Disclaimer: I own nothing, I am making no profit.
Note: I've gone back and corrected some mistakes. I doubt I've caught them all, but the spell checker only does so much :(
"Orion!" Regulus called, "Hurry it up, I want to get there before the noon rush!"
He smiled and looked up from his tea at the sound of stampeding footsteps coming down the stairs. How one boy could make so much noise was beyond him. He remembered chasing after his brother and cousins as a boy, and was certain they had never made that much noise. The smile never faded, but his brow rose as he caught sight of Orion, one of his leather-bound journals in his son's hand.
"Is that what you've been doing up there?" he asked.
Orion gave him a cheeky grin, "It's not like you've hidden them, and you're awfully lucky you've already told me all of this, or I would have some serious doubts about our relationship."
"Brat," he replied fondly, "If you already know it all, then why are you reading my private journals?"
He watched as the boy slid into the chair across from him at the dining room table and grabbed a piece of fruit. He took another sip of his own tea as Orion began to eat the breakfast he had set out for him in order to save on time.
Between swallows, he was answered: "This way I get to see everything from your perspective. I know you've told me everything, but with this," Orion shrugged taking another quick bite of his porridge.
Regulus nodded thoughtfully, "Alright, you can read them. Put it in your room before we go though, and you can finish it later," he pinned the boy with a stern look, "Just remember; it's not going with you to Hogwarts."
"Alright, alright," two more quick bites and Orion was running out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.
Regulus shook his head and flicked his wand to send their dishes into the sink. He wished Sirius were here for this. He sighed and stood to wait at the bottom of the stairs; if he was going to wish for something, might as well wish that the Dark Lord had never been born, and that Harry's parents had never died, or even a way to simply free Sirius. The Ministry still refused to give the man a trial, or even let Regulus visit. No proof of innocence, he snorted, there was no proof of his guilt either, just circumstantial evidence. He couldn't even find Lupin to see if the last of Sirius's friends could shine some light on what had happened ten years ago.
Orion's voice jerked him abruptly for his morose musings: "I am ready to get my wand," the boy told him with mock gravity.
Regulus ruffled his hair, "Hold tight then!"
"Hey Reggie, I think I want to start a journal," Orion turned surprisingly serious eyes away from the shelf of blank paged booked, "I'm starting Hogwarts-"
"Really?"Regulus mocked, "Who knew"
Which earned him a dirty look, "- and I think it would be a good idea to write in it before I do my nightly meditation. You know, to get everything off my chest."
Regulus smiled gently at that, "It's a good idea. Sometimes we have so many thoughts running through our heads that it's hard to keep everything straight. I got my first journal when Sirius and I were boys. My father gave them to us. He told us that we should have a place that we can express our hopes and dreams and confess our wrongs and fears without any reprisal. He also taught us some wicked protections so no one could read our business," his smile faded with remembrance, "Sirius kept one too, but I don't know where he hid it or I would give it to you," his thoughtful attention return to the empty books in front of them, "I think I can charm two of these to talk to each other if you want. That way there are no delay's in writing each other.
From the corner of his eye he saw Orion's eyes widen with excitement, and two hands swiftly reached out and chose three journals to purchase. His lips tilted upwards with amusement and his son's eagerness, and he turned back to the rest of the bookstore saying: "Come along now, we need to pick up your actual school books."
Time spent in the bookstore was never a waste, Regulus reflected as they stepped outside of the store and took a moment to shrink their packages. Aside from Orion's school books, they had both picked up a few other texts for some supplementary reading. In Orion's case, one was the latest novel in a series he had been waiting for on the exploits of Harry Potter. Regulus didn't know why Orion read them; all the boy would tell him was that they were hilarious. He didn't think the author meant for his readers to find the books funny, but he also doubted that the author expected Harry Potter himself to read the books. On the other hand, considering the other books Orion had picked out, and with the training Regulus had been giving him, the boy was going to be well ahead of his peers in both theory and practice, so he could afford to indulge in some harmless reading.
"What do you think? Wand next?" Regulus asked, keeping a hand on his son's shoulder and casually guiding him through the crowds in the Alley, "Then maybe some ice cream before we get your robes and potions supplies?"
"Actually dad, it looks like Madame Malkin's shop is pretty much empty at the moment, let's get my fittings out of the way first," Orion said looking across the street at the shop in question.
Regulus shrugged, "It's your day, lead on," he replied agreeably.
The robe fitting took hardly any time at all, as Orion said it seemed the shop was experiencing a lull while they were there. Not the Regulus was complaining. It seemed like as soon as Orion hoped off the stool the shop suddenly filled with customers.
Madame Malkin was looking hassled when she told them: "The robes will be ready in about two hours."
They didn't bother with a polite reply when she abruptly spun away from them at the sound of a shrill cry. Regulus exchanged a look with his son and jerked his head to the door. Orion looked relieved, and made no move to dislodge his hand when Regulus steered him from the shop.
"Thank Merlin that's over," Orion stated sincerely, "I could use that ice cream now!"
Regulus gave him a mock shove, but didn't protest when his son led him over to the little shop. Neither one was in the mood for one of the shop's renown concoctions, both settling on a scoop of mint chip ice scream, Regulus refusing to allow more for the time being because he didn't want to ruin their lunch.
They didn't speak while they ate, each lost in his own thoughts. Regulus was thinking back to his own first year, remembering how excited Sirius had been to show him everything. He wished things had been different, that he hadn't allowed House rivalries to drive that first wedge between them. That was where their estrangement had started, he knew. He couldn't help but wonder if he could have saved Sirius if only he had gone to any other House.
"Dad? Your ice cream is melting," Orion's voice broke through his thoughts.
Regulus looked down at the melted unappetizing mess and shrugged, "Oh well. Are you finished?" he asked, looking over to Orion's nearly clean bowl. He barked a short laugh when in response his son shoved the last spoonful in his mouth and grinned, "Ready to get you wand then?"
Ollivander's was as dark and musty as he remembered, especially after being in the dazzling sun moments before. He rather thought Ollivander kept it that way deliberately to better startle his customers. As if on cue the old man appeared before them, and beside him Orion jumped with surprise.
"Regulus Black. I'd heard you were back among the living, though there are few firsthand accounts from any who have actually seen you," he murmured peering through silvery eyes at the taller man before shaking off the bemusement stating: "Mahogany with dragon heartstring, good for defensive work and warding. This must be your son, Orion."
"How do you do?" Orion said, pulling out his manners.
Regulus didn't doubt he would have offered to shake, but Ollivander abruptly turned away to look at his shelves, snapping his fingers for the tape measurers to take the boys numbers and murmuring to himself: "Difficult, mother foreign I'm told, so can't know the wand on that side. I think I'll try the dragon cores first."
Regulus quietly took a seat, sending Orion a reassuring look as Ollivander glanced over the measures being dictated by the tape. The old man was an odd one to be sure; more comfortable with his wands than with people, but he was the best at his craft. Then the process began. Regulus lost count of the number of wands Orion tried, and with each failure, the old man became more flustered. Wood of all types: Mahogany, Maple, Yew, Holly, Willow, Ash, Dogwood, Oak, the list went on. Cores of any magical creature imaginable: Dragon, Unicorn, Pixie, Mermaid, Thestral, Sphinx, Faun, Griffin, Hippogriff, Hydra, Kelpie, Lamia, Hydra, Abraxan, Salamander, Selkie, Siren, and Undine. It was amazing the list of cores available, and Regulus was certain he hadn't heard of all of them. They were there two hours before Ollivander quietly admitted that he may have to custom make a wand. Regulus was surprised, wand makers rarely custom made wands these days, they tended to have everything readily available.
Regulus was just about to accept when the old man suddenly lit up: "I have one more wand. It's unique in that only rarely will a wand maker have Phoenix feathers on hand. The birds are rare, and powerful. They make powerful wands. In fact, I have only ever made two Phoenix cored wands."
This was all called over the man's shoulder as he made his way into the back room. At Orion's uncertain look, Regulus shrugged and smiled reassuringly. When Ollivander reappeared, he was holding a dust covered box which he reverently opened and held out to Orion. Another uncertain glance to Regulus and Orion reached out to take it. They all heard the triumphant singing of the wand as Orion grasped it firmly, red and silver sparks shooting from its tip.
There was a moment of silence as Orion basked in the feeling of a perfectly matched wand before Ollivander cleared his throat: "Holly wood with a Phoenix feather core. Powerful, it will serve you well in anything you choose," he frowned a moment in thought before abruptly shaking his head to look closely at Orion, "As I said, I have only ever made two Phoenix cored wands, the feathers are in fact from the same phoenix. The first went to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," he switched his stare to the wand itself, "That one I thought would go to the boy who defeated him, Harry Potter."