Hey, thank you for your reviews, here is the next installment
Revolutionaries wait – The sound of the front door slamming downstairs was the giveaway sign that Regulus had finally returned, hopefully with news, and hopefully unhurt. He was startled out of his meditation and apparated downstairs to meet him, just because he could, of course he was not startled by his sudden appearance. Harry had managed to greet and get picked up by his brother by the time he made it downstairs and Kreacher was taking his cloak and shoes. He was still starry eyed and indulgent over the man he'd believed dead, eyes wide and full of tears as he tended to him, but Kreacher was his personal elf now and that wasn't changing, Regulus was always the favourite, even with the house elf. Now the only child in the house was Harry, and occasionally Hermione, and both men and the house elf were wrapped around his little nimble fingers.
He grinned as he approached, he did not know how he did it, his charisma was not so huge, but his marauder side could do nothing but applaud. "Well Reg, how did you do?" He was grinning right now as he was talking to Reg, it would seem that he was no more immune than the rest of the world. It was just one of those mysteries he supposed, and if he was going to be honest, he wouldn't have it any other way. The man was more stoic than he was so there was no way to know what mood he was in, he seemed unharmed physically, whether his hunches had proved successful or not was another matter. He went and sat down in the downstairs lounge and Regulus followed suit, Harry still in his arms.
There was a slight staring contest. He didn't speak at first, just sat there with the boy in his lap sipping tea and eating the biscuits that Kreacher also brought out. Regulus and he had always had a sweet tooth that never faded. It was amusing because so did James, Remus and Peter, Remus especially always had a couple of bars of chocolate on his person, but his parents had never cared for it and neither had the parents of his marauder brothers. Sugar was his one outlet; the Black brothers did not know what they would do without it. Magic folk were not immune to the effects of drugs and nicotine and alcohol in large quantities was dangerous to one's core after a while as well as one's liver and brain and other parts of one's biology.
"It's going slow," Regulus answered eventually, disappointment in his voice, "I just don't know how to make it go faster, how am I meant to locate them? I know about the locket but not where it is and I know they are hidden, but not where, only general areas. There are places I cannot infiltrate without being spotted, and places I cannot infiltrate anyway because of how the building is structured and the rooms and the passwords and everything, and all I'm following is an itch that grows the closer I get to the possession, at least they do not seem to be moving, well, most of them aren't anyway, it's confusing Siri, and slow."
"It was never going to be a quick job Reg; I am guessing one of more of the horcruxes are hidden in Hogwarts then?"
Reg nodded, "Voldemort enjoys irony clearly," he said dryly, "but I can't stay there or someone will see me, I need you to do it or come with me."
"I will Reg, but I have a lot to do with my revolution. Is there a way to find out what the Horcruxes are without finding them?"
Regulus nodded immediately, "the power within me has been giving me dreams, but I have been taking dreamless sleep potion because it leaves me sleep deprived and very ill. I guess I could meditate too but that's easier said than done, I can't just sit down and meditate for three days like you, I get bored, or I need a piss after ten minutes."
"I could teach you."
"I'm afraid that will be a bit of a lost cause. Just like trying to unlock my core just wouldn't work, no matter how hard I tried, how hard we both tried. Well, on another subject, who are you going to target next?"
Sirius grinned, now this was a subject he enjoyed talking about. "I'm thinking of going for the Lestrange brothers, dear Bellatrix is in prison but Rabastan and his god awful twin are still at large and begging to be taken down. Just like the Nott couple, they act as a unit so I shall attack them as a unit. I'm thinking of taking down some people that were on the guest list to the Nott's Christmas party but I am hoping people will either turn themselves in or turn over a new leaf, or maybe, just maybe the ministry will start doing its job. After the Lestrange brothers I might go for Zabini, then Avery, and last but not least, Azkaban."
"You're going to attack Azkaban? But that's where you are putting people!"
"There are a few people I want to kill and I won't be able to sleep with a smile on my face until they are dead."
Regulus was silent; he looked like he was going to say something but then thought better of it and shook his head. "You sleep with a smile on your face every night as you lie near to Harry." Said boy was now snoozing on his uncle's lap so they did not fear talking about Azkaban, dementors, the revolution and killing.
"It's a figure of speech Reg. I could just leave them there, but I know that it is possible to escape, and to be broken out of prison. I am ensuring there is no one to do the breaking out but I would much prefer it if there was also no one to break out. I won't kill the people, all the people, I have landed in Azkaban, that just really undoes my hard work, makes it a bit pointless just a few of them that are beyond redemption and annoyed me. I'll kill Bellatrix for certain, I don't even know why or how she's still alive, then there's Avery, Nott and the Lestrange brothers are all tricky bastards, their survival just depends on my mood really."
"What happened to goody, goody Sirius? You are talking about killing people depending on whether or not you are in a good mood, that just seems awfully Slytherin and death eater like."
"I am not a goody Griffindor anymore Reg, I've changed so much I'm not sure what I am anymore. It is not whether I am in a good mood or bad mood though, it is whether or not I feel like killing them, there is a difference Reg."
"I think I like the new you, in a way, you are a bit extreme, but independent now, so can I come with you when you get the Lestrange brothers?"
Sirius hesitated but shook his head.
"Sirius, I am not a child, and I am powerful enough."
"That's not it Reg, I trust you, but I don't want you getting hurt, there are two Lestrange brothers and I've already lost you once, I only just got you back, I can't go through it again, not if I see it happening, it will shatter me. I know you won't hinder me but I can't help but worry about you and when taking on those two one cannot afford any distractions. Besides, I need someone here to look after Harry and Severus."
"Severus?"
"Oh yeah, forgot you didn't know about that. Moody accidentally hit him with a nerve cracking hex when we went to Diagon Alley, he was one of the Order members who ambushed us, so being the kind and caring person I am I took him in to heal him."
"It wouldn't have killed him to leave him."
"It might have done, he couldn't move, and he was in terrible pain, I was the only one who noticed, he's upstairs if you want to say hi."
"I'd prefer to stay dead to him for a little while longer."
"You can't stay dead to the world forever Reg."
"Just until you finish your revolution and I've at least located all of the horcruxes if I haven't destroyed them. I don't know why I want to stay dead but I have not felt the need to come back into the world yet and there are lots of people who want me dead."
"You think you have trouble in that department, it is getting easier for me to count the people who want me alive, or are at least indifferent. Only Voldemort's faithful would kill you if they saw you and they are hardly after you as they already believe you're dead. Not only are all of them death eaters now after me in fear because I'm a threat now and they all know I am most certainly alive but so are the ministry, to hide their shame and incompetence, Dumbledore, the rest of the Order of the Phoenix and even the muggle world. None of them faze me of course although Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard, and the Order almost beat me that one time they took Harry and ended up landing me with Severus but for an innocent man, a lot of people want me dead."
Regulus chuckled at a certain thought. "If the ministry hunted real death eaters as dedicatedly as they are hunting you, this revolution would not be necessary, they would already be locked up. It must be aggravating to always be the bad guy no matter what you do."
"Thank you Reg, for summing that up, it really needed to be said. It's not causing me any problems though, I'm an expert now at staying one jump ahead."
"What are you going to do with Severus once he's healed?"
"Not sure, obliviate him maybe... or just keep him here for a while."
"Keep him?" Reg raised one eyebrow jokingly and Sirius mirrored the action.
"Yeah, you know, get him a nice little collar and a basket... he asked to stay."
"But weren't you guys like... trying to kill each other at school?"
"I tried to kill him once Reg and it can't really be classed as trying to kill exactly. He was following us around trying to get us expelled and I grew tired, told him to press the button that froze the 'Whomping Willow,' go through the tunnel and he'd be surprised what he'd find. I never actually expected for him to go and do it though, that truly was an act of idiocy, for a smart guy he didn't even hear a trap when he fell into one. Well he didn't get hurt in the end, luckily James got whiff of it and pulled him out of harm's way. I've grown up since then anyway, I am not a stupid ignorant little boy playing at pulling the ultimate prank, if I still despised him in the way I think he believes I do I would not have saved his life and nursed him back to health, I'd have left him to die or be crippled like his precious Order seemed inclined to do."
"They were going to leave him there, really?"
"If it was a choice between saving him and going after me, I am almost certain they would have chosen me, I'm the dangerous fugitive."
"But I thought the Order was very loyal."
"They didn't even notice Moody's stray hex hit him, he fell to the ground silently."
"Siri, why did you save him?"
"Jeesh Reg, I don't even fully know, it is not like he did not want me dead and might still try again in a couple of months, who the hell knows? All I know is that I felt guilt about what I did at school and I know he is a good guy inside, just made a few bad choices. I felt that it was unfair to let him die; somehow it felt as if I was doing him some sort of injustice to leave him there when I could get to him and help him. Even if it meant a few curses hit me too, I'd have probably been hit anyway getting Harry, it's all ok as long as we live right? I would have done the same for any of the aurors firing at me, after all they were only doing so because they do not know any better, regarding me and my innocence I mean."
"I think you put yourself out for others too much, let someone take up some of the slack now and again, let me help you with something we can actually make some headway in. How about just for these next two, just for Rabastan and Rodolphos, if it worries you too much then I won't badger you for me to come again, but if I truly prove myself..." he left it hanging.
Sirius knew there was no point arguing the case further, Regulus always got what he wanted. He had a doting older brother who would do anything for him and a couple of parents who brought him everything his heart desired. Their mother and father were never exactly the loving kind, Sirius doubted they knew what love was but in order to clothe them, feed them and give them shelter he guessed a certain level of care had to be involved along the line somewhere. They acted as though they loved Regulus to spite his older brother, him, Sirius once he turned eleven and was the first Black to get sorted into a house other than Slytherin for eight generations. To deepen the disgrace he made friendships as strong as more brotherly bonds with boys they did not approve of, meaning they were also Griffindor and they did not know the families.
Who was he to deny the man now that he actually wanted to do some good? He trusted him to not harm him or Harry, and he could have done, he could have killed Harry weeks ago, but he didn't, and something in him told him he was never going to. Regulus had made a very bad choice several years ago but he had tried to make up for it with getting and destroying the locket of Slytherin, even if he failed, and despite all of that, he had always loved Sirius. Even when he was sorted in Slytherin and him Griffindor (bringing shame onto the family) and he was expected to bully his older brother, they loved each other. They could not help it, growing up; all they had were each other to turn to for love of any kind, it was something that was always going to be there.
If he turned on him in battle then he would not hesitate before knocking him out and dealing with the Lestrange brothers himself. In some corner of his mind he realised he may be being a little paranoid, Reg had been with him for weeks and had not harmed Harry, cared for him even, it was clear in his eyes, he was not just refraining from killing him because he knew Sirius was hunt him down. When he went out saying he was looking for the locket, he had no reason to disbelieve him, when he had essentially died the dark mark for some reason, disappeared, he was not a death eater anymore, he had no ties, no branding. His brother was safe – and Sirius was certain that this was what was truly bothering him.
His brother was safe, for now, and despite the fact he's already died once, he'd come back to him. Most people do not get a second chance and he did not want Reg to blow his. While he was safe, Sirius wanted him to keep sheltered, not get into any danger, because he would not be able to push through dying a second time. But he could not hide Reg away from the world forever, no matter how much Reg did not want to be known as alive for some reason. He could understand though, while he had nobody to hide from, he was just so good at being dead, he'd done so for a while now and had no real inclination to stop. This might be the perfect catalyst to urge him into returning to the world as the second Lord Black.
He could handle three young men by himself easily, and he was sure that if his brother was not as powerful as desired then he could defeat the Lestranges along with protecting his kid brother – though he was not exactly a kid anymore. He was used to protecting him, he'd done so all his life, and though Regulus could not unlock his power, he must be as strong as the Lestranges at least. He had been out of practise at first but Sirius had been training him mercilessly to get him to shape up... for instances just like these. Not only was he meant to be dead and would certainly be killed for certain should a death eater catch him, but he was the brother of the most wanted man in Britain and one of Harry's protectors, he needed to be able to fight, and fight well.
He sighed, trying to ignore the spoilt brat's triumphant smile as he knew he'd won. There was no better way to test his loyalty and power and skill in battle than a demonstration with real life and death consequences. He'd suffered too much in Azkaban to trust anyone fully, although Reg was someone whom he could never really hurt, compassion and love were very strong forces. "If you get hurt..." he left it hanging, not because there was no need to finish the sentence, but because he did not know how. He could hardly threaten him with never letting him leave the house or out of his sight ever again, he was a full grown man, although he would certainly keep a close eye on him until he was fully healed such is brotherly affection. In fact if Regulus really wanted he could become a vigilante himself and do the same thing.
Sirius smiled at that thought, Reg had always admired him and been a copycat. If Reg decided that this was what he wanted to do, he really had no right to be annoyed for any other fact than that he'd stolen his idea. He imagined the two of them dressed in some sort of superhero costume; again he was reminded of Lily and her infatuation for muggle comics. James dressing up as one in their fifth year to try and woo her had actually been the starting point of their relationship. He spent two whole days walking round the Hogwarts grounds during term time no less dressed up as... superman he believed it was. It showed his, albeit eventual acceptance of her childish obsession and made her laugh, and everyone knows it is hard to be mad at someone who makes you laugh.
Superman was the one to thank for his Godson, quite a funny thought really. After that stunt, which gave him a detention under the headmaster no less for not wearing school uniform, a requirement for every student, Lily decided she would try and see his good side. The love declarations and flowers brought a smile to her lips instead of a scowl and he was described as persistent and endearing instead of stubborn and annoying, two months later she looked to him as a boyfriend and never looked away until the day they died. The superhero label did not really suit them though, they fit certain criteria certainly, but they were not really protectors of the innocent, well they were, but it was really a revolution and one innocent in particular, an innocent Sirius killed for and would allow other innocents to be sacrificed for.
He was not a monster, he just had a very strong sense of justice and he was not as naive or as trusting or as optimistic as he once was. The burning desire to get his just desserts served was why he tracked down Peter once the Potters died, it was why he beat up Remus, it was why he was so harsh with Hagrid, it was why he was, at first, rather violent with an insane and rude Kreacher, although he would kill for the little creature now. It was why he was hunting the death eaters in the frightening and harsh fashion he was, it was why he was going to catch Peter again eventually and put him through hell. "I won't let you down," the voice of his brother reminding him of their current discussion snapped him from his trip down memory lane and he looked to Reg wondering just how he was going to do it.
"I am not going to spend my time protecting you." Well that was a bare faced lie and judging by the slight sneer of Regulus' face, as much as he wanted his brother to be telling the truth, he knew it too. He was going to have to say it again nearer to the time to reassure him but he could not say it too often or the boy, man, would definitely know it was a lie that was not going to change. He would be subtle about it during the actual battle but of course he was going to keep an eye on him. He was a protective person, especially since leaving Azkaban, once you wormed your way into his heart it took a lot for you to be disregarded. So far, Reg Harry and Kreacher were the only ones there, even Remus getting accepted once more was going to take a long time.
He appreciated Regulus wanted to prove himself he really did, but if it came down to a choice of annoying his baby brother and losing him, for real and forever... it was no choice at all. "If I have to save your hide you aren't coming again," he warned. Again, another lie, if Regulus really wanted to come then all he had to do was ask for more training and use his puppy dog eyes because Sirius had always been indulgent towards him, or just claim he was going solo and Sirius really would not have much of a choice. However, his hesitance and discomfort with allowing Reg to come with him at all seemed to have assured the younger man of the truth of this statement and was answered with a solemn nod; the sneer wiped right off his face.
"So when are we going to go?" Regulus asked, a smile on his face which made Sirius frown in disapproval, he was far too eager.
"Umm, Reg, don't take this the wrong way, but this isn't a game. One wrong move could mean death for the both of us, there is no safety net." Regulus opened his mouth to protest but Sirius held up his hands to show he meant no disrespect. "I'm trying to treat you like a child; I mean I'm not trying to treat you like a child here, I am just warning you like I warned myself before going after the first death eater I targeted, Lucius. I am prone to being young and reckless too as you well know, I have incredibly foolish, stupid and immature things in my time that were really more than pranks. I know you are better than me in that area even if you are younger; I just want to warn you that this will be very dangerous."
"I know you are stubborn and proud and will not want to call to me if you are in danger at any point, but please Reg, for me, do it, I can't lose you again Reg." He remembered once thinking it would be great to have a partner to do this revolution with, probably back in the early stages, when he had just gotten Harry back, when he had targeted Lucius, and he'd said to himself that a brother would be perfect for the role. Now he had one, his brother no less, back from the dead as if he was answering his plea and he was thinking of being a lone wolf more. He took a deep breath before continuing, "please try to keep in mind that these are people we are after, not animals, no matter how much like savages they like to act."
"You are not trying to get me to show mercy?"
"By all means play mind games, be manipulative, and mean, whatever, as long as you do not forget what are doing. We are putting them in Azkaban and later possibly going back and killing them, that is not something to take lightly, or be enthusiastic about, much, just bear that in some corner of your mind while we are doing this."
He was not trying to make him or his brother feel empathy for them, but he was a family oriented person. The Notts has a child four years or so older than Harry, still young enough to choose the light side in fact, he had not killed his parents, but certainly taught the kid a harsh lesson, this is what could happen to you... It was the same with Lucius, while he was pretty sure he was going to kill him eventually, Narcissa, who was not quite as bad, he had let free. He felt no compassion for his cousin but she would learn from what he did to her husband and she would change her ways and hopefully bring up her son supporting the light. She had, just as he predicted quickly gotten her boy back from Severus who must have laid the seeds of light in his brain which was just as well given the state and location of the boys Godfather now.
"Sirius, what is wrong with you? Feel empathy for them? Are you mad? These people tortured and killed people without batting an eyelid. They held awful prejudice towards muggles and muggle-borns, as if they were scum. They followed a leader who used the unforgivables as carelessly as Lumos. I did things that make me sick to my stomach Sirius, and I was one of the 'fainthearted' ones, I was not even in the inner circle, I was there, I know the true extent of their evil. They follow someone who did... crucio... Frank and Alice..." his voice grew quiet and he trailed off. Oh yes, loveable Frank and Alice, he liked them too, a couple who, had they still had their minds would have certainly tried to get him a trial. But then again, in the end, his little stay in Azkaban had made him into the fearless strong warrior he was now.
Reg had had a friendship with those two people that was akin to the friendship he had with Arthur Weasley. While he would not ditch his other friends or his brother to spend time with the couple who were lovesick with each other from age eleven when their eyes met at the sorting ceremony, he would choose them above being alone. When he grew stronger than them, or believed he did anyway, Frank and Alice had defied Voldemort three times; he enjoyed the thought of protecting them, even when he became a death eater. The two of them being tortured into insanity might have actually been the turning point for Reg from dark to light. They too had a child if he remembered correctly, same age and birthday as Harry, Neville he believed, rather strange, unique name like his and Reg, being looked after by an aunt or a grandmother or something now.
"I know Reg, I know," pulling him close into an embrace to calm him. "I didn't say you need to feel empathy or sorrow. You do not need to forgive them because we might go and kill them later, I liked Frank and Alice too, I still like them. They're not dead, and after this revolution I am going to try my hand at inventing new healing spells, I might be able to help them Reg." He was not sure whether or not he was offering false hope or not but Regulus regained his composure nonetheless. We'll go in a month, when Harry is almost five and with his best friend and Severus is healed and out of my house. He's more or less better now, on his feet anyway, though I've asked him not to leave the room, an order I think he is obeying out of grudging respect."
"You saved his life, healed him, sheltered him, clothed him, fed him, you deserve his respect. You never know, with any luck he might even become your ally."
"It is still the same old Snape Reg," he reminded with a gentle smile, "but, he might have grown up too, we even joked a bit. I even gave him fire whiskey."
"You hate that stuff."
"Tastes change, of course I used to hate it, most kids dislike alcoholic beverages. I don't have much; even with mead and butter beer too I never have more than twenty units a week. Besides it is Kreacher who keeps buying it."
"So you cure him from insanity and now he's an alcoholic."
"Don't be ridiculous Reg," he meant to snort in derision but it was kind of nullified by the huge amused grin the spread over his face, "I just like to watch my health is all."
"Because you really need to," Regulus shot right back, eying him up and down. "Your torso and stomach are so well toned; punching them would be like hitting a stone wall. Your senses are so well defined they were animalistic, nothing could creep past you. To top it off your core is unlocked; you are so magically powerful I bet Dumbledore could not beat you in a fight and once the horcruxes are found and disposed of, and we will do so eventually some way or another, Voldemort will be small fry for you."
"Thanks for the vote in confidence but I'm being serious, everybody needs to watch their health, even strapping young lads like you and me. One month Reg, and then we move forward, you need to practise, I'll help you train, and if you prove yourself then yes, I promise you can accompany me again and we'll do this revolution together, as brothers." He stood up and started for the stairs, "come on, let's put the little one to bed, he's an incredibly sleepy child that one, all the time. And then I'm going to have some coco, a warm beverage I've always liked."
Regulus wrinkled his nose in distaste, "I have nothing against coco in general, but I do with the way you drink it, unsweetened. Even hot chocolate usually needs added sugar; unsweetened coco is just a bitter drink that doesn't taste remotely like chocolate and I thought you had a sweet tooth."
"I do," Sirius said, now having reached the staircase, "coco is just an exception, no idea why, I just prefer it the way it comes. It's perfectly fine," he said in a voice that was most definitely not defending his likes, because he had no need to defend what he liked and disliked. However, given that everyone he told wrinkled their nose at his peculiar, contradictory tastes, he was beginning to think it was perfectly not. Even Kreacher could not understand it and that was a personal elf, he lived to praise him. He ordered said elf to make two cups of coco, one sweetened for Reg and one unsweetened for him as the two brothers started to put Harry to bed. They had had plenty of practise at it and could now do it without making him stir.
"Go ahead and enjoy it without me," Sirius said as the two of them emerged from the room. "I want to go and check on Severus, see if I can kick him out yet." Regulus rolled his eyes and may have muttered something along the lines of nursemaid but otherwise did not object or anything. Sirius guessed the young man was uneasy about someone who knew him well, was his housemate in school, being only a floor away from him.