Regulus A. Black's First Year
Alternate Universe
Disclaimer
I do not own most characters because they are the wonderful creations of Miss Jo Rowling!
I did create ONE character … Please don't get mad … Please?
Kay thanks for reading this Disclaimer.
Enjoy the story!
"Regulus Black! Get down here this instant!" I groaned, hearing my mother's shrill voice call from the first floor. I slowly opened my grey eyes and rubbed them. I was trying to rid the sleep from them when a knock was heard upon my door.
"C'mon, Reg! Let's get a move on!" I looked to see my door wide open and my older brother Sirius Black standing in the doorway. It was odd to see him awake and ready to go. He was usually the late sleeper, not me.
"Sirius! Don't just open my door, you twit!"
"I did knock, Reg!"
"So? I could've been naked!"
"Reg, you're my little brother. I've seen you in the buff before! I don't care." He said in that offhanded way of his. He seemed excited, yet cool. I wished that I could have that ability.
"Well get out so I can change, Siri!" I snapped, wondering what time it was. From the angle I was sitting I couldn't read my clock properly. Sirius chuckled and ducked out of my bedroom. I looked at the silver and emerald hangings that my parents had put up when I was born. Sirius' room used to look like this but that was before he'd gone off to Hogwarts and been sorted into Gryffindor. He had made new friends with the Blood-Traitor James Potter, Half-Blood Remus Lupin, and that mousy little Peter Pettigrew. Sirius had always been a rebellious child, enough to make any parents want to pull their hair out and any younger sibling wish they were as cool as him. I did admire Sirius; he was older and much more independent than I would ever be. Being Sirius had to be a hard job, though, for he was now even more rebellious than ever before. He did everything in his power to make Mother want to kill the both of us.
When Sirius had written home about the results of his Sorting we'd all been more than a little anxious to see if he would live up to the Black Family Name.
It turns out, he hadn't.
He had been sorted into Gryffindor, the exact House that every Black was supposed to detest.
"Sirius and Andromeda are both the bane of the Black Family's existence," I'd heard Mother telling Father one night.
"Well what are we to do, Walburga? He's the heir to our fortune!"
"Orion, I fear we may have to disown him."
"Walburga! How could you suggest such a thing? He is our son!"
"He is a disgrace!"
"Give him time, Walburga, he'll come around. He's young."
I shivered at the memory, donning my school robes and taking a last look around my bedroom. I spotted my journal and dashed for it before hiding it in my cloak pocket. There was no way I'd be leaving that here for Mother to snoop in!
I scurried down the stairs, remembering this day a year previously.
"Promise you'll write, Siri?" I begged my brother, wishing that he wasn't leaving for his first year of Hogwarts.
"I promise, Reg!" He assured me with that cocky smirk of his that either meant he had a plan or was just happy to see something happening.
"Every day?"
He sighed, "Yes, Reg, every day."
"Tell Cissy hi from me when you get there!"
"Regulus, calm down!" He said, shaking his head at me as though I were a small child.
"Okay … Bye, Sirius."
"Bye, Regulus … Take care now."
I quickly pulled myself from that thought as I approached my brother. He was leaning against the wall with his hands in his jeans pockets.
"Why aren't you in your robes, Sirius?" I asked curiously.
"'Cause only first years do that pathetic thing. You look too eager if you do that."
"Oh … Okay …" I said, embarrassed at my stupidity.
"Don't worry, Reg. Here," Sirius began, mussing up my newly-combed hair and opening his trunk. "Take off your cloak, Reg."
"But it's cold outside!" I protested.
"Just do it!" He ordered. With a sigh I removed my cloak and silently slipped my journal into my trunk. Sirius looked up from his trunk to show me a jean jacket. "Wear this, Reg, you'll look cooler."
I frowned. That was something Muggles wore. Why would he want me to wear it? He gave me that insisting look and I gave in. He then pulled out his wand and changed my black pants to a pair of my favorite jeans.
"Sirius, you can't use magic outside of school!"
"We're in a house that's full of magic. They won't know."
I was about to press my case when Father walked in. He stood next to Mother. Father was tall, about 6'4" with an ever-increasing waistline and graying black hair. His eyes were a pale grey. He seemed to have no fight in him; Sirius said it was because Mother had beaten it out of him when their marriage was first arranged when they were seventeen. Mother, on the other hand, was a short 5'2" with hair as black as a moonless night and steely-grey eyes as sharp as kitchen knives. She was the one in charge of the house, not Father. I remember asking Sirius about how they could be siblings and Sirius said that's because they practically were. It was common for the Black family members to inbreed with one another. Andromeda had told us that was why we had such sharp cheekbones and small hands. While Bellatrix and Narcissa had looked proud Andy had looked disgusted at the thought.
"Come, now, it's almost eleven o'clock. We don't want the children to miss the train." Mother said with a curt nod.
"Woohoo," Sirius said sarcastically, "Floo Powder here we come."
We all walked over to the fireplace in the sitting room and huddled around it.
"I'll go first." Father stated, taking a handful of the Floo Powder and saying, "Platform Nine and Three Quarters!" We watched as the flames turned an emerald color and he was whisked away.
"You next, Regulus." Mother insisted. I gulped, looking to Sirius. He had his lazy smirk on his face which clearly meant I was on my own. I frowned at him before taking a handful of the grey powder that matched my worried eyes.
Slowly, I stepped into the fireplace. Sirius was giving me a devil-may-care sort of look while Mother – who could be considered the devil for Sirius' look – looked at me in a way that meant she was growing impatient with me.
"Platform Nine and Three Quarters." I said, hoping my voice didn't shake. I closed my mouth quickly as I sprinkled the powder into the fire and began to spin. My eyes were barely open, just enough for me to see when I reached the correct grate.
I felt myself slide out of a fireplace and coughed. My back was aching and I was covered in soot. Something knocked me in the head and I groaned.
"Move, Reg!" Sirius said grumpily. I sat up and rubbed my sore head. As we stood there I noticed Sirius barely had any soot upon his person while I was covered head to toe. He chuckled and helped brush me off.
"Thanks for kicking me, Sirius." I grumbled.
"Hey, I'm not the one who couldn't manage to move faster!"
"Boys, enough!" Mother's voice cut across our light bickering.
I turned to look at our parents while Sirius scanned the platform. He was obviously searching for any sign of his friends.
"Don't get yourselves into any trouble this year, boys." Mother snapped before her and Father Disappearated on the spot. I frowned, wondering why they'd just left us. I picked up my owl Morgana in her cage and then my trunk. As I turned, I noticed Sirius already trotting away.
"Hey! Wait for me!" I cried, running to keep up.
"No kid brothers allowed, Reg."
"But…"
"No, I'm going to see my friends."
"I'm coming with. You promised you'd help me!"
"I lied." With that Sirius picked up his pace and left me alone on the platform. Friendless.
I frowned and climbed aboard the train with a huff. I saw Sirius down the train duck into a compartment and shook my head. A girl bumped into me.
"Sorry," we said at the same time. I sighed.
"I'm Regulus, what's your name?"
"My name's Camille. It's nice to meet you, Regulus. Is this your first year too?" She asked me. Camille had sandy-blonde hair and piercing hazel eyes. I couldn't help but stare a little. It took a moment for the question to sink in and then I nodded goofily.
"Yeah, I'm a first year." I admitted.
"C'mon, let's go get a compartment, Regulus … That is, if you want to …" She said, a slight pinkness entering her cheeks.
"Sure, that sounds good." I shrugged. We went the way I'd come from, scanning the compartments for an empty seat. As we passed Sirius' compartment Camille stopped.
"I have to do something really quick." She told me, opening the door. I was confused as to what she was doing until she smiled at the Half-Blood Remus Lupin. "Hey, Remmy, when should I change into my robes?" She asked sweetly.
"Wait, you're a Lupin?" I demanded my jaw dropping. Inside the compartment Sirius let out a barking laugh.
"Why of course, young Regulus!" He said, the Blood Traitor James Potter joining in on the laughter. Camille looked at me blankly, obviously unsure why that would make any difference.
"Yes, what's your surname?"
"Black."
"Oh … Is Sirius your brother?"
I looked at Sirius and noticed he was waiting for my reply as well. I paused, unsure how to answer. Was I proud of being his younger brother? Did I want to follow in his footsteps and have my family hate me?
"Yes, Sirius is my older brother." I answered and saw Camille's grin.
"Awesome!"
"Awesome?"
"Yeah! I've heard so much about him!" Behind Camille Sirius was giving Remus a quizzical look and the Gryffindor looked away from his rambunctious friend.
"Well, won't the two of you join us?" Potter asked and I knew it was a test for me. Would I lower my standards and join them? Even Sirius looked doubtful.
Could I really abandon everything I'd been taught just to hang around these people? I bit my lip. Would they even accept me? I mean, I'd spent my entire life trying to please Mother … Although sometimes I had to take the wrap for Sirius when she seemed particularly violent. I shuddered at the memories the thought conjured up.
I took a deep breath as I considered the offer they were giving me. Be loyal to the family or keep my brother?
"Well," I said, "make some room for me."
A Quick Note from the Author
Ok, thanks for bothering to read my story. Did you like it? I really hope you did! Feedback is wonderful … Please no comments about how this wouldn't happen, though. It's an Alternate Universe! It'll have some things that are against what Regulus turned out to be in the books. And about Camille … Well, I like her and it gives a good connection. Sorry if you disagree with it.
I tried to show his contempt yet show he was willing to some change.
Thanks again for reading!
Hermione Weasley133
