Disclaimer: Nothing is mine! Unless you see a name you don't recognize. That's mine.
Notes to reviewers: Moony1972 – THANK YOU! I'm so glad someone likes my comedy! And I didn't know if the pranks were good enough for the Marauders, so it's gratifying that you think they were good.
Cloudy Rabbit – Regulus needed the love. And really, everything I've ever seen of Regulus points towards either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. He was brave enough, and some might say stupid enough, to go against Voldie and then if you add in Sirius pushing him to be his own person... more on that from Sirius.
Reviewers in general – THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love that people like this little brain child of mine enough to comment on them. The fact that your reviews have been glowing is just the icing on the cake really. Keep it up and feed my muse! She likes tuna. Oh, and ideas.
Chapter 7: Third Year Begins
Remus chuckled faintly as he watched Regulus come flopping down the stairs, half asleep and disheveled. "Couldn't sleep any longer?" he asked, fighting to hold back his laughter. Regulus turned to him slowly, before lifting his eyes and giving Remus one of the deadliest glares the young man had ever seen.
"Stupid Claws. Haven't you ever heard of personal space?" he growled out. Remus chuckled a little.
"Yes, actually, we have. It's just that... you're a Black. Plus... Sirius doesn't exactly have the best reputation. Oh he's one of the more tolerable Snakes, to be sure, but he's still..."
"A Snake. I get it," Regulus yawned, "but can't they not take it out on me?" he asked. Remus shook his head.
"Don't think so. Sorry Eaglet, just the way it is." Regulus glared.
"I'm not an animal, Lupin." Remus sighed, running a hand through his hair. Shioban, a girl Remus wasn't too close with, chose that moment to walk down the stairs.
"Hum~. Trouble in paradise?" she asked with a smirk and quirked eyebrow. Regulus shook his head.
"Madam, could you kindly not make such strange comments? I'd rather not have 'gay poof' added to the list of things I am. So far I have 'Stinking Black,' 'Slytherin Spy,' 'Dark Boy,' and 'Stupid Geek,' the last of which I honestly don't understand. I was under the impression that a geek was smart. There were likely a few others, but I lost them in the tirade of other, more colorful, insults and derogatory comments. I think you can understand the desire of an eleven year old to not add to that rather soul-crushing list," he said. Remus sighed again.
"Thanks for that, Regulus. Now I have to either lie to my best friend and say that you're fine and getting along alright or tell him the truth and have a rather irate, creative, conniving, sneaky, vindictive, and fiercely protective Sirius Black stalking me like some sort of wounded gazelle," he said. Regulus gave him a blank look. "Sirius asked for me to look out for you. If he finds out that you got bullied that badly on your first night, he'll have my hide! And then go after the other Firsties who dared mess with his baby brother," Remus expounded. Regulus' eyes went wide as he realized what having an extra hundred and forty odd years, mentally at least, would do to his big brother. To Sirius, Regulus really was a baby, for all that Sirius' body was only two years older than Regulus himself.
"Did I say 'bullying?' I meant 'welcoming!' They were welcoming me to Ravenclaw. Nothing out of the ordinary, really," he said with a nervous laugh and a slightly shaky smile. Remus shot him a look, clearly wanting an explanation for the rapid change as well as the nervousness. Regulus had to disappoint him, for now. He wasn't about to betray his brother's secret to another. Remus shrugged and grabbed the younger Black by the upper arm.
"So you won't tell me, that's fine. But all the same, I did promise Sirius I'd look out for you and that means straightening you out when you look like a niffiler had a party in your hair and herd of pygmypuffs attacked your clothes," he said, dragging the protesting Regulus into the third year boys dorm. Twenty minutes later, a perfectly in order Regulus came down the stairs followed by a pleased looking Remus.
"Did you have to do that?" Regulus asked. Remus, grinning an all too cheeky grin that heralded trouble, replied,
"Why yes, I did." Shioban had already left, and so couldn't ask what Remus had had to do. Xenophilius Lovegood, however, was and asked for her.
"He went into the First Year boys dorm, silenced them all, then spewed pink bubbles from his wand to stick on all of their clothes and hair," Regulus answered, Remus looking remarkably smug behind him. That was when the aforementioned First Years came down stairs. A few still had the bubbles stuck to them but most had... "Is that... stinksap?" asked an incredulous Regulus Black. Remus began to cackle evilly before him and the younger Black edged away from the Marauder. He had known of the reputation his brother and his friends had, but this was something else. Something he hadn't entirely wanted to witness. Remus Lupin truly looked like an evil mastermind reveling in a diabolical plan executed to perfection.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you never mess with a Marauder or his family!" Remus declared to the common room. All the new first year students looked on in fear while the older students were mildly surprised, though a few were nodding.
"They did give you a warning," a fifth year said, giving the pranked boys a baleful look.
"I didn't think they'd act on the first day!" one of them countered. The whole room went still, even the unknowing first years, at that comment. Regulus, feeling magic rolling off Remus in angry waves, inched away as smoothly and quietly as he could. He alone of all the first years, and possibly even some of the upper years as well, knew what an angry Remus Lupin could do. It was only slightly better than what an angry Sirius Black could and would do.
"We warned you at the feast, idiot. And still you jeered at him, robbing him of a peaceful sleep and finally rousing him far before it was time to get up and then rushing him out the door half asleep at a time when you were fairly sure there wouldn't be anyone up to escort him to breakfast, adding to the illusion that either no-one cared or he was late. In doing so, you ignored what we told you and thus brought your current state upon yourself. Those bubbles and the stinksap cannot be removed except by the one who cast the spell, and I'm not feeling very merciful at the moment," Remus lectured, his voice a low growl and sparks of green fire flickering in the haze of his magic. It wasn't very commonly known, but when a wizard is exceptionally powerful, and his emotions are running high, his magic would pick up on it and create the right atmosphere to express those emotions. Anger, especially in the Lupin line, generally had a heavy, oppressive feeling with the occasional spark, hence what happened in the Ravenclaw common room that morning. Such events also happen with witches, but theirs is often suppressed and only comes out when they snap. Regulus shook his head and grabbed Remus' arm.
"You've done your job, for now. Lets just get some food and get on with our day. I promise, I won't try to get into trouble." Remus gave him a Look. "Okay, as little trouble as I can for the first few weeks. Just until the whispers die down a bit," Regulus amended. Remus shook his head, but calmed down and pushed him toward the portrait hole.
"You're sitting with Sirius for breakfast, then James for lunch, and Peter for diner, if nothing comes up," he said. Regulus turned around and gave him a confused look.
"Why..."
"Sirius wanted to make sure you were alright, and I don't want to have him glaring at our table all during lunch after I tell him about this, James can help you with anything you don't understand from your first transfiguration class, and Peter just wanted to be included. Before you ask, we decided this before we even got on the train," Remus said, cutting him off. Regulus rolled his eyes, but said nothing as they walked.
/*/
Sirius was watching the door like a hawk. He had been the first to the table and had watched the door ever since. Each student who entered was scrutinized and unnerved by his sharp gray eyes and quickly made their way to their seats. Then, finally, his brother and Remus came in and made a beeline for him. He stood expectantly and Regulus rolled his eyes at him while Remus looked a bit grimmer than usual. "What happened," Sirius asked in a clipped tone.
"First year boys were picking on Reggie. I got revenge. End of story," Remus answered. Regulus rolled his eyes again.
"He sprayed them with pink bubbles that apparently burst into stinksap when you try to remove them. Then they said they hadn't thought he'd act on the first day and sparks started to form around Remus. I managed to get him out of there, but the damage is done," he said. Sirius nodded.
"Good work, soldier. Keep it up," he said to Remus, who saluted.
"Sir yes sir!" the werewolf said. Regulus groaned as he sank onto the bench.
"Can't we just eat? I want pancakes with strawberry syrup and cream cheese!" he said. Remus gave him a look that clearly said 'are you for real?' before Sirius pushed him down on Regulus' left side.
"A marvelous idea, Regulus! Let us partake of the most glorious of breakfasty foods!" Remus sent a look to James and Peter who were standing in the doorway, the look on his face a clear plea for help. The two closed their eyes and shook their heads. They could not save him from the strangeness and mild insanity that was Sirius Black. Then someone had the horrible sense to insult Regulus. Both brothers looked at each other, then Regulus shook his head, grabbed his plate of pancakes, and scooted back on the bench before continuing to eat. Remus, having known Sirius long enough to know taking cues from his younger brother wasn't all that bad an idea when things like this happened, picked up his cereal and leaned back as well.
"That poor fool won't be able to do anything properly for at least a week," Regulus said conversationally to Remus, popping a piece of pancake and a small glob of cream cheese into his mouth. Remus nodded solemnly.
"I quite agree. Poor, poor, idiot." They regarded the sinister look on Sirius' face with a sort of detached curiosity that was of course faked and practiced in front of a mirror for times such as these. "Perhaps we should move a bit further? He seems in fine form this morning," Remus added, panicking slightly on the inside. Regulus was right there with him.
"Oh yes, my good man. Perhaps the Hufflepuffs wouldn't mind two more for breakfast?" Remus nodded, already moving. Sirius waited for them to sit, backwards of course, before allowing a smile to cross his face. He had perfected his Evil Snake look long ago and by now everyone knew to fear it. Except for this idiot, but he had a feeling that he wasn't going to like what came next. Laughing his patented Evil Snake laugh, Sirius tossed multiple hexs and jinxs at the boy. By the time Sirius was done, nearly ten minutes after he began, the poor boy had a flock of bat-boogys circling him, several lion cubs swiping at him if he dared to move, slugs pouring out his mouth, boils in every sickly and disgusting color under the sky all over his body, looked like he had been stung by a hive of angry bees, and was almost completely bald. Sirius twirled his wand around his fingers, still grinning his evil grin.
"Never. Insult. A brother. In. Front. Of. ME," he hissed, flicking his wand into the air before catching it and leveling it at the moaning lump in front of him. Whistles filled the air from those who had witnessed Sirius' revenge. Regulus shivered, then gave a mirthless chuckle.
"Mum would have approved," he said tonelessly. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I might not like the direction that woman would take the House of Black, but she is my mother, and I am a Black. We take insults personally... and dish out lessons accordingly and with our own flare," he said. Regulus snorted.
"Flare for the dramatic you mean," he said as he sauntered over. Crouching down, he examined one of the cubs. It noticed him, and rolled over for a belly rub. He chuckled. "Nice work on these, though their a bit too much like a house cat," he said. Sirius smiled fondly at his brother.
"I could..."
"Don't even think about it. Can you imagine what McGonagall would do to us if I had a lion cub you conjured living in my dorm room?" Regulus said, cutting his brother off. Sirius paused and thought... then shivered with a look of terror as he pictured exactly what the strict professor would do.
"While I am pleased with your transfiguration work, Mr. Black, I must insist that you dispel it before any more harm comes to my student," the transfiguration professor said from behind the shivering youth.
"Yes ma'am!" he snapped, quickly undoing his transfigurations before picking the idiot up. "I'll take him to the infirmary now shall I? Would you like one of the prefects to come along as well to make sure I don't kill the dolt along the way?" he added. McGonagal shook her head.
"For once in my life, I'll trust you. Now, get going before I regret my actions." As she turned to leave, Regulus darted forward.
"Professor," he called, "I'd like to go with him, since it was partially my fault. Besides, he's my brother and right now... he needs me," he finished when McGonagal turned back. She smiled faintly, then waved her hand. "Thank you, Professor," Regulus said with a small bow before helping Sirius haul the moaning boy out of the hall.
/*/
Madam Pomfery was not well pleased with the third year Slytherin in front of her. "He insulted Reggie, ma'am," Sirius said. "And I'm not sorry," he added at the Healer's disapproving look. Regulus sighed and stepped in front of his rather idiotic brother.
"There was a warning issued, and a relatively harmless prank pulled this morning in Ravenclaw, but he," here the little Ravenclaw pointed at the first year Slytherin, "insulted me anyway. Sirius simply reacted the way he's programmed to. Swiftly and with style, even if the 'style' could be argued. If it had been Sirius getting insulted, I likely would have done the same. Though, I'd keep an eye on Sirius. Knowing him, he'll pile 'pranks' on the guy until he double checks everything, never goes around a corner without checking in a mirror, never trusts anyone who smiles too widely, and curses anything that moves in his peripheral vision." Sirius sighed, slumping slightly.
"Am I that bad?" he asked. Regulus simply gave him a look. "Fine, so I am that bad. But only when someone insults my family or friends. And besides, James, Peter, Remus, and possibly Severus and Marlene would do things mostly the same," Sirius said. Pomfery shook her head and shooed the boys out. They were only too happy to leave.
"So... Madam Pomfery didn't tie you down to check your head?" came the soft, sibilant voice of Severus Snape. Sirius grinned at the other boy.
"Nope!" he said brightly. Severus shook his head and looked to Regulus.
"Oh yes, he's always been this way," the younger Black answered the unasked question with a resigned look.
"It's funny, I always thought you were more of a Gryffindor," Sirius suddenly piped up as he and Severus walked Regulus to his first class of the day. The little Ravenclaw had protested at first, then relented when he considered that it was his brother he was arguing with. Sirius never gave into his arguments.
"Oh?" Regulus said, pretending interest while really hoping no-one would think him a spy.
"You were willing to be different, to not be a Slytherin. The Hat could have easily put you in Gryffindor," Sirius continued. If he noticed how Regulus was slowing, he didn't show it. "Then there was the fact that you had it in you to go after a piece of the Dark Hypocrite's soul when you knew you would die. That was pretty brave," Sirius continued. He had told Regulus a bit about his past-future when he had found The List one day, several years back. Severus was curious, it was the second time Sirius had said something like that, but he held his tongue for the time being. He wanted to know what came next.
"I'm not," came the quite voice of the younger Black. Sirius sighed.
"What is bravery, Regulus?" he asked.
"Not being afraid," came the immediate response. Sirius gave a mirthless chuckle.
"No. That is being fearless. Fearlessness is stupid. Makes you reckless. I was reckless. What makes someone brave, Regulus? What makes a hero?"
"Someone who fights for those who can't fight for themselves is a hero."
"Sure, but what is bravery?"
"... What you've done." Sirius sighed, stopped and grabbed his brother tightly by the shoulders.
"Bravery is doing what is right over what is easy. Bravery is doing something you are afraid of but need to do. Sending a love letter, staying in the same room as a creepy bug, helping someone who doesn't like you, desperately fighting even when you feel like you're going to hurl... doing something despite your fear. That is bravery. What I've done... I'd say it's selfishness, wanting to save everyone, but others would say I'm brave," he said, hoping to get his point across.
"So, being brave is just knowing there's something more important than your fear, and pushing past that to do what needs to be done?" Regulus said, looking up into the scarred face of his brother. Sirius smiled kindly at him and looped an arm around his neck.
"Just so, my little Eaglet," he said. James was waiting outside the classroom when they got there. The other two third years exchanged looks and James walked off with a nod. Regulus allowed himself a small smile. So this was what it was like having friends. The rest of the day went smoothly for Regulus after that. He almost got lost a few times, but one of the Marauders or their friends would pop up and show him the way. Some of them skipped to do this, but Regulus knew arguing with them wouldn't help a thing, so he let them do it. Besides, it helped all the other first year 'Claws as well, giving Regulus a slightly better reputation in his House.
/*/
The next day, there was a plate of pastries in the common room. Regulus groaned, glaring at the dish. "Morning!" Remus said pleasantly, picking one up. Regulus gave him a rather blank look as the rest of Ravenclaw began filtering in. Shaking his head, he left before anyone did something stupid. He was the first Ravenclaw to arrive in the Great Hall and spotted his brother, grinning like a loon and talking to the other Slytherins at the table, forcing them to answer. They all sounded like they were American kids from The Hood. Regulus groaned.
"What doth mine ears perceive? Why doth the Raven groan so early in the morn?" James asked. Regulus glared at him.
"You're all morons, eating your own pranked food," he said. Severus came up to him, a dark glint in his eye.
"Yo, Fo! How ya doin'?" he asked. Regulus looked at him, blinked, then bashed his head into the table. Hard. Very hard.
"I'm surrounded by idiots," he intoned, forehead still smashed against the table. Sirius snickered.
"Bro, you be da Drama King!" he said. Regulus rolled his head onto its side and glared.
"Go drown in your cornflakes," he snapped before snapping upright, snagging three pancakes, drizzling strawberry syrup on them, then scooping up a few generous dollops of cream cheese and closing his eyes to savor the taste of his breakfast delicacy. Those gathered around blinked at the rapid change, then shook their heads. This was a Black they were talking about. He may act sane, but he was just as crazy as the rest of them.
"Dude, you ga dissed!" Severus said, a casual observer missing the amusement his new-found friends caught. James nodded.
"Our brother in arms hath received a slight indeed, my dear friend. It is made so much worse that it was delivered by our youngest member," he said solemnly. Regulus' lips twisted in distaste.
"Go. Away," he said around a bite of strawberry syrup coated pancake. Remus shook his head.
"Sirius, he Siriusly means it."
"Da't only works in writ'in' bro!" Sirius said, looking offended.
"Indeed dear Eagle, that pun was so bad, it t'was not a pun at all!" James agreed. Remus scowled at him.
"You try talking in puns, James. It's hard," he said. James rolled his eyes and Regulus vanished in the chaos the trio devolved into. The prank only lasted until lunch, which was when the potions professor developed the antidotes for the potions that drove the prank and put them into the pumpkin juice. There was much rejoicing. From there out, Regulus focused on his studies, the Marauders only pulled a prank every two or three weeks, and life was fairly normal at Hogwarts aside from the odd black letter that showed up. By this point, several families had taken it upon themselves to make sure the children left behind were taken care of, but people were still scared their family would be next. It was two and a half weeks before Christmas when Sirius came upon something troubling. His brother was becoming loyal to Dumbledore. Sirius himself was as well, to a lesser degree, and it was always stronger after he had eaten at another House's table. That was when he decided to check James' food for potions. Why James? Because he was the next person on his List of People to have Food With.
/*/
It had been such a nice day, James thought morosely as Sirius pulled out his wand at lunch. "What are you doing, or do I not want to know?" he asked, fearing the answer. Sirius Black with a drawn wand almost always heralded trouble, in one form or another.
"I came to sit with my best friend and check his food for potions because he's not himself around a certain flame haired Gryffindor girl, a certain Miss Evans," he said, giving his friend a half-truth. The truth was his intention, the lie was his reason. James gave him a look that said he thought the other boy to be mad, but pushed his food over toward him. He had been right. He hadn't really wanted to know.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," he said. Sirius couldn't bring himself to grin. However much he hoped it wasn't so, potions in the food was a distinct possibility. Sirius waved his wand over the food, the plate, and the goblet then waited with bated breath. The result came back and... he hissed like an angry snake.
"Albus Stinking Dumbledore, the Greatest Meddler the World has Ever Know," he growled, glaring up at the head table. Dumbledore, seeming to feel the massive amount of killing intent along with the burning glare Sirius was directing his way, turned then froze as it hit him full blast.
'Now what could I have done to make him look at me with such hatred?' the man wondered. James was thinking rather the same thing. Silently, Sirius handed over several potions.
"Antidotes for the potions I found in your food. Loyalty, love, and compulsion," he said at James' questioning look.
"Wait, are you saying that Dumbledore has been... modifying... my behavior through potions in my food?!" James asked. Sirius snorted.
"No. I'm saying he's been manipulating your personality through potions. Compulsion, probably so you're extremely prejudiced; loyalty, towards him no doubt; and love for Evans, and quite a strong dose might I add. It's like he wants you so madly in love with her that your obsessiveness drives her away since you act like a creep. I think I'll go check her food now too, see how the old goat is trying to control her life as well," he bit out. James stared at Sirius as if he had never seen him before. With a glare, Sirius ordered James to drink the potions he had given him and then breezed down the table to Lily. "Terribly sorry, Madam, but I just discovered that a Mr. James Potter has been dosed with a love potion, keyed to you. I'd like to check your food and drink to see if any other potions are being employed in Gryffindor House." Lily looked at him in shock. One of Potter's gang was talking to her? Politely? She nodded and, with a grim smile, Sirius repeated his performance of waving, hissing, growling, and shoving potions into hands. He had found loyalty, compulsion, and agitation potions in her food and pumpkin juice. He hadn't known agitation potions even existed, but if anyone was being fed one, it was Lily. The next day, Sirius brought Lily and James food and drink from his table, then checked them once the pair had touched the plate and goblet. Both were in the clear. Sirius saluted and sauntered over to Remus where he checked his food as well. With a snarl, Sirius promised Remus antidotes to the potions found in his food as well. At lunch, Sirius had several antidotes and Severus looking at him as though he were crazier than ever. That time it was Peter who was subjected to the potions search. Remus and Peter were both given antidotes. Sirius combated the potions for a week before Dumbledore seemed to give up. It was a rather irritated silver haired headmaster who watched James help the others with their transfiguration and speak civilly to the Slytherins. Slowly, the rest of the students started checking their food and there was an outcry as the potion scandal was discovered. Many people who would have turned to Voldemort for power or recognition were saved from that by the school coming together as blind obedience and loyalty to Dumbledore or their House was washed away along with reenforced prejudices. Though, some of it might have been rebelling against the man who had drugged them into hatred. No-one was quite sure what it was, but none could argue with the end result. No-one liked not being in control of their own actions. Slytherins especially. Albus was wary of malicious potions and spells, especially at meal times, after that. He knew what slighted Slytherins could do. Sirius Black had given him a very good example with that First Year he... attacked... in defense of his brother. No-one wanted to be on the other end of any Black's wand.
/*/
James looked at his Slytherdor best friend. "You started a revolution that day Sirius. How did you know about the potions?" he asked. Sirius sighed.
"I didn't. I simply had a hunch," he answered, entirely truthful. He hadn't known Dumbledore had drugged the school, and he still wasn't sure how either. It had all been a guess. That and he had seen how his friends had seemed strained, even though he acted almost exactly like he had the first time around. Peter shook his head.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like I've actually gotten smarter since Sirius discovered the potions," he said. Sirius chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.
"You had it in you all along, Peter. The potions just made you to afraid to show your true potential. And besides, it was Professor Slughorn who provided the antidotes after I told him my parents had been trying to influence me," he said. James was a bit shocked.
"He just gave you the potions?" Sirius gave him a very hard look.
"My mother is practically a Dark Empress, I wouldn't be surprised if she had my father on will-sapping potion like Dumbledore had Peter, and I'm fairly sure dear old mother has crucioed our House Elf into insanity with how he worships her. If you had met my mother, or even paid attention to the reputation my family still has despite my best efforts at turning my father to the Light, you'd know it is a very believable tale, James. I fear my family's reputation shall be as dark as it's name until I come of age and can actually do something about it. Everyone decent in the House of Black has been disowned and blasted off the Family Tapestry! That's why you don't see as many Blacks as you used to. All the decent men got blasted and all the women either married other pure-bloods or married a decent chap and got blasted as well. We're killing ourselves, James. Slughorn knows it and, despite what you seem to think, is a decent sort of man, though he does have a rather obsessive love of networking and gaining connections. He wouldn't want to be influenced by the likes of my mother, plus he said her potion's skill was rather poor and that he would never wish for someone to be subjected to the horrid concoctions she cooked up," he said. James shook his head.
"Well, I'm glad you got them. I... didn't really like how I was acting. I just... didn't know why or how to stop," he said. Sirius clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"You are my best friend, James. I know you weren't yourself, and your love of pranks is totally your own. Though, I shudder to think what you'd be without me," he said, ending with a grin. James looked at his friend, shocked at the depth the eleven and a half year old's voice had reached, as well as how true the words sounded. Remus gave the young Black a searching look while Peter recovered swiftly from his shock.
"He's right about one thing at least. You guys are the best thing that's happened to me, so far. In fact, you and Remus, James, have only been building on what Sirius did for me," he said. Remus and James turned to the fourth member of their band in surprise, then to Sirius.
"Ya know... I feel the same," James said, a contemplative look on his fair face. Sirius looked uncomfortable.
"Why would you say that?" he asked, hoping to hedge their almost questions.
"Because, Sirius, when I met you I was a lonely little prankster who didn't want to share the spotlight," James said, as if it proved everything. Sirius shook his head.
"And I was even more of a coward. Worse, I was a scared coward. The kind of coward who would sell out his own mother if it meant he came out alive and mostly unharmed," Peter said, sounding the strongest and bravest Sirius had ever known the mousy-haired boy to be. He was stumped. Remus shook his head.
"You were the first person outside professor Dumbledore to ever consider being my friend, Sirius. The first person my parents accepted. And not only that, but you brought me two other friends who have brought me more joy than I could have even dreamed of. Seriously, Sirius, what the heck is with you?" Remus said, giving the Black heir a searching look. Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I was expecting this conversation to come in the middle of fourth year, at the earliest, not the end of third. Man, you guys are far better than I thought. You especially Pete. Your assessment was spot on, though I don't suppose I really have to tell you that. And you, Mr. I-think-it's-cool-to-look-like-I-just-got-off-a-broom! Don't think I've forgotten about you! 'A lonely little prankster who didn't want to share the spotlight' indeed! It wasn't just the spotlight you enjoyed, it was seeing yourself above others, don't deny it! I've seen it, far too many times. Also... I was the worst of us all. It was that brush with death I had when I was four that made me the... young man that I am today," he said, still gripping his hair and looking wry. His friends all tilted their heads to the right and lifted an eyebrow at the same time. It would have been quite amusing, if Sirius weren't having a nervous breakdown.
"Sirius... ?" they asked, again as one. That did make Sirius laugh, albeit it a slightly hysterical laugh, but he laughed.
"Honestly! How did you all arrive at this now? What have I done to make you question me like this? What possibly made you think, 'wait, Sirius isn't being honest' or, 'wait, Sirius is acting like a mastermind' or, 'wait, Sirius knows too much' or, 'wait, Sirius changed me and it was far too much to be an accident?' GAH!" he ranted, now starting to tear at his hair. Remus, James, and Peter all shared a look, then nodded and slapped the other boy hard. "Thanks. I've just been stressed is all," Sirius said, once he had gotten over the abrupt pain.
"How did you know about my... condition?" Remus asked. Sirius sighed.
"Come over to my house for Christmas. I only want to tell this story once," he said, ending the conversation. Even as he dreaded telling his tale, he counted the year well spent.
/?/
A/N: and there you have it. Regulus' first year, Sirius' third, and the set up for The Reveal, coming soon to a chapter near you!
Proverbs 4:24
"Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."
