-1Title: Broomsticks and Brothers

Author: RavenEcho

Disclaimer: I own nothing. But wouldn't it be nice if I did? Hehe.

Summary: All we ever saw of the Black brothers was house rivalry. But before that, they were just brothers playing and bickering on Christmas day. One-shot.

Sirius, let me have a turn!" Regulus pouted through pale, cold lips. He was standing ankle-deep in the Christmas day snow in the backyard of number 12 Grimmauld Place, and he was not happy.

The reason for his displeasure was zooming around before his very eyes- if he squinted, his older brother looked like a big bug clinging to the toy broomstick, just waiting to be zapped away by a swish of a wand.

Unfortunately for young Regulus, he wasn't even quite six, and had no chance whatsoever at this wand-wave towards getting rid of his bully brother.

"Sirius! You've been on it FOREVER!"

His taller brother jumped into a halt less than a foot away from him, spraying snow onto his wind-chapped face.

"My present," he declared. "Always my turn."

"Not fair, Seery! Mum said you had to let me ride it too!"

Sirius smirked at his little brother, his personal pest since five Christmases ago. "I don't see Mum; do you? Always my turn!"

Regulus' pouting lip began to tremble, and Sirius could see icy pools in the dark eyes that matched his.

"Fine… but rawrrr," he growled, putting a little werewolf snarl at the end of his reluctant assent. He was pleased to see his little pest jump.

"Com'ere, you little toerag," he ordered, sliding off the toy broomstick and beckoning Regulus closer.

The child was all too eager to comply, all legs as he struggled to mount it. "Th-thanks, Sirius!" Regulus stuttered with cold, feet slipping in the melted snow that had worked its way into his shoes. Sirius fake sighed, "Yeah, whatever, Reg," as he gave him a nudge on the back to help him get all the way up.

"Hold on tight, or you'll fall off and I'll laugh at you," Sirius instructed imperiously. "Just squeeze it with your hands when you're ready to go- but be careful not to lean forward too much or you'll shoot off like a fizzing whizbee. And don't you dare fall off and get hurt, or I'll tell Mum that you stole it and did it to yourself!"

Regulus nodded nervously. "Okay, Sirius." He gave the broomstick a tentative squeeze with numb hands and gasped a bit when it jumped forward a yard.

"Go on," Sirius prompted, when Regulus looked around at him. "Get a real ride out of it; I may never let you again!"

The dark-haired boy gave him a tiny, hesitant smile and grabbed the broomstick a bit harder. It bolted forward another yard. Sirius shook his head a little at his brother's innate uncertainty, and broke into a run past his brother and the toy. "Can't catch me!" he taunted, appealing to a brother's inborn competitiveness. "Too slow!"

For a few strides, Sirius' footprints were rapidly surpassing the creeping broomstick. After a moment though, he heard a resolute little copy of his earlier growl. "Rawr."

Seconds later, Sirius was diving to his belly in the snow to avoid being knocked over by his little brother and the toy broomstick, and Regulus was whizzing happily around the yard with relish.

"There we go," Sirius muttered with a smile. Not that he would allow this usage of his toy for much longer. He was already formulating a plan for his attack. Sirius let out a quiet cackle as he began molding a snowball. Take-back time.

THE END

Author's note: Hope it was okay- I would adore it if you would review! I need feedback; I haven't written in almost two years, and I may have forgotten how! So, get going and let me know what you thought!