Astronomy

One: Regulus

    Regulus picked up the stuffed bear. "And what about this one?"
    Sirius grinned and grabbed the bear out of Regulus' hands. "I don't think so, Reggie."
    Regulus frowned and climbed up on to his brothers bed. "Why not?"
    "I don't think it's very mature of me to bring a stuffed animal to Hogwarts, do you?"
    Regulus tilted his head. Hogwarts. He couldn't believe that Sirius got to go, while he had to stay at home. Sirius would get to go and make new friends and have new adventures, without him, and he had to stay alone with his parents. Regulus really couldn't think of anything he would want to do less.
    "When do I get to go again?" he asked for what was probably the hundredth time.
    Sirius sighed. "Next year, when your twelve."
    Regulus looked up at his brother and smiled. Sirius was smart and brave, everything Regulus had ever wanted to be. He wanted almost nothing more then to be able to go to Hogwarts with him. Growing up in the Black house could be lonely, and Sirius was his best friend. His parents didn't allow him to play with many any other children, so his whole life it had just been him and Sirius. He wondered what it would be like now that Sirius was leaving.
    "Will you write me?"
    "Everyday," Sirius said as he closed his suit case. "I promise."
    A loud voice suddenly filled the room, followed by another. Regulus frowned. He knew that it was his parents downstairs, probably fighting about something. He should have been used to it, but the noise could get annoying. Sirius walked over to the door of the room and quietly shut it.
    "Sirius, what am I going to do when your gone? I'll be by myself."
    Sirius sat on a chair by the window. He looked out dramatically and then turned to face Regulus. "No, you won't. I'll be at Hogwarts, but I'll be here if you need me. Just write me, okay? Whenever you can."
    Regulus nodded. Sirius left the room to grab an extra suit case, and when he did, Regulus quickly grabbed the bear. It was a light brown color, and with buttons for a nose and eyes. Regulus remembered the time he was mad at his brother and took one of the eye buttons off, but then felt bad and tried sewing a button from his jacket on to the bear. He looked a little odd now, with one eye slightly larger then the other, but Sirius didn't mind. Regulus knew that Sirius had trouble sleeping without the bear, and so he stuffed it in the suit case before Sirius came back.
    "Stay there, Mr. Bear," he whispered, and then closed the suit case.
****
    "Be good, Sirius!" Mother grabbed Sirius by the sleeve of his shirt. "Do not cause any problems, or I am telling you right now young man-"
    Sirius pulled his arm away and glared at her. Regulus stood next to his father, looking around the platform with wide eyes. He had heard about it before, but never been. Everyone seemed so excited, like they were actually happy that there friends and family were leaving. Regulus couldn't understand why he would ever be happy that Sirius was leaving.
    "I know, mother. I'll be fine."
    Father cleared his throat and frowned. "Don't be so rude to your mother, Sirius."
    Sirius looked down, and Regulus could see he was becoming frustrated. "Sorry father. Sorry mother."
    Mother gave Sirius a look of disappointment before taking father to go talk to some of the adults who were also at the platform. Regulus swallowed hard and turned to his brother.
    "Why do you have to go?" he asked, frowning. "Don't leave me!"
    Sirius laughed and patted Regulus on the top of his head. "Don't worry, Reggie! You get to come next year!"
    "But that's so far away!" A tear fell down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. "It's not fair, Sirius! Take me with you."
    "You know I can't do that."
    A whistle blew on the train, and Sirius glanced over. Almost everyone who was leaving was already on board.
    "I've got to go now, okay?"
    Regulus looked down at his feet and didn't respond.
    "Come on! We're going to write each other all the time!"
    What scared Regulus wasn't that Sirius wouldn't write him, but being alone with his parents. How was he supposed to manage that? His whole life, Sirius had been there to protect him, and now he was leaving him to go to Hogwarts, to make new friends, and eventually forget about him.
    He nodded, and gave Sirius one last hug. Sirius smiled and waved back at him as he got on the train, and Regulus watched as his big brother, his only real friend, was being taken away from him.