Chapter Text
His heart beat flooded his ears, his boots heavily slammed on the grass. Sweat glistened his pale, bloody face. Run
‘Faster Regulus, run faster than you ever have before, faster Regulus.’ His own mind screamed at him, he complied of course. He didn’t fancy succumbing to death at the hands of his parents.
-10 minutes earlier
“Potter!” Wallburga shrieked, “you’ve been seeing potter? That dirty faggot?” She stopped searching through his mind.
He shook in fear before the face of the woman who was supposed to patch his wounds, not cause them.
She grabbed the front of his shirt, “I mean whats to say he likes you, look at you! Your just a shadow, I can help you become more than a shadow.” Her voice turns sickly sweet, fake reassurance, Regulus knew. She stroked his face, he wanted to be sick
“If you stop seeing him,” her voice turns cold.
Regulus looked his mother in the eyes, “no.” He said, with the most confidence she had ever heard from him. She shoves him against the wall, the hand stroking him turned into a punch, ring cutting into his face.
“You dare tell your Mother no,” Orion said. He stormed over taking Regulus by the neck, shoving his wife out of the way. “First your a faggot, then your dating a Potter?” He shouted into his sons face. Regulus grimaced. He knew what was coming.
Hard fists sent him his head flying to the side, hearing a crack then he felt blood flood from his nose down his chin. His father let go of his collar leaving him collapsing on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his mother grab her wand. fuckfuckfuck
“Crucio!”
Pain embraced his body, she had used this spell on him multiple times before, but it still made him scream and writhe in pain. She used it about 3 more times until she had enough, his father watching delivered several kicks on his ribs. They swiftly left the room after that.
Regulus was seething, he had had enough, his parents had caused so much pain in his life, even got people at school to remind him of the pain that awaited him at home.
His body ached, he shook from the unforgivable curse. Lying on his front in the empty room he knew he was ready to leave. He stared at his hands infront of his face that were still shaking, he turned them into fists, digging his nails into his hands.
“Fuck you!” He screamed into the empty room. Staggering to his feet, he heard he approaching high heeled shoes that belonged to his mother.
“What did you say?” She spat
“I said fuck you.” He glared at her, blood running down his nose, hair almost blocking the view of the rage filled eyes.
She opened her mouth to speak before he quickly cut her off.
“Fuck you for hurting me, fuck you for hurting Sirius, fuck you for causing so much fucking pain in my life, fuck you for telling me to break up with the one I love!” He shouted, tears pooling in his blood shot eyes.
“Ha! You know nothing about love, you’re pathetic,” she barked.
“And you do? You beat your children, disowned one of them probably me too by the end of this night and you dont even speak to your husband, the only thing you do together is hurt your children!” He spoke with so much malice. "And i used to think you loved us."
“You,” she spoke, growling, “Are nothing without us, your pathetic to even think anyone would love you let alone us! you were nothing more to us than a spare, and you cant even do that! You seriously are the most pathetic creature that has ever lived.”
Regulus fought the tears that threatened to spill over, she had spoke to him like this before but what hurt him, was that he believed her.
“I’m leaving.” He said looking back up through his hair.
“You will do no such thing.”
“I will and I am, what will you do disown me? Go ahead.” He said straightening his back, adrenaline making him forget about the pain.
“You run, you die.” Her words made his heart drop. She was telling the truth of course, the family had enough power to make his death look like he ran away.
He stood in-front of his mother clenching his fists. “I would rather die than stay here.” He seethed.
“Then so be it.” She lifted her wand. “Avada Kedavra!”
He ran past her, against his bodys will, dodging the green light that burned into the wall where he was standing previously. He ran down the hall and flung open the door. He ran.
-Present
Despite his body protesting at the movement he ran. He heard shouts and saw spells fly past him. He was dodging all of which well, until slashes of pain darted on his back. ’Sectumsempra’ he thought. He carried on running even though he felt the warm blood stream down his back.
He ran through fields, trees to the one place he knew he would be safe, because Sirius was there.
The Potters home was located about 5 miles away from the Grimwald Place, Regulus knew where it was from the constant letters Sirius would get. The occasional street lamp lit the way.
He stumbled to a stop occasionly catching his breath, trying to blink away the tears that threatened his eyes. The pain was causing him to see black spots. He needed to get there quick.
Regulus began to run again, almost tripping on a stick. He ran from field to forest, all that was on his mind was that he needed his brother.
He ran until he saw the house, his body screamed at him to stop. He was flooded with relief and almost collapsed when he saw the warm lighting of the lovely house, flowers were lined up in the garden. If he wasn’t in so much pain, he would have stopped to appreciate the flowers.
He knocked on the door so weakly he begged someone heard it before he collapsed on the porch. Unconscious.
James was sitting downstairs with Sirius discussing the latest quidditch game against Ravenclaw when a quiet knock was heard.
“Did you hear that?” James asked cutting Sirius off his rant.
“No, anyway-“ something dropped outside.
Both of them stood up at the noise, James went over to the door with cautious steps, Sirius behind him. He opened the door to find a heavily bleeding Regulus Black on his porch.
He scrambled towards the boy he loved, scooping him in his arms, ran back in the house and gently placed him on the sofa. James’ mind went to the night Sirius fell through the floo. The black haired boy on the couch while being unconscious his eyebrows were still pinched in pain.
“Mum! Come down! Bring healing potions, quick!” He shouted up the stairs. His eyes wandered towards his best friend who was kneeling beside Regulus, eyes saying everything.
Euphenimia Potter ran down the stairs, arms full of potions, she gasped when she took in the sight infront of her. “You boys go upstairs, i can handle this.” She said making her way over next to Sirius who was still kneeling beside Regulus.
“I dont want to leave him again,” Sirius’ broken whisper made both of the potters heart drop.
“My mums got him dont worry pads,” James lifted Sirius up by the arm, before slinging his own arm around his shoulders.
“They would’ve never hurt him, he was the favourite ‘their perfect son’” Sirius said whilst making their way up the stairs into James’ room.
“He’s safe now, my mums got him, she helped you and she will help Regulus.” James reassured his worried best friend.
“Can we go to sleep?” Sirius mumbled.
“Of course pads” James said letting his arm around Sirius drop as he made his way over to the bed. They slept together often. They hadn’t done it for a long time though. When Sirius ran away he was plagued with nightmares, his best friend helped him through that.
The two young men were knocked out the second their head hit the pillow.
Effy took in the sight of the pained boy in-front of her before she quickly cast a status spell, showed her all of the parts of him that were hurting and why. She cast a few ‘episkys’ on his ribs and nose. Regulus jostled awake due to this. His eyes fluttered open but his eyes were filled with fear and pain.
“Hello dear, I just need you to drink a few potions for me, you can go back to sleep afterwards.” Her tone seemed to relax Regulus. He slowly nodded. She brought a hand up to his cheek, Regulus flinched away. “Sorry dear, I just want to check how deep the cut is on your cheek.” Her heart pained when she saw the reaction. His cheek was still gooey with blood, it had dripped down his face, but after a cleaning spell it wasn’t deep enough for stitches.
He sat up slowly and she brought the potions towards him. He tentatively drank them, feeling most of the pain wash away from his body, he sighed.
“Can you take your shirt off dear? I need to check your back.” She said quietly, “you can lay down on your stomach, that would be easier but do what you feel comfortable with dear.” He nodded again. He winced when he felt the fabric pull away from the deep cuts on his back, the pain killer potion wasn’t strong enough for this. Eventually he pulled the shirt over his head, laid down on his stomach on the couch and hid his face in the pillows. His ribs were healed mainly but he still let out a hiss as he laid.
Effy tried not to react but she couldn’t help the gasp that left her when she saw the dark bruises that were still flourishing and the deep cuts that were still bleeding. She whispered another cleaning spell, some of the cuts needed stitches. Most of the bruising and cuts were on his back due to him lying on his stomach for most of the beating. Regulus was still shaking, she knew from Sirius what it was from, unfortunatly there was no cure apart from a sleep potion, or stupefy.
“I’m going to give you a dreamless sleep potion so I can do these stitches, is that okay dear?” He nodded with his face in the pillows. He sat up with his elbows on the arm of the sofa, taking the potion with a shaky hand, and drank the potion she gave him with a kind face. He was asleep soon after.
Effy stood up to grab her kit and quickly went to work. Fleamont came down the stairs not soon after.
“Merlin,” his voice brought immediate comfort to Effy.
“It’s Regulus,” she whispered.
“Sorry love I would’ve came down earlier, but I heard the commotion I didn’t want to add to it.” He picked up the empty potion bottles, returning them to the sink, casting a spell to have them cleaned.
“It’s okay, I have it under control, do you mind if you check on the boys? Sirius was worked up, understandably and James is probably also a bit anxious.” She stopped stitching, standing up and giving her husband a kiss on the cheek.
“Of course, is this the boy James is always talking about?” Fleamont whispered.
“Yes, they’re dating, Sirius can't know though, James made that clear to me.” She chuckled before sitting back on the chair she pulled up to stitch.
“My lips are sealed.” He said before making his way upstairs.
He came down moments later, “they’re both knocked out in James’ bed,” he whispered.
Effy sighed happily, James was great at comforting people.
She finished Regulus’ stitching about half an hour later, making her way upstairs to go to bed.
James woke up to the sound of snoring in his ear. He rubbed his eyes, putting on his glasses. He looked behind him to see Sirius’ face snoring very loudly. He got up from the bed walking out of the room downstairs. When he got downstairs he was met with the scene of Regulus, sleeping on his stomach with the harsh bruises and slashes, on show to the world. He sucked in a sharp breath, but let it out when he saw his mum making food in the kitchen.
He went over to her and greeted her with a hug, which she reciprocated. James melted into his mothers arms.
“Is he okay?” James mumbled into his mothers shoulder.
“I’m never going to lie to you James, it was hard to patch up, worse than Sirius. But he will be fine, physically, mentally I'm not so sure.” She pulled away to look James in the face, holding his face gently. “Regulus is going to be asleep for a while, you have two weeks until school and all I need you to do is look after yourself and check on Sirius.”
“Of course mum,” James replied nodding.
“I imagine it being hard for Sirius to see this again,” she said softly, “I know you and Regulus aren’t just friends but to cause less conflict, can you refrain from telling Sirius until things have settled down?” She whispered.
“Yes, I was planning on telling him before school, but I don't want him to stress out more than he’s doing.”
“Your such a kind soul, James. I’m proud to have you as my son.” She hugged him once again.
“I love you Genda,” was James’ muffled reply.
“I love you too Mera beta.” She said into his hair.
They both settled down to eat, Effy had put a warming spell on the food for her husband and Sirius when they come down to eat.
“Should we cover up Regulus’ back? It might be a shock to Sirius.” James said with his mouth full.
“The air needs to get to the wounds, but he might be cold, can you go and just put your hand on his back, check if he's cold dear.”
James hummed a yes whilst chewing before leaving the table to rest a hand on the abused back.
“He seems cold, I'm just going to put the blanket on, we can always take it off if he gets too hot.”
“Okay dear,” his mum said.
James gently pulled the red blanket over Regulus’ body, pulling it up just below his shoulders. Some of the jarring cuts were still on show.
He sat back down with Effy, finishing his food and starting on some melon pieces previously cut by his mum.
“Regulus would be so embarrassed to find out he’s got a red blanket.” James chuckled, making a scene in his head.
“You’re good for him, James.” Effy said.
He was going to say something else but he heard gentle footsteps making their way down the stairs. He watched as Sirius came round the corner before facing his brothers body, he audibly gasped, body ridging.
“Mums made food, Sirius, I was also thinking we could spend our day flying.” James said snapping Sirius out of his shock.
“Yeah that sounds good,” he murmured.
They settled into a comfortable silence.