Hey everyone! So, since I couldn't reply by PM, but Kali commented that maybe Sirius should be the love interest, since there's not much between Emma and Reg right now. So the explanation is that Sirius loves James to death, but can you imagine kissing your best friend? Just, no. Besides, as you'll see later on, the two don't really get along well. As for Reg, he's the biggest introvert known to Marauder-kind, so it'll take some time for that romance to get gonig. That's why I posted the story as Hurt/Comfort instead of Romance. Hope that cleared things up! Again, crreelluka, you're the best for leaving a little comment each time, and HT188, ro781727, Cae-Leigh Anne and MajesticSkittles for taking the time to review.

Sorry for the long A.N, here's the chapter!

A chauffeur took them from the station to the middle of London, to a house Regulus said was called "12 Grimmauld Place". As they stood in the street, alone with their luggage (James had brought Fluffy back with him), a tall black townhouse seemed to squeeze itself out of thin air. The iron gate swung open easily enough, though Emma was surprised none of the neighbours heard the creaking. Sirius marched up to the door and flung it open. Apparently, the Black family had no need of locks.

'Home sweet home,' he muttered darkly under his breath, and ran straight up the stairs with his trunk, ignoring the house-elf which appeared next to him, trying to take the luggage in vain. 'Get away! I don't need you clawing around in my stuff.'

'Hi Kreacher,' Regulus smiled, and for a minute he looked like a completely different person from Emma's taciturn friend. But the mask didn't return when she thought it would, and she was surprised to see Regulus look like Sirius.

'So this is the living room,' he said showing her around, explaining that his parents would be back from their business trip in a couple of days. 'And this is my room, where you'll be staying,' he said finally as they reached the top floor, indicating a door with the words "Do Not Enter Without Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black".

Emma looked at him, amused.

'Don't ask,' Regulus said wearily. 'It comes from the days this house was filled with people. Plus, Rabastan and I have an inside joke: my initials are R.A.B and the start of his name is RAB...'

Inside, she looked around with interest. Her friend wasn't one to talk much about home - or himself, for that matter - and she wanted to know what his room was like. Predictably, it was spotlessly tidy, with Slytherin banners hanging around the walls. A crest with the words "Toujours Pur" was painted above the bed, which she supposed belonged to the Blacks. Opposite the four-poster bed was a picture of their Quidditch team, and a collage of newspaper clippings were stuck to the left of it. She moved closer, and saw that it retraced this Lord Voldemort's footprints as he steadily rose in power and popularity.

'Did you do this?' she asked, impressed.

He nodded, standing awkwardly to the side. Things hadn't been the same between them since Lucinda had blurted out that Emma had hooked up with Sirius. Better he think that than the truth, Emma thought, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks at the thought of it. She tried to distract herself.

'I didn't know he was gathering the magical creatures too,' she said, scanning the articles. 'Can it really be that Voldemort will bring back the wizardry of old times?'

'I hope so,' Regulus said, eyes shining. 'I hope that I'll be able to -'

The door banged open and Sirius stood in the doorway. 'Just making sure you're not getting up to any funny business. I told James I'd keep an eye on you two.'

'More like I should keep an eye on you,' Emma muttered, remembering the Yule Ball and his strange behaviour - which she had attributed to the over-spiked punch. Though that did help me find an excuse in the end.

Regulus seemed to be thinking the same thing, because the look he was giving his brother was less than warm.

'What'cha looking at?' Sirius chuckled, and strolled over. 'Oh Reggie, did you do that for our parents? I'm sure they'll be pleased their favourite son is following in their bigoted footsteps.'

Regulus's face darkened and he looked like he was about to say something, but restricted himself to 'get out Sirius.'

'Oh don't tone down the insults on the behalf of female James here. But anyway, I'm off: you won't be able to contain yourself all week. Emma, you know where to find me,' he winked and sauntered off.

Regulus rolled his eyes, but said nothing, daring Emma to make a comment. She ignored it and moved to the little balcony, saying casually, 'I'm beginning to see where your hatred of nicknames came from.'

He gave a short laugh before following her outside. 'I guess we had better get the telescope ready while we have time.'

Both brothers had warned her that dinner was a formal affair at their house, and Emma was glad that she had brought her nicer clothes with her. That didn't stop her feeling awkward and ungainly as they ate, trying to keep her back as straight and stiff as their parents'. She could see where Sirius and Regulus got their grace from.

They were sitting around a mahogany table with a fancy white table cloth. White napkins were placed on their laps, but Emma had a feeling that they were more for decoration than for using to wipe your face. Kreacher came and went in silence, bringing the soup and bread baskets and occasionally refilling Orion and Walburga's wine glasses. The first course passed in silence, save the clatter of Kreacher levitating the empty bowls back to the kitchen. It was only upon his re-entry with silver platters of magically sliced meat and vegetables that somebody spoke. Though Emma had to admit Kreacher was a very good cook.

'So Emma,' Walburga said, breaking the silence as she dabbed delicately at the corner of her mouth. 'I hear you're on the Quidditch team.'

'Chaser,' Emma agreed, though her mind drew a blank upon trying to continue. Why do I always clam up when I'm nervous?

'Regulus says you're a good flier,' Orion said. Emma blushed.

'Not as good as him,' she replied, her gaze flickering towards the younger Black brother. She remembered a story from third year. 'He once caught the Snitch in five minutes flat. Or Sirius. I don't know how many Bludgers I've had to dodge because our team's Beaters weren't fast enough.'

Walburga tutted at Sirius, reprimanding him for shooting Bludgers at a girl.

'That's the aim of the game, Mother,' Sirius said shortly, and there was another lull, punctuated by Sirius apparently murdering his food. Walburga opened her mouth, perhaps for another reprimand, but Regulus quickly asked his dad how work was going.

'Things at the Ministry are really heating up,' Orion replied animatedly. This was obviously a favourite topic of discussion. 'People are being divided into three camps: those who support Lord Voldemort's actions, even if they are a bit drastic; those who are against the way he's treating Mudbloods; and those who are caught in the middle.'

'Muggleborns, father. You call them Muggleborns,' Sirius said, raising his voice.

'Yes, well,' his father brushed him off. 'Rumour has it he's planning on a revolution that would overturn the order of things around here. The Ministry has reported sightings of massing troll armies in Scotland, and there have been attacks on Muggles who are reputed to know about magic. His followers have started calling themselves the "Death Eaters", because they won't give up their vision even in the face of death itself.'

'It's finally happening,' Walburga said in a hushed voice, almost reverent. 'We must go to see our cousins, tell them how proud we are of Bellatrix and congratulate Cissa on her engagement to Lucius Malfoy. I always knew that boy would go far in life.'

'What did Bellatrix do?' Emma asked, wondering what she had got herself into this week. It seemed like a bizarre mirror-image of her own home.

'It's all over the papers,' Orion answered. 'A group of Mudbloods had tried to attack a clan of werewolves, apparently in self-defence, though we all know that werewolves have been shunned from society. They killed a wizard named Yaxley in the process, but Bellatrix led a group in retaliation to round them up and put them in Azkaban.' He shook his head in disgust. 'These Mudbloods think they can do anything: it's their fault we we're in this mess. If only Muggles could learn to accept wizards, we wouldn't have to hide away like rats in sewers. But no, they hate anything that isn't like them!'

'As opposed to what?' Sirius stood up, slamming his hands on the table. 'You?' he laughed. 'Crooning over Bellatrix like she's some hero; our cousin is sick! She tortured those wizards for hours before handing them over to the authorities!'

'For interrogation purposes,' his mother said calmly.

'Oh yeah, and I bet you just love the fact that she's killing Muggles instead of being locked up in an insane asylum where she belongs!'

'It is sad about the growing number of Muggle deaths, but there are many of them, and it is for the greater good,' Orion said firmly to his son. 'Now sit down -'

'No I don't think I will,' Sirius said coldly. 'Don't pretend to care, we all know you think Muggles are like sheep. What's next, Regulus becoming a Death Eater?'

'Oh wouldn't it be fantastic?' Walburga cried. 'Don't make a joke out of this, Sirius. Regulus has always made this family proud, unlike you! Even your room is disgusting: half-naked Muggles plastered on the walls, wanting one of those rotten Muggle-powered bikes which kills more people than even dragons. Anyone would think you didn't care about the Black name!'

'Well they thought right!' Sirius yelled back, shoving his chair to the side and storming out.

'What happened Sirius?' Walburga shouted, following her son out. 'Where did I go wrong with you? Why can't you just be more like your brother?'

Orion was about to follow, but seemed to realise that they had a guest. He gave her a strained smile. 'Why don't you two go up to do that Astronomy essay then?'

Emma slid a glance towards Regulus, who seemed to have frozen up during the whole conversation. 'Sure,' she said, pulling him by the arm up the four flights of stairs.

He blinked, and seemed to wake up, shrugging out of her grip and calling for Kreacher when they got to the top. He whispered quietly to him, and the house-elf disappeared with a loud crack. What have I gotten myself into? Emma asked herself desperately.

She followed Regulus, unsure as to what to say. They got out their homework in silence. Luckily, the sky was clear that night, and most of the constellations were visible even to the naked eye. They worked in silence for a little while, before the tension grew too unbearable for Emma.

'So is it often like that at your house?' she asked quietly, as they marked Jupiter's angle on the map.

'More often than I'd like,' he replied, shrugging his shoulders. He didn't look at her, preferring to train the telescope on Gemini. 'But then they're so different. I wish Sirius would at least try to get along with them while he's here.'

'Like you do?'

The question was barely audible, but it seemed to strike a chord. He stood up and turned to her, running a hand through his usually neat hair. 'I don't know. I guess. What kid doesn't want to make their parents proud?'

She had to agree with him there. They lapsed into silence, their homework forgotten. Emma stared at the constellations, wondering if the centaurs were right and you could predict things. If the future can be predicted, how can we be blamed for what is inevitable? She didn't know what was right anymore: her family disagreeing with her views, or the Blacks and the arguments with Sirius. She had a feeling that they were all wrong.

'Emma,' Regulus said slowly, the way he did when he was trying to figure something out. 'Did you really sleep with Sirius at the ball?'

Emma gulped, disoriented. It was obvious that this had been in his mind since the train journey. She realised that before Sirius had mentioned their kiss, Regulus hadn't believed what the other Slytherins assumed to be true. I suppose that explains his lack of reaction during the term.

Regulus was one of the few people who she had never lied to, and she prided herself on keeping it that way. But the shame and the disgust of having to tell him what really happened was greater. He wasn't stupid: he could tell when she was hiding something, but he didn't know why she would. At least she hoped he didn't.

'Y-yes,' she stammered and a part of her was pleased that she sounded guilty. Probably because she did feel guilty, just not for the same reasons. 'It... it just kind of happened...'

His jaw worked as though he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Oddly, instead of looking disgusted or betrayed, he seemed disappointed and almost... hurt. He just nodded and went outside to look through the telescope. It was ten times worse than if he'd been angry at her.

Later that evening when she went to get a glass of water, Sirius was sitting forlornly at the kitchen table. Someone, probably Kreacher, had cleared away the plates. A huge welt was visible on his left forearm, but he pulled the sleeve down when he noticed her standing there.

'Hey,' he said. 'Sorry about that.'

'No worries.' She sat down opposite him, unsure of what to do. If it had been Regulus, she would have just stayed silent. He seemed to like that. But Sirius was so exuberant, for better or for worse, that it seemed odd to see him look so drawn.

'I can't stay here,' he said after a while. 'I just can't.'

'But they're your family. Surely they'll come around?' she asked, but as the words left her lips she realised that while she was in her pyjamas, Sirius was fully dressed, with a coat by his side. A sinking feeling came over her. Suddenly, she didn't think she could stomach her glass of water.

'Not while I'm still a taint on the family honour,' he laughed humourlessly. 'I just can't understand them, you know? I can't stand them speaking like they're so much better than Muggles and Muggleborns. I mean, we're all human, right? What next, Squibs being exiled because they can't do magic?'

'Actually, there's not really much point to Squibs being a part of this society...' she trailed off as Sirius looked at her. Right, not the best time to be spouting politics and philosophy. She settled for a desperate plea. 'Can't you just ignore their point of view?'

'What, like Regulus?' he scoffed, making it clear what he thought of his younger brother's actions. 'Not saying anything is just as bad. I can't pretend that I'm okay with all of this.'

'So what are you going to do?' Emma asked.

'I don't know,' Sirius sighed. 'But I can't go on as if these people are my family. Families accept each other, love each other. I would kill to have your parents.'

She thought of Charles and Natalie. They seemed to be growing more and more distant, hardly replying to her letters at all. Was James right? Was she changing too? What would they say if she told them she thought that Lord Voldemort had a point?

'I'm going back to Hogwarts,' Sirius said, breaking her train of thought. 'Do me a favour... Look after Regulus will you? I wish he would stand up to our parents more. Maybe if I...' he trailed off, shooting a regretful look towards the ceiling. 'I guess it's too late now.'

'That sounds rather final,' Emma said apprehensively.

'It does, doesn't it?'

She stood in the doorway as Sirius flagged down the Knight Bus. When it arrived, in all its purple triple-decker glory, he seemed to hesitate. He took one last look at the Victorian townhouse, seemingly committing it to memory, seemingly wavering in his resolve. But the moment passed. He climbed onto the bus and in a flash he disappeared.