Chapter Text
Regulus sat in Professor Dumbledore’s office, waiting for his mother to finish her tea. It was the first time he had ever been there, and he couldn’t wait to explore the school. He’d always thought he’d go to Hogwarts like his older brother Sirius had. But his grandfather had taken him to Paris when he was ten and had homeschooled him for the last five years.
His mother finally put her teacup down. She smiled politely at the headmaster, her thine lips stretching over her teeth. “Thank you, professor, for admitting my son so close to the start of term. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”
“Hogwarts will always welcome promising young wizards,” the headmaster replied. “Now, unless you have any questions, Professor McGonagall will take Mister Black on a quick tour of the castle before the other students arrive.”
Regulus had to hide his disappointment. He had hoped to be left alone, to have time to prepare himself. He’d spent so much of his life on his own that large groups of people tended to freak him out.
Walburga stood up, held out her hand for Dumbledore to shake, and turned to her son.
“Regulus, I expect regular updates on your performance in class. Do not disappoint your father and I.” She didn’t give him time to answer before she crossed the room and disappeared into a gulf of green flames.
Professor McGonagall turned out to be a tall slender witch, with a sharp face and a Scottish accent. She led him, through long stone hallways, down moving stairs, pointing out different classrooms, and saluting paintings as she went.
“What year will you be joining?” She asked.
“Sixth year, professor.”
“That’s good. It’ll give you plenty of time to adapt to the way we teach here at Hogwarts before you sit your Newts next year.” She nodded approvingly. “Learning in a classroom is very different from private tutelage. With any luck, you’ll be sorted into Gryffindor, and your brother can help you adapt. You look so much like him, you could be confused for twins.”
This was not the first time someone had commented on his resemblance to Sirius. He used to take such pride in looking and acting like his brother. That is until he realized his brother’s behaviour started getting him in trouble, which in his family would always lead to pain and punishment. He was twelve when he came to the conclusion that Sirius was not only stupid but reckless with his safety, which inevitably led to him being reckless with Regulus’s safety.
“I will be a Slytherin, professor, per family tradition,” Regulus told her. “And there is no need to worry about me adapting. I am perfectly capable of performing Newt level magic.”
It was true. Regulus's grandfather had held him to the highest standard. As soon as he had turned eleven, his grandfather Arcturus took him to live in Paris and thus started to teach him magic. He didn’t stick to the Hogwarts or Beauxbattons curriculums. He taught Regulus everything, basic magic, obscure magic, magic that was too complicated for him to actually understand how it worked. But as long as he could execute it flawlessly, it didn’t matter.
Professor McGonagall gave him a searching look, before glancing at the clock tower.
“The other students will be just getting to Hogsmeade,” She said. “Follow me. You’ll be sorted after the first years. You’re to wait in here until Filch comes to fetch you. Then all you’ll have to do is walk to the front of the Great Hall, I’ll place the sorting hat on your head and then you’ll go sit at whichever house table is attributed to you. Any questions?”
He shook his head.
“Good luck.” McGonagall turned swiftly on her heel, her tartan robes swishing behind her as she walked away.
She’d brought him to an office just off the entrance hall. Two of the walls were lined with overloaded bookshelves, and the third had two big arched windows that looked out onto the grounds towards the quidditch pitch. A desk sat in the middle of the room, a high-backed chair behind it. Books and scrolls were neatly piled on one side of the desk, a small lamp on the other. The only thing that stood out was a plate of chocolate covered biscuits.
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Half an hour later, the office door opened to reveal a long haired, hunched over, bald man. This must be Filch.
“Come on then, lad,” he said gruffly.
Regulus followed the man, as he hobbled through the entrance hall. He could now hear clearly what was happening in the Great Hall.
“Before we all tuck into the fest, I would like to welcome one more student.” It was Dumbledore speaking. His voice echoed slightly.
Regulus took this as his queue to enter the Hall. It was bigger than he expected, but that was probably due to the enchanted ceiling that opened up to show the night sky. He continued to walk down the middle of the room like McGonagall had told him to do.
“Mister Regulus Black will be joining the sixth year students.” The headmaster continued, nodding towards him. There were audible gasps throughout the room as the students turned to stare at him. It was all he could do not to look over at the Gryffindor table to see how his brother was reacting.
He reached the front of the Hall, where Professor McGonagall stood next to a stool, the sorting hat in her hand.
“Sit,” was all she said. So he sat.
“Slytherin,” The hat cried out suddenly. It hadn’t even been placed on his head yet.
Regulus felt a split second of disappointment before relief flooded his mind. His mother will be pleased.
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers and shouts as he walked over and sat next to Evan, who had moved up to make room for him. A few boos could be heard from the other tables. He didn’t turn to look. He knew Sirius was glaring at him, he could feel it.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Barty, who was sitting opposite him, asked.
Barty Crouch and Evan Rosier were Regulus’s best friends. They were also his only friends. They had met at a sacred twenty-eight gathering when they were ten and had clung to each other ever since.
“Sirius got disowned and my parents want their heir to be a Hogwarts graduate,” he explained.
“Well, I for one, I’m glad you’re here,” Evan interjected. “This year is going to be so much fun.”
Just at that moment, the food appeared in front of them. The smell of roast chicken and gravy filled the air as the students tucked in. Regulus piled his plate with roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings that he then drowned in gravy.
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They waited until the first years had been shepherded out of the Hall before getting up themselves.
“The Slytherin common room is in the dungeons,” Evan explained. “It’s only two floors from the great hall, but there aren’t any windows on the way there which is a shame.”
They walked down the steps, following the sea of green and yellow that eventually slit into two.
“Hey Dorcas,” Barty called out, bounding up to a tall dark skinned girl who was leaning against the wall next to the entrance to the common room.
“That’s Dorcas Meadows,” Evan told him. “She’s the prefect for our year.”
Evan was the other prefect. Nobody was surprised by this choice as Evan and Barty were the only boys in Slytherin in their year.
“Hello boys,” she said. “The password is Devil’s Snare.” The wall spit in two and slid open, like the moving doors at the entrance of muggle shops.
“Thank you, Dorcas,” Evan said as he entered the common room.
“Black, welcome to Slytherin house,” she said to Regulus when he passed her. He nodded his thanks.
The common room was a large semi-circle, with a fire burning in its center. The walls were made up of glass panels, showing the green murky water of the Black Lake. Large leather sofas and armchairs were scattered around the fire and tables lined the walls.
The seventh year prefects had the first years all grouped on the biggest sofa as they gave their introduction speeches. Regulus moved to one side so that he could listen in.
“...and the girls’ room is through the door to the left. First years have the first room, second years the second, and so on. Any questions about the dorms?” The first years gave a quiet “no”. There were four boys and six girls, they all looked terrified. The prefects shared a look before the girl continued.
“Now, you are going to hear or have already heard some not very nice things about being in Slytherin. What I want you to remember is that we’re all in it together. If anyone says anything that upsets you, you can always come talk to one of the prefects. That is to say either of us or Evan over there or Dorcas who you met at the secret entrance.”
“We also recommend that you stay in groups when you’re not in the common room.” The boy added. “Now off to bed, classes start tomorrow.”
The group dispersed, the first years practically running to the doors leading to the dorms.
“Come on,” Evan said, grabbing his elbow and dragging him along after the first years.
“Why do they want us to travel in groups?” Regulus asked when they got to the dorms.
“It’s mainly for the first and second years, I don’t think it’ll really apply to you,” Barty said, flopping onto one of the beds.
“Yeah, it helps them not get lost while they get used to the moving staircases. And like Avery said, the other houses can be a bit mean so it’s good to show a united front,” Evan added. “That’s your bed, by the way.” He pointed to the farthest bed.
Each bed was surrounded by dark green velvet curtains, a wooden chest at its foot, and a bedside table with two little draws. Their luggage was placed tidily next to their chests. Regulus’s were easily recognisable, thanks to his initials, R.A.B, clearly visible where they were engraved on his trunks. He started unpacking his clothes, leaving his school supplies to organise when he had a clearer idea of what he’d need for each class.
He turned around to put his toiletries in the bathroom and found the boys staring at him.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Are you gonna tell us what happened over the summer or not?” Barty asked. Evan had joined him on his bed.
“Sirius started dating a halfblood boy.” Regulus shrugged. “I guess that was the final straw for my parents, so they kicked him out.”
“That’s it?” Barty asked.
“That’s it,” He answered.
That was not it. Regulus had decided long before getting to Hogwarts that he wouldn’t tell anyone what really happened.
“You sure?” Evan pushed.
Regulus just nodded.