Generator: Character, Ship, Triad - Step 1: Regulus Black
Greek Mythology Category Competition - Coeus: Write about a member of the Black family
Harry Potter Collectables Challenge - A Hogwarts Letter for Harry: (scenario) Receiving Hogwarts letter (not Harry)
Word Count: 804
My Brother's Betrayer
"Enter." The voice of his father rang through the door after Regulus had knocked. Hands shaking, Regulus opened the door and entered his father's study.
When Kreacher had informed him that Father wished to see him in his study, Regulus had immediately been overcome with a sense of dread. Too many times his father had called either himself or Sirius to that room, often to berate them for some blunder or other they'd made. Although Father was usually far harsher with Sirius than with his youngest son, Regulus still feared the man.
The familiar smell of old books surrounded him as he stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind him. With a jolt, Regulus realized that his mother stood by his father's chair behind the desk, looking as proud and imposing as ever. Mother had never harmed him, but he had heard the fights she had with Sirius, had heard her slapping her oldest son for his rebellious nature and disdain of the things that she held dear. Regulus feared her as much as he feared Father.
Stopping just in front of the desk, Regulus clasped his hands together in front of him and stared unblinkingly at his parents. Show no weakness. They'd drilled this into him from a young age. He must not appear afraid. Fear was weakness.
"You wished to see me?" Regulus spoke slowly and quietly, doing his best to keep the tremble in his hands from showing through in his voice.
Father picked up an envelope and tossed it to the other side of his desk. It landed at the edge of the smooth surface in front of Regulus. "This came for you today. Open it." There was a hardness to his voice.
Willing his hands not to shake, Regulus reached for the envelope and broke the seal. He pulled a piece of parchment from inside and, unfolding it, read:
Dear Mr. Black,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
This was all he needed to read. "It says I've been accepted at Hogwarts." A thrill of excitement filled him. He would go to Hogwarts, he would be able to see his brother again without their parents ruining everything –
"As I suspected." Mother sounded proud. "Orion, I know what you would wish, but we must send him to Hogwarts."
Regulus felt his mood plummet again. "What do you mean? Father, what is she talking about?"
Father's brow furrowed. Regulus realized too late that he'd been asking too many questions, something Father disliked. "It was my wish, after the disastrous Sorting of your brother, to send you to Durmstrang." Father's face contorted with fury and he spat the word brother as though it tasted foul. "It is a fine school, based on the meetings I've had with the Headmaster. He shares our belief that Mudbloods and other such filth do not belong in a school of magical learning. The emphasis there is on learning the ways of the Dark Arts."
"However," Mother continued, "we believe now that someone must keep an eye on Sirius. He will tell us nothing about his activities at Hogwarts. He must be reigned in and made to uphold the ancient traditions and beliefs of the Black family. It is too late to get him into Slytherin, but I refuse to believe that all is lost where he is concerned."
Regulus had a sinking feeling; he knew where this was going.
"You will be our informant," Father said. "You will go to Hogwarts, you will be Sorted into Slytherin, and you will keep us informed of Sirius's actions at all times."
This was the last thing in the world that Regulus wanted to do. Instead of being able to spend time with his brother as he wished, he would have to play spy. He would never be able to hide this from Sirius; he had never been able to keep such things from his brother. However, he knew that he now had no choice. Mother and Father had been outraged when Sirius had broken tradition and been the first Black in the history of the family to be Sorted into a House other than Slytherin. Regulus did not want to suffer the vicious backlash that Sirius had suffered at the hands of their mother, nor did he want to receive an equally vicious tongue-lashing from Father. He would have to be the son that they had expected Sirius to be. He would have to betray his brother; the only other option was to betray his parents and suffer their wrath.
Regulus refolded the letter and bowed to his parents. "As you wish," he acquiesced. He only hoped that Sirius could forgive him someday.