Perfect

41. Home and Gone Again

The Black family was finally back together. They traveled to their manor in France where they met up with their cousins.

"It's a nice thing you did," Cygnus siad, cutting his food. The tension was thick. "If I was you, I would've burned him off the tree already."

Cassie remembered her other cousin, Andromeda. The minute she left after her seventh year, she was burned off the tree and officially disowned.

Walburga hummed, only slightly listening to her brother's words, "yes, I suppose we are."

Orion just looked over some paperwork that he had sitting next to him, "don't be mistaken though, we will not deal with any more insubordination." Sirius gulped and nodded.

He was beaten to a pulp the moment he got back. He had scars up and down his back. They weren't healing very well and Regulus was refusing to speak to him.

Cassie tried to heal him, but she was in too much pain herself. In her heart, she knew that Regulus would come to accept that Sirius still loved them eventually, he was just hurt.

"So, Bella, is there any news of an heir to the Lestrange family?" Walburga asked, taking a drink of her wine. Everyone knew there wasn't. Bellatrix hated kids, she didn't want a family.

She smiled condescendingly at her aunt, "unfortunately no," she downed her third glass of wine and glared at the air around her. Her black and curly hair was unruly and her eyes held nothing but contempt.

She would much rather be anywhere other than here. She already did what they wanted, she married for the family. Now– they wanted her to create an heir. She would never do it.

Druella gave a tiny cough and looked at Cassie, "dear, I heard about your accident at Hogwarts, honestly, they should really keep those foul beasts away from students." Regulus nodded in agreement.

"I agree, she could've been killed," he said, glaring at his brother. Sirius looked away, not wanting the reminder of what he'd done.

"Are you suing the school?" Cygnus asked, not one to care what fighting was going on between the two boys.

"We agreed not to," Orion explained. "Dumbledore is doing something right under our noses and we want to figure out what." He gave a pointed look to his children.

Each one ignored him and kept eating. "Sirius, do not forget about what you are to do after dinner."

Sirius nodded, "yes, mother." After dinner everyday, he had a lesson with her. She was going to torture the blood traitor out of him.

Durella watched them with sadness, she wished she had done the same thing to Andromeda, then maybe she would still have her daughter with her.

~

The tension went on for days. Regulus still refused to look at his brother. Sirius was depressed, he didn't want this. But what else was he supposed to do?

He was just waiting for the break to end. Both places were hell. He didn't know which was better. Being tortured here or at Hogwarts.

It was after one of his 'lessons' that Regulus ended up in his room. He brought a few potions. "I hadn't had time until now to finish brewing them," Regulus explained, handing him a few to take now and placing the rest in his night stand.

Sirius looked at his younger brother confused, "why? You hate me."

Regulus didn't change the expression on his face. He held his arms tight by his side and shook his head slightly. "You're the one who never wrote."