July 1, 1972

"She's a disgrace to the family name!" Walburga shrieked when she walked in on Sirius trying to write his cousin a letter. Tearing the letter out of his hands, she grabbed his ear and twisted. "You don't want to turn out to be like her. Do you?" The madness in her eyes scared Regulus who'd walked in on the scene.

"Moth…" he started to say when he saw the warning in his older brother's eyes. Sirius shooed his little brother away with his hand.

"I'd rather be disinherited than be like you." he hissed once Regulus disappeared. Regulus quickly went into the room next door and pressed his ear to the wall.

"Please don't hurt him…" He thought as he heard a thud and a yell. He closed his eyes trying not to think about how much trouble his brother was in. So stupid, why can't he just do what she wants! Regulus squeezed his eyes shut and willed himself not to cry as he heard Sirius say something else to enrage their mother.

The argument lasted an hour filled with shrieks of rage and pain, the end of which was signalled by a slammed door. Regulus waited for his mother to walk past before he quickly ran to the his brother's door. "Siri!" he whispered urgently turning the handle of the door knob. It was locked.

"Reggie, go to your room." He heard his brother's muffled voice say from the other side.

"No, unlock the door." Regulus stated stubbornly. There was no reply. Sirius picked himself off the floor, ignoring the fact that his brother was probably still outside. Please, as if I'd ever let him look at me like this, he thought as he looked at himself in the mirror. His lip was split and bleeding, his cheek was already starting to bruise and his muscles ached from the curse she used on him. Wonderful, he thought bitterly as he took out the healing salves from his trunk. "Siri?" He heard his brother question worriedly again. Closing his eyes, Sirius sighed thanking Merlin that his little brother didn't have a wand. Otherwise, he's probably unlock the door himself he thought with a bittersweet smile.

"I'm fine Regulus, just go to your room yeah? I don't need you to get into trouble too. Yeah?" He reassured his brother, hoping his voice sounded the part.

"Okay." He heard the quiet unsure reply from the other side. Sirius slowly applied Bruise salve onto his cheek as he leaned against his bed, listening as his little brothers footsteps faded away. Please let him be sorted into Gryffindor. Then I can get him out of this mad house. We could live with Andy, or hell, I could get us out of here somehow if things get real bad. I could protect him from all of them, the pure blood fanatics. He'd be safe from her and her stupid ideas about blood supremacy. He wouldn't be forced to become Lord Black unless he wanted it. It'll be just us again, Reggie and me. James would help us, and he'd help me. I'm sure of it.

Regulus slowly sat on the edge of his bed. He stared out the window. "Kreacher." He watched as the house elf appeared in front of him with a little pop. "How may I serve you Young Master Black?" The elf bowed to him, his nose almost touching the floor.

"Is Sirius asleep?" Regulus questioned. The elf nodded.

"Yes, the traitor Black is sound asleep on the floor." The elf sneered. Regulus frowned at him slightly, but he'd mostly gotten used to the strange animosity between his brother and the House elf.

"I need you to heal him and make sure he sleeps in his bed." Regulus commanded. "I want this done straight away."

"Of course Master. Kreacher lives to serve House Black." The elf said bowing again, although the distaste on his face was apparent.

"Thank you Kreacher." Regulus said with a smile. The disgusted expression on his face dissipated a bit, and he disappeared with a crack. I have to be sorted into Slytherin Regulus thought swallowing the lump in his throat. Siri wants me to be a Gryffindor, but that would just put him in a more precarious state with our family. I need to be able to protect him. If I can take on the role of Lord Black, he could do whatever he wants, and I could protect him from everyone else. I just need them to focus on me, and Sirius will be safe. I'll protect him, he's too Gryffindor for his own good. Regulus sighed tiredly as he gracefully flopped back onto his bed. He's going to hate me isn't he? Regulus thought sadly as he thought of his plan. He shook his head and ignored the tears that pricked his eyes. It won't matter, in the end he'll be safe. I will make sure of it Regulus thought determinedly as he closed his eyes, the gears in his head turning as he started planning how he'd deceive his family.

July 19, 1972

"Andy?" Teddy questioned as she read a letter with a faint smile. She looked up and smiled.

"It's from Sirius." She explained as she handed the letter to her husband. He read it and grinned.

"He has quite the sense of humor." He laughed as he read the letter.

"Right? I always wondered where he got it from. Definitely not from the family." She mused.

"Well maybe the little one will get her Uncle's sense of humor." Teddy laughed as he placed a hand on her flat stomach.

"Then there'd be two Sirius's! The horror!" Andy said dramatically and the two burst out laughing. I hope Regulus and Sirius are alright. If they got caught they would've gotten into so much trouble. And it's not like Sirius would tell me if they got caught. Stupid Gryffindor. Teddy watched her face for a few minutes.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Hmm?" Andy asked.

"Something's bothering you." He pointed out as he sat down on the couch, looking up at her.

"I'm just worried. Worried that my family will come after us." Andy said as she looked out the window.

"But what if they don't?" Teddy questioned optimistically.

"You don't know them like I do." Andy said darkly. "They'll do anything for their reputation. Family above all else." She ended bitterly. "And I broke that rule."

"And I'm glad that you did." Teddy replied honestly. Andy smiled.

"Me too." she whispered before pecking him on the cheek. "Me too."

July 31, 1972

Why? She just left, she didn't say bye, she didn't even give us a warning. She just left me. Cissa heard an object shatter nearby as her magic swirled around her matching her angst. A month had passed since her older sister's disaster wedding. At first Cissa was in shock, then she denied it. Andy wouldn't run. She'd stay. She's my sister, I know her best. She'll stay, she would never leave me to fend for myself.

Cissa had reassured herself and convinced herself until she walked into the empty room. The beautiful wedding dress she'd approved and helped her sister pick lay on the bed, abandoned. By the time it hit her that Andy had left, the family feud had already began. She's a mudblood loving traitor, the bitch. She's a disgrace. I don't blame her, the Lestranges were always strange: always rubbed me the wrong way those boys. No, she wanted to shout, she didn't leave. She's still here! Except for the fact that every piece of evidence pointed towards the fact that Andy had left.

Then she got angry. How dare she ruin our family's reputation she thought. She glared whenever anyone mentioned her sister. Cissa didn't even utter her sister's name. She destroyed everything that belonged to her sister, burning her sister's room until the inside of the room consisted of ashes and burnt walls.

Slowly, her anger ran out of fuel. Her fiery rage left, leaving nothing but a dead ember. Now she was just filled with an empty bitterness. When Bella left, Andy had helped her. She protected her from the cruel realities of the world. They'd been each other's support.

Bella wanted to kill Andy. Cissa's mother had shut herself away in shame. Their father turned towards Cissa and her marriage contract. The rest of the Black family either hated Andy or felt pity for her. The pureblood community found the piece of gossip to be a juicy hot topic on the latest scandal. And Cissa was stuck: quietly supporting and hating her sister all at once.

Her sister had always been there for her. And as the older one, Andy had dutifully filled in the role their parents forced on her. Now, Cissa found herself being forced to take her sister's role. Unlike Andy, Cissa didn't know how to rebel, nor did she know how to stand on her own. So, she'd do what she always did: withdraw into the person that she was expected to be. She'd do her duty to her family: Family before all else.

August 20, 1972

It had become a habit for Peter to stay an hour or two in the antique store with his mother until about 10 AM, when he headed over to Morgan's place. This day was no different but even the most crucial days in our lives often start out very normal.

Morgan had been waiting for him with his usual welcoming dish of tea with a pinch of lemon and biscuits. Then, Morgan had launched into a scathing rhetoric of the muggle government. Peter didn't really understand how the muggle government worked but apparently it was not treating its workers well. At least that is what Morgan told him and Peter trusted Morgan. Most of the muggles were on something called strikes which apparently was when the workers wouldn't show up to work until their demands were met.

Morgan didn't really hate the government nor did he hate the workers. Life had taught him really early on to never be on anyone's side. Afterall what did ideologies and leaders care about the poor man who's sweat and sacrifice made it a reality. But with the workers on strike and the government unwilling to compromise, many shop owners such as him were badly hit due to a lack of sales. God, he had bills to pay!

He secretly watched Peter cut the potatoes. Morgan liked Peter...sure the boy was timid but who wasn't afraid. Morgan found Peter to be a very friendly, endearing, and naive child. That is why he did not reveal to Peter the true extent of his shady dealings with illegal trade. Morgan, to be honest, had no intention of harming of the boy or introducing the boy to his rebellious life. Peter was innocent of the ways of the world and Morgan wanted to keep it that way. He was also smart enough to know that Peter was no Morgan...he was not a squib that was unwelcome by both family and friends. No, Peter had friends and he had a place in society and, god forbid, Morgan ever destroy Peter's chances of making a place for himself in society. Morgan cut off his thoughts as Peter started telling him another story about his friends.

Today was a day he had his business "associates" coming by. Morgan tried to stop Peter from coming today but he didn't have a good reason to give the boy without arousing concern. So instead a few hours before the sun set, Morgan said, "I think it would be good if you head home now. I have some business I would like to attend to alone."

"Umm...are you sure you don't want me to come along, Morgan? I can help you…" Peter said trailing off.

Morgan was about to give a harsh reply but there a knock on the hard and urgent knock on the door. Oh god, those men were early. He grabbed Peter and pushed him into the closet. "Stay here and don't come out no matter what happens until those men leave."

"Uhh...Morgan…"

Morgan frantically cut off the boy, "No, promise me!"

"Promise?" the boy replied as it it were a question.

Morgan didn't have time. He would have to hope the boys timid nature would be enough to deter him from coming out. Morgan went to open the front door to welcome his business partners. He barely had time to register surprise of who was in front of him before multiple shots were heard and he fell dead.

Peter who had seen the whole incident through the small crack he had created by propping the closet door slightly open. He was too shocked to move or even run. He scrunched further into the closet, leaning against the wood in the back hoping he would disappear into the wall. Pettigrew did not move from his spot even after the men left. They hadn't even stepped in… and they'd just shot Morgan in cold blood and left. As he sat there in grief and fear, Peter had only one thought: A man who wanted to survive always had only one option and that was to stick with the powerful. Nobody cared about the poor and weak.