Chapter 3

"Something Heavy"

When Hermione opened the chest there were two envelopes present inside it.

Slowly she took them out of the chest. The first one was addressed to Sirius Black and the second to her surprise and shock was addressed to "The one who shall vanquish the Dark Lord."

As soon as Hermione read that she sprinted downstairs, shouting "Harry, Ron. . . . . Harry, Ron. . . . Harry "

Both of them came out of their room with wands in hand and battle-ready and about to strike. upon seeing her safe they let out a long sigh

"Blimey!. . . . mione, what happened? Why are you screeching like a banshee."

Looking at both of them she held out her hand with the letters. "I found these in Regulus's room in a magically hidden chest."

Upon seeing who the letters were addressed to both the boys looked at them then at her.

At last, Harry said "let's go in the dining room and decide what we have to do with them. Okay"

Harry and Ron were sitting at the dining table. Harry at the head of the table 'where Sirius used to sit his way of being close to his godfather' and Ron to his left just like Remus used to sit as his shield. After putting a pot of tea Hermione joined them both at the right of Harry.

The letters were resting on the table between the three of them.

Reaching towards them Ron said "Well what are we waiting for?. . . . . Let's open them.?

Hermione spatted his hands away and told Ron that

"The letters were addressed to Harry and Sirius let him decide what he wants to do with them"

Harry sent a grateful smile towards her

"Let's leave him alone to read them."

Standing up Hermione made a cup of tea for Harry and sent him to his room, with the letters and Kreacher's special Treacle Tarts.

After Harry went inside the room. Ron started saying "Don't we have a right to know what is written in them, a death eater has written them maybe they have clues or something that could help us with winning this war"

"Ron, Sirius was the only family Harry ever had and knew. Who Harry loved a lot and to read letters written by someone who loved and saw Sirius the same way Harry did is his last chance to connect with Sirius on some level. Let's just let him have this. Let him be for some time"

"But . . . . . . . . . . . ."

"No Ron. . . you are worried about your family right. Harry doesn't even have that. A family about whom he can care and be worried about. Who can love him and worry about him in return? Let's just let him have this one thing. If there is something important written we'll have to trust Harry to tell us. Okay?"

"Okay. . . . ."

"Yeah"

Both Ron and Hermione sat there and peacefully drinking their tea. Hermione wondered when will next in this journey she will have the semblance of normality and be able to sit about this peacefully and if she even will have time for these kinds of wandering thoughts.

Thoughts of Regulus and dreams of him that she had last night.

Suddenly she was pulled out of her thoughts by Ron's sudden voice.

"Hey mione, where are your parents? I mean at least my family has magic so I know they have wards and all kinds of protection that magic can offer. But your parents, as being muggles are they okay or do we need to help them to safety as well with the Horcrux hunting."

She didn't know what to say so she just shrugged and in a monotonous voice replied.

"They are as safe as they can be. They moved to another country with muggle transport"

She was thankful that Ron didn't press on the matter more and stood up and started to rummage through the kitchen cabinets.

"Where do you suppose Kreacher put those chocolate truffles. . . . . . . . huh!"

Standing up and putting hers and Ron's mug for washing Hermione said "I have no idea . . . . . . . wait for him he should soon be here. Okay."

After drying and keeping the mugs in their proper place she called to Ron.

"I will be upstairs in Regulus's room reading, If you need anything let me know. . . . . Yeah"

Harry closed the door to his room and moved towards the bed. After putting letters there, he sat beside them. He started to pull memories of Sirius forward. No matter what happened in occlumency lessons with Snape he learnt to keep important memories or mostly happy memories safe locked away in his cupboard under the stairs of no 4 Privet Drive.

How Sirius had asked him out of nowhere to come live with him. To be a family. Both of them had no family, no one to turn to. How he held his hand in Dumbledore's office after he came back from the graveyard of Little Hangleton. How he soothed him and made him feel safe. The only constant in his life was Sirius. He even snuck 1 or 2 letters during the summer after his 4thyear. How he had Tonks bring adoption papers for him. That after the war is over and his name is cleared no matter the year or time, they will be a family. A genuine family. With love, care and a place to call home.

Harry looked at the letters and felt an unexplained number of emotions. Why would Regulus Black write a letter to him?

He sat there for an unaccountable time pondering whether to open the letters or not.

Yesterday he found a letter to Sirius written by his mum now this. Gathering all the bravery he could muster and with a 'fuck it' he opened the one addressed to Sirius.

Over the envelope, in jet black ink were two words written 'Sirius Black' and behind it was a seal in the shape of a lion bowing to a dog. Odd harry thought.

Breaking the wax seal, he pulled the letter out and started to read.

Sirius,

Brother, I know in recent years we have not seen eye to eye. I know that you think that I betrayed you by siding with our family. This letter is not a justification or explanation. It is a letter full of questions. Just the way I used to ask you when we were 3 or 4, you would carry me on your back and answer all the questions I fancy at that age.

You used to say 'Ask Reggie whatever you want to ask and I shall answer them as to my knowledge and more.'

Why am I hesitant to ask now?

Why should I not support my family in boon and doom? Why should I not try to be their guiding star just like you were mine? Isn't it my responsibility?

All I ever wanted was our family to say together and united, just like we were always supposed to be. To be just like we were taught to all of us.

How when we were little you and Bella used to hold court and Andy and I was your loyal supporters and subjects. Narcissa our beloved princess was waiting for a prince with a white horse or we said peacock to tease her and annoy Lucius. Yet we were all together and could win the world.

When Lucius used to come home on those damnable play dates with Aunt Lesath, how we used to make fun of him and Cissa and their future together. Even if Cissa was only 3 and Lucius was 10 yet their magic was aligned, how can we lose faith in that sacred bond? In our sacred traditions.

Remember the day when you promised Bella that when you are head of the family you will never let her marry without her consent. Because she felt she doesn't have a bonded and she doesn't want to bond with just anybody. I was there hiding from your view but with you, I made the same vow. So when Uncle Cygnus married her off to Lestrange for her betrothed money and upstanding in society. You can not be there for her, to let her cry on your shoulders or just to reassure her that she has family at her back. That she is not alone. How can I not fulfil that promise for both of us? I was with her till uncle Cygnus walked her towards her doom and madness.

I had to honour not only your vow but mine also. To find a way to free her of not only Lestrange's clutches but Dark Lords also. Because after he saw her power, like a power-hungry viper that he is he captured her with every means possible in his hold. Shouldn't I try and stop him and free her. Our older sister stopped grandfather Arcturus from punishing us when we broke his mother's favourite vase. Our sister tucked us to bed and told us the stories of stars. What is a Black means? And by being the heir and scion of the family meant for us.

You remember the words of your vow that in the black family no matter the age, whether male or female everyone will flourish. Even those who have been wrongfully casting out. Shouldn't as your loyal I should make it easier for you whenever you are ready to come back to your rightful place.

Do you remember at your 9th birthday when we saved those muggles with our accidental magic mother praising us? Father boasted about it. How can they do that if they were muggle haters? We live in a home in the heart of London. An old townhouse. We built this home and other such townhouses on our land. Those muggles pay us rent not only for living space but for the protection our home provides.

You abandoned our parents when they needed you. When they were being poisoned by society and literally by Abraxas's Malfoy instead of freedom and recognition. Wasn't I suppose to be there for them and help them overcome it.

Can you even imagine what mother must have felt when you just up ran in the middle of the night? Why because father tried to tell you that what you were doing was wrong, and Dumbledore's misguided ideas brainwashed you. What your friends were doing was wrong and will destroy us. Due to old age Lord and Lady Potter were not in the midst of war, but they never openly supported Dumbledore against the Dark Lord when they did support him with Grindelwald.

You broke mother's heart, Sirius.

When she and her father was free from Abraxas Malfoy's compulsion after his timed and detailed death. Mother needed you father needed you. Both wanted you but couldn't call you out of guilt and pride.

They punished you harshly and father lived with that guilt, please Sirius tell me what should I do. Both have forbidden me to call you.

I only joined him to free our family from him, of everything he did and I am and will always try to protect our family from harm.

Sirius no matter when you read this letter always remember that the Heir and future Lord of The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black was, is and always will be

Sirius Orion Black ׀׀׀till the day I die. The throne is yours but the burden of the crown is ours to bear.

I just like my namesake Leo will fearlessly protect and defend you, I will always guard your throne and our family.

If you are reading this, I am most probably dead, the only regret I will have is not being able to ask and tell you all of this. Remember that I died protecting your birthright and claim. Our family and honour. And love that Black's have but do not show.

Your

Younger, Stupid and Naive

Brother

Regulus Black

(Seal of a slumbering lion)

After reading the letter Harry just felt num, he thought if his parents were alive would he have a sibling-like Regulus. He knows he has Hermione who is in most ways just like Regulus.

Harry thought that Sirius never realized how much Regulus loved him and their damaged broken family. And the secrets of the black family were not as simple as they seem.

And he never cared about how broken Sirius was. Maybe if he survived Sirius would have gotten a trial, he would have lived with both of them.

Looking at the second letter addressed to him Harry can only imagine what was written in it. And how it will affect him.