"Sirius?" said Regulus softly as he poked his head through the door. "I'm scared."

Sirius sighed. He and his brother didn't get on at all. They were in separate houses; Regulus was a Slytherin and Sirius was a Gryffindor... they couldn't be more different. They couldn't loathe each other more. But when they returned home in the summer, they went back to how they used to be. They were there for each other and they were each others only friend.

Sirius was lying on his bed almost dozing off with his hands rested behind his head. He looked at his little brother and smiled.

"What's up?" he asked, beckoning Regulus to come and sit on his bed with him. Regulus did as Sirius wished, sitting down on the edge of Sirius's bed with tears in his eyes.

"I just... why Sirius?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you have to make things so hard for yourself?"

"I don't! I be myself and if mum and dad don't like it then tough," Sirius said, playing with his wand.

"Sirius... I'm scared they'll kick you out..."

"So what? I'd rather not be here."

"Where would you go?" Regulus asked with new tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry! I'd go to James's house," said Sirius. "He always said I'd be welcome if I was kicked out."

"But what about me?" Regulus asked in a small voice. "You can't leave me here... with them... by myself."

"But they like you!" said Sirius. "The hate me, so I hate them. Why do you hate them if they're nice to you?"

"Because of how they treat you," admitted Regulus. "I wish we were how we used to be... before Hogwarts. Mum and dad loved us both and we were like a proper family."

"Yeah but that's before I showed them that I was different to the rest of our family," said Sirius. "I don't want to be like mum and dad or the rest of the family. I hate everything about what they believe in, no offence. I just... I do want to be kicked out because I can't stand living here."

"But... I'll miss you," said Regulus sadly, looking down. Sirius felt his heart well up. His brother really did care about him.

"Well think about it," said Sirius. "We go back to school tomorrow and I've not done anything bad enough for them to kick me out tonight, so I should be here by Christmas at least."

"What if they kick you out at Christmas? Who am I supposed to talk to while I'm here? Sirius... I heard them talking about you downstairs."

"Oh yeah? What were they saying?" asked Sirius eagerly, though he knew it wouldn't be anything good.

"They were saying they need to do something about you and they said you're an embarrassment to the family," Regulus said.

"Well I already knew they felt that way," said Sirius.

"But they were also talking about disowning you and they were being pretty serious about it. I just don't want you to go."

"Reg, don't worry about me," said Sirius, hugging his brother. This was something that they strictly only did at home when one of them was very upset.

"But I'll be so lonely," sniffed Regulus.

"Hey, I can always find a way to sneak back if you want," said Sirius, smirking. "And in the meantime, you've got Kreacher to keep you company."

"Honestly? Kreacher?" Regulus asked, laughing. "Anybody is better company than Kreacher."

"Well he likes you, at least," said Sirius. "Knowing him, if he got stuck with me as company, he'd find some way to kill me..."

Regulus laughed for a short moment and then sighed. "When we get back to school it'll be time to ignore you again," he said.

"Only because your friends would treat you like crap if you were nice to me," Sirius said.

"I know," said Regulus. "Sirius?"

"What?"

"I'm scared for another reason, too."

"What's up? Why're you scared?"

"I heard dad talking about Lord Voldemort."

"What about Lord Voldemort?" asked Sirius curiously. Regulus trembled and Sirius hugged him again.

"I think," said Regulus slowly. "That dad wants me to join Lord Voldemort," he said in barely a whisper. Sirius's eyes widened.

"You won't join will you?" he asked.

"I don't want to! But if dad wants me to join, then what choice do I have?"

"Oh Reg, I'm so sorry," Sirius said, rubbing his hand up and down Regulus's back for comfort. Regulus sighed.

"There's nothing you can do about it. Nothing even I can do about it. Why couldn't I have been a Gryffindor like you?"

"Wow Reg, I never thought I'd hear those words coming out of your mouth," said Sirius, smiling slightly.

"Neither did I," admitted Regulus. "I just... in Gryffindor, you seem to have a lot more fun. You seem more free and happy and safe."

"It's true," said Sirius. "I can't imagine why anyone would want to be in Slytherin when you have Lord Voldemort trying to recruit from that House."

"Yeah... as I said, I'm so scared."

"Don't be. I know for a fact that if Lord Voldemort tries to recruit you, you're brave enough to reject the offer," said Sirius. "You're stronger than him. Just believe in yourself."

Regulus smiled up at his brother. "Thanks Sirius," he said bringing his face closer to Sirius's. Their faces drew closer and closer together, and Sirius could feel Regulus's warm breath on his face. He gulped. What was going on? Regulus closed his eyes, and Sirius did the same. He felt soft lips brush against his and an arm winding round his waist, pulling him closer. He kissed back, putting his arms up to Regulus's head, tangling his fingers in Regulus's hair. The kiss got more passionate as Sirius felt a tongue slip its way into his mouth. What the hell am I doing thought Sirius frantically. But he didn't stop. He let the tongue explore his mouth. He let his own tongue massage Regulus's in a way that made his whole body tingle.

The kiss continued on and on, and Sirius got more into it every second. When the two finally broke apart, Sirius looked into the flushed face of his brother and he saw the shock on Regulus's face.

"Fuck," mumbled Regulus, getting on his feet and rushing out of the door. Sirius sighed. What the hell had he just done? Not only had he just kissed his brother but he actually enjoyed it! He let his head fall back against the wall and sighed again. He'd also cheated on his boyfriend. He absolutely adored Remus to bits. He couldn't believe what he'd done... what would Remus say if he found out? Imagine your boyfriend cheating on you with his brother! Sirius shook his head. He was in so much trouble...