The Hunt | Regulus Black

Things May Change

Theodora has been spending increasingly more time with the grey lady, having someone who knew Olivia and remembers her brings an increasing amount of comfort to her.

The more time Theodora and the grey lady spend together the closer the pair have become. Theodora finally has another friend, she even discovered she is Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena's daughter.

Aa each conversation passes she finds herself feeling closer to Olivia again, her guilt still heavy and hanging around her neck like a chain made of lead. Not only is the guilt heavy, it's consuming and poisoning her mind.

It's been a few weeks and Regulus, Theodora and Remus have been working on locating the next horcruxes. They're all around Regulus' desk with papers scattered around.

Theodora is sat in Regulus' chair, his hand placed on the top of the chair as he leans over, Remus sat in a chair opposite the desk reading through what looks an unnamed diary.

Feeling defeated, Theodora covers her face with her hands and sighs.

"We're going to be able to do this Dora" Regulus kneels beside her.

Remus looks up and gives a quizzical look at the nickname, a nickname he's only known one person call her.

"Dora?" He questions the nickname.

Regulus shoots Remus a look.

"I thought no one else was allowed to call you that" Remus laughs, "You practically bit James' head off when he did".

"Things change" Theodora replies, removing her hands from her face and beginning to fiddle with her necklace.

Regulus raises his eyebrow at Theodora.

"I'm going to go.." Remus laughs off as he makes his exit.

Theodora and Regulus both watch Remus leave.

"So no one else is allowed to call you Dora huh?" Regulus chuckles lightly as he leans against the desk, back to the wall.

"Well you see.." Theodora says.

Regulus raises an eyebrow.

"It's what my mother used to call me" Theodora nervously chuckles, "And I've never really allowed anyone else to say it... apart from you Reggie".

"Well I'm honoured" He smiles while holding her hand.

A picture perfect moment, almost like something pulled out of a poem.

Two souls woven together that refuse to truly acknowledge their feelings.

As Regulus gently holds her hands in his, her big brown eyes, that are filled with pain and yet so much care, are looking up at him. His deep green eyes looking back, admiring each inch of her face, from the soft pink glow on her cheeks to her perfectly shaped lips.

But yet, another moment interrupted.

The bell echos through the walls, indicating its curfew for the students.

"I need to do my patrol" Regulus says rather annoyed at the timing.

Theodora nods in return and he gets up to leave.

"Oh urm I think it would be good to do some brainstorming of ideas with Lily, James and Sirius" Theodora says before he leaves.

———

It's finally the weekend and the three travel back to Grimmauld place.

As they enter a sense of warmth takes over, a rather unfamiliar feeling for the house. The candles that were always rather dim and somehow cold, light the place proudly and brightly. Music is playing from the radio, filling the house with comfort and joy.

They travel through to the kitchen dinning area and see Lily and Sirius making dinner.

"Welcome back" Lily warmly speaks.

The house is immaculately cleaned.

Kreature grumpily hobbles in muttering some rather unforgiving words about 'mudbloods'.

"Did you do this?" Regulus asks looking at Kreature.

"No the mudblood did" He snorts out his reply.

"Watch your mouth Kreature" Regulus snaps.

The room has an awkward silence.

"I'm sorry Lily" Regulus sighs.

"It's okay" She smiles, "I hope it's okay, I got Sirius and James to help me sort this place out".

"We kept the sitting room as is" Sirius nods at Regulus.

"Thank you guys, it looks great" Regulus smiles softly.

After dinner, Regulus goes upstairs quietly.

Theodora gets up to follow, but Sirius asks if he can go speak to him first. Theodora nods, knowing that deep down that brotherly bond may still exist.

Sirius climbs the staircase, as he reaches the top of the stairs of the final floor, which has only Sirius and Regulus' bedrooms on, he spots Regulus sitting in the window of his bedroom.

Regulus' back is against the circular window arch as he stares out of the large circle window. His soft dark brown curls blowing calmly from one of the open segments of the window.

He's clearly enthralled by a thought, perhaps a few. Sirius carefully approaches, ensuring he doesn't disturb Regulus before deciding on what to say.

"I know you're there" Regulus says, his focus still remaining on the view from the window.

"Of course you do" Sirius chuckles.

Sirius sits on the opposite side of the window ledge.

"When I was younger I used to be jealous of this window" Sirius laughs.

"You did have the bigger room though" Regulus quietly laughs.

"I know that's why I never asked to trade" Sirius replies, the two of them laugh.

The room falls silent, Regulus still hadn't shifted his gaze from the window.

It's rather strange, as boys there was never a silence between the two... Things change.

"Why did you leave?" Regulus says raising his hands to his face and dragging them down, "I mean why did you leave without me?".

Guilt floods Sirius' face.

"It's not that simple" Sirius sighs.

"I was a kid" He finally looks at Sirius, "You were meant to be my big brother".

"I'm sorry" Sirius looks down.

"Do you know what really hurt?" Regulus adds, "What you called me the day it all got out at Hogwarts... Weak"

Sirius' eyes remain on the floor.

"You called me weak, like I was the weak one! You were the one who ran" Regulus continues, "You ran and left me".

The guilt is drowning Sirius.

"You called her weak too, she is the strongest person I know" Regulus finishes.

"I wish I could go back and change it" Sirius sighs, his eyes looking into Regulus'.

"I know" Regulus softly smiles.

To tell the truth, Regulus had let go of his anger towards Sirius many years ago. However, he needed to say his peace.

Two brothers formally reunited.