Sirius Black was one of the black brothers, the only brother who found a way out. He tried to keep in touch with his brother, that was until a day after his brother turned sixteen. Sirius spotted a mark on his left wrist, but not just any mark. No, the dark mark.
Oh, that mark would've been the death of the elder brother. Sirius had began to ignore Regulus, he would even go as far as to call James Potter his only brother, in front of him. Remus thought this was extremely dramatic and petty of him, and of course it was. But isn't that was Sirius was best at? No one really cared for the younger brother except for Sirius, but now no one did. Sirius made that clear.
"You can't leave him alone Sirius, don't you think he gets the same treatment you did?" Remus tried to reason, "so? He got the mark, he's their perfect angel." Sirius shrugged off his friend, "you're such a prat." Remus muttered, "he's your brother." Sirius clicked his tongue, tying his hair back. "No, Prongs is my brother. He's just someone I was born with, sadly."
"Prongs may be your brother by choice but Regulus is your brother by blood, and that's a tighter bond than you and Prongs." Remus tried to reason, Sirius rolled his eyes. Remus knew why he was so bitter towards the brother but seriously?—No pun intended.
Remus gave up, "you're hopeless." He spat, grabbing his books and shoving them in his brown satchel. He threw the strap over his shoulder and left their common room. "Such a prat." He sighed, walking down the hall, he was meeting Lily for a bit of a study session in the library, and he was already thirty minutes late.
"Sorry I'm late Lils," he put his back down, "Sirius's being a—" Lily hummed, "bitch?" She asked, looking up from his book. Remus winced slightly at the word she used for him, "no, he wasn't, please refrain from calling him that." Lily sighed, "look I know you have this crush on him but he is a bitch." Remus sighed, "I know—I just- he wasn't.. he wasn't- his brother got the mark, and he's been looking very pale and-and sickly. I'm just worried."
Lily looked at him, confused. "Why do you care about Regulus?" She asked, Sirius has of course been concerned and worried about how the younger will turn out, but she never thought it would carry over to Remus' self conscious. "Well, I want him to be alright." Lily sighed, "why though? If Sirius cut ties with him why do you even care?"
"Lily, you don't know the extent of their home life." Lily nodded, "I guess I don't, but you're right. He has been looking a bit sick lately." She hummed, closing her book. "Hey, he came into the library a little bit ago, why don't we go check in on him?" She asked, Remus shrugged. He knew if Regulus was caught with Lily or Remus he'd be called a blood traitor and would most likely be disowned. "Fine, but be careful, we can't be seen with him. It'll be bad for him." Lily nodded and they packed their things.
They began walking around the library, just talking about Sirius and James. "He's become increasingly more annoying." Lily complained, "they both have." Remus added, before seeing him looking at a potions book. Remus walked over, grabbing a book from next to him before turning to Lily. "This is the book Slughorn was talking about." He tossed it to her, "we should read it." He smiled, Regulus turned to the two.
"Could you two please go? I'm trying to read." Remus turned back to the younger Black, "there are chairs to read in, why are you in the isle?" He asked, careful. "I'd like to read here, that's a problem?" He asked, "no, of course it isn't. We'll piss off in a moment—what's your name?" Remus asked, playing like he didn't know him. Lily caught on the second he asked the question. "You don't know me?"
"No? Should I?" Remus asked, Regulus scoffed. "No, of course not. I didn't expect him to speak about me." Regulus spoke softly. "Who?" Remus asked, "I'm Regulus Black." Remus' eyes lit up, "Sirius' little brother!" He spoke, "he talks about you a lot, he really does. I was wondering when I'd meet his brother, he speaks highly of you, though he wishes you would've left with him." Remus spoke, humming.
"He can be daft sometimes really, right Lils?" Remus turned back to her, who had occupied herself with the potions book. "Huh? Oh yeah, extremely daft. He simply—hm—doesn't seem to get it. It's scary, we know that." She waved a hand, looking at Regulus before returning her gaze to her book. "Are you alright?" Remus asked softly, Regulus was taken aback. "He talks about me?" He asked, "mhm, before it was really about you being the best brother ever and he just wishes you'd speak to him, now it's him pretending to talk bad about you but it's really just compliments about how brave you've been."
Remus could see the tears welling in his eyes, "I thought he hated me." He whispered, "he likes to think he does, but I can tell you he doesn't." Lily nodded, "I think the only Slytherin he truly hates is Severus." She spoke bitterly, Remus sighed. "Lils we have a reason y'know." He turned to look at her, "he's—"
"He's a slimy git." Regulus interjected, "really?" Lily asked, "you'd say that about your housemate?" She asked, looking at him. "Only when it's true." He wiped his eyes, "thank you for telling me Lupin." He looked at Remus, "and I'm as okay as I can be right now. I just- I'm stuck in something I can't control and it sucks. I thought it was a good idea, I was so onboard but it's just not.."
"Not what you thought it'd be?" Lily asked, "I get it." She smiled sweetly, "we're always here. Just send us a letter, or even a note in joined classes." She offered, "you do seem to be in the advanced potions class." Remus spoke, "which is really just class."
"Yeah, thank you two. Seriously." Regulus smiled softly before turning around and walking off. "Seriously I have no Idea what he's on about, Regulus is a good person." Lily sighed, "he's just worried, and as I said before, daft." Remus grabbed the book from her hands, "but onto our earlier conversation again, call him a bitch again and I'll show you what a bitch is." He threatened, smiling. "You're joking." Lily smiled, "am I?" Remus asked, his smile dropping. "You're my best friend, and I love you. You're an amazing, kind, sarcastic girl. But that's my—"
"Future husband?" Lily teased, making Remus blush. "No!" He hissed, she giggled. "Future husband!" He blushed and left the library, running past Regulus and straight into Sirius. "Hey Moony, have you seen Prongs?" Remus was still quite upset at the man, "no, Sirius I haven't seen Prongs." He tried to push past him, "Moony? Are you okay?" He grabbed his wrist, "you're an ass, you understand that?" Remus pushed him off, "Sirius you can really be daft sometimes. I just don't understand you sometimes."
"Is this about Regulus? Remus he's my brother, not yours, can't you leave it?" Remus sighed, this wasn't about him anymore was it? This wasn't about Sirius' relationship with his brother, this was about Sirius' relationship with Remus. "No, it's not about your brother. I've accepted you're too daft to realize he needs you." He muttered, "but you're obviously too stupid to understand what I'm on about, ever. Can't you please listen for once?"
"Listen to what Moony? You aren't- if you're talking about what you scold us for the pranks then-" Remus sighed, "no! When it's just you and me! Just us!" Sirius cocked his head to the side, "what about us Moony?" Remus looked at him, "nothing." He sighed, "you wouldn't get it." He bit his lip and gripped the side of his bag. "You'll make yourself bleed with that." Sirius spoke, "told you to stop biting your lip the last time you made yourself bleed." He added, Remus ignored him. "I'm off to bed Sirius."
"Bed? It's ten minutes to dinner." Remus shrugged, "not hungry." Sirius looked at him, "you'll wake up in the middle of the night hungry, just come eat." Remus shook his head, "I'll live." He walked away.
