A/N: This is a short little collection of moments between my favourite two brothers: Sirius and Regulus. In this first chapter, Regulus runs to his brother's room after a nightmare. Regulus is probably 6 and Sirius 7. RxR. FxF.
Submission for:
The Sharing a Bed Challenge: The characters are lying down and/or sleeping on the same bed.
The "As Many As You Want" Competition: dead roses
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Sirius," Regulus said softly as he pushed the large door of his brother's bedroom open. The walk from his room to his brother's down the hall had been the longest it had ever felt in his life.
Loud snoring met his ears and if Regulus hadn't been so terrified, he would have laughed out loud, but instead, he quietly tipped over to the bed. His brother's normally tamed hair lay splayed across his pillow as he slept with his mouth wide open. The sheets were wrapped messily around his knees, trapping his legs together like a mermaid's tail. One arm was bent at the elbow and draped across his chest, while one foot fell lazily off the edge of the bed.
Regulus poked his brother's face and whispered harshly, "Sirius, wake up."
The sleeping boy just groaned in response, his breath hitching before the snoring resumed.
Regulus scowled and shook his brother roughly, "Sirius!"
"Wah!" his brother shouted, his arms flailing wildly before he rolled off the bed and landed at Regulus' feet with a thump.
It was dark but Regulus could tell that his brother was scowling up at him. Regulus chuckled before he said, "Hello," in a small voice.
"Can I help you, Reg?" Sirius groaned as he pushed himself onto his hands and tried to untangle himself from his sheets.
At that moment, Regulus felt that his reason for coming here was so insignificant that Sirius would chase him away, but he had already come this far to run back. Regulus helped his brother off the ground as he mumbled, "Couldn't sleep."
Sirius rolled his shoulders, his joints making soft pops, and laughed, "Monsters under the bed?"
Regulus frowned and said, "Nightmares."
Sirius got back into bed, leaving Regulus standing where he was. "About?" Sirius asked, as he tried to get comfortable once more.
"People screaming. I thought you died," Regulus said softly, trying not to let on how scared he had been.
There was silence in the room and Regulus wished he could see his brother's face better. Was he angry? Was he judging him? Maybe he should just go back to his own room and try to fall asleep on his own.
Then Sirius said, "What are you waiting for? Get in."
Regulus smiled and then ran around to the other side of the bed. Sirius laughed as the bed shifted under Regulus' weight. He added quickly, "But don't touch me. It's too hot for that sorta thing."
Regulus nodded. Tonight was indeed a hot night. "Don't worry, I won't."
Once settled in, Regulus smiled to himself, feeling much safer than he had in his own room. His nightmare had been very vivid. There was fire all around him and everyone was screaming. His house was burning. He could see the blackened dead roses outside his front door, and the smoke spewing out of the windows. Everyone had gotten out of the house except Sirius. His parents were safe but they didn't look as concerned as he was about their missing son. Regulus ran through the house looking for Sirius but couldn't find him. It was that panic and desperation that had woken him up.
"Sirius?" Regulus said out loud.
"Mm?" was Sirius' sleepy reply. He hadn't really expected a response for he thought Sirius would have instantly fallen back asleep.
"Thanks," Regulus said softly.
"Don't worry about it," Sirius said as he rolled over onto his side and away from his brother.
