Regulus could be found carrying the little puffskein everywhere he went in the months that followed. He took it to his lessons, took it on short visits to his grandparents, took it around the house whenever he needed to leave a room. He slept with it. He took it to meals, where the puffskein was allowed its own seat. He wouldn't even go to the bathroom without dragging it along.

They were inseparable.

Regulus became a very devoted 'father' to his puffskein Sirius, something the real, human Sirius often laughed about, because a nine-year-old boy shouldn't be playing 'father' to a puffskein, apparently. Regulus much preferred puffskein-Sirius over human-Sirius precisely because of that: human-Sirius made fun of him, wouldn't listen, always had to get his way. He caused trouble left and right and was proud of it! Puffskein-Sirius, however... he was there for Regulus to talk to, to play with, to cuddle and have a good time with.

Even Mother and Father seemed to agree that the puffskein was a good replacement for Sirius.

It was mid-July now. Regulus sat at the table feeding his puffskein bits of bread. Mother sat opposite him, skimming over the newspaper and humming every now and then.

The doors to the dining room swung open and Sirius ran in, loudly asking if there was any post yet.

"Don't run," Mother said without looking up.

"Fine." He plopped down on one of the chairs. "But is my letter here yet?"

She shook her head. "Not yet, dear. You have to be patient-"

Tap. Tap.

Sirius jumped up from his chair and raced to the window ("no running!" Mother warned him, but he ignored it). There, a brown owl was holding something that looked suspiciously like a Hogwarts letter.

He looked at the little puffskein, knowing the small animal would never just ignore Mother like that. Besides, it wasn't as if the owl cared if it took a few seconds more. It wasn't going to fly off or anything. It had to wait until it had delivered the letter, that's the way it worked.

Sirius ran back to the table, clutching the letter tightly. "It's from Hogwarts—look, look!"

"Walk," was Mother's only response. "For Merlin's sake, just walk."

Sirius ignored her and showed him the crest on the back, the writing on the front. Regulus couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

The owl grew impatient and flew into the dining room. It sat down in the table, angrily pecking at Regulus' food.

"Shoo!" he tried, flapping his hands at the owl. It moved away after a few tries, targeting Sirius' hands.

"Have we any treats?" Sirius asked, trying to keep the bird at bay. "This one's feral!"

Mother was already going through her handbag and the bird finally left them both alone, allowing Sirius to open the letter.

He silently read it, but the growing smile on his face told Regulus all he needed to know. Then, Sirius confirmed it: "I'm going! I'm going! Mother, Reg, I'm going!"

Mother smiled at him. "Well of course you are."

He looked at his puffskein on the chair next to him and patted it, but hearing its content hum only made him sadder. Sirius was leaving him so soon...

"Promise me you'll write to me every week? You've got to tell me everything..."

"Promise."

After a few days of Sirius whinging about them needing to go get his supplies, they finally went shopping.

Regulus trailed after his parents and brother, walking through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, Puffskein-Sirius clutched tightly in his arms so he couldn't escape. He tried his best not to get distracted by all the people rushing about. He couldn't afford to get lost now.

They took a turn into 'Knockturn Alley', and Sirius stopped so abruptly that Regulus nearly bumped into him. Puffskein-Sirius let out some shocked noises and Regulus petted it, knowing very well how it felt to be surprised by Sirius-the-human's sudden actions.

"Mother, Father, we're going the wrong way. We're supposed to shop for supplies in Diagon Alley, not here," Sirius commented.

For a moment, it seemed as if they hadn't heard Sirius at all. Then they spun around, a look of surprise on their faces as if they hadn't expected to see him and his brother there.

Mother took a step forwards. "This is important, we can get your supplies later-"

"No," Father interrupted. "Sirius, you're right. You two needn't concern yourself with such matters. Go on to Flourish and Blotts, we will catch up with you boys once we're done here—as your mother said, we do have important business to attend to."

"What important business?"

"We'll explain later, it's important we get there in time. Go to Flourish and Blotts."

"Fine," Sirius sighed and they left their parents, going back into Diagon Alley. "Important business," he mumbled. "What could be more important than me?"

"Loads of things."

"Hey!" Sirius shoved him aside, making him stumble and nearly trip over his own feet.

"What? It's true," he said as he found his balance, running behind Sirius while clutching his puffskein tighter than ever (something he loudly disagreed with, but Regulus didn't loosen his grip).

They entered the bookshop together. He had been here once or twice before, but he didn't really remember it – he had been maybe five or six years old at the time – so it was as if he was seeing it all for the first time. He looked around in awe at the towering bookshelves filled with all sorts of books. He hadn't even noticed how long he had been standing there, staring at the different books, when he felt a hand on his shoulder, a familiar voice accompanying it. "Regulus, dear, please focus."

He quickly spun around to see his mother. His father and Sirius stood by the entrance, both carrying a stack of books. "I- sorry, I didn't realise you were back so soon..."

"Come on," she said, gently guiding him out of the shop. "Let's get Sirius his robes."

She didn't explain what she and Father had done in Knockturn Alley, nor why they were already back. Or had more time passed than he had realised? How long had he been standing there, just staring at the books? It couldn't have been that long, right?

They made their way over to Madam Malkin's and he waited outside while his parents helped Sirius get his school robes—it was too busy inside, with all the new students needing their robes fitted... it was a rather small shop, after all.

He made sure to stick close to it, because of how easy it was to get lost in Diagon Alley, especially when it was busy like this. He softly whispered to his puffskein about what he saw as he looked around.

Diagon Alley in late July to August was always a sight: all sorts of witches and wizards, including hundreds of Hogwarts students and their parents all looking for the right supplies—and Muggles, who were easy to spot because they wore the strangest clothes and absolutely refused to fit in with the wizarding world, much like their mudblood children... but at least Muggles were honest enough to say they didn't belong. That's the one thing they had going for them.

There were a few familiar faces now and then, but most of the people he saw were total strangers. But one familiar face – or voice, really – came from his left, and he turned around to see whom it belonged to. He vaguely recognised the boy who was chatting with his brother, who just stepped out of Madam Malkin's. He moved closer to them.

"Got your wand yet?" Sirius asked.

The boy shook his head. "We were about to go to Ollivander's, right?"

The boy turned towards what could only be his mother. Regulus definitely recognised her—she was a Rosier, which meant the boy (whose name he remembered to be Evan) was, too. They were related to the Rosiers, and although he wasn't sure who she was to him exactly, he had seen them around before.

"Yes, all we need is your wand and then you'll be all set," Mrs Rosier said.

Evan glanced back at Sirius. "Are you coming? Are you getting yours too?"

"Are we getting my wand now?" Sirius asked, turning to Mother and Father, interrupting their hushed conversation as if him getting his wand right away was the most important thing on the face of the planet.

"Yes, yes, wands... Ollivander's..."

All six of them made their way to Ollivander's, Sirius being the first to go in with Mother and Father, leaving Regulus out with Evan and his mother. He didn't talk to them much, instead focusing his attention on Sirius-the-puffskein. It was awkward knowing who they were, without ever having done formal introductions, especially since they weren't especially close or anything. He couldn't think of what to say, so it was better not to say anything at all and to just pet Sirius.

Soon enough, Sirius-the-wizard ran out of the shop, holding up his wand in pride as he yelled out: "I've got my wand, I've got my wand!"

Regulus managed a small smile, but couldn't help the sadness—it was all becoming very real, very fast. Sirius had his own wand now, he would leave for Hogwarts and start his own life, leaving Regulus here at home, all alone.

"Your turn will come. Hogwarts isn't going anywhere." Evan's mother smiled kindly at him.

He nodded, but although her comment had been meant to be comforting, it only tightened the knot in his stomach. She must've seen his disappointment. He had to work on concealing it better.

Mother and Father left the shop as well and Evan and his mother went in.

"We'll have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron," Father announced, and they made their way to there.

They found a table in the back. Sirius was playing with his new wand, waving it around, tapping it against things... little sparks flew out of the tip, sometimes, but Regulus couldn't focus. He noticed the way Mother and Father were looking at him and his brother, and at each other. Worried looks, worried whispers too quiet for him to hear.

Father left to get them some food and drinks, but returned with only three plates.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"This isn't for us."

"For whom-"

But that's when he spotted Evan and his mother making their way over to the table. Evan sat down where Father had been sitting, and Mother got to her feet at the same time.

"We will be back shortly."

"Wait!" Regulus jumped up. "Where are you going?"

All three adults looked at him with that look. A look of 'you're too young', of 'we'll explain later'. But later never came.

"Is everything alright?" He couldn't help but be worried, the way they were acting today!

"Boys, this is important," Father whispered. "We have a visit to make in Knockturn Alley-"

"Weren't you just there?" Sirius interjected.

"Keep your voice down. This concerns... you-know-who, so we don't need the whole pub to know," Mrs Rosier snapped. "We have to go. Now."

"We'll catch up," Father said. "Don't let our sons hold you back."

With a final wave to Evan, she ran off. Regulus stared at his father, his heart beating faster than ever before. 'You-know-who'? More like 'you-don't-know-who!

He turned to look to his brother, but he kept his head down, pretending to focus on his wand. Evan was playing with the food in front of him, neither boy seemed willing to ask the adults anything further.

"May I come with you?" Regulus asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's not safe," Mother replied. "But we will explain everything when we come back."

That just wasn't true. They never explained anything to him about where they went. It was another one of those stupid lies grownups tell because they think it's better not to tell the truth, for some reason.

Which Mother only confirmed when she said: "This is for grownups. You're staying here, with Sirius and Evan. And that's the end of it."

Regulus sat back down and looked at the puffskein, who jumped onto his lap. At least they both didn't know what was going on... He heard footsteps leaving, and when he raised his head again, his parents were gone. "Please be safe," he mumbled before looking at the two boys he was with.

"What do you think they're doing?"

Sirius shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I doubt it's anything good."

"Things are escalating, don't you know?" Evan chimed in. "My parents told me there's this new group, formed late last year, something with a Phoenix? They're targeting the Dark Lord. Like, seriously, they've taken down a few of his men already. The Dark Lord's not having it, though. Working hard to—what? They haven't told you?"

Regulus could see the confusion in Evan's eyes as he realised this information was new to Regulus and Sirius.

"Our parents never tell us anything," he said. "They say we're too young."

Evan snorted. "Too young? Nobody's too young to know about what's going on. I'll tell you all you need to know."

He lay in bed that evening, thinking about the events of that day. He had spent the entire afternoon with his brother and Evan, being filled in on current events and talking about this Lord Voldemort—who was to only be referred to as the Dark Lord out of respect. His cause was noble as it was brave and necessary. Lord Voldemort—no, the Dark Lord fought for what was right.

He fought for people like themselves, pureblood wizards and witches, who had been punished and ostracised by the Ministry of Magic for as long as history could remember. Why, even Salazar Slytherin was bullied by the other three for wanting to only accept purebloods, bullied until he left the school! That's how deep this hatred ran!

And all the things Muggles had done to wizards for all those years! Witch hunts, both literal and figurative ones. But no, Muggles were perfect and purebloods had to suffer for it. It was enough to make his blood boil just thinking about the injustice of the world. His father's words of 'don't feed the dragon' rang more true than he had realised af the time.

Of course, Father hadn't actually explained anything that day, nor any other day. Not even today. He and Mother hadn't returned until the Leaky Cauldron was closing up, and then they had left abruptly, Apparating away without another word and once they got home, Regulus and Sirius had been sent upstairs straight away—no explanation, nothing. It just wasn't fair.

But at the same time, he couldn't help but be a little scared. Very scared, actually. If there was this Order, fighting against this Dark Lord... well, then Bellatrix was in danger. He knew that much. Did Bella know?

But if Mother and Father were in Knockturn Alley for something to do with the Dark Lord, then maybe they were in danger too. Maybe everyone was in danger. If there were people out there taking the Dark Lord's followers out... he didn't want his family hurt like that.

After tossing and turning for hours on end, thinking about all that could happen to his family, he decided to get up. His heart was heavy and beating fast as he went downstairs to his mother's bedroom. He took a few deep breaths before knocking on the door.

To his surprise, it was his father who opened the door and stepped out, shutting the door behind him. "Regulus!"

"I- I'm sorry to interrupt, I just-"

"It's okay. Today was rough, wasn't it?"

Regulus nodded, relieved that his father understood he was going through a lot. "I'm scared," he whispered. "Bella, she-"

"What exactly did that Evan tell you?" Father interrupted him.

Regulus looked away. "That some Phoenix group is going after the Dark Lord and his followers."

He sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Regulus... your mother and I, we didn't want to scare you, nor your brother. Sirius is with your mother now, with similar concerns—the leader of the Order of the Phoenix is said to be none other than Albus Dumbledore... the current headmaster of Hogwarts."

Regulus' hands flew to his mouth as his eyes widened it shock. His brother was going to walk straight into a school run by the man tracking down people like Bellatrix? That was horrifying news!

"He'll be okay, he will be safe there. You are children, you won't be sucked into this adult business."

The door behind them opened just then, a weary-eyed Sirius stepping outside. "I'm going to bed," he said as he walked past them, towards the stairs.

"Wait! I'm coming with you! Goodnight, Father—wait!" Regulus rushed after his brother, running up the stairs behind him. "Wait! Sirius!"

But as he reached the topmost landing, Sirius' door slammed shut. He made his way over to the door. "Sirius..."

"Go away. I just want to sleep."

"But-"

There was a bang on the door. "I want to be alone!"

Defeated, Regulus got up and went across the hall to his own bedroom. It wasn't fair that Sirius had to go away to a school full of danger and he got to stay at homes for another year, safe and secure. It just wasn't fair...

He up on his bed once more, tightly holding his puffskein as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.