The next morning, Regulus awoke from his rather uncomfortable position. He was lying on his stomach, face pressing into Sirius's overstuffed bed, and Sirius was nearly on top of him. He groaned as he maneuvered out from under his brother. Carefully, not wanting to disturb Sirius, he got out of the bed. It was early – he was most likely the first awake.

He twisted his neck, trying to work the kinks out of it before turning back to Sirius, who was sleeping quite soundly.

Yawning, his mouth wide enough to pop his jaw, he made his way to the kitchen. Kreacher greeted him with the normal,

"Little master!"

He smiled lightly at the House-Elf. Kreacher really was nice to talk to. He was very set in his ways, but the young elf really did have an interesting way of looking at things (though he often made it seem that the Black family was perfect.)

Regulus tried to tell him it wasn't, but Kreacher had tried to punish himself for even listening to such thoughts.

(bloody annoying elf.)

"Good morning, Kreacher."

"Do you need breakfast, little master?" Kreacher asked.

"Yes, thank you, Kreacher." Kreacher grinned slightly in appreciation for the thanks. It was rare for a house-elf to get any.

(he doesn't deserve it.)

Sitting at the table, Regulus waited for his breakfast. He didn't notice as his eyes dropped and then drifted shut.

12312312312312312323123112312323123123123123123111 231231231212312312312312312312321

"Regulus!" a voice snapped. Regulus jerked awake, his eyes snapping open. At once he saw that he was slumped over the table. A nice meal was sat out before him, courtesy of Kreacher, of course. At least – it had been a nice meal. Now, it was quite cold.

He looked up and saw his father standing there. For a second, he had to quench the urge to flinch back, slightly afraid.

(he doesn't deserve my fear.)

"Yes, father?" he said quietly. He looked into his father's eyes, refusing to look away. It was a small victory for Regulus, but it felt good for him to be able to look his father in the eye.

"We're going somewhere today. I expect you and Sirius to be ready to leave within an hour."

Regulus's eyes widened.

"But – but father… Sirius isn't healed enough…"

"He'll be fine. I expect both of you to be ready." With that, Regulus's father turned and left the kitchen. Regulus bit his lip, thinking of Sirius. Although his brother seemed a lot better – and he was, but he still wasn't fully healed. Regulus couldn't make his brother get ready when it physically pained him.

(i shouldn't have to.)

Sighing, Regulus walked up the stairs to his room. He got ready quickly, knowing Sirius would move slowly but not having the heart to wake his healing brother until necessary.

After he was finished, he went into Sirius's room.

"Sirius," he whispered, shaking his brother's arm slightly. The movement brought back a strange memory of him waking Bellatrix in not the same manor but in a much crueler one that involved a bucket of water and laughter.

(that was funny.)

Regulus shook his head to clear his mind. He'd think about it later. Now, however, he had forty-five minutes to get Sirius dressed and ready to leave. Regulus scowled. Why did their father feel the need to take them somewhere? He'd more or less not talked to them for the past few days. Why couldn't it have stayed like that?

Sighing, Regulus shook Sirius even harder. He blinked open his eyes, blearily mumbling something under his breath.

"Regulus?" he managed to rasp.

"Sirius," Regulus said. He sent his brother a relieved smile; Sirius sounded even better now.

"Why'd you wake me up?" Sirius complained, trying to turn around and go back to sleep. Regulus wasn't sure if it was because he was still hurt or if he just didn't want to get up.

"Father's taking us somewhere. He wasn't both of us ready to leave in forty or so minutes."

"Bloody hell!" Sirius said. He sat up quickly, only to pause and wince as the movement caused a bright burst of pain to ricochet through his head.

Regulus winced with him, but then, collecting himself, he ignored his brother's reaction and continued to pull Sirius upright.

Groaning, Sirius stood. He took a few steps, wobbling slightly, and grabbed clothes out of his dresser. Then he moved slowly, one hand against his wall for support, into his bathroom. Regulus heard the shower start up and sat on Sirius's bed, waiting for him.

He really didn't think it was a good idea for Sirius to be standing on the slippery bathroom floor, but he knew Sirius had to get ready. Their father would be furious if they 'disobeyed' him like that.

Sighing once again (merlin, he sighs a lot,) he waited for Sirius to finish.

12312312312312312312312312312312312331233123123123 123123123231231231231231231231231

Orion sat at the downstairs table, reading the Daily Prophet. It was a normal day, nothing exciting had really happened. He glanced at the grandfather clock (charmed to shoot bolts at any trespassers.) There was still thirty minutes until the boys had to be ready.

He wondered how Sirius was doing. Despite his aura of not realizing how injured his son really was, he did know that Sirius had been hurt badly. At first, it had been punishment, but now, however, it had grown into something more.

Orion needed his sons – especially Regulus – to trust him and believe him. Where he was taking them would play a huge part in believing him. He had had to get an international Portkey for the occasion. Of course, for a Black – or any other Most Noble and Ancient family – it wasn't that hard. There had been a few raised eyebrows but nothing too bad.

Still, though, Orion needed them to trust him. If something happened, and he was the 'hero' for helping Sirius, then they might. It was important that he looked like the good guy – which is why he dosed Walburga with a heavy sleeping potion the night before. She wouldn't ruin this for him.

He wouldn't let her.

It was extremely important that the Black family had at least one heir. It could be too late for Sirius – he was a Gryffindor, after all – but Regulus could make their family proud.

And Orion would make sure that happened.

Waiting in silence, not truly reading the newspaper, he waited only a few minutes before he heard a loud crash.

That was his cue.

Racing – literally running – up the stairs, he burst into Sirius's room. Regulus was standing in shock and flinched badly when the door slammed open.

"What happened?" Orion demanded, sounding the perfect mix of confused and concerned.

"I – I," Regulus stuttered. "Sirius!" He was staring straight at the bathroom. Orion pushed the door open and saw Sirius on the tile ground. There was a small pool of blood from a gash on his head.

He must have fell and hit his head after he had gotten dressed.

Orion knelt down beside his son, seeing Regulus come over from the corner of his eye.

He pulled out his wand.

"Don't hurt him!" Regulus gasped. Orion ignored his younger son, leaning down and shaking Sirius's shoulder.

"Sirius?" he whispered, trying to sound like a concerned parent. When Sirius didn't answer (as if Orion had expected him to,) he casted a few spells.

Regulus watched, in awe, as the gash healed.

"Fetch me a headache potion," Orion ordered. Regulus listened immediately, pulling one off of Sirius's nightstand.

Orion poured it into Sirius's mouth slowly, making sure he didn't choke. Then Orion stood, picking Sirius up with him.

"I think he'll be okay," Orion said, walking over and laying Sirius on his bed. The boy was already waking. It hadn't truly been a terrible fall.

Sirius just couldn't take it after the head trauma he'd already received.

Regulus stared at his father, open-mouthed. Orion resisted the urge to snap at him – that looked so unbecoming of a Black. Regulus shut his mouth, swallowed hard, and said,

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Orion said. He smiled to himself. That had gone just as he thought it would. His son was alternating between a shocked expression and a grateful expression.

He'd crossed a line in Regulus's mind. Regulus now knew that he cared about them.

After all, the Black family needed an heir.

It was almost time to put the second part of his plan into action.

It was almost time to leave.

12312312312312312312312312312312312312312312312312 312312312312312312312312312123123

Hey guys! I hope you like this. The next chapter should be surprising Any guesses on where they're going?

So, my parents told me today that they're going to Hawaii… without me. Don't I feel special?

Please review!

Thanks to all my old reviewers!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.