Clear | Sirius Black

Nine

A savior

Monroe

As Sirius and I walked past the courtyard, I saw Regulus sulking. He looked very alert and on edge about everything around him. Bellatrix seemed this way after she met her friend, Tom. I hope that Regulus didn't meet him.

I tugged on Sirius' sleeve to make him stop walking. He turned to me about to ask what was wrong then he saw what I was looking at. I couldn't see a certain expression on his face besides turning numb.

"We should talk to him, Pads. He is your brother and like a brother to me. Yes, he messed up last summer, but he had good reasoning. This isn't the Regulus we know. Something is wrong." I said tugged on Sirius' hand.

He looked down at me, "What are we supposed to ask? Ask him if he is working for the man that our bloody cousin is convinced to be some lord? My whole family worships this man because of Bella. It wouldn't shock me if he was supporting him now."

"Sirius Black, you never know when someone does something against their will or not. Reggie, may have met him against his own fucking will! Don't you think as the only supportive family he has, that you should help him?" I asked him.

I saw Sirius debating on what to do, so I walked off without him. I marched by way to Regulus and sat down beside him. Sirius was still inside the walkway watching us.

Regulus seemed spooked when I sat down beside him, but relaxed when he saw it was me. His whole mood changed seeing me there beside him. It was like he felt safer with me in this moment.

"So Reg, I never came to you after the quidditch match, but are you okay? I'm sorry Sirius and I didn't come see you, but we figured after what we both did, that you wouldn't want to see us." I poured out to him.

Regulus looked at me and his whole expression seemed to soften, "I wish I could say that I was doing fine. Fifth year has had a lot of things in store for me. School has been easy, but" He paused for a moment, "Bellatrix is being really pushy. She said that being the Black family heir requires a lot of work. I wish I could be like Sirius."

"Now, why would you want to be like me, little brother?" Sirius asked as he approached us, "I am nothing but a disgrace to our family. The Noble House of Black hates me."

Regulus looked up as he saw his big brother sitting next to me, "Not all of them hate you. If Andromeda was still around, you would have her. Narcissa adores you for your bravery. I don't hate you either. I wish I could be like you and be brave enough to leave."

Sirius looked around and then at Regulus, "I don't hate you either, but that doesn't speak for Mother or Bellatrix. They are more alike than Bella is alike to her own mother. Reg, what all has Bella made you do?"

"It's not just her. Lucius is a part of them too. Narcissa joins us, but she doesn't have... she doesn't have a choice. It's one of the only ways Lucius would still marry her." Regulus admitted.

Sirius gave me a look that we should go before he spills too much. I turned back and gripped Regulus' hand, "Remember Reg, there is only one Sirius for a reason. There is only one of you for a reason. You can always change. You just have to decide on which part you act on."

I got up and Sirius wrapped his arm around me as we walked out of the courtyard and towards the Gryffindor tower. I couldn't stop thinking of all Regulus has to go through. He's almost sixteen and is having to deal with so much.

"You think that Bellatrix is preparing him for that stupid mark? I had never seen him like that and that's how Bella looked for a while after she got hers. I don't even see the point in their little pureblood club." I told Sirius.