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Curses came flying as Regulus ran down the stairs, wand held in hand. Regulus held a trunk in his left arm, his wand in his right. He ran down the stairs as fast as his trembling legs could endure. Thunder rumbled and shook the whole house as the rain pattered harsh against the roof of Grimmauld place.
"Get back here!" His mother shouted. "You can't leave us!"
"Crucio!" Walburga screeched. Regulus ducked quickly behind the railings, the curse missing him by an inch.
Regulus yelped as he tripped down the last few stairs. The light of the moon illuminating the doorway.
Just a few more steps...
"CRUCIO!" Regulus cried out as the spell collided with his already-fragile body.
His trunk flies out of his hand, sliding to his right.
"You will not leave us astray!" Walburga raced to the bottom of the stairs. Regulus lay on the ground, shaking, trembling.
"Cruci-!"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Regulus cried.
The curse was lifted and Walburga was as stiff as a board.
Orion caught her in his arms before she fell to the ground, staring at Regulus with fear and disgust etched into the harsh wrinkles of his face.
"You monster!" He shouted. "Look at what you've done!"
Regulus stood up slowly. "You made me do it." Regulus grabbed his trunk.
He yanked the door open and left.
--
He walked through the freezing cold weather, the rain soaking his hair and black trench coat. Thunder struck harshly as he walked swiftly across the paths.
He stood on the doorstep of the Potter's house, the door having a nice brass knocker in the shape of a lions head. Regulus placed his trunk down and shifted his wand to his left hand.
What am I doing? He thought. I shouldn't be doing this. What would Sirius think? Would he push me away? Or would he let me in? Regulus hesitated for a moment. I can't go back, there. Mum'll skin me alive.
Regulus hesitated for a moment more. Finally, he reached a hand to the brass knocker, thunder rumbled harshly as he risibly held his hand tightly on the brass knocker. He removed his hand, picked up his trunk and shifting his wand to his right hand again.
"I'm sorry, Sirius." He said softly, before walking away.
Regulus's mind raced at the thought of Sirius. Merlin, I should've knocked. Where do I go now? His eyes watered as he thought about Sirius's distraught face when he sees' Regulus on James's doorstep. Merlin, I'm so bloody stupid! Tears started to fall from his eyes as he stood on the empty road. He sniffled as the thunder rumbled and his grasp on his wand and trunk weakened.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Sirius." Regulus's voice cracked and broke as Regulus began to silently weep.
What am I crying about? I shouldn't be crying about this. I'm not weak like my pathetic brother. He was a coward. I'll show him what it's like to be a true Black.
Regulus wiped sniffled and tightened his grip on his wand and trunk. He walked fast, his walk slowly turning into a sprint, now turning into a run.
He ran far and wide, not caring wherever it was he would end up. He just wanted to be away from Sirius and the rest of his family.
As he ran through the dark his mind flashed to old memories of Sirius.
The time Narcissa took Reggie's "A: Hogwart's History" book in 1st year.
"Sirius! Cissy took my book!"
"SHE WHAT!?"
The Sirius tried to hex Mulciber for teasing Regulus in 1st year.
"You say another word about my brother, I'll hex you!"
"I'd like to see you try, blood-traitor."
"Stupefy!"
"Sirius!"
"A-Anna!?"
"What are you doing, dueling in the hallway!?" Andromeda scoffed. "5 points from Gryffindor and...5 points from Slytherin." The last sentence seemed to pain Anna dearly.
The time Sirius...ran away...
"I'm leaving, Reggie."
"Sirius, you can't just leave me here!"
"Reggie, I'm just trying not to get hurt!"
Reggie scoffed. "Oh, here you go again!"
"What d'you mean- 'Here we go again!?"
"I mean, you always have to make everything about yourself! You're so bloody selfish!"
"I'm not selfish for not wanting to risk my life everyday for some blood-purist, family abusing, narcissistic, arsehole who I call my brother!"
"YOU ALWAYS MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF! AND I'M NOT NARCISSISTIC! YEAH, I ADMIT I DON'T WANT MUM TO HATE ME, BUT DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME A BLOOD-PURIST!"
"FINE THEN, PRAT!" Sirius yelled. "I'M LEAVING! AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"
Regulus stopped in his tracks, he now stood in front of a large manor with the initials "A. V. R. T" engraved on the silver brass knocker shaped in the form of a Peruvian Vipertooth on the entrance.
Reggie stared up at the manor, thunder rumbled hard in the clouds. His mind racing, he ran to the door, pounding on it as if his life depended on it.
BOOM
The thunder cried.
He pounded against the door with all the strength left in his body.
Right before he was about to start pounding on the poor, forsaken wooden door again, it flung open revealing a disheveled, exhausted Andromeda.
"Regulus?"
"Andy." Regulus, exasperated, embraced Anna in a tight hug, wrapping his arms around her waist, Anna hugged him tightly, her arms around his neck. Reggie buries his head in the nape of Anna's neck.
Anna pulls away, she runs a hand through Regulus's dark wet curls. "What are you doing here?" Regulus avoided her sharp gaze. "Reggie." She says. "Look at me." Unable to resist, Reggie reluctantly looks into Anna's light-grey eyes.
"I ran away." Anna's face falls slightly. "I tried to go the Potter's, but I was afraid of what Sirius would think of seeing me there."
"Oh, Regulus..." Anna held Regulus's face in her hands softly but held a firm grip on his jaw. "You should know that as long as I'm alive no one will ever hurt you with me. Ever."
"You're safe with me." Anna reassures, she holds a small smile on her face, Reggie can't help but return the smile. "Now, c'mon, you're freezing."