Regulus yawned as he took another book out of the bookshelf. It was getting late. Any moment now, Remus would be in the library to shoo him out. He wasn't sure who was worse - madam Pince or Remus. While Madam Pince would look down her nose and make him feel like a young kid, Remus would look at him with a motherly, exasperated look. Regulus chuckled to himself, remembering a conversation with Severus about Remus being home-maker type.

"Never knew books in the Restricted Section could be funny," Remus' voice floated from around the corner, his head peering in a moment later.

Had Remus not expected him, he would have been surprised; shocked would be a better term. Remus was good at being silent.

"Aren't you here early, today?"

"Compared to?"

"Has Dumbledore put you to this?"

"No. I have."

Regulus sighed as he closed the book. He was tired but he would be damned to accept that to Remus. Though he had no clue why it mattered.

"Why?" He snapped.

Remus remained silent, as Regulus gathered his books. In the shadow played by lights and books, he cut a formidable but lonely figure.

"Because that's what friends do."

Regulus had never been so glad in his life for the darkness; not only he smiled, but Remus didn't see it.


A young boy of seven was running down a staircase. He was looking for something or someone and clearly not finding him.

He slumped down a wall, silent tears streaming down his face.

Finally, the tears dried down to salty streaks. Night was about to fall. Soon, his parents would be home, along with Kreacher. How will he tell them he had lost Regulus? And that too in the house? Especially Kreacher. He loved Regulus.

Another tear found its way, but Sirius, angrily, wiped it away. Sniffing, he walked up the stairs, to his room. Perhaps, Regulus had found his way back to the room.
He was on the fifth staircase when he heard something. Sirius stood standstill and this time he heard it clearer. Someone was sniffing on the other side of the wall. Sirius put his ear to the wall.

There was definitely someone behind the wall.

"Reg?" Sirius called out tentatively.

The sniffing stopped and it was quite for sometime. Then "Siri?"

"Thank, Merlin! How did you get in... there?"

"I don't know," Regulus replied quietly. "I just wanted to hide from you."

They were playing hide and seek. Regulus must have hidden himself 'accidentally' via magical burst.

"Why am i here, Siri?" Reg asked in a small voice. "It's all dark and there is no door. There are monsters in here."

"No, no, Reg, I am here. Don't you worry. I will take care of them. There is no door 'cos Mum and Dad closed that cupboard years ago."

"How will i come out?" That small voice again. Sirius wanted to do something, anything to get his little brother out, but couldn't think of anything. He couldn't ask Reg to will himself out. What if he splinched himself? The thought, itself, was horrifying.

"I can't come out, can i?" Reg asked after a few moments of silence. He was crying again.

Sirius slumped against the wall. Mom and Dad would kill him. And he would never even see his brother before he died. That was pathetic.

"Mom and Dad will take you out, Reg," Sirius said, confidently, 'even if they kill me before that', he thought.

"They will?" Reg asked, full of hope.

"Oh yes, they will. They have wands. They will magic you out. Father is really good at it."

"He is?"

"Oh yes! Remember that time, that pigeon broke the lamp? Father just did a swish and it was all okay."

Regulus was probably remembering because he stayed quiet for some time.

"Yes."

"He will get you out, too."

"Y-"

Regulus was silenced by a loud pop in the kitchen. Sirius turned around to find Kreacher standing at the bottom of staircase, looking at him, concerned.

"What is young Master doing there?"

"KREACHER! Are Mother and Father back too?" Sirius asked, looking back to the kitchen.

"No," Kreacher answered, climbing up the stairs. Sirius looked relieved at the answer before worry marred his cute face again. "What is it, young Master?"

Sirius' eyes moved from Kreacher to Regulus and back to Kreacher. However, before he could answer, Regulus answered for him.

"Kreacher, i am in here. Get me out. Please!"

It didn't take much time for Kreacher to figure out what had happened and Sirius filled in on the rest, struggling to not let tears fall.

Kreacher listened, amused and just waved his hand. Regulus was out in a second.

"Reg!" Sirius shouted, hugging his brother tightly.

"Sirius! Don't let me go back in there. It was dark and - and there were ... monsters."

Sirius just hugged him tightly and stayed like that till tears on Regulus' face were dry.

Kreacher would remember that memory forever; not only because their love shone bright in this moment, but also because Regulus and Sirius, both, developed phobias - one of darkness and another of loneliness.


Sirius stared at the constellation Regulus was named after, something he always did whenever the nightmare plagued him. It twinkled bright and cheerful in the sky.

They provided him company when he needed it the most.

When he couldn't get it from someone else.


"Mistress, all arrangements have been made. I finished the accounts of properties of Sicily today."

Blush's announcement was met with silence. She didn't expect any. Mistress was standing in front of Master Alonzo's portrait, painted Muggle style. Blush would have preferred not to disturb her at all in her private moment, but she had ordered her to inform her as soon as she was done.

Adele turned around and addressed the elf. "Have all arrangements been made in Finland?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"That is wonderful news," Adele commented more jovially than she felt.

"Mistress, Master William would be here any moment now."

Adele had decided to do things the right way. And that was by adopting Dante, so that she could not be bothered with Ministries asking uncomfortable questions. William was an old family friend, expert in bond ceremonies.

"I know, Blush," Adele answered as she sighed. "I wish Dante had grown up in this home, this beautiful home, with beautiful memories."

Blush remained silent, reliving those happy memories.

With one glance back at her husband, Adele swept out of the room.


"Merlin! It seems i haven't been out in ages," Sirius commented, happily, as he stretched himself on grass.

Even though, the 'out' was just their own garden in the backyard, Remus couldn't agree more. He smiled as he saw Hermione copy Sirius' action and stretch herself beside him.

It had been gruelling months of research, potion-making, note-taking, experiments, failures and successes. Finally, tracking charm had been finished. Now they were just waiting for tracking potion to mature, something that would take one full week. And then they would find Harry.

James emerged out of the house with a picnic basket floating behind him.

"Foood!" Hermione clapped happily, as James put the basket down.

As the food was spread out and devoured eagerly, and spread on clothes, in case of Hermione, Remus reflected on his life, his life after Halloween and this was the first time he felt something akin to... he was struggling with words here.

Loud laughter brought his attention back to the two Marauders who were blowing raspberries on Hermione's stomach, making her laugh and squirm.

Hope. That was what he felt now, after a long time.