Saving Regulus
Seriousness

With a resounding crack, all three landed on the ground hard, Sirius' heart pounding in his chest while he pulled his younger brother closer and Kreacher attempted extracting himself from the pile of limbs on the floor. A voice in the darkness called out. "Sirius?" Then came the word, "Lumos."

The light from Remus' wand lit up the living area of Sirius' flat, making the worn-out furniture appear in an eerie manner. His friend's mouth opened and then closed, his mouth twisting as he took in the scene in front of him. Sirius looked up at him, wild-eyed. "What are you doing here?"

"Doing here?" Remus let out a deep breath while Kreacher glared at him, sending a few very choice words his way. "The House Elf of the Black family shows up and takes you away because your younger brother needed your help with something, and I shouldn't be worried?"

"Well, you certainly didn't say anything before he took me away, did you?" Sirius snapped, still holding Regulus close, feeling the younger Black's head against his chest only to realize that he'd pulled his brother into his lap protectively while his arms wrapped protectively around his brother's shoulder and arms. Letting out a deep breath, he placed his chin on top of his younger's head, feeling suddenly tired while he looked around for any signs of the Infiri.

"Sirius?"

"I don't know. I don't really know what happened. Regulus was rather…" Sirius' eyes closed. "…vague."

"Then tell me what…"

Remus found himself interrupted by Regulus letting out a moan before he started apologizing for something he'd done again, yet also muttering regarding needing water, his fingers clawing. Remus' eyes widened right before he turned on his heels, heading into the kitchen area. From where Sirius sat, he heard the sound of the tap being turned on, and then Remus returned, kneeling down so he might lift a cup of water to Regulus' lips.

Regulus' eyes didn't seem to see anything around him, yet as soon as the liquid hit his lips he started drinking down the water greedily, his hands attempting to reach for and hold onto the glass in Remus' hands. "Steady now. Drink it slowly so you don't become ill, though perhaps I should say more ill than you are." Remus looked up, his wand still lighting up the place. "Sirius? What caused this?"

"Some kind of potion," Sirius muttered, his eyes darting away.

"A potion?"

"He drunk all of it." He wasn't sure how to explain the potion to his friend. "He had to drink it all to get the locket out. He said something about making sure the locket was destroyed, but wouldn't explain why. I mean, he wasn't planning on getting out of this alive, and if I hadn't been there…"

Sirius' eyes closed, not wanting to think what would have happened. Remus let out a sigh. "I'm not sure what should be done to counter whatever this potion is."

"It doesn't kill," Kreacher muttered. "It doesn't."

Remus looked up, realizing the House Elf was still there. "It doesn't."

"He would know because Voldemort bloody shoved the potion down his throat first."

"Kreacher, for Regulus' sake can you tell me what the potion does?"

Sirius watched the House Elf shudder, but then more firmly said, "Kreacher. I order you to tell Remus what the potion does."

"Made Kreacher relive Kreacher's worst memories."

"Oh. You mean mother torturing you. That makes sense." Sirius rolled his eyes, yet he didn't want to know what Regulus' worst memories were, why his younger brother felt the need to worry.

"I'll get another drink of water for him." Remus stood up, heading back into the kitchen.

"And a Calming Draught?" Sirius asked, feeling his brother's small frame tense and untense in his arms. He watched Remus looked back.

"No. I don't think this is something that a Calming Draught can solve, but if it wore off for Kreacher it will wear off for Regulus as well. It might be best to get him into bed and comfortable, but I'll contact Lily and see if she'll drop by with a second opinion on the matter." Remus looked at Kreacher. "What about the House Elf?"

"What about him?" Sirius gently started to lift Regulus up into his arms.

"He could easily bring either one of your parents here, letting them know where Regulus is."

"Kreacher, with me in the other room." Sirius let out a sigh, letting Regulus' head nestle against his shoulder while his brother's entire frame shook, his voice still muttering apologies. "Shush. It's going to be okay Regulus." He watched Kreacher scurry into the room, pulling back the sheets without being bidden, but then Regulus was his precious master. Setting Regulus down, he headed to the wardrobe, eyeing the clothes and wondering if he might just give the thing a gift, but then thought better of it, knowing that was known for backfiring on Wizards. "Kreacher."

"Kreacher does not like the filthy runaway."

"Yes, but you still have to take orders from me."

"Kreacher does not want to, but Kreacher has to."

"Then don't tell anyone else in the family what Regulus did, where he is. Don't bring them here." He grabbed a set of warm pajamas and turned, watching the House Elf fidget. "What?"

"What if mistress asks?"

"Tell her that Regulus is safe and being taken care of, but that's the limit of what you can tell her. Tell her…" Sirius paused, the words feeling like bile in his own throat. "Tell her it's for her own safety, that Regulus wants her to be safe so she's not to know, her and father."

"It might kill Master Orion. The filthy runaway…"

"Tell him that Regulus is safe."

"But Master Regulus is not safe."

"He's as safe as he can be, but it is better off if he is here rather than at the bottom of that cesspool with those Infiri. Whatever he's done, he can't go back to Voldemort." He looked at the House Elf. "Look. I'll see to it that Regulus is properly taken care of and if you're needed, I will summon you. Regulus might even summon you once he is feeling better, the idiot."

"Master Regulus is not…"

"He's an idiot for nearly getting himself killed, and I can say that about him because I'm mad at him for nearly getting himself killed. Now be gone until you're called for."

Sirius waved his hand and Kreacher disappeared with a resounding crack while the warm pajamas remained in his hands. Letting out a sigh, he found himself getting to work removing his brother's clothing, freezing upon opening up the front and seeing his brother's ribs sticking out slightly. He sucked in his breath, just as the door opened.

"Sirius?"

Lily's voice made Sirius look up; he felt physically tired, swallowing as he did so. "Lily."

She moved over to his side, looking down at his brother. "He's rather thin, isn't he?"

"He's always been on the small side."

"Yes, but the way he trembles." Lily shook her head, coming over and helping him get Regulus into the pajamas which practically swamped his younger brother.

Sirius turned and looked at her. "Is there anything…" The apologetic look on her face made him swallow. "You're not going to give him anything?"

"No, I'm not. Just keep him warm and hydrated for now and only really do something if he takes a turn for the worst, in which case, well, the easiest solution would be to shove a bezoar down his throat since we don't at all know any of the ingredients which went into making the potion, do we?"

"I see." Sirius reached out and brushed a lock of his brother's hair away from his forehead.

"That said, I will be taking shifts with Remus keeping an eye on him."

"I can take a shift," Sirius piped up, his eyes begging her not to leave him out.

"From the looks of it you need your own rest, but…" Lily nodded her head at Regulus. "Use your own body heat to keep him warm for the time being. Love, Sirius, can sometimes be the best medicine. This way if he wakes and wants water you can give it to him. One of us will be in the other room checking in every so often, but give a call if there is any change for the worse."

She closed the door behind him, leaving him alone with his younger brother. Letting out a sigh, Sirius crawled in, watching Regulus' eyelids move in the dim light from the window, indicating morning was well on its way. Every so often his brother muttered something about being sorry, particularly to their mother, but sometimes he offered an apology to Sirius. Letting out a sigh, Sirius knew it would be a long night.