365 Drabble Prompt: Breakfast
Word Count: 416
Invitation
The Great Hall was rather empty at breakfast on the first day of the holiday break. Most of the castle's occupants had returned home to their families for the Christmas holidays. A handful of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students each sat at their respective house tables. Only the Marauders remained at the Gryffindor table.
Sirius was trying to ignore the single occupant of the Slytherin table.
"Are you even listening to me, Padfoot?" James asked.
"Of course I am," Sirius said defensively, casting another glance at Regulus.
"Then what was I saying?"
Sirius ran through the possibilities in his mind, trying desperately to come up with something that James might've been talking about, but he wasn't quick enough.
"I knew it," James said smugly.
"Just go over there and invite him to eat with us," Remus suggested.
"And why would I do that?" Sirius asked. "I can't stand the sight of him."
"Which is why you keep looking over at him," James said, eyebrow raised.
"You don't have to lie to us," Peter chimed in. "We know you still care about him. He is your brother, after all."
Sirius could see that he was outnumbered, especially if Peter was joining in against him. "Fine, I'll go ask him."
Regulus looked up as Sirius approached him. "What do you want?" the younger boy asked.
Sirius tried to keep his anger in check, reminding himself that he'd probably have the same reaction if Regulus had done the same. "I was just wondering if you wanted to eat at the Gryffindor table with us."
Surprise flickered across Regulus's face, quickly replaced by disgust. "Why would I want to eat with half-bloods and blood traitors?"
"Because my friends are nice." Sirius looked down at his shoes, suddenly feeling awkward. "And I hate to see you eating alone. I hate that we have to hate each other."
There was a lengthy silence. Sirius looked back up at Regulus. He looked almost sad. "I don't like it either." He looked past Sirius at the Gryffindor table. "Promise you won't tell Mum?"
Sirius smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
For the rest of the holidays, Regulus ate at the Gryffindor table everyday, his bond with his brother returning to what it had been when they were younger. Sirius's friends were very welcoming and the experience started to change Regulus's mind about some things that his parents had led him to believe.