The Black Family Traitor
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[A/N at the end]
Regulus paced in front of his brother's room as a million thoughts buzzed through his mind. To go in, or not to go in, he thought. Sirius wasn't exactly around anymore, and he doubted that his brother would care if he disregarded the 'no entry' sign on the door. He had left a week ago, but Regulus hated the void that he had created with his absence.
When he'd been around, there had been a rare lightness during mealtimes and dinner parties. Albeit, his jokes and thinly veiled insults were completely unwelcome, but Regulus always enjoyed his brother's sense of humour and his ability to bring some joy into the sombreness of their home.
But now that he was gone, mealtimes were dull. There was nobody to joke about how terrible Kreacher's cooking was, or how 'ravishing' their mother looked – it had instead been replaced by silence.
Even though their parents, especially mother, walked around acting like Sirius' absence was the best thing to happen to them, Regulus could feel the fury and shame in every single word they spoke, and in every movement they made.
Regulus had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed someone's footsteps creaking up the stairs. He froze in front of his brother's bedroom door – he had been debating whether he should heed the 'no entry' sign or ignore it – and panicked as his mother's voice echoed throughout the house.
Making up his mind, Regulus opened the door quickly, slipped into the room, and shut it as quietly as he could. Since Sirius had started at Hogwarts, he and their family hadn't been permitted into his room - as if their parents would even want to enter the room of a family traitor. But as he gazed around his space, he realised that perhaps that was for the best.
Every single wall and surface was covered in all sorts of Gryffindor or Muggle paraphernalia. Despite all his restraint, Regulus couldn't help but glance at the posters featuring semi – or entirely – naked Muggle women. He knew his brother was rebellious, but if his parents or Kreacher had walked in, he'd have been courting the devil.
Regulus waited until the footsteps outside disappeared before he ruffled through his brother's things. There was an impressive collection of Muggle magazines and comics, and despite Regulus' disdain for Muggles he couldn't help but marvel at how creative they could be. A box of vinyl records was shoved next to his desk, and Regulus shuffled through them, all the while thinking about why a band would want to be called The Who.
His mother called out for him from upstairs and he hurriedly shoved his brother's things back. Being in Sirius' room made him feel like his brother was still around, and he desperately missed Sirius; and Regulus made a note to come back another day and rummage around some more - who knew what else he could find.
Author's Note
Thank you to CP and Alixx for the beta's! xo
Word Count: 493
Written for the Houses Competition
House: Ravenclaw
Category: Drabble
Prompt: [Object] No entry sign
Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)
Assignment # 11
Subject: Herbology
Task: 1, Write about someone struggling with a change in their life
I hope you all enjoyed this story x
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Until next time, Andy x