Prologue:
The two brothers were running through the halls of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The first boy looked to be about 10. He had curly black hair, he was wearing a dark green button down shirt with black jeans. He was chasing an older boy, who was 11. The older boy had straight black hair which hung down to his shoulders. He had on a dark blue shirt with black pants. "Sirius, wait up." Panted the younger boy. "You have to catch me first, Regulus." Laughed Sirius. Finally, Regulus caught him and tackled him to the floor. The two boys fought until their mother, Walburga Black, shrieked at them for ruining their clothes and told them to go to their rooms. This was the last time they played together before Sirius went to Hogwarts.
The summer after Sirius' first year
"I am very disappointed with your choice of house, Sirius" said Orion Black at the dinner table. "Why's that, Father? I'm quite proud of being in Gryffindor" retorted Sirius. "SIRIUS ORION BLACK GO TO YOUR ROOM YOU HAVE BOUGHT DISGRACE ON THIS FAMILY" screamed Walburga. "Fine" said Sirius and went up to his room. Regulus, who was worried about Sirius, finished his dinner quickly and also went to Sirius' room. He leaned against the door, and whispered,
Sirius?
Do you want to play some Quidditch?
Come on, let's go and play!
I never see you anymore
Come out the door
It's like you've gone away
We used to be best buddies
And now we're not
I wish you would tell me why!
Do you want to play some Quidditch?
It doesn't have to be Quidditch
Go away, Regulus
Okay, bye
Do you want to play some Quidditch?
Or play Exploding snap in the halls?
I think some company is overdue
I've started talking to
The tapestry on the wall!
It gets a little lonely
All these empty rooms
Just watching the hours tick by
(tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock)
5 years later
Sirius, please I know you're in there
People are asking where you've been
They say, "have courage" and I'm trying to
I'm right out here for you
Just let me in
We only have each other
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?
Do you want to play some Quidditch?
Christmas of Sirius' sixth year
After a particularly loud shouting match with Walburga, Sirius stormed up to his room throwing things in his suitcase at random when he heard a tiny knock on the door. "Go away" Sirius snapped at the door. But the door opened anyways and in came Regulus. "What do you want?" asked Sirius irritably. "Where are you going?" Asked Regulus. "Away from this stupid house and this stupid pure blood obsessed family" said the rebellious Gryffindor. "Why are you here, Regulus? Do you want to come with me?" He added hopefully. Regulus looked away and said "I can't" "Of course you can't. I don't even know why I bother with you." Grumbled Sirius. "Why do you hate me Sirius?" Regulus whispered "Enough, Regulus" "NO! I want to know what I did wrong WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE BEING SHUT OUT ALL THESE YEARS?" "I SAID ENOUGH REGULUS!" yelled Sirius and stormed out. Regulus looked shocked and hurt. His brother had never raised his voice on him. He came out just in time to see Walburga blasting Sirius' name of the family tapestry.
Meanwhile, Sirius was outside in the cold heading to the Hogwarts and whispered to himself,
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I'm the king
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good boy you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know
Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway
Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
Let it go (go, go, go go, go go, go go, go, go, go go)
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I'm free
Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand and here I stay
Let the storm rage on
My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back, the past is in the past
Let it go
Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect boy is gone
Here I stand in the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyways
By the time he was finished with the song, he had realized he could just call the Knight Bus. Smacking himself on the forehead, he stuck out his thumb and rode the rest of the way to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus.
After the Christmas Feast, Sirius went back to the Gryffindor dormitory to take a nap. None of the other Marauders were at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. James Potter was celebrating Christmas at Potter Manor with his family. Remus Lupin's parents took him to the biggest chocolate factory in London where you can eat as much chocolate as you want. The only thing keeping him from gaining weight was that he was a werewolf. Peter Pettigrew also stayed at home and was tortured by his many older sisters, but he still loved his family.
After the Christmas Holidays, the other three Marauders came back to Hogwarts and were surprised to see Sirius sitting in the dormitory. Remus was the first to speak, "Sirius? What are you doing here? I thought you were going home for the holidays?" "I WAS home for the holidays" Sirius replied. "I ran away," he added. All three Marauders stared at him in shock. "You-what? but why?" asked James. "I had enough. My parents, thinking they were superior just because they were purebloods and my brother, soft enough to believe them. Of course, now I don't have a place to stay, but I don't care, as long as I'm away from those people." Sirius replied. "Sirius… You could stay with us over the summer." James offered. "Really?" Sirius asked, not daring to believe it. "Of course Padfoot, I'll ask my parents." "Wow, thanks Prongs!" Said Sirius, hugging him. "Hey, what are friends for?"
In the Slytherin 5th year dormitory
Regulus Black was alone in his dorm, sobbing into his pillow when another boy walked in. "Regulus? What's wrong?" Asked Barty Crouch jr. "S-Siri-us r-ran a-a-away" Regulus sobbed. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Said Crouch. "But I thought you two weren't close?" Regulus glared, "He left me alone." He said. "Why don't you convince him to come back home? You can tell him that your Mother and Father regret calling him a disgrace and want him to come back home" suggested Crouch. "Hey that's not a very bad idea! Thanks Barty!" Said Regulus, hugging him. "Hey, what are friends for?"
The Summer after Sirius' Sixth Year
"I'm going to bring Sirius back home" announced Regulus at the dinner table. "Don't be ridiculous Regulus, what makes you think that blood traitor will come back?" asked Orion. "I've got to try Father. Please?" Regulus pleaded. Orion sighed "Fine. he's at the Potter's house be quick" "Oh thank you Father!" Regulus exclaimed. He hugged his father and rode his broomstick to Potter Manor. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Sirius. His brother looked surprised to see him. "Regulus? What are you doing here?" He asked. "I've come to take you home," replied Regulus. Sirius snorted, "Very funny Regulus" and turned away. "Sirius please come home" "Why should I?"
(Sirius is Bold, Regulus is italics)
You don't have to protect me I'm not afraid
Please don't shut me out again,
Please don't slam the door
You don't have to keep your distance anymore
'Cause for the first time in forever
I finally understand
For the first time in forever
We can fix this hand in hand
We can head back to Grimmauld Place together
You don't have to live in fear
'Cause for the first time in forever,
I will be right here
Regulus,
Please go back home, your parents await
Go enjoy Slytherin and and get the Dark Mark
Yeah, but -
I know
You mean well, but leave me be
Yes, I'm with the Potter's, but I'm a Gryffindor and free
Just stay away and your parents will be happy
Actually we're not
What do you mean you're not?
I get the feeling you don't know
What do I not know?
Mother and Father miss you very, very, very, very much
What?
It's okay, you can just come back
No, I can't, I - I don't know how!
Sure you can! I know you can!
'Cause for the first time in forever,
Oh I'm such a fool, I can't be free!
You don't have to be afraid
No escape from the storm inside of me!
We can work this out together
I can't control the curse!
We'll reverse the storm you've made
Ohhhh, Regulus, please, you'll only make it worse!
Don't panic
There's so much fear!
We'll make the sun shine bright
You're not safe here!
We can face this thing together
Oh!
We can change Mother and Father
AHHHHH…
And everything will be alright...
I CAN'T!
Regulus looked hurt. "Fine," he said. "Potter can you show me to the door?" he asked the newly arrived boy who came to see what the commotion was about. "Sure," James said hesitantly. "um... was he always like this?" He asked the Slytherin. Regulus flinched. "Not always," he muttered "Ever since he got sorted into Gryffindor, he would always shut me out and slam the door in my face. It's your fault he's like this!" He added angrily. "You and that Lupin boy took my brother away from me!" He yelled as he stormed out the door of Potter Manor. James sat stunned. When he confronted Sirius about this, he said angrily "Who's side are you one anyways?" and stormed up to his room.
Three years later
"Oi Moony, do you always have to read the Daily Prophet?" Exclaimed a bored and exasperated Sirius Black. "Yes" came the reply. Sirius rolled his eyes. A few seconds later, the young werewolf paled. "What's wrong?" asked James. "uhhh Prongs, I think you should see this." "Ok," said James, confused. After a few seconds the Quidditch player also paled. "Ok this isn't funny, what are you two keeping away from me?" asked Sirius. When James handed the paper over to SIrius, his eyes went wide and he exclaimed "N-no, it c-can't b-be,". "What happened?" asked Lily Evans to her boyfriend. "Sirius' brother is dead, because of him," James replied angrily. "How-how dare you?" exclaimed Sirius and bolted out the door.
In the Cave
"Regulus? Where are you?" asked Sirius. "I know you're in here. Kreacher told me," he added. Suddenly, he found him being dragged under the water by Inferi, he was alive, but fainted. "FIENDFYRE" Sirius shouted pointing at the Inferi. The Inferi quickly let go of Regulus, and Sirius dragged his brother out of the water. "Regulus," he whispered "Do you want to play some Quidditch? Or play Exploding Snap in the halls? You could introduce me to the tapestry on the wall." Regulus groaned and woke up. "Sirius?" His brother nodded and hugged him. "You-you remember that song?" "Of course" replied Sirius. "Why did you shut me out?" Sirius sighed and said "Because I thought you hated me for being in Gryffindor." "But Sirius, how could I ever hate you?" "Because you looked up to me. I was like your hero. After being sorted into Gryffindor. I couldn't bear to see the disappointment in your eyes." Regulus replied, "I could never be disappointed in you, Sirius, that's Mother's and Father's job." Sirius laughed. "Should we go home then?" "Sure" replied Regulus, and the newly reunited brothers walked out of the cave into the sunlight.
Epilogue
"Congratulations on becoming Godfather, Sirius," said Regulus one afternoon at the Leaky Cauldron. "Thanks, Reg" Sirius grinned. "There's something I have to tell you," He added. "What is it?" asked Regulus curiously. "Well, after Pettigrew betrayed us, the Marauders were down to three, and the Marauders have always been four, so now we need a new man. Me, James and Remus talked about it, and we agreed that there's no one better…" Regulus cut him off, "Wait, so you want me to be your fourth man?" "Of course you don't have to," Sirius said quickly. "Are you kidding?" Regulus asked, grinning "Of course I want to be a Marauder, this is the best day of my life!" Sirius laughed and said, "Ok, now all you need to do is say the Marauder pledge,"
Regulus took a deep breath and said, "I, Regulus Arcturus Black, Solemnly Swear I am up to no good."