Stormythoughts
Title: What Is Family
Team: Appleby Arrows
Position: Beater 2
Theme: Family, Brotherhood
Prompts:
Paladin: Someone makes a sacred blood oath
Additional prompt:
[Date] 5th October 1998
[Dialogue] "That is inexcusable."
[Object] Pendant
Word Count: 1,354
Thanks to RXI and Ikuni for helping me with brainstorming for ideas.
In a room of 12 Grimmauld Place, a little figure sat on his bed curled tightly, trembling underneath his duvet. Each corner of sheets were held down around him by his fists and feet. He pulled the corners to his ears in an attempt to cover them, to stop hearing the argument that he had run away from.
However, it was still in vain. Faintly, Regulus could still hear the shrieks from his mother and the spells and curses by his father to his Mother. Squeezing his eyes, he tried to ignore the noises and shut them out but he couldn't.
Footsteps rushed towards the door. There was a moment of quiet before the door was gently pushed open.
Messy haired and with dirt smudged on his face, a haggard Sirius Black walked in.
"Reggy? Reggy, are you here?" Sirius softly called out.
Regulus didn't answer, instead he curled tighter in on himself. Sirius spotted the trembling bundle on the bundle and slowly approached it.
"Reggy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to leave. I'm sorry." He whispered as he patted the back of the bundle. He heard a couple soft sniffs in return. Sirius continued patting Regulus back and whispering words of comfort.
After a while a head of messy black hair peeked out of the warm sanctuary.
"Sirius…" Regulus whispered.
"Yes Reggy…"
Teary eyes blinked up at Sirius and the 6 year old boy clambered into his older brother's lap, hugging him tightly. "Sirius, please don't leave me again… you won't ever leave me again right?"
"Never ever." Sirius replied, embracing him back.
"You'll love me forever right?" Regulus' muffled voice asked.
"Forever and ever."
"You'll never hit me or curse me like Mum and Dad do to each other?"
"Absolutely never."
"Do you swear it?"
"Would you swear it back?"
"Yes."
"Then I do too. I, Sirius Orion Black do so swear to never leave Regulus Arcturus Black, to forever love Regulus Arcturus Black and Never curse or hit Regulus Arcturus Black, So mote it be."
"I, Regulus A-arcturus Black do s-so swear to never leave Sirius Orion Black, to f-forever love Sirius Orion Black and Never curse or hit Sirius Orion Black, S-so mote it be." Regulus stumbled over his words as he tried to copy what his brother had said but the oath still created itself.
Both boys felt the magic wrap around them and sink into their skin. Regulus smiled as he let himself relax in his brother's arms. He felt safe now.
"Love you Siri." Regulus whispered.
"Love you too Reggy." Sirius answered back, embracing Regulus tighter.
Tired, they both fell asleep like that. It was an uncomfortable position but they didn't mind as even their parents' fight had quieted down.
It was the 5th of October 1967, a date marked down in their hearts.
Regulus sat on his bed in the Slytherin dorm with the curtains up. His face was forlorn. He bit his tongue harshly trying to suppress the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
He winced as he moved. The brash, sore red boils that contrasted on his pale skin rubbed against each other.
He had woken up this morning to find the bright boils all over his skin and when he had gotten up and looked around he found his dorm mates to be in similar situations. He also checked his wardrobe to find them all in the Gryffindor design.
Instantly he went back to his bed to hide there. He could go to Madame Pomfrey whilst everyone else was in the Great Hall for breakfast.
Sorrow overwhelmed him. This 'prank' had the infamous Marauders' names written all over it. The Marauders in which his brother, Sirius Black, played a major part in.
What a coincidence that today was also the 5th of October. Regulus smiled bitterly. It was obvious now that he meant nothing to Sirius.
In his first year Sirius had barely even spoken to him. Regulus had tried to understand him. Maybe it had been because of the fact that Sirius was in 3rd year which is when they first chose their options. Of course Sirius would need some time to get used to the classes.
Second year he had gotten harassed by the other Slytherins as he had been one of the only Slytherins not affected by the Marauders' pranks
Well at least now he had been cursed. It was not something they could mock him for anymore. If he walked out now, they would probably all mock him.
Sirius had betrayed the oath, but it wasn't fully broken yet.
Regulus bided his time. After getting a boil cure from Madame Pomfrey, he ransacked the library for how to break an oath.
Sirius was lying lazily on the couch of the Gryffindor common room surrounded by his friends when a sudden jet of pain struck through him.
The pain increased until when he could take no more, he passed out.
The next time he awoke he was in the Hospital wing and he could see Madame Pomfrey whizzing around and then into her office. When he looked next to himself he saw Regulus also lying in a bed.
"Reggy? What happened to you?"
Regulus simply ignored him. Determined to speak to his brother Sirius hobbled off the bed and towards.
"Reggy?"
"Don't call me that." Regulus said in a crisp, sharp voice.
"Huh, why?"
Regulus finally turned to look at him. He stared at him directly into his eyes.
"I broke the oath. That's what happened."
Sirius looked at him gobsmacked. "What! Why?"
Regulus scowled. "You already cursed me this morning. You already partially broke it. That is inexcusable. So I took the honour of breaking it fully."
A vein twitched at the side of Sirius' face as he clenched his jaw. " You really believe I would do that. You're absolutely crazy Regulus Black. I told them not to harm you. I didn't agree to whatever the hell happened this morning but I hope you're happy with yourself."
With that Sirius stormed out of the Hospital Wing not caring what Madame Pomfrey might say.
That summer Sirius ran away to the Potter's house. This time fully leaving Regulus alone.
Regulus didn't cry. He swore he wouldn't. So he purposely forgot the long nights he spent curled in his bed, letting his emotions overwhelm him.
Harry was now 18 and he could finally move out of the Dursleys house. So he decided to move into 12 Grimmauld Place. It reminded him of Sirius which was one of the reasons he decided to move there.
He decided to start browsing through the house. He didn't get a proper chance too whilst he was hiding out here last year.
He decided to go into the person called Regulus' room first. It still looked rather messy. Suddenly a glint caught his eye. He walked towards it and saw half of a pendant. Underneath it was a letter.
Dear Siri,
Wow it's been a long time since I called you that. I'm sorry. So sorry. If you are reading this instead of me telling you in person, then I'm probably dead. You were right to run away whilst you could.
I'm sorry for breaking our oath. No, I'm not happy I did it. I miss you Siri. But I hope you're still alive and fighting like you normally are. I love you so much and I'll never stop loving you. I made you hate me and I regret that.
Anyway, all the best,
Your brother,
Regulus Arcturus Black
(Commonly known as Reggy to one Sirius Black.)
Underneath the letter was another note in a handwriting that Harry Recognised.
I love you too Reggy,
Your brother,
Siri
(Commonly known as Sirius Black to the posh ponces of the world.)
Harry looked at the half of the pendant lying on the table and slowly pulled off the necklace Sirius had given him. He put the half of the pendant from the necklace he had next to the other one. He smiled sadly when they fit perfectly together.
Today was the 5th of October 1998.