The Marauders - Noble House of Black

Chapter Seven - Fill Your Heart

Sirius finds solace in his friends at school, a band of brothers, a group of marauders who don't fit in. Being away from home makes it feel like he can breathe, have his own life and personality. So going home for Christmas in his 3rd year of school was not something he looked forward to. He had become liberal, outspoken, everything his parents hated. It was common knowledge that the Black heir was outcast by his family for his 'radical' views.

Coming back Christmas had almost passed, carollers singing on the street as Saint Nick was to come through the night, and the house was quiet. Maybe it was the length of Sirius' hair, or the leather jacket, or even the endless streams of photos and posters he glued to his walls that Walburga couldn't retrieve.

'You ungrateful brat'

'I hate you'

'Worthless child'

Screaming is coming from both ends. Old enough now to scream back, no longer feeling the fear Sirius and his parents battle. Regulus sits in his room, under his much too large bed, beneath the safety of his blanket, twirling the rings around his finger, one he shared with Sirius.

It's not long before the screaming starts, the different types of screaming. No longer are there pleas for forgiveness, only screams of terror and anger. Sirius never gives up shouting back, fighting.

'You're wrong'

'They're my true family'

'You're crazy and as soon as you see that it'll be too late'

'People are people'

'I will not be a pawn in your game of politics, it's wrong and you know it'

Still twirling his ring that lasts longer this time, there's a loud violence in the air impacting Regulus' breathing, his perspective of time as he feels it lasts hours on end. It does, last hours that is. But it feels more like days. The shouting stops as their parents storm out the house, fixing whatever damage Sirius has done.

Sirius bounds up the stairs rushing to his room, limping, bleeding, scared and out of breath. The rush of adrenaline pushed him through the pain. There's no time to spare. He grabs a bag, starts to empty his draws into them, underwear, socks.

Regulus finally gets up from his bed, grabbing a first aid kit he made for these situations. Its made of a frayed bag and some cheap plasters and materials. And antiseptic if Sirius was lucky, none of them old enough to practice magic outside Hogwarts. Taking it to Sirius' room was a routine now. It had been for a while. Sirius comes home, Sirius argues with parents, Sirius' punished, Regulus takes care of Sirius.

Walking to Sirius' doorway Regulus stops, shocked. No longer is Sirius hiding grace of the violence, acting like this is okay, this is normal. No more brave face Sirius is mad. The white hot anger that he shares with his father prominent,

'Good, Reg get your bags we're going'

'What?'

'We're leaving here, get your bags'

'What?'

Shouting Sirius screams 'They're psychos, mad. Mad on power and illusion. And I for one will not stand for it. You hear that you are self righteous bastards. Fuck you' His voice breaking giving out.

Regulus walks over to the bed, watching Sirius pace around the room. Putting things in his bag, looking through his records with his back to Regulus.

' We'll live with the Potters, James' parents. He's an only child and they've always wanted more, they love me. They're minted to so it won't be that different, they have the room'

Sirius carries on looking through his record collection, packing down his record player. Regulus sats silent, unmoving on the bed

'And then you'll meet Remus and Peter properly, they come for christmas'

Sirius begins smiling, a wide smile, of fresh air, freedom and excitement. Regulus stairs on, unblinking. Hearing the words but not taking them in. Knowing what Sirius' saying but not understanding them.

'And they have a big garden where we can all play quidditch and our rooms will be next to each other and we can listen to records at night again'

Turning around holding the Hunky Dory album, Sirius' 10 mile smile halts. Regulus hasn't said anything. Regulus hasn't moved. Eyebrows touching one another, his body ridgid.

'Reg, get up. Come on. We've got to go'

There's a quiet violence in the air, different to the kicking and screaming and the beatings. This is worse. The air is full of smoke yet it's clear. Drowning on dry land. Becoming too tired to carry on swimming succumbing to the water. This is much, much worse. A start to the end. And in this moment both brothers realise.

'For Godricks sake Reg get the fuck up, get your shit together we don't have long'

'No'

This is the moment the ice hits the titanic, where there is nowhere to go but the end. This was not meant to happen. Sirius gets angry again. Regulus becomes irate

'Reg don't argue with me on this please'

Sirius begins to beg, ready to fall on his knees, crawl for him to follow.

'No. I don't know what's happened between you and Mother but fix it, it'll go back to normal'

Regulus chooses not to notice the scars that cover Sirius' back, the bruises currently littering his arms or the cuts that decorate his face as though ornaments on a christmas tree.

'No, do not take their side'

'Why not? They're right you're being unreasonable'

'Don't be dense Reg we both know they're wrong'

'So what' Regulus screams 'Who cares, they're our family, we can't just leave'

Tears begin to fall from Sirius' face in a sense of drama, much like a damn that's broken as the water rushed past its barriers.

'No, Regulus, get your bag. Please' His voice breaks, words coming hard as he fights for Regulus. 'You have to come with me, we'll be happy it's okay'

With a burst of anger Regulus sneers 'No, It's not and if you want to be a child and run away go ahead. Just know once you're done with the dramatics I'll be waiting'. Regulus storms out the room, slamming the door as Sirius stares in horror. The flood gates fully open as he packs David Bowie's Hunky Dory album.