Father had become a morose , ill-tempered person who would snap at the smallest thing. While he didn't even see Regulus, didn't care if he saw him all day long or not, now he was hell bent on knowing Everything about him.
Regulus could have stayed in grandfather's manor for ages, and father wouldn't blink. After the graduation ceremony when he last met Sev, father just turned a new leaf. He became firm and started working on his Latin and decorum, the family history and dueling stances personally. He was stuck in a room with him most of this summer, with him not giving up on parting all his wisdom in such a short time.
Seriously, what was up with him? Orion was so soft on Sirius, and so hard on him all of a sudden.
"he doesn't want you to embarrass him" Sirius said.
As if. There was not a mess Sirius had not made. Anything he got up to would be tame compared to him.
" Maybe its because of your friendship with that half-blood, he wants to watch you so you don't get any other stupid idea into your head " he threw half-blood as if it was a curse. The nutter.
"at least he is a genius and he saved my life, I didn't see james potter jumping to save you from mother after the prank" the coward. Regulus knew he had a hand in providing the frogs Sirius had released in the lake. Mother had thoroughly hexed him, and then cast a glamour on him so nobody would know. At least being busy with the ceremony she didn't use too much force behind her curses. Reg should have let him be toast, the ungrateful sod.
"besides, I would be careful in showing my true colors around, you know the new blood, Andy's husband is a muggle-born?" and watched as Sirius turned a lovely shade of purple. The hypocrite told everyone he was not the least bit racist, or blood-purist , just because he was sorted in the blasted house of Gryffindor.
And after the wedding, he went to uncle Alphard's. surprisingly father didn't even lift a finger to prevent him – he usually had a lot to say if Severus wanted to stay there- and mother only glared at him. Reg was getting suspicious if father- and mother- really feared the fate of Sirius would befall him too.
That day, he got enough of a respite. Mother was busy staring at father and father pretending not to notice. He went to the library, maybe to summon Kreacher and see if he could send a letter to severus, where he saw the paper.
It was through sheer luck he heard what happened to Severus. He begged mother to let him see him, even was back-handed and slapped. He went all the way and asked his father formally with a letter, had mentioned the life debt and nothing.
When Kreacher said he wanted to pop into manor because Arcturus was calling, he didn't let go of him.
"master be calling. Kreacher bad elf"
He didn't relent. If anyone listened to him, it was grandfather.
" please take me to him"
And Kreacher, the best elf ever did it, if reluctantly. Apparently, grandfather didn't know until he came and told him.
Then he further surprised him by telling him to get ready to go to the hospital.
Wasn't he the best best grandfather ever?
After they apparated, and entered the hospital, he didn't lose any time and asked the nearest nurse to show him Severus room. He didn't listen to her yelling after him not to run. He didn't stop until he was in front of his door.
"sev?" he asked as he opened the door. And felt bewilderment since he got no answer.
Was it the wrong room? He looked behind, his grandfather was heading here slowly. It couldn't be the wrong room.
He took a quick look at the room, and saw Severus sitting on the hospital bed.
The room was filled to the brim with flowers and get better cards. There were boxes of chocolates and condolences cards too.
He had the yellowish hospital garb on which was so much big on him. Had no-one spelled these things to fit the person putting them on?
He was pale, and looked paler in the moon light which lightened the room. He had hugged himself and looked lost in his thoughts.
He tried calling him again " Sev?" but got no reaction.
"Severus?" and again he didn't even turn his head .
Panicking he called for one last time.
"brother?"
Severus felt cold.
So cold.
And alone. Without a family, even a broken one.
And with a dead unborn sister he could never see again. Never play with her or teach her things. Never hug her or kiss her hair.
He could feel other people's auras. Some were blue, representing sadness. Some were lime green of the nurses and medical staff.
There were people with goblin blood, with banshee and werewolf and vampire blood. Some even had fae.
Nearly everyone had muggle blood. Surprisingly it was a mud like brown color.
He wondered if it was the reason they called muggle-borns mud-blood.
He had not wrapped his mind around not being dead, and gotten stuck in the past. All of it felt like a bad dream.
If he didn't have a bad dream, if all was real it meant that he had fucked things up and royally. He had single-handedly managed to kill both his parents, and drive the wedge between Lily and Petunia further. He had ruined any chance Lily could have with Potter, meaning Harry potter would not be , and the prophecy would be null. It would mean disaster.
Had the good things he had done justified the bad things? He had helped release Andromeda from being tied to the likes of Sylwan, and probably helped her future child to not fall for a werewolf. On the other hand his actions made it so his father killed his pregnant mother.
Would it have been better if Tobias killed him instead?
"brother!"
He felt a light green aura smelling of freshly cut grass and spring flowers.
Another good thing that came out of it was Regulus. His half sibling he now loved as much as one would a full blood brother whom they grew up with.
He had lost one chance to be a proper big brother, and that would chase him till the end of his days.
Regulus was alive.
Regulus was here.
It meant he still had a chance to save his remaining sibling. he shifted in his bed, making room for him to climb up.
Fortunately regulus was a clever kid. He climbed up the bed and didn't lose any moment in wrapping his hands around his shoulders.
"oh Severus. Brother"
It made him feel warm and cared for. Regulus whispered sweet nonsense into his ears. Telling him all would be better, that things would change. Suddenly he could breath easier, a heavy weight was lifted up his chest.
He was not alone. He still had one family member left.
They fell sleep like that.
"Lord Black"
" heir Prewatt"
"Fabian if you please"
He heard voices talking outside.
He didn't care. He had all he wanted in the world and that was Regulus, his younger brother, safe and sleep .
It was ok.