Chapter Text
Regulus was reminded over and over again about the party. Sirius was also reminded, mostly so he won’t mess everything up and cause a scene like he always does.
They went to parties like this often enough, just large events held in some pureblood family’s house; it's basically a grand event to show off. Who can wear the most expensive-looking robes, who can throw the biggest party, whose child is the most successful, even though most of them weren’t even eleven yet?
Same story. Same routine.
Regulus had a way to get through these, which was to basically not exist and make sure Sirius got out of trouble. It was like a game of pretend that Sirius and he played all the time when they just wanted out of their lives. But Sirius always ends up failing to play it in the end, though Regulus can’t see why he can't. It's pretty simple. Pretend to get along with the family, smile when mother shows you off, and politely sit over against the wall once you’re not useful. So easy, but only to Regulus it seems.
This time was different, though. It started off normal enough, the fathers talking about how much they have made that year, or mothers bragging about their kids’ talents. Though the more parties they go to, the less Mother talks about Sirius, Regulus noted.
But when he was called over, it wasn’t to show off one of three languages he has been taught since he knew how to talk or how well-mannered he was; it was to meet someone.
“Regulus, these are the Crouches.”
Walburga introduced in that familiar, cold, controlled voice as he faced the family. There were three members: a grumpy-looking man, who was a tad on the shorter side, the woman, on the other hand, was taller and looked a lot kinder, an odd expression to see in a place like this, and their son. He looked to be Regulus’s age, maybe a bit taller than him, but nearly everyone was taller than Regulus. He didn’t look very pleased to be here, but Regulus couldn’t really blame him.
He took a small bow, “hello,” he greeted, and the tall woman let out a little aww, clearly impressed by his manners, which was odd. Isn’t he supposed to do this? It wasn’t something abnormal.
“Well, isn’t he such a dear?” she spoke, placing her hand gently on her son’s shoulder. “Say hello, caro,” the boy’s face only squished a bit more out of annoyance, but he gave a lazy nod.
“Hello, I'm Barty.”
“Bartemius,” his father corrected.
“No, I like Barty more,” the boy shot back, reminding him a bit of Sirius. Regulus was ready for the woman’s grip to tighten on the boy’s shoulder. For a sharp glare or maybe even a hit, they wouldn’t be the first family to do such a thing at an event like this.
But none of that happened, well, not exactly. The father definitely looked angered at the retort, but the woman’s grip didn’t become harsh; instead, she rubbed her son’s shoulder.
“He likes his nickname more, besides, it's easy for the other children to say,” she spoke calmly to Mother before her kind brown eyes went back down to Regulus. “And you, what is your name, child?”
Regulus didn’t realize how much the odd reaction would take him off guard, nearly losing his role, but he collected himself quickly enough before his mother started to notice. “Regulus, Regulus Black”
“Well, isn’t that such a lovely name?” Oddly, she sounded honest, but maybe she was just good at faking being nice. Narcissa was similar in that regard. “Thank you, madam.”
“He seems very polite,” Mr. Crouch commented. “Bartemius sure needs lessons to be like that,” he scoffed, looking down at Barty like Orion does to Sirius when he does something annoying again.
“Yes, he is far more successful than his brother,” Walburga spoke with that subtleness to her voice, showing she was pleased to hear the praise from how ‘successful’ Regulus was, though he didn’t really understand what made him so successful.
The man looked over at Regulus, which made him want to hide behind his mother’s robes, but he knew he couldn’t; that would be weak for a Black. So he held firm, his arms folded in front of him politely as he was looked over. “You raised him well, Walburga,” he said, his eyes hadn’t left Regulus.
“Of course I did, do you question my parenting?” Walburga challenged.
“Well, after Sirius, I did have my doubts.”
That got to Mother; it seems clearly she wanted to snap, make some kind of insult, how the man’s own son wasn’t as well-mannered himself, but she held firm, holding her tongue, letting him continue. “The boys will be in the same year for Hogwarts, so I have a bit of a proposal.”
Well, that got Mother’s attention, “a proposal? What about?”
“My son needs to learn to get his act together,” Barty rolled his eyes, “so maybe if he hangs around someone with manners like your son, possibly it could rub off on him. Your son gets a friend, and mine learns what a good role model is.”
No, oh no no no Regulus didn’t like where this was going, he didn’t need anyone, let alone becoming ‘friends’ with someone he just knew he wasn’t going to get along with.
He hoped his mother would say no; after all, what would Regulus really get out of it? A friend? He doesn’t need friends, Walburga says it's better to just get connections, not friends; friends are too emotional, connections give you more power. But Barty could be a connection; his father is climbing up the corporate ladder fast in the Ministry, and Walburga keeps track of people like that.
Please say no, though please please plea-
“That sounds fair.”
Putain
She held out her gloved hand, “but this isn’t a guarantee, I am not promising a change in Bartemius.” The man nodded, taking her hand in a small shake. “Trust me, nothing is a guarantee to tame this boy.”
“What!” Barty shouted, turning to his father a face of anger that reminded Regulus a bit of his brother. “That isn’t fair, I don’t need a role model or a friend given to me, especially not a show-off.”
“Boy,” the man scolded, and Regulus hoped Barty would just shut it; that was a tone of a final warning, one more argument, and something would happen. But of course, no one else seems to listen to those final warnings, not Sirius and clearly not Barty.
“No, I want to make my own friends at Hogwarts, not- ow!” Barty was cut off as his father grabbed his wrist in a rough manner. “Excuse us.” He said to Mother curtly before dragging Barty away to the bathrooms, the kind woman following, whispering something quickly in his ear, maybe to calm him down. Of course, it's the bathroom; it's where every parent with a problematic kid goes. Father has dragged Sirius there many times.
Once the family was out of sight, Regulus looked up at his mother. He did have questions. Does he really have to do this? Be friends with someone he clearly can't help; he can’t get Sirius to stop his rebelling or loudness, so how can he with someone whom he doesn’t even know?
But he knew better than to talk back, to give his own opinion.
Mother looked down at Regulus, her eyes sharp and calculated, “Remember, Regulus, what do I say about friends?”
Regulus blinked, moving his hands to behind his back to hide the subtle fighting of nerves. “They are useless, and it's better to have connections?” She nodded, “Bartemius is trying to become head of his department; he might not believe in our beliefs, but he could be useful…you will ‘befriend’ his son, but remember it's only a connection that can be useful later.”
Oh, a connection. Right, right, he should have expected that after all, friends aren’t useful, though he didn’t really see a use for Barty, he was only a kid, like Regulus. Was it his family? It could be that, though, that still didn’t answer all of Regulus’s questions.
It was better not to ask, so instead he gave a small bow, “Of course, mother, I will try my best,” and that’s all he could really give. He doubts he could change the other.
“Good,” she says curtly before turning away to go back to mengling like Regulus didn’t exist. That was the only sign he was given, telling him he was excused.
He made his way through the crowd of people, being careful not to step on any dragging floor-length cloaks or gowns. Looking around for a familiar face, hoping he wasn’t causing any chaos, but knowing Sirius, the chances weren’t any good.
And as he predicted, Sirius was trying to pick a fight with Bellatrix, teasing her, which is a very bad idea since she was out of Hogwarts and had no rules keeping her from using her wand now that she is of age.
“You brat!” she snapped as Sirius made a teasing motion to pretend to spill his cup of whatever over her dress, only pulling away last second. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Bella?” Sirius teased, he had been getting more daring since he got into Gryffindor.
“Sirius, stop. This is an event where you aren’t a child anymore.” Narcissa spoke beside Bellatrix, her hands crossed in front of her, unbothered by Sirius’s attempts to annoy Bellatrix. “Aww, but Cissy, I'm just having a little fun; besides, she can just use her wand to dry it.” Sirius tried once more, this time, a bit of the liquid spilled, nearly landing on her dress.
“You nearly spilled it, you toad face weasel!” Bellatrix scritched.
That only drew a laugh from Sirius as Bellatrix took out her wand, probably ready to turn Sirius into a weasel with a toad face. Great, now Regulus has to make sure his brother doesn’t get hexed by our cousin. Fantastic. Merlin, why can’t Sirius just follow the rules for one night? He already isn’t on the family’s good side, being the first Gryffindor in the family.
He moved over before Bellatrix could raise her wand. “Sirius, please stop,” he asked, but secretly he wanted to plead, no matter how useless it felt to do so.
Sirius turned and lit up, “Reggie! There you are,” his voice, a bit too loud for the event, but there was no stopping that. Narcissa gave a small smile, though to most, her face hardly changed. Bellatrix hardly cared to greet him, too focused on her dress for any stains.
“Stop messing with Bellatrix, you know she can use her wand, you can’t.”
Sirius only rolled his eyes, “Come on, Reggie, let me have a bit of fun besides, soon I will be 16 and no one will stop me then.”
Narcissa shook her head. “That won’t be for at least four years, Sirius.”
“Oh, come off it, soon those four years will pass, and by then I will be better than either of you in duels. I even bet I will be the best in my year” Why must Sirius be so…confident?
“Anyways, where were you, squirt?” Sirius ruffled Regulus’s hair, messing up the half hour he took to straighten it out. “Mother just wanted to tell people I got my Hogwarts letter,” that was partly true before the Crouches' mother was showing off her ‘future Slytherin’ child.
“I made a connection”
Sirius stopped ruffling his hair, looking down at him, “Connection?” Regulus nodded, “Correct. Turns out Bartemius’s son will be in the same year as me. He is a wild child and wants my politeness to rub off on him, so we are being paired together.”
Sirius looked confused. “Well, do you want to be friends with him?”
“Friends? No, Mother said It's just a connection. I don’t need friends.” Sirius gave him this look. It was odd. Regulus couldn’t quite figure out what it meant.