Breathe

One Step Closer

He went to get checked up the day of the entire guardianship argument because he was feeling very out of breath which wasn't normal. Poppy said that the estimated time for him to get a lung transplant is about two weeks if the transfer of guardianship goes as planned. Predictably two weeks anyway. She was told that there is a chance that things could go very wrong before that two weeks, so if he feels off in any type of way, he needs to come straight to her. He promised her he would, and eventually, Sirius came into the ward a little while later.

"Ready to finally leave that hellhole?" Sirius laughed. Regulus chuckled and nodded. Though, he wasn't sure how ready he truly was; there was a lump growing in the back of his throat.

It took about twenty minutes before his parents stormed into the hospital ward demanding to speak with him. They shouted asking why their son was in the hospital again, and what was going on. Poppy was quick to intervene.

"I'm sorry, but he is not feeling the best at the moment. He will not overwork himself, so he will stay here, resting, until the Ministry official gets here. You can kindly sit anywhere else in the room you would like, but you will not yell at my patient. We'll wait here for the ministry official and the Potters." Regulus instantly got more nervous just hearing how angry Mother was at him. If he was sent back home, he would be badly punished. He picked at his nails while Sirius quietly whispered comforts to him. Regulus was near tears when the Potters finally entered, followed quickly by the ministry official.

The ministry official was the one to speak up first, "I will not handle any yelling or degrading. With that being said, I would like to start our discussion as soon as possible as I know health matters are on the line." Regulus and Sirius sat next to each other, which Walburga and Orion were not fond of by the way they were glaring at them. They kept their mouths closed however. Sirius held the paper that they had written over the last week, and Regulus shakily explained everything that's happened in his life, using the paper to keep himself talking.

He touched on the fact that his parents made both their house elf and Sirius take care of him when he was younger. He brought up the punishments he and Sirius would face. Walburga had tried to interrupt, but the ministry official was quick to stop her. She stated that it was Regulus's turn to speak. Regulus continued on slowly, and he talked about the anxiety and health decline that his parents caused at the beginning of Hogwarts. He talked about how they refused to let him get lifesaving surgery despite the fact he was quickly declining in health, and it was really the only hope left. Poppy and Sirius backed up things he was saying. All during his speech, Regulus had to take frequent pauses to catch his breath.

Eventually, the ministry official asked for Regulus's parents' point of view, in which basically all of what Regulus said was being struck down. Regulus just prayed that the ministry official believed him. Finally, they heard from the Potters as to why Regulus should be taken under their care. They talked about how they cared for Sirius even before he was even under their care. They talked about how he had come to them that dreadful night, bruised and bloody, and how they had wanted to go back to get Regulus out so badly. They just couldn't risk it at the time.

The ministry official had come to a decision very quickly and told them that the guardianship transfer would be completed that day. She summoned the papers needed. Everyone had signed it, and Walburga and Orion were escorted out when they began yelling at the ministry official for her decision.

The Potters stayed. Euphemia hugged Regulus so tightly, and Regulus could've cried right there. Fleamont told him that they will get him the medical help he needs, and they will have a bedroom ready for him this summer. Regulus thanked them profusely, but they said that it was truly no problem. They ended up staying for a while. Sirius went to get James, and everyone talked for a while. Though Regulus didn't say much, it wasn't that he didn't feel like he could, like with his parents. He was just so close to crying.