Harry froze.

People had called him many names over the years. He'd been insulted by the newspapers and by other children his age. He'd been exalted by most people for a time.

But with all his experience with names -

Boy-who-Lived

Potty

The Chosen One

Liar

- he had never been mistaken for his father.

Harry froze, shock clear in his gaze. He had not expected Regulus – for Sirius had called him his dead brother's name – to acknowledge him.

Harry opened his mouth, trying to deny what Regulus had said, trying to assure Regulus that he was not his father, that his father was dead…

His father wasn't dead.

But he still wasn't his father. Why did Regulus think he was?

Harry hadn't truly heard much about his father. People loved to talk about him, but they never really said anything past the fact that Harry looked like him, and he played Quidditch.

"What are you playing at?" Regulus yelled, ripping his eyes off James. "Why are you here?"

"I don't know!" Sirius yelled, finally getting frustrated. "All I know – all we know – is that a spell went wrong, and we landed here."

"And you expect me to believe that?" Regulus said, he scoffed. The man brushed his dark hair out of his eyes. "You expect me to believe any damn thing you say?"

"You asked," Sirius spat. "I answered. And I am a hell of a lot more trustworthy than you are, Death Eater."

"Death Eater?" Regulus exclaimed. "You know, Sirius, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you lost your touch."

"My touch?" Sirius asked. Harry could see a slight shock settling in his eyes. That worried Harry. After all, he'd only ever seen Sirius go into shock, and that night had not turned out well.

"I'd say your sanity, but you lost that long ago," Regulus spat. "What are you waiting for, brother? Aren't you going to attack me?"

"I wasn't quite planning on it," Sirius answered truthfully. "I just want to know what's going on. What's the date?"

"Why would you need to know the date? It's May 2nd?" Regulus, despite his guarded exterior was clearly unnerved by the question.

"And the year?" Sirius asked.

"What are you playing at?" Regulus asked again. Harry saw that the man's posture had changed. He had looked fierce and tall and every bit of a warrior.

Now he just looked sad and tired.

Harry wondered what he was doing.

"Why are you here?" Regulus's voice was hardly above a whisper. Fear dripped through the words.

"Why are you here?" Sirius exclaimed, his voice also dropping in volume. "I don't know what's happened… Is this a trick – a –a game of sorts? I was dead! And now I'm not."

"Please," Harry added. "We really need to know what's going on. This is Hogwarts, but it is not how it was when we left it."

Regulus kept his wand focused on Sirius, not allowing his concentration to fall. He did not answer, nor acknowledge Harry.

Harry saw the change – obvious change – in Sirius's eyes. And Harry knew he was going to do something stupid.

He was right.

Sirius held up a hand in surrender and slowly lowered himself to set his wand on the ground.

"Look, Regulus, I just want to talk. Please."

"Avada Kedavra!" Regulus snarled, tossing the curse at Sirius.

"No!" Harry screamed, just as Sirius threw himself out of the way of the curse.

He was back on his feet in a second, breathing heavy and looking at Regulus in shock. Regulus let out a bitter laugh that echoed through the hall.

"You're surprised that I can cast it – aren't you? I used to have trouble hating you – I remembered how you used to be – how you used to act! You hated the Death Eaters! You hated me for not having a choice about joining!

"Then you killed my best friend. You killed your old friend. How did Remus deserve to die, Sirius? Because he betrayed you when you went insane? How did you put him down – like he was nothing to you?

"He meant something to me. And ever since you killed him… I hate you enough, now. I hate you enough to try and kill you! Avada Kedavra!"

Sirius threw himself out of the way again. He was staring at his brother, shock gleaming in his eyes.

"Please," he tried. "This stuff you're accusing me of – it's not true. I don't know what happened or how I got here. Just – please, is Dumbledore here?"

Of course, Harry thought. Sirius was trying to do exactly what he had in life – he was trying to have Dumbledore solve all of the problems. Dumbledore was just one man, though, and Harry knew that he couldn't solve anything anymore.

"No," Regulus said, once again looking confused. "Dumbledore's dead – you know that!"

"I don't know what I know anymore, Regulus," Sirius said. "Please – use Veritaserum, use anything… I don't know how to get you to trust me."

Regulus glared even harder, hands clenching into fists.

"I'll never trust a murderer."

Harry risked a glance backwards, looking for Remus and his parents. They were crouched behind one of the long tables – hardly visible, and Regulus was too focused on Sirius to even look for them.

"Expelliarmus!" Regulus called. Harry's wand leapt out of his hand as Sirius's brother took advantage of his lack of attention. He pointed his wand at Harry again, and Harry froze, unable to move.

Less than a second later, he was throwing Stupefies and other hexes at Sirius. Sirius tried to dodge as many as he could, but he was eventually hit by the same curse Harry was under.

Slowly, Regulus walked towards them. To Harry's surprise, he ignored Sirius in favor to look at Harry.

"James Potter," he breathed. Harry could hardly hear him.

"I admit, Sirius," he called to his frozen brother. "I never expected this, but who am I to understand a lunatic? I knew you'd use Remus for it would hurt us. But James? Surely, with Remus dead, that would only hurt you. So why, brother? Why him?" Sirius couldn't respond, and Regulus didn't wait for an answer.

"There's something different," he breathed. He raised a hand to Harry's face. It was shaking. "What is wrong with him? This isn't James Potter. His eyes – I spent enough time glaring at him to know that these eyes are wrong, and surely, you know that to. What's your game, brother?" he asked, turning away from Harry.

Regulus pulled up his sleeve. Harry watched expecting to see the Dark Mark. Instead, there was a small symbol of a Phoenix. Regulus touched it gently and paused for a moment, his finger resting on the small tattoo.

Then he turned back to Sirius.

"Whatever you were playing, you've finally lost." Then he pulled a small token from his pocket. Regulus taped it with his wand before grabbing onto both Sirius and Harry. Harry had a moment to recognize the token as a Portkey before he felt the normal pull and everything began to blur around him.

They were so screwed.

I admit that this really has taken forever to update, but I'm back in writing now! Expect weekly updates!

Thanks to anyone still interested in this story!

I don't own HP