A/N: Sirius and Regulus try to carve a pumpkin the 'muggle' way. young!Blacks. RxR. FxF.
Submission for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt - Regulus Black
Hogwarts Fair 2014 Challenge/Competition: Bertie Bott's Bingo - pumpkin
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"It's called pumpkin carving," Sirius said while dropping a large pumpkin between the two of them onto the kitchen floor. Regulus looked down at the slightly orange vegetable before looking back into his older brother's eyes and could see the sparkle in them.
Sirius pulled out a large knife and Regulus jumped back. "Calm down, Reg," six-year-old Sirius said. "Since we can't use magic, we'll be doing it the old-fashioned way."
Regulus frowned, "The muggle way?" Muggle things were unspoken of in the house.
Sirius frowned back, "It's not muggle if wizards can do it that way too." But Sirius still looked around nervously. If their parents saw them, they could be in big trouble.
"Come on, Reg," Sirius said as he picked up the large pumpkin, keeping the knife balanced in his small hand, and moved towards the back door.
They sat outside now with the cool October air on their faces. Sirius put the pumpkin down onto the cold earth and handed Reg the knife, "You first."
Regulus smiled nervously and took the knife. He looked down at the large orange gourd - what was he too do now? He looked at Sirius who gestured to the pumpkin openly.
Regulus took a deep breath, held out the knife and drove it towards the pumpkin. The knife clattered off the side and fell at their feet. Regulus looked at Sirius sheepishly before picking it up. He tried again, again and again, but the couldn't break the gourd's shell.
He threw the knife to the ground, "This is stupid, Siri. The muggle way is hard."
Sirius snatched up the knife, "This is not the 'muggle' way. You're just not doing it right."
Sirius took the knife, held it over his head and stabbed the knife into the pumpkin, driving it all the way to the hilt. He grinned at Regulus who frowned and looked away. Sirius pulled down on the knife but it wouldn't move. He tugged in all directions, and even tried to remove the blade but it wouldn't budge.
"Look what you did, Siri," Regulus admonished.
"Shut up, Reg, and help me pull it out," Sirius said getting a better grip on the handle. Regulus placed his hands over his brother's and the two tugged with all their might. The blade began to budge, which boosted their confidence and they tugged harder.
The knife suddenly dropped through the pumpkin and down its base, producing a large gap in its wake. The boys screamed in delight and Sirius pulled the blade out cleanly. As he did that, orange goo oozed from the crack. The boys both jumped back.
Regulus asked, "Sirius, what did we do?"
"The pumpkin is bleeding! We killed the pumpkin," Sirius cried as he ran back to the house. Regulus followed after him, frightening thoughts running through his mind as he realized he was now a pumpkin murderer.