Walburga advanced down the stairs, wand raised.
Regulus looked to Sirius, already bloodied and shaking.
Have courage, Cor Leonis, his great-aunt's voice echoed in his head.
"STOP!" he yelled and leapt between his brother and his mother.
"Reg… don't…" Sirius croaked.
With a flick of her wand Walburga swept Regulus aside and hurled him against the wall.
And he cried, because she had never physically harmed him before. He cried because his brother was yelling and convulsing in a heap on the floor. He cried because he didn't have the heart of a lion after all. He was a coward.