What You Can't See
Blues

"Happy birthday?"

Sirius hadn't expected Regulus to show up. He found himself confused at seeing his younger brother show up, knowing Walburga Black likely had something planned for Regulus' seventeenth, mainly since the youngest son was now heir Black. Yet Regulus was there, obviously unhappy and without his book bag like usual as he came in, arms crossed, obviously upset.

"Or not," Sirius muttered. "What happened?"

"I did it," Regulus said. "I took care of the situation with the Muggle girl."

"Bloody," Sirius muttered. "Please tell me you didn't kill her?"

"What?" Regulus startled, staring at him.

"You're a bloody Death Eater, remember? He didn't make it, so, I don't know, that was your first task?"

"Bloody!" Regulus said. "I come to you for comfort because I can't go home right now, and that's what I get from you! Olivia's still bloody alive, Sirius."

"Then what did you bloody do!" Sirius said.

"I erased her memories. After I took her on the date I promised her," Regulus said, swallowing, starting to pace. "And now my head's a bloody mess."

"Bloody Merlin," Sirius said. "You actually like her, this Olivia? Don't you."

"Yes, Sirius!" Regulus turned, the anger evident. "I bloody like her."

"Well, don't bloody tell your parents that you've managed to fall head over heels for a Muggle," Sirius said, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "They'll bloody throw a fit, particularly Walburga."

"Yes, she would," Regulus said. "Father didn't."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Wait." He let out a hiss, walking over and grabbing his brother by the shoulders, and shaking him. "You told him? After I told you not to?"

"It wasn't the issue you thought it was," Regulus snapped.

"Bloody it was! Did he convince you of this plan?"

"No! It was my plan, Sirius."

"Yes, well, he couldn't have possibly have approved," Sirius said. "That's why you did it, isn't it?"

Regulus' lip trembled. "Papa's not like maman , Sirius."

"Yes, he is! He had to have read you the riot act over this!" And then he saw the tears well in the corners of his brother's eyes. "Wait? I was right?"

"No," Regulus said, reaching up to wipe away the tear. "Um, well, I guess you could say he gave me the riot act, but not in the way you think."

"Regulus," Sirius let out a sigh.

"I asked him why she, Olivia, this Muggle girl, could see me," Regulus said, his lip trembling. "And he apologized to me more than once."

"What?" Sirius stared; then, he guided Regulus over to the couch. "Sit. Talk. Explain."

He sat down on the other side after Regulus sat. "Not sure how."

"Start with why he apologized. What was that about?"

"He apologized because he thinks she," Regulus said, then his eyes closed. He wiped a sleeve across his eyes before letting out a deep breath. "Bloody, he was right. Why did he have to be right? It would have been a lot easier if he hadn't been."

"What did the old man say to you, Regulus?" Sirius snapped. "That's put you in this state."

"It wasn't what he said!" Regulus snapped back, uncovering his eyes. "I'm in such a state because he was right."

"Oh, that you shouldn't fall in love with this Muggle girl before you erase her memories?" Sirius said. "That maybe you should have asked him or me for help rather than waiting until you turn seventeen to handle it on your own! You can't be going around doing things on your own, Regulus! That kind of thing is what gets you killed in a war!"

"Stop treating father like he's the enemy, Sirius!" Regulus' voice rose. "He's not the bloody idiot who joined up with a group that kills people like Olivia! I was!"

Sirius stared, unable to think of anything in response.

"And for your information, well, he did warn me that I didn't know what I was getting into doing it on my own," Regulus snapped. "But that! That wasn't what he was right about!"

"Then what?"

"That Olivia was the one!"

Sirius frowned. "Regulus, I'm not following."

"You know. The one. Like our crazy maman is father's, and Uncle Ignatius is Aunt Lucretia's. That Sirius was what he apologized to me for."

Sirius felt the corner of his mouth twist. "Sure. He's fine with you getting yourself blasted off the tapestry because of a Muggle girl."

"Well, I thought that at first as well when he asked me whether I didn't care about getting blasted off the tapestry," Regulus said, closing his eyes and gripping the couch tightly. "But that wasn't it?"

"It wasn't?" Sirius sighed. "If he clearly…."

"He was trying to figure out how I felt, even though I couldn't figure out myself until just now," Regulus wiped his nose."Why did it have to take so long? And why did this have to be my bloody first kiss?"

Sirius sighed. "Maybe, it took you so long because you would have backed out of doing it. Because if your feelings were stronger, you would have had more time to think about it and question breaking your own heart."

"That," Regulus frowned, only to be pulled into a hug.

Sirius felt his younger brother tense, "Look, I know you don't like being touched…."

"Tighter," Regulus said.

"What?"

"Please, hug me tighter," his younger brother said. "I feel like I'm going to break, Sirius."

"I—sure," Sirius hugged him tighter, tightening it even more when Regulus asked again, unsure if he could hug his younger brother any tighter when finally the dam broke. His brother cried, soaking Sirius' shirt in the process. "Not that I care. I mean, why have we both been dealt such a horrible hand at life simply because of the family we were born into." And then, he let out a sigh. "I'm so sorry, Regulus."

Regulus cried for a long time, yet having apologized for what happened, having heard Orion apologize to his younger brother for what the man knew would happen—

"I can't help but see him in a new light," Sirius said.

Eventually, Regulus finished crying and pulled away, wiping his eyes. "Can I stay the night?"

Sirius frowned. "Given the state of your face, you'd draw too much attention from Walburga if you did, so yeah." He let out a deep breath. "However, cover story."

"We can think of one in the morning," Regulus muttered.

"No. Just tell her that you were out with your friends for your birthday, and they decided to be lousy."

"Sirius, I don't have any friends," Regulus said.

"Sure you do."

"No. I did, but" Regulus let out a deep breath. "I had to erase their memory."

"Come on," Sirius felt the corner of his mouth twitch. "You've all those friends in your house, right?"

"No, Sirius," Regulus shook his head. "I had family and acquaintances. By the latter, I mean individuals who were interested in the family name, not me."

"So, this Muggle girl?" Sirius said. "The first person not to be interested in you because of the family name?"

"Yes."

Sirius looked at the ceiling. "Well, go with that story. It is, after all, like you said. You did lose a friendship tonight, so not wanting to name that friend means she won't pry."

"But what would the falling out be over?"

"I don't know. Maybe because they told you that now that you're seventeen, as a Death Eater, he'll have you do more. Have you tortured and killed?" Sirius watched Regulus flinch. "Hey, look." Sirius took a deep breath. "What were you doing for him? I mean, you were underage, so it isn't as if you could have been of use. Unless, of course, he figured nobody could trace you in a place like this?"

"No. It," Regulus shook his head. "I'm good at what I do, so it's not likely that what I do will change."

"Yes, but what is it you do."

"Research," Regulus said. "I'm book smart."

Sirius let out a sigh. "And Bella would have known that when she got you marked. That's why." His eyes closed. He then said. "Regulus, if you ever need a way out…."

"I thought you said I couldn't come and stay with you."

"Doesn't mean I won't help you get out," Sirius said. "I would be the first place they'd check, but going on the run with you? Actually, given what you said about the old man, I think I'll talk to him about some kind of contingency plan. Alright?"

"Yeah, but I don't want…."

"Don't even mention it, of not involving others," Sirius said. "Your breakup with your Muggle girlfriend went badly because you took it on yourself, but I really am sorry that things ended that way, kiddo."

"It's okay," Regulus said, wiping more tears away. "And thank you for being so understanding, Sirius."

"Well, I'm your older brother. Time I start acting like one after being such a lousy one. Right?"