Eternal Light | Regulus Black

The christmas break 1971

"Sirius!" I threw my hands around his neck and held him tightly. He looked good, he had a glow on his cheeks and he was smiling. He had his Gryffindor robes still on, Orion will be mad about that...

Regulus came to hug Sirius aswell and Sirius seemed relieved. He probably thought we'd be mad at him too for him being sorted in Gryffindor. We had only gotten a few words in when Walburga came in with people following her. She had picked up Sirius from the station since Orion was busy with work as usual. Walburga looked as cold as ever eyeing us three still standing by the entrance.

"Now, be considerate and give your cousins some space," she demanded coldly. This wasn't the first time Sirius's and Regulus's cousins had spent the christmas with us. I admired them as they came in, they had grown so much. All three of them stood out by their beauty. The three sisters were all attending Hogwarts and were all in Slytherin. This christmas was going to be great.

Andromeda was the first one to greet me and Regulus who stood close to me. She has always been the kindest of the three. They all setteled in and picked their rooms from the east wing. I wonder if they would like to spend some time with me, or if they secretly despised me. They were older than me and Bellatrix had always seemed so confident and proud. I hope I get to talk to them as much as I can. I don't get to talk to girls since I don't leave the house often and Regulus and Sirius are my only friends. And I'd love to hear about Hogwarts and Slytherin house since I'm attending there next year.

Regulus was in my room like many afternoons previously. We were talking about his cousins and how christmas would most likely go. Orion yelling at all of us, ecspecially Sirius. I didn't want Sirius to get yelled at just because he is in Gryffindor. I know it's wrong and it shouldn't have happened but it wasn't his fault right? I need to protect him, I have to make them understand that it isin't his fault, that he isin't a disgrace. He would do it for me.

Later that night after dinner me and Regulus went in Sirius's room. He was unpacking his stuff. Clothes that were colored red and gold. Colors you don't see in this house much. He seemed so happy even though dinner had been a disaster. Orion wouldn't even look at him and everyone seemed to ignore his precense and instead talked about how spectacular the Slytherin house was. Bellatrix and Narcissa couldn't stop their enthusiasm when asked about their classes and their house. It seems Slytherin house had won a Quidditch match against Gryffindor.

"How was it in Hogwarts? Did you get a lot of friends? What's it like doing spells, is it hard, what spells did you learn!" I blurted out so many questions Sirius didn't know which one answer first. We spent hours in his room, listening as he exitedly told us all about doing spells and his friends. He told us how he shares a room with three other students who he has become good friends with. I don't think I could share a room with anyone though.

"Being sorted into Gryffindor was the best thing to ever happen to me, thankfully the sorting hat could read my mind and had the good sense not to put me in Slytherin! And hey, maybe next year you could be sorted into Gryffindor too!" He boasted. Soon after, me and Regulus left for our rooms.

"There's something bothering you I can tell," Regulus claimed. He was right.

"What do you think he meant by the sorting hat reading his mind? Didn't he want to be sorted into Slytherin. I don't want the sorting hat to go through my mind!" I gasped anxiously. All this time I thought there must of been a mistake, it wasn't Sirius's fault he was sorted in Gryffindor. Now he says he wanted it. I don't understand.

The next morning I ate breakfast by the kitchen with Sirius and Regulus. It had been quiet. I wouldn't look at Sirius, I hadn't dared. So many questions going through my mind but none that I thought I'd get a satisfactory answer to. Sirius didn't want to be in Slytherin. Was there something wrong with that house? All I've hoped for is to get into Slytherin house like my parents before me and fulfill their dreams of me becoming a great witch and marry a pureblood wizard. If you didn't find a suitable partner, your family would rearrange a marriage for you. Most likely my uncle would find me a respectable suitor.

"Do you want to go play outside? It has snowed so much we could maybe build a castle!" Sirius announced exitedly. All my worries drifted away once I saw Regulus's face lit up.

I had gotten new winter boots once Kreacher had told Mrs Black about me lending Sirius's boots. She was mad that I had not asked permission and as punishment didn't get to go outside for a week. After that Mrs Black had kindly bought me new ones, made of expensive fabric and fur. I tied my boots laces and jumped outside after Sirius and Regulus. We had asked their cousins to join us but I guess they were too old to play childish games with us.

We must have spent hours building snow castles and intricate paths on the snow. We went all the way from the backyard to the frozen up fountain. In the summers I would sit by the round stone fountain reading. Sometimes even Regulus would join me but not to read, just to fool around and catch bugs or something peculiar like that.

"Ow!" Regulus suddenly yelped. Sirius had thrown a snowball at his face. I giggeled at Regulus's furious face which quickly turned into a devious smirk. He kneeled and gathered a big pile of snow. Before I could duck he threw a big snowball that landed straight on my face. Oh, I am going to get back at him for this. A full on war erupted among us, every man for themselves.

I had snow down my jacket and some was dripping down my shirt by my neck. Sirius was gathering up snow for the biggest snowball yet. Oh no, he's going to throw it at me. I prepared myself and closed my eyes. And then out of the blue I was pushed to the soft pillowy ground with Regulus on top of me. He pushed me out of the way before the snowball could hit me, instead it had hit Regulus on his shoulder.

"Not fair! You can't team up. It's getting dark anyways I'm going to head inside, see you at dinner,"Sirius announced while rolling his eyes. Regulus rolled his eyes at me, mocking Sirius. I snorted, still laying on my back, deep in the snow. Regulus offered his hand for me to take and lifted me up. He gazed me with a big smile on his face.

"Why did you push me out of the way?" I questioned curiously. Just moments ago he was the one throwing snow at me.

"I don't know. I guess it's just that... If you go down, I'd rather it be by my hand than his," he pondered and took my hand in his and led me inside. Warmth flooded my body, but not just because of the warmth of the house... because of something else, that I felt deep inside my bones.