Disclaimer: as I have yet to do this, I feel that I should mention that I in no way own Harry Potter, nor the characters within this series. While I would like to claim that I am making money off of my humble writings, alas I have not yet gotten that far. Woe is me.

On a side note, for anyone following this story, yes most of this is going to be journal entries, though I may feel the need to flesh out the story a bit in places by adding "real time" bits of interaction between Regulus, Harry, and other characters. The point of view will switch between Regulus and Harry at times.

Why Regulus – because, like a lot of Rowling's side characters, he's not fleshed out during the storyline, and a lot can be done with him. I've also noticed that a lot (most) of the stories he's involved in are tragedies, and I think it's a shame he didn't get to live.

Finally, this is an AU. The original plotline will be followed only in a general way, such as the major happenings during Harry's time at Hogwarts. Criticism and praise are accepted, people who insult me will be mocked.

Now, onto Chapter 3!

July 31, 1986

It's Harry's sixth birthday today and, as is now tradition, rather than have a party, Harry and I went out for Harry's Day. Yes, it does deserve capital letters, Harry told me so. What was different about this time was instead of going to Muggle London, Harry decided he wanted to go to Diagon Alley. I've yet to be able to deny him, so I told him that he would have to be in disguise, and since charms and glamour can be cancelled, it would have to be a muggle disguise. I'd hoped this would put him off, but he only got more excited. So we went to a hairstylist to get Harry a perm. Apparently this is not unusual for young muggles, though the stylist did comment on Harry's age. That done, they headed to an esthetician for assistance in covering Harry's scar. She mention something about cosmetic surgery, but the description was enough to make me shudder. Taught to cover his scar, we then made our way to an Optometrist for contact lenses. The things muggles can come up with is truly amazing. While we were waiting, we even read about something called colored lenses. When we asked, it was explained that they can both correct the vision as well as change eye color. I ordered several pairs after the explanation on how to care for them; I wanted to see if there is a way to charm the things to make them easier to care for, perhaps to enable Harry to leave them on. We picked up the lenses today before heading into the Alley. I must say, with hair longer than James ever kept it, the perm and the gray lenses, Harry looks all Black. Even the more delicate bone structure of Lily served to make him resemble me more than James. If anyone comments on the differences, they are easy enough to explain away as being from his mother. I had thought about changing both of us, but Harry argued that I was never charged for any crimes. Smart little bugger. It did serve to remind me that I should look a little more closely at the Mark. I have no desire to be bound to the Dark Lord when he returns.

So, we went to Diagon Alley, for which Harry was renamed Orion. Harry actually likes the name, and told me that if I want to keep him hidden I should think about calling him that all the time. Cheeky. Now Harry James Potter is Orion Sirius Black, in honor of my brother. I told Harry that I would see about having a birth certificate created for him tomorrow. It's only fair; I had a muggle birth certificate created for myself, though I didn't have to change my name for the process… I just happen to not exist in the muggle legal system. We also agreed that his new birth date is June 26, 1980. If anyone is so crass as to ask, the reason I disappear was to protect Orion and his mother, who sadly died in childbirth.

As I read back on this, I realize that I am a little too flustered to continue writing this evening; I have no desire to ramble on in word form, so I shall leave the rest for tomorrow.

August 1, 1986

We met Albus Dumbledore at the Alley. I still shiver when I think about it. What if we hadn't taken all of these precautions? Some good did come of it, I suppose. I was assured that Orion's name would be added to the books so he will receive his Hogwarts letter. I hadn't actually thought that far ahead for all of my planning. I made the excuse that I had fled to the colonies with my pregnant wife, and only recently returned. Albus told me that I should give the Ministry notice of my good health so I can claim the Black estate. Another year and I would have been declared legally dead, and without a direct heir, Narcissa would likely have made her claim, that or the Black fortune would have been confiscated by the Ministry because the Black heir is in Azkaban.

Albus Dumbledore. I am glad that I am a more than fair Occulmens. I sent Orion to the Quidditch shop as soon as he got a hold of me, but I think I will begin lessons with the boy on the art. I would hate to have my house of cards come crashing down around me simply because his mind was unprotected. Ah well, it is over with now, and the man seemed sympathetic to my supposed loss. Now that I am officially among the living or in the process of it anyway, I suppose I had better take down the owl wards. Gringotts will no doubt want to begin correspondence again.

August 6, 1986

I should never have gotten that little bugger a broom. Little scamp caught me while I was still off guard from my discussion with Dumbledore. James and Sirius would have been proud, even at six it's easy to see he's a natural. That doesn't excuse him for nearly giving me a heart attack. I will have gray hair before I'm thirty, I swear. If I'm at all like my father, at least it will make me look distinguished. Maybe next year I'll get him something more powerful.

August 7, 1986

I have begun looking into the Mark. It looks like a variation on the protean charm. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I'll be able to remove it. I think the bastard may have used Parsel magic.

October 14, 1986

Orion is a Parselmouth. The Potter's are only obscurely related to Slytherin, if at all, and that was never one of their gifts. I think there may be more to his scar than I want to believe.

December 18, 1986

Harry's scar contains a Horcrux.