Secrets Are Walls That Keep Us Alone
Chapter Twenty-One
"I don't think –" Regulus began, unsure. He thought they would just insult his brother, but this looked more serious than that.
"Shut up, Regulus," Malfoy spat. He was focused on Sirius, and Sirius glared back. No one spared a glance for Regulus.
"Impedimenta!" The jinx hit Sirius before he could react, knocking him back against the desk. Regulus saw his wrist hit the corner hard and watched as Sirius almost dropped his wand. But Sirius was stubborn; he clenched his teeth and tightened his grip on the wand, refusing to give up his last defense.
"Levicorpus!" Sirius said, pointing his wand at Avery. The other boy was jerked into the air, but quickly fell into a heap on the floor when the spell failed as Sirius was hit with another hex.
"Uh-oh, Sirius. Having some trouble with your spells?" Malfoy taunted. A jet of purple light shot from his wand, though he had said no incantation, and hit Sirius. Sirius collapsed to the floor, curling up, obviously in pain, though he wouldn't make a sound. His wand slipped from his hand and rolled across the floor, out of his reach.
"Stop," Regulus forced out, but his voice was barely intelligible. "Stop."
"What was that?" Malfoy raised his eyebrows, glancing over at Regulus as he lifted the curse. Sirius remained on the floor, breathing hard.
"Just leave him alone now," Regulus said, his voice pleading. He was afraid to make his friends mad, but this was too much.
"But this is fun," Mulciber said, hitting Sirius with another jinx as he was trying to get up.
"Please," Regulus begged, stepping between his friends and his brother, but not before noticing the hopeful look in Sirius' eyes.
"Get out of the way," Avery said, forcibly moving Regulus to the side.
Regulus stood, torn, as his friends continued to torment his brother. They even moved from just spells to simply kicking Sirius where he lay on the floor by the bed. Regulus wondered if he shouldn't go get his parents, but he somehow doubted they would do anything.
Finally, parents called up the stairs that it was time to leave. Yaxley kicked Sirius one last time, and the four of them swept from the room.
"Sirius?" Regulus asked timidly, kneeling beside his brother.
Sirius groaned and opened his eyes to look at Regulus. His eye was swollen again, his lip bleeding where he had bit it to keep from screaming.
"Are you okay?" Regulus asked breathlessly.
"Yeah," Sirius said hoarsely. "Just give me a minute."
"I'm sorry about that, Sirius."
"Not your fault," Sirius grunted, pushing himself to a sitting position.
"But –"
"They just wanted an excuse. It's okay."
"I'm still sorry."
"Regulus." Regulus looked up at his brother. "I don't care what they do to me, okay? It doesn't matter."
"They really aren't bad people, it's just that they –"
"Don't kid yourself, Reg. They're a bunch of future Death Eaters. And all because they're too scared of what mommy and daddy will say if they don't join Voldemort."
Sirius stood up and brushed off his robes, then righted the chair that had been toppled.
"I don't care if you hang out with them. Just remember, being like them doesn't make you better than anyone."
"What would you know about any of it?" Regulus snapped, suddenly angry. "You think you're so great because you stand up to our parents. It doesn't make you great, Sirius. It makes you an idiot. You bring all this on yourself."
Regulus turned and stalked out of the room, into his own across the hall, and slammed the door shut. He flopped onto his bed and looked around at the familiar green and silver.
I can't believe him, Regulus thought. He's so stupid. How else could he explain provoking their father at every opportunity?
Regulus often felt bad for Sirius because of the way their parents were constantly picking on him, but really, could he blame them? It wasn't so hard to do what they said. At the very least, all Sirius had to do was keep his mouth shut.
He shouldn't feel bad for Sirius. But he couldn't help it. Sirius was his brother, after all. Regulus couldn't help but worry when Sirius got himself into trouble.
"Sirius!" Regulus heard his father's bellow loud and clear. Sirius would be punished for his comments at dinner. He heard his brother's open, his footsteps on the stairs. Regulus rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head, trying to block out the noise.
"Yeah?"
A loud thump! Orion yelling. Another bang! Sirius swearing. More shouting.
Merry Christmas, Sirius.