Disclaimer: I don't know why I bother doing this. Well, actually I do. I've heard that being sued is a fairly unpleasant situation. Ok, fairly unpleasant was an understatement. So, to keep an authors wrath away from me, I do a disclaimer, like every other sane person on ff.net. (And some people who are not) Anyway, all things found in the Books are J.K Rowling's. Everything else is mine. I'm done now. Enjoy the story!
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"Aw, leave it be Reg." A mischievous voice cut off Reg's concentration on the chess game and he looked up, frowning slightly.
"I see you're hanging out with the no good mudbloods again. Black." Reg said sneering at the older boy, who from accident of birth happened to be his brother. The boy across of the chessboard looked at him with an expression of pleasant surprise. He didn't know that Reg had that kind of spunk in him!
Sirius looked at him, disbelief and hurt shone in his eyes like a beacon. This was the first time that Reg had been openly mean to him. Reg sucked up the apology that was ready to flow out his mouth, reminding himself of his father's words. Sirius was, other then a dirty Gryffindor, disloyal to the family's pure hearted measures. His gaze slid back to the four musketeers, more commonly known as Marauders, who stood side by side their faces tensed in anger as he continued to insult them and his brother.
He avoided looking at their gazes, terrified that he might burst into tears any moment. He hated this. Hated how he had to offend his brother and his friends. But he was under orders from his father, and like a submissive puppy, he had to obey them. He didn't have a choice.
One of them, James Potter, the infamous troublemaker and second hand of his dear brother stepped forward. His brown eyes were flashing dangerously and he snapped out his wand probably ready to murder him on the spot. Reg smirked, hiding panic; James might try to murder him, for after all, it was a fifth year against a third year. But, Reg had a few tricks up his sleeve that nobody was expecting and he didn't want to hurt anybody, especially James. To his extreme relief Remus, the perfect prefect pulled him back and whispered something in his ears. Something to the extent of 'Lily's watching you.' James put his wand into his pocket and glared at the third year. This little 'conversation' was not over. Reg understood that very well and dreaded the time it would be continued.
Reg shook his head slightly as the four musketeers moved confidently away showing off to girls and flirting outrageously. They were special those four, however pathetic and player-like they were. They were cool and confident at all times in the face anything, and trouble did not faze them. Especially not James and Sirius.
Sirius, Reg sighed, they used to be so close until his father had forced them apart. He hadn't known at that time the extent of his brother's traitorous behavior but his father had tried to warn him. Unfortunately, he hadn't listened to his father's advice and he got dumped into a train compartment full of loud talk, stunts and pranks.
Oh, come off it, Reg thought sadly. Why don't you just admit, even to yourself, that you enjoyed those hours with Sirius and his friends. You enjoyed all the loud talk and stunts that they played. Heck, you even enjoyed the girls paying attention to you for once, and not only your brother. Reg had even thought at that time that he would gladly follow his brother's example. He would have joined gryffindor, been a troublemaker, even be friends with muggles. But the sorting hat had other ideas.
***********FLASHBACK***********
Reg scampered up to the sorting hat grinning cheerfully at his brother and his friends. He was so certain that soon he would be joining them, and they would accept him as one of their own. McGonagall placed the hat on his head. His thoughts raced through his mind repeatedly and it was always the same. Gryffindor, please put me in Gryffindor. The hat had other ideas for him.
You'd be wasted in Gryffindor, young chap, the hat said into his head.
You're not made to follow in your brother's footsteps. His will be a hard path, but yours will be harder. You were not made to cause trouble, instead something else. You're cunning, and I can see where you will do well. I put you in SLYTHERIN.
The hat shouted the last to the whole school and numbly Reg stood up. He could see the horror running through his brother's eyes although Sirius tried to hide it. He walked slowly to his new house table, the cheers ringing dully in his mind. He was in Slytherin, and he knew, just as his brother knew, that no longer would there be a strong relationship between them.
***********END FLASHBACK***********
Oh, it had been all right for a while. They had exchanged civil words with each other and pretended to act like brothers, but they both new that the relationship was crashing down on them. For the last year, they started to talk less and less.
Sirius had known it would happen ever since the 'talk' his dad had with Reg three years ago. Reg had seen it in his eyes but had foolishly pushed the thought away. Now he thought back to it.
***********FLASHBACK***********
"You can't run from it boy." The old man said sneering at his young son. "If you follow your brothers example you'll end up scorned for life. It's totally unacceptable, his behavior, and if I find that you even go near that treacherous brother of yours then I will punish you to the dickens. Do you hear me, boy?" The ten-year-old child nodded fearfully, not daring to look at the angry man who called himself his father.
"That will be all, Regulus," The man said looking down at his sheets of paper. The young boy scurried out of the room as fast as his dignity and pride would allow him. He hurried into the parlor and saw his brother crouching by a chess bored. The usual roguish eyes were dull and lined with tears and his skin was deadly pale.
"You heard. I'm sorry Si." Regulus said quietly, slipping into a chair across from the older boy. His blond hair shone bright against the candle lit room and his dark eyes were serious as they always were. The older boy recovered enough to ruffle Regulus' hair.
"Naah Reg." Sirius said with faked calm. "The old man hates me anyway. I don't understand why he didn't have this little 'chat' with you years ago." He smiled slightly at Regulus and punched him softly in the arm. Serious eyes looked back at him and without a doubt in his voice he had said,
"I'll never be mean to you or ignore you, I promise." Sirius had smiled back at the childlike innocents in Reg's face.
***********END FLASHBACK***********
I'll never be mean to you or ignore you, I promise. Reg sighed regretfully; if it had been his own choice, he would never be mean to his brother. He loved his brother, loved him to the point of adoration. But, the owls from his father kept coming in during the past year. One time they had been full of lies and he had believed it. It had caused a fight between the brothers. Sirius had forgiven him. He always forgave him.
Reg fought the urge to run after his brother and beg an apology -- cling to his arm and weep, tell him why he said those things. But his father's words kept ringing around his mind, rebounding off the walls and coming back louder and louder. He hates you Regulus. He hides it well, but deep down it's always there. He's jealous of all the attention you get from your mother and me. Don't be tricked by his kind words and thoughtfulness, he doesn't mean it. Beware of you brother's trap my lad. Always be wary.
"Yo, Reg man, you spacing out at me." The boy who interrupted his thoughts had gray sparkling eyes and short blond hair that was gelled back by the most expensive brand he could find. He had an arrogant face and a superior attitude for everyone except purebloods. Reg stared into those gray eyes and grinned for the first time since his brother came barging into their train compartment.
"Do you really think I'd space Luc?" The other boy grinned back at him and slapped him in the back.
"I'm glad you finally showed your no-good brother and his friends down. Now you're truly acting as a Slytherin should." The smile on Reg's face was washed away, like pebbles on a beach and he looked down, examining his clean, polished hands. He didn't answer Lucius' comment. He couldn't tell Luc that he didn't want to be doing that and that inside all he wanted to do was sob.
"Let's just play chess Luc." Reg said quietly, his dark eyes staring broodingly into space. "I don't want to talk about the Musketeers right now." Luc shrugged compliantly and moved over the desk thoughtfully to determine his next move.
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Alrighty then! All done with that chappie, happiness! I just was hit with this plot bunny yesterday, it almost knocked me off my feet and I had to look back to see what information was in the book. Well if you haven't reread that part over carefully, I don't want to give anything away. Right now Reg is just feeling horrible about the incident, and very, very under his father's control. Oh and in the next chappie, I'm probably going to do the story from Sirius' point of view. Hoped you like it! R+R!
Cheers without tears, (though maybe some for Reg)
Stee
