turn to dust • regulus black

six

6
♬ christmas dinner at the weston's by isobel waller-bridge

"I apologize for my family's lack of social skills." Sirius says, earning Adeline's attention. "If it makes you feel any better, this was one of the less-awkward family dinner's we've had in years."

Adeline leans off the pillar she stood by as she examined the land The Black Manor stood on. Acres of forest that looked like it just kept going, leaves and branches amongst what felt like a permanent fog. She felt bad for abandoning her father after dinner, but if she had to sit there in that environment any longer she might broken down into tears.

She turns around to face him. "I've earned lots of apologies from you lately." She says, squinting her eyes against the setting sun behind him.

Sirius nodded slightly. "Adeline, I hope I haven't made you uncomfortable."

"You have." Adeline responded.

Sirius was taken aback by her response, and for a moment he was insulted, and then he was amused. A smile appeared on his lips. "I believe you need to retake your etiquette classes." He teased.

Adeline smiled, usually she'd find it insulting, but she was relieved to have someone joke with her after that dinner. "Maybe we can retake them together. It's quite apparent you're also lacking in that department." She pauses. "You do realize I notice when you're absolutely miserable around me." She raises an eyebrow, still joking with him, but also wanting a solid response.

Sirius shakes his head, sighing. "I'm not miserable around you. I'm miserable around my parents."

Adeline frowned. It would take an imbecile not to notice the Black's and their unique charm. She couldn't imagine what it was like for their sons.

"Can I be honest with you, Adeline?" Sirius asks, leaning against the opposite pillar. She nodded. "My parents and I have different beliefs. Different friends, different expectations. They've been so political lately, so involved in the war, I can't stand to be around it."

"What do you mean, involved in the war?"

Sirius let's out a slight laugh. "Don't think I didn't catch you looking for The Dark Mark on our wrists earlier." He raises his sleeve, revealing his blank arm. "They're not Death Eaters. But they might as well be." His joking tone fell off with the last sentence.

It was strange how vulnerable Sirius was being with Adeline, as they'd only exchanged very few words before.

"I want more than this." Sirius says, gesturing towards the doors that led back into the dining room they'd just escaped from. "I want to be more than this."

Adeline frowns. "What's stopping you?"

Both of their attentions were redirected as one of the big doors to the terrace opened up, and our stumbled Regulus. He looked up, realized he wasn't alone, and tried to slip back inside without notice.

And he almost got away with it, "Regulus," Sirius smiled brightly, happily walking over to his little brother and pulling him outside. Sirius held onto him with one arm and the other was draped around his shoulders. He gave him three pats on the back that looked like they hurt from Regulus' expression.
"Another thrilling dinner with the parents, wasn't it?"