Ghostly Visit

He hadn't faced a boggart in years. After all, being locked up in Azkaban did take away many situations that would be met through life. So, as he dawdled around his cemetery of a home, he heard an intense banging coming from one of the upstairs rooms. Smiling for the bit of action, he made his way up, his wand at the ready, just like old times… just like old times.

His smile winced into a grimace as he proceeded. No… those times were over. He reached the floor where two doors faced him, and what was left of his previous excitement died down. Because the sound came from his room. Sirius bit his lip, should he go in? The banging grew louder and so did his questions. He had to- the house couldn't keep being this infested. Harry was coming over from Christmas along with everyone else...

Cautiously, he extended his hand, gripping the cold handle. The dust scratched his palm and he pushed down and opened the door. Immediately, the sound ceased, and there were no traces of movement. He felt a sharp jab of guilt as he scanned the room. It had changed so much since he had left. There wasn't a collage of You-Know-Who's doings back then, nor was there the family crest up on the wall…

Suddenly, the drawers started shaking and Sirius stood poised and ready, his wand pointed.

BAM!

His eyes widened. Lifeless eyes stared back at him. No- this was ridiculous!

Regulus stared at him, his grey eyes dead and far. His robes clung on to his thin frame, shredded and massacred with blood. His hair was shaggy and long, curling around his thin, pale face. His fingers were long and bony, reaching out towards him.

Sirius backed away- what kind of crazy trick was this?

"Stay back- stay back!" his voice was a croak.

This only made him come closer, quicker.

"Riddikulus!" he pointed.

Nothing. Regulus just stood, his neck craning to look at him fathomlessly. His eyes glared, hard and steely with anger. Sirius felt his heart wrench- the same way he had done when he ran away.

"You killed me," he said, his voice hoarse. "You killed your own brother-"

"No, I didn't! I didn't-"

He felt nothing but a rising panic in his heart. It thudded wildly, he felt his head pulse with sudden fear. The realization- it struck him hard. It unearthed itself from the back of his mind and finally presented itself in front of him.

"You know you did."

Regulus smiled- it was eerie. It was the smile of the dead- the smile that was unreal. It mocked him- it challenged him... and for once, he surrendered.

"RIDDIKULUS!"

Another voice intervened, and Regulus had disappeared. A bright orb of silver light hung upon him- a moon- that then popped into nothing but a mound of ashes. Sirius looked behind him, only to find a panting Remus, his face haggard with tire.

"Just a boggart, Sirius. Just a boggart."

Sirius nodded, swallowing hard. He looked back at the dust on the floor, that was sweeping around the room from a non-existent wind, gone forever. Just a boggart, he reminded himself. He looked around the room, inhaling a scent that made his eyes prick. Under the scent of old wood and a room unopened for years, was his scent. It wafted around him temporarily before disappearing into thin air.

A ghostly visit of a loved one would've sparked a nostalgic joy. But for him, he tasted an air of bitterness, regret and... forgiveness.