Ever the Same

Chapter Nine: Family Reunion

The draw to Regulus that morning was too much to bear, and James Potter called in sick to work for the first time in years. 

He had recieved a very colorful patronus in return, telling him that the Minister was not happy with the rescheduling of their meeting, but James didn't give it a second thought. After the dream the night before, his nerves felt frayed and raw. 

To him, it felt as though they were back in the war. Whether that be exclusively because of the dream or because of he and Regulus were chasing Bellatrix, he couldn't be certain. All James knew, in that moment, was that he needed to feel Regulus. Remind himself that he was alive. That they both were alive.

But his plans were quickly thwarted as he breezed into Regulus's private quarters, running directly into one of the infamous Black brother showdowns.

"Why are you questioning me, Brother? I'm fine."

"Baby Prongs is worried about you, Reg. And you look as if you've seen a dementor. So don't give me that tosh."

James quickly noted that Regulus was unnaturally pale, even for a Black family member. The bags beneath his eyes were reminiscent of the times during the war, and James's heart clenched. 

"-I found a way to track Bellatrix."

"-Are you having dreams, too?"

Regulus and James both spoke at the same time.

"You can find Bellatrix?"

"You're having dreams?"

"You first!" James demanded with a scoff.

Regulus sighed deeply and sank into the sofa of his living quarters, picking at the toast in front of him next to his tea. "I can find her. It just requires...a bit of devotion."

"Devotion?" James asked.

But Sirius crossed his arms in front of himself, sighing. "This is something especially dark, isn't it? I know our family as well as you, Reg. The only way that they'd be able to be found is..."

Sirius allowed his sentence to trail off before flicking his eyes across Regulus again. "Blood magic."

Regulus sighed once more. "Blood magic."

"Not exactly the legal variety of magic," James said, raising an eyebrow before sinking into the sofa next to him and letting his leg brush Reg's.

"Which is precisely why I didn't tell you of all people, Potter."

But the noticeable bite was gone from the sentence, and Regulus remained mostly quiet.

"How much?" Sirius finally asked. "How much blood?"

"...Nine pints for one attempt."

James's eyes bulged, his jaw smacking open in shock. "Nine pints? That's basically all you have!"

But Sirius did not chastize his brother. In fact, he said nothing at all. It was almost eerie how calm Padfoot seemed to be. Instead of yelling, he simply shrugged off his outer robes and began to roll the sleeve of is grey oxford to his elbow. 

"Alright then."

"What are you doing?" Regulus asked. 

"You need Black family blood. You're not the only Black left this time, Little Brother."

"I can do this on my own, Sirius."

"You can," Sirius nodded. "But you don't have to."

Sirius blinked quickly before his spine straightened. "Hold on. Actually, I have an idea. I'll be right back."