Burning Stars.

Regrettable Decisions

The day before Christmas Break - Sirius' ridiculous choice.

--------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a few days since Remus and Sirius' brief interaction, and it had not left Sirius' mind. Remus' words had got to Sirius. Laying on his bed wasn't getting the boy anywhere. He dragged himself up, going downstairs to the Slytherin common rooms.

On his way down, he was hoping he'd bump into someone that could let him in, and thankfully, he did. Though it was the one person he wished it wouldn't be. "The fuck you doing down here for, Black?" came the cold voice of Severus Snape.

Sirius' stomach dropped. Couldn't it have been anyone else. It just had to be the person who caused the argument that resulted Sirius needing to have the conversation he was about to have. "I want to talk to Regulus. Either let me in or go and get him." Sirius said, very clearly sounding rude, but not caring.

"Alright alright calm down Black, I'll go and get him." Severus replied, spitting with every word.

Sirius couldn't cope with the amount of times he'd been called 'Black' these past days, it was slowly breaking him he knew it. His thoughts wandered as he watched Severus go into the common room.

"Baby Black!! Your brother's here for you, says he needs to talk to you" Severus called, meanwhile Sirius was outside, his thoughts racing.

"I'll be out shortly, thank you, Severus" The younger brother replied, putting his book down and going out to find Sirius.

Sirius looked up as he heard the entrance to the common room open, seeing his little brother.

"Sirius." Regulus spoke, a slight confusion in his tone. The younger brother had a much more distinct French accent, though Sirius' was still there. "Reg. I need to ask you something.." Sirius replied. Regulus nodded, inviting Sirius to continue.

Both boys quickly started to speak their mother tongue when they realized others may hear, not wanting either of their friends to hear. Not that Sirius had many right now.

"I will explain everything to mother, Sirius, I'm sure due to the circumstances, she will make an exception." Regulus eventually said, his French accent much more prominent after speaking French.

"Merci, Regulus. Je vous en suis très reconnaissante" the older brother replied, he'd need to get used to speaking French; it was all his mother allowed.

"As I see you're getting in your French practice for mother, I might as well relay her expectations. However here is not the right place, in no language would it be safe. I shall take you into my dorm and we can discuss with the privacy of concealment and silencing charms, oui?" Regulus knew the expectations his mother and father had for him were unreasonable, and borderline abuse. He couldn't risk someone overhearing.

Sirius nodded, scared. He didn't think anything too drastic could've changed, though he never knew what to expect with his mother. "Well don't just stand there come on," Regulus said, walking into the common room. "Hurry up, please."

"Oh yeah, sorry" Sirius replied, hurrying to follow his little brother. Once in the common room, he looked around for a minute, taking in the emerald wonder. "Sirius, please. Just walk, goodness gracious" Regulus repeated, irritated.

The older brother quickly followed, though didn't understand why the rush. Sitting on the boys bed, silent as Regulus relayed everything with a discomfort on his face. And in his stomach.

He'd later come to realize the rush was simply because Regulus had just wanted to get it over with. He'd been front and center of his mother's wrath one too many times, he knew every little rule and regulation, every stipulation and condition. He was their perfect child.

Horrified. That was the only word to describe the look on Sirius' face. The rules didn't make any sense to him, why would his mother care what time he did his homework? Walburga had always confused him.

"Right.. Well I best be off then, I'll go and pack, wouldn't want to forget anything on my first day back there." Sirius responded eventually. His younger brother nodded, "I suppose you should." He replied, nodding his brother goodbye.

Returning the nod, Sirius got up, walking out. He kept his head down to avoid the wandering eyes of all the Slytherin's.

Regulus wrote to their mother, explaining the situation to her. The younger brother explained Sirius would be nothing like usual, giving her his word that Sirius would behave and follow all her rules.