"Mum, I'm not a child, I don't need you to hold my hand at the train station." Sirius rolls his eyes.
"When are you coming home?" asks Regulus.
"Christmas," he shrugs offhandedly.
"Christmas?" He's already waiting for it.
"Yeah," Sirius smirks. "I'll bring you back old homework as a present."
"Sirius!" their father reprimands.
"Just kidding."
There's a pretty girl standing around with her parents. Regulus's father glances critically at that family, then checks his watch. "It should come soon."
"Maybe it'll be late," Regulus says, "and you can stay home and play with me."
"He'll send us lots of owls." Their mother runs her hand through Regulus's short hair. "Won't you, Sirius?"
"Yeah," he mutters, staring out towards the track. Then the train is there, tons of metal shining as they grow nearer.
Regulus stares at the horizon even after the smoke fades.