What You Can't See (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Lies They Tell

"Sure. That's what was going on."

And she walked away, leaving him there, holding onto Regulus' bag, heading up the stairs. Sirius frowned, taking a deep breath, following her up the stairs and into the drawing room. When she reached the middle of the room, she turned.

"What are you still doing here?"

"Regulus' bag," Sirius said, frowning. "I managed to retrieve it."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Sirius narrowed his eyes, watching her look at him in disdain. "You sent me a Howler about him losing his book bag."

"I mean, why did you retrieve it, given you've washed your hands of this family?" Walburga sniped.

His fingers tightened around the strap.

"Obviously, you've not washed your hands off your brother as you should, still trying to have an undo influence on him," Walburga said.

Sirius took a deep breath, ready to let lies slip from his tongue if he needed to, mentally berating himself as he did so for being willing to go that far for Regulus, and yet not doing so also felt wrong. "You think I'm trying to influence him?"

"Why else would you meet up if you weren't trying to taint his young mind with your Muggle-loving nonsense?"

"You mean at Diagon Alley?" Sirius asked.

"That's where you've arranged to meet up with him so that you can taint his mind," Walrburga said.

"Sure," Sirius said. "If I were going to meet up with him secretly, I'd do it where everybody can see me, right? And in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm there, Walrburga," he continued, "I randomly ran into him and gave him a lift back because he's not old enough to Apparate him home. Nor am I going to apologize for helping him out; for a while, I want nothing to do with this family, that doesn't...."

"Well, it should," Walburga snapped. "And what reason did he need you to Apparate him home rather than him taking the Night Bus like a normal person?"

"Would you rather the Gryffindor kids who were calling him a bloody murderer for simply being in Slytherin have followed him?" Sirius said the lie he'd planned coming out.

Walburga let out a snort. "You're lying?"

Sirius stared at her, Regulus' bag still held in his hand. "You of all people should know about the rivalry between...."

"Oh, I know. I know quite well," Walburga said. "I also know your brother would have told us if someone were bullying him."

"No, he wouldn't."

Sirius turned his head, as did Walburga, at the sound of a third person intruding upon the conversation. His mouth opened, confused at hearing Orion Black say what he just did, let alone his presence in the room. "What do you mean he wouldn't?"

"And have you gotten on his case for not handling it on his own because he's a Black?" Orion said, which resulted in Walburga's eyes going wide. She started for the door, brushing past Sirius, only to stop when Orion clicked his tongue. "And don't bother him. He'll deny it for the same reasons, Walburga, but should I remind you that you grounded him for telling the truth? I should be the one, then, to tell him the punishment is over?"

Her mouth opened to say something, only for nothing to come out before she hurried off, shaking her head, yet Sirius couldn't help but feel like some of her power was taken away. He held the bag out to Orion. "Thank you for understanding."

"Am I?" Orion said, taking the bag from Sirius, his mouth twisting into a smirk. "Or am I fine with you and Regulus lying to your mother?"

Sirius stared, silent momentarily, before saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Regulus' frequent visits to your place over the school breaks are not something I have a problem with. And if you don't mind them continuing, they may."

"So, wait? You saw him leave despite casting spells so he couldn't be seen?" Sirius said, only for his eyes to snap shut as a curse left his mouth for letting that slip.

"Regulus actually doesn't have to cast any such spell to go unnoticed," Orion said, which seemed strange given what Regulus had said about the Muggle girl seeing him days before. "But I suspect doing so makes him even more unlikely to be detected."

"Yet you knew?" Sirius said, swallowing. His eyes narrowed, letting out a laugh of disdain. "If you're so aware of his comings and goings despite the spells he uses, are you aware that your little brat is a Death Eater?"

The smile on Orion's face faltered. The man took a deep breath before saying, "I need Regulus to continue seeing you."

"What about this being an undo influence on him?"

"Better you than Bella," Orion said. The man let out a sigh. "You are quite capable of taking care of yourself. But Regulus—I worry what will become of him, particularly after he turns seventeen. I don't see him coming to us for help, for a way out, given he's under the definite impression we approve."

"She certainly does," Sirius said, resulting in his father's sigh of exasperation.

"What I'm saying is, you might be the only way for Regulus to survive this blasted war, Sirius, but if you can finally actually be an older brother to him, I have no problems with him seeing you, of him interacting with you. But please, keep him safe."

"Safe?" Sirius shook his head. "I don't even know how to keep myself safe in this war." He saw the man's face faltered and held up his hands. "I get it. He's your favorite."

Orion startled. "I care about you as well, Sirius, but as I said, you're quite capable of taking care of yourself. Regulus, on the other hand....."

"Oh. I don't know. He got to my place, didn't he?" Sirius scoffed.

"Sirius, please. Take this seriously," Orion said. "And yes, he's quite capable at that kind of thing. But other things," Orion let out a deep breath, lowering his arms which had been folded to cross his chest. "Look. Your brother is horrible at reading people, of understanding people. While your mother and I...."

"She's not my mother," Sirius snapped.

"While the woman who gave birth to you and me, in regards to you, worried about behavior issues, with Regulus it was," Orion laughed. "Well. He's trusting this Dark Lord, isn't he? As if that Dark Lord is his best friend, his replacement brother?"

Sirius swallowed. "Come on. You're supportive of him. Of making it so that we no longer have to live in the shadows? I still remember living under this roof and her praising his efforts."

"That was before," Orion shook his head. "It's complicated, but you don't have children."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

"You've never had to live in fear of what would happen if one of your children had a bout of accidental magic in front of Muggles and what the end result would be for that child."

"I can take care of myself," Sirius said, shaking his head. "I would have been fine."

"But Regulus wouldn't have been. And maybe," Orion closed his eyes. "Maybe if we exposed him to the world more rather than keeping him locked up in here where it was safe, he wouldn't be in the situation he is now. But Sirius?" Orion opened his eyes. "Let's just leave it at your brother's always been different."

Sirius closed his eyes. "Look. When I brought up Regulus being your favorite," he said. "He's mine as well. As much as I want nothing to do with this family, with your prejudices, he was always the one bright spot in this house, as crazy as he might sometimes drive me. But I can't make any promises."

"Because you can't, or because you won't?"

"Because I can't," Sirius said, his eyes opening. He took a deep breath. "How can I promise you something I can't even promise myself? Keeping him safe in all of this?"

Orion grimaced, nodding his head. "Well, at least we're on the same page for once. Just promise me you'll do your best."

"Yeah," Sirius said. "That I can promise."