NOTES: We're finally at the end of Harry's second year. This chapter is rather short and only in one part because I didn't like how the story went when I wrote it with the usual two-parts. Tell me what you think of the story so far, okay? Happy reading, guys! :)

("You will never leave me, right? Promise me you'll never leave me, Sirius.")

("Of course, I'll never leave you alone, kid. We're brothers, and brothers stick together. Forever.")

When Sirius first left him, he was eleven and Regulus was nine. It was the first time the younger Black was left completely alone with his demented parents. They went absolutely ballistic when they heard their oldest was sorted into Gryffindor, and they threatened Regulus that they'd disown him if he followed his brother's step. Regulus remembered being closing his eyes tightly when their father beat Sirius up when the boy came home for Christmas. It still haunted Regulus' every night, and sometimes, he swore he could hear Sirius screaming and yelling for their father to please stop hurting him because it hurt so so bad, Father. That was the last time Sirius came home for Christmas, and Regulus' dislike toward his brother started from that moment on. When Regulus finally went to Hogwarts, he felt Sirius' eyes on him as he made his way to the Slytherin table after he was Sorted, feeling both guilty and contempt when he stared right back at his brother. It became everyone's topic of discussion for the whole year, and at that point, the brothers had stopped talking to each other completely. Sirius rarely spent his time at home, even during the summer, and Regulus would resent him more about that. He would be honest and admit that he was rather jealous of James Potter because he felt like he was being replaced. But it was until Sirius ran away from home that Regulus finally decided that he would take the complete opposite road his brother took.

The first Irina made him do when they moved in with Sirius was to patch things up between them. It wasn't an easy work. They were Blacks, and they were known for their pride and ego. For the first five days, Sirius and Regulus avoided each other like the plague. It took calm and gentle Remus to snap at the both of them until they finally talked to each other - which actually meant Remus locking the brothers in Sirius' study to talk things out, after taking their wands lest the both of them would start shooting hexes at each other. Sirius was actually the first one to break the silent, explaining to Regulus how he knew that Regulus was angry at him for leaving the younger Black behind. He asked for Regulus to forgive for breaking the promise they made all those years ago, back when Sirius was seven and Regulus was five. The older Black's confession snapped something Regulus', and like a flood-rush, everything came rushing out from his mouth. He told Sirius about how scared he'd always been in the house, with their abusive parents, expecting them to come into his room with a cane to beat him for whatever mistakes he did; told his brother that when he agreed to join Voldemort, he was sort of expecting Sirius to come and stop him from doing something that stupid. The more Regulus talked, the louder his voice got that he ended up yelling at Sirius. The whole, his brother, who was always known for being loud and obnoxious, patiently listened to him with a straight face, the only sign of emotions he had was when Regulus reached the part of him nearly dying in that cave by the beach. When Regulus finally stopped talking, it was silent for almost five minutes, with Sirius looking at him impassively and Regulus staring at his brother daringly, a little breathless from his rant. Then Sirius got up from his seat and slowly made his way toward Regulus.

And the Auror hugged his little brother, with fresh tears pouring down his face.

"I'm sorry," Sirius had whispered, and Regulus was struck speechless when he felt Sirius' tears fell onto his shoulders. "I am so sorry, my brother. I know it had been hard for you, I know that you hadn't been living an easy life. I know and I'm sorry."

"You left," Regulus said, his voice breaking as his own tears started to fall. "You left me with them, Sirius. You left when you promised me that you would never leave."

"I know. I know, Reg. I know," Sirius repeated again and again. "Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me, Reggie? Please?"

"You're my brother. Of course, I forgive you."

Sirius let out a wet chuckle and hugged Regulus tighter, repeatedly whispering, "I got my brother back. I got my little brother back. My Regulus…"

It was probably the most heart-breaking moment of his life, and yet the happiest too. For over a decade, all Regulus had ever wanted was to have another chance to fix his relationship with his brother. He was thankful that some higher power was still kind enough to give him that chance. When the two brothers finally got out of the study, they found their family standing awkwardly in front of the door, grinning sheepishly at them. Regulus merely grinned, and it was soon changed into a soft chuckle as he watched his brother mock-glaring at his fiancee and Godson, who immaturely stuck their tongues at him. That was his family. He no longer lived alone. True, he knew that if he had to live with only Irina and Astrid, he wouldn't mind it. But now that he had a taste of what it felt to have a big and loud family, filled with people who truly cared and loved him, Regulus couldn't imagine his life without them. He couldn't imagine living without having Sirius yelling at him every morning to wake up, couldn't imagine a life where Marlene wasn't scolding him for forgetting his table-manners when he felt too hungry. He was getting used to picking up all of Remus' books that he left all over the house, as well as spending his evening helping Dorcas making Potions to store up in their private Potions' cabinet, and practising Quidditch at the Manor's vast garden with Harry.

"Regulus, your Owl has been knocking at my window for the past forty-five minutes!" he heard Marlene yelled at him when he was Charming his daughter's dolls to start dancing own their own, causing him to lose his focus which. Sighing, he got out of his daughter's room and headed to the living room, where his soon-to-be sister-in-law was waiting with his Owl on her shoulder.

(Honestly, Sirius? When will you finally make an honest woman out of your girl? Bloody hell.)

"No need to yell, Mar," Regulus said, beckoning for the Owl to come to him. "If you were so bloody disturbed by it, you could always take the letter and give it to me, instead of letting the poor bird flying forever waiting for you respond to him."

"I was busy feeding Payne. I couldn't get my hands dirty."

Regulus rolled his eyes, telling the bird to go wait in his room once he had taken the letter. "You know what? I finally know where Harry got his tendencies to give ridiculous excuses."

"Excuse me?" Marlene exclaimed, voice pitched. The younger Black chuckled but said nothing else. He merely waved at the older woman before getting into his room, already half-unscrolling the letter in his hands.

It was from Draco.

Dear Regulus,

Thank you for the (belated) birthday present. You were over a month late, but it's okay, I guess. At least you remembered, and even gave me a present! Mother told me that it's one of the many Black heirlooms the family owned, so thank you very much. I could only imagine the trouble you went through to get the dagger. I promise I'd look after the dagger. Besides, how many thirteen year-olds do you know that own a thousand year old dagger? A dagger that can be traced back to Merlin himself. It's really amazing.

How are you, by the way? How are Miss Irina? And Astrid? She must be about a year and half by now, right? According to the books I read, babies should be able to talk when they're around her age. Mother told me that I was a year and two months old when I said my first word, which was 'Dada'. Don't tell anyone but Mother swore she saw Father cried. To be honest, I can't imagine that happening. Like, can you picture my father crying? That's just impossible.

Anyway, I overheard Father talking to Mother that there'd be another Sacred sometime soon (don't tell them about it!). Do you think it'll be alright if I come along? There's something I want to talk about to Potter.

Once again, thanks for the present!

Regulus after he was done reading the letter, feeling a bit proud of himself for what he'd done for the boy. He understood perfectly what the boy must be feeling, and he knew that the boy needed someone to talk to. Besides, ever since the boy saved Harry, his brother told him to keep an eye on the young Slytherin, just to make sure he didn't make the same mistakes Regulus did. It wasn't easy at first, to make Draco to trust him so he'd talk to him. But in the end, the boy was so lonely and desperately needed someone to listen to him without fear of judging him. For the whole year, Regulust kept in contact with his cousin's boy, finding himself liking the kid even more. He was the first and only person Draco told about his little crush for Hermione. If Regulus was to be honest, he had a feeling that the crush was actually something a lot stronger. You didn't risk your life for your crush if it was just as simple as that. It made Regulus' fondness for the boy grew, seeing so much of himself in Draco. He reached for his quil and wasted no time to write his respond for the boy. A few minutes later, he was done writing the letter and had sent it back to Draco. He was taking off his prosthetic-leg so he could relax when he heard a knock on his door.

"Regulus?" Marlene said as she came into the room, holding Payne in her arms.

"Yes, Mar?" he replied, turning in his seat from behind his desk. The older woman looked around the room, seemed a little nervous.

"Where's Irina? And Astrid?"

"Dorcas took them to shopping."

"I see." A beat, and then, "Are you busy? Can I talk to you about something?"

In all the months he the woman, they never talked privately. There was always Sirius around, or anyone else in the house. It rather surprised him when she asked that question. Nevertheless, he shrugged it off and nodded, pointing at the bed so she could lay her daughter there. Marlene looked a little hesitant, but in the end, she sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, carefully setting her daughter down beside her. Regulus reached for his crutch before he wobbled toward the bed, taking a seat on the bed with Payne between them.

"Does it hurt still?" Marlene asked, nodding politely to his leg.

"Not really. It hurt only when I've word the leg for far too long, and have moved too much on it. The metal edges dig into my skin, you see," Regulus explained. He watched Marlene absentmindedly playing with Payne's little toes before he continued. "What's wrong, Mar? Do you need anything?"

Marlene took her sweet time to answer, and Regulus waited patiently for her. "You know about Dorcas and Remus, right?"

"Yes. I was there when Irina suggested him to see the doctor. Why?"

"Do you…do you remember that Order mission after Sirius rescued Charlie? The one you went along? You two were gone for a month with no news. Irina was really, really worried."

"I do. I remember it. But, Mar…" Regulus frowned a bit when he saw the frustrated look on the woman's face. "Really, just tell me what's wrong. You're worrying me and I'm now really tempted on telling Sirius about it."

"He knows about it. He's just as confused as I am." Marlene sighed heavily, and she looked tired when she finally told Regulus what was on her mind. "I'm pregnant, Reg."

The younger Black took a minute to get over the shock until he could make a respond. "You're pregnant, and you don't know how to tell your friends about it."

"Yes, and my pregnancy is growing and sooner or later, they'll find out about it."

"Well, you're right about that, Marley."

Both Regulus and Marlene froze when they heard Dorcas' voice coming from behind the door. It swung opened a second later, revealing Dorcas standing there with a sad smile on her face. Even from where he was sitting, he could see that petite Healer had tears running down her face. Dorcas stepped forward, and waved awkwardly toward the door. "It wasn't completely closed, and Irina told me to come and get you, Reg."

"Dorcase, I'm – "

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Mar. It's not like you intentionally got pregnant to rub it on my face. I mean, we all know how Sirius can't keep it in his pants. It's actually a wonder you managed to go ten years without popping fifteen kids, with the rate you're going."

"Oh, Dorcas," Marlene whispered, coming to her best friend to hug the other woman. "I really am sorry. I really wish this was happening to you. I know just how much you want to have a baby. Please, don't hate me."

"Why would I hate you?" Dorcas said, still with that sad smile that made Regulus looked away. "I'd be a lousy best friend if I hated you for something you had no control of. I'm not going to lie that I feel rather upset about it, but I don't hate you because of it."

The two woman hugged again, crying the whole time while Regulus awkwardly pretended he wasn't there to listen on them. Wisely, he decided to make sure Payne was still asleep to keep himself for hearing what Marlene and Dorcas were talking about. He was gently running his hand through Payne's short curls when he felt something burned his chest. He thought his heart had stopped beating as he remembered Remus' words that day a week before Harry's birthday. With trembling fingers, Regulus reached for the raven-ring hanging by the gold-chain around his neck, and a whimper escaped him when he saw the ring glowed bright red. It was the Black insignia-ring. When the late Orion Black found out his wife Walburga was carrying another son, he decided that he would make two insignias, just in case when his first son died and the ring was lost in his person, his other son would still have it. The reason why Orion made two rings was because according to Old Rules, all Black heirs should have the ring with them if they wanted to take over their predecessor's position as Head of the Sacred Twenty Eight. Then Sirius had the rings Charmed that day when Regulus returned from his supposed-death, so whenever one of them was in danger, the ring would tell the other about it. The whole time Regulus stayed with Sirius, the ring had glowed red once; that time when Sirius was on his mission to rescue Charlie.

And even then, the ring didn't glow this bright.

"Mar, where is Sirius?" he asked, interrupting the woman's conversation with her best friend.

"He's at the Ministry, late-night duty. Why? What is – oh no…" Marlene whispered, her eyes catching the glowing ring in Regulus' hand.

"They're coming for him," Regulus said as he quickly Summoned for his leg and managed put it on in record time. "Doe, is Remus home?"

"He's in our room. I'll go get him," the Healer said, making a mad dash to her shared room with her husband. By the time Remus came, Regulus was already dressed, ready for battle.

"He's at his office right?" Regulus asked Marlene as he and Remus practically ran to the fireplace.

"He should be," Remus was the one to answer it. "But knowing our luck, he's probably someplace else doing unecessary patrolling."

"That bloody idiot," Regulus muttered under his breath. He stepped aside and let Remus to use go first, restlessly tapping his wand on the metal of his prosthetic-leg. He waited until the werewolf had gone for him to finally get onto the fireplace.

"Regulus, bring him back home to me," Marlene said before Regulus Flooed away.

"I will. I promise I'll bring him back."

The fireplace flared in green flames that took Regulus away to the Ministry. From the Main Atrium, he could hear already the sounds of loud yelling and bright green lights against red lights that told him his brother already had some company. Remus wasn't waiting for him and had gone first toward the source of the sound, yelling for his best friend's name the whole time. Regulus took off right after him, praying to that Muggle-deity his wife worshipped so much that his brother was all right. Sirius was on the second floor, where the Auror Headquarters were. By the time Regulus and Remus got there, the older Black was fighting against ten Death Eaters, all at once – and more seemed to be coming. Remus immediately took care of the newcomers, fighting the seven wizards before they could attack Sirius. Regulus knew that Remus would cover for him as he made his way to his brother, so he quickly fought toward Sirius, throwing hexes here and there whenever other Death Eaters tried to attack him or his brother. Just when he was getting closer to Sirius, a spell hit him right on the chest, sending him flying a few feet away from his brother. Regulus didn't take long to shrug off the pain, and was already trying to get back to Sirius.

He wasn't quick enough though.

A Stunning spell was aimed toward Sirius, and Regulus yelled to warn him. The older Black side-stepped the spell, only to get hit with another spell, this time it was an unknown spell in purple light. Regulus was barely registering what spell had got his brother, or whether there was another hex coming his way. All he had in mind was that he had to get to his brother because he couldn't afford losing him again. Not again. But Sirius was hit again, this time bright yellow jet of light hit him right on the left side of his chest, where his heart was. Regulus watched as if it was in slow-motion when his brother dropped to the ground, his wand rolled from his left hand. His eyes widened in horrification when he saw one Death Eater grabbed for Sirius' hand.

"NO!" Regulus yelled, conjuring a powerful hex and sent it on that Death Eater. But the hex arrived a second too late and he had disappeared, taking Sirius with him.

And once again, Regulus was left alone.

("You promise? Say 'I promise', Sirius.")

("I promise, little brother. I will never leave you.")