Paint It... Potter?

The line.

Pretty much from now on there will be a trigger warning for parental abuse. Because we all know how good the Blacks are at parenting. Anyway, I'll mark it for you, and give a little description without anything violent at the end for anything you might have missed.

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Regulus didn't get called down for dinner until that Friday. He was to remain in his room and make himself presentable. He knew the role well. It was the role he had played his entire life. If he sat back and thought about it, he didn't know what he was if not the pureblood heir to a rich family. He got straight outstandings in school, and he was in the slug club. But really, those were more for his family than for himself. He tried to think about one thing he had done for himself, and he couldn't remember. Even running away, he had done for Sirius.

It was deep in thought that his mother came up the stairs screaming. He heard it but didn't register it. She was pounding on his bedroom door. He must have taken too long to react because then she was in his room, pulling him behind her down the stairs.

"They're here." His mother hissed at him."Maybe you didn't hear me calling through that thick skull of yours." He was brought to the entryway where his father was waiting. They looked at each other, straightening up for the guests. Blacks had to be the picture of perfection.

"Ophion," His father said, shaking the man's hand. " it's been too long. It's good to see you."

"Yes, you as well." Mr. Carrow turned
his mother. "And you look lovely as ever." He took her hand and kissed the knuckles.

That was a lie if he had ever heard one. His mother had the face of a snake. With high cheekbones and dark eyes. He supposed maybe she was once beautiful. Though he could imagine how.

"You know Alecto and amicus?" Orion said, gesturing to the two siblings. They stood next to each other. As they always did. Their faces were expressionless. They always had a darker aura around them, but in this house, it was laughable in comparison.

"Yes."He said plainly. His mother nudged him in the arm. " Yes, sir." He said firmer. Ophion smiled at him. He must have been drunk.

"Well, I'm glad you've taken to my daughter." He pulled Regulus in from the handshake to an embrace. He stank of alcohol, he was definitely drunk.

"A fine young man like yourself will make a good husband." He gripped Regulus on the shoulder as he pulled away.

"I can only hope," Regulus said. Leading them out of the small hallway by the door.

The Caroows followed his parents into the living room while Regulus lead the two children upstairs to the parlor.

"He's drunk," Amycus said. As the door closed behind them.

"He usually is," Alecto said draping herself across the sofa.

"It's embarrassing," Amycus said. He sat opposite his sister. She rolled her eyes as she sat up and glanced around the room. They had been there before for various parties or dinners. She looked at Regulus for the first time.

"So, are you excited about getting married?" She asked him with an almost devious grin. She wasn't particularly pretty, although Regulus didn't find many people attractive. She was relatively plain, dressed in the standard neutral-colored dress and a cardigan. With her mousy blonde hair.

"Elated." He told her. Her grin grew larger.

"Well, I simply won't have it." She said sitting up properly.

"What do you have planned?" Regulus asked mildly intrigued.

"Well, if I'm already engaged, I can't be married." She leaned back looking proud of herself. Amycus watched on looking equally proud. They weren't exactly doing it for him in any regard. It was mutually beneficial. And he was willing to jump at the idea.

"I suppose you could get engaged too," Amycus offered. " but I don't think mummy will take kindly to you marrying potter." He said the name with sharp cruelty. And for the first time, Regulus remembered that James had beaten him fairly badly not two weeks ago.

"I don't want to marry Potter," Regulus said with a small glare.

"Trouble in paradise?" He asked in an almost sing-song voice.

"No paradise." Regulus said, " why do you care anyway. Didn't you want me dead?" Regulus asked suddenly becoming defensive and taking a firm grip on his wand.

"Just playing the part." Amycus said leaning back in his chair. " it's fun to fuck with Gryffindors." He shrugged.

"Anyway", Alecto said drawing conversation back to her. "I've got the Parkinson's to send a request for my hand in marriage."

"And you want to marry Parkinson?" Regulus asked.

"At least we're friends." She made a valid point. "My father is looking to marry me off as quickly as possible anyway. So, if he sends the letter first we're both out free."

The three sat through the dinner quietly, joining in on the conversation when required. Knowing their secret plot.

"Dinner was lovely," Ophion said to Walburga as He shook Orion's hand.

"I look forward to future discussions," Orion said gripping the man at his elbow. Of course he looked forward to the discussion. They were trying to get Regulus married before he could cause them any more trouble.

"As do I" he said, straightening his overcoat.

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"I'm not doing it." Regulus said the instant the door closed behind the family. His mother turned on him.

"I'll be your heir. I'll stay here for images. But I won't Marry her." Regulus said.

This time it was unexpectedly his father's hand on him.

"How dare you." his mother spoke. She was itching to sink her claws into him he could just tell, his eye watered from the impact of his father's hand.

"We've done all of this for you to just throw it away. I won't have it." She said raising her voice.

"I will not have it Regulus." She said now almost yelling.

"Where you learned such disrespect is beyond me. Go to your room." He stood unmoving as she continued her verbal assault.

"Did you hear me?" She asked smacking him across the other side of his face.

"Go!" She yelled. "You're a pathetic excuse for a son. She yelled.after him up the stairs.

○○○T\W over○○○

It was that night Regulus re-learned where his line was

○○○A\N○○○

Regulus got yelled at after he told his parents he wasn't going to marry Alecto. That was pretty much it. Love you all. Stay safe.
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