at home,” the family head said. “She’s caused enough drama.”
“She did?” Irma let out a short laugh. “Regulus is the one who started the drama.”
“Really, Irma,” Pollux said, looking at his wife.
Irma let out another short laugh. “Come now. It’s better to say she turned the drama into a tantrum. You spoiled her, your only daughter.”
Pollux tolled his eyes at his wife before turning to look at Olivia. “I think you’ll look nice in that dress, dear.”
Olivia frowned, glancing over at Regulus as this wasn ’t what they’d expected when they revealed being a couple, not given her blood status yet—
Regulus honestly hadn ’t expected to find an older generation who, other than his mother and now it seemed his father—were tired of all the hurt that the rules the family lived by had caused. And there was, of course, Arcturus, for whom it came as no surprise, his and Olivia’s relationship. And now that his father was gone, the only ones not speaking were Cygnus and his wife, Druella. Druella glanced over, then nudged Cygnus, who glanced up at him, and then she whispered something into his ear.
He took a deep breath, then came over and sat by him. “Hi.”
“Uncle Cygnus.”
“Look. I know it’s expected for my sister to walk out like that. Not your father.”
“I’m okay,” Regulus said.
“No, you’re not,” Cygnus said. “You were always Orion’s child rather than Walburga’s. But she is, you know, your father’s wife.”
Regulus swallowed, not saying anything.
“Is this worse than the blanket rejection you were expecting from the family?” Cygnus asked.
Regulus felt the eyes sting, making him reach up to wipe some wetness away.
“Cygnus,” Lucretia clicked her tongue. “What did you do to make Regulus cry?”
“Nothing,” Ignatius said. “I mean, your cousin isn’t trying to be cruel. More of,” Ignatius said, looking at Regulus. “He’s trying to, I guess, see how Regulus feels about the elephant in the room.”
“The elephant in the room?” Lucretia asked.
Ignatius shook his head while Irma sighed. “The elephant in the room that isn’t here.”
Lucretia frowned. “Your father.”
“Let’s not talk about Orion,” Arcturus said. “He’ll come around faster than Walburga will.”
Regulus sighed, not wanting to point out how glued at the hips his parents were.
…
Orion took a deep breath, his mind still reeling from everything he heard. He ’d said nothing, simply listened even as his wife stepped out of the room, furious at her father for calling her out for the pain she’d caused. He’d found himself mulling over what Pollux said, how Walburga’s father said, “ And I ’m tired of it! The only grandchild I have left is Regulus. And that’s after losing a sibling, after losing a child. So pardon me for having enough of this nonsense. But if you’re intent on losing both your children, I pity Orion, not you. ”
Which was why he found himself there. He knocked at the door, hoping one of the people inside would answer, and answer they did. “Fleamont. Is Sirius here?”
The man in front of him stiffened. “Black. Your son’s not going to want to see you. You know that, right?”
“Yes, well, something happened,” Orion said. “And I’m here for my son. By force, if I need to.”
“Really, Black. That boy of yours won’t take well to you forcing him to do anything,” Fleamont said, letting out a deep sigh.
“Yes, well, he won’t believe a word I say, so he might as well see it for himself,” Orion said. And then, “His mother, she isn’t there.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a consolation or not,” Fleamont said. “The rest of your family really isn’t any better.”
Orion frowned, then said, “Not Lucretia. She and Ignatius would always welcome Sirius with open arms, even if he thinks otherwise.” He then took a deep breath. “Regulus.”
“If your youngest alright?” Fleamont asked. “Is this about him?”
“Yes,” Orion said. “He showed up at Ignatius and Lucretia’s with a girl.”
“Well, congratulations to him, I guess,” Fleamont said. “This has nothing to do with Sirius, but if you want to rub it in his face that Regulus is doing right by the family, no. Definitely not.”
“I told you, didn’t I, that Walburga isn’t there?” Orion said. “She doesn’t approve.
Fleamont frowned. “She disapproves? Of the girl Regulus brought? But shouldn’t the rest of your family? I mean, if she’s of the sort Walburga wouldn’t approve of.”
“The girl is a relative of the family Squib,” Orion said. “My father orchestrated Regulus and her meeting behind everyone’s back. But I think for once in his life, Sirius could actually be there, supporting his younger brother. Because he, for bloody Merlin’s sake, never has been there for Regulus.”
“You can’t force that to change,” Fleamont said, sighing.
“But I can force Sirius there long enough to hear his brother out,” Orion said. “And if I don’t do this, the two will continue to avoid each other. It’s got to stop somewhere, this tearing of the family apart. Pollux made it quite clear to Walburga that he’s tired of it, but he’s furious at her. Sirius needs to talk things out with his family to know he actually can, or else he’ll miss even more of his younger brother’s life than he already has.”
“I’ll help.”
Fleamont startled, turning his head to look at James. “You’ll what?”
“I’ve been listening in,” James said. “Lily and I don’t just want Sirius to be a part of our lives. We also want Regulus, but if the Black family is willing to change, then Sirius should give them a chance to do so. He’s too stubborn for his own good.”
“Yes. Well, he gets that from his mother,” Orion said.
Fleamont let out a sigh. “Well, I’ll not be helping this craziness.”
…
Lucretia and Cassiopeia had managed to get the dress to fit Olivia properly and modernize it to fit the current trends—whatever those might be when a shouting came from the hallway. Regulus sat up straight while Cygnus said, “Wait. Is that who I think it is?”
Regulus looked around the room, confusion growing, his mouth asking to ask how only to see his grandfather ’s face break out into a smile. “Well. I didn’t think your father would have the guts to do that.”
Olivia cringed. “Who?”
“Why, it’s Sirius. For some strange reason, Orion decided to fetch him,” Irma said.
Pollux frowned. “I’d thought he’d have been fool enough to bring that daughter of yours back.”
To which Regulus ’ grandmother elbowed her husband in the ribs. He took a deep breath and got up as his Aunt Lucretia moved to meet Sirius in the foyer, only for Sirius to stumble into the room as someone shoved him in, which resulted in a string of curse words coming from his mouth. He turned and looked at the door, glaring at the two people who had shoved him into the room. “This isn’t funny, James.” He pointed his finger at Orion. “And you! You have no business interfering in my life!”
“It is where your brother is concerned.”
Regulus let out a groan, closing his eyes. James sighed. “Come on, Sirius. For Lily’s and my sake, knock it off.”
“I will not knock it off,” Sirius snapped. “I am not in the wrong here!” And then, “Wait. Who are you?”
Regulus frowned, knowing Sirius knew the entire family, until he realized Sirius was referring to Olivia. He heard his father say, “Sirius, no. Don’t make a fool of yourself.”
Regulus stared, watching as Sirius was already over there, already speaking with Olivia before their father finished speaking. “What’s a pretty thing like you doing in a den of vipers like this?”
Lucretia sighed as a slight pink started to appear on Olivia ’s face. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, you do know you’re dealing with the Black family, right?”
“And?”
“Well, I don’t know why a pretty thing like yourself is here in the first place, but why don’t you and I pop away from here for a quick drink,” Sirius said, making Regulus push his lips together and close his eyes, nor did he think his brother could get any worse when Sirius said, “I do have a nice ass, you know.”
His eyes snapped open in time to see Olivia look at his brother ’s rear end with great disdain before looking Sirius in the eye and saying, “As nice as your ass might be, I definitely consider someone else’s much finer.”
Regulus turned his head, covering his eyes as he tried to hide his embarrassment at what just went down. Sirius asked, “Who?” A squeal came from Cassiopeia, to which Sirius let out a sigh. “Really, Aunt Cass? What are you so excited about?”
“And Walburga was afraid of her not holding her own with us simply because she can’t do magic!” Cass said.
“Wait. What?” Sirius said, looking right at him before turning to say to her. “Wait. You’re dating his scrawny ass?”
“It’s a nice ass,” Olivia said. “And he’s got a far better personality than you do.”
“You don’t know me!” Sirius said
“Oh yes, I do!” And then Olivia punched Sirius in the arm, much as she did with her older brothers when they made her mad. “You’re a lousy older brother! That’s who you are.”
“Wait,” Sirius said, backing off slightly.
She punched his arm again. “Don’t say you weren’t a horrible older brother to my Rabbit!”
“Your Rabbit?”
“Oh, I know everything! How you ignored him at school and treated him like a monster, you monster!”
“Ouch! Seriously, you do know my brother—that he joined up with Voldemort?” Sirius said. Then, “Oh. Wait. You couldn’t possibly know who that is.”
“Oh, I know who that is!” Olivia said.
“Ouch!”
“Because Rabbit’s always, always been honest with me! And he wouldn’t have fallen in with them if you had actually done your bloody job!”
“Hey! That,” Sirius said, backing away. “James, stop laughing!”
“She is right, you know.”
“You’re supposed to be my best friend!”
“Who never approved of how you treated your own brother? Nor does Lily, here,” James said.
To which Regulus ’ head shot up. “Wait. Evans is here?” He looked at Olivia. “Can I talk to her for a sec?”
“Regulus!” Sirius protested.
“Actually,” Olivia said. “I’d like to as well.”
“What the bloody Merlin is going on here!” Sirius said. “I’m bloody leaving! Come on, James. Lily.”
“I’d have thought you’d rather deal with your brother’s non-magical girlfriend over your mother,” Irma said. “Walburga isn’t here, so why are you running away this time?”
“Weren’t you sorted into Gryffindor?” Druella purred. “You know, the house is known for its bravery.”
Sirius sighed, rolling his eyes, turning to look at them. “I will not be staying where my friends aren’t welcome; thank you very much.”
“Who says they’re not welcome?” Lucretia said. “This is my house, and anybody willing to help my brother drag my wayward nephew here is more than welcome in my house, but we’ll be sure to set an extra—well, not extra two as Walburga isn’t here. Plus, Regulus and Olivia. I think they want to talk to this Lily person. Cass, come help me figure out how to rearrange things for our dinner later, but there’s plenty of room for you three to talk.”
“Not,” Sirius started to say.
James shook his head. “Sirius, don’t. Regulus won’t harm Lily.”
“How would you know?”
“I’d bloody tell you that you really don’t know your brother if the evidence wasn’t standing there,” James said, pointing to Olivia, “Right in front of your face.”
“Yes, but she’s your wife, your bloody wife.”
“Actually, if that’s the case,” Olivia said. “It’s alright if you’re there since the two of you are married.”
“But I want to know!” Cassiopeia pouted.
“Come, Auntie Cass,” Lucretia hummed, taking the older woman by the arm. “Let the younger ones have their secrets. Particularly from Sirius over there.”
Olivia smiled politely. “Actually, should Sirius join the conversation, Rabbit?”
Regulus frowned, knowing Sirius would find out eventually. “If he wants.”
They stepped into the other room, to which Sirius got right into his face. “Are you bloody crazy, Regulus?”
“I showed up here with my Muggle girlfriend, both of us expecting mother to kill us, so I guess I am,” Regulus said, not batting an eye. “Although,” he let out a sigh. “I didn’t expect grandfather to reveal what he did.”
“What?”
“He’s my godfather?” Olivia piped up.
“Say what?”
“It’s complicated, Sirius,” Regulus said. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if grandfather already knows about her.”
Olivia frowned. “Well, given one of my grandfathers is related to you.”
“Hold on,” Sirius let out a deep breath.
“Marius Black,” Regulus said. “He’s Olivia’s grandfather. Probably Pépé Marcus?”
“That would make sense.”
“Wait. What?” Sirius said.
“You might want to sit down,” Olivia said. “Actually.”
She walked over and whispered something into Lily ’s ear. Lily’s eyes widened as Sirius began to pace before looking at James, then she turned back to Olivia. “Wait? Really?”
“Really. I mean, we didn’t imagine getting the chance to say anything, given,” Olivia leaned forward and whispered into her ear.
“Well, I can see why,” Lily said, looking at Regulus’ brother, taking a deep breath. “Sirius, dear.”
“Don’t,” Sirius said.
“You’ll really want to sit down for this.”
“It’s not as if anything would surprise me now,” Sirius said. “So have at it.
Lily sighed, walking over to James, smiling. “So, dear. What do you think about being godparents to Regulus and Olivia’s daughter?”
Sirius fell to the floor, his knees buckling as he uttered a string of curse words. James let out a sigh. “Sirius, you were warned to have a seat.” He looked at Regulus. “Does the rest of the family know? That the two of you have already had a little one out of wedlock?”
“Grandfather likely does,” Regulus said. “I’m sure if he’s in contact with Marius Black that he’ll know. But everyone else, no.”
“So you’ll behave and not say one word, Sirius?” Lily said. “I wouldn’t like anything to happen to my precious goddaughter because you couldn’t keep a secret until Regulus and Olivia feel it’s a good time to break it to the rest of the family?”
“That….” Sirius flopped onto the floor. “Regulus, you’re an idiot.”
“We’ve already had a lecture from Olivia’s family, but they’re actually quite understanding,” Regulus said.
“How come I’m finding out about this until after the rest of the family knows about your non-magical girlfriend?”
“Because you’re an idiot,” Regulus said.
“Which is quite fair of him to say,” James said, “Since we all know you never gave him a chance at Hogwarts.”