Work Text:
The sun was warm and the air salty as Regulus Black stood at the water’s edge, watching the gentle waves lap at the shore. The beach was a rare escape from his usually busy life, and he was determined to make the most of it—even if that meant babysitting his bestfriend's and cousin's children for the day. Narcissa and Lucius had decided to go on a “double date” with Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood, leaving Regulus in charge of little Draco and Luna.
Regulus was unsure if he was the best choice for the job—he was still getting used to being around children, especially ones as energetic as Draco and Luna—but he was determined to make it work. After all, how hard could it be?
"Uncle Reggie!" Luna’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to find her skipping toward him, a big seashell in her tiny hands. "Look! I found a singing shell!" she exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder.
Regulus smiled, crouching down to her level. "Did you now? I think you have to listen very closely for it to sing, Luna."
She pressed the shell to her ear with a serious expression, humming to herself. Regulus watched her, amused, then glanced over at Draco, who was sitting in the sand, carefully digging a hole with a yellow plastic shovel.
Draco, four years old but with an air of intensity that made him seem much older, looked up at Regulus with wide eyes as he worked. He paused for a moment, his shovel halfway to the sand, before a big grin spread across his face. "Uncle Reggie!" he called, as if Regulus was the most important person in the world. "Look at my hole! It's gonna be so deep, you won’t believe it!"
Regulus chuckled and walked over, kneeling beside Draco. The tiny boy’s cheeks were flushed from the excitement, his platinum blonde hair a messy halo around his face. "I think it’s already pretty deep, Draco," Regulus said, watching as Draco scooped sand out with impressive focus. "Are you building a secret lair in there or something?"
Draco’s eyes brightened, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! A secret lair! And you can’t tell anyone, Uncle Reggie, it’s a secret!" He whispered the last part, leaning close to Regulus as if sharing something of great importance.
Regulus couldn’t help but smile at the seriousness in Draco’s voice. "Your secret’s safe with me," he promised, placing a hand over his heart in mock solemnity. Draco beamed, clearly pleased with the promise.
"Thanks, Uncle Reggie!" Draco said brightly, before turning back to his hole. He gave it another hard scoop with his shovel, sending a little pile of sand tumbling out.
Luna, still kneeling a little distance away, had begun arranging the shells she had collected in a circle around Draco’s sand hole. "Uncle Reggie, look! I made a pretty circle with my shells!" she called over, holding up her little collection like a treasure.
Regulus gave her an encouraging smile. "It’s beautiful, Luna. You’re really good at finding those."
Draco, hearing the praise, immediately puffed out his chest, a serious frown creasing his brow. "I’m making the best hole, Uncle Reggie. It’s gonna be the biggest sandcastle in the world," he said, his tone firm, as if he were defending a great claim.
Regulus raised an eyebrow. "A sandcastle hole, huh? I thought you were just digging a hole."
Draco looked up at him, his little face scrunched in concentration. "No, it’s not just a hole, Uncle Reggie! It’s gonna be perfect!" His tiny hands dug into the sand with determination, and Regulus noticed that Draco was fully invested in his task.
"Okay, okay," Regulus said with a laugh. "I see. Well, it’s certainly going to be the best hole in the whole beach."
Luna, now bored with her shell circle, bounced over to Regulus, her blonde hair flying in the wind. "Uncle Reggie, can we go look for more shells?" she asked, her eyes wide with excitement. "I bet there’s a really big one hidden in the sand!"
Regulus grinned and stood up. "Sure, Luna, let’s go find it. You lead the way."
Draco, hearing this, immediately looked up, his eyes full of admiration. "Can I come too, Uncle Reggie? I’m gonna find the biggest shell ever!" He dropped his shovel and scrambled to his feet, his excitement so contagious that Regulus couldn’t help but laugh.
"Alright, alright, let’s see who can find the biggest one," Regulus said, playfully. "But no complaining if someone else finds a bigger one."
Draco immediately puffed out his chest again. "I’ll definitely find the biggest one," he declared with complete confidence, marching ahead of Regulus and Luna like a little general.
Luna skipped beside Regulus, humming to herself. "I think I’ll find the prettiest one, Uncle Reggie! What do you think?"
"I think both of you will find something amazing," Regulus replied, ruffling Luna’s hair affectionately. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as the two children ran ahead of him, their laughter carrying on the breeze.
After a while, they gathered their finds—Draco’s “biggest shell ever” was, of course, a bit smaller than Luna’s “prettiest one,” but both were grinning ear to ear. They returned to their sandcastle (or what was left of it after a few too many enthusiastic shovels of sand), Draco looking up at Regulus with a gleam in his eyes. "Uncle Reggie, do you think this is the best castle ever?"
Regulus crouched down beside him, carefully inspecting the sand heap. "It’s the most creative one, Draco," he said with a smile. "You really put your heart into it."
Draco beamed, his face lighting up with the kind of pride only a child could have in something so simple yet so important to them. "I knew you’d like it," he said, and Regulus felt a pang of affection for the little boy, the way he looked up to him as though he were some sort of hero.
"Of course I do," Regulus replied, reaching out to tousle Draco’s hair. "You’re always impressive, Draco."
Luna clambered up to them, her shell collection in her arms. "I want to make another circle!" she declared.
"Go ahead, Luna," Regulus said with a fond smile. "Make it the biggest one yet."
As Luna ran off to start her next project, Draco turned back to Regulus, his voice filled with childlike wonder. "Uncle Reggie, can we do this again? Like, a million times?"
Regulus chuckled, standing up to join the children. "If it makes you happy, Draco, I’d do it a million times," he said, his voice softening. "You both are worth it."
The afternoon sun was beginning to dip low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the beach. The air felt cooler, but the waves still gently lapped at the shore, their rhythmic sound a soothing background to the children’s laughter.
Draco, now thoroughly covered in sand, looked at Regulus with bright, wide eyes. "Uncle Reggie, will you help me build a real castle now?" he asked eagerly, holding up his little hands, which were dripping with wet sand.
Regulus couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Draco, looking like a little sand monster. "I think we’ve built enough for today," he teased, but he could see the excitement in Draco’s eyes. "Okay, okay, let’s see what we can do. But you have to help me this time. No more just digging holes."
Draco’s face lit up, and he immediately scrambled to his feet, his hands wiping sand onto his legs as he darted over to where Luna was still arranging shells in her circle. "Luna! Come help us! We’re gonna build a giant castle!" he shouted, his voice full of excitement.
Luna looked up from her shells, her face scrunched in concentration as she pondered her next move. Then, with a delighted grin, she hopped to her feet, her arms flailing slightly as she rushed over to the boys. "A giant one! A big one!" she echoed, her voice high with joy.
Regulus chuckled and began to help Draco gather wet sand, patting it down into the base of what would soon be a castle. "Alright, you two, let’s make it the most impressive sandcastle the beach has ever seen," he said, rolling up his sleeves.
Luna, her eyes sparkling, grabbed a nearby plastic shovel and began digging with enthusiasm. "We need shells for the towers!" she declared, her tiny fingers already filling her bucket with all the different shapes and sizes she could find.
Draco, however, wasn’t as interested in the shells. He was focused solely on the structure itself, piling sand into little towers and packing it down, his tiny hands working diligently. "Uncle Reggie, look! It’s gonna be bigger than the whole beach!" he said, his voice brimming with pride.
Regulus knelt beside Draco, his smile softening as he watched the little boy's excitement. "I think it might just be," he agreed, reaching over to help stack the sand into a neat wall.
Luna looked over and tilted her head. "It’s gonna be so big, Uncle Reggie. It’ll be the biggest castle ever, just like Draco said!" she added, her voice filled with awe, as though it were a fact that could not be disputed.
"Biggest castle ever, huh?" Regulus raised an eyebrow, grinning at the two of them. "I like the sound of that."
For a while, the three of them worked together, Draco and Luna eagerly handing Regulus tools and materials, while he tried his best to keep up with their boundless energy. The sandcastle began to take shape—imperfect and lopsided, but full of heart and ambition. It wasn’t a perfect structure, but it was theirs, and Regulus felt something warm in his chest as he watched the two children pour their joy into it.
Eventually, as the sun dipped lower into the horizon, Draco sat back, his hands on his hips, and surveyed their work. "It’s perfect," he declared, nodding firmly as if the decision were final.
Luna stood next to him, looking down at the sandy structure with wide eyes, her voice soft but full of pride. "It’s so pretty, Uncle Reggie. Can we come back and see it every day?"
Regulus smiled, a soft laugh escaping him. "If you want, Luna. We can come back anytime."
Draco, his face flushed with satisfaction, looked up at Regulus again, his admiration clear. "You’re the best, Uncle Reggie. This was the best day ever."
Regulus felt a small pang in his chest, a mixture of warmth and something deeper—something he couldn’t quite place. "You’re both pretty great, too," he said, his voice a little softer than usual.
As the last rays of sunlight faded into the horizon, Regulus, Draco, and Luna sat together on the beach, the waves gently crashing in front of them. The day had been simple—a day full of sandcastles, shells, and laughter—but Regulus realized that this was the kind of moment that stuck with you, long after the sun had set and the tide had come in.
In that moment, surrounded by his younger cousins, Regulus felt something he hadn’t expected to feel: content.
And as the sky darkened and the cool breeze picked up, Draco and Luna snuggled up to him, leaning against his sides, tired from their day of play. Regulus wrapped an arm around them, holding them close.
"Can we do this again, Uncle Reggie?" Draco asked, his voice soft and sleepy as he gazed up at Regulus with that same childlike admiration.
"Of course," Regulus said, his heart full. "We can do this as many times as you want."
And in the fading light, with the sound of the waves in the distance and his cousins’ small forms beside him, Regulus couldn’t help but feel grateful for this unexpected little slice of happiness.
The quiet grandeur of Malfoy Manor was calm, the evening light casting long shadows across the marble floors. Regulus pushed open the large front door, cradling both Draco and Luna in his arms, their little faces peaceful as they slept soundly against his chest. Luna’s soft breath was warm against his neck, while Draco, tucked under his arm, clutched a small, sandy shell he had insisted on taking home. Regulus smiled to himself at the sight of them—small, innocent, and unaware of the world around them.
As he stepped into the grand hallway, he was met with the low hum of conversation coming from the living room. Lucius, Narcissa, Pandora, and Xenophilius were all gathered, their voices a gentle mix of amusement and conversation. Regulus knew they’d been talking, likely discussing their evening out, but he couldn’t help but interrupt the moment by walking quietly in.
Lucius was the first to notice him, his sharp blue eyes flicking over to Regulus with a smile that was all too familiar. “Ah, you’ve returned,” Lucius remarked, his voice smooth but warm. “I trust they’re asleep?”
Regulus nodded, shifting to adjust the weight of both children in his arms. “They wore themselves out,” he replied with a soft chuckle. “The beach must have been more exhausting than I thought.”
Pandora, sitting on one of the plush armchairs with Xenophilius beside her, leaned forward, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You must have been quite the babysitter, Regulus,” she teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “They look comfortable.”
“They are,” Regulus said, walking further into the room, his gaze soft as he looked down at the children nestled in his arms. “They were wonderful company. Quite the pair.”
Xenophilius, ever the oddball with his eccentric style, raised an eyebrow and let out a gentle laugh. “A pair, indeed. I imagine Draco was his usual energetic self?”
Regulus smirked. “He’s full of energy, that’s for sure. Luna was a little more laid-back, though she insisted on picking up every shell she could find.” His voice softened as he looked down at the two. “It was... nice, actually. I never realized how much I could enjoy just being with them like that.”
Narcissa, always with a serene presence, observed Regulus carefully. She looked at Draco and Luna in his arms, her eyes flicking to Regulus’s face. “I can see that,” she said with a quiet understanding. “It’s good for you. Family time, I mean.” Her voice held a certain depth, as if she were acknowledging something unspoken between them.
Regulus shifted slightly, uncomfortable with the attention but grateful for her quiet words. He never expected to enjoy these moments—time spent caring for others in a way he hadn’t imagined for himself. “They’re... good kids,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “They make it easy to care for them.”
Lucius raised a glass of wine in a silent toast before taking a small sip. “And you’re a good man, Regulus,” he said, his voice carrying that rare warmth that was only reserved for his closest friends and family. “It’s nice to see you in your element.”
Regulus glanced up, surprised by the words. He’d always considered Lucius to be a stoic figure, one who didn’t often show sentiment, but in this moment, there was a sincerity that made Regulus pause. “Thanks,” he said, a little quieter. “I didn’t think I’d be any good at this.”
Pandora beamed at him, her voice light but encouraging. “You’re a natural, Reg. Don’t doubt it for a second.” She chuckled softly, glancing over at her husband. “Xenophilius would tell you the same, if he weren’t too busy making conspiracy theories about the sandcastles.”
Xenophilius gave a mock gasp, placing a hand over his heart. “I would never!” he said, laughing. “But you know, those sandcastles—could they be a metaphor? Perhaps Draco is trying to build an empire.”
Regulus couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing as the friendly banter filled the room. He lowered himself onto a nearby armchair, still holding the sleeping children. He ran a hand over Draco’s messy hair, smoothing it down, and glanced over at Narcissa and Lucius. “You’re lucky. They’re great kids.”
Narcissa smiled softly, her eyes glistening with affection as she looked at her son. “We know,” she whispered, her voice filled with that maternal warmth that Regulus had often seen in her. “But it means a lot to us that you’re willing to help with them.”
Lucius nodded, looking at Regulus with the same rare warmth. “They adore you, Regulus. And I can see why.”
Regulus paused for a moment, the room’s quiet conversation swirling around him, but his focus remained on the children in his arms. Draco’s face was peaceful, eyes fluttering slightly in his sleep, while Luna nuzzled closer to him, still lost in her dream world. There was something about the simplicity of the moment that struck him deeply. The affection he had for these kids, the small and tender responsibilities, made him feel... connected. Not just to them, but to something more.
He’d never quite understood what it meant to be a part of a family in this way, but with every quiet moment like this—every innocent laugh, every sleepy murmur—it became clearer. And he wasn’t sure how, or when, but it was starting to feel like home.
"Can I get you anything, Reg?" Narcissa asked softly, as she and Lucius observed the way Regulus carefully arranged the sleeping children in his arms.
Regulus gave a soft smile and shook his head. "Just... peace for a little while," he murmured, glancing up at them. "Thank you, though."
The others fell silent, understanding exactly what he meant. The quiet warmth of the moment wrapped around them all like a soft blanket as they watched Regulus, his heart full in a way that few would ever truly understand.