A/N: I own nothing that you can recognize!
Word count without A/N: 710
Once
Once I was a little boy but now I am a jaded and destroyed man. Once I had a brother but now I don't. Once, long ago, I was twelve and now I am twenty.
It's funny how much you can lose because you were never given a chance. I wonder if I would have done the same as him if I had the chance. He once promised me that he would do anything for me, that he would protect me from monsters - I was ten then. Only two years later my older brother broke that promise. I think that was the last time I cried.
oOoOo
I was standing on top of the staircases when I heard my brother yell, "I won't serve that madman!"
"Sirius, you should consider it..." my father started patiently - he always was weak when it came to Sirius.
"I should consider it what? An Honor?!" My brother said interrupting father.
"Sirius Orion Black don't you dare use that tone with us!" my mother shouted but I heard my brother laugh darkly and I knew this wouldn't end well.
"I. Will. Not." I heard him say when he stopped laughing.
"Then you can leave this house," my mother said with a tone of finality and I could imagine how my father's face was falling for a second and then he would hastily cover it with that Pureblood mask - one that I know perfectly.
"Believe me I will, consequences be damned. The Potters will give me better life than you ever would," My brother said and I knew that he didn't care for anything anymore - he was always reckless.
He climbed up the stairs and passed by me not sparing me a glance. I followed him and watched for a moment as he hastily packed.
"Why are you leaving me?" I asked. I wasn't angry - no I was sad, anger would come later.
"Regulus, it is none of your business!" he snapped at me and I bit back the tears that I wanted to drop.
"Siri, please!" I pleaded my older brother.
"Get lost!" He hissed at me, his eyes angry and swirling with some unknown emotion. When I saw those eyes I knew that I have lost my big brother. This wasn't the caring brother I had, this was a bitter boy that didn't care anymore.
That night I couldn't sleep, I was too sad. I got up and quietly walked to the kitchen. The fire was just dying out so I sat there to think.
I could feel tears making their way down my face but I didn't care - not anymore. He promised that he would protect me from darkness that lingered in this world and yet he sold me into his clutches.
I was sitting there when I heard someone entering. I wiped my tears away, not wanting to let anyone see them - I would have to be the perfect son now.
"Regulus do not wipe your tears away. We need never be ashamed of our tears," I heard my father's voice.
"But..."
"No buts. I am glad your brother escaped the fate your mother planned for him. I only wish he took you with him."
"He does not care what happens with me," I said coldly, looking away from him. He hugged me and held close, knowing that I needed my father then.
I broke down. I told him about all the sorrow that was on my soul but he just held me tighter and I knew that I had someone who would not turn his back on me and would stand by my side when mother decides that I have to take my brother's place and stand in front of Voldemort. If I felt tears falling on my head, I didn't comment.
oOoOo
Since then my eyes have gone grey instead of silver and whenever I saw my brother I would feel my chest aching.
I have known for years that my brother is reckless but when I read that he ended in Azkaban I knew he would need a friend. He would need a brother and I have never been the one to turn my back on my family.
The End