365 Drabble Prompt: Heart
Word Count: 293
Black at Heart
"You're leaving?"
"I have to." Sirius had that look in his eyes that he always got when he was determined to do something. Regulus remembered that look well from his childhood, those glorious years before Hogwarts had changed his brother.
"No you don't, Sirius. Just apologize to Mother and – "
"I will not!" Sirius was adamant. "She said all sorts of awful things about me and my friends. I won't stay where I'm clearly no longer welcome."
Regulus didn't know what to say to make his brother stay. Their relationship hadn't been the greatest for some time now, but Regulus didn't hate Sirius. He just wanted his old brother back. He wanted them to talk for hours like they used to do. He wanted to follow along on Sirius's misadventures again and get scolded for whatever mischief they'd caused.
Sirius placed a hand on Regulus's shoulder. "Come with me, Reg. You don't have to stay here either, you know. We can be free of them."
Regulus's heart raced at Sirius's words. He was torn between betraying his family and leaving with Sirius, or betraying his brother and living up to his parents' expectations. Either way, someone was going to hate him for it.
Thinking about it, there was really only one choice for him.
"No. You know I can't do that."
Sirius jerked his hand away as though contact with Regulus burned him. "You mean you don't want to!" Sirius sounded bitter now. "You're just like them!"
As the door was slammed in his face, his brother leaving him forever, Regulus knew that Sirius was right. He was truly a Black at heart and nothing could change that.