What You Can't See (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Of Black and Green

Invisible.

Despite his failed spellwork at making himself invisible, Regulus still felt invisible. He also felt alone, with Sirius leaving abruptly after bringing him to a spot near Grimmauld Place. As the sun started setting, casting a golden, perhaps orange-colored light upon the family home that magically appeared when one approached, Regulus opened the front door of Grimmauld Place, still feeling invisible as nobody reacted to his coming home.

The young wizard looked around, taking in the silence, before closing the door behind him and heading up the stairs. His mother was in the drawing room drinking tea, not noticing him standing there on the landing before he shook his head and headed on up, seeing his father didn't stir either to ask him where he'd been, allowing him to progress up the stairs, to his room just below the attic, across from his older brother's old room.

He stood there, staring at the door across from his own. Regulus swallowed, unsure of how he felt beyond knowing he missed his older brother not being there, in the home right across from him, and how that always made him feel safe.

Shaking his head, Regulus headed into his bedroom and flopped onto the bed, staring at the wall as he watched the colors change outside the window. He heard a popping sound and sat up, smiling at the creature that appeared. "At least I'm not invisible to your Kreacher."

The House Elf stared, his large bat-like ears moving back slightly out of concern. "Is something bothering Master Regulus? Master Regulus knows he can talk to Kreacher if he needs to."

Regulus frowned, sitting on the bed. "Don't tell maman, Kreacher, but my magic failed."

"What does young mater mean, his magic failed? Young master is a Black."

"A Muggle girl saw me," Regulus said, crossing his legs as he sat on the bed, placing his hands on his lap.

"A Muggle girl? Surely that isn't possible."

"It happened," Regulus said, not mentioning the girl's accidental kiss on the cheek.

"If Master Regulus' magic is off today, then perhaps he is simply not feeling well?"

Regulus tensed, clearing his throat. "This wasn't the first time." He watched Kreacher's eyes blink and cleared his throat again. "She's apparently seen me multiple times. So," he swallowed. "My magic is failing."

Kreacher stared, a frown on his face, before saying, "Master Regulus is a Black, but Kreacher is quite sure the young master turned invisible in front of him many times."

Regulus felt the corner of his mouth twist up. "I know you're trying to make me feel better, Kreacher. You don't have to."

"Kreacher wouldn't lie to young master about this," Kreacher said as Regulus flopped back onto the green bedding, taking in the green which adorned his entire room, along with the Slytherin banners that hung on the wall. He took a deep breath, trying to muster positive thoughts regarding that day's events, wishing he didn't feel the way he did.

Eventually, Regulus' mind drifted to a point where he managed to fall asleep without realizing it or sorting through his feelings as he wanted. The young wizard hadn't realized he'd forgotten to change into his nightwear. Assignments assigned by Hogwart's professors for the summer were also overlooked, his mind clouded by the confusion resulting from that day's events.

He startled awake in the morning, in time to head to breakfast without upsetting his mother for being late. Still, upon waking, the first thing Regulus noticed was the disarray of his clothing, as he hadn't adequately changed his clothes the night before. He started changing, stopping partway through, seeing his book bag was missing from his desk. Regulus swallowed, remembering he'd taken it with him to Sirius' place the day before and left it on his counter. His entire body tensed, making him wonder how he'd get the bag back, given he didn't feel like visiting Sirius' place was an option, given she'd seen him every time, or at least multiple times.