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Regulus stands to the side as Sirius and Remus share their “I Do’s” and promise their love to each other until the end of time. He watches as Remus dips his brother almost to the floor in the type of kiss that should only be reserved for movies, as his brother’s hands move to cup the back of Remus’ head and hold them together until the wolf whistles finally break them apart.
He watches all of this from three people down. He watches all of this in the tackiest color dress he can imagine. He watches all of this standing just after Mary MacDonald and Dorcas Meadows, both somehow pulling off the horrendous color scheme of their slightly differently styled dresses. He watches all of this with James Potter standing by his brother's side, making googly eyes at his wife who stands across the aisle next to Remus. He does his best to ignore the loud blubbering coming from Peter Pettigrew and Frank Longbottom who stand handsomely in their groomsmen suits.
Regulus Black watches his brother become a Lupin from his spot, three people down the line. And he hates the distance this creates but there’s nothing he can do about it.
Because he is not Regulus Black. She is Rigel Black. And she has made sure that she will never mean as much to her brother as her brother means to her. Rigel Black will sit through the reception. She will smile and nod during cocktail hour, she will graciously avoid comments about the distinct lack of Black family members in attendance tonight, and she will listen nicely as the speeches are given. Speeches she was not asked to give. Speeches she wouldn’t be able to make it through anyways so it doesn’t really matter.
After the final speech has been given and the cake has been cut, Rigel will watch as Remus leads his new husband onto the dance floor, sweeping him into a well-practiced dance that began back in a dorm room in their fifth year. She will hold back tears as Monty and Euphemia Potter take their respective places by Sirius’ side and lead him in a dance as well. She will smile softly as Hope coaches Remus through a “proper” dance about the floor. Then she will conspicuously pretend to eat a slice of cake as Potter leads his wife onto the floor, toddler hanging off of Lily’s dress as he tries his best to keep up. As the rest of the dance floor fills up with couples and friends alike, she will slip outside for a quick smoke and to join the other stragglers sitting around the fire pit the venue sets up for the guests who don’t quite know what to do with themselves.
Rigel will head back into the party just as Sirius and Remus return, cheeks flushed and hair rumpled, from the pre-scheduled outfit change before the big send off. She will join in an obligatory dance with her brother and her new brother-in-law. She will light the sparkles that send the newly weds on their way with a dazzling haze of light.
Then, after helping the venue staff clean up with a surreptitious wave of her wand, she will slip back into her robes and join the floo line to head home.
It is only when she is home, safe and secured in her little apartment, that is warded so only her and a select few can come in and out, that she will wash off the makeup, unpin the hair extensions, and stare into the mirror.
As Rigel is packed more and more away, Regulus begins to recognize himself more and more. He watches as his hair begins to softly curl against his neck again without the weight of the hair extensions. He watches as his skin begins to discolor from the scratchy fabric of the dress as he steps into the shower.
The steam of the shower will help relax his shoulders more and more until Regulus can feel himself settling back into the body he desperately wishes he can stay in.
Often, Regulus wonders what his life would have looked like if he was only honest with his brother. If more than just Barty Crouch and Evan Rosier knew of the existence of Regulus at all. As it is, Regulus is fiercely hidden beneath Rigel’s rigid facade. Sirius Lupin will go on his honeymoon with his wonderful husband, and Regulus will watch on from three people away.