A/N Some chapters will be a bit shorter than others but I will be posting frequently.
Sirius was cradling my head against his shoulder as I tried to catch my breath in short, shallow gasps. He had angled his broad form so that he was shielding me from the rest of the room. I lifted my head and he gently loosened his grip, opting to stroke my hair again. He was going to provoke a frizz that would swallow my face if he kept at it, I mused absently.
I could only see a shaggy mop of hair from around Sirius's protective form. I huffed and tapped his knee. He simply rubbed a circle over my thumb.
"Hey--" I started before Sirius began addressing his brother in a cold tone.
"Who are you? How did you get in this house? It's warded to the teeth," he questioned.
"Have you gone mad and forgotten your own brother? I don't bloody well know how I'm here, do I? I just asked you the same fucking question!" Regulus shouted hysterically, his vulgar language contrasting with his posh voice.
I nudged Sirius aside slightly now, gaining access to the odd view in the Potter's small cottage. The boy from the cave was indeed before us, but where I had last seen his clothes tattered and filthy, he was now dressed immaculately.
He stood casually as if he had simply walked into the wrong room. His sleek raven hair, a shade darker than his brother's, was slicked back, and those dark, penetrating eyes scanned the room with an intense curiosity.
"Regulus, but that's impossible?" Sirius uttered, his voice choked with emotion.
"It's your brother. It's truly him," Lily said resolutely. She was tracing invisible chords in the air between Regulus and me. She tapped my shoulder then Regulus's who jumped at her touch.
"What the hell?" he shouted, drawing his wand, though not raising it toward any of us in particular.
James shot up, rushing in front of Lily and Harry.
"Easy mate," he warned cooly. His usually jovial demeanor was now guarded. "Regulus Black, of all people to appear in my home. This is certainly unexpected."
Regulus arched an eyebrow, the corners of his lips turning up in a slight smirk. "And yet here I am. Perhaps your security measures aren't as foolproof as you believed."
Lily, protective and ever watchful, cradled Harry a bit closer. "Swear to us you mean us no harm and I might have some explanations for you. I'll know if you're telling the truth."
"It seems I've found myself in this situation without any intent, good or ill," Regulus scoffed, but his eyes were vulnerable.
"You won't hurt us right? You're not a bad person. I know it." I called to Regulus gently. Sirius gripped my hand tighter, his breath hitching.
"And who are you? What could you possibly know of what kind of person I am?" Regulus's eyes swiveled toward me, his voice cracking with suppressed emotion. God, he was so young. Though he held himself with a proud grace, his form was still gangly, that of a boy still growing.
I smiled at him warmly, unsure why he didn't seem to recognize me but proceeded just the same. Something in my gut urged me on.
"I'm pretty good at knowing these things. You won't harm any of us, will you?" I addressed him gently.
Regulus's gaze drifted to Harry who was clinging to his mother's shirt. He looked slightly stricken at the soft moment between mother and son, at the fragility of the infant. Regulus cleared his throat before looking back at me, then to Lily.
"Alright, er, yah, I'm not here to hurt ... I promise I won't ever harm any of you," he rushed out clumsily.
Sirius seemed to pull himself together. His jaw set and his grey eyes cleared of their earlier fog. "It's really you Reg?" His voice was thick. I touched a finger to his cheek where a tear had fallen, emboldened by my need to comfort him. He leaned into my palm so that I was cupping his face. "Mm alright, angel," he murmured.
Regulus looked overcome, his eyes flickering between my form and Sirius's hopeful eyes. "I'm real brother."
Lily cleared her throat and snatched the daisy yellow potion from the coffee table. Harry was quickly falling asleep in her arms.
"James? Could you bring him to his cot? There's still a full bottle in the fridge for him if he won't go down right away," she called, kissing Harry's soft head.
As James lifted Harry's form from Lily's arms, Lily sat back on the ottoman, gesturing for Regulus to sit in the armchair. Regulus hesitated before sitting stiffly.
"Alright, I need to test something, though I think I already know the results. I'll need each of your hands. Then I think I'll be able to clarify some of the mysteries we've faced today."
Sirius was first to offer his palm to Lily. She poked his flesh gently with her wand and a small pinprick of blood appeared. She unstoppered the yellow potion and allowed one small drop to mix with the tiny flow of blood that had started on Sirius's palm. A pleasant tone, not unlike a chime, filled the room and Lily nodded.
Regulus was still rigid, eyes wide at Lily's magical display.
"I'll go next," I offered, willing Regulus to accept his safety.
Lily pricked my palm too, allowing the potion to mix. A sound akin to the fluttering notes of a flute joined the initial chime in harmony. Lily raised her eyebrows but seemed satisfied.
Finally, she turned to Regulus. His knuckles were white as he gripped the armchair while Lily performed the test on his other hand. A warm low tone, like a large wooden horn, entered the air when she was finished.
James was quietly stepping down the stairs as the harmony faded. He grinned at Lily before kissing her forehead. "That music soothed him right into snoring Lils, absolutely brilliant."
Lily shook her head at him fondly before looking at me gravely.
"You're a Knower, Emma."