part 2/2

Regulus's eyes were barely open. Through the morning's bleak haze, he could make out indistinct shapes around him. He was tucked snugly in a bed with someone curled up next to him. A tall someone with soft, black hair and his hand curled tightly around Regulus's wrist. Regulus could feel the familiar pain of his brother's old ring dicing into his flesh.

His eyesight slowly cleared. He thought perhaps he was dead, and that his heaven was waking back up in his home, warm and cared for, with Sirius by his side. He looked over his brother's sleeping shoulder at the photos on the wall. This was definitely Sirius's room.

"S-Sirius?" he asked softly, hardly daring to believe he'd been good enough in life to receive this in death. "Wake up, I want to know what day it…"

But what Regulus saw could not possibly be his brother. The man lying next to him—who was just beginning to stir and whose fingers were still painfully digging in to Regulus's wrist—was not Sirius Black! He was too thin, too old, too different, and when he sat up and blinked, at last relinquishing his grip on Regulus, his open eyes were too heavy and haunted.

Regulus screamed and thrashed until he fell off the bed, pulling half the bedding with him. He tried frantically to right himself but found his arms moved sluggishly, and his legs not at all.

His head connected painfully with a chair leg and in a momentary stupor he stared, dazed, into yet another familiar face that just wasn't quite right. For an instant, he would have sworn the concerned boy looking down at him, mouthing something that Regulus's ringing ears couldn't hear, was James Potter. It would make sense for Sirius and James to be together, but that man in the bed wasn't Sirius and this certainly wasn't James. Too young this time, and something was wrong around the eyes.

Panting heavily, Regulus began to panic. He was completely tangled up in the blankets and sheets, unable to move. He was an easy target.

"Regulus!?" A voice gasped in disbelief. "Reggie?"

Regulus swiveled to face the bed, where the strange man was getting up.

"Regulus!" he kept saying over and over like he couldn't believe his eyes. "Regulus it's me, calm down!"

The man knelt before Regulus and put a shaking hand on his shoulder. His skin felt warm. He tried to run his fingers through Regulus's hair, but Regulus, lacking any other means of self-defense, raised his head and bit him.

"Ouch, fuck, what was that?"

"Sirius?" asked the boy. "Sirius surely it didn't—I mean, did it…work?"

Sirius could only stare on in amazement as Regulus frantically tugged and twisted at the sheets until he had mostly freed himself. There was a dull, burning ache that ran deep down his throat, but he ignored it. He needed to get out of here as quickly as possible. Clearly something had gone wrong with his plan. He had not died in the cave, and had instead been kidnapped by…somebody...and brought to either Grimmauld Place or a very decent replica of it.

But for what purpose? Who would have found him in that cave?

Sirius's eyes widened when he saw that Regulus was almost on his feet.

"Hold on," he pulled his brother back to the ground and held him down. "Just calm down for a second, I know this is all a lot to take in…"

"Let me go!" Regulus yelled. "Get off! What do you want from me?" Suddenly something dawned on him. He looked down at his bare chest, noticed that he was completely naked and then started to scream, trying desperately to push Sirius away from him.

Sirius pressed a wad of comforter against Regulus's mouth to silence him. "Harry," he begged. "Can you put up a muffling charm or something? Don't worry, the ministry can't trace you when you're surrounded by so many other wizards."

Sirius looked back down at Regulus, who stared back at him with enormous eyes.

"I'm sorry, Reg, I know this looks really bad and you must be terrified right now," Sirius lamented. "I just need you to hold still for a minute and listen. I'm not going to hurt you."

Regulus stilled.

"Good," said Sirius. "Harry," he called over his shoulder.

"Yes, Sirius?"

"Get some clothes from my dresser, would you?"

"Everything?" Harry asked, digging around in Sirius's drawers.

"Yes."

Harry obliged, handing Sirius a full set of clothes as well as a dark blue robe.

"Here, Reg, put these on. All your original clothing degraded in that lake," Sirius insisted. Regulus didn't accept the bundle of clothing, though, he was too busy staring intently at Sirius's face.

"Sirius?" Regulus whispered in horror. That Harry boy had called him Sirius, but surely it couldn't be?

"Yeah, it's me, Reg."

"You can't be," Regulus hissed. "There's no way you're my—no way you're Sirius."

Sirius smiled crookedly. "But it is me," he said softly. "And you're really here, too, Reg I can't believe it's you."

Sirius raised a hand to Regulus's cheek. Regulus jerked away from him.

"You're not Sirius, you're too old," he said suspiciously.

Sirius looked very sad for a moment. Then he offered Regulus the clothes again. "Here, put these on and then we can talk."

Regulus accepted the armful of clothing but then merely held on to them and stared expectantly at Sirius and Harry.

"Sorry," said Harry a minute later when his brain caught up. He turned around to give Regulus some privacy.

Regulus glared meaningfully at Sirius. Sirius blinked.

"You're my little brother, Reg, I've seen you in the buff before. You slept all night three inches away from me! You're my brother."

"No, I do not know who you are or why you've taken me here," Regulus said fearfully. "Please turn away. Back up and turn away."

"I used to take care of you when you were little! Bathe you, dress you, everything! Surely you haven't anything now that you didn't then."

Regulus was shaking again, although this time from both fear and anger.

Someone tapped Sirius gently on the shoulder and a voice murmured. "Just let him have some space for now, Sirius, this is all a lot to take in."

"Remus?" Sirius asked in confusion. "How did you get in?"

"Harry opened the door for me."

Sirius shot Harry a look. Harry shrugged sheepishly.

"He knocked," he offered, averting his eyes. "You were too busy shouting at Regulus to hear."

"I was coming up to check on you both," said Lupin. "And I can't…I can't say I'm not a little surprised to see that—" he gestured awkwardly at Regulus. "—that this scheme actually worked. Have you given him the antidote yet, Sirius?"

Sirius shot bolt upright. "Shit!" he yelled. He turned frantically to Regulus as if to make sure he wasn't about to keel over right there. "Oh man, Reg, how are you feeling? You're okay, right? Can you hold on for just a second? I'm so sorry."

Regulus leaned away, rubbing at his throat a little. Now that Sirius brought it up, the burn was starting to get stronger, and he was overtaken by the fear that it might increase to the point that it was when he was in the cave. Perhaps this whole ordeal was just one very long hallucination brought about by the Dark Lord's awful poison?

"Remus quickly, hand it to me!"

"Calm down, Sirius, he'll be fine. He'd probably have days before the symptoms even got bad again."

Next moment, Regulus felt Sirius take a firm grasp of his head, pushing a vial to his lips.

Predictably, Regulus screeched and tried to shove him away.

"No, Regulus it's an antidote, it's going to help you!" Sirius pleaded. "Please hold still."

Regulus thrashed. "No!" he cried. "You're going to knock me out again and I'm going to wake up naked somewhere else! Get off of me!"

"So much for letting Regulus be for a little while," Harry muttered to Lupin as the two of them watched Sirius struggle on the floor with his brother.

"It was perhaps foolish of us to think it possible," said Lupin with a sigh as Regulus clawed at Sirius, who slapped his hand harshly. "Sirius is just too excited."

"They're going to spill Professor Snape's antidote," Harry said.

Lupin directed Harry out into the hall. "I have more downstairs," he responded. "Now why don't you come with me to breakfast, Harry, everyone's waiting for you."

"When're we going to tell them about…?"

"After they eat," said Lupin. "They'll be sleepy and fat and less able to chase after us."

The rest of the Order did not take kindly to the reveal of Regulus. Just as Harry had, they too at first were of the opinion that Regulus did not deserve a second life, and each of them had a list of ten or more people whom Sirius should have revived instead. Harry himself felt a deep shame that he at one point had acted so immaturely.

"Shut up," he hollered round the table. "The lot of you. It was Sirius's potion. His mother had the asphodel and she chose to bequeath it to him. It was his decision to make."

The yammering started up again.

"But he could have chosen better!"

"Why didn't he consult with us?"

"Why didn't he go to Dumbledore?"

Harry looked to Dumbledore, who only sat pensively at the end of the table, and then to Sirius, who was looking down in shame.

When neither of them spoke up, Harry blurted out, "Because you'd react like this! I'm telling you, someone would have been angry no matter whom Sirius brought back, seriously, you're all idiots."

Even Harry's friends blanched at that statement.

"Harry…" Ginny began meekly.

"Quiet," Harry insisted. "What I mean is, look at all of you. You're so angry and vengeful, you've driven Regulus off!"

Suddenly everyone swiveled around, as if on cue, to stare at the seat by Sirius that Regulus had previously occupied. Before anyone could get up to go look for him, Harry pressed on.

"He's in the drawing room, leave him be. You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I thought you were all adults, but you're certainly not behaving like it. As I said, you're idiots."

Few people noticed Sirius slip off into the other room, obviously following Regulus.

"Harry," said Mr. Weasley in a clipped tone. "You need to understand—"

"What I understand is you're all trying to make this about Regulus when it really isn't. It's about Sirius!"

Most of the faces that looked up at Harry—who had long since stood up—were skeptical or confused. Hermione alone looked proud.

"Bringing his little brother back has made him happy, can't you all see that? It doesn't matter who or what Regulus was. Sirius is happy for the first time in forever, and all you people want to do is make him miserable and guilty. Do you really think he made this decision lightly? Do you think he owes you all more than he owes himself?"

Nobody had anything to say. George Weasley stared into his drink. Kingsley Shacklebolt was rubbing his chin in thought.

"And besides," said Harry a tad more quietly. "I don't know how anyone could look at how Regulus died and not think he deserves a second chance. I'm not sure if you all just weren't listening earlier or if you somehow think sacrificing his life wasn't sufficient payment for being confused and manipulated by Voldemort, but either way, the problem is with you. Not with Regulus, and certainly not with Sirius."

"He was a Death Eater—" Ms. Weasley began.

"He was a child," this time it was Lupin who spoke. His voice was barely more than a whisper, but he spoke with such vehemence it was chilling. Ms. Weasley stopped talking instantly.

"Regulus never had a chance from the start," Lupin continued. "He was completely surrounded, at school and in his home, by terrible influences. Voldemort got ahold of him when he was sixteen. The fact that he did the right thing in the end completely of his own accord and with absolutely no outside influences is some sort of miracle. I'd wager he's a lot better person than any of us."

"How can you say that?" asked Ron bluntly. "I'd never join You-Know-Who."

"Because you have friends and family who have constantly taught you otherwise, Ronald," hissed Hermione. "And if you felt threatened by him or any of his recruiters, you have people to go to who'll help you. Regulus probably wasn't so lucky."

"He could always have gone to Professor Dumbledore," Ron insisted.

"It is likely he did not trust me," said Professor Dumbledore quietly, speaking for the first time all morning.

"How could he not trust you?" wondered Ron in amazement. Professor Dumbledore chuckled.

"He may not have grown up hearing so many nice things about me as you did."

At last Ron quieted. Nobody else seemed to have a good argument to voice. After a few minutes of silence, Harry finally sat back down.

"So it's settled," said Lupin. "Sirius deserves to have his happiness. Regulus will stay here under his care. He will not leave the house and we will not inform the Ministry until things are more stable."

The unspoken meaning was evident in Lupin's words: it wouldn't do to expose Regulus now, during the war, and have him killed by Voldemort for desertion.

"I doubt we'll need to inform Sirius of our decision because I think the whole neighborhood heard our shouting," said Bill with a smile.

"It's just so strange to think Sirius has a brother. It'll be like having two Siriuses," said Ginny.

"Exactly what we need," said Ms. Weasley sarcastically. "A second Sirius to be short-sighted and reckless."

Professor Snape snorted in amusement.

"What's so funny?" Ginny asked.

It was Lupin who answered her.

"Nothing," he said with a grin. "Just that your mother really doesn't have to worry about any reckless behavior coming from Regulus. Sirius is going to have him on lockdown."

Harry smiled at the truth in Lupin's words. Sirius was so excited that Regulus was alive again. "Regulus'll be lucky if Sirius lets him sleep in his own room," Harry added. "You guys didn't see him this morning when we saw that the potion had worked."

Lupin was grinning fondly. "Exactly," he said. "Now if you don't mind, I think I'm going to go check on our two Black brothers."

The children were sent back upstairs now that breakfast, the announcement about Regulus and the subsequent argument were all over. Professor Dumbledore regrouped everybody, but postponed actually starting the meeting for a few minutes while they waited for Sirius and Lupin to return.

Lupin found Sirius and Regulus sitting together on the couch in the drawing room. Sirius had his arm around Regulus's shoulders and Regulus, while he still appeared stiff and cold, was at least allowing Sirius to touch him.

The two looked up at Lupin when he entered.

"We're done fighting now," Lupin announced. "Most everyone's gotten over themselves. Your godson really read them the riot act."

Sirius smiled.

"So if you'll come back to the kitchen, we'll start the meeting."

"Okay," Sirius agreed. He stood up, pulling Regulus with him. "Reg," he said. "Go upstairs to your room, okay? I'll come get you when the meeting is done."

"Huh?" said Regulus, giving Sirius an incredulous look. "I think I'd rather attend this meeting. After all I'm the one that discovered the Dark Lord's secret."

"I know you did," said Sirius. "And now so does Dumbledore and everyone else. You've been very brave but now I don't want you involved anymore. You just need to lie low. I want you upstairs with the other kids."

"I am not a kid," insisted Regulus, spitting out the word 'kid' with distaste.

"By Order standards you are," Lupin said with a wry smile. "You're actually four months younger than Fred and George, and they're cooling it upstairs in their room as we speak."

Regulus stammered a bit before griping, "You're not the boss of me, Sirius. I may accept that you are my real brother, but you are not my father."

"I've got seventeen years on you now, Reggie, I might as well be."

Regulus frowned but didn't argue further. He walked to the kitchen with Sirius and Lupin silently, and then after one last spiteful glare, sauntered up the stairs to his bedroom.

Sirius tapped Lupin on the arm. "Remus," he said. "I actually think Reggie's more like four months older than the twins."

"I know," Lupin grinned. "But it'll be a while before he figures that out."

Regulus climbed up the stairs to the first landing. From down the hall he could hear the muffled voices of the Weasley children, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger. It was a very strange feeling that settled in his stomach. He was not accustomed to there being so many people in his home, and certainly not in a room so close to his own bedroom.

Regulus skulked past the spare room that the others were congregated in, wanting to be in his own, but he stopped shortly before entering, his hand frozen over the handle.

What would he find in there? Sirius said that he'd been purging the house, had he made it to Regulus's bedroom yet? Would there be anything left?

Regulus pushed open his door and resisted the urge to close his eyes like a child.

Everything seemed the same as he'd left it nearly two decades ago, albeit a bit more dusty. Regulus walked across the soft carpet to his bed and grazed his fingers along the sheets, disturbing sixteen years' worth of dust.

He tore down from his walls the newspaper clippings and press releases. He'd already shoved them all into the fire before the little voice in his head asked him why he was bothering.

He opened his murky closet and dug around behind moth-eaten robes to find his mask. It, too, he threw into the fireplace. As he watched it slowly heat up, he was reminded of all the meetings he'd worn it to, how scared he had been each time, how nervous he'd been that he would finally be called upon to complete an actual assignment, to do more than just sit and watch…

"Regulus?" came a nervous voice.

Regulus snapped out of his reverie and looked up from the fire. He had not closed the door to his bedroom and one of the kids had come wandering over. It was the girl with red hair. One of the Weasleys, though Regulus didn't care much to remember which.

"I'm Ginny, remember?" she said, taking a careful step over the threshold. "We were wondering if you wanted to come join us. We're going to use Fred and George's (they're my twin brothers) extendable ears to listen in on the rest of the meeting. We thought you might be interested, since they're bound to be talking about you…"

Regulus narrowed his eyes. Where exactly did Ginny Weasley get off talking to him like they were fast friends? She was—

Regulus cut himself off. That was his mother talking.

"All right," said Regulus gruffly. He stood up and followed Ginny back to the others. She looked slightly surprised by his agreement.

One of the identical Weasley boys—he introduced himself as Fred—handed Regulus a long, flesh colored string. Regulus took it carefully, holding it out in mild distaste.

"These things are wicked useful," said Harry Potter. "Nobody's ever the wiser."

Regulus met Harry's eyes for a moment, curious. Harry had seemed so loyal to Sirius but here he was defying the man.

…the man? When had Sirius become a man? Last Regulus had looked, he was an irresponsible 21 year-old, caught up in his little hero fantasies and flying his motorcycle all over god knows where.

"Here, hold it to your ear like this," instructed the muggle-born girl, Hermione Granger. "You'll be able to hear them, clear as a bell."

Regulus nodded. He put what he hoped was the correct end of the device in his ear and dropped the other over the edge of the steps. It stretched and inched its way under the door to the kitchen. They breached the silencing charm around the kitchen and immediately Regulus's ears were met with a torrent of discussion.

"—Well at least I haven't been wasting my time resurrecting Death Eaters."

"We've put that discussion behind us, Molly. Sirius sit down. Regulus isn't going anywhere, and that's final."

Regulus wasn't sure how he felt having Lupin defend him.

"I want him under constant surveillance. My children are in this house."

"I know that Molly, but Regulus isn't a threat."

"He's—"

Regulus dropped his extendable ear to the ground. "Let me know if they say anything interesting later on," he said to Harry before trudging sadly back up the stairs. He really had no desire to listen to a middle-aged woman berate him all night. He'd had just about enough of being treated like a stranger in his own home.

None of the others followed him or said anything. They merely resumed their eavesdropping. Regulus returned to his room and lay down on his bed. Several hours later, he heard Sirius open the door and softly say his name.

"Regulus, lunch'll be ready soon. You didn't eat breakfast, you have to be hungry."

Regulus didn't move.

He felt the sunlight from his window disappear as the shadow of Sirius fell over his face.

"Reggie," he urged, prodding at Regulus's shoulder gently. "I know you're not asleep. Come on, now, get up. You really need to eat, you're a walking skeleton."

Regulus tried to make his breathing even.

He could almost feel Sirius rolling his eyes. "You're not fooling me with this, Reg, I know you're awake."

Sirius took ahold of Regulus by his sleeve and heaved him into a sitting position. Regulus finally relented and opened his eyes, immediately sighing and looking down.

"What's wrong?" asked Sirius. Regulus gave him such a look he actually blanched.

"All right, stupid question, I'll admit," Sirius sat down next to his brother. "Come on, though, Reg, talk to me, please."

"I don't want to go down there," Regulus said sullenly.

"And why not?" Sirius asked in a tone that reminded Regulus heavily of their father. Regulus actually shivered a little.

"Your friends' hostility makes me uncomfortable."

Sirius's hand was hovering in between himself and Regulus, as though he couldn't quite decide whether or not he could get away with touching his brother at this point in their revived relationship.

"I understand," Sirius said. "I can bring you something to eat in here?"

Regulus hissed through clenched teeth, "This is my house. They should leave."

"I get that you're frustrated, Regulus, but you have to understand—"

"I have to understand?" Regulus demanded. "Well I don't understand! I don't understand anything—not where I am or who you are!"

"Regulus," Sirius said desperately. "I'm Sirius, you have to believe me…you said you did believe me!"

Regulus shook his head. "I don't know what's going on here, but you certainly aren't any brother of mine! The Sirius I know would never have wasted a resurrection potion on me! He'd've revived James Potter. The two of them would probably be drinking right about now."

Regulus stood up and tried to walk away, but Sirius grabbed him by the wrist.

"Of course I considered James, but I couldn't bring back him and not Lily, he'd have never forgiven me! Surely—"

Sirius trailed off at the outraged look on Regulus's face.

"Regulus, what I meant was…"

"Oh, well I'm glad you would think to be so considerate of your dead best friend's feelings. Good to know I was your option number three…or were there others you considered before me?"

"No, Regulus," Sirius felt his brother pull from his grasp and leave the room. Sirius heard his footsteps echo off down the hall and then trudge up the stairs at the edge of the landing.

Sirius sat in silence for a second before what had just occurred sank in. He then sprang to his feet and dashed out into the hall where he collided with Lupin.

"Ouch," Sirius picked himself up off the floor. "Solid as ever, I see, Moony."

Lupin helped steady him. "What're you running around for, Sirius?"

Sirius sighed. "Chasing after Reggie, what else?"

"Chasing? Where exactly is he going?" Lupin asked.

Sirius shrugged. "I guess not anywhere, I was just…"

"Frantic," Lupin finished for him. "You were unsteady all through the meeting as well. Sirius, just relax. Things can't go on like this forever, Regulus will come around to you eventually and it'll all work out."

Sirius bit his lip. "I'm not so sure. Remus, he's so upset."

"What happened?" Lupin asked.

Sirius explained with a sigh. "He was skeptical of my intentions, said that the brother he knew would've left him dead in a heartbeat to save someone better. I kind of spoke without thinking, told him about how I'd considered Lily and James and why I ultimately decided against them, and then, well…"

Lupin grimaced. "Smooth thinking, Sirius," he said sarcastically.

Sirius looked at him dejectedly. "You're supposed to be helping me feel better," he whined.

"I was planning on it, but that was before you told me how badly you cocked up Listen, Sirius," Lupin clapped a hand on his shoulder. "He'll still come 'round, believe me."

"And just how do you think you know that?"

Lupin smiled and pointed behind Sirius, towards the open door to Regulus's bedroom.

"Why don't you take a closer look in there? I have a suspicion."

They stepped into Regulus's room. Lupin pointed at the smoldering remains in the fire. For the first time, Sirius noticed that it was still hot and smoking. Sirius kneeled in front of the grate and poked at the remains with his wand. There was a lot of ash, a few remaining paper scraps and also something metallic, once flat and ornate but now burned and warped.

"Regulus's mask," said Lupin plainly. "'And judging by the marks on the walls, quite a few papers that were once tacked up."

Sirius ran his hand through the ashes. "Why would he go through all the trouble?"

"He didn't want you to see, Sirius."

Sirius blinked. "You think so?"

Lupin nodded. "Yes, I really do. Give him a little while to cool off, Sirius, and then try bringing him something to eat. We really can't let him go much longer without food. Some extra vitamins or electrolytes wouldn't go amiss, either. He's going to get sick."

"You're right," Sirius agreed. A knot twisted in his belly when he thought about Regulus's taut skin and jagged limbs. "God, I can't believe I let him refuse to eat breakfast. And to think I thought that this time around I'd take good care of him! Look how I'm doing so far," he added bitterly.

"You're just a little overwhelmed. Going from completely carefree to tied down with two teenagers overnight will do that to a person," Lupin joked. "Let's go downstairs now, we can set a plate of food warming for Regulus."

Sirius did just that. He gave Regulus almost three hours before he joined him in the attic, carrying a full dinner plate.

Regulus was nestled in a musty blanket, leaning against a crate beneath the window. He didn't react to Sirius's presence.

Sirius approached him cautiously. "Whatcha' got there, Reg?" he asked.

Regulus looked up from the photo frame in his lap. "Nothing, Sirius," he muttered. "Go back downstairs."

Sirius gritted his teeth. "No," he said firmly. "Regulus, I've brought you some food, and I won't leave you be until you eat at least some of it. Remus has Snape making you some supplemental potions as well."

"I'm not hungry," Regulus said hoarsely.

Sirius hissed in frustration. He sat down with his brother and set the tray in front of him.

"I don't care, Regulus. Look at you, you're skinnier than when we found you. You need to eat something. I don't know what you're trying to pull, starving yourself…"

Regulus pushed the tray of food a few feet away with the toe of his boot, and then went back to staring mournfully at the picture in his hands.

"Regulus," Sirius scolded. "Eat."

Regulus turned his gaunt eyes to Sirius and said simply, "No."

Sirius glared at him. "Regulus, I'm asking you one more time to cooperate. I'd rather not have to make you."

"Go ahead," Regulus said. "Hurt me."

Enough light was shining through the row of attic windows behind them that Sirius could make out his brother's stubborn expression amongst all the dust motes floating through the air. Sirius's fleeting urge to smack Regulus's insolent face was pulverized the instant he took in how emaciated it was. Regulus's eyes sat in deep hollows, his cheekbones, which had always been fine, were now more pronounced than ever, and his skin was deathly pale.

Then Regulus's taut face split into a smug grin. He leaned back against the storage boxes. "What's stalling you? Aren't you going to punish me?"

Sirius started at these words. "I'm not…I'm not Father," he stuttered.

"Oh," said Regulus lightly. "The way you were talking, I thought you were."

"Regulus, I just meant that—"

"You're not my brother anymore, Sirius," said Regulus in a distant voice.

Sirius's expression softened. "No, Reggie…" He started to reach out but stopped because Regulus was leaning away from his approaching hand. Instead he settled for scooting a little closer to his brother looking straight into his eyes. "You're backwards. I wasn't there for you back then, but I'm ready to be your brother now…"

"Oh, okay," said Regulus. "So long as it's convenient timing for you…"

Sirius hung his head.

Regulus's grip tightened drastically on his picture. "You're not the same Sirius," he muttered, almost to himself. "But at least you're here…"

Sirius looked up again and for the first time noticed his brother was cradling an old family photo.

"I thought I threw that away," Sirius whispered.

"Your godson stole it and gave it to Kreacher," Regulus explained. "He let me see it."

Sirius nodded. That sounded like something Harry would have done. He leaned in to better see the picture and snorted.

"Look at that smile of yours. You have to be missing half your teeth!"

Regulus shot him a glare. "At least when my new teeth grew in they were straight. Father didn't have to tie me down and realign them magically."

Sirius automatically raised a hand to his mouth as unkind memories came flooding back to him.

Regulus looked down again. "They were alive, Sirius. Just yesterday they were both here. Yesterday for me, I mean…"

Sirius could stand it no longer. He pulled Regulus out of his moth-eaten blankets and into his lap. He held Regulus tight against his chest.

Sirius felt very little over the passing of his parents. Somewhere in his heart he mourned the loss of the idea of a mother and a father, but Orion and Walburga were not people he felt inclined to cry for.

Seeing his brother closer to tears than he'd seen him since before they'd started school, however, tugged at his heart. For all their flaws, Mr. and Ms. Black had been parents to Regulus. They had been his protectors and the anchors around which his sense of normalcy revolved. Now they were gone, and he'd been thrust into a strange surrounding, different but eerily similar.

Thinking that now was the time he might as well press his luck, Sirius kissed his brother's temple. Regulus didn't react.

"It'll all be okay, Regulus," he promised. "We'll keep you here. It's a safe house; no one can get you here. You'll stay here until that lunatic is dead, and then we'll see about starting over."

Regulus pulled away and looked solemnly up at him.

"I'm to just…sit in here and wait out the war?" he asked curiously.

"Yes," Sirius insisted. "And Harry's moving in. I'll get my shit figured out about just how much of a father I should be for you two, and how much of a brother. And then we can be a proper family."

"Not if you're dead, we won't," Regulus quipped.

Sirius blinked. "I'm not going to die, Reggie. Dumbledore never lets me leave this place."

"He will once Voldemort's existence is made public knowledge and you're no longer a fugitive."

Sirius tilted his head. "Regulus…" he said slowly. "You know you'd be taken care of. The Order—"

"Would throw me in jail or out in the streets to be killed by my master in a heartbeat if you weren't here," Regulus said. "They've gotten their information out of me, I'm of no further use to any of them."

Sirius heard the conviction in Regulus's voice and knew he could not convince his brother otherwise. He took Regulus's chin in his hand. "All right, then. I'm not going anywhere, Regulus," he said clearly. "I won't leave you—Regulus, listen to me. Every morning when you wake up, I will still be here. I will not leave you like Mother and Father, I promise. Even after my name is cleared, I'll stay right here."

Regulus was forlorn. "Since when have you ever kept your promises to me?"

"Since my mistakes made me lose you. I may be irresponsible, Regulus, but I am not stupid. I won't make the same mistake twice."

There was a brief silence before Sirius continued, as though he had been choosing his next words very carefully.

"Regulus, you do understand that I chose you because I love you? I considered others like James and Lily because I knew everyone would expect me to choose them, but from the start, it was always you that I wanted the most to see again."

"I suppose I have to believe you, don't I?" Regulus mused. "I have no one else, and most everyone in this house would garret me in my sleep if you weren't standing in their way. You're all I have."

Sirius ruffled Regulus's hair. His hand came away grungy and he made a mental note to give Regulus a serious bath…see if he couldn't get that shiny, raven-blue-black to come back out to play.

Sirius lifted a dinner roll off the plate on the floor and presented it to Regulus.

"You're goddam right I'm all you have. Now how about you lose the teenage attitude and start eating," he added light-heartedly. "Before I grab ahold of you and smack you."

"You can't do that, you're my brother!"

Sirius grinned evilly. "The two-decade age gap and your general disobedience would suggest that I'm your father."

Regulus shot him an alarmed look. "You said you were going to figure out a proper balance!"

Sirius slipped the bread into his brother's hand. Regulus frantically took a bite.

Sirius kissed Regulus's forehead and put an arm around him.

"I like to start my bidding off high…"

Signed/tenrousei-kuroi