The day he so dreaded had arrived. Today, mere minutes from now, his father would come back from King's Cross with his brother, and he was a nervous wreck. He was sitting in the drawing room with his mother, who seemed to be in an even worse state than he was. Despite all her talk of controlling emotions this morning, she sure seemed out of control today.

As if on cue, Father and Sirius appeared in the room the moment the clock stroke 8:00 PM. They were arguing, and Regulus couldn't make out what was being said and by whom, the insults came from both sides and they were talking very fast. It went on until the inevitable happened: Mother joined in. She did it the way she thought best, by ramming Sirius against the wall and yelling in his face that he had to stop treating his father like that, and Sirius hit her.

Sirius hit her.

Regulus' mouth fell open and silence filled the room that had been so chaotic before. Mother moved her hand to her cheek where Sirius' hand had collided with her face, she was obviously shocked, as was Father, as was Regulus. Sirius took the opportunity to duck away from Mother's grip and run out of the room, his footsteps growing more and more distant as Regulus sat as if frozen, watching his parents' shocked faces.

-

Later that evening, when he was in his room, ready to sleep, he heard screaming coming from across the hall.

"How dare you disrespect this family! Your father and I have worked tirelessly to give you everything you could ever need and this is how you repay us? LOOK AT MY FACE!" Came Mother's screeching, echoing through the house, if not the entire street.

"No! You've NEVER given me ANYTHING, Mother―OW!"

"NOTHING?! THIS IS NOTHING?!"

"I don't care about possessions! I care about love, about acceptance—OW, STOP IT!"

"Love? Acceptance? You don't deserve either. You're nothing more than a disgrace—LISTEN TO ME!"

For a while, the voices quieted down, then: "why can't you be more like Regulus."

A door was slammed shut and angry footsteps descended the stairs, and Regulus let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding in. He tried to sleep, but a voice in the back of his mind kept him awake, and the voice told him to go across the hall, to check up on Sirius, even if it was only to say hello.

Eventually, he caved in. He slowly got out of bed and tiptoed towards his brother's room. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door, revealing his brother lying down on his bed, his face buried in his pillow. Was he crying?

"Sirius?" He carefully took a few steps inside.

"What do you want?!" His brother snapped, his voice muffled by the pillow.

"Sirius..." he walked over to the bed where his brother lay. "Are you okay?"

Sirius let out a laugh and sat up, wiping his eyes as he did so. "Look at that, the perfect little son has come to convince me of my wretchedness."

"Sirius please... I just want to talk..."

"What's the point? You won't understand."

"But I want to understand," he replied softly. "I want to know what happened at Hogwarts, why you were sorted into Gryffindor, why you defied us..."

"Oh, so now you're suddenly an expert on how bad Gryffindor is and how great our family is? Spare me."

"I'm not an expert... I'm just worried..."

"Worried?! Don't lie to me, Reg. You never even bothered to write back to me!"

"I couldn't-"

"Don't lie to me!" He bellowed, getting up from the bed. "Don't you fucking lie to me!"

Regulus backed away, stumbling over his own feet.

"You've lost your spine, allowing them to brainwash you into whatever you've become. Go on, run to them, complain about your deranged brother like you did when I let you know I'm a Gryffindor. Oh, don't give me that look, Father told me you came running when you got the news."

"I'm not brainwashed! I'm none of that!"

"Oh, give me a break. Remember when we were little, dreaming of escaping this wretched place? You've changed. They've molded you into this perfect little pureblood angel while I was away."

"I've not changed," he hissed. "I never wanted to abandon our family—why would I? We come from a noble lineage, a family of great wizards and witches! We have everything right here. You're just too ungrateful to see it."

"Do you hear yourself? Do you even hear the things you're saying? You're not thinking for yourself! You're not your own person!"

"I am my own person!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes, I am!"

"You're not!"

"I am!"

"Shut up!" Sirius charged at him and pushed him hard enough for Regulus to lose his footing.

"You shut up!" Regulus yelled back as he got to his feet, but before he could push his brother back, he had his brother's wand pointed at his chest.

"Have you really sunk so low," Sirius growled. "I'm your brother."

But he had no time to think, terrified of what spells his brother had learnt in school. "Kreacher!" He called out, in a desperate attempt for backup. The house elf appeared next to him with a crack.

"Get out-"

"No, stay!" He interrupted Sirius before the elf could respond.

"Don't listen to him, Kreacher!" Sirius tried to convince him. "He's-"

"Sirius is a filthy blood traitor!" He interrupted again, "listen to me Kreacher, not him, he doesn't care about this family!"

But Kreacher had already left.

"What did you call me."

It wasn't a question. His brother knew very well what he had said, but Regulus just smirked. "I called you a filthy, dirty, disgusting blood traitor," he said calmly, ignoring the wand which was now pressed against his chest.

"You'll pay for that-"

But before his brother could make him pay, his wand flew out of his hand and Sirius was thrown against the wall.

His father stepped into view as he hurried towards Sirius' wand, carefully putting it away in his pocket before helping Sirius to his feet. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Regulus called me a blood traitor!"

"Is that true?" His father turned to face him, and his heart sank. He remembered their conversation a few weeks before, about how he wasn't supposed to hate his brother, and yet...

"I'm sorry..."

Father sighed. "Do not call your brother that. Sirius is no more a blood traitor than I am. Understood? Hogwarts houses aren't everything."

"Yes, Father," he mumbled, defeated.

"Sirius, never, and I repeat, NEVER point your wand at your brother again. Do I make myself clear?"

Sirius didn't say anything.

"Sirius, do I make myself clear?" Father repeated, more slowly this time.

"Fine. I won't do it again."

"Good. Now go to bed, it's past midnight," he said and turned to leave.

"Wait! Don't I get my wand back?"

"Tomorrow morning," Father said, "If you behave."

"Why are you still here?" Sirius asked as he plopped back on his bed when their father had shut the door. "Didn't you hear him? We're supposed to sleep, so sleep."

"I don't want to."

"Oh, so now you're suddenly a rebel," he rolled his eyes at him.

"I... I'm not, I just... I'm sorry I called you a blood traitor..."

-

Sirius wasn't allowed to come downstairs the entire Christmas break because of his outburst against Mother, but that didn't stop Regulus from slipping him notes under the door. He truly was sorry for calling his brother a blood traitor, and he hadn't really meant it—he had been angry, and when people are angry, they say dumb things, sometimes...

But Sirius never responded, not even once. He didn't say anything when Regulus called out his name, he didn't write him notes back, it was almost as if he wasn't there at all.

So the night before they hosted that year's Christmas dinner, Regulus decided to kick it up a notch. Filled with determination, he knocked on his brother's bedroom door.

As always, there was no reply. He slowly pushed open the door to see his brother up, wide awake, and waving his wand at the wall, mumbling spells under his breath.

"Sirius?" He whispered, closing the door behind him.

Sirius spun around. "Reg?! What are you doing here?"

"You never replied to any of my notes," he whispered, taking a few steps in his direction, glancing down at his wand every so often.

"Well, I don't want to talk to you. Go to bed." Sirius turned around and resumed his spell work, but that only sparked his curiosity.

He tried to get a good look at what his brother was trying to do, but couldn't. "What are you doing?"

"It's none of your business."

"Sirius..." he sighed. He was do tired of being alone, and just one little mistake and his brother wouldn't even talk to him? And that while he had ignored so many of his brother's mistakes!

"God! You're so annoying. Just go to bed, will you?" Sirius whisper-yelled, clearly agitated.

"No," he said, crossing his arms. "I don't want to go to bed, I want to spend time with my brother."

"Oh, so now I'm your brother."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was a blood traitor a few days ago, or have you forgotten?" His brother was facing him again, anger building in his eyes in a manner not unlike their mother.

"I told you I didn't mean that!"

"Yeah, right."

"I didn't!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Did you come here for a reason or just to argue?"

"I came to talk..."

"Well, then talk."

"We are talking," he protested.

"This is a waste of time. Goodnight." His brother turned around and inspected the green wall, then cursed.

"Sirius just listen to me, please!"

"Why should I listen to you, huh? Why should I listen to anyone in this wretched place?"

"We're family..."

Sirius laughed.

"We're worried about you... I'm worried, Mother and Father, Bella-"

"I want nothing to do with people like her," he interrupted.

Regulus hesitated. Sirius didn't want anything to do with Bellatrix? "What do you mean?"

"People who support He Who Must Not Be Named," he spat, his voice filled with contempt.

"Who?"

"You-Know-Who."

"No, I don't!"

"That man, that- that self-titled Lord Voldemort."

Before he knew it, the question was out. He clasped his hands over his mouth the moment he said the words, not wanting to upset his brother further. "What's wrong with Lord Voldemort?"

"What's wrong with- oh my God, Regulus, do you hear yourself?"

He had to act fast, think fast. He saw his brother's burning eyes, he felt his brother's disbelief. The only thing he could think of to say was: "Bellatrix likes him." And they were back to where they started.

"She's insane."

"Will you stop insulting everyone!" He called out, getting angry himself. "Bella is brave and she fights for what's right."

"You don't believe that."

"I do!"

"She kills people, Regulus."

Was that supposed to be a big revelation? His mind shot back to that September morning, those Aurors aiming for him, the green light... "Well they have it coming-"

"What did you just say?!"

"The people she kills, they deserve it."

That was the final straw for his brother, and he knew it even before he was told to leave that this conversation hadn't ended the way he had intended. His brother raised his wand at him, and growled. "Out."

-

The following morning, Regulus found a note and a newspaper clipping on the floor of his bedroom, as if it had been slipped underneath the door. The note was short, and read:

Good morning Reggie,

Still think Bella is such a hero?

Sirius

Confused, he sat down on the floor and he took the article in his hands. It was from the Daily Prophet, and the headline was ominous: You-Know-Who's Dark Wizards responsible for lethal attack in Wales

A tight knot formed in his stomach as he realised this was about the followers of the Dark Lord, and Sirius' note suddenly made sense. Had Bellatrix been involved in this attack? He read the article, trying to find where she had been named.

Yesterday's horrific attack which left twelve Muggles and four Muggle-born witches and wizards dead was determined to be the work of the notorious followers of the self-proclaimed 'Lord'. They are known as his 'Death Eaters'.

Death Eater... that was what Andromeda had meant when talking about Bellatrix's activities! It all seemed to click together as he continued to read the article.

The Muggble-born deaths are deeply concerning as they cast doubts about the true extent of this group's agenda, previously thought to be mostly about Muggle subjugation. With Muggle-borns falling victim, the question arises: who will be their next target?

Speaking out against this horrible attack, Minister for Magic, Eugenia Jenkins, emphasises the need for unity among witches and wizards, regardless of their blood status: "In the face of darkness, we must stand together," she declared in an official statement. "Let us remember the lives lost in this tragedy and strive towards a future where no witch or wizard lives in fear, regardless of their ancestry."

The chilling assault serves as a grim reminder that the threat of this Dark 'Lord' and his followers continues to grow. It is vital, now more than ever before, that witches and wizards remain vigilant and watchful over not just our Muggle neighbours, but also ourselves.

He put the paper down, and sat as if stunned for a moment, so still. No mention of Bellatrix, but twelve Muggles and four Muggle-borns were killed, but what did that mean? Why were they killed?

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Regulus, are you nearly finished?" His father called.

"Finished with what?"

The door opened. "The dinner is- what do you have there?"

Regulus handed him both the note and the Daily Prophet article. "I just found this here..."

Father sat down on Regulus' bed and read the article. He watched his father's face intently, trying to find anything that would hint at what he thought of the article, but his father didn't move his face at all, keeping it in the same stern expression he always had. "Do you know what this is?" He asked, once he had read it all.

Regulus shook his head. "Well... it's a news article."

"It's propaganda," he corrected. "The Ministry cannot be trusted, and the Ministry owns the Daily Prophet."

"But... you read it..."

"It's always good to know what lies are being spread by the Ministry, my boy, though that's nothing you should concern yourself with." His father got up from the bed and made his way over to the door. "Now, come on, get dressed. We're waiting for you."

"What's a Muggle-born?" He blurted out, just before his father had closed the door to his room.

He opened it again and muttered something under his breath, but replied calmly. "Mudbloods, Regulus. They're playing a political game at the Ministry. They think that, by giving them a name that sounds less horrible, people will step up to 'support' them."

"Oh. Do they?"

Father sighed. "You're a curious boy, aren't you? Yes, they do. What you'll find out when you go to Hogwarts is that many people have fallen for these tricks, and I fear your brother is one of them."

"Well, I won't."

"I know. We have faith in you, your mother and I. You'll grow up to be a strong wizard. Now get dressed, and hurry—we're running late."

Regulus quickly got dressed and went downstairs. He stood as if frozen by the door to the dining room, his parents mingling with the guests and his brother standing a few feet from him, his eyes fixed on the floor. He had been allowed to come downstairs for the event, but refused to even acknowledge Regulus was there. He, in turn, tried to figure out ways to get his brother's attention and was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice Bellatrix coming in if it wasn't for her excited voice calling out his name.

"Regulus! How have you been? It's been too long."

He smiled back at her. "We saw each other last month..."

She waved his comment away. "That's long to me, dear cousin, and oh-" she turned to Sirius, "who have we here? If it isn't Mr. Gryffindor himself!"

Sirius didn't say anything, he didn't even look up at her.

"Cat's got your tongue?" Bellatrix asked with a pout. "You used to be such fun, Gryffindor's really taking its toll... or perhaps the loneliness? Has my dear cousin made any friends yet or does he spend his days in Gryffindor Tower all by himself..."

This seemed to get his brother's attention, for he looked up at Bellatrix with a glare. "That's none of your business."

"Oh but Sirius, my dear cousin," she said, attempting to put an affectionate arm around his shoulders, but he patted it away immediately. "Won't you tell me? I am family, after all."

"Where's Andromeda?" He changed the subject. "Or is it just you today?"

"What do you mean?" Bellatrix looked baffled, forgetting all about the previous conversation.

"Is she coming to the dinner?"

"Sirius... she got here yesterday..."

Regulus could clearly read the concern on his cousin's unusually pale face, and it made him worry; Andromeda had never arrived, she wasn't here and didn't get here yesterday, she either lied about where she was going, or, more likely—was abducted along the way. His own face matched Bellatrix's as he realised what that meant: Andromeda had been taken.

After a few moments of horror, Bellatrix sped across the room, no doubt she was looking for his parents, or her own, or maybe even Andromeda herself, to check if she truly hadn't come. Regulus had turned to ask Sirius what he thought about the matter, but before he could, he caught a glimmer of his other cousin, the fair-haired Narcissa who was being led into the dining room by an equally fair-haired man who he knew could only be Lucius Malfoy.

"You've made it, and you brought Lucius!" He exclaimed, extending a hand towards the Malfoy, which he gave a short shake. "I'm Regulus Black."

"Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy." But Lucius Malfoy wasn't interested in Regulus. His attention went straight to Sirius, who was still staring at the floor, barely moving at all. "Ah, the young troublemaker," came his greeting, and Sirius lifted his head slightly. "Are you as, how do I put this... adept at mischief here at home as you are at Hogwarts?"

Sirius didn't answer, but Lucius' sly grin only grew wider. "I must admit, I find it quite amusing that a member of the Black family, like you, Sirius, has joined Gryffindor. Quite the... unconventional choice, don't you say?"

Sirius shifted uncomfortably on his feet, his gaze finally meeting Lucius', his eyes burning with anger. But before he could retort, Narcissa had taken Lucius' arm. "Shall we find a spot to enjoy the festivities?"

But Lucius wasn't one to back down easily. "Oh, of course," he said silkily. "Though I must say it is surprising to see your Gryffindor cousin invited... if he was mine, well, let's just say we wouldn't be engaged in polite conversation..."

"That's enough, Lucius," Narcissa said as she pulled on his arm.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "As you wish, my dear."

They were about to walk away when Bellatrix popped up out of nowhere, obviously distraught. "I can't find her. Cissy, I can't find her," she said, grabbing both of her arms, her voice trembling with concern. "Have you seen Andy?"

Regulus' heart sank. If Bellatrix still hadn't found Andromeda, then there was no hope of ever finding her again. His mind came up with all sorts of scenarios of what could have happened, and he prayed none of those were true.

Narcissa shook her head and opened her mouth to say something, but Bellatrix didn't let her. "Lucius, have you seen Andromeda—our sister—she's not here. She's missing."

"Missing, you say? How unfortunate," he drawled, glancing back at Sirius. "One can only imagine what kind of trouble she's gotten herself into... or perhaps she simply got tired of the Black family's antics and ran away..."

"How dare you!" Bellatrix had drawn her wand and the room fell silent. Narcissa's face turned pink and she tried to hide, but Regulus suddenly got the impression that they knew more about Andromeda's disappearance than they let on. Lucius calmly stared back at Bellatrix, as if nothing had happened.

"Bellatrix!" Shrieked Mother as she hurried across the room, "lower that wand right now."

Bellatrix obliged, putting her wand back in her pocket. "We'll have a little chat later, Malfoy," she growled, to which Lucius only smiled in return.

"I'm sure we will."