Jondrette Girl | Regulus A. Black [2] ( ON HOLD)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Disguised by the black of his fur and the dark of the night, Sirius remained in the crouched position, just outside of the Grimmauld Place. His hackles remained upright as his eyes scanned over the area, listening to any of the surrounding noises, but everything appeared quiet, and that wasn't the most reassuring sign. Down the way, he knew James was positioned, just in case anything went wrong. He had begged James not to accompany him, for the sake of his best friend's safety, but James would hear none of it.

Sirius had been at his flat at the time of James' arrival that very evening. He had been in the middle of a debate, trying to decide whether he should head to the Potter home to talk with Éponine and see if Regulus had joined her for the holidays. There was a conflicting feeling waging war inside of him, knowing that if Regulus did show, it meant Sirius had finally got what he wanted all along. For years, he wanted nothing more than Regulus to open his eyes and see the issues with the Black family values.

But he also found himself annoyed with the entire situation as well. Part of him did not believe that Regulus had changed his views for the sake of finally seeing the error of his ways, but rather just saying whatever Éponine wanted to hear so she would take him back. Obviously, there were strong feelings shared between the two, enough that even after over a year's time of not talking to one another, the first chance given they had reconciled their relationship.

And while Sirius wouldn't admit it out loud, he was jealous.

There was a time where Éponine had been selected to be his wife, and back then, Sirius wanted nothing to do with her. Rightfully so since the two of them were being forced into a relationship where they had to uphold the beliefs of Toujours Pur. Sirius did not regret rejecting the marriage at the time because he didn't want that life. He remembered where he had been filled with such anger whenever he saw her, knowing she was part of the values he had come to hate so much. And believing that she was responsible for keeping Regulus from seeing what was right and wrong.

However, Sirius learned as Éponine came to show him, that he had been wrong.

Yes, there was a time where she had believed in prejudice ways but she did what she had to do in order to change herself for the better. And she did so, believing that she would not find support. But even if she did have a strong influence over Regulus, Regulus still had control over his beliefs. And it was Regulus who had made the decision to become a Death Eater, without Éponine by his side offering her support.

So why had she gone back to him so easily?

He had abandoned her just the same, treated her horrible, ignored her existence and yet, being back at the school for such a short period of time, they were together like none of it had ever happened. Sirius knew that Éponine wanted to see the good in people, perhaps out of guilt because people had given her a second chance. But he also feared that giving second chances and being too trusting would lead to her downfall.