Chapter Text
The curses from their parents kept coming. Hit after hit after hit. Regulus desperately wished to be back at Hogwarts, studying in the library with Avery and Mulciber, or sitting on the hill with Barty, or spending a third full moon with Remus, Peter, Sirius and James, or be up in the astronomy tower with James. He wished he and Sirius were anywhere else in this moment.
Their mother broke concentration for a mere moment, but it was enough. Sirius grabbed a limp Regulus with one hand and floo powder in the other before launching into the fireplace.
•••••
Sirius coughed as he flew out of The Potter’s fireplace, rolling in a pile of soot onto their clean carpet. Beside him, Regulus thew up.
“SIRIUS! REG!” James yelled, running to the boys without a moments hesitation. “MUM! DAD! HELP ME!”
“I’m sorry,” Sirius wheezed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Shh mate you’re ok, you’re ok.”
“James?” Euphemia called out, urgently running down the stairs. “What’s happened?”
She rushed to kneel beside the boys, performing a diagnostic with her wand. Fleamont was at her side now, too.
“They’ve both been under the cruciatus curse,” Euphemia almost whispered.
“Merlin,” Fleamont breathed.
“Reg-Regulus,” Sirius struggled.
“He’s right here, Sirius” James’ voice was shaking, but not as much as his hands. He tried to remind himself to breathe, but he simply couldn’t. “You’re both going to be ok.”
“Fleamont, can you take James?” Euphemia spoke urgently. “I need to mend Sirius’ ribs and femur. Regulus has broken ribs too, and bruises are already showing up on the poor boys neck and arms.” Sirius watched as Fleamont helped the hyperventilating boy stand up, and lead him into the kitchen. James was having a panic attack, Sirius realised. It had been a while since he’d seen James have one of those, but he knew his friend had always struggled with anxiety. He heard Euphemia speaking to him, then, but he couldn’t make out what she was saying. Something about this being his home now? About living with The Potters?
Everything slowly went black…
•••••
Regulus was vaguely aware of fingertips tracing his arm, but he was too tired to open his eyes just yet. So many voices caught his attention in the distance… Remus and Peter were definitely here with their families, Lily, Mary, Marlene and Dorcas, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley and Molly, Frank Longbottom Alice, and a few others he didn’t recognise. It sounded like the whole Order was here, and he suddenly felt very afraid. His eyes snapped open and landed on James. Instantly, he calmed.
“Hey,” James spoke gently. “Are you feeling ok?”
“Not really.”
James nodded and frowned, before planting a gentle kiss on Regulus’ head and walking over to where Sirius began to quickly stir.
“Whoa there Padfoot,” James said gently, placing his hands on Sirius’ shoulders to keep him laying down. “You’re ok, you’re ok.”
“Reggie?”
“Reggie is right here, mate.”
Sirius looked over to Regulus before sighing and laying back down.
“Good afternoon boys,” a strong voice boomed into the room. Dumbledore. “When you are feeling ready, we have much to discuss.”
“Yes sir,” Sirius answered, but Regulus felt frozen. What would happen to his parents? What would happen to them? For a year and a half Regulus and Sirius wanted so badly to be out of that house, but they hadn’t really considered the next steps. Well, if Sirius did have a plan, he hadn’t shared it with Regulus.
Regulus tried to tell himself that it would be ok, that they both would be ok. But in the end, it all got too loud, and Euphemia had to give him more sleeping draught.
•••••
It was now the first of January 1976, and the brothers were on their way to platform 9 3/4. This time, though, they were laughing and smiling with their new found family. For the first time in a long time, the brothers were genuinely excited about life.
Dumbledore had told the boys that with their consent, Euphemia and Fleamont had offered to take them under full custody. Walburga and Orion were under extreme investigation by the Department of Magic and would likely never see either of their sons again. For Regulus’ safety, Dumbledore had moved him to Gryffindor along with Barty Crouch Jnr who had practically begged when he learned of what had happened. Regulus wasn’t sure how he felt about wearing red, and Quidditch would be quite interesting now. But he knew it was what had to be done. His entire family was in Slytherin, and right now he just needed protection.
James, Sirius and Regulus found Peter and Remus waiting for them in a carriage. Sirius sat next to Remus, who greeted him with a kiss while Peter whooped. Regulus and James sat opposite the three Marauders and Regulus leaned his head on the older boys shoulder. He breathed deeply, enjoying the scent of James; broomsticks, a hint of cinnamon, honey and home.
“You ok, love?” James whispered to him.
“Very,” Regulus smiled.
“Oh shit,” Peter said, looking urgently to Remus, whose jaw dropped.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sirius’ voice broke as he leaned forward.
“I… uh…” James fumbled, realising what he’d said, and that Regulus was still leaning on him. “Sirius, I-“ but Sirius was already storming away.
“Should I get Sirius?” Peter asked cautiously, which made Remus giggle.
“I’ll do it, Pete,” Remus smiled. “I’d hate for you to be his punching bag. It’ll be better if it’s me.”
•••••
It took three hours for Remus to return to the carriage with Sirius.
Three hours.
Regulus, James and Peter remained pretty quiet for that time. James held Regulus in his arms, gently kissing his head and stoking his arms. Sometimes Regulus cried, or started shaking, or sort of stopped breathing, but mostly he slept. It had been such a huge week for all of them. Peter shouted them food and coffee, and repeatedly reassured James that Sirius would get over it, that he was just shocked. James hoped his friend was right. He couldn’t lose his brother.
•••••
Regulus was staring out the window when Sirius walked in. He calmly watched as storm clouds the same shade of grey as his eyes rolled over the hills, threatening the train as they loomed closer.
“Regulus,” Sirius’ stern voice tugged at his brain, and eventually he turned his head forward to face the older boy.
“Sirius, I-“ James was silenced by Sirius raising his hand.
“I’m not ready to talk to you yet.” His eyes did not waver from Regulus.
“How long has this been going on then?” Sirius asked coldly, using his wand to gesture to Regulus and James.
“A year today, actually,” James spoke softly before Regulus could, though there was no joy in his voice.
“A FUCKING YEAR?” Sirius shouted, making Peter and Remus jump.
Regulus rolled his eyes and then closed them. He felt the now familiar sensation of dizziness that overcame his body, and then he opened his eyes.
“Oh, fuck you, Regulus!” Sirius yelled at the little black cat. “Fuck you!” Peter desperately tried to hold in a laugh as Regulus curled up in a little ball in James’ lap and closed his eyes.
“Merlin’s beard, Reg” Sirius continued. “You can’t even be enough of a man to have a conversation about the fact that you’ve been snogging my best friend for an entire fucking year!” The cat did not respond.
“Sirius, can we just-“
“Can we just what, James?” Sirius continued to fight. “You’re snogging my little brother!”
“I didn’t mean to fall for him,” James hung his head, his voice barely a whisper. “But it just… it just felt so right...”
“Well fuck me dead, James! Fuck me dead!”
Regulus had returned to his body, now, and was glaring at Sirius with his stormy grey eyes.
“You done?”
Sirius sighed, crossing his arms in front of his chest and sitting back in the seat. Peter couldn’t contain his laughter anymore, and once he started, so did Remus.
“Fuck off,” Sirius snarled, though there was a softness in his eyes now. “To hell with the lot of you!”
•••••
“Alright James,” Remus stretched as he put the last of his bags down. “I’ll leave you to show Reggie his new dorm room.”
“Did he just wink?” James looked baffled.
“He did, yeah.” The boys laughed.
“What are you feeling, Reg?”
“I feel ok,” Regulus nodded, thinking. “This is all… a lot. And I am a bit afraid. But I’ve got you and I’ve got The Marauders. I’ve got my big brother and I’ve even still got Barty.” James began planting little kisses on Regulus’ face as he spoke.
“Also,” Regulus pulled back. “Don’t think it went unnoticed when you called me ‘love’, Mr Potter.”
“Oh! I- yeah. I did, didn’t I?” James was bright red now, and Regulus was enjoying his.
“Do you love me, James?”
“I do.” Regulus wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but it honestly wasn’t that. “I completely adore you, Regulus Arcturus Black. I will love you for the rest of my life.”
“Holy fucking shit,” Regulus breathed before crashing his lips against James’ and saying it back to him again and again and again.
“Oop, sorry,” Barty giggled before running out of the room.
“Good God,” Regulus rolled his eyes, breaking away from James.
“See you later, Reg,” James called out from the doorway as Barty walked back in.
“Well that was fucking cute,” Barty practically beamed.
“Yeah yeah, fuck off,” Regulus laughed. He had a feeling he would spend the rest of his time a Hogwarts feeling like that- happy. What a wonderful life this was.