Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its universe, that belongs to J. .

AN: Le gasp! Yet another chap? ;P

Thanks for coming back! I appreciate you. And I hope you like this chap. BOOM! Orion Black enters the chat.

Chapter 21: When Words Are A Hex

Morning didn't make things better.

James still felt angry and trapped and put upon.

There'd been a strong sense of loss when Sirius didn't return from escorting his brother to the attic bedroom.

No amount of talking or joking with Remus and Peter lessened it and so, after the two had fallen asleep, he'd stepped out under the invisibility cloak. From a darkened hallway, he watched as his father and Auror McKinnon spoke.

"Wow." McKinnon drew the word out.

"What a row…" Fleamont agreed. "If that's a taste of Sirius's home life, I can see why he ran."

"Funny, I can see why the little one stayed. He loves them. His family. Even tried to justify what happened. They were 'supposed to stand aside.' My God…"

"Yes, yes, I noted that, too."

McKinnon sighed. "That broke my heart. And the uncle…well, 'he's fond of you' so who cares how he feels about me? You shouldn't let that ruin your relationship. That's what I got from that."

"It must be addressed. Brought up to the department and the minister."

"How? What would you…sum all that up as? Blackmail? Coercion? Conditioning?"

"Terror. That was terror. Terror is being used as both a recruiting method and a tool of silencing, not just opposition, but neutrality?"

"'I'll say it as often as I have to'...Prejudice meets lip service to avoid…drawing attention? And he's so young. Damn it, Fleamont."

"It begs the question, doesn't it? Are the Old Wizarding families safer? At first glance, yes. Easily. They're not being hunted. Second glance?"

"Join up or we'll murder your family?"

"But telling them apart…the ones who gladly join from the ones who have to join…it's only going to get harder. Especially, if they double down thinking 'better Azkaban for one, than a family plot for all.'"

While they were eating breakfast, Sirius peeked in, and, on not finding the person he was looking for, moved on. Before James could try and say or do anything.

He'd never been invisible with his cloak off before.

"It is a weird feeling," Remus remarked—sensing James's mood and commiserating. "I don't like it, either." But because he was a better wizard, he immediately followed up with, "I think it makes me understand Regulus better, though. Because I'm sure it felt worse than this. He was, what, nine? When it started?"

When they started drifting apart…

When the Marauders formed and took Sirius in…

And it didn't feel honest to say that they would've accepted a plus one if Sirius had really asked right at the start…

Sirius awoke alone in the attic guest room. He was still dressed in yesterday's clothes and didn't care.

It was nerve-wracking not to know where his brother was.

When he looked around the house and couldn't find him, the unease increased.

It really felt like he was the only line of defense his brother had and it was shoddy.

Eventually, he picked up his brother's voice and it led him to a private room whose door was just slightly ajar.

"-that, but Grandfather, it'll look like we're supporting a Blood Traitor."

For someone who'd never been invested in Pure Blood social culture, Sirius was pained to be called that now.

It should've made him feel proud; it used to, which made it all worse.

Regulus insisted, "It'll get out. They leave him alone as it is right now because they don't think we value him. If you don't send him away, he'll be back on the target with the rest of us."

"Enough."

"But-"

"You have no authority to send him anywhere and no power to persuade me. He can deal with the risks."

"But-"

"I am telling you to tell the Aurors what you've told me."

"But the family-"

"Whatever fallout or consequence that comes about will crash over me and not you because I am the adult and you are the child."

"I'm…the Head of House while my father is…away."

"No, you are not. Your brother is not. I am. I am the previous Head of House and in times of crisis I am expected to step forward and, were I incapacitated, it would revert to your Grandfather Arcturus."

"…"

"I…I received no word from your mother and assumed silence meant normalcy and that no great dangers or tasks were at hand. I take responsibility for this…mess, so—"

Regulus was apoplectic. "No great tasks?! I had to plan a bloody wedding while going to school!"

Pollux watched him levelly.

His nonplussed expression made Regulus angrier.

"And do all the-the stupid, petty, intricate, people being ridiculous, social obligations bursting out of from everywhere, losing my mind, family being crazy and evil, price-gouging, maddening, lilac taffeta hell of it all and I'm not even going to be able to ATTEND?! If this prat's injunctions go through, I...it… It'll be a huge scandal! Grandfather!"

"…"

"Grandfather?!"

"I'll try to speed up when you can meet with that head injury specialist. Clearly, things are still loose in there. After, we'll schedule some remedial classes and you can retake the Third and Fourth Year exams. I can't imagine you did well."

Sirius knocked on the door.

"Come in," Pollux announced as he checked over supplies on a table that looked more like hunting gear.

"You and I…we…we need to talk to Father," Sirius insisted.

"I have a mission in Shropshire," Pollux stated as he rolled some supplies up in a canvas carrier and set a crossbow over one shoulder. "I won't return until late tomorrow night."

Sirius frowned. "But you said yourself that we had to meet with Father-"

"I did. If you wish to go sooner than when I'm able, you can. You're of age. Go, travel to Azkaban and sign in and see him. You can. You have that right."

Sirius stilled, feeling unmoored in this new space of social interaction.

Pollux eyed him solemnly. "You have the right to make that decision, Sirius. You've made it to the threshold of adulthood. The choices and the stakes only get higher from hereon."

He disapparated with a loud crack.

"Curmudgeon," Regulus griped, "says he is in charge and then leaves us. That's real helpful."

Sirius started scolding him on instinct and then reluctantly found himself agreeing.

"I can be right about things, you know?" Regulus spat.

That was supposed to jolt them both into a familiar back and forth banter that sent Sirius storming off to his mates.

It hurt to see how easily his brother had learned to manipulate outbursts from him that drove and then kept him away.

It wasn't so different from what Sirius had done with their Mum.

Another bad habit he'd taught his little brother.

He ruffled his brother's hair. "I know. You're very clever. Please don't get into anything while I'm gone. Is there anything you want me to take to Dad or that you want shared with him?"

That threw his brother off. Without smug condescension, he looked as young and unsure as he was. "You…alone?"

"I'll see if my mates want to join up or not." Honestly, he wasn't certain if having them along would make things better or worse.

Regulus looked conflicted and then took a steadying breath. "I can—"

"No! No, it's alright. I need to do it."

His brother had gotten too used to stepping up in his absence.

An hour later found Sirius nervously tying a tie.

He'd fumbled it three times before Regulus took pity and silently tied it for him.

It was wrong. It was all wrong. He was the older brother. He was supposed to be the calm, collected one. The one that could be depended on.

Regulus let him borrow a pair of cufflinks and didn't let him bother to try (and fail) at fastening them.

Regulus finished it with a few charms to keep them from being lost.

"How are you doing that? You'll get in trouble?" Sirius mumbled.

Regulus paused for a moment, hesitated, and then revealed, "I'm right next to you. The Ministry's enchantments wouldn't be able to tell if it was me or you that performed it. You're of age. And even if you weren't, there are other witches and wizards here. They can't differentiate who casted what."

That sent a shiver down his spine. Had Regulus allowed the situation in Grimmauld to drag on because he needed Mum there to perform underage magic undetected?

"Where did you learn all of this?"

Regulus gave him a mysterious smile and said nothing more on the matter.

Sirius waited nervously for a response.

"A day trip to Azkaban," James muttered, "the week keeps getting better."

"Well, this is just the whole Auror experience, right?" Remus countered.

"Oh, do be careful, boys. It's a rough place to be sure," Mrs. Pettigrew threw in from where she was eavesdropping in her sitting room pretending to do needlepoint, but really just rearranging the embroidery threads over and over.

Sirius nodded distractedly.

"Hey? Reggie?" He called up the staircase where he was sure his brother was eavesdropping as well. "REGGIE!"

"WOT?"

Sirius laughed a little. "Goodness, you did get ruder without us keeping you on your best behavior. C'mere!"

"What?"

"You heard me. Come here. Tell your elder brother goodbye. It's proper and you know it."

"S-Siri?" He peered over a balcony rail.

He beckoned him down.

His brother barely descended the stairs before he pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Ack!"

God, he felt so breakable.

"Right. Kay. Right," Regulus mumbled into his shoulder without hugging him back.

"I love you, Reggie. I'll owl you if I'm going to be late."

His brother stilled and leaned back to stare at him because Sirius had largely stopped that sort of talk and open affection on starting Hogwarts and getting paranoid about eavesdroppers teasing him that it was childish.

And that seemed stupid now when there was a chance he'd never get to say it again and be heard.

Because his childhood monsters were real after all. They only got bigger and stronger and bolder when he wasn't there to stop them.

Because the people you loved could doubt you loved them back when they heard enough silence.

It was more of an unsure whisper than a declarative statement: "L-love…you…too…S-Siri."

And he knew that.

He knew his little brother still loved him.

But he'd hurt him.

He'd taught him to fear ridicule. No, scorn. So, he couldn't say those words with confidence or pride anymore.

Sirius ruffled his brother's hair and tried to smile, like it could cover up what he was feeling.

"Are…are you sure you don't want me to come, too?" Regulus muttered.

Nothing in his face or tone said he wanted to though. Which was odd. He and Father usually got along so well. Had they had some kind of falling out?

It used to make him jealous. Only Dad could tolerate Sirius. But both of their parents adored Regulus.

Sirius released him. "I want you to list out everyone who's visited Grimmauld since I…left. Absolutely everyone you can remember. I want to see if any connection to the poisoning can be made."

Regulus seemed a little surprised.

"In fact, I want to know where Kreacher buys our supplies. Ask Kreacher, too, comings and goings," Sirius instructed.

Regulus nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Good." He hugged him again because he could.

His friends seemed a little unnerved by his actions.

After the door shut and they were on their way, and walking out on the sidewalk—

"Sure you don't want to run back and hug him one more time? It might be three whole hours, Pads," James muttered.

"I could never embrace him again if he'd died that night."

A hard silence fell.

"You know? If he'd died right there in the hall?" Sirius laughed bleakly.

"Sirius-"

"I snuck in a week later during that winter break expecting them to be on holiday. Avoid the scandal of Dad's arrest. House was so quiet. Thought they were gone. Didn't go upstairs to check. Just wanted all of my OWL scores so I could apply for internships because my parents always kept them in a drawer in Father's office.

Would there have been a smell? I think there would've been a smell. Dog animagus. Sensitive to smell here. I remember there was a strong whiff of cleaning supplies when I went. I remember that now. Didn't follow it. Should have. Would've scented the blood.

But dead? No, dead has this strong smell that cleaning potions can't mask. If that had been there…if I'd have followed that and I'd have found him. Like that. Maybe see Kreacher trying to scrub it out?"

He trembled.

"Sirius?"

He felt something splintering in him and anger and hurt became the same. "That's my little brother. I care about him. Why is that funny to you!? You don't care! I get it! I get it. You don't have to. But belt up…please?"

Remus set a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. It's alright."

He tried to get a hold of himself.

James sighed. "I…I don't want to make you choose."

That made him angry. "Good! You shouldn't want me to."

A muscle ticked in James's jaw. "I just don't want you tangled up in this if—but if you need to have him around, we'll have him around? Maybe…maybe we'll be a good influence and rub off on him?"

"Does the owl that hates you get to hang out with us, too?" Peter asked.

Sirius's breaths kept misting as he followed the dementor down the prison corridor.

His mates followed a few steps behind him.

The sinking, relentless cold of Azkaban permeated him to the bone.

His father was in one of the lower levels of cells. He could hear waves colliding against the walls and somehow it sounded like despair, like his brother's bones breaking as each wave crashed.

Orion's hair had grown long and there was a shock of white streaking his black hair now.

It was odd seeing him with a beard.

He seemed to be tending a plant. There were several in the cell that had somehow grown between cracks in the stonework.

The dementor paused, nodded at the cell, and then drifted off.

The man didn't look up from the…gardening he was doing.

Sirius took a deep breath and reminded himself that he was a Gryffindor. Bravery was supposed to come easily for him.

"…Dad?"

The man's head snapped up and he charged over to the bars.

"Sirius!? Sirius! O Siri!" He reached through the bars.

He wasn't high enough risk to be chained up so he reached through the bars for an embrace.

Sirius released an "oomph" as he hit the metal door.

"Sorry! My boy! My little boy! Thank God! You're alright!"

His father kissed him on the temple and then the cheek. "My Siri. Oh, you've gotten big." Pride and grief mixed in the tone there. "Ha, oh, look at you. Your shoulders are coming in. Almost a man! Your Mum said you were getting so handsome. I bet all the girls have their sights set on you, hmm?"

Sirius blinked hard and choked out, "Mum wrote you?"

Because he couldn't afford to focus on that warm reception when the last time they'd parted…everything had seemed so unmendable…

"A…a while ago." He swallowed. His lips were cracked and chapped. "A long while ago…Is she…hurt? Is she ill? Do you know why she stopped?"

Sirius nodded. "Yeah…I think so. What's…what's the last thing Mum wrote you about?"

A soft smile crossed the man's face. "Your brother had a violin piece he was practicing for the New Year's Ball at Malfoy Manor. You were still being rebellious, over at the Potters. Lucius proposed to your cousin Cissy. Luca was thinking of installing a koi pond."

Sirius's stomach churned. "Oh."

"Well? How was the ball? Did Reggie do well?"

Orion heard James shift from one foot to another and his face lit up.

"Walburga?" He called. "Darling?"

"Just me and my mates."

"Oh…"

There was a soft, glum greeting of "Hello, Mr. Black."

"...Hello, lads."

"I…I didn't bring Reggie."

Orion looked alarmed at the idea. "No. No, of course not. Good call. No place for him to be. Some people are more attuned to energies…"

Sirius stared as he realized. "You…you were alright with him being in Divination class."

"There's nothing wrong with that subject if you've an affinity. He…picks up on things. More open, which is why-" There was a piercing wail and the sound of someone throwing themselves against the door of a cell in desperation somewhere further up. "I don't want him here."

Then, he didn't know Reggie was a Seer. But suspected he was somewhat…psychic?

Was he both?

Something tingled warningly at the back of Sirius's mind.

And he remembered once more that it had been a long time since their family had produced anyone with such talents.

He needed to research it. He just had rusty generalizations on the subject that mainly revolved around basic tenets like: seeing events in the past, present, or future by vision or prophecy, interpreting signals in the present via objects, places, or people through energy manifestations (whatever that meant), or communicating or traveling the plane of the…dead…

That last one seemed like an important point to follow up on.

Maybe not lead with that topic here, where anyone could be eavesdropping?

"Yeah, Reggie, he's only just…started recovering and I didn't want him here around the dementors and the damp."

"He's been ill?" Orion asked, gripping the bars. "What illness? How ill? Is he well now?"

He'd always been incredibly protective of his younger son and had overreacted at every case of sniffles—often getting very angry when Sirius egged Reggie on into ditching his cloak and coat and jumping into puddles.

It was strangely reassuring to Sirius now, because Reggie needed this.

"…I have so much I have to tell you. There's so much. So much…Dad, I don't even know where to start." His voice wavered.

Orion nodded. "How about you take a seat first and we'll muddle through from there?"

Peter's butt was cold, damp, and feeling flat two hours into the Black family reunion.

He was the first to notice the dementor, the med-witch, and the Aurors' approaching footsteps and kicked Remus's shoe.

Remus tapped James who nudged Sirius and the lot of them scrambled to their feet to make way.

"Hello, there," the stocky med-witch greeted with a blunt sort of no nonsense.

Without explaining much more, she plucked a hair from both Sirius and Orion and tested them in two small vials of an orange potion mixture she was carrying.

Both samples flashed a bright green and turned the liquids blue.

The witch nodded approvingly.

The Aurors murmured among themselves. "The timing is right."

The leading Auror, an older chap with a gray handlebar mustache, stated, "I'm Auror Stone. You both were being poisoned as well. We can confirm now that it was the whole household. Even the elf." He shook his head. "I can't call it luck, but that both of you were led elsewhere before your symptoms could escalate… it's saved you a lot of suffering."

"My wife and our younger son?" Orion Black demanded with a quiet intensity.

"Alive. Recovering." Stone ordered the dementor to unlock the door. "Your wife verified your whereabouts in Paris on the morning of July 21st. You could not be withdrawing funds from your business accounts because you were otherwise…ahem, engaged."

There were several snickers.

Stone glared at his colleagues. "Seems like a straight case of Polyjuice Potion Fraud."

Orion's lips trembled with a snarl. "It…took two years to confirm that?"

"Veritaserum has its limitations, sir. The goblins wanted greater proof. A lesser witch wouldn't have provided your alibi via pensieve sample."

"What was it she said?" Another wizard with a deep voice reflected. "'It would've been an awkward moment for you to step out.'"

"And that she'd have noticed."

There was rough laughter.

"Enough!" Stone barked. "Mr. Black, we'll accompany you back to the Ministry of Magic to ensure the return of your belongings and for a debriefing on the next steps of this investigation in conjunction with the one Auror McKinnon is heading."

Peter glanced over at Mr. Black, who had gone white with barely restrained fury.

One of the Aurors glanced over his shoulder as they walked and smirked. "Well, the rest of us think you are a lucky man, Mr. Black. Your wife." He gave a low whistle. "She is something."

Orion's fists tightened and his jaw clenched, but he was smart enough not to make a scene.

They wanted him to.

They wanted another excuse to leave him rotting in here.

He stayed coldly composed. It was impressive.

Peter watched as his mates finally put it together.

Remus looked disgusted.

James was shocked.

Sirius was horrified.

And they thought he was the slow one.

The alibi Mrs. Black provided had been one of a very private nature, and she'd offered it unflinchingly to secure her husband's freedom.

Peter's mother would relish this news.

Sirius felt young as he was instructed to "sit" while Father talked with Ministry workers.

Since he'd been arrested as a nonviolent offender, his wand had been returned intact.

Orion's clothes, while wrinkled, were still fine and untattered even if they did hang loosely on him. It was like he'd remained untouched from the ruin that Walburga and Regulus had undergone.

Sirius needed to see that, especially, in light of…how their family had just been treated.

"We'll be working with Gringotts for the remainder of the investigation," Auror Stone explained.

"I understand. Where's Walburga? Is she still here?" Orion inquired earnestly.

"No, sir, she left after being questioned."

His face fell.

McKinnon strode forth. "I'll take it from here, Stone. Now, Mr. Black, you won't be able to go to Grimmauld Place right now. It's still a crime scene because of the assaults that occurred during 'The Cleansing.' I can schedule a time tomorrow to have you accompanied there to gather more belongings for yourself and your family. Please take a seat and prepare yourself…it's rather graphic."

McKinnon's office door closed.

"Sirius, we need to head to dinner. Can we owl you later?" Remus asked.

He nodded. They'd already done so much for him. It was selfish to feel abandoned at this point.

"Yes. Sure. Thanks for…coming."

There were murmurs of "of course" and "good luck" until it was just James left.

He half-hoped he'd stay, even though they were in the midst of a row.

James opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again to say, "That…that wasn't right. We…when we're Aurors…we won't be like that."

Sirius couldn't say anything and just nodded and watched his best mate leave.

He borrowed an owl to message his brother. He made a point to try and recall the rules of correspondence and send a proper letter with the right tone of care that said what it needed to without painful details. He could shield his brother from some of this. Dad could handle it if more had to be told.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve.

Once the letter was sent, he nodded off in a chair nearby until a warm hand gently shook his shoulder.

"You're probably starving. We'll fetch your brother and get something to eat."

His father had since shaven and cut his hair, but the shock of white kept catching Sirius's eye.

"You and your brother were staying with Pollux, right?"

"We were, but we're over at Pete's now. Grandfather wants to set more wards on his estates to make them safer before we go back."

His father looked very grim at this reminder of all that had happened. "We'll apparate and—"

"I haven't taken the test…"

Orion's eyebrows rose.

"Snape used the Drought of Living Death on Reggie at a presentation and they couldn't wake him up. And they had to take him to Mungo's and I went and we missed our exams and my Apparition Test. Only, when we scheduled a retake. Reggie took his but…but…the night before…"

"Snape's pensieve."

Sirius sucked in a breath. "I didn't know they'd do that to him. You have to believe me. You have to. I never thought they'd—I'd-I wouldn't have let them—"

"I know. You've…you've said this part already…everything will be alright. We'll get it all sorted, Son. Try to focus when I employ side-along apparition. It'll help later when we have you practice for your test, alright?"

He was deliberately giving him something else to focus on. "Right…"

"Most people and the instructors will tell you to concentrate on the destination, but motion is just as important. You should handle yourself with care. Once you master that, it's easier to employ even more care when transporting a passenger. Because apparating and disapparating is really about trust. You have to trust yourself first and then others can trust in you. Got it?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

They disapparated and re-apparated in front of Peter's home.

The sky was dark as they approached the entrance.

"Father?" Sirius called, not quite sure how to voice the gratitude he felt.

He didn't blame him for what happened. Sirius released a heavy breath.

"Yes?" Orion was already on the porch and delivered a powerful knock on the door that no doubt echoed through the house. "What is it, Siri?"

"What do you want to eat?"

A shadow of a grin crossed his father's face. "If I can get you two to agree on something, I won't care what it is."

A house elf opened the door before being shooed away by the lady of the house.

"Ah, hello there, Mr. Black," Mrs. Pettigrew greeted while discreetly trying to present herself better—standing a bit taller and pushing her chest out.

"Good evening, madam. My son, Regulus, is here?"

"Oh! Yes. Less than an hour ago. His mother picked him up."

Father and son stared.

"I was indisposed. In the bath, you see? But notes were left. One for me. And for you…and you!" She handed them scraps of paper with hastily jotted down lines.

They compared and didn't feel more informed.

Orion,

Fear not, Regulus will stay with me. I'll find accommodations.

-Walburga

Sirius sighed. He'd put a lot of effort in his letter earlier, too, to receive…this:

Siri,

Got your owl. Mum's better.

-R.A.B.

"They're very…similar," his father remarked.

Sirius studied them more closely.

Yes, they were.

The script, the tone, the format…

Mother's hand had more elegant loops but the slant was very…

Gray eyes narrowed.

The fact that no one had actually seen Walburga Black pick his brother up. And it was hard to believe she was up for the task after her harrowing ordeal with the Auror Department…

"Your mother doesn't address me like this or sign her personal notes to me this way."

Sirius looked up at his father. "You think Reggie forged it?"

Orion released a hard breath through his nose. "That is a distinct possibility. Has he been forging responses to Hogwarts on your mother's behalf?"

Regulus perked up as Severus gave him another serving of chips.

"Thanks."

Busy Bee Fizzy was a dumpy, muggle fast food stall at the mall, but this was where Snape was employed for a third summer in a row. And it had its perks: chips, soda, and ice cream—particularly, if the machine was on the fritz.

He pulled out Mother's letters once more. They'd had a flurry of correspondence today.

She was trying to secure them rooms in a hotel somewhere. She'd alert him once she succeeded. In the meantime, she wanted him to mind Pollux and not be a burden. She wasn't sure when Father would be released, but she expected to have Regulus stay with her until the matter of Sirius could be determined. He hadn't relayed Siri's news to her and he wasn't sure if Father had already contacted her.

Still, it was late enough that she'd probably already gone to bed and wouldn't be reading any more mail until morning, so the night was his to enjoy.

She was still suffering from physical bouts of weakness and fatigue, which was understandable—she'd taken more poison out of the two of them. Oddly enough, she'd sounded relieved at this revelation and was grateful that Regulus had been at school. The healers had speculated that if he'd taken the same amount, he'd have died.

"Look, your little brother can't just stay here indefinitely. He's taking up a table that paying customers—"

"Oh shut it, Rodney," Liz hissed as she straightened her ridiculous paper hat. "We don't have any customers. It's almost closing."

That was a little disappointing. He'd hoped to milk another hour out of this place.

He watched them close up. Liz let him turn out the lights on the neon signs even as Rodney squawked that it was against protocol.

He tossed the empty food carton into a bin as they left the building through an employee stairwell. It was a warm evening as he and Snape crossed the parking lot.

He heard footsteps echoing.

"Hey Salem!" Regulus greeted and waved an arm. He hadn't been sure if his friend had gotten his owl or would show. "I'm still alive! See?! See?!"

"Hey! Is it…alright for you to be out this late?" Salem called back.

His friend was such a worrywart.

"It's barely past nine!" Regulus argued.

"Yes, but…your family. I thought you were having…I've been hearing things at the Leaky Cauldron. Are you…are you alright?"

"Of course." He lowered his voice back to a more conversational tone as they drew near each other. "I can hold my arsenic. But thanks for asking."

Salem was aghast. "Does anyone in your family know that you're out here? Where do they think you are?"

"Father should assume I'm with Mother. Mother assumes I'm with Grandfather. Grandfather assumes I'm with Mrs. Pettigrew…who also thinks I'm with Mother."

"What could go wrong?" Snape deadpanned.

"Siri might suspect. But who will believe him? He's a Blood Traitor."

Snape smirked.

"And he's a prat that never even left notes whenever he skipped out."

Salem's jaw dropped. "Owl someone. Say you got mixed up. Let them come get you. I mean, it's true, right? Someone was trying to hurt you and your mother and you're out here just waltzing around!?"

"I've worked very hard for my prim and proper reputation, Salem. I follow the rules often enough while people are watching. Cross the t's. Dot the i's. I almost pass for a gentleman on a good day. It has its drawbacks and it has its benefits. No one will believe I have the gall."

"Is that so?"

Regulus froze.

Impossible.

He had to be hearing things.

With the amount of paperwork and bureaucratic hoop-jumping from Azkaban, from Gringotts, from the Aurors, from his business, there was no way his father could be here. And then, there was Sirius to deal with.

There were too many other higher priorities to manage first.

He was a second son...a spare...

"Regulus Arcturus Black, I am speaking to you. You will do me the courtesy of facing me."

Regulus very slowly turned to see his haggard-looking father leaning against a light pole in the empty parking lot with his wand lying flat on his palm—some sort of navigation spell had been used to track him down. His aura said: furious.

Father gripped his wand and used it to gesture with. "Come here. Now." He pointed in front of him.

Regulus wasn't quite sure what to think or feel.

After everything he'd heard from Mr. Malfoy while the wedding arrangements were made, he was resolved to be righteously angry; for what his father had done to them, to Mother, to their family.

He wasn't supposed to feel happy or relieved at seeing him. Just resigned… Prepared to collaborate a bit as things changed as they had to…

He started blinking hard.

"Regulus!" His father ordered.

"We'll head on," Snape murmured. "Come on, Salem."

"Expect a visit," Orion barked at him, "from the Aurors for trespassing, aiding, abetting, and neglect in a time of crisis!"

Snape swallowed and gave a soft, "Sir," while he pulled Salem onward.

Regulus remained rooted to the spot, eyes wide.

"Regulus, I warn you. I am exhausted. I have no patience. You tell me this instant what possessed you to do this. Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" Orion stalked towards him when it became clear that Regulus wasn't going to move.

He needed to remain composed. He needed to verify with Mum whether she knew. He needed a plan that would let them salvage some manner of dignity and separation. He needed to not blurt out—

"Regulus." Father's shadow loomed over him. "You look me in the eye, young man, and you speak with me. Now."

Damnation, it all came out: "I needed a break. I feel trapped. Siri's being weird. His mates hate me. Everyone knows what happened now. Can't escape it anywhere. Suffocating. And I don't understand why you're here. What do you really care? I met this man in Diagon Alley and he was obviously a relative and he said so and it seemed to confirm it. It confirmed what Mr. Malfoy was saying all along. He says…says…about your past. He told me. What you were like-you didn't always love Mum-you-you-you lied to us—" His breath hitched. "He-he says—it's not hard to see that habits like yours don't change." His voice started wobbling. "How a person was is how a person is and-and-that's why you cheated on Mum and why you were embezzling because YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE US!"

And then to make matters even worse, Regulus promptly burst into tears he couldn't stifle.

It wasn't often that Father's volume could compete with Mother's.

"WHAAAT?!"

Several car alarms sounded.

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