Upside Down Mirror: Free Falling (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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He didn't trust his own family.

Yet, in a moment of desperation, he'd asked Kreacher to teleport him to a family member. The reason he'd chosen Arcturus Black came down to the fact his grandfather was the one most likely to not ask questions let alone the one most likely to act reasonably. For a brief moment after arriving he wondered if his Aunt Lucretia might not have been a better choice given the fact she married out of the family, yet the thought of her fainting away from the fright wasn't at all appealing.

After all, his mother would have thrown a downright fit at seeing him and his father would have remained indifferent as always, letting her run the household as she saw fit. Even worse was his mother's side of the Black family tree. His grandparents place always smelled funny, but his uncle Cygnus Black had two daughters with ties to the Dark Lord, one a Death Eater and the other married to one.

Sirius wasn't family, or so he'd been told over and over again, nor would he have helped if he'd gone to his brother, so Arcturus was the best choice.

Of course, Regulus completely forgot about Andy, his uncle Cygnus' middle child. She'd married a Muggle Born which in turn resulted in her being blasted off the tapestry in the Grimmauld family home where Regulus grew up. It felt like an honest betrayal, given how certain beliefs were drilled into his head from a young age which in turn made the arrival of Andy and her husband sting, albeit he did feel slightly grateful to see a face he trusted not to hurt him.

Andy though, like Sirius wasn't family anymore, or so he'd been told over and over again.

"Hypocrite." Regulus soon learned that was the least of his worries, as the girl just so happened to know about the Horcrux let alone the potion. In fact, she indicated there was more than one which left him royally screwed. He likely felt angry, yet he found himself unable to focus on that particular feeling, what with his worst memories still threatening to push to the forefront of his consciousness.

"Regulus?"

Someone called his name, though he wasn't at all sure who. Physically, he was starting to lose focus after his grandfather called in someone his mother would never have let step foot into the family home, his mind becoming even more confused than what it already was when Kreacher almost dying made him realize his ideals did not match up with those of the Dark Lord let alone his cousin Bellatrix. "Hm?"

"I'm going to begin treating your injuries, but I am limited to what I have and what your grandfather can get his hands on via a House Elf. I'm not going to lie and say it isn't going to hurt, let alone be an unpleasant experience. Do you understand?"

Regulus nodded his head, clenching his eyes shut, yet this made his current predicament feel worse when hands reached out and started to undress him. His eyes snapped open in panic, his entire body tensing up as he looked up at the ceiling of his grandfather's study. "Don't touch me! Please, don't touch me!"

"What..." The voice remained calm as he knelt beside him, obvious concern showing on his face. "Arcturus, what is he saying?"

"He doesn't want to be touched."

"I can't blame him. I mean, he was mauled by Infiri of all things. I must warn you Arcturus, that will likely leave him with some horrible nightmares."

"Well, it can't be helped." The words spoken by his grandfather stung, reminding Regulus how much of an embarrassment to the Black family he now was. He let out a slight sob, trying hard to control his emotions. A Black was, after all, showed no weakness, yet he'd made the mistake of just now showing a weakness. His grandfather moved, his mind at first not registering what the old man was doing, but then he said, "I'd planned on helping, as rusty as my skills are, though I expect you to still take lead Tonks."