Regulus Black - The marauders era

Chapter 2 - Running Away

14 year old Regulus Black had felt pain before but the pain of his brother threatening to leave their house was too much for him and he ripped his Slytherin robes off and chucked them in the corner and ripped the posters on his walls in a fit of rage. Why oh why did everyone leave him couldn't one person just stay for once. Regulus padded into his brothers room being careful not to disturb his parents in the middle of their argument and he opened Sirius' door.
"Sirius," He called and the older boy looked up in surprise.
"What do you want Regulus?" Sirius spat and a wave of hurt passed over the younger boy as he looked up at his brother with sad eyes.
"Please don't leave me I couldn't stand it here without you," Regulus whispered and then kicked himself for being so shy around his brother.
"Then come with me," Sirius said a challenging stare on his features.
"Mum and Dad will be mad though," Regulus countered and Sirius gave him a withering look.
"Don't be a coward Regulus I've given you the choice either you come with me or you stay here," Sirius said.
"Alright I'll come with," Regulus announced and Sirius gave him a shocked but happy look.
Well Sirius was happy until their mother burst into the room.
"Regulus Arcturus Black how dare you associate with this blood traitor I have no choice but to punish you!" Walburga screamed and Regulus cowered under her glare and looked at Sirius with fearful eyes. Walburga raised her hand and struck Regulus with it making him fly into the bedpost winded while Sirius glared at their mother.
"Don't you dare touch him we're leaving," Sirius roared gently helping Regulus to his feet and grabbing his trunk and broom before storming out of the house Regulus in tow.
"ORION HE'S TAKING REGULUS WITH HIM!" Walburga screamed and Regulus could hear the heavy footfalls of his father dangerously close to him and Sirius so he ran a bit faster despite the aching pain in his chest. It took all of Regulus' courage to admit that his parents did in fact scare him with their extremist views on a pure blood world and the fact they pushed him to practice dark magic as well also scared him.
"Come on Reg just a little further then we can call the night bus alright," Sirius said and Regulus gave a nod, his muscles beginning to tire after so much running as by now they were at least 20 minutes from their home and had been nonstop running.
It also didn't help that the fact that icy sheets of rain and snow were falling on the 2 brothers as they made their way to leave that treacherous place they had once called home. Regulus' hair was plastered to his forehead with rain and without his robes an icy chill had begun to set in his body. Sirius had noticed the younger boy shivering and took off his cloak wrapping it round the younger boy to try and preserve what little body heat he had left.
"Thanks," Regulus murmured looking up at his brother gratefully.
Sirius chucked his wand arm out into the middle of the room and with a crack the big purple knight bus appeared in front of them.
"All aboard don't wanna stay out there do ya," A man spoke and Sirius clambered up the stairs half dragging Regulus as he was exhausted.
Regulus looked around and found Sirius discussing prices with the man but was too tired to care and laid down on one of the beds desperate for some warmth and some sleep.
"Hey Reg," Sirius said in a gentle voice while handing him a cup of hot chocolate which Regulus gladly accepted.
"Thanks," He whispered in a small voice but Sirius just gave him a small smile.
"Anytime and thank you. For coming with me," Sirius said but Regulus just gave him a sleepy nod in return and set his mug down on the table before allowing himself to fall back into the comforting bed sheets.
As soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light and with the knowledge of not having to go near his parents again Regulus slept soundly.
"Reggie we're here come on up you get," Sirius' voice broke through Regulus' peaceful dreams and he sat up groggily to find Sirius standing up bags and broom in tow and he slowly slid out of bed wrapping Sirius' cloak tighter around him in the process.
By the time Regulus had clambered out of bed and was on,y just half awake Sirius had grabbed his hand and was pulling him of the bus into the cold street where they had stopped.
"Where are we?" Regulus questioned his voice still heavy with sleep and Sirius gave him an amused smile.
"Godrics hollow we're going to stay with the Potters," Sirius said and Regulus just nodded and Sirius let go of his hand announcing that he could walk by himself.
After about 5 minutes of trying to navigate the icy path ahead of the, Regulus slipped crashing into Sirius sending them both to the ground but instead of being annoyed Sirius just laughed ruffling his hair and helping him to his feet.
"Always the clumsy one weren't you Reg," Sirius chuckled and Regulus looked down his face tinted a bright pink colour.
"Couple more minutes alright Reggie," Sirius said noticing his brothers deathly pale and shivering form.
Regulus just nodded trying to bury his head in the cloak even more but the fall had soaked his cloak through and icy chill had settled in his bones making his teeth chatter and his whole body shake.
"Reg we're here," Sirius announced bursting through the Potters front door while Regulus let out a relieved sigh and followed after his brother.
As soon as Sirius had stepped over the threshold of the door a loud smashing sound split through the night air and made Regulus jump whilst the person inside the house let out a string of colourful language to which Sirius chuckled at.
"Sirius what on earth?" James Potter said looking curiously at his best mate before spotting Regulus next to him and giving the younger boy a glare.
"Well if you don't mind I had to leave that hellhole and Reg came with me," Sirius announced and James nodded before running up the stairs presumably to get his parents.
Within the 5 minutes that James was gone Sirius was setting down his trunk and peeling the wet cloak from around Regulus' shoulders and telling him to go sit by the fire. Sitting by the fire warmed Regulus but the icy chill was still deep in his bones and now an ache had settled in his chest again and he tried to get it to go away with no luck.
"Sirius dear it's 1am what ever do you need oh and James mentioned you bringing you brother," Regulus suddenly heard Mrs Potter speak up but Sirius said something in a voice that didn't quite carry through the walls and suddenly Mrs Potter was hurrying into the living room which scared Regulus half out of his wits.
"Regulus dear would you like a blanket or something Sirius mentioned you were half frozen to death and don't worry dear I'll find some of James' old clothes for you to wear tonight," She said in a warm tone that was so vastly different from his mother's that Regulus was taken aback.
"If you wouldn't mind Mrs Potter and umm where shall I stay?" Regulus asked in a small voice and Mrs Potter directed him to a large room on the second floor which already had both James and Sirius in it.
Mrs Potter ushered him in with the promise of new clothes and then left him alone with his brother and his brothers best mate.
"So Regulus I though you were all pure blood mania and that lot what made you come?" James asked him and Regulus cowered under his heavy stare.
"Well I had a change of heart and with Sirius threatening to leave I decided that I wanted to go with him and umm mum struck me," He said whispering the last part quietly and James had to strain to hear him but when he did he sent Regulus a look of pity but then got up and gave him a hug much to Regulus' surprise.
"Sorry that you've got a crappy family Reg but you're more than welcome to hang out with us," James said and Regulus had a small rare smile on his features and gently nodded his head.
"Alright,"
"Great 2 brothers get along fine perfect," Sirius said letting out a small whoop of joy.
The 3 boys spent an hour chatting and Mrs Potter found them all sporadically laid out on the floor in awkward positions and she chuckled running to get her husband and she felt as if she had 2 more children added to the happy family. She set the clothes for Regulus down on the bedside table and wrote a note for him explaining they could be his.
The next morning Regulus was awoken by the smell of bacon and his brothers barking laughter. He groggily raised his head to find James strung up by his ankle, a grumpy expression on his face, and Sirius innocently grinning while clutching his wand. Regulus cracked a smile at the sight before Sirius noticed him forgetting about James and letting him fall to the ground in a heap, a very disgruntled expression on his face as he ran his hands through his hair.
"Morning Reggie your clothes are there and meet us downstairs in 10 minutes," Sirius said dragging James out the room and leaving him to get changed.
The clothes Regulus had been given was a green t-shirt, ironic him being in Slytherin and all, a pair of dark jeans and a robe to go over the top. Having gotten ready Regulus headed downstairs to find the boys already sat at the table and Regulus silently sat down next to them and glanced round at the scene in front of him. Regulus' lips turned up at Mr and Mrs Potter having a friendly conversation and cooking together and then his gaze fell on James and Sirius which made his grin even wider. Everyone was happy and chatting nicely and the cold in his bones and ache in chest that been around yesterday had completely disappeared and was filled with a warm feeling of acceptance. Regulus finally felt as if he was part of a happy family instead of his dysfunctional one.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I really enjoy writing the brotherly love between Sirius and Regulus.
~ Hazel