Disclaimer: Not my characters, places, spells, houses, etc
A/N: I didn't think I could get another update out before the New Year, but I'm proud to say I did. I didn't have a chance to re-read this chapter over as many times as I usually do to check for errors, so I apologize for any. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
James was on a mission. Even though it was nearly midnight, he was wide awake. He paused for a moment before stepping out of his room. His house had turned into a hotel the past few days – Frederick was staying over, some distant cousin was coming tomorrow, and Peter had arrived two days ago.
Rosemary Potter had been visiting an ill friend in St. Mungos when she ran into the Pettigrew's. The baby was still sick and when they began talking, Mrs. Potter had invited Peter to stay over for a few nights. Normally James would have been glad of the company; however, if Peter was at his house, Sirius could not 'pretend' to visit Peter. Though James tended to be a glass-half full type (instead of half-empty), he was really starting to believe that his friendship with Sirius was riddled with bad luck. Peter had also insisted that even when he returned home or back to his Aunt's there was no way he'd be allowed to have any guests, even if only for a few moments.
Peter was driving James slowly crazy. Peter was very easily impressed and excitable; he went on and on about how large the Potter manor was, about all the toys James had accumulated, the fact they owned a house-elf, and even the size of their yard. At least James had the foresight to mention to his parents about giving Peter his own guest room. It was nice to at least have some solitude at night. At the least it made what he was planning now a lot easier.
Operation Plan B. Through snatches of conversations here and there through the mirror, Sirius had mentioned his parents were going to a Christmas party and most importantly an all adult Christmas party. When Sirius had told James he had convinced his parents to leave him and his brother at home, they were able to start formulating a plan.
Sirius was close to a hundred percent sure that the floo network was working in his house. It would be his form of transportation to the Potters. All he had to do was ditch his brother and the house-elf. Sirius was confident his brother could easily be tricked, but the house-elf, which had their own different branch of magic, would be harder. And it wasn't as if Sirius even had a wand to use against the house-elf, if he was able to even curse or hex it.
So James had offered his own wand, which was why he was sneaking downstairs with his wand packaged into a narrow box. Sirius had protested the idea, but James had convinced him that it wasn't as if he actually used his wand at home.
James's father was currently borrowing one of the Ministry hawks and unlike owls, the hawk would stay invisible to every person except the intended recipient. He didn't exactly have his father's permission to use the bird, but he wasn't about to let something miniscule as that impede their effort.
He opened the door to his father's study wincing at the creak it made. James spotted the hawk instantly, her eyes shone and she was preening her feathers delicately. The bird eyed him suspiciously, but did not refuse the package when James clumsily tied it to her leg. Before flying off it gave an indignant squawk, it seemed the hawk felt she was more important than being regarded as simply a 'delivery bird'. The moment the hawk flew out the window, it disappeared vanishing into the dark sky. The plan had to work if only for the reason that there was no plan C.
Regulus waited anxiously for Mrs. Black to return with Sirius. He quelled the guilty feeling rising inside him by repeating to himself that he had done the right thing given all the circumstances.
He flinched slightly. Even in the downstairs library, he could clearly hear his mother shouting at Sirius from upstairs. The house had certainly grown louder with Sirius's return. His mother apparently felt Sirius would only listen to very loud instructions.
A few excruciating moments later Mrs. Black appeared dragging a resisting Sirius by the scruff of his robes. Sirius looked bewildered and Regulus felt another wave of guilt, this time even stronger than before. These feelings were rather foreign because he'd snitched on his brother before and it wasn't as if Sirius treated him in a friendly manner anymore.
Mrs. Black glowered at her eldest, looking more foreboding than ever before. "Now would be the perfect time to begin confessing," she stated icily.
"Confess what exactly, mother?" Though Sirius could have used a politer tone of voice, it was clear he really didn't understand his mother's meaning. He was not pretending only to be difficult.
Sirius had yet to realize that his plans weren't as secretive as he had thought. Regulus had begun spying on Sirius and at times eavesdropping. It had all been innocent curiosity at first, since no one told him anything anymore. He was sick of hearing the excuse that he was too young.
It was one night when Sirius was in his room that Regulus saw something interesting. Sirius was in his empty bedroom (Regulus had been crouched outside the bedroom door and had seen it empty through the keyhole) yet talking as if he had a friend over. Regulus saw Sirius repeat this strange behavior the next day, and he was beginning to think Sirius was quite mad, when he noticed him talking into a square object. Things became odder when Regulus heard someone responding back to Sirius's chatter. He eventually deduced the voice to be James Potter. The same boy that Regulus had heard his mother blame for Sirius staying in Gryffindor and turning his back on family tradition for a second year.
All this had been worthy of note, but had not pushed Regulus to tattle on his older brother. It was when he overheard them planning for Sirius to sneak out while their parents were away that Regulus had begun to feel troubled by his new knowledge. And when Regulus found out his parents were putting all sorts of guarding spells to alert them if anyone left or entered the house, he knew Sirius would be caught.
Sirius was already knee-deep in trouble for all the things he had done in school. Something like this would tip the iceberg and things would go back to how they'd been in the summer. As awful as that had been for Sirius, Regulus hadn't enjoyed it either.
Sirius hadn't watched their mother rant and rave when she learned Sirius was still in Gryffindor. He hadn't been there when their father had locked himself in his office or seen any of the hurt and damage his actions had caused the family. Regulus had and yet that still wasn't the reason he'd snitched.
Over the summer Regulus had watched his brother's defiance slowly wane on the onslaught of corporal punishment. Many times they had forced Regulus to watch, it served to further humiliate Sirius as well as scare Regulus into not following his brother's footsteps. His parents didn't have to worry though; Regulus couldn't imagine doing any of Sirius's rebellious deeds.
So Regulus was doing this to protect Sirius. He was convinced that if he warned his parents of Sirius's plan, though Sirius would obviously have to be punished, it would be a less severe than if Sirius had been caught in the act.
"I know all about it!" Mrs. Black continued ominously.
Regulus had purposely not been looking at his brother since he had entered. Now his gaze wandered over to him and he watched Sirius pale slightly. Perhaps his brother was starting to guess the subject Mrs. Black was referring to.
Mrs. Black placed a steady hand on Regulus's shoulder. "Your brother told me all about it, Sirius."
Sirius turned his head, his eyes were flashing angrily at his younger brother. It couldn't be helped. Sirius would be angry with him. Sirius already hated him anyway; jealous of the fact he was the favorite even if only on the surface. Regulus only ever received preferential treatment when Sirius was around. Two days ago, Mrs. Black had given him a bar of chocolate from her trip to Hogsmeade, while Sirius had received nothing but a scathing look. He never received extra treats like that when Sirius was away. In addition he'd been haunted by Sirius's rebellion on a daily basis. Most days were very structured with little recreation. Mrs. Black had made a mental list of all the things she had done wrong in raising Sirius and was now correcting the 'mistakes' in raising her other child. Still Sirius was his blood, his brother, and Regulus hoped one day Sirius would realize he'd done this to help him.
"Perhaps this will jog your memory," Mrs. Black held the mirror that Sirius used to talk to Potter. Regulus had found it in the bag Sirius had brought from Hogwarts. He wasn't sure how Sirius used it to communicate, but their mother didn't seem to care about the mechanism.
Sirius gaped at the mirror in Mrs. Black's hand. Before Sirius managed to regain his speech ability, she had let the mirror fall from her grasp and it shattered into hundreds of pieces.
"That was a present!" Sirius cried angrily.
"Perhaps if you had been truthful from the moment you stepped into this room, I would have been more careful."
"How was I to know you were referring to that?" Sirius spat back.
"Dear, dear, Sirius. I wasn't referring to the mirror, but about the other secrets that you have kept from me."
"You control my life. What possibly could you still want to know? Have I forgotten to tell you how often I blink in the span of a minute?"
"You are a liar and a sneak. We know of your plans to sneak out to visit the blood traitor!"
Sirius started silently at his mother for a few moments before speaking in an unusually softer voice. "I know you wouldn't let me go. James's parents invited me and it would have been rude not to show up."
"It was just as rude for the Potters to offer an invitation knowing the animosity between our families. I will do everything in my power to thwart your friendship with that vile brat!"
The argument quickly heated up between Walburga Black and her eldest son. Regulus pretended not to hear the flying words, hoping it would end quickly. Why did Sirius even bother trying to defend his actions? Why couldn't he apologize and take the punishment in stride? Why did he enjoy riling up their mother?
The shouting did abruptly stop, but not in the way Regulus would have hoped. In a deadly voice Mrs. Black spoke, "Sirius, go down to the basement room and remove your shirt."
Sirius had stopped shouting mid-sentence. His face which had been red in anger, turned white quite suddenly. Sirius stood rooted to the spot, his breathing still rapid and out of control.
"Go!"
For a moment, Regulus thought his brother was going to disobey. Regulus let out a silent breath of relief, watching Sirius, though trembling slightly, leave the room. All his work to protect Sirius would have been for nothing, if Sirius had not followed Mrs. Black's orders. The basement door slammed below them.
Mrs. Black stood still as if contemplating something and then smiled at Regulus. "Do not worry my son. You did the right thing."
Walburga walked to her desk and from the top drawer took out the same black whip she had used on Sirius in the summer. Regulus felt his stomach clench and he almost asked his mother not to do this.
"I must do this, Regulus. It is the only way to get through to him."
As much as he hated agreeing with this statement, it did seem to be the only form of punishment that frightened Sirius into behaving.
"Regulus…" For a terrifying moment he thought his mother was going to request he watch and he would not have the heart to argue. "Go to your room, you have the rest of the day to yourself."
Regulus bowed and ran out of the room. His actions may have been cowardly, but he'd rather do pretty much anything than watch Sirius be punished. For the next half an hour, Regulus attempted to enjoy himself, yet his thoughts strayed to the basement and his brother. It was a relief to hear someone walk up the stairs and he jumped off his bed, cracking to door to see Sirius. His brother still had his shirt off and his back was littered with angry welts.
Feeling sick at the sight, Regulus quickly shut the door knowing nothing could be done. In a few hours, their mother would heal Sirius's wounds as she had over the summer. There would not be even the faintest trace of a scar.
Mr. Potter pushed his reading glasses up to rub his eyes tiredly; his only son stood stoically in front of him. When James had asked to speak to him urgently, he certainly had not expected this line of conversation. It had been a very tiring day at work, even so close to Christmas, there seemed no end to the problems in the Ministry.
"I'm not sure I understand this. You gave Sirius your wand?"
James stared guiltily at the floor. "I had to!"
"How could you be so careless with your wand?"
It would be impossible for James to explain it all to his father. The excuses he had used in his head while committing the act, didn't sound very reasonable now.
James had been forced to involve his parents when Sirius hadn't shown up at noon as he should have. James had waited as long as he could, but Sirius hadn't even used the mirror to contact him. He was very worried, but at least he didn't have Peter to deal with. He had left in the morning; his baby sister had been released from the hospital today.
"Sirius really needed it. His parents are awful and they wouldn't have allowed him to visit."
Mr. Potter picked his head up quickly and he suddenly understood something very important. "Ah, so Sirius didn't have permission to come over, did he?"
"No…" James answered slowly and threw his hands up in anger. "You don't understand! His family considers us blood traitors! Sirius isn't like that and I really wanted you to meet him."
"Your mother and I were looking forward to meeting him, James, but that doesn't excuse any of this. It is not our right to interfere with his parent's wishes. Did you owl the wand over?"
Coloring slightly, James mumbled, "I used the Ministry bird."
"That was to be strictly used for work!"
"I know it is, but – but the wand would have never gotten to Sirius by regular owl."
"You can't go around breaking rules just because it suites your purpose," Harold Potter smiled softly, "Imagine how chaotic the world would be if everyone went by that philosophy."
"I'm sorry. Will you get in trouble at work?"
"No. We still have the problem of your wand obviously. Sirius hasn't returned any of your owls?"
"No…he hasn't." James hadn't divulged to his father about the mirrors. Letting him falsely think they'd been keeping contact through writing.
"I suppose we'll just have to pay the Black's a visit tomorrow and ask for it back."
"Can I come? Please?"
"I don't know…"
"I want to make sure Sirius is alright. If his parents caught him…I think they might hit him, dad."
"That's a hard accusation…"
"You didn't see him after the summer. I doubt they fed him one decent meal."
"Ok. Ok. You can come."
"And we'll ask to see Sirius?"
"Yes, now off to bed. We'll go straight after breakfast."
Through Harold Potter's various Ministry connections they learned the address of Sirius's house, which few knew.
James was wearing one of his formal robes. His father felt the more properly dressed they were, the politer they'd be received. James followed his father down the walk, surprised that the house looked as uninviting as he'd imagined. The sun shone brightly above, but the rays didn't quite reach Grimmauld Place, as if there was an invisible barrier.
They stepped up to a large black door that looked recently painted with a shiny serpent shaped knocker. It took all of James's courage to stand beside his father, instead of safely behind, as Mr. Potter let the knocker fall with a loud sound.
An evil looking house-self answered the door, throwing them a condescending look the moment he heard the name 'Potter." Mr. Potter didn't pay attention requesting to talk to its master or mistress. The house-elf allowed them into the entrance hall and the house screamed 'Slytherin'. The carpet was a rich evergreen and above them glittered a lit serpent chandelier. James could see a staircase leading to the upper floors.
It was from that staircase that Mrs. Black finally appeared; she walked regally down the stairs. She had kept them waiting longer than what was considered polite.
"Potter, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" She held her arms in a welcoming gesture, but her tone betrayed the fact that she was not pleased by their appearance.
"I've just learned that our son's have been plotting a get-together…"
"I have already punished, Sirius. It will not happen again, I can assure you."
James could tell his father was startled by the response.
"Well…I know neither one of us is exactly thrilled by this unexpected friendship, but clearly it is holding. I don't see any reason to stand in the way."
"I disagree. Is there another reason why you are here?"
"Yes," Mr. Potter paused, "My son, James sent your son his wand. We are here to fetch it and I thought to allow the boy's some time together."
"Kreacher can fetch your son's wand from Sirius's room," Mrs. Black stated and the house-elf vanished silently. "As for your other request, Sirius is not allowed to have any visitors."
The house-elf returned quickly and James snatched his wand from the gnarled and bandaged hand. He inspected his wand over thoroughly, relieved that it was undamaged. Mrs. Black looked ready to dismiss them and James glanced up at his father hopefully, but he saw his father turn to leave.
"I want to see Sirius," James stated loudly. Sirius's mother looked angry, but James felt a moment of pleasure having finally forced the woman to look at him. Mrs. Black had been pretending that he didn't exist, only speaking and making eye contact with his father.
"You should instruct your son on manners, Potter."
"I think, Walburga, it would be in your best interest to let us see Sirius. Rumors of mistreatment have reached my ears and I will go straight to the correct department to have a Ministry official look into your son's welfare."
James swelled with pride to see his father stare down Mrs. Black and once she noticed he would not yield, she snapped, "Regulus bring Sirius here!"
On the stairs, crouched a boy that looked like a younger version of Sirius. The boy jumped to his feet. "Right way, mother." James watched him scurry up the stairs and he waited nervously for his friend's arrival. Maybe he had been worried for nothing; obviously Sirius must be in relatively good health if his mother had yielded so quickly.
Regulus pushed the door to his brother's room open. Sirius was in the process of his morning chores, making his bed and dusting the few items Sirius was still allowed to have in his room.
"Mother, wants you downstairs. We have visitors."
"Visitors?"
"You'll like these visitors. Come on! You don't want Mother to be angry with you again!"
Not giving Sirius a chance to argue, Regulus walked out the room. A quick look over his shoulder showed Sirius was following though with some resistance. It would be just like the stupid prat to go against this instruction when his blood traitor friend was waiting in their entrance hall.
Upon seeing James, Sirius ambled down the stairs in excitement, forgetting all the formalities. Regulus hadn't seen Sirius this animated about something in awhile. Regulus carefully walked down the stairs bowing as expected, to show he still knew his manners. Sirius didn't notice because he was grinning stupidly.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius exclaimed. In the Potter's presence Sirius was completely unaffected by Mrs. Black's glowering. Regulus wondered if Sirius had even seen their mother because he was talking to their guests without parental permission.
"I needed my wand!" Potter replied waving it around in demonstration.
"As you can see Potter, Sirius is well."
Hearing his mother's voice, Sirius looked startled. He turned his head slightly to the right of him where she stood.
Mrs. Black took a step toward Sirius. "Perhaps if you disciplined your son properly you wouldn't be here in the first place." Sirius now took a step back from James.
"I discipline my son only when it is necessary," Mr. Potter responded, the frown creases on his forehead deepening.
"I'm finding it necessary all the time. Lately only certain methods work, if you get my meaning. Sometimes you just have to beat the rebellion out of them."
Sirius shrunk back even more and suddenly he didn't seem entirely happy now to have is blood traitor friend over.
Mr. Potter looked appalled and disgusted. "It is never necessary to use that type of punishment on children!"
"Don't be silly." Mrs. Black now cupped one of her hands around Sirius's face, her long fingernails caressing his cheek. "I'd never do anything to cause permanent harm. He's a very handsome child, is he not?"
Mr. Potter's posture stiffened and he had a peculiar expression on his face that turned to bewilderment and a tinge of pity. Regulus figured that Potter's father probably had been expecting Sirius to be as snotty, snobby and spoiled as the pureblood children he'd met before.
Regulus, on the other hand, was more interested in James Potter. It was the first time he'd been able to get a proper look at the blood traitor. He was not impressed; disappointed really. James was skinny, with messy black hair, and robes, albeit expensive looking did not fit him properly. Was this really the same boy that had been the cause of his brother rebuffing pureblood beliefs? James did not look like the evil villain Regulus's parents painted the Potter's out to be nor did he look like the hero friend Sirius talked about.
James was very ordinary looking for someone with the reputation of wrecking family traditions. Regulus had always had the feeling that his mother was frightened of the Potters because of the way they'd corrupted Sirius's views, but he couldn't really see any significant reason for this. James did not give off an air that was striking or impressive. Regulus was puzzled.
Why would Sirius risk punishment to visit this boy? A boy he'd see in Hogwarts in about a week. Why did Sirius choose to gravitate toward James in the first place and not the proper purebloods that would be in abundance in Slytherin? As much as Regulus stared and tried to dissect the boy he could not find a satisfying answer.
"I suppose we have taken up enough of your time. Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Black. It was good to meet you Sirius and Regulus (Regulus flinched at the sound of his name on the blood traitor's lips) however briefly," Mr. Potter said cordially.
Even as his father opened the door to let himself out, James was still trying to have a silent conversation with Sirius, which wasn't going well as neither could read each others mind. Finally realizing he was out of time, James blurted out, "Are you sure you're ok, Sirius?"
As they had been taught, Sirius turned to his mother to get either permission to answer or have her answer the question for him. Regulus was surprised and James looked hurt and confused by his non-response.
"Come, James," Mr. Potter instructed softly. James didn't move looking determined to get an answer out of his friend. Sirius then made a slight move of his head, but it was unclear to both James and Regulus whether he meant it as a 'yes', 'no' or 'I will be'.
"Bye, Sirius. I'll see you on the train," James called as he turned to follow his father toward the walk.
Mrs. Black slammed the door with a forceful flick of her wand. Sirius didn't look like he noticed the noise because he was staring at the spot James had been standing and it looked as if he was trying to suppress a slight smile.
"You miserable little mongrel! Those filthy blood-traitors defiling our doorstep because of you!"
Regulus watched as his mother cast a nonverbal hex on his older brother, surprised by the ferocity of the attack. Sirius yelped out in surprise and pain. Again and again a terrible flash of light hit Sirius, who eventually stumbled to the ground with a groan. Regulus looked at his mother in astonishment; he hadn't known his mother was so skilled and fast with her wand. The rage swiftly left Mrs. Black's face replaced with a cold indifference and she banished Sirius to his room, no meals for the day and no meals after that until he apologized.
Later that day an hour or two until dinner time, Regulus sat bored in the 'study room', which had once been a nursery and a play room. Now Mr. and Mrs. Black had converted it to a place where they forced their sons to memorize pureblood rules, all the members of the Black family, as well as all the pureblood families that had ever existed, and copy down passages from books. Sirius was rarely allowed in here, since he was usually in the midst of some punishment which was completed in the basement room or the bedroom. Though the tasks in the room were generally tiresome, it was the brightest and airiest room in the house. Today even in here Regulus felt suffocated. He knew the remedy to the emotions assaulting his mind and he realized there was no need not to do it now.
Regulus stood up feeling reckless because he wasn't even half completed with his assignment. He never did things like this and he thought that this must be how Sirius felt all the time. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but with his heart rate skyrocketing he wasn't sure if it was the best feeling.
Regulus closed the door silently and climbed up to his room silently. He had a lot of expertise being quite and unnoticed; one talent his older brother lacked. In his room, he opened a drawer, took an object out and quickly wrote out two short sentences. Holding the object tightly in his hands, Regulus left his room and preceded to knock softly on Sirius's door. He knew Sirius was in there, even though as expected his brother did not answer.
"Sirius?" he called out, so his brother would realize it was only him and not one of their parents.
"Haven't you done enough damage for the week, Regulus?" Sirius's voice was different, gruff and shaky. Regulus wondered for a moment if Sirius had been crying, but pushed the notion out of his head. He couldn't imagine Sirius shedding a tear; and if he had been the image was too jarring to ponder.
"I want to give you something…" Regulus said entering the room without Sirius's permission. He had no time for Sirius to battle with his pride.
Only one lamp was lit in the darkened room and it made the room eerie even though it was so bare there was nothing on the walls, or shelves or dressers to cast any shadows. Sirius sat cross-legged on his bed with one of his schoolbooks opened up in front of him.
Before he could loose his nerve, Regulus held out the object in his hand out to Sirius. "Here. Take it."
Sirius paused a second and curiosity must have taken over. Regulus gave his older brother a half-smile. He wasn't sure what his intentions had been and he didn't want to wait see what Sirius thought his intentions had been. He left the bedroom before Sirius had time to read and register the words he had written on the note.
So he missed the look of astonishment on Sirius's face. He missed the wonderment and amazement and the first real smile Sirius had directed toward any of his family members since his first day at Hogwarts.
The object Regulus had handed over to Sirius was the two-way mirror and the note attached bore the words: I gave mother the wrong one. Hide this.
A/N: Thank you for READING and now is the time to REVIEW, even if only to let me know that you read it.
I hope everyone had a great holiday and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Oh! And can you believe that we actually have the TITLE of BOOK SEVEN?! I actually felt quite sad when I learned the title because this is it; no more book titles to look forward to after this.
P.S. Next chapter the boy's will learn about Remus! Stay tuned:)