So I'm not quite sure what I'm trying to do here, but I'm happy with how it came out :")

Here's to hoping you guys are too ;)

Constructive criticism is always welcome!

Word count: 1176

"Sirius." At the sound of his name, the raven-haired boy turned around. While on the outside he looked like he had not a care in the world, on the inside his emotions were raging.

"Regulus," he said evenly. Although he didn't show it, he was confused. Confused that his broth- that Regulus was actually willingly talking to him in public. That he wasn't sneering at him and looking at him with hesitance.

"Can I," he gulped audibly; another surprising move for the usually composed Slytherin- "Can we talk?" His eyes travelled over James standing protectively beside Sirius and he added, "In private?"

Sirius bit his lip. On one hand, Regulus had made his decision, he had chosen the side he wanted to fight for. But on the other, this was his brother, he couldn't just ignore him like that, despite whatever he'd done.

Sirius turned to James, who was watching him silently. "Cover for me in Transfig, will you, Prongs? I'll be there soon."

James didn't say anything, just nodded. That was why Sirius loved him. He knew when to not ask questions, when to let something go. He knew that Sirius needed to do this and therefore, let him.

Sirius managed to smile at him in an attempt to reassure him, but he figured it didn't work. The last time he had talked to Regulus, he was covered in blood and hexed to near death by their parents. He was, therefore, not quite sure how to act around him now.

Regulus bit his lip for a split second before turning onto his heel and walking into an empty classroom just a few steps away from where they were standing. A part of Sirius wondered if this was pre-planned but he didn't dwell on that train of thought. Mostly because he didn't know what he would do if it turned out it was.

"Okay, what's up?" Adopting a nonchalant attitude, Sirius walked over to the teacher's desk and leaned against it.

Regulus took a deep breath before blurting out, "I don't want to do this, Siri."

It took all the self composure that had quite literally been beaten into him for Sirius to stop his jaw from dropping.

"What do you mean by 'this'?" he asked cautiously, keeping an iron clad hold on his emotions, not letting any sort of hope blossom.

"This-this life, Sirius! I know I didn't say anything tha-that day, but that was not because I supported them," he spat the word 'them' like it was burning his very mouth to say those words. "I was, I was too confused, too scared to say anything. I didn't know what to do. Moth-Mother always wanted obedience and I was only too happy to give it to her. I didn't know how to be anything but obedient, Sirius, I need you to believe that," Identical grey eyes turned to Sirius, begging and pleading.

Sirius took a step forward, his arm raised as if he wanted to just grab his brother into a tight hug, wanting to protect him from everything, but he resisted. He had to clench his fist to keep from making contact.

"Did," Sirius gulped, his throat suddenly dry, "Did they do any-anything to you?"

He swore to Merlin and back, if they touched a single hair on Regulus' hair, they would regret it til the day they died.

"NO!" Regulus denial was unhesitant and loud. "No, they wouldn't dare to hurt their precious son, the one who is destined to follow in their footsteps, licking at the coattails of a monster like some sort of a simpering sycophant."

His words were bitter, and contained a hint of a sneer that was so, so familiar that Sirius had to choke a laugh back. While he would never admit it, at least not to the boy in front of him, he had missed that pretentious sneer and that bite in his voice.

"What are you planning on doing then?" Sirius asked, not quite seeing where this was going.

"That is exactly the thing; I have no idea," Regulus gripped his hair tightly, face screwing up in frustration.

"I need to get out of that house, Siri. I can't stay there anymore," Here a hint of fear entered his voice; the first sign that he was afraid.

"I'm scared they'll kill me if I refuse to do their bidding anymore."

Sirius' heart clenched at his words. He closed his eyes and took a deep shuddering breath, willing his stomach to calm down and his brain to start working.

When he opened his eyes a few seconds later, it was with a much clearer mind. "Okay, we have to think this through, Reg. You know they won't let you get away easily. The only reason I got away was because they didn't want or expect me to stay anyway. They had you. But if you leave, they'll be left with no one and their precious groomed son doing that is not something they would just roll over and accept."

Regulus nodded seriously. "I know. I've gone through all this hundreds of times in my head. I have exhausted all my options and I see no way I can get out of this alive."

Sirius took a step forward and placed his hand on Regulus' shoulder, squeezing tightly. Desperately.

"Don't-Don't say that," he choked out. The thought of Regulus not being there was one he wasn't willing to even let enter his mind. "We'll find a way, we'll get you out of there. If nothing else, I'll take you to James' place and keep you hidden there. If by some chance, his parents are not okay with it, which is highly unlikely, we can run away. I already know how to Apparate and both of us have our own vaults. We'll make it." He nodded resolutely as he spoke, wanting to keep a strong front for his brother, knowing he could break down when he was back in his dorm.

"Sirius," Regulus whispered brokenly, "Sirius, I-How will I ever make up for treating you as I have? How can you ever forgive me?"

"Oh, Reg," Sirius breathed before wrapping his arms tightly around the younger boy like he had been aching to do so for so long. He tucked his head in the crook of his neck and just wished he could always protect his brother like this.

"Reg, I can never not forgive you. You-You're my younger brother, I'll always be there for you."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, I'm sorry," Regulus said, holding on just as tightly to Sirius.

"It's okay, Reg, I forgive you," Sirius assured him, "We'll find a way through this, we'll make sure you not only come out alive, but strong enough that you'll be able to spit on their faces one day. I promise you that."

And as he dropped a kiss on the top of Regulus' head, he swore to himself that he would make sure his baby brother wasn't hurt, even if he had to sacrifice himself for it.

Written for:

-Writing Club; Showtime; Days Of The Month; Count Your Buttons

-Character Appreciation- Sirius Black (Older brother)

- Arithmancy, Assignment 8

- Around The World In 31 Days- Russia- Regulus Black