Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Hapless Heir

"Oi LuLu over here!"

"How many times have I told you it's Lucinda! How would you like it if I call you Greg?"

"You do call me Greg," pointed out a young boy. He stood defiantly with his slightly longer than shoulder length dark auburn hair pulled into a ponytail. He was smirking at a tall-for-her-age witch with short-cropped black hair. They often got on each other's nerves which probably had to do with the slightly large ears and nearly identical blue eyes the two had, making it easy to distinguish that they were cousins.

Regulus watched them, lying down on the ledge of the courtyard with a lazy smile. After nearly three months at Hogwarts, he was feeling more at home here, more confident here, than he'd ever been before. He still checked in with Kreacher who he still saw as his closest friend, the one who was there for him when no one else was. But he had to admit having human friends was special, and now Regulus had so many. He was the height of popularity, mostly because of Narcissa, but he decided he didn't mind riding on her cloak tail this year.

Truly he could have his pick of friends, even out of the older students who would do what he said without batting their eyes. Perks of being a Black he supposed, he was Hogwarts royalty, at least among the Slytherins. Only Malfoy really came anywhere close to his blood purity and with Bellatrix and Narcissa working together to run some top-secret organization that served the Dark Lord with Malfoy, he was seen as far superior to anyone else. It also helped that he was an exceptional wizard, he wasn't arrogant about it, but it would be pointless to deny it.

Still, out of all the first through fourth years, his status with anyone older than that was nonexistent, he preferred his three friends and fellow first years. They had been friends with him almost immediately as they rode over in the boats, and that was before they knew who he was. They also weren't as...cruel as some of the other Slytherins who one way or another were bullies.

The other Slytherins were bullies that Regulus could command if he chose to and he kept that in mind, not that he had much use for bullies. However, if Sirius started pranking them Regulus wasn't about to go down without a fight. Long gone were the days when he was at the mercy of his brother's juvenile pranks, and Regulus never passed the opportunity to subtly bring this up to Sirius.

Between the two of them, things were...ok? Sirius still had that temper which was so similar to their mother's, even if he refused to see it. It really was a pity that Sirius wasn't a good little Slytherin because Regulus often felt a little out of place with as much power as he'd gain from his status. Narcissa told him to quit being a baby and that he was as good as the Black heir now.

But as much as he wanted that power he felt horribly inadequate at wielding it, he couldn't even command Kreacher, not that he had to but he also got terribly upset when Kreacher was punished which apparently wasn't right. "He's an underling, not a friend," he'd been told countless times. Great leaders need to know the difference, Sirius did, and deep down Regulus knew his brother would have been better at this.

If Sirius was in Slytherin he'd probably be a part of the group of older students serving the Dark Lord, even if he was only a year above Regulus. However, as hard as Regulus tried to join, Narcissa was adamant that whatever they were doing wasn't any place for a kid.

His cousin could be a real wanker sometimes, still treating him like a baby. It's not like he had gone and cried to her about missing home past the first few days of his arrival, and that had been weeks ago. At least she was nice though, Sirius and he met once a week pretty regularly now, but Sirius was never really nice. Regulus couldn't talk about his friends which Sirius described as ickle evil Slytherins to be, and spent most of the time listening to his brother trying to convince Regulus to meet him without Narcissa's help, then getting angry when he wouldn't. Why would he want to? He knew it kept Sirius behaving, and that as soon as he agreed his brother would start pranking Slytherins again. Even if Sirius thought he was an idiot, he wasn't.

Several times he and Sirius' meeting had ended in crossed arms and both of them giving the other their best haughty expression as they stalked off. But Regulus always came back to what had become their courtyard, and Sirius always came back too. That meant the world to Regulus, even if he found his brother woefully ignorant of the going on's of the world and the way things should be.

"Ow! Stop pulling my hair LuLu," Gregory Pucey snapped, waving his wand at his cousin in an empty threat.

"Then cut it. I know your mother hates how long it is," she shot back. Somehow listening to the two of them bickering soothed Regulus. He had grown used to parents arguing, or cousins, or his brother arguing with his mother. In the too-quiet moments at Hogwarts, he didn't know what to do with himself. During the very early morning hours when everyone was still asleep he'd get up and walk to the lake, odd dreams just out of his reach, they seemed important but he could never remember them. When he went to sit out there, in those lonely moments where he kept worrying his friends didn't really know the true him, that he didn't even know the true him, he'd call Kreacher who would tell him all the going on's of home.

But last week he hadn't been able to do that. He'd gotten a very unkind letter from his mother reminding him that he was almost twelve and that he had to start acting like it and realize that house-elves weren't to ease his loneliness, which she had said he wasn't allowed to feel. Regulus wanted to talk to Sirius about it, he knew his brother didn't like Kreacher, but unlike Narcissa, he also didn't like their mother, so perhaps this time he'd be sympathetic.

"Regulus come and join our game," shouted Gregory, slapping Lucinda lightly who was slowly reaching out a hand to tug his ponytail again.

"Yeah, help me beat little Greggy into the ground," Lucinda shouted with glee punching her fist into her hand. Sometimes she forgot she had a wand and Regulus swore she still preferred her fists to spells. He knew she wanted to be a beater and was very upset when her family connections didn't lead to her being able to this year.

Regulus shook his head gesturing to Toady who was on his chest. He hadn't been allowed to join the choir, it was too much of a pansy activity as Narcissa had put it and when he asked his mother she said it was unbecoming of him. He still wished he could, he liked to sing and Kreacher said he was good at it. At least he had Toady, though he was very jealous that Sirius had a kitten even if he brought him for Regulus to pet. It wasn't so much that Sirius had gotten himself an animal, as that he had done it without permission. Regulus wished he had the guts to do something without permission.

"Hey guys, hey guys!" Emma called. She was the third friend in their little group who had just appeared in the courtyard looking a little out of breath. She ran over to them, her bright bob of blond hair bouncing as she ran with a wide grin on her face.

"What is it Emma?" he asked, sitting up and letting Toady slide into his lap.

"Yeah what is it E?"

"I just talked to Gideon," she shrieked in excitement. Regulus raised an eyebrow, they were all super supportive of their Hogwarts champion- though they wouldn't tell the older Slytherins that- but he doubted Emma actually talked to him. She tended to lie bluntly about most things and really didn't even seem to consider it lying, active imagination she said it was called. Regulus found it very active but she had told him bluntly to his face when he was doing his wand work wrong, the only one who dared to, so he sort of liked her. Plus Sirius had three best friends, Regulus had seen them laughing in the halls, so he had to have three too.

"Really?" Gregory asked doubtfully, "and what did he say?"

"That he figured out what the first task was!"

"Woah!"

"That's so cool!"

"Well, what is it?" Regulus asked quickly, wondering if there was a slim chance she was telling the truth.

"Something to do with the lake and he was talking to some older Gryffindors."

"I thought he was talking to you," Lucinda laughed, making Emma's face go blotchy with anger, she hated being caught in a lie.

"Well not just me," she pointed out impatiently tugging on a necklace given to her by her older brother who she wanted to be just like. Regulus wished Sirius was well behaved enough that he could have that wish. Then again maybe not, he couldn't even picture what a well behaved Sirius looked like. Unless it was picturing his brother looking and being utterly miserable.

"Fine, but what did he say?" Regulus demanded and Emma glanced at him, her bright brown eyes sparkling with delight.

"There's going to be docks on the water that speed around the lake and they will have to fight the giant Kraken."

That sounded really cool, but Regulus wasn't sure he could trust this not to be her imagination. She also didn't seem all that bright to him...not for a Ravenclaw anyways. But her sheer enthusiasm was certainly contagious even if it was from sheer will power alone.

"Sooo cool" shouted Greggory, who could be far too trusting of Emma. Regulus had never thought of himself as mature for his age, he had always been told he was a cry baby and a little snot-nosed imp. But upon having friends his age he realized early on this very important truth, children didn't think things through, not really. Sure, Regulus let himself be dragged into shenanigans but it wasn't just his popularity that led him to be a leader, he actually came up with plans, while his other three friends just wanted to jump right in.

They literally wanted to jump right into the lake. As if that would somehow make the docks and giant Kraken appear as if they could face it anyways. That was another thing- the other children all seemed to think they were wonderful wizards that could go up against Dumbledore, well maybe not him but some adult wizard, if given the chance. Regulus knew he was more talented than any of them, yet he also was painfully aware of his limitations thanks to his older family members constantly reminding him of them.

One day he'd be strong enough to duel Dumbledore and win, not that he particularly had any qualms with the too-kind man, but it was just the precedent of the thing that mattered. Regulus liked doing things because he could, though they almost always had another purpose.

"Come on Reggy let's go!" Greggory shouted, but he told them they weren't going and they all reluctantly obeyed, but they were all so downcast about it. Honestly, if they hadn't listened to him these past months they probably would all be expelled by now.

Well, he supposed them jumping in the lake couldn't cause that much harm.

"I have to wait for my brother but you guys can go ahead," he assured them, noticing with irritation the glance that passed between the three.

They thought he was crazy for giving Sirius too many chances, even though they all had older siblings themselves, they had normal older siblings. But he wasn't that lucky and at least his friends didn't outright confront him on it. They asked him one more time if he was sure then took off running already shouting which one of them would defeat the Kraken. Regulus shook his head knowing all they'd get would be hyperthermia if they really were going to go jumping into the water. That wasn't too bad considering Madam Pomfrey could give them a warming tonic and send them on their way, as long as they didn't freeze to death before she did. Well, it would serve them right if they did.

"Oi Reggy, how's it going?" Sirius called with his usual casual saunter Regulus couldn't seem to imitate and his charm that Regulus didn't seem to possess.

"Wotcher Sirius?" he called back setting Toady in the little fountain in the middle of the courtyard. His brother grinned at the improper greeting as Regulus knew he would. Sirius looked more tired than he normally did, his older brother had always had a knack for waking up at off times but he had still always managed to get enough sleep even if it meant skipping their lesson in manners or breakfast with the family.

Today however he had bags under his eyes, which didn't detract from his handsomeness as much as they should. He still looked like an heir, all confidence and attitude. Regulus knew his whole family considered him a poor replacement. They'd welcome Sirius back immediately for anything short of marrying a Muggleborn, while Regulus secretly suspected if he really crossed a line he'd never be that lucky.

"Were you out perusing the castle?"

Sirius laughed at him scooching Regulus over slightly despite there being enough room for him to just sit down, just because he could.

"Perusing? How old are you Regulus? Geez, you old geezer no one says perusing," Sirius chortled ruffling Regulus' hair in that demeaning way which always made him grateful his friends made themselves scarce while he talked to his older brother.

"You know what I mean," he protested, half-heartedly batting his older brother's hand away.

"Something like that," he gave a too innocent shrug and Regulus sighed.

"If mother finds out…"

"Don't just don't. She won't find out and if she does I'll know who told you, little tattletale," Sirius cut in sharply, his eyes narrowed at Regulus, daring him to argue. Regulus didn't, there were just battles that weren't worth it to pick, even if his older brother seemed to think every battle was worth it.

"I won't."

"Good, now how has your week been?"

Regulus talked about his classes, since his brother was asking about that, not about his friends, he never wanted to hear about them or what they did together. Except when Regulus got detention for "being a swat", then Sirius wanted to hear all about that.

"Well I'd say you have wingardium leviosa pretty much mastered," Sirius exclaimed proudly when Regulus demonstrated navigating the feather above and around with the spell he'd mastered days ago, not that Sirius would believe that. Regulus being smart was fine as long as he didn't come close to surpassing his brother who was a notoriously bad sport.

Then Regulus would quickly drop from "my clever little brother" to "arrogant swat." As they went from talking about Regulus' week, to him demonstrating what he learned, to his brother showing off what he knew in a matter that made it truly showing off, to his brother discussing his week, Regulus wondered why he kept coming. Sissy told him it was crazy to expect Sirius to change, though Regulus knew she wanted him to too.

But Regulus wasn't ready to accept Sirius was a lost cause, no matter how much he ranted about evil Voldemort without even considering that the other side may have good points, no matter how painfully he acted as if he were a lost cause. Regulus, perhaps stupidly, loved him and couldn't let go of what he knew now to be a juvenile hope of a happy family life that Sirius was single-handedly ruining.

"What's wrong Reg?"

Your actions affect more people than just you. Mother has been hard on me, much more so, ever since you ruined her trust in us. Why I should be included I don't know, but I am and ever since arriving at Hogwarts her letters to me have been filled with warnings to stay on the right side of things, even though I'm not you. Even though I'm not you, she seems to think I am, or I'll become you, and I want things to go back to how they were dammit.

"Reg?"

"Sorry."

"You shouldn't stare off like that, people might think you're a dimwit. Haha no need to glare icky Reggy, you know I'm just joking."

You're always just joking, even when you want to inflict pain you're 'just joking'. When you and Narcissa left me in the attic for six hours it was 'just joking'. You're going to waste your whole life, amounting to nothing because you'll just be 'joking'.

"...so instead we're going tonight and…"

Regulus pulled himself away from his angry thoughts trying to focus on what his brother was saying.

"You're going into the Forbidden Forest?" he asked in alarm.

"Yeah, it's really cool and not at all as dangerous as Dumbledore makes it sound."

"Sirius it is dangerous you could get hurt."

"Oh come on Reg live a little! It's not a big deal. You always go and make a big deal out of things that aren't,"

"But Sirius…."

"Don't whine Reg. Don't look at me like that, I'll be fine, honest."

Again came the hair ruffle that Regulus had once appreciated and found a source of comfort in. But now, now it grated on his nerves just like ever meeting with Sirius did. His brother was giving his usual spiel about Regulus seeing both sides was good for him and how he should form his own thoughts, not just parrot Narcissa yada yada yada.

You're a hypocrite. A dumb reckless hypocrite and I'm not going to let you go and get yourself killed in the forest. You think I'm a tattletale, well I can be one if it means saving your neck.

"So yeah I really think things would be better that way Reg."

"I'll consider it," he replied trying to keep his frustration out of his tone. Sirius frowned hearing it anyways but said nothing, someone must be coaching him on not going off on his little brother, because at the very least he was getting better at that.

"Good, then I best be off, got to get back to my mates and all. You sure you don't want them to come along? Or we could go down to Quidditch pitch and James could get us in and we could play a mock game of Quidditch or something," Sirius added hopefully.

"That's ok. Actually, Sirius before you go, could…."

"Oh come on Reg you never do anything fun. You're always by yourself or running around with that one little troll."

My friend, she's my friend. You wouldn't like it if I called your friend's filthy little names, because it would be far too easy to.

Hold your tongue, just hold your…

"It's only because you won't let me talk about my friend." He could have left it at that, should have left it at that. They could have crossed arms, exchanged haughty expressions, and left.

Regulus was the calm one because Sirius was the angry one.

But Regulus wasn't calm, he was angry, he was so, so angry and disappointed being at school with Sirius wasn't at all how he imagined it.

"Besides, at least I'm not running around with a filthy little Mudblood!"

Crack!

Regulus knew his brother would get pissed, perhaps a part of him wanted him too, but even being ready for the slap it still hurt.

"I ought to scourgify your mouth with soap. I'm serious Regulus, you better not let me catch you saying that again! You're better than that."

Only I'm not because if I was then you'd actually listen to me, you would have let me tell you about mum's letters and Kreacher. If I was "better than that" you would actually seem to enjoy our meeting instead of always looking so upset. If I really was so much better you'd quit reminding me how disappointed you are that I'm in Slytherin, as if that automatically makes me a bad person.

"I wouldn't go in the forest if I were you," he replied darkly, hand pressed over his throbbing cheek, glaring at Sirius who looked a bit distraught before storming out of the courtyard fuming. He knew his brother was immediately sorry, plainly saw the tears welling in his eyes, but it didn't change the fact Regulus' cheek hurt and that Sirius so excelled at treating Regulus how their mother treated his brother. Only... their mother basically treated Regulus..., not all that well either.

"Kreacher," he called sniffling, despite knowing Kreacher had been ordered not to come. "Kreacher," he called again, his voice breaking as tears ran down his cheeks.

But there was no response this time either. He was alone, so very alone.