Choose Us

After

Now

Regulus

Sirius and I walk into the house and see Remus and James sitting there on the couch looking.. scared. They have a piece of paper in their hands, and when they hear us, they turn to us with a grim expression.

"No," Sirius mumbles like he already knows what's going on. James and Remus look sadly between the two of us.

"Sirius-"

"No-"

"What's going on?" I ask Sirius. I'd ask James but it looks like whatever it is will break him if he talks about it. Sirius is always vocal so he'll tell me.

"What does it say?" Sirius asks Remus and James, completely ignoring me.

"Come here," James says but I don't know who he's talking about. Sirius steps forward and sits beside Remus on the couch. I don't move. "Reg?"

"What?"

"Come here?" James asks me, and I can tell he's unsure of what's going on in my head. That's not fair though. I don't know what's going on with them.

I'm just confused.

I walk over to James and sit in front of all of them on the coffee table. I notice Remus wince because he hates when I sit here, but it's funny.

I wait for him to tell me to get off of the table, but he doesn't.

"This letter came today, for you, Regulus."

Oh.

James hands me the letter and all of their eyes are glued to me.

"Did you-"

"We didn't open it yet."

"What?" Sirius asks but Remus covers his mouth to shut him up.

"It's from-"

"We figured that much out," James says softly. "Do you want us to leave you alone while you read it?"

"No." Sirius says, and I know that tone of voice. That's his protective voice. There's no way I could get him to leave if that's what I wanted. 

"Sirius-" Remus says to him.

"It's okay, I want you guys to stay." I cut in and Sirius nods his head as he relaxes back into his chair. Well- not relaxed completely, but more than he was a few seconds ago.

I open the envelope and take out the letter. Merlin, I really thought she wouldn't bother with us again. I thought she would've just given up. 

-

Regulus, 

I'm assuming your with your brother, which is truly a disappointment because I thought we raised you to be better than that. Anyway, news has spread that both of our sons have turned out to be embarrassments to our family name and your Aunt is quite pissed off. She blames herself because of how Andromeda acted, and clearly gave you and Sirius the idea that it's okay to act out like that. 

Anyway, I'm writing to let you know that your father died yesterday. The funeral is tomorrow. 

You have two options. You can come home and we will just leave all of this at a rebellion moment, and then we can forget it. You will be welcome at the funeral and you can have the chance to say goodbye to your father. 

If you do not come home, you are not welcome at the funeral, and you will never be forgiven. I will burn your face on the family tapestry and that will be that.