James, Regulus..

Just Like You

Regulus had sat against the window of the plane doing nothing but thinking the entire flight back to London. He had spent the entire ride thinking about everything that has happened, and he thought about all the last conversations he had. He thought about how James thought he was the bravest person he had ever met. He thought about how he's improved his brother's life simply by being near him.

He spends the last hour thinking about his family. Not Sirius, his abusive family. He thought about Walburga and Orion. He thought about Bellatrix and Radolphus. He thought about he broken bones and the belt lacerations. He's thought about how they've screamed at him. He's thought about how he's been bent to their will simply because he didn't have a reason to stand his ground. He has found his reason. His found his anchor.

Walburga had welcomed him home by yelling at him to hurry up and get dressed. Regulus had complied, but he had Sirius' voice in the back of his head. It laughed and talked back to Walburga. Regulus had changed into the outfit Walburga had laid out for him. As he walked into the dining hall. He found none other than the daughter of the Greengrass family. Regulus gave her a polite smile before turning to his mother. "Go on Regulus, go chat with your soon to be wife," Walbuga waved Regulus away quickly. Regulus was about as closed of as a book that has been dipped into glue. He was polite to the woman that he was suppose to marry. He was polite, and he showed her around and answered all of her questions.

"So how was your trip to France?" Ms Greengrass asked. Regulus showed no reaction, and he didn't respond.

"As you can see, this is a painting from one of the training family painters," Regulus continued as if she had never spoke. He heard her scoff.

"Excuse me, I asked you a question!" Greengrass shouted. Regulus turned to her with a cold stare.

"Excuse me, I never said I would answer any personal questions, did I?" Regulus asked with a glare. Greengrass snapped her mouth shut before turning and stalking away.

Regulus wondered around the halls. He froze when he heard the sound of his mother's heels on the marble floor. "Regulus Arcturus Black," she stated slowly. "Why have I just heard that you are being rude and snappy with Ms Greengrass?" Walburga stood powerfully in front of Regulus. Regulus didn't coward before his mother. For once in his life, Regulus stood his ground.

"She got all offended when I didn't tell her something I didn't want her to know," Regulus replied slowly. Walburga's stare deepened. Regulus wasn't surprised when he mother began yelling. He wasn't surprised when he was thrown to the ground. He wasn't surprised one bit when Walburga pulled a belt out of her purse and began striking Regulus' with it.

However, Regulus surprised Walburga by getting up as she began walking away. He surprised her by standing back up after getting beaten to the floor. He surprised her when he dared open his mouth once more.

"You hit me again, I'm leaving," Regulus stated. Walburga had pure shock flicker over her face. Regulus turned and he walked away. Regulus made sure he kept his wallet securely in his pocket as the day continued on. That's all he needed. He just needed a way to get back home.

The next night, Walburga began. She began screaming at Regulus for something that Regulus frankly doesn't remember. He forgot what she had began screaming about five minutes into it. Walburga began walking towards Regulus as he yelled back to his mother. As she rose her hand to strike him, Regulus turned and ran. He had warned her. He had warned her not to hit him again. She was going to, so Regulus ignored her demands for him to stop and come back. He ignored her threats as he ran. He ran and ran because he had made a promise to himself. He wouldn't stand her shit because he had a home that would always treat him better.