brother.

brother: chapter 01

August 31st 1975.

Regulus was staring at the charred mark on the wall again. Where Sirius used to be. He had done this every night since his brother fled Grimmauld Place, tonight was different though. He couldn't seem to free himself and go back up to bed. It was well past midnight now, it would be hard to get up in the morning.

He hadn't cried all Summer, a new record. He wasn't truly sure he was sad that Sirius was gone. He would be happier, having more fun, being himself. Ultimately Regulus was confused. He was confused as to why he no longer felt emotions, he was confused as to why no one seemed to care that Sirius was gone and he was confused as to why his family was so enthralled with the Dark Lord.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't enticed by the idea of dark magic. He didn't like the idea of hurting people, hurting muggle borns, but learning about the dark arts was something he found appealing. Further adding to his furore of confusion, he must be evil if he was curious, he thought.

The idea of evilness had been a main theme throughout the summer of 1975. Everywhere he looked he saw people he thought to be the epitome of evilness. Bellatrix was bordering on insanity. He tried his hardest to remember her as the young girl who had babysat him as a child. It was Bella Black who had stolen mince pies as a midnight snack when he was 7, Bella who had let him sip her wine at his twelfth birthday dinner. Bellatrix Lestrange was not his Bella, she was the Dark Lord's.

Narcissa had also strayed far from who he knew her to be. Her hair was dyed a sickening platinum blonde to match her husband, Lucius. Unfortunately for Regulus, Lucius had taken it upon himself to take him under his wing. He wasn't sure if Cissy had suggested this or Lucius was just arrogant enough to assume Regulus wanted his wisdom.

Lucius stuck by his side at dinners and balls, no matter how hard he tried to slink off. His usual tactic had been to stay near Cissy and talk to her, which was easy enough. It wasn't until the Flint family's summer ball during the early weeks of August that Regulus discovered his true intentions. He was pulling Regulus to the forefront of the war.

"Regulus, could I discuss something with you in the drawing room?" Lucius drawled. Regulus had to pull himself away from his discussion with Narcissa. They had been debating the use of fictional literature, he had been enjoying himself.

"Er- He looked to his cousin for help, she nodded at him and gestured for him to go. Bitch "Right, yes. Of course Lucius," He followed the blonde haired man down a long corridor and into the drawing room. The were six or seven men sitting around, drinking.

"Pour Regulus a drink will you Rabastan," Lucius nodded at the man seated near the drink cart. Regulus recognised him, one of the Lestrange brothers.

"Whiskey?" He called out, Regulus nodded in response. Once he had his drink Lucius had the men in the room introduce themselves. Rabastan Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Evan Rosier, Igor Karkaroff, Edmund Parkinson were all around Lucius' age, 10 or so years older than Regulus. The final two he knew from school, Perseus Flint who was in his seventh year and Leopold Nott who had left Hogwarts the year before.

"Regulus, I've brought you in here to introduce you to your allies, these men-

"Why would I need allies?" Regulus cut him off, Lucius scowled,

"As I would have said if you had let me finish," he shot Regulus a glare, "We are entering a new era, in which we will be highly valuable, highly worshipped- Regulus had to hold back his laughter- these men will be your allies throughout this, your brothers," Lucius had a smug look on his face, like he had just proved a point.

"Right." Regulus said, he looked around awkwardly.

"I told you he was too young for this, Lucius. Too immature," spoke Rabastan. Regulus glared in his direction. He downed his whiskey without breaking eye contact with Lestrange.