Chapter 8 : Letting go.

Taking a deep breath, James opened the door to his son's room.

"Da?" Came a small voice.

It hurt. It hurt a lot to hear his confident, smiling young baby boy being so scared. So much had happened in the last two weeks that it would have been a miracle if he wasn't scared.

"Yes, Emerald," James said, walking towards the cot, "Your da is here, baby," he assured, picking him up.

Harry clutched his t-shirt so hard, as if terrified he would leave him. He would also leave him. A sob left his mouth that sounded like "Muma."

James held his son close to his chest, buried Harry's face into his chest and his nose into Harry's messy hair.

"Oh, Harry! " he whispered, unsure what to do.

It was Lily who knew what he wanted better than James.

"It's okay baby. My sweet sweet child. She is with us. In our hearts. One day we will also join muma. But that day is not today, or any time soon. She would be very upset if we joined her anytime soon." He babbled, not knowing what exactly to say, hence saying whatever came to his mind as his son cried for the mother he lost.

"We will conduct a funeral for muma," he told him, as he worked on the nappies.

A sob threatened to leave his chest, but James ruthlessly crushed it down.

"We will send Mummy off happily, okay Harry? She did always say that you must send a person off for their journey happily. Not with sad faces and miserable cryings. When we lost aunt Marlene, that's what she did. Now Mummy is with her best friend, parents and my parents, you know. She isn't alone." He neither realised that he was rambling or sobbing until Hatry raised his hands, demanding to be held.

"No cry, da," he said, hugging James. A soft kiss was pressed onto James' cheek. "Muma watch us from up. She is with God. And Grandas and Grandmas." He offered James a tremulous smile, "But I miss her too."

His baby. His one year old baby. His very brave one-year-old baby was putting on a brave face for his dad. James didn't know what to think. So he just peppered kisses on his forehead and cheeks and then hugged him like a teddy bear.

"We all will, Harry baby. You, me, Padfoot, Moony, Ris. We will all miss her. She is hard not to miss, yeah?"

The mop of black hair shook as Harry nodded.

"But we will also move on, baby. My sweet, sweet Emerald. That is how life works. Never take it for granted 'kay? Never. Things change in seconds."

James knew then and there, that he would never take his life for granted. He was a single father now. He cant rush into trouble anymore. He will have to be cautious. And the best way to turn over a new leaf was to start anew.

He gave Harry, who was gazing at him with tear filled eyes, Lily's eyes, a smile as real as he could manage and walked out of the room. His son in hand.

He had a funeral to arrange and a house to shift.

It was time to leave Britain.

The prophet was having a field day. That is what it was. The blood thirsty, wicked Vultures!

After spreading fear, in the name of caution the day before, now they were encroaching into the private life of people too.

Mass Resignations?

Aurors strike?

Ministry in trouble?

These were the words littered all over The Daily Prophet. Bloody Prophet and its Bloddy editors and reporters.

They had even somehow managed to leak that Lily's funeral might take place in a muggle church.

Even thinking about it made his heart hurt in a way it had never before. But he knew, now was not the time to be weak. He had to be strong. For James, for Harry and for his little brother, whom he can't afford to fail again. His little brother who still thinks he could have hung onto Harry and avoided this whole mess.

It will take time. He knew that.

"Siri?" The voice called, as if summoned. He didn't do that accidentally, did he?!

Sirius turned around and saw his baby brother standing there with a tie in his hand, already dressed in his black suit.

"Come here," he called, placing the newspaper down.

Regulus walked towards him slowly, but with his head held high, jaw set. He was determined. He extended the tie without a word, but as Sirius worked on it, he asked, "So, when will we start?"

Sirius glanced up at him. "Start what?"

Regulus harrumphed, "Training of course. When will we start the training?"

He sighed. He had so wanted to procrastinate this conversation.

"Mate, I need to tell you something." He said softly, turning his brother around and loving him between his legs. He began combing his hair.

Regulus looked into his eyes. "Uh..huh"

"Do you read the Newspaper, Reg?" Sirius asked.

He tilted his head, but Sirius held that straight and continued his work. "No...why?"

Sirius sighed. "I, James, Frank, Alice, Prewett Twins all of us have resigned from the ministry jobs."

"Oh!" He said in understanding.

"Yeah...there are many reasons, but for James and Me, it is because we wanted to leave Britain." He placed the comb aside and looked into his brother's eyes and said seriously, "At least go as far as possible where no one can see us."

He gently placed his forehead on his baby brothers shoulders, taking the comfort he offered when he wrapped his small hands around, Sirius's next.

"I know, you have always wanted to go to Hogwarts. Trust me, I do. But I don't want to send you there anymore."

"Why?" Regulus gasped, tightening his hands around Sirius.

"Because, you are a Black, Reggie. And Blacks are mostly in prison now. You will be treated like some sort of a villain. Like you are equally responsible." Sirius ifted his head up and again looked into his brother's eyes, trying to convey Hus feelings without words. I am scared for you. You have also become, what they call Blood Traitors. You saw how fast they were to blame me. Why? Because my name is Sirius Black. But if you really want to go...then...then that's also okay. I'll... I'll sty with you. I won't go. You are important to me Reg. Very important."

Regulus blushed and bit his lips, clearly trying to assimilate everything that was said. Looking overwhelmed, the ten year old hugged, Sirius. Sirius gave him time and simply hugged him back.

"You are the best brother in the world, Siri," he whispered.

A feeling he couldn't properly pinpoint rose in his chest. That feeling of a mixture of pride and happiness and other many things.

He tightened his arms around his brother and took a rep breath, least he broke down crying.

"I just don't want to make the same mistakes again," he confessed in a whisper.

"You won't, " Regulus declared, "I know you won't. I trust you."

His heart skipped a beat.

"It is a promise, right? We will always be together? Isn't it Siri?"

"Of course, Reggie. Where will I go leaving you alone." The nine year old Sirius giggled, huddled underneath his covers with his baby brother.

Oh God! How many such promises had he already broken? Not again. Never again.

"Thanks mate," he said thickly, "I won't break that."

Both the brothers simply remained like that for some time.

"Okay," Regulus said after sometime.

"Okay?"

"Okay. I won't go to Hogwarts." He said. Before Sirius could sigh in relief, he continued, "But I want you to teach me everything you know and more."

Meeting Sirius' eyes squarely Regulus continued, "Never again. I should never be so helpless again, Siri."

With a sob he couldn't suppress, Sirius gathered his brother in a hug. "Okay. Never again." He promised.

When Sirius looked up from his brother's shoulder, he saw Remus standing on the stairs with a soft smile in his lips looking at them. There eyes met and his lips squirmed further into a proper smile. Sirius returned it and moved back from the hug when he felt a gentle push from Regulus.

"If we leave, are we staying with James and Harry?" He asked.

Sirius smiled, "Now they are our family aren't they?"

Regulus smiled but also looked sad. Unable to bear that look, Sirius asked, "What is it, Reg?"

His eyes filled with tears as he asked, "Won't we ever go meet mum?"

Sirius looked away and took a deep breath. "Sorry, Reg. But she

…she already...she led you to your death once Regulus! She happily gave you off to a madman as a servant and never regretted it. I am sorry Reg!" His last words were a whisper.

Regulus sobbed and clutched Sirius' robes.

A gentle arm was wrapped around both of them and they looked up to see Remus. He said nothing, but was just there. A silent support.

That is the scene James walked in to.

"Ooo...is it a group hug session?" He asked, though the cheer was clearly forced.

Harry, who was holding James' hand, looked at him, "Hug?"

James grinned, "Sure." And threw him into the air, caught him and hugged him to his chest.

"Come Ris," Harry beckoned with his tiny hands, "hug makes better."

Regulus smiled at Harry and walked upto them. With a giggle, Harry kept into his arms, making Reg stumble.James caught both of them.

Carrying Harry as if he were his personal teddy bear, Regulus walked back to the couch and sat down next to Remus. James walked with them and plopped down without grace in front of Sirius and Remus.

"Siri says, you will be better off outside Britain. Why?" Regukus asked.

James sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Ris, everyone things I am some kind of hero. Your, Harry's, all of our life will be in constant scrutiny." James began.

"Screw?" Ris asked. Harry wrinkled his nose prettily.

"Skru...ti...nee," Remus promptly replied, "Under examination. Meaning they will always be watching us."

"Oh."

Harry began playing with Regulus' coat button.

"And I can't stay in the place where I lost everything, Ris." James said sadly. "At least not right now. My parents, my house, my wife. Now you lot are all I have and I don't want to take any risk." He said.

Regulus nodded, hesitated and opened his arms shyly, "If you want.."

James just smiled and wrapped his arms around both the children.

Sirius leaned against Remus when he saw that. He realised how important this gesture was. Blacks were taught not to show emotions from a very young age. For Regulus to initiate a hug, it was an accomplishment.

He beamed at his brother when their eyes met and that smile just grew bigger when he felt Remus carding his hair.

All was not fine, but maybe all doesn't need to be bad either.

Only time could tell.


Next time :

Regulus and Harry are watching a quidditch match. Someone recognises them for who they are. Are they death eaters or crazy fans? Because they are being followed now. Where are the three Marauders anyways?


Reviews :"Margaret Byrne:Like your plot and characterisation a lot..maybe you need a reader to correct spelling and grammar but keep going..you have a good feel for writing stories"

Thank you so much. Yeah, I thought so too. I definitely need a beta. If not for spelling and grammar check then at least to keep me going. lol!Thanks for the reviews. They make me want to keep reading."forgottenOutcast: not gonna lie ,this chapter hurt so bad"Sorry, not sorry. Some things just have to happen.

Thank you so much for the reviews. I appreciate it.

Hope your Christmas was good, thank you for the update! Can't wait for the next chapter!