"You're doing this on purpose," Walburga hissed. Regulus winced, sinking lower in his seat. "You just want to see my family disgraced," she continued, ignoring her son's discomfort. "You will put him into Slytherin, where he clearly belongs."
Professor Dumbledore turned to look at Regulus. Regulus sank a little lower, eyes wide, hoping that this would end soon.
"The Hat cannot be tampered with," Dumbledore said calmly, turning back to Regulus' mother. Regulus let out a small sigh of relief. "And does not make mistakes." Walburga looked at though she might complain, but Dumbledore spoke again before she could. "Your son is exactly where he should be. And, Mrs. Black," he added, almost as an afterthought. "I believe we went through this when your eldest was Sorted."
Walburga huffed, grabbing Regulus by the writs and pulling him from his seat. She turned at the door.
"This is not over," she hissed. Regulus met the headmaster's apologetic eyes and swallowed thickly.
.oOo.
"You're Regulus, right?" A boy in the year above him sat in the empty chair opposite. "Sirius' brother?" Regulus nodded slowly, trying to remember which of Sirius' friends this was. "I'm Remus," he said, smiling softly and holding out a hand. Regulus shook hands automatically.
"It's nice to meet you," Regulus said quietly. Remus laughed, and Regulus withdrew his hand quickly.
"No, I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I'm not laughing at you. It's just– You're nothing like you're bother."
"Is that a bad thing?" Regulus asked.
"Not at all," Remus assured him. "I think one Sirius is more than enough."
Regulus smiled softly; maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all.
.oOo.
"Hey, Regulus!" Remus called, jogging to catch up to him in the corridor. "Where're you headed?" he asked.
"Um… Lunch?"
"Oh, right. Course," Remus grinned, but his cheeks were a little red with embarrassment. "Mind if I join you?" Regulus shrugged.
"Sure. It's not like I've got any friends."
"Really?" Remus asked. "How's that?"
"You mean, why don't I have any friends three days after my mother came here screaming about how Sorting her children into Gryffindor is clearly an insult? How–"
"Yeah, okay," Remus said. "Your mum's clearly a bit mental. No offence," he added. "But she did exactly the same thing with Sirius."
"She did?" Regulus asked, frowning. He would have thought that'd be something he'd notice. Remus nodded.
"Plus, y'know, House of the brave."
.oOo.
Regulus sat at one of the tables in the Gryffindor Common Room, trying to get a head start on the Potions essay they had been assigned earlier that day. It was difficult, though, to concentrate over the sounds of other students.
He looked up when the portrait hole opened, seeing his brother and his friends stepping through.
"Regs!" Sirius yelled upon seeing him. Regulus winced, closing his textbook; he wouldn't be getting any more work done now.
"Hey, Regulus," Remus said, raising his hand in a slight wave.
"So, this is the infamous Regulus?" Potter asked, leaning over the table and getting uncomfortably close to Regulus.
"Leave him alone," Remus said, pulling Potter back. "He's trying to study."
"Who studies this early on?" Sirius asked. Regulus had remained silent up until now, but–
"Well, I can't now that you're here," he snapped, stacking his books and shoving them into his bag.
"Aw, c'mon, Regs. We were only joking," Sirius said. Regulus ignored him, and stormed up the stairs to his dormitory.
.oOo.
"Hey, Regs? You in here?" Sirius called, peering 'round the doorframe.
"What do you want?" Regulus asked. He didn't look over at Sirius when he heard his brother close the door behind him.
"Why are you in bed?"
"I'm not," Regulus said, rolling over so that his back was to Sirius. He felt the bed dip behind him where Sirius must have sat down.
"Look, I really am sorry about earlier," Sirius said. He sounded sincere, which was a little puzzling, and genuinely concerned. Perhaps this wasn't a forced apology then. Still…
"Why?" Regulus asked.
"Why what?"
"Why are you apologising?"
"Well, I– I felt bad, and–" Sirius released a deep breath. "Remus said you were having a hard time. I didn't notice." Regulus couldn't push down the hurt at that. "And I'm sorry. I guess I– I guess I know what you're going through," he said quietly. Regulus turned to face him.
"How? You don't care what our parents think. You–"
"I do," Sirius interrupted. "Or, I did. Back then. Could've sworn I'd be in Slytherin. Don't tell anyone," he added quickly. "And then Mother came to school, screaming on about how this was… I don't know, a personal attack on her, I think she said. It was embarrassing."
"Yeah?" Regulus asked, looking up at his brother.
"'Course."
"But you still had friends."
"Not back then. Not really. I met James on the train, and we talk sometimes, but I think Mother scared him off for a while." Sirius paused, frowning slightly. "Actually, I think Pete was the only one still talking to me in the couple days after Mother came by."
"But–"
"You'll make friends, Reg," Sirius said. "And you've always got me. And Remus, and I'm sure you'll like Peter."
"But not James?" Regulus asked.
"He'll grow on you."
"Thanks," Regulus whispered, eyes downcast.
"Anytime," Sirius said. "Just don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold," he said proudly. Regulus scoffed.