Chapter 7, The Little King
Sirius was about to enter his terrible twos when his baby brother was born. Walburga knew that most babies got worse at this age, thus the title of terrible twos, but she could simply not imagine Sirius getting worse. He was already loud, and violent, angrily pounding his toys into floors and walls with seemingly no provocation far too often. She couldn't help but wish that the new baby did not have to grow up beside such a dreadful example, but it could not be helped.
It was a magical day when Regulus Arcturus Black came into the world. He was not screaming! Instead he stared around him in nearly silent wonder, blue eyes somehow far wiser than one might expect to see staring from the face of a baby.
"He is beautiful," Walburga said, smiling tremulously down at the tiny baby that lay against her chest, clutching one of her fingers tightly in his warm little hand. She was currently relaxed and at peace, two side effects of the pain relief potion the healer had just given her another dose of. She felt tears of joy and gratitude spilling down her face that she did not bother to check. Her new son was perfect and magnificent.
"Kreacher," the little elf began, then fell silent, for once at a loss for words. He stood beside Walburga's bed staring in wonder from her to Regulus. "Kreacher is glad that Mistress has a child now."
The understanding and wisdom from Kreacher, still so young, touched Walburga in a way she could not quite put into words, but she simply nodded. Sirius may grow into a worthy first born, but at present, she wasn't seeing or feeling it, and yes, now it truly felt as if she at last had a son. "You and he shall be fast friends, I am certain, just as your dear mother and I were," she told Kreacher gravely.
Kreacher nodded, studying Regulus with a solemn expression on his sharp little face as the child studied him right back. Regulus watched them converse nearly as if he could somehow understand. The healer fluffed Walburga's pillows before departing. Orion kissed her cheek and promised to return to her bedside as soon as the healer was paid. Both of Walburga's births had been here at #12 Grimmauld Place with the best healer gold could buy to attend her. Having her child in the comfort of her own home was far more preferable to doing it at Saint Mungos like a commoner. Soon her parents would be here to see the new baby, and her mother had promised to stay for a few days to help out while Walburga recovered. All was right with her world and more than right.
Regulus remained a peaceful child, only waking at night when he needed to eat, then returning to his slumber soon enough. Walburga adored holding him and rarely put him down. Whenever she did, Kreacher could be found seated at the side of his cradle, rocking it gently with a finger in near reverence. When Regulus spoke his first word, just as with Sirius, it was not Mummy or Daddy. It was Kreacher, or at least an attempt at it for 'Weach,' was all he could manage. The elf was so pleased and proud, grinning from ear to ear at each of Regulus's attempts to speak his name.
"Yes," he would croon. "Good Master Regulus! Smart Master Regulus, just like Kreacher, who Mistress says is also smart."
"Calling him Master Regulus is rather a lot, Kreacher," Walburga told him. "He is too small for such yet. Just call him Regulus. He will become confused with too many unnecessary words. Besides, your own Dear Mother never once called me Mistress."
Kreacher never directly objected, but he always gave her a doubtful frown, and he refused to leave the honorific Master off when addressing baby Regulus. He even remained at the child's side when at family gatherings rather than terrorizing other elves in their own kitchens. As such, Walburga was not surprised when he declined Rodolphus and Bellatrix's offer to pretend duel at a Lestrange holiday party. It was nine month old Regulus's first Christmas!
"I'm just glad that one isn't screaming," Bellatrix said, peering down at Regulus, a relieved expression on her thin face. Rodolphus stepped up beside her as she continued to scrutinize the placid baby.
"Have a care Sirius doesn't try killing him in his sleep," Rodolphus advised Walburga gruffly. Even at ten, the child was already stocky of build, giving off an heir of strong dependability. Corvus was fortunate to have such an elder son, she thought enviously.
"How were you when your brother was born," she asked, referring to six year old Rabastan Lestrange.
Rodolphus grinned, expression softening suddenly. "Rab was a good baby like your Regulus. I liked having him about. It's nice having a little brother to play with."
Bellatrix nodded. "He is a good child. I am glad he was born before Sirius else I would have sworn off ever having children when I grow up."
Walburga did not miss the quick side long glance she gave Rodolphus, who did not appear to have noticed. It was clear that Bellatrix was already considering her future. Walburga was not surprised that she planned to make that future with Rodolphus, considering the close nature of the two. She was always with him at these gatherings rather than her own two younger sisters for whom she seemed to have little patience.
"Rod! Bella! Let's go and grab some Christmas cookies while Jackey is busy!" The loud excited whisper came from Rabastan, who had just run up. The child was thin and wiry with a perpetually restless and excitable expression.
"Alright," Bellatrix said, after exchanging a look with Rodolphus. Suddenly scowling, she poked Kreacher in the back as she walked away, clearly affronted that he had not wished to play with them. The elf hardly seemed to notice, so intently focused on Regulus was he.
"Walburga?" The polite call came from Esmay Lestrange. "Sirius is rather trying to destroy my crystal Christmas ornaments. Would you get him away from the tree? He threatened to bite me when I tried," she added apologetically. "I did not feel it was my place to knock him into next week, so I shall leave him to you."
Rodolphus Lestrange snickered around a mouthful of Christmas cooky. The three children had just reentered the room, all three holding a fat red and green snowman cooky in each hand. "Mum is funny," Rodolphus told Rabastan and Bellatrix, who both nodded.
"Here, Prat," Bellatrix said, shoving one of the cookies that she held at Kreacher.
Startled, Kreacher turned to face her, giving her a distracted smile of thanks as he took the cooky. "Kreacher appreciates." He gave Regulus a regretful look as he slowly bit into the soft cooky. "Kreacher is sorry that he cannot share with Master Regulus," he told the child. "But Master Regulus does not have enough teeth as of yet to eat a cooky."
Regulus watched with calm interest as Kreacher bit into the cooky again. Though Walburga would have preferred to continue to sit and hold her good child, it was time to go and handle the unpleasant one. Where was Orion anyway, she wondered peevishly. He should be helping. The last time she had seen him, he was heading into the library to play chess with Corvus Lestrange. That was two hours ago, though. Could the game truly not be over yet?
"Can you hold the baby for me, Bellatrix?" She asked.
Bellatrix's dark eyes suddenly flew wide with fear as she stepped back, nearly treading on Rabastan. "No way! I might break him or something. I don't want to hold anything so fragile without training!" She shook her head hard, causing her long dark tresses to fly wildly around her face. Walburga sighed. Standing she carefully placed Regulus on the cushion of her chair. "Then stay here with Kreacher and watch him," she said before hurrying across the Lestrange's parlor toward the stately Christmas tree where Sirius stood tugging hard at a sparkling crystal Santa. He was tugging so hard that the branch on which Santa hung was bending sharply downward, causing the entire tree to sway dangerously.
"Let that go, Sirius! Let it go now," Walburga snapped.
"Want Santa! Want to take him home and pway wiff him!" Sirius's tone was far more demanding than it was imploring. Had he merely longed for the ornament for a toy, she may have tried to find him something similar in one of the shops of Hog's Meade, but the belligerent tone of his voice set her teeth on edge and made her hand itch to smack him.
"Well Mummy would find you one of your very own, but you tried to bite Miss Esmay, so you do not deserve a crystal Santa."
"Mean wady twied to take Sirius Santa away!" The child pouted. The angry poke of his lip garnered no sympathy from Walburga.
"It is her Santa and you hadn't permission to play with it, Sirius." You should apologize."
Sirius's pout turned into a scowl. "Don't want to. Want Santa."
Her patience running out, Walburga bent swiftly and smacked Sirius's hand hard. The hand that still held the Santa in a determined grip. Letting out an angry scream, Sirius released Santa only to actually smack back at his mother's own hand. At this, Walburga made a soft sound, half shock, half rage. Snatching Sirius up off the floor, she glared hard into his eyes. "If you ever strike out at me again, I will literally take your head off," she told him. As he was not yet three, he did not fully understand her threat, but he knew that he did not like it. Glaring back into her face, he shouted, "NO," at the top of his lungs. Walburga felt her face flushing with shame and embarrassment. Everyone was surely looking at them and wondering why Orion and Walburga Black's first born was so foul!