"Regulus..." Sirius looked at his brother, "are you sure about this?"

"As sure as I will ever be. I've lost Theresa, I won't lose him too. I can't risk that." Regulus said.

He handed his son over to Sirius and stood up. "Take care of him for me, like you took care of Theresa while I was gone."

"I'll send you photos of him, I'll keep you updated on him." Sirius said and took the baby to James and Lily.

A year after giving up his son to Lily and James Potter, Regulus had received and owl from his brother telling him about the deaths at Godric's Hollow. How his son, Harry, had been the only survivor. After that, he heard nothing from Sirius. Not a single word. He would have gone and got Harry. He would have found a way to raise his son. But Sirius said nothing more.

For the last sixteen years, Regulus Black had been living in the muggle world, forgetting more and more about the world he left behind. Forgetting more about the reason he had left that world. Even as he went about becoming a highly renouwned reporter, publishing a biography, and earning himself a wealthy pay cheque, Regulus still felt as though something was missing. He'd return home to a bottle of cheap whiskey and then crawl into bed. His life had no meaning, especially since he had lost his whole family.

Today was like any other day. He had work, wrote his article for the evening paper, and went home. He found an owl and a letter waiting for him however, which was different than any other day. But first he went and grabbed himself a glass and whiskey before sitting down to read through the letter that had been sent to him.

Regulus, it began.

We haven't talked in nearly seventeen years, but now it's time that you come out of hiding. We need to talk, in person. Please meet me at her grave and we can talk there.

Sincerely,

S. Black

Sighing, he put down the bottle of whiskey and the letter and went to change. If he was heading back to the wizarding world, he would need to change into something more appropriate. He just didn't know if he had anything that would fit him now.

After altering a set of robes, Regulus Apparated to Theresa's grave. He hadn't been there since the day Sirius buried her and their son. But this was where he was asked to meet. And that was where he'd probably get yelled at by his older brother. Though, he had reasons of his own to fight with his brother. Like where he had been for the last sixteen years. Why he heard nothing about the location of his son after Lily and James died.

It was getting dark, and even at thirty-two, Regulus Black was still afraid of the dark. As the sun set behind the trees, Regulus conitnued to wait for his brother to show up. He hated being out at night.

"Glad to see you came," Sirius said as he walked over to Regulus.

"What is this about Sirius?" Regulus said coldly, glaring at his brother in the dark.

"Harry, of course."

"Oh, the son who could have been dead for all I knew." Regulus snapped.

"Let me explain..."

"You better bloody well explain." He growled at his brother.

"Regulus," Sirius sighed and looked at his brother. "I couldn't write you because...because I was in Azkaban." he said.

"What? Since well the hell do they put perfect people into Azkaban?" Regulus asked, leaning against Theresa's headstone. He wasn't going to put up with any of this nonsense from Sirius.

"Since they believed I killed Lily, James and Peter."

Regulus out right laughed. "You? Murder them? Now, that's the best thing I've heard all day."

"It's true. After I wrote you I went after Peter, who blew himself up leaving only a finger behind. I was there, and I was taken to Azkaban. I was supposed to be, after all, Lily and James' secret keeper. But they switched to Peter." Sirius explained, knowing Regulus knew absolutely nothing about this.

Regulus stopped laughing and looked at Sirius. With what little light was left, he could tell his older brother was telling the truth. "God Sirius, how'd you get out of that one?" he asked.

"My little secret," Sirius laughed and then, sighed. "Listen. Dumbledore was murdered, and no one is around to help guide Harry. I'm doing the best that I can, but...he needs his father. He needs you."

"He won't believe me. And even if he did, I'm still a Death Eater, and I'm a coward. What could I possibly give him now?" Regulus said and turned away from Sirius. "I'm not his father anymore. Besides, how is he going to believe that I am his father...why would he believe it? He's got a perfect father who died doing something noble, while I... I ran away."

"You're still his father. And he deserves to have you in his life." Sirius said. "If I weren't arrested after Lily and James were murdered, I'd have brought Harry to you."

"Yea, but you were arrested, and Harry wasn't brought to me. And besides, no one knows I'm alive. You falsified my death certificate years ago." Regulus said.

"Uh...about that, someone does know." Sirius said.

"What?" Regulus said and turned around to look at his brother. "Who the hell knows?"

"A muggle-born witch, the best friend to your son. She accidently found your death certificate when we were cleaning out the house. She realized it was a fake and brought it to me. I made her promise not to tell." Sirius said. "She'll keep it a secret."

Regulus sighed. "Should have known someone would find out."

"Look, I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't feel Harry needed your help." Sirius said.

"That's nice to know Sirius. For sixteen years I've waited to see what had come of my son, and you're telling me you would have kept it a secret longer?"

"Basically."

"Some brother," Regulus rolled his eyes and looked at him. "So what if I agree to this? How am I going to tell him?"

"Dunno. That's up to you."

"You're not helping. You know him better than I do."

"Take him away for a weekend or something. Tell him, you're helping him find the horcruxes, like Dumbledore would have wanted."

"Wait, did you said horcruxes?"

"Yes, why?"

"Shit, Sirius, that's why I ran away from the wizarding world in the first place."

"Really?" Sirius said with a smirk. "I sort of figured that out when Harry showed me the locket with the little note in it."

"Damn."

"Why else do you think I wrote you?"

"Maybe because you actually wanted to reunite me with my son?" Regulus said and looked away. "I don't know about this Sirius."

"It's about damn time you grew a back bone and faced the reason you left. You cannot let your son face it alone."

"Fine."

"Good, now come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

Regulus nodded and followed Sirius back home. It wasn't like it had changed much. Except now his mother's portrait was covered up – with good reason – and the house no longer held an air of snobbishness. It felt more like a home, than a house. Which made Regulus feel a bit more comfortable.

He was lead into the living room where a bunch of people were sitting discussing the impending war. But as soon as Sirius and him walked in, the all quieted down.

"Holy crap," Remus Lupin said looking at Regulus. "You said he was..."

"Dead, I know." Sirius said and looked at Tonks who looked like she was about to pulverize him.

"Uh..." Regulus just stood there letting Sirius explain everything.

"So you're saying he left because he was in love?" Remus said and looked as though he was going to laugh like everyone else was.

Regulus turned around and left the living room. He'd let them have their moment of intense giggling. He on the other hand, was not in the mood to listen to it. He would rather get drunk than deal with them anyway. He headed into the kitchen to find Harry sitting alone with a cup of coffee in front of him.

"Sorry, didn't know anyone was in here." Regulus said.

"It's okay, I just wanted somewhere quiet to think." Harry said.

"You too eh?" Regulus walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Harry.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, looking at the man now seated in front of him.

"Well, the muggles call me Richard Blotter, but that's just an alias." he said. "In the wizarding world, I'm supposed to be dead. Murdered by you-know-who."

"That doesn't really answer my question," Harry said.

Regulus laughed, "No, I guess not. I'm Regulus Black." he said and watched as Harry backed his chair away from the table. "You don't have to run or yell or anything. Sirius knows I'm here. As does everyone else. Which is why I'm in the kitchen and not in the living room. Tonks looked about ready to tackle me, and Remus just found it incredibly funny that I was in fact alive and not dead."

"How are you alive?" Harry asked.

"Uh, you see, that's a long story." Regulus said.

"I've got time." Harry added.

"Okay," Regulus said and began explaining the whole story to Harry. Leaving out the part where Harry was in fact his son.

They sat there long into the night, drinking several cups of coffee, discussing everything Regulus had missed over the last sixteen years. Regulus was glad to get the chance to meet Harry, to get to know him, and know what he was going to do. Even though he was still terrified that he had to risk losing Harry when he told him the truth.