Keep Breathing ♢ James Potter

8 | Entry 3 - No Sister of Mine

September 1, 1972

Dear diary,

Regulus got sorted into Slytherin today. I'm glad that I get to spend more time with him, but I'm disappointed in Sirius's reaction to his sorting. As soon as the hat declared that Regulus was sorted into the Slytherin house, a sour expression made a permanent home on Sirius's face.

Sirius has truly changed ever since he got sorted into Gryffindor. He has gotten into more fights at home and has been seeking off to hang out with his friends every night. We've had a few arguments as well. It feels like we're not even a family anymore.

That's alright though, Regulus and I don't need him. We have each other. I know Sirius's attitude has been hurting Regulus more than he lets on. After all, Sirius is his older brother. But he has me. I'm not going anywhere.

A.B.

-

The room grew cloudy, and this time, Harry found Astrid not writing in her diary but walking along the Hogwarts Express. He suspected that this memory took place before Regulus was sorted.

Astrid led Regulus into an empty compartment, while Sirius looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight on his feet. It was clear he was just with his siblings to avoid suspicion from their parents—he was probably eager to sneak off and join his Gryffindor friends.

Annoyed by his demeanor, Astrid turned to look at Sirius and raised an eyebrow. "You can leave now. We both know you want to go find where your new friends are."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Astrid, as comical as your attitude can be, you do get a bit annoying. I don't see what your issue with James is. He's a perfectly good bloke. You act like I'm not supposed to be friends with people in my own house."

Astrid's eyes turned cold as she stared straight at him. "That's fine if you want to make friends, but that doesn't automatically mean you abandon your family for them." Venom dripped from every word she spoke.

With that, Sirius stormed out of the compartment and slammed the door behind him. Astrid turned toward her younger brother and sat down beside him.

"Don't worry, Reggie. You still have your older sister here with you."

Regulus managed a small smile, rolling his eyes. "Oh, this year is going to be fun," he said sarcastically. Astrid playfully hit him with her book, and the two siblings broke out laughing in the compartment.

As the siblings continued chatting about Hogwarts, the scenery changed once again. This time, Harry found himself in the Hogwarts Great Hall. He watched as McGonagall called up Regulus Black. Regulus walked to the stool and sat down.

Within seconds of the Sorting Hat touching his head, it declared "Slytherin!" The table erupted in cheers, and Astrid was the loudest of them all as she cheered for her brother. Ember and Kai, who sat next to her, joined in.

As Regulus made his way to the Slytherin table, Harry saw Astrid immediately wrap her arms around him in a tight hug before turning her head toward the Gryffindor table.

Astrid's eyes locked onto Sirius, whose face had fallen when he saw Regulus sorted into Slytherin. Sirius couldn't help but feel as though he was the only outcast in the family who had been sorted into Gryffindor. To him, it seemed as though the Sorting Hat was playing a cruel joke on him.

The scenery shifted once more, and Harry found himself in one of the Hogwarts corridors, where Sirius and Astrid were arguing. The memory was blurry, but their voices were filled with palpable anger.

Despite their voices being muffled and their faces obscured by fog, Harry could sense the tension between them.

Before the memory ended, all he could hear was Sirius shouting at Astrid as she walked away.

"Fine! Become like them, why don't you? You're no sister of mine."