Back to Hogwarts – winter 1974
The following morning, Sirius felt somehow more settled after the iced tea with his father, though he could not forgive neither his mother nor Regulus, especially after hearing their conversation during breakfast. Walburga had distilled her venom against Leloush and Regulus nodded all the time. Sirius thought it wouldn't be worth discussing with them at the time, nor in the following days. He thought it was a waste of time to talk to them and didn't intend to do it anymore in his life! Of course, things always can change... for the better or the worse.
After days under unpleasant atmosphere, it was time to go back to school. Arriving at King's Cross Station, things had not changed between the Black Brothers. The two got out of the car and, while their father took out their trunks, Regulus said goodbye to his mother who was still sitting in the front seat of the car. Sirius got out without even looking at his mother or his brother.
'You'll regret being so mean to your mum! And when it happens, I will not be here to give my love to you!' She sniffed, looking at Sirius's back, who was embracing his father without turning to face her. She noticed her elder son shaking his head to get rid of her voice and thought, her heart broken, how could he be so different from her in thoughts when he was so like her in appearance? Why Sirius couldn't understand the things as they were happening? All that was happening was thanks to Madame Leloush and her Muggle husband! She hated Muggles even more! She snorted and her eyes welled with tears.
'Sirius, say goodbye to your mum… for her sake!' Orion boomed.
Sirius pretended not mind with his mother's feelings, he just took his trunk and ran toward the platform 9 ¾. Regulus squinted with anger at his brother amidst a noisy crowd of Muggles dressed in red or blue; and carrying banners that Regulus supposed were for the football teams they supported. Years ago, Sirius had tediously explained football as a Muggle game played with a single ball.
Regulus had an empty expression on his face and seemed distracted when his father approached and hugged him:
'Try to be patient with Sirius. He's suffering for love. Over time he'll feel better.'
'Father, do you know how are Leloush girls?'
'They are fine and safe in Beauxbatons. Madame Leloush's still in Saint Mungo's. I'm not sure if she'll recover. She seems worse each day,' he replied, with regret in his voice.
'Sad, isn't it? A whole family undone ...'
'That's all about the choices we make throughout life, son. Madame Leloush followed her principles and had to deal with the consequences. My choice is always to keep the family safe, above all. Ministers and Policies have changed from time to time, but the Black Family is the same Black Family for hundreds of years. Now, go or you'll miss the train.' He replied, patting Regulus's back.
Regulus hugged his father once again, turned and ran trying to deviate from the blue team's fans, who were discussing warmly:
' ... yeah, if Chelsea lose this match, Sexton must to be fired ... Hey, kid! Watch it!' Said a big man with a large letter C painted blue on his face, when Regulus bumped into him trying to get to the entrance of the Station.
When he finally got through the wall, the train had already given the first warning that it was about to leave. Regulus ran towards the door. The 9 ¾ platform was almost empty, there were a few couples who waved to their children at window. A gentleman with a brown moustache, accompanied by a lady who wore a strange hat with a vulture on top, helped Regulus to get on the train that had begun to move. Quickly, he started looking for a place to sit. He passed by the compartment where Sirius and his friends were laughing. Sirius pretended not to see him. With a slight nod, Lupin was the one to greet the boy. He replied nodding and moved on. Then he found Theodor Amifidel, Jack, John, Avery, Mulciber and Snape in other already crowded compartment. The Slytherin Black came in.
'Hi, everybody. How are you, guys?' He didn't wait for them to reply and added 'may I leave my stuff here for a while? I'm going to find a place to stay.'
'We'll go with you!' Severus and Amifidel said at the same time, slid out on their seat and stood up; hopeful they could repeat the fun of their last trip.
The three boys went through the corridor of the train, Snape and Amifidel talking noisily. Regulus was sad and had no desire to run from a compartment to another. He was thinking about his mother and his brother; both of them were suffering and he knew it. And he could do nothing to change it. When they found a cabin with Emma Vanitiy, Rosier and Crouch, he excused himself and went in.
'Hi', he waved awkwardly, 'is it okay if I stay here with you?'
Crouch and Rosier replied "okay" and turned back into their talk about curses and dangerous potions. Emma replied grinning, pointing to an empty seat beside her. She felt relieved for not having to share the boys' conversation. They were boasting and it bothered her too much.
'Sure. Sit here with me.'
He quickly sat beside her, laid his head on her lap and closed his eyes, without asking if he was allowed to. Snape and Amifidel understood that he wanted stay, so Amifidel said:
'Since you have found a place to stay, Reg, we're going back to our compartment. I'll see you at school.'
Severus nodded his head and said 'Are you sure you don't want to check if... '
Regulus knew his friend wanted to look for Lily, Alice and the other girls, just as they had done at the last time. And he knew that Severus wouldn't go alone; yet he had an unhappy state of mind at that moment. 'Sorry, Severus. I'm fine here. See you later.'
Regulus snuggled against Emma's chest. Then Emma began to caress him and he slept. He woke up hours later; Emma was calling him as they had arrived to Hogsmeade. He got up stunned.
'Emma, did I sleep the entire trip?'
'Yep.' She smiled. 'It's better if you take your trunk and owl from the other compartment. We are about to get out the train. Go.'
Then he noticed that he had slobbered accidentally over her while slept.
'Oh. Emma, sorry for that,' Regulus said, pointing to her wet blouse. She took her wand pointed to her own chest, which called attention from Crouch and Rosier.
'Tergeo!' Emma cast the spell to dry the wet patch and smiled to Regulus 'done. D'you see? It's alright now.'
Regulus looked at her attentively and said 'forgive me for not being a good company during the trip.'
'You were the best company I'd like to have with me. While I stroke your hair, my mind flew away and my problems calmed down.'
Regulus frowned concerned and asked 'Are you okay?'
'I'm fine. I tell you later. You must go... Your trunk, remember?'
The boy ran to another cabin where he had left his things. Halfway he found Alice. She, like all other students was already wearing Hogwarts' robes:
'Hi, Alice!'
The girl smiled and he smiled back and they made the walk while talking.
'Hi, Reg .. I hadn't seen you during the trip ... where were you?'
'Oh, I slept the whole trip ...' He answered evasively and lied, looking out the window 'yesterday I played chess with my father until late at night, so I was too sleepy that I thought it'd be nice to take a nap... but the nap became a little longer than I had planned.'
'Did you father play chess with you?! That's cool! I'd like if my Dad played chess with me too... Your father is the best!'
'He is... 'Regulus smiled at the thought of his father. One day he would be like him, with his black moustache and his great heart.
Then they arrived in front of the compartment where his friends were organizing to get off the train. Alice looked at the other Slytherin boys and then to Regulus:
'Well, I'm going. My friends should already be in the carriage.'
'See you tomorrow, then?'
'Before dinner, at the library.'
'Sure!' He said smiling as he watched her gracefully turning on her heels and rushing off the train, her hair flipping from one side to the other. He sighed. It was very nice to come back to Hogwarts.
