Walburga Black could be hard to read sometimes. In the last few hours before Sirius had awoken, she'd wandered the house, decorating furiously for the coming Yuletide. Silver and green garlands hung from every lamp, there were large, fully decorated fir trees in each drawing room and a small one in the dining room. Enchanted snow fell from the ceiling, dissipating inches from the top of their heads.

Each tree skirt was overflowing with presents, and she'd dug out Sirius and Regulus's Christmas stockings—which hadn't seen use since the Christmas before Sirius had run away—and hung them over the downstairs mantle.

Unable to decide for himself, Orion had asked his wife whether this was all an elaborate act to smooth over the retransition of Sirius back into the family or if a part of her were genuinely giddy to have their whole household together again for Christmas.

In lieu of a response, she'd instead given him a short laugh and an enigmatic smile. Done decorating, she returned with Orion to the kitchen where the house elf was mixing hot drinks.

"Make sure there's nothing stronger than butterbeer at dinner tonight," she said to Kreacher, who nodded immediately. "Sirius can't have anything harder for a few weeks." She sat down at the table with a steaming cup while Orion dug futilely around in the cupboards for some of the liquor he knew was about to be locked away.

"Walburga," Orion asked dully. "What are we going to do about Regulus?"

Walburga twisted in her seat, following Orion's trek around the kitchen with a quizzical expression.

"I told you," she said, bringing her coffee to her lips without her gaze wavering. "I've sent him fair for the bus. It will pick him up from the train station and deliver him here around 6:30 tonight. He'll be a touch late for dinner, but..."

"No," Orion cut her off. "I mean what are we going to tell him? About...about Sirius?" Orion lowered his voice dramatically, pausing to glance over his shoulder as though his oldest son might suddenly appear behind him. Sirius was still upstairs showering.

"I've already told him everything he needs to know," Walburga said shortly. "That his brother is coming home and he shan't be asking too many questions."

"Walburga—"

"My work is strong, Orion," Walburga said nastily. "A few bouts of whinging from Regulus will not undo what I have created. He's not capable of causing a problem."

"I'm not saying you weren't thorough," Orion admitted. Walburga's attitude seemed to have changed overnight—where before she'd been hesitant, now she was headstrong as ever...cocky, almost—much like Sirius. But Orion knew better. This was not about Walburga changing her opinions about her work, no—this was about Regulus.

Walburga had always had their youngest child on an incredibly short leash, and to consider that he might poke and prod at Sirius after she'd told him to behave was absurdity, at least to her. Orion knew a bit better, and cautiously, he tried to impart this understanding to his wife.

"Regulus would never deliberately disobey you, but I fear he might not fully understand the situation."

"As he shouldn't!" Walburga exclaimed. "What would you tell him? That I've...altered Sirius's mind?" Here Walburga too took to lowering her voice. "As if he wouldn't try to undo my work in a heartbeat."

"What? No, surely he wouldn't endeavor to—"

"Oh, he'd not be able to, of course," Walburga said bitterly. She threw some cream half-hazardly into her drink and began stirring almost viciously. The spoon clanged loudly, threatening to break china.

"Walburga—"

"But he'd try. That boy can be incredibly rash where his brother is concerned. Always has been. Oh, he'll bluff and bluster about what a disgrace he always was, but if he knew what we've done he'd...he'd..."

Orion gently stilled her frantic hands. "He'd be unable to break the spellwork on Sirius's mind and he'd be too cowardly to go to anyone else for help."

"Yes, but he'd never forgive us."

Orion raised an eyebrow. He sat down next to Walburga, who looked more serious than ever.

"He can't know, Orion. He'd leave."

"Regulus?" Orion exclaimed. "Never, where would he go? He'd no sooner leave here than leave that school. Walburga, he's not Sirius. Regulus would never leave."

It was Walburga's turn to quirk a meticulously groomed eyebrow. There was an amused yet sad look on her porcelain face. "Regulus thinks that I've reinstated Sirius because we do not trust him with his inheritance."

"Does he?"

Walburga recounted her initial conversation with Regulus from early November. "To him it must seem as if he is always coming up short. That we would prefer a blood traitor to him..."

"What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying, Orion," Walburga said with a sigh. "Is that it's bad enough he thinks we've welcomed Sirius back with open arms at the slightest notice, and cast him aside again. If he finds out we'd rather force his brother to return than cede him the position of heir then that will only cement his suspicions."

Orion scoffed. "Such petty myopia. When he returns this evening, I will pull him aside and deal with his—"

"You will do no such thing," Walburga said firmly. Orion looked at her like she had just suggested he bake Regulus a cake. "I don't need you pushing him further away from us by punishing him for some minor insecurity. You can't force him to think a certain way, Orion. I made that mistake with Sirius. Best to simply take care of him. Remind Regulus of his role in this family and he will fall back into it."

With that, Walburga stood up and pulled her overcoat off the rack by the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Orion asked. "I thought we'd both spend the day here with Sirius to...to make sure that everything was going well."

"I'm confident that Sirius will be fine," Walburga quipped. "There's some shopping I want to get done—last minute things for the holidays next week. If your sister is really going to be coming after all..." Walburga rolled her eyes.

"When will you be back?"

"With any luck, shortly before Regulus arrives. Orion," a smirk tugged at Walburga's mouth. "Do remember to look over those notes I set aside about Sirius. There's some...dog-gone interesting stuff in there. Do try to keep straight the labels I've provided as to what information we are "supposed" to know, and what Sirius thinks he has kept so very, very secret."

Orion blushed an angry red. "You've still not addressed my main concern. If Regulus is in the dark about Sirius's...procedure, then how are we going to keep him from saying something impertinent to one of his friends or teachers? Even by accident?"

Walburga rolled her eyes as she pinned her hat to her hair. "Oh honestly, Orion. The second he steps over that threshold, he's going to run right past you and dash off to find Sirius."

"So?"

"So let Sirius tell him everything." She smiled viciously. "Let his brother tell him the whole truth."

Sirius Black came down the stairs looking a lot better than he had in weeks. His hair was far too long, but it was once again sleek and groomed. He'd lost a significant amount of weight which would take some time to correct, but already his skin had lost that sickly tinge and he no longer moved as though he were in pain.

Yet he was nervous as he entered the kitchen to find only his father there. There was a small twinge in his brain that disappeared faster than it had come, replaced with only...neutrality.

"Good morning, Father," Sirius said with a nod.

Orion looked up from his whisky. Kreacher slipped a wrinkled arm up from under the table and snatched Orion's drink, vanishing the liquor and replacing it with water, instead. Orion grimaced as he took his cup back. Kreacher had always followed Walburga's orders annoying close to the letter.

"Morning ended hours ago, Sirius," Orion said.

Sirius wilted a bit. "I apologize," he said sincerely. "I...I don't know why I slept so much, I think...I think I may be getting over a cold or something."

Orion racked his brain, what had Walburga said? Oh yes…

"You were quite gravely ill and injured from your stint in Azkaban, Sirius. Picked up some really nasty stuff while you were in prison. Did a real number on your poor mother's heart when she went to secure your release."

"Right..." Sirius nodded. That sounded familiar. "Where is Mum?"

"Out shopping. She'll be back before dinner, why don't you sit down and you and I can have a chat for awhile?"

Sirius did so without hesitation. This had also been orders from Walburga. According to Sirius's new memories, he was eager to catch up on family business and excited to start doing what was required of him. Yet he was years out of the loop on finances, dealings and other familial affairs. So Sirius Black spent his first full day of consciousness being brought up to speed by Orion.

Sirius was still young, and his parents relatively so as well, so was not expected to marry immediately. However, due consideration should be made to his choices, and there was no reason to wait on a betrothal. After all, his options were already limited and to wait much longer only saw the list dwindle further. They would arrange a party after the new year to get a scope on options and make a decision.

Money was another matter. Sirius's accounts needed to be straightened out, and some of the paperwork that had temporarily transferred to Regulus would need to be reverted. Sirius gave an odd grimace when his father brought this up.

Sirius would not move out until he married. They needed to write a speech for him to give at his betrothal-decision soiree as it would double as his public reentrance into the family. Sirius's vision began to swim and his head started to hurt as Orion piled more and more information on him. Finally, mercifully, he stopped talking.

"I fear I lost you there," Orion said sharply and Sirius started from his reverie.

"Never mind it," Orion continued. "We'll pick this up again later. We'd best clear out of the kitchen so the elf can start setting up for dinner." He glanced at his watch. "Your mother is late."

Sirius looked up at the clock on the wall; it was shortly after six. "When is Regulus—"

He was interrupted by the front door opening, letting in a gust of wind and snowfall. Along with the brief maelstrom, a slight boy of fifteen. He stumbled about for a moment, wrestling himself out of a travel cloak that was much too loose on him—and Sirius's heart skipped a beat.

"Speak of the devil," Orion said casually, watching as Regulus leaned out onto the step and struggled mightily to drag his school trunk over the threshold, finally closing the door against the howling winds outside.

Regulus tripped over his luggage and finally managed to stumble into the kitchen while Kreacher snapped his short fingers, levitating his trunk up the stairs.

"Hello, Father," Regulus said, panting. Sirius wondered how far away the bus had dropped him off. By the look of his clothes and hair, the kid had been walking a ways, dragging his luggage behind him.

Part of Sirius wanted to get up and hug the little brat tightly. Another part of him wanted to beat him senseless for every stupid decision he'd ever made. Regulus kicked snow from his boots and took off his cloak. As he hung it up over the fire, he started, noticing Sirius for the first time.

"S—Sirius?" he stuttered. Although he knew his brother would be home, seeing him had still taken him aback. How long had it been since Sirius Black had sat at that table?

Sirius looked at his brother's big, stupid eyes, wide with wonder and tentative joy. Then he glanced back at his father, who had just spent the better part of four hours priming him on how he was expected to behave as he reclaimed his family title.

"Regulus Arcturus, you are getting water all over the kitchen." Sirius was shocked to hear that those scolding words—his father's words—were actually coming out of his mouth. "Go get cleaned up immediately. We're eating in twenty minutes."

Regulus, sopping wet with one foot forward and his arms half-raised—as though he had been moving in for a hug—fell back onto his heels immediately. With no protest, he obeyed.

Regulus showered and dressed quickly. Fifteen minutes later, he was back downstairs in the kitchen with a bitter look on his face.

Everything will be as it was.

Yes, Regulus thought grimly as he listened to his parents talk endlessly about an event they were planning in Sirius's honor. Exactly as it always was.

Walburga had been late to dinner, an unusual occurrence. She'd dashed inside, windswept yet still somehow regal. Without missing a beat, Sirius had stood and taken her cloak to hang it by the fire. For Regulus, it was maddening.

Were they not going to talk about this absurd situation at all? Was no one going to mention the last few years of bitterness, of hatred? Was it all to be swept so casually under the front hall rugs?

Regulus stabbed moodily at his vegetables. Any dinner prior to tonight his sullenness and poor etiquette would have earned him at the very least a reprimand, but tonight his parents attentions were elsewhere.

"Excuses, Masters, but an owl has arrived for Young Master Regulus. It is from the school."

Regulus looked up from his potatoes to see Kreacher holding a beige envelope out to his mother.

"Grades?" asked Sirius, twisted to look as Walburga opened the letter. "A bit early for that, isn't it? Term only just ended yesterday."

Regulus reached vainly for the letter. "We don't need to look at my marks during dinner," he muttered, but Sirius pulled him back into his seat. Regulus's heart was beating very quickly. What was that headmaster thinking having his report sent so much earlier than the others?

"Oh, Regulus Arcturus," Walburga said, raising an eyebrow at her youngest son. Regulus felt his insides melt at her expression. Had Professor Dumbledore lied to him? Had failing marks been sent home after all?

Orion leaned over to read past his wife's shoulder and adopted a similarly bemused expression.

"Perfect marks around the board," he said. "Regulus, even in potions."

"Since when have you managed a whole term without blowing up at least one cauldron?" Sirius asked in mock shock. Regulus blanched.

"I do fine in potions!" he yelled. "Maybe you'd know that if you'd bothered to stick around!"

"Lower your voice," Walburga said in a dangerous voice, her eyes narrowed. "But my, these really are good results." She passed the parchment across the table to Sirius, who took it eagerly.

Regulus was sweating now. Perfect marks? This wasn't good…

Orion leaned forward, resting his chin on his folded hands. "Regulus, you must have worked very hard for your mid-term exams. We're so proud of you!"

Yet just like Walburga, Orion's voice was laced with malice. Regulus knew he was in deep trouble now. He just wasn't sure how much.

"I...I try, Father...Mother..."

"I will not tolerate you lying to me, Regulus," Walburga said firmly. "You have been acting out for months, and now you think you can pull a stunt like this?"

Regulus's mouth went dry and his eyes flitted over briefly to his father. He desperately prayed his mother wasn't about to out him for stealing from his father's liquor stores after he'd heard about Sirius.

"S—stunt?"

"Really, Reg," Sirius said, tossing the parchment onto the table where it landed between the dinner rolls and the water pitcher. "Straight O's? 100 percents across the board? If you were going to try and pull a fast one, you could have at least made it more believable."

"I didn't!" Regulus wailed. He picked up the paper and stared at it in disbelief.

"Almost might have bought it," Sirius continued. "If your grades hadn't come fluttering in about two hours after you did. Nearly beat you to the house!"

"Sirius!" Regulus yelled. In his entire life he'd never been ganged up on like this. Watching Sirius side with his parents was almost painful.

"Last chance," Orion said crossly. "You can come clean now or continue this charade. The choice is yours, but be warned; my leniency is waning by the minute."

"I didn't mail home fake grades!" Regulus insisted. He could almost cry he was so desperate. "I get good marks, I...I wouldn't do that!"

His parents both looked at him in disappointment and Sirius rolled his eyes.

"So these are your true marks?"

"Y—yes..." Regulus felt his legs start to shake. Even to himself his words sounded like lies. He'd never been able to look his father in the eye and tell anything other than the truth. As his parents continued to stare him down, he changed tracks. "I...I can explain."

"Can you?"

Regulus looked down. "No," he said quietly. "But I didn't do it!" he insisted. "You can write the school and check!"

"I don't want the truth from the school, Regulus Arcturus. I want the truth from you, and I intend to get it."

"Father—"

"Go to your room," Orion waved Regulus away. Regulus didn't move. After a quick glance at Walburga, Orion continued. "Now, Regulus!" he barked.

Regulus scrambled to his feet and stumbled away from the table and his half-eaten dinner. He almost couldn't feel his hands and was surprised to see he had clenched them into fists.

"I will come and deal with you shortly."

With his father's promise ringing in his ears, Regulus ascended the stairs with shaky steps. Just as he reached the first floor landing, he heard his mother saying with a sigh:

"Perhaps you should cool off before you approach him, Orion. Sirius, why don't you talk to your brother first?"

Sirius assented with no hesitation, making Regulus feel even worse.

It felt like hours before Regulus's brother knocked on his bedroom door. Knowing better than to stall, Regulus said bitterly, "come in."

Sirius came in, still dressed in his nice dinner robes. It was odd to see Sirius so dressed up in wizarding formal wear. Regulus was so used to his jeans and ratty t-shirts.

"Do you want to talk to me, Regulus?"

Sirius had sat down on the bed next to him. Regulus eyed him angrily.

"No, not really," he snipped. "If you've just come up here to scold me, you can bugger off."

"I'm here to try and figure out what's wrong."

Regulus rolled his eyes. He leaned back against his headboard with a huff. "Yeah, right. You're here to stall while Father picks out his favorite belt."

"Dad's not going to hit you, Regulus."

"Sure. Would you kindly send me an invitation to whatever reality it is you're living in?"

"Look, Reg, Mum and Dad are just worried about you. I know you've not handled my coming back so well, but you have to understand that—"

"Mum? Dad?!" Regulus exploded. "Listen to yourself, Sirius! You've not called them that for nearly fifteen years, if ever! Stop this!"

Sirius didn't seem perturbed by his outburst. "Reggie," he said calmly, pulling out a nickname that for Regulus, was hitting below the belt. "I know this is hard for you, but you can't expect me to take your side here."

"You're lecturing me about my school notes? You, of all people?" Regulus said in disbelief.

Sirius sighed. "It's not about that, Reg, not really. It's about you acting like me coming home is ruining your life. You're more mature than this, Regulus."

Regulus couldn't stand it any longer. He jerked forward and looked Sirius dead in the eyes. "Sirius," he said furiously. "You didn't come home!"

"Yes, I have, Regulus. You need to—"

"No!" Regulus screamed. "You've been...altered," he waved his hand at Sirius's head. "Your brain, your memories, Mother did something to you!"

Sirius sat in silence for a moment while Regulus panted. Then his face broke into a sad smile.

"Oh, Reggie," he said pityingly. "It's okay to be upset." He reached out and tucked a lock of Regulus's silky hair back behind his ear. "But Reg, you need to accept reality. I'm back. I'm home. And this doesn't mean you're not important—"

"Don't patronize me! Sirius, I'm telling you the truth, Mother's altered your memories!"

Sirius shook his head pityingly.

Regulus grabbed Sirius by his sleeve and shook it desperately. "I...I saw her spell schematics last month. Your whole mind, Sirius, she changed almost everything. And they took a bunch of stuff from your room, things that would contradict the fake memories they gave you." For second, Regulus thought of sprinting to the spare bedroom and pulling the schematics from the drawer again, but no...Walburga would have hidden them soundly, or destroyed them now that Sirius was awake.

"Regulus, stop this right now."

"I gave you a key!" Regulus cried. "I salvaged some things and hid them in your lockbox and then I hid the key with you while you were asleep. You have it, don't you?"

"Regulus I don't know what you're talking about. You need to calm down."

"It was in your pocket," Regulus babbled, and then he began to panic. Had the key gone unnoticed and ended up discarded somewhere, or worse...had his parents found it before Sirius had woken up?

Sirius put a warm hand to Regulus's forehead. "Enough of this," he said in a soothing voice. "No more wild tales, Regulus. I think you should rest, and we can talk when you're a bit calmer."

"You idiot!" Regulus cursed. "This isn't what you want. Acting like they're your friends...like you care about this house or anything to do with this family."

"Regulus," Sirius said in a warning tone.

"I don't want you like this! Either get out or give me my real brother back; I don't need a second father!"

Sirius sighed. "Reg, I understand how you must feel—"

"No, you absolutely do not!"

Sirius held up a hand. "But I need you to accept that things are different now. I've grown up, Reggie, you need to start doing the same."

Regulus gaped at his brother in sheer bafflement. He searched his mind for anything he could say that might snap Sirius out of this, but he came up short. He knew this wasn't really Sirius, but he was losing fast any pity he had for the man. How dare Sirius treat him like this? It was scarcely better than all the years he had ignored him!

Sirius stood up from the bed and looked down at Regulus condescendingly. "You can start by being honest to Dad when he comes in here to talk to you about that grade report. Then maybe tomorrow you and I should spend some time together."

Sirius reached out and clapped a hand on Regulus's shoulder. Regulus flinched.

"I love you, Reggie, and so do Mum and Dad. You're going to be okay, you just need to trust us, all right?"

Regulus ground his teeth together and refused to look at his brother.

"You need to let us take care of you."

And with that, Sirius left Regulus alone. Regulus glared at the door for a minute before collapsing onto his side, covering his face with his hands.

What a mess things had become. A slow panic was also swelling in his stomach. Sirius was probably going right down to their parents. He would probably tell them everything that had transpired during their conversation…

Regulus sprung up from his bed and dashed into the hallway. "Sirius!" he called out.

His brother turned on the top of the stairs. "Regulus," he said coolly. "You're supposed to stay in your room."

"Sirius, I—I..." Regulus ran forward and after just a second of hesitation, threw himself at his brother, burying his face in his robes.

"What is this?" Sirius asked.

Regulus shook, but he kept his face hidden. He could do this, he just needed to avoid Sirius's gaze.

"I'm sorry, don't be mad at me, please."

"I'm not mad at you, love," Sirius said softly. He put a hand on Regulus's head, kneading his soft hair. "I'm just worried about you."

"I'm sorry about yelling, and about what I said. Sirius," Regulus hiccuped. "Don't tell Mother and Father all the crazy things I said, please."

"Reggie..."

"It was a mistake, please...they'll be so cross."

Regulus didn't dare look up as Sirius thought over his request. His heart nearly stopped beating, until—

"Hush, now." Sirius resumed petting his hair. "I don't suppose they need to know everything, do they?" Sirius pulled Regulus off of him and took ahold of him by the shoulders. "After all, I am still your big brother, I suppose that entitles us to a few secrets."

Regulus nodded and finally looked up at Sirius with watery eyes. "Thanks," he said in a raspy voice.

Sirius smiled at him and patted his shoulder gently. "You're welcome, Reggie." He jerked his head towards the bedroom. "Now why don't you go back to your room so we don't both get in trouble, okay? I'll go see how good of a mood I can get Dad into before he comes up here—and Reggie?"

"Yes?"

"No more lies, okay?"

Regulus forced a smile. "Yes, sir," he said carefully. "No more lies."