#Regulus would magical charm them so they never died

[james-sunshine-potter]

James would find rocks on the floor and give them to Regulus because he thought he’d like them.

Regulus would think it was silly of James to do that but he keep all of them, of course he did. They have a special place on his bedside table in a tin.

[jimblejamblewritings]

Flowers as Pure as Blood | part one.

Summary: The Riddles. An oddly charming family despite their husband/father being the most feared evil wizard in the world. But what happens when the youngest daughter is taken captive by Aurors to try and get information on Voldemort's plans.

Warnings for the Series: talks of torture, violence.

Pairing: some marauders x reader (pairing not decided yet)

Word Count: 3.7k

A/N: yeah I know I've been gone for a year and that this is yet again another fic... I have no words, my bad. I do intend to finish every fic though so don't worry!

No one could say that the emergency Order meeting was exactly a surprise. Nowadays, it felt like most of their meetings were unscheduled. Their wands heated up more than ever in their hands or back pockets. Who knew what it was this time. When fighting a war where a good chunk of the population secretly felt the way their enemy did, it wasn’t exactly easy.

While they didn’t agree with Voldemort killing muggles and muggleborns, there was a reason he got so far. People turned their cheeks and ignored the bad side because overall they agreed with him. And changing the minds of the complacent wasn’t easy. 

But the tables were about to turn. Or so they hoped. For a few years now, Voldemort has gotten bolder. It wasn’t just Britain worrying anymore. It was the entire wizarding world. Rumors spread that he was looking for something. Some people said that his wife went insane from a battle with Aurors and that’s why Tatienne Riddle stays in the house despite being a free woman having not yet committed a crime — although others think she was sent back to her home country of France in order to be safe. 

Some people say that he has another child and after the death of his second daughter all the others were sent away and now he’s checking up on them constantly. Some think he’s searching for a way to break Grindelwald out of prison. Others have heard rumors of horcruxes, dark artifacts, the elder wand, a deal with dementors.   

The Order didn’t really care what the reasons were. They just cared that they were being dragged into a larger mess. The ministries of magic in different countries were having meetings with each other, trying to coordinate. It was harder than they thought. Way before even the Salem Witch Trials, all of the wizarding community used to be together under a single government. But then they started retreating within muggle borders and lots of red tape and rules appeared. But soon, once they work together, the Order and aurors would be meeting a lot of new people. They’d still be in small units for stealth but they’d have more numbers overall. 

Sirius smiled at the photo of the Order hanging in his foyer, right by the front door. He didn’t really need to greet anyone since he knew them all but he chose to anyway. He was greeted by almost everyone. Moody hung up his coat on the rack as he spoke. 

“Dumbledore will be here in an hour or so.” 

“Oh, good. Kreacher’s almost finished with cooking. Moony, did you stop by the store?” 

“Yep.” Remus held up the bottles of wine. 

Sirius moved back to Grimmauld at the start of seventh year when his parents died, not that he cared. But Regulus was still underage. Their relationship was rocky for the first few months but now they were fine. And it wasn’t just them. It was the Marauders and their friends. Potter Manor and flats around London just weren’t smart anymore. 

They all sat down at the table in the dining room. It would’ve been nice if they didn’t have business to talk about. But at least they could do it over a nice and hearty lunch. 

Upstairs you could hear the sudden thud of various footsteps landing on the floor upstairs, followed by an entire conversation that you didn’t care about. You weren’t sure why the Aurors had allowed you to hear what was happening wherever you were. Maybe it was another form of torture. You could hear them and they could pretend that you never existed. But it was horrible to hear them all the time. Especially when they were having whatever special alone time they had when everyone else left the house. It was horrible when you just wanted to sleep. 

Like now, it was time for your afternoon nap. You should have showered off the blood from your morning torture but you couldn’t be bothered. They’d come again at night so it was better to just wash everything off at once. Nowadays, you slept three times a day and were given your meals only once. But you couldn’t sleep with the noise above you. So you moved to your little writing desk. If you ever got to see them again, you would have to thank the Dumbledores for getting you better conditions than last time. Your cell was the same size as last time but with weirder walls — these ones were rough stone like the walls of a cave. But you had a toilet and a shower and a sink, albeit only behind a thin white curtain. 

And you had a lamp instead of total darkness. It wasn’t very bright but it allowed you to write and read. Dumbledore required that they let you keep your things you acquired from your time at his brother and nephew’s house. That didn’t stop them from raiding your things all the time under the guise of just checking. You had a small writing desk and a chair, no bookshelves. And your bed was just a bunch of blankets and duvets piled up on the floor. 

You looked over at your food tray as your stomach grumbled. The Aurors technically gave you all three meals — no snacks — but they were given all at once in the morning and you had to ration it out. The choice was always when to let yourself starve as there was only enough food for two proper meals on lucky days. Sometimes it was only one good meal a day. Deciding to starve for lunch, you only grabbed your small cup of mashed potatoes meant for dinner and scarfed it down. It was humiliating that the Aurors forgot a spoon and forced you to eat with your mouth and hands. 

As you set your cup down, you paused. The wooden spoon you and the guard who brought your food thought was forgotten was there all along. Stuck in the doorway. The door was open slightly which meant the barrier surrounding your cell was broken or at least weakened. You could escape. For years, you had contemplated your escape but every idea seemed implausible. 

You opened the door all the way, knowing everyone else was distracted upstairs. In case someone would be alerted, you didn’t want to test the barrier’s ability to hold you back. Even if it was already broken, you wanted to be sure. There was a secret that even Albus Dumbledore didn’t know about. Credence thought that even if he told his father someone might look into Aberforth and Albus’ minds and then they would know. And if the Ministry found out that Tom Riddle’s daughter was an Obscurial then the Aurors would’ve gotten their way completely and you would probably be dead or tortured even worse than you already were. 

Most importantly, Credence told you not to use the power in front of everyone. He had spent his lifetime figuring out how to channel an Obscurus’ power. It never really went away once you became an Obscurial. It was only something you could live with if you learned how to be a proper witch or wizard. And Credence suspected you two weren’t the only two Obscurials to have control but that no one who actually learned to live with their sickness would ever reveal to anyone. Not with the current lack of protection for you guys. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. 

“I’m an Obscurial,” you said as you set down your tea. 

Credence looked up from his book like you had just burned him. How could you ruin a perfectly good Saturday with that news. He took his wand from off the side table and casted a silencing spell over the entire house. 

“What did you say?” 

“I’m an Obscurial.” 

“How? I’ve seen the report. They had to let you practice so you wouldn’t become one and escape.” 

“I did it on purpose.” 

Credence swallowed. He understood you. A life as a dangerous Obscurial with a limited lifespan was better than what you had endured. Maybe you would have learned to control it like he did. From that morning on, Credence vowed to help you control and hopefully get rid of the Obscurial. He was so close to being fully cured himself. It was only right to help you achieve the same. 

Light glowed and shot all up and down your arms, looking like the same light beams that come from wands. It shot out from you and hit where the barrier should be. Nothing. You were actually free. A chill went up your spine. You didn’t want to rush and risk everything. Instead, you went back to your cell and laid down. 

You stuffed your face with the cake that was supposed to be dessert after dinner and laid down on the pile of blankets. If no one came in thirty minutes then you’d leave. While you laid down, you thought about what you would do once you escaped. Go back home. Even if you didn’t agree with your father, you would still go home. Did they still live in Riddle Cottage? 

The flowers in the garden of Riddle Cottage were still alive despite it being August and a heat wave in Britain. The  tulips, snapdragons, and bloodroots were still vibrant and colorful next to the actual summer flowers of dahlias, poppies, daisies, and lavender. You were picking a bunch of plants, wanting to make a bouquet for your parents. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Bird,” you said to a hummingbird. “Can you find a different lavender plant? I need this one… thank you!”

“Y/N, the Malfoys are here!” 

You turned around to see your mother, another woman, and a boy four years older than you standing in the doorway of the house. You grabbed a few more flowers before going back to the house. Smiling at your guests, you handed them a few of the flowers before giving some more to your mom. 

“Did you pick the rest of these flowers for your father?” 

“Yes.” 

“Then let’s make a pretty bouquet and then we can go.”

Tatienne Riddle led everyone inside. The Malfoys didn’t mind the wait, stating that Diagon Alley wasn’t closing anytime soon. It was eight in the morning. Your mom arranged the flowers into a bouquet and set them in a vase, handing the ceramic to you to hold. You followed her through the cottage until you reached your father’s study. 

Lord Voldemort heard a small and high-pitched voice call out ‘Daddy’ before the door opened. He smiled as his wife and youngest child came into the room. You made a gagging noise as they kissed, much to their laughter. Ignoring them, you took his wand and tried to float over the vase. It wasn’t terribly high or terribly stable but it made it over. 

“What’s this?” he asked. 

“Someone picked flowers in the garden for us, Tom. Oh, honey, watch out. It’s on the edge of the desk.” 

“Do you need help?” 

You nodded and your dad pulled the vase away from the very edge of the desk, pretending you floated it all the way over. Tatienne let him know that you were about to leave with the Malfoys to meet your siblings at Diagon Alley. He made sure that you guys had everything you needed before you left. 

“Ah! Where’s my goodbye?” 

You ran back into the room, giving him a hug and a kiss. 

Diagon Alley was more exciting today than every other day. It was finally your turn to go to Hogwarts. You didn’t receive a letter — people didn’t really know if you existed or not — but you would just show up with your siblings and be given a spot. Everyone knew of your siblings, two brothers and two sisters. They were popular in Hogwarts. Of course they were. Lord Voldemort’s children would be well known. They were also known because they weren’t scary. Students didn’t know whether to like them or not. They couldn’t tell if it was a trick or not. 

It was very much real. You guys were meant to have normal lives as children. But also, your father didn’t care one way or another for the killing. He only needed people at the top of government to die. Not everyone else. He wanted you guys to be nice and make friends with every blood of wizard in hopes they would willingly listen to him. 

Diagon Alley was still busy even early in the morning. You all walked into Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour where your siblings were sitting in a booth with their friends eating ice cream. They pointed to the ice cream cone holders for all of you. You took the cone of early gray and lavender. Your second brother — the next youngest — snorted as he got out of the booth. 

“Who are you dressed up for, Luci?” Arnaud asked. 

The other kids all laughed as Lucius and NAarcissa turned red in the face. Everyone knew they liked each other but were too afraid to say anything. Your oldest brother and the eldest sibling — by two minutes of his twin sister — bent down so you could get on his back. Your rather large group walked around Diagon Alley collecting supplies. Ollivander’s was the very last stop on the list since it was your big day as the only first year amongst the kids. 

“Belrose, you or Odile take Y/N/N to the bathroom. We’ll be at the Menagerie,” Salazar said as he set you down from his back after you wiggled around enough to annoy him. 

“I don’t have to pee,” you whined. “I’m hungry.” 

“Okay, Stinky,” your sister said as she grabbed you. “Let’s go to the bathroom right here and we’ll all go to the Leaky Cauldron.” 

“I’m not stinky.” 

“I know, Stink. Let’s go.” 

You did actually have to go to the bathroom, only realizing it after getting off of your brother. When you made it to the Leaky Cauldron, no one had gotten their food yet. As an eleven year old, your food order was very predictable and they went ahead and ordered for you. The streets outside were getting quieter as everyone was piling into restaurants to try and beat the lunch rush. You wiggled your fingers as the plate of fries and chicken skewers put in front of you. 

You wished your dad was with you guys but you understood. Having committed no crimes, not even harboring a fugitive since you live with Voldemort not the other way around, you and your family could go outside. All minus your father. It was the reason he never allowed Tatienne to become a true Death Eater so she could take you guys out. Of course, she wore her Dark Mark proudly. You and your siblings weren’t required to get the tattoo but Salazar was considering it. 

Belrose looked up from her wild rice soup. “No one is in here.” 

“Huh?” Tatienne and Mrs. Malfoy looked around the entire pub. “Children, leave Diagon Alley. Now.” 

Lucius scooped you up and you all started to run. Narcissa, being the first one to reach the door, screamed as a beam of light hit the threshold. You were dropped as everyone else started shouting spells. The windows were shattering as spells hit them. Tears streamed down your face as you saw the Aurors in person. 

“There she is.” 

You heard one of them say. Hands grabbed you and you tried to beat down on them but they wouldn’t let you go. You felt like your lungs would cave in from how hard you were screaming without taking a breath. Belrose and Arnaud squeezed on the necklaces each child was given right before they got on the train to Hogwarts, alerting your father that you all were in danger. 

“Let go of my daughter! Stupefy!” Tatienne yelled. 

“Alarte Ascendare.” 

“Carpe Retractum!” 

“Locomotor Mortis!” 

“Avada Kedavra!” 

“Crucio!” 

“MAMAN!” 

You and your siblings all yelled as your mother dropped to the floor of the destroyed pub. All the spells your siblings threw were worthless. You and the rest of the Aurors were already gone, along with everyone else that fled Diagon Alley when the spells started flying. 

It had been thirty minutes and no one had come by but you had earned a nosebleed. You stood up, grabbing your most important books and stuffing them in a blanket-turned-backpack. Without shoes on, your feet were silent. The ground beneath them was a mixture of hard dirt and stone. The lights in the hallway were just as dim as the lamp in your room. You figured that there couldn’t be much space under a house in the city to hide you so going straight was probably the right idea. It felt like forever before you reached the stone staircase. 

There was so much light when you slightly opened the door that led into the upper floor. You had to squint, eyes practically burning at how bright it was. Delicately, your fingers touched the green floral wallpaper. A bit of blood dripped onto the floor as you continued down the hallway. You could hear them talking in the dining room still. It wouldn’t be a problem if you swiped some food first. The kitchen was right there in the front. 

You were practically drooling at the sight of food. Sneaking in, you plucked a few meatballs from their baking tray and shoved them into your mouth. It’s not like you cared about taking their stuff. They deserved more than that. Your sticky fingers took the chocolate tart with you and made your way to the front door. 

Setting down your things, you looked at the lock to see if you could get out. It had a key. There was no way you could search the house for a key. You would just have to search downstairs. Quietly, you crept past the closed dining room door. The living room was scattered with trinkets and furniture amongst other things. Nothing immediately stood out as a key. You’d have to look around. 

“What’s that noise?” Remus asked, no longer focusing on the meeting in front of him. 

“Hmm?” Only Sirius and Peter asked. 

“Do you hear that?” 

They listened in, trying to ignore everyone’s conversations. Remus could hear it better than the other two but faintly they heard knocking about. Sirius stood up, letting them know he’d check alone. Standing up from the table, he tried to be nonchalant as he grabbed his wand and adjusted his clothes. 

“Are the tarts done, Padfoot? Do you need help?” 

“No, I’m just going to the toilet.” 

“Okay.” 

The rest of the marauders knew James got the message. If one of them ever said toilet instead of bathroom then they’d know to keep anyone from following the person. Taking the route through the kitchen, he began his search. He paused at the blood in the middle of the room. His head tilted as he saw more blood on his hardwood floor and staining the wool hallway runner in the foyer. He followed the stains going into the living room. All he could do was look on in shock as you searched through shelves. 

Sirius was confused. Where did you come from? Why did you have no shoes on? Why did you and your thin dress look pristine but you had cuts everywhere? Maybe against his better judgment, he pocketed his wand. You clearly seem like you’re in distress rather than a threat. 

You heard the sound of footsteps muffled on the carpet. Turning ever so slowly, you went wide-eyed at seeing an Auror that you’ve never seen before. He put a finger up to his lips while taking out his wand and setting it on the floor. Was he trying to help? He must not have been an Auror then. 

“Sirius!” You both looked at the closed door where a male’s voice spoke. “Can he hear me? Sirius wher—” 

You ran towards the front door, key be damned, and wiggled the doorknob as hard as you could. 

“Help! Help!” you began to yell while banging on the door, hoping someone on the other side might hear you. 

That drew the attention of everyone else. Remus, James, and Peter didn’t even try to stop anyone from going. A very hoarse sounding voice yelling through the house didn’t seem like a safe situation. You kept trying to throw your body against the door as you heard more footsteps, your voice getting more hoarse by the second. Sirius stopped them from going any further. 

“Heeeeeellllllllp!” You were crying as you kept slamming your hands against the door. “Help… Please…H…” 

Your voice gave out. You kept trying to slam on the door despite that, not wanting to be taken back downstairs. The doorknob wouldn’t even budge as you tried to kick at it. Sirius flinched when you fell down after the fourth kick. You just laid there, crying and staining the carpet with blood. 

“Shit.” 

Everyone turned to look at Moody. Sirius cocked an eyebrow. 

“Do you know her?” 

Moody sighed. His answer was cut short by Dumbledore apparating into the foyer. He tilted his head looking at everyone piled into the narrow walk space before turning. A gasp escaped his lips. 

“Y/N?” 

“Who?” 

“Y/N Riddle,” Alastor finally got out. 

You closed your eyes and accepted your fate again, sticking your arms straight up in the air. You didn’t even flinch when hands grabbed you by the fabric of your dress and lifted you up. The others watched as Moody arrested you, unsure about their feelings as they watched you shake your head with your eyes still closed. 

“Should have known you’d try to escape.” 

“Let her go, Alastor!” 

Dumbledore, Aberforth, and Credence apparated into Grimmauld. All of their wands were pointed at the Auror. Albus just shook his head as he extended a hand. Reluctantly, Moody gave you over. 

“You’ve broken the rules of the warrant, Alastor. We will be taking her back now.” 

“No.” 

Credence pushed you behind him. “Y/N? Why don’t you with the others?" 

You barely whispered out the word okay when you and the others went into the dining room. From the kitchen you could hear a very loud argument.

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[kiwi2229]

The key

(James Potter / Regulus Black | 1 273 words)

For @jegulus-microfic prompt: Locket

CW: past injury

Part 1

James abruptly pulls back as he remembers his training. They are in the war after all. He has to fight himself to let Regulus out of his arms. He clears his throat. Moody would kill him if he didn’t stick to protocols. Well, he has Regulus Black in his house, Moody would probably lose it either way.

Regulus tries very hard to mask the disappointment on his face. James reckons he has to be exhausted because he doesn’t do a good job. “Right. Sorry, I know it is probably you, the wards wouldn’t let you through otherwise, but I have to make sure.” Regulus nods in understanding. “So, question, something you would only know…” James wonders but his mind is blank. All he wants to do is take Regulus inside. He has no idea what happened but it’s apparent the boy went through hell. He is shivering, his clothes soaked. It’s raining but why didn’t you use magic to shealt the raindrops?

Regulus bites his lip waiting nervously. James wants to be the one that has his teeth on the lip… “Where did we have our first kiss?”

There is a flick of a smile on Regulus’ lips. “Well, the first one was behind greenhouses, but it was bearly a kiss since I ran away the second it happened. I always thought the one on Quidditch stands as our first. I like that one more, less panicky.”

It’s enough. The boy in front of him is really Regulus. “Come in.” James takes a step back letting Regulus into the hall. Regulus wraps his arms around himself still shivering. Here under the light, James can see how bad the boy really looks. Deep purple bags under his eyes, dirty ripped clothes, pale skin.

“What happened?” James asks as he reaches to him again to tug the strain of hair behind his ear. “Regulus, you are burning up. Why are you soaked? You will get sick.”

“It’s raining.” Regulus matters as the weather and James’ question offended him.

“There are charms for that.”

“I didn’t want to risk them finding me,” Regulus explains and looks down at the floor where droplets of water are dripping. James shakes his head. Priorities.

“Come on.” He takes his hand and leads Regulus upstairs to his room. The house is empty with Sirius and Remus on the mission. He opens the door to the bathroom gesturing Regulus to go there. “I’m gonna give you some of my clothes after you take a bath.”

He quickly searches his wardrobe. He picks up shirt and trousers and a warm knitted sweater, which he is sure is Remus’. He comes back to the bathroom only to find Regulus still standing in the middle of the room. He puts a hand on his shoulder, so he can walk around him when Regulus jerks away. James never saw the boy this terrified, and all it took was James to touch him. What happened to you, love?

“I can’t,” Regulus says looking at the bathtub eyes filled with fear, his whole body still.

“What? Reg, you are hypothermic, we have to get you warmer.” James explains confused about what is the problem. Does Regulus not want James to see him naked? He can leave him here alone, even tho he doesn’t want to. It feels like if he let him out of his sight Regulus would just disappear. Maybe Regulus would let him stay if he just turned around or…

“I almost drowned,” Regulus whispers, and James can see the shiver run down the boy’s body. “I… can’t. James, I can’t…” He helplessly gestures to the tub.

How could this happen to us? What kind of world do we live in, where we have to fear for our life? He almost died. My Reggie. Almost died. I nearly lost him. We are too young for this.

“How about we don’t fill the bath but use the shower?”

“Will you stay?” As soon as the words leave Regulus lips James can see the regret. He refuses to let Regulus take it back.

“Of course, I just got you back. I’m not leaving you.”

Regulus sits in the bath, his knees tightly pressed against his chest. He looks small and fragile. Something Regulus rarely looked like. James is kneeling next to the bath shower head in one hand and foam in the other, the sleeves of his sweater are getting wet.

James hasn’t noticed how skinny the boy is under the coat. As he washes Regulus' body, he sees dark bruises all over, but especially on his right side. But he is more concerned with the deep scratches on his arms and shoulders.

“Reggie…” James whispers as he tries to clean one of the cuts as delicately as he can. Regulus shifts to the side and rests his forehead on James’ chest. He can’t see his face, but going by the shutter breaths, he guesses Regulus is either crying or on the verge of tears.

“I wanted to come back to you. That’s why I didn’t give up. I needed to see you one more time. James…” Regulus chokes up a sob. “I just wanted to see you. Just once. I thought I was about to die, and all I could think about was you. I miss you.”

“I’m here and I'm not leaving.” James nudged Regulus to lift his face up. There was such grief in his eyes, tears streaking his cheeks in constant stream. James leans in to kiss his forehead. “Reg, what happened to you?”

“I stole something from him. Voldemort. And then I hid until they pronounced me dead. I think he didn’t expect anyone to survive that.”

“Why didn’t you come here right after?”

“I wouldn’t put you in danger. I was even afraid to use magic in case they could trace me. I found a ruined building and I stayed there, but then it started to get cold and…” Regulus looked up at him and James’ breath was caught in his throat. Because Regulus is here, talking to him and touching him. James will never let him go. He made that mistake once and he would rather die than see the boy leave again. He will take care of him.

“I wasn’t sure I was allowed to come,” Regulus admits and looks at the dark mark on his forearm. James covers his hand with his own. He helps Regulus get out of the bath and wraps him in a warm towel. He feels relieved the boy stopped shivering again.

“On what side are you on now?” James asks instead of answering. Regulus frowns and he looks tired.

“If I say against Voldemort, would it be enough?” He says nervously. James kisses the top of his head again.

“What did you steal?” James remembers. Regulus slowly crosses the bathroom to his coat. Without a word, he pulls out a silver locket. Jewelry? Really?

“What is that?” He asks and reaches towards the locket. Regulus snatches it from his reach like it would bite James.

“Don’t touch it!”

“You are touching it.” James objects.

“It doesn’t matter what it does to me. I just refused to let you touch it. You… you are light, and this is dark. Nothing dark should touch you. Ever.”

James looks at the locket more carefully. Most dark objects have this aura around them, if you train your senses enough you should be able to feel it. But this doesn’t feel like anything James ever saw. “What is it?”

Regulus shifts his gaze towards the locket with such an intensity James is surprised it doesn’t burst into flames. “The key to defeat him.”

[princeblack]

Regulus knew he’d made a mistake joining the Death Eaters when blood supremacy had almost killed Bee Skywalker in second year, petrifying her. It was something he would never forget; the sight of her in the hospital wing, the fear etched on her perfect face, frozen that way for presumably the rest of time. 

Eventually he knew they would reverse the petrification once the mandrakes were fully grown, but for many months he stayed at Bee’s bedside, worrying he’d never get the chance to tell her how he feels.

Uncle Lucius bragged about the diary he’d offloaded onto Ginny Weasley; how it was the Dark Lord’s and his will would work itself at Hogwarts through the artifact. Lord Voldemort’s cruelty didn’t end there; he used Kreacher to test defenses of his horcruxes, almost killing him in the process. When Regulus first joined the organization, he knew they would go to war for their own kind. He wasn’t completely naive; he understood lives would be taken. But his own ancestors were almost wiped out during the witch hunts, when wizards had attempted to integrate and survive amongst muggle society.

So, then, it was sound reasoning to him what his family always believed— that muggleborns shouldn’t be brought into the wizarding world. How much danger would that pose to them all? And even further than that, how many muggles could you marry until your magical bloodline was stamped out?

But Regulus was never particularly good at being cruel unless someone deserved it. And Bee Skywalker is the kindest person he’s ever met, only ever deserving kindness back. She didn’t deserve to be ‘cleansed’ along with the muggleborns just because she was walking with one when the basilisk attacked. Lucius would call him weak for faltering; for not having the stomach to stand by his convictions. But Regulus isn’t so sure he cares what Lucius thinks anymore, after watching how cruelly he plotted the demise of so many of his peers.

And then in third year, Sirius escaped Azkaban. He arrived at Hogwarts, looking for Peter Pettigrew, the man who had framed him for the murders. Harry Potter, of all people, had defended him, convincing Dumbledore to demand a trial with the use of Veritaserum. The difference, this time, was that they also had Peter Pettigrew, who finally confessed to the murders and set Sirius free.

Reconnecting with his brother was strange but welcome, especially after learning that Sirius was innocent and never on the Dark Lord’s side. He’d had his suspicions, especially since the other Death Eaters were hush about it, never wanting to speak of what Sirius had ‘done’.

With Sirius’s help, Regulus had finished the fake horcrux– something he’d been working on since Kreacher almost died defending the real one. Sirius expected Regulus to let him help, but instead he had bided his time, never telling his brother when he finally stole away to go steal the Dark Lord’s horcrux. After all, it was his fate to face. It was his price to pay, for everything he’d done. Only he could be Voldemort’s undoing by taking and destroying that piece of his soul. Only Kreacher accompanied him, to take the real locket and apparate away.

It was only because of Bee that he survived, being pulled out of the water. It was then that they discovered her ancient magic, a force so powerful it was able to destroy the inferi and save them both so they could escape.

It wasn’t until this year, year four, that Regulus turned in the real horcrux to Dumbledore in exchange for a pardon, offering all knowledge he had of the Dark Lord’s activities. They then performed the fidelius charm once more, hiding Sirius’s new home with Remus Lupin as the designated secret-keeper. Regulus decided then that he wouldn’t return home ever again, instead vowing to move in with Sirius once the school year was up once more. Being at the school or under Sirius’s care were his only options to avoid repercussions for leaving his post as a Death Eater. He’s sure his parents wouldn’t protect him, if faced with questions from Death Eaters.

But even after all of this preparation, Regulus isn’t sure he’ll survive the year. Because to top it off, his name was drawn in the Goblet of Fire. There were only supposed to be three names expelled from the goblet; one for Hogwarts, one for Durmstrang Institute and one for Beauxbatons Academy. Instead, two other names that weren’t submitted had emerged; Harry’s and Regulus’s. There had been uproar at first; many outraged, especially the teachers and students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. After all, with three champions, Hogwarts was mostly likely to win and it didn’t help that it was their school hosting the event. It looked every bit like cheating.

But Regulus knows better. His dark mark burns more frequently every week and he’s aware the Dark Lord is gaining power; he’s likely to enact his ritual to regain a body soon, although Regulus wasn’t given the details of what that ritual would entail. He wonders distantly if it’s possible the Triwizard Tournament is somehow apart of his plans.

He hopes more than anything that he’s wrong, not just because he’s left the Death Eaters but because he wants to tell Bee how he truly feels without worrying for her safety. The first task is looming ahead and not long after it is the Yule ball; students all over the school are already talking about who they’ll take. It almost feels trivial to Regulus, who is already steeped in a war that most students his age know nothing about. 

But he also can’t imagine Bee going with someone else and just the thought makes his stomach churn. She probably has no idea he cares about such a thing, because it’s not like he’s been honest with her. She found out his dark secret about being a death eater when she saw his arm, coincidentally on the same night he helped her with a werewolf transformation. They traded one secret for another, both outcasts at Hogwarts for very different reasons. In a sense, he’s lucky he shared his secrets about the cave and the horcrux, because how would she have known where to go when she caught him sneaking out? He would be dead without her.

But even still, after everything he’s done, how could she possibly like him the same way he likes her? Especially after being petrified in their second year; he doesn’t expect her to ever forgive him for the part he’s played in it all.

But they’re still friends somehow, and she hasn’t told anyone his secret. No one knows besides Bee, Sirius and Dumbledore. He’s not even sure that Sirius has mentioned it to Harry yet, who is also coming to live with them, being officially adopted by his god-father.

Regulus has a lot to say to her and for once it feels as if he’s incapable of stringing the words together. He’s been taught eloquence all of his life, charming teachers and important wizards, but he’s a little afraid of the most beautiful girl at the school. What if she didn’t feel the same way? What if she saw him as a friend, or worse, held some resentment for how things have gone? Not that Bee has a resentful bone in her body.

He decides to write a note in a feeble attempt to organize his thoughts, but he only manages to scribble a few words:

Dear Bee,

I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but it’s difficult for me to breathe whenever you’re near. Truthfully, I don’t know how to ask this after so long of being careful not to hurt you, so I’m just going to say it.

Please go with me to the ball. I know I’m being selfish by asking, especially after everything I’ve put you through. You deserve someone kinder — more like you. But you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known and I can’t keep up this pretense anymore.

Yours,

R.A.B.

He takes the parchment with him after classes are over, carrying it in his things when they meet in the Potions dungeon for personal tutoring. Professor Snape is gone, leaving the classroom dark, cool and empty. The dark-bricked castle walls are lined with glass jars of pickled animals, something he knows Bee had never liked. They feel even more eerie in a quiet, near-empty classroom. He feels guilty for having left her alone in here, waiting on him to arrive. But she’s as kind and forgiving as she always is— maybe more than Regulus would ever deserve from her.

When they get started on brewing the Calming Draught, he gathers the ingredients from the supply cupboard; some lavender, a crocodile heart and peppermint. When he returns to Bee’s cauldron he sits down, laying out the herbs. The crocodile heart is conserved in a charmed bottle to keep it at the right temperature, and rather than removing it, Regulus tilts it out and into her cauldron. “Luckily, the heart doesn’t have to be cut or smashed in any particular way. It’s enough to just place it inside.” He glances at the Hufflepuff sideways, a little worried for her. He knows how soft and sweet she is; using animal parts isn’t in her nature. And then, realizing her thoughts, he adds, “You don’t have to worry about them harvesting the hearts unethically, if it’s any consolation. These are used for calming draughts, so the crocodiles had to die peacefully in order for their hearts to be of any use in the potion.” It’s something he knows only because he cared enough to research it. In that way, maybe he and Bee are more alike than he thinks. His mother would hate the thought, but for Regulus it gives him a little bit of comfort. But then he remembers what he’s done and sobers again, starting to get to work on chopping the peppermint. He uses Bee’s dagger to do so, slender fingers wrapped around the black handle.

The youngest Skywalker had requested tutoring on her potion making technique, wanting to score better grades on tests. Regulus was happy to comply because he enjoyed helping her as much as he loved spending time with her.

He tries to focus on how he can help– he knows how nervous she gets when working around Professor Snape, too. “Try to have a firm grip on the dagger when you’re cutting. You want to chop the herbs as finely as possible so they’re easier to combine with the rest of the potion.” Pushing the lavender towards her on the table, he hands her the dagger. “Go ahead and chop these for me.”

He wonders, silently to himself, if he’ll gather the courage to hand her the note. Maybe when they’re done and leaving the Potions dungeon, he would summon the courage. Or maybe it should be burned to save Bee from the fate of dating someone such as him. / @devcted

[nightingale2004]

C.O.B information series

Cassiopeia Ophelia Black was born May 28, 1960 (six months after Sirius was born)

She was born premature in St. Mungo's and almost died until the healers saved her life, but she had to be held at St.Mungos for a month for further examination

Ever since she was a baby, she has always had strange dreams. It wasn't until she was 4 years old that she understood she had the ability of foresight, but she almost never understood her visions or had complete control over when they happened.

As soon as she could speak and walk, her mother taught her everything she could, from proper manners and etiquette to every type of magic their family library contained

From a young age, she was always known as the most beautiful of all the Black women in her family, even her cousins (some people theorized she was part Veela, but thanks to her hair, that theory was long forgotten)

Cassiopeia has a photographic memory and is extremely intelligent

Sirius, Cassiopeia, and Regulus were very close as children, like attached to the hip close.

Cassiopeia plays violin, piano, and harp

When Sirius would tease Regulus, Cassie would often scold him and defend Regulus

Before Sirius left for Hogwarts, Cassie gave him and Regulus charm jewelry for the three of them that she made herself with the help of her uncle Adolphus and magic (of course)

Sirius and Regulus had a bracelet, and Cassiopeia had a necklace (the charms were a dog for Sirius, a star for Regulus and a crown for Cassiopeia)

When they wear their bracelets and necklace, they feel a warmth and close to one another no matter how far away they are physically

Cassiopeia never understood why muggle and half-blood witches were hated so much by her family and most of the pureblood society (she never spoke out loud about it, tho)

Out of all her cousins, she had more of a close relationship with Narcissa. Cassie was scared of Bellatrix and found Andromeda to be an enigma. But Cassie loves all three of her cousins nonetheless.

Narcissa and Cassiopeia talk about fashion, makeup, gossip (both in their families and at hogwarts), and what's happening in their lives

She's a daddy's girl

Whenever Cassiopeia would read, draw, or just wanted a conversation. She would be welcomed in her father's office sometimes, and they just sit in their chairs either in comfortable silence, playing a game of wizards chess, or having a simple conversation.

Cassiopeia loves having tea parties. She would often have them with her mother, her cousins, or Kreacher

Before Hogwarts, she practiced a lot of wandless magic in the privacy of her room

She is extremely observant

Cassie never understood womanhood and why they kept grooming themselves or acted the way they did until years later

Ever since Cassiopeia was born, her parents have received thousands of letters requesting her future betrothal to the sons of the sacred 28 pureblood families, but they hid the letters and delayed their answer (Orion's request) until both Orion and Walburga decided that their only daughter was old enough to understand

As soon as her family were alerted that Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, they immediately started preparing Cassie and Regulus to take on Sirius's duties just in case things went downhill (which it did)

The House of Black is the center of attention in politics. So every member of their family have to keep appearances to the public and the daily prophet

Cassiopeia loves spending time with her uncle Adolphus, but she is terrified of her uncle Cygnus and Aunt Druella. Same feeling with her mother.

Out of her two brothers, she was closer with Sirius, but after Hogwarts, they drifted apart. So Cassie and Regulus grew closer together and protected each other (more Cassie protecting Regulus)

She doesn't treat Kreacher poorly. She actually sees him as part of the family despite his attitude and treats him with great respect and kindness (when her mother's not paying attention)

When Sirius returned from Hogwarts, Cassie already knew Sirius was drifting away, but she tried to ignore it and pretend her brother wasn't changing and not pulling away from her and her family.

[lunar-serpentinite]

i want to talk abt my headcanons and my au so bad but i have nowhere to talk abt it with outside of my friends' discord server 🥹👍 like hi hello would u like to hear abt my au that has :

tamil james who grew up wholly immersed in his culture and telugu lily who was adopted by a white british family, lived in a small and majority white town and never had any connection to her culture until she met james and sharanya (my name for the patil twins' mum) at hogwarts

swana black family who are older than the statute of secrecy— hell even britain itself as we know it— and who are literally out of the grasp of the ministry itself, are quite literally above everyone and everything else . theyre not impressed w voldy in any way at all cz theyve literally seen and survived worse than him .

jegulily happened bc jily offered asylum for regulus after he realised voldy is batshit insane and regulus needed to rethink all of his life choices including unlearning the blood supremacy bullshit he walked himself into

actually regulus who couldnt go back to his family out of humiliation after he apparently "lowered himself" for a "measly half-blood with a god complex" so he had to grit his teeth and shatter his pride a little more to turn to sirius for help

harry who only became the boy who lived at age five bc ancient potter magic let them hide from voldy better than a fidelius charm and no one dies but lily does get the reputation of being the one who landed the final blow on voldy

more lore on the other families like the lovegoods (greek, with ties to the og ancient greek oracles as well as the cults for demeter and persephone), malfoys (french, deeply intertwined w the french court / parliament what have you and a mysterious connection to the rhine), weasleys (scottish, protectors of ancient magical scottish groves who were driven away from their home), parkinsons (korean, hides their stories in the garment they create and may or may not have a past w gumihos) etc.

idk if u wanna hear more just ,,, hmu i guess ? idk 😭😭😭 the hyperfixation is just too strong i need to let it out

[hpdabbles]

Chains were my Home.

@ironicallypresant said:

Regulus turns James to the dark side and raises Harry 👀

Regulus smiles as Harry runs across the yard, a kite charmed to follow his toy wand as he waves it up and over. His son's laughter echoes through the green hills, overlapping with the wind blowing gently through the green trees and the dancing flowers.

It's nothing like the sound of the city where Regulus grew up. No muggles with their loud machine zooming by the street at odd hours, no constant rain downpouring, and no grey drop back to merry old London. Regulus adores their country home, colorful, bright, and utterly alone.

He leans back, closing his eyes, to feel the wind on his face enjoying their well-earned peace. He opens them to watch his son giggle to himself as he slashes the air with his toy, the kite following the movement only seconds after. Harry stops and runs back, squealing with laughter.

"He seems to be enjoying himself," James says with amusement. Regulus turns to watch his husband leave the kitchen carrying their lunch on a tray. It looks like some sandwiches and a large pitcher of juice. A few sheep made of broccoli are piled on one side of a plate- James' latest attempt to convince Harry to eat his vegetables.

Harry won't eat those. He'll just play farmer with them. Regulus thinks, amused but keeps that bit of information to himself. He instead sits up, curling his legs towards him on the lodging chair, as James quickly sits up a table for them. He's not wearing a shirt, and Regulus' eyes run appreciative over his body.

His eyes trace the Dark Mark on James' forearm before dropping to the add-ons chains that wrap around James' torso. He adores those chains and loves tracing them with his fingers and tongue when Harry sleeps because they are physical evidence that James is his.

James Potter's tattooed chains, which originate from the Dark Mark, are why he will never be able to step one foot off the ten acres of land the Dark Lord graciously let them live on. His son has a similar ward inked onto his skin, but Harry's originates from the collar-like band around his neck- a Mark all unpure blood must wear under Lord Voldemort's rule.

Harry is a half-blood due to his Mudblood mother, whom Regulus made disappear only hours after she gave birth to his son. She did put up one hell of a duel, but ultimately she had been too weak to fight him off, and she died in the hospital wing for new mothers.

As far as James knows, that magic-stealer died in childbirth, and while he struggled to love the cause of her so-called death- poor little Harry had to earn his father's love- Regulus had appeared to support him in his darkest time.

Turning him to the dark while he helped put James back together again made sense. He was everything the other man needed, and only a few sweet words had him seeing that Lord Voldemort was trying to save magic from the unpure.

Harry is unpure- a half-blood, so he had to be branded. Of course, Regulus took him in and made him a son rather than the slave other half-bloods were destined to be, but he always had a soft spot for his servants. It took James until Harry was five before he got over the child being the end of his wife and stopped glaring at the child. He even plays with him sometimes now.

It was only because Harry had started to copy Regulus that he finally saw his new pure-blooded partner in the miniature version of himself.

Regulus fought long and hard in the war, which meant he had some of the Dark Lord's ears. After killing his blood traitor of a brother and locating the hideout of the Order- a small group of resistance fighters Sirius had foolishly joined- he asked his great leader if he could retire to raise his family in peace.

Lord Voldemort allowed it under the condition James and Harry Potter would be cut off from the rest of the world. It suited Regulus just fine- at that point, James was a shell of who he once was, and Harry couldn't even form a sentence yet. He made the deal exchanging his ancestral home and all within it, was given this plot of land, and took his family to live in the countryside where the screams of war could not reach them.

Of course, he leaves it occasionally to attend Death Eater meetings, but with the fall of the ministry, there wasn't much who could stand in their way anymore.

His husband will never know what became of his once home- Regulus makes sure that he has no outside contact with the world. As far as James knew, the war still raged on and Regulus was bravely keeping them safe by venturing the battlefield for them. The chains were meant to hide and protect them, not keep them trapped there. He would die with that belief.

Regulus has killed for less after all.

(A few years later, he would wake to broken wards and his son stolen by the Boy-Who-Survives Neville Longbottom. Harry would break his heart, siding with Longbottom and ripping off his brand, snaring in his face that he would never be chained up again. James would be long dead, so at least he would not see their son become a bloody resistance fighter.)

[myheadisemptyffonly]

A thousand bells ring in my heart (how hard is to ask for forgiveness)

Looking back, recapitulating those fleeting glimpses of a boy in green and silver, Remus could see that signature Black charm in Regulus. Similar to James, Regulus had been the glue of their little group of friends, the baton of their house.

When Barty Crouch Jr would start a fight, it was Regulus who would wrap a hand around the other boy's forearm and pull on the metaphorical leash. When Evan Rosier would make an off-hand comment, it was Regulus who would gracefully take the attention. When Dorcas was concentrating too hard on her schoolwork, Regulus was the one who dragged her out of the library with flimsy but believable excuses. When Pandora Lovegood laughed too loudly, Regulus would laugh louder as if daring the world to tell them something.

The Slytherin house also seemed to follow Regulus without hesitation. Even more so when it became clear to the entire magical community that it would be Regulus who would inherit all the responsibilities and privileges of the most prestigious magical family. It was amusing almost, how on occasion it was not uncommon to find little snakes scampering after Regulus, filling an entire corner of the library with little children eager to learn.

Contrary to Sirius, whom the members of Gryffindor house had viewed with distrust, mostly after the tensions of the war erupted, Regulus never found himself having that problem. He was accepted and appreciated in his house, even if the reason was extremely despicable.

He had everything, all the connections and all the abilities. If there was anyone who held the world in the palm of his hand, it would surely be Regulus Black.

And then dead.

So... surprising. Not for the death, but for the reminder that it was: no one is safe. Not Regulus who had all the tools to ensure his protection, not James who seemed unbeatable.

Regulus became a chess piece and then a player. A player who lasted only a short time, but whose impact has transcended the fabrics of time and space. Like all those Blacks, a star impossible to tame. Because Remus knows, whatever way Regulus died, he sure as hell did it on his terms. Because like all of them, he could not leave without shaking the whole world with his departure.

[thefloatingwriter]

Headcanons for pre-marauders era characters

disclaimer: i am aware that some of these characters are headcanoned as being in the marauders era. i am not trying to be rude to anyone who thinks this. these are just my personal headcanons <3

Warnings - mentions of death, child abuse.

Alice Longbottom (née Fortescue)

1968 - 1975

Gryffindor

Played as a chaser starting in 4th year

One year older than Frank

Became fast friends with Mary even though she was two years younger

Prefect

Her best subject was Transfiguration.

She was good friends with Amelia Bones, who was in the same year as her

She had a younger sister

Frank Longbottom

1969 - 1976

Gryffindor

Best friends with Marlene McKinnon

Close with Kingsley, Emmeline, Pandora, and Dorcas

Also friends with Edgar Bones and Barty Crouch Jr when he was at school.

Became a chaser in his second year

He wasn’t very close with his father, who was usually absorbed in his work at the Ministry

His best subject was DADA

He was absolute rubbish at History of Magic and Marlene and Kingsley had to basically teach him the entire class because he doze off so frequently

Not a Prefect but was head boy

Met Alice on the train in his second year and became fast friends. They started dating in his fifth year, her sixth.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

1969 - 1976

Gryffindor

Wasn't a big fan of Quidditch. He went to all of the games because Frank would have murdered him if he hadn’t, but he always brought a book with him

Was very close with his father. Contrary to Frank, he was closer to his dad because of his work. The time they spent together felt more important because he was at work so often.

He was absolutely devastated when his father was killed in action in his fifth year. He walked around as a shell of himself for the next couple of weeks.

Prefect

His best subject was DADA later on. He was really good at History of Magic in year 1-3 but he became a lot more interested in DADA later on.

Dorcas Meadowes

1969 - 1976

Slytherin

Halfblood

Her first friend at Hogwarts was Marlene. They met on the train in their first year when she had caught her crying after leaving her aunt and uncle behind at the station.

They were academic rivals for a period of time (end of first year - end of fifth (?)

They started dating in sixth and stayed together until the end of their lives.

She proposed to Marlene in 1979 and they never legally got married, but they were fine with that. It was perfect for the two of them.

Her mother was a baker and so one of Marlene and her’s favorite pastimes were baking together because they were both really good at it.

Chaser from second year to seventh

Her best friends were Marlene and Barty later on. Pandora and her were close too.

Her best subjects were Charms and Potions.

Emmeline Vance

1969 - 1976

Ravenclaw

Halfblood

Terrified by werewolves. Ever since she saw a headline about someone being attacked by one, she was petrified. The majority of her nightmares center around them.

Exclusively wears silver jewelry during the first Wizarding War. During the Second she becomes more lenient about it.

Her wedding ring is gold.

Made out with Marlene once when drunk. They both agreed they were definitely better as friends and laughed about it afterwards.

Best friends with Pandora and Marlene

Her best subject were either DADA or Herbology

Pandora Lovegood (née Rosier)

1969 - 1976

Ravenclaw

Pureblood

Best friends with Marlene, Emmeline, and Regulus

She wore odd jewelry. Bottle-cap necklaces and strange earrings out of interesting things she found. Marlene buys her the most interesting Muggle earrings she can find whenever she goes shopping. Pandora once joked she had one for every day of the year.

Her mum died in front of her when she was seven. She freaked out the first time she saw the Thestrals until Marlene explained them to her.

She liked Quidditch, but never enough to play it. She preferred to watch.

She met Xeno in her second year, his third.

They started dating in her third, his fourth.

Regulus saw her as an older sister figure to him, though he would never admit it. Except Pandora knew. She had an amazing ability to do that.

Her best subjects were Charms and Divination. She was particularly good in Magical Creatures as well.

Marlene Meadowes (née McKinnon)

1969 - 1976

Ravenclaw (i will literally die on this hill)

Pureblood

Prefect and head girl

Was not close to her mother due to her strict behaviors and absence from her life. Her mother was insistent that Marlene was a disappointment to the family because of her being sorted in Ravenclaw. When she was younger, she would slap her after misdemeanors.

On the contrary, she was close to her father. He was the head of the DMLE until he was attacked on Christmas Eve of 1969 and resigned, instead becoming an Unspeakable.

Was originally engaged to Frank in an arranged marriage. When the Longbottom family pulled out of the marriage after they found out about Alice and Frank, the McKinnons were trying to find another husband for Marlene. That was the only reasons she was with her family in July, the day of her death.

She had two older brothers, Michael and Matthew.

Her full name was Marlene Mayra McKinnon. Mayra was her mother’s name, and she inherited it from her. She hated it.

Her best friends were James, Frank, Barty, Pandora, and Emmeline.

Her best subjects were History of Magic and Astrology. She was also remarkably good at Ancient Runes.

Mary Macdonald

1970 - 1977

Gryffindor

Muggleborn

Was best friends with Alice and Lily

Hung out with Emmeline more in later years. They only really became friends in her fourth, Em’s fifth.

Dated Marlene in her third year, Marl’s fourth until Mary’s fourth year, her fifth

They broke up when they decided they were better off as friends and stayed great friends until Marlene’s demise.

Mary was completely heartbroken when she heard of her death

Her best subjects were Herbology and Charms.

[greyeyedmonster-18]

the pact (pt. 2)

read part 1 here

what if james had been the only one to die on October 31st? what if Lily did as he said and took harry and ran?

sirius attempts to reconcile with the weight of raising james's kid(s) and the weight of doing this life without his best friend.

quick cw in there for loss of appetite/mentions of grief/depression

about 2k.

The tiny flat he had shared with Remus for the past two years had stopped feeling like home about 6 months ago as a dark storm brewed outside, and rain poured over their four walls., leaking through the ceiling. Sirius had started sleeping on the couch and Remus had stopped coming home altogether, blaming it on nights with the pack, when they both knew things were simply falling apart. The shower head was broken, the floorboards creaked, the windows didn’t shut all the way—the charm the tiny, rundown eyesore of a flat once had (similar to the way Remus’s socks on the floor and inability to make a decision had stolen Sirius’s heart once upon a time) disappeared in the blink of an eye. Which was perhaps a good thing. Because Sirius’s only home had ever really been James, and that was gone too. So it was astonishingly easy to move Lily and Harry into Number 12, a place he hated, a place he swore he would never go back to, after a few days of dusting, and clearing out the dark magic.

There was no place safer. Sirius knew that.

Take care of my kid, Sirius. Take care of Lily.

No one could come and go into Grimmauld Place as they pleased, even if they knew where it was, the house able to detect Black Magic and everyone else was unworthy. Yet Sirius was allowed to pass through the words, unworthy of the last name Black,  unworthy of the title Godfather, James seeing the best and the brightest when there was nothing but broken.

Lily had unraveled entirely, laying in bed, unmoving as her husband on the floor of Godrics Hollow. The lights were kept off in her bedroom, and the faucets were left running by magic to mask the sound of tears and to wash away a stubborn grief stain left on the carpet. Sirius had gotten the dark magic out, a few charms here and there without breaking a sweat, but grief was a different beast entirely. Everywhere Sirius turned, there were still, lifeless bodies. Lily only moving to use the loo, or else down the nutrition Potions Sirius put at her bedside table three times a day to keep the baby healthy. Remus only moving for Order meetings, from his bedroom—their bedroom—to the dining room, to the kitchen, and back. It made Sirius roll his eyes, and he hated himself for it.

Lily who had ran.

Remus who had ran as well, using Harry and Lily as a pointed excuse to stay at Number 12 with Sirius when before he couldn’t have gotten far enough away. Using mourning as tool for separation between them, even after an olive branch made of bitten fingernails had been extended.

Sirius was surrounded by cowards, save a one and a half year old who was brave enough to cry. Brave enough to ask for things, for James, brave enough to say things out loud that no one else wanted to and feel his emotions when Sirius had to master how to shove them back down.

“Dada?” Harry asked, calming down from another fit of crying after breakfast, now sitting on Sirius’s lap, head, clutching Sirius’s hands with his own.

“He’s…not here, my love. I’m so sorry.”

“Mama?”

“Mama’s sleeping right now…” He managed, trying to conceal his tone for the benefit of his godson. In another life it would’ve been said with contempt and bitterness, Sirius closing the door to Lily’s bedroom after every check-in, shaking his head in dismay, and then almost immediately feeling guilty about it. Because it was an impossible choice. Sirius knew that, and there was Harry to think about.

Harry was mostly all he thought about these days, to keep his mind from going past the threshold of no return. To keep himself from reaching for a bottle the same way he did when Regulus died, or when Mr. and Mrs. Potter died.

But the worst part of Sirius…perhaps the part of him that cared more about James than anyone else in the entire world, including himself, thought Lily should’ve tried something. Maybe Harry would have been okay, from the vague ideas of Horcruxes being thrown around Order meetings now, something of a plan forming a little too late and Sirius bit his tongue then too. Rolled his eyes. Muttered under his breath. Excused himself to go check on Harry when Harry didn’t need to be checked. Maybe James would’ve stood a damn chance if someone was by his side, instead of leaving.

Cowardice never sat well with Sirius, and here he was in a house full of them.

“Dada?”

“I’m sorry,” Sirius muttered again, kissing Harry on top of the head, and this time, Harry’s face began to crumple, green eyes filling with tears. Sirius stood up immediately, knowing the quickest want to calm down a Potter was to keep moving.

James, let’s just…go for a walk, it can be a fast one, but I’m not running in these jeans. We’ll figure this out.

“Lets take a walk, mon petit amour…” Sirius paced rhythmically around the halls of Number 12 to the sound of his godsons cries, and the low hum of running water. Soon there would be another set of footsteps from Remus joining them, offering to take a shift with Harry, offering to start dinner, offering, offering, offering things he couldn’t fulfill.

Sirius climbed into bed that night after checking on Lily, and shutting off the faucets, making sure she took all the potions on the night table. Harry was sound asleep, for now, in his crib across the hall and Sirius watched him through the two-way mirror, Remus next to him.

“He’s not going anywhere…”

“You don’t know that,” Sirius responded, voice harsher than he intended it to be. Maybe.

“Baby…”

“What, Remus?”

“I don’t know…why you’re so mad…I know it’s what you tend to do instead of being—”

Sad.

“No, you don’t get to do that, save your fucking armchair psychiatry for someone who still has a fuck left to hear it,” Sirius said, putting the mirror down on the night stand and looking at Remus, “Don’t tell me how I’m supposed to feel about any of this because we know damn well that there’s a fucking baby in this and his mother isn’t—”

“She’s grieving.”

“And what am I? You think this is fun for me?”

Remus sighed, “I didn’t say that, Sirius.”

“And while we’re at it, don’t pretend that you know me. You’ve been… halfway across the fucking world for the past six months, longer maybe—”

“And where were you?” Remus asked back, “Like you were any closer.”

“Waiting for you.”

“Bullocks. That stopped too.”

Harrys cries started from down the hall and Sirius sighed, throwing the blankets off his lap and across the bed. Sirius had made a joke about it initially, how much Harry slept and how the parenting books he had read with James never mentioned the tiny traits that could be inherited. Sirius had laughed in the mornings, when James would call him through the mirror, anxiously dancing about waiting for his newborn to wake up, or his wife to wake up so he would have something to do. Now Harry slept an hour at a time, startling awake and screaming, calling for James and having Sirius come instead.

“I’ll see you in the morning…” Sirius muttered, grabbing his mirror.

“Bring him in here,” Remus sat up in bed as well.

“What?”

“Harry. Bring him in here.”

Sirius ran a hand over his hair, “Moons…I’m tired, I don’t—”

“You’re not doing this alone, baby, I don’t care how big of a tantrum you throw or how angry you are at me and the world for taking out your best friend,” Remus said firmly, “But I’m still here, or trying to be, and I know that doesn’t mean shit to you at the moment--"

"Don't put words in my mouth."

“Okay then bring Harry in here,” Remus repeated for the third time.

Moony’s it for you, I know it, mate. He’s been it for you since your first kiss. If you make it through this war, then you’ll make it through anything… Just say sorry. And give him that ring you picked out.

Sirius let out another sigh and left the bedroom.

Offerings.

Promises, promises, promises tying themselves in knots around every part of Sirius.

He picked Harry out of his crib, arms reaching out and gripping fistfuls of Sirius’s hair that he had forgotten to tie back.

“Shh, you’re okay, you’re okay,” Sirius soothed, running his hand over Harry’s back, kissing him on the side of the head. “Actually that’s not true at all, is it? No one’s okay…not Mama, not your Uncle Moony…not me,” Sirius admitted for the first time, pressing his cheek against Harry’s head as he rocked back and forth on his feet. To dampen the wails before walking down the hall, not wanting to disturb Lily. Not wanting to bother her. “I don’t know if we will be either…suppose that’s okay though. What do you say, babe, live a life that’s just okay? That might be the best I can do without your Dad.”

“Dada?”

“Yeah…suppose we try though…even if we’re a little sad…and a little mad? I’d be mad if I were you, babe. Stuck with me...” Sirius could feel Harry’s wet cheek in the crook of his neck and started moving out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the big bedroom, with the big bed. Remus awake and waiting as promised.

“You came back.”

“You think I wouldn’t?”

--

“Lily, he’s been asking for you…” Sirius tried sitting at the foot of her bed.

“I know.”

“So…lets get up, shower, change—”

“This isn’t a we situation, Sirius, and I am tired.”

“And I’m not?”

“He was my husband.”

Sirius bit back the phrase on his tongue that sounded like and I loved him first in three different languages, choosing to put a hand on Lily’s shoulder instead. “He’s your son, and he’s asking for you. It’s been a month, Lils.”

“No it hasn’t--  your, your birthday?”

“Twenty-one really fucking sucked.”

“It’s…a month?” Lily rolled over, looking at Sirius bleary eyed.

“Just over.”

“I…what.” Red hair was in knots, Lily’s face thinner than it had been despite all the potions and the small meals Sirius had been bringing after having big meals left untouched. Pink nails that Lily always took such care to maintain, even in her early days of pregnancy when she was vomiting every morning and every night, chipped and broken and grown out. “The baby.”

“The baby,” Sirius confirmed, “This is a we situation.”

“James was supposed to be here. What am I going to do?”

“I’ve been asking myself the same thing and I haven’t found an answer. I’ll let you know if I do.”

“…How are you so…okay?”

I’m not. But someone had to be and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be you.

Every time Sirius wanted to yell at Lily, he heard James.

Every single time Sirius wanted to just rip the bedding off of Lily and dump her unceremoniously into the goddamn shower or drag her to a fucking Healers appointment, he heard James and a stupid fucking promise Sirius no longer wanted to keep.

He would rather it not be a we situation too.

But taking care of Lily, making sure her life was good, making sure she was okay was part of the pact. Even if he blamed her, with everything in his body, for not taking care of his best friend.

Sirius gave a weak smile, “It…gets easier,” he lied.

“There’s…hope?”

“Harry makes it feel like that.”

Lily sighed and sat up slowly, muscles weak from not moving for so long. “…Can you bring him here?”

continue to part 3

[leogichidaa]

Sudden Death

For @artemisia-black's prompt: Regulus and Sirius play Quidditch.

Shoutout to my high school bestie, who wrote the inspiration for the first scene.

Regulus was four when he saw his first proper Quidditch match. He had been so excited when they returned home, he had begged Sirius for an hour straight to teach him to ride a broom until Sirius finally relented.

“Before you can learn to fly a broom, you have to be able to fly on your own,” Sirius explained solemnly, as they stood on the precipice of a cliff off the field by their uncle’s house.

Regulus scrunched up his face. “I don't think that is right,” he said, peering anxiously over the edge.

Sirius rolled his eyes. “I should’ve known you’d be a baby about it. Figures. I was flying when I was still in diapers, you know.”

Regulus furrowed his brow and jutted out his jaw. “I am not a baby! I can do it!”

In the end, he only broke three bones, easily reset. He was spared a far worse fate by a bout of accidental magic from Sirius. Rather than suffer any consequences for convincing his brother to jump off a cliff, Sirius was rewarded for showing such strong magic at his age. He later sidled into Regulus' room and insisted that he hadn’t realized Regulus would be stupid enough to actually try it. There was a pleading edge to his voice and eyes, but he never really apologized.

-

When Sirius came home for summer holidays after his first year at Hogwarts, he had suddenly developed a keen interest in Quidditch. He had hitherto always yawned in a thoroughly exaggerated manner any time he was dragged to a match and almost always refused to play with Regulus. But that summer it was all he wanted to talk about. “Potter says the Appleby Arrows have a shot this year”, “Potter met Ludo Bagman”, “Potter says that Christiani has shoddy broomwork”.

It was supremely annoying to have the one thing that Regulus had always hoped for--a shared interest in the sport with his only real companion at Grimmauld--spoiled by this awful Potter boy, who sounded like a right twat (no wonder Sirius was so obsessed with him). 

Nevertheless, the silver lining was that Sirius agreed to go out flying with Regulus. They played a game Sirius had dubbed “Sudden Death”, where they only released the bludgers and both went up with bats, trying to knock the other off their broom. Sirius had always been better at it than Regulus, who was petrified of falling off his broom. He played it safe, avoiding the necessary daring moves and the more he tried to avoid a fall the more likely it became. It didn’t matter that the ground was charmed to give them a soft landing--it wasn’t the landing, really, so much as the awful feeling of hurtling through the air that unsettled Regulus.

Unbeknownst to Sirius, however, Regulus had been practicing while Sirius was away at Hogwarts cavorting with undesirables. He had more confidence on a broom than Sirius now, and it showed. He managed to unseat Sirius nearly every game they played that summer. Sirius never wanted to play it again after that. Not that he was around much to play, anyway.

-

Regulus was 17 and freshly graduated from Hogwarts the last time he saw a proper Quidditch match. It was Puddlemore United against the Appleby Arrows, and the Arrows pulled out an unexpected win. In the pub afterwards, he spotted his brother in the company of his usual crew: Potter, Lupin, and Pettigrew. They were joined by the redheaded mudblood Potter had married. 

Regulus’ eyes lingered on them a moment too long and Sirius looked up and made eye contact. His lip curled and his jaw clenched when he saw his younger brother. His former brother. Two hours later in a back alley, both drunk and overflowing with resentment, they had a shouting match that almost made Regulus feel normal again.

“You remember when you were four and you jumped off that cliff cuz I told you to?” Sirius asked during a lull in the fight, wiping his brow.

Regulus scowled. “I nearly died.”

“I wish I hadn't saved you,” Sirius panted out. “You never knew how to think for yourself, always doing whatever stupid thing someone else tells you you ought to. It’s going to get you killed eventually. At least if it killed you then, there would be less innocent bloodshed. I should have let you die.”

It was the last thing Sirius said to him.

[green-and-grey-kenaz]

Kreacher’s Tale: A Series of thoughts - 2

Regulus’ door, with it’s sign, has scratch marks around the sign ‘Do Not Enter without Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black’. It’s always strikes me as particularly odd that there would be these marks around the sign which is described as pompous. 

So, knowing the Black proclivity for permanent sticking charms, we can reasonably assume that this sign may also have been stuck on permanently, presumably by Regulus.

So, let’s have some theories based on this.

Regulus tried to remove the sign at some point. This has the potential to be angst filled. Most of the time, people are rather young when they have such signs and they are specifically designed against siblings. Therefore, the sign may have been put up while Sirius lived with them and after running away, Regulus tried to remove the sign to help remove evidence of Sirius. It would be a painful reminder that Sirius was gone. Further, it would also make sense why his collage to Voldemort was not permanently stuck on the wall - Regulus has had bad experiences with it. One last curious point, it also suggests that he was casting this spell at least under 14/5.

Walburga tried to remove the sign in her grief. So, if, Regulus never removed the sign for whatever reasons, Walburga may have not wanted the reminder that Regulus had once lived in the house, although it does seem unlikely that there was reason to go up if she wanted to avoid the reminder.

Similar to Walburga, Sirius may have also tried to remove the sign once he returned to Grimmauld Place. As Padfoot, he could certainly be responsible for the deep scratch marks.

A final  theory, the sign was more than just a hand written note, it carried an enchantment. Considering Regulus’ note in the horcrux, it might imply that the time that he was uncertain whether he would survive the cave, in which case his bedroom would become a hideout. The sign therefore may have carried a spell to keep anyone out without the express permission of Regulus. Kreacher living, and Regulus subsequent disappearance, may have caused Voldemort to suspect and want to investigate. The sign may have been enough to keep him out and the scratch marks are evidence of his attempts. It does not explain how it was later entered, but potentially the magic was tied to the Black Family (as opposed to Regulus) and when Sirius died, the magic keeping his room sealed was broken. 

So there are some theories. Any that people prefer? Any theories to add? Feel free to share, I’m curious!

[danpuff-ao3]

Hello!! I have just seen you're doing the ship headcanon meme, yay! I'm a bit behind catching up on the ones you have done, so why not a wildcard? Question of your choice, for Snarry and (if you would like to but certainly no pressure) to make it even more fun another pairing of your choosing from HP because I am greedy LOL. <3

Writ!! 🌸 I couldn't help myself, these are too fun! 😄 Now I can't decide if you're very kind (giving me free reign to babble away) or quite rude (decisions!!) 😂

I was thinking perhaps I'd choose 2 other ships. 1 other Harry ship, 1 other Snape ship. And, because I'm an avid believer in saving the best for last, I'll start with the 2 extras first! I originally chose other questions to answer for Snarry, but in choosing Question 30 for my extras, it seemed a shame not to answer that one in particular for Snarry, as well!

Please enjoy my overly specific headcanons 😂

30. Why does it work (or not work) between them?

Snegulus

When it comes to Severus and Regulus, it works for a time, but never forever.

They're both quite bright and gifted, but neither of them appropriately appreciated. Regulus is the spare in his family. The proper pureblood boy. Opportunities aplenty, but always in his brother's shadow, and haunted by his family's expectations. He's handsome, he plays Quidditch, he makes good grades. But he's quiet. He's never stood out before, so he's content to keep to himself.

Then there's Severus. Terribly smart, terribly talented, but with no opportunities in Cokeworth, or from his family. He's poor and ugly and unpopular. He's too intense, too ambitious, for his own good. And whatever excellence he shows never holds a handle to his more handsome, charming, popular peers.

There is loneliness, and bitterness. Kindred spirits found in the dark. It's first love. Schoolboy romance. Regulus admires Severus' devotion, and his passion, and his intelligence. Severus is captivated by Regulus' kindness, his creativity, his dedication. They meet in the Astronomy Tower for furtive trysts, then lay in the aftermath chatting about magical theory and politics. A meeting of the mind and body.

But Severus is a half-blood, and Regulus is a pureblood. Regulus must marry and produce heirs and if he is to take a male lover, it is expected to be someone of superior birth and rank. Severus does not mind being Regulus' dirty little secret; or, if he does, he is willing to put up with it for any scrap of affection Regulus offers.

It is Regulus who brings Severus to the Dark Lord. Others have tried, have put out the word, but it is Regulus who holds out his hand and leads him there. They have a shared purpose, for a time. And when that purpose changes in them both, neither tells the other. They turn against the Dark Lord. And they drift apart.

And Regulus dies.

(But if Regulus didn't die? Well, if he survived, then he was brave enough to act. And perhaps he would be brave enough to love Severus openly. Easier, when the Dark Lord is gone, and the family is in tatters. Perhaps they marry. And if Regulus is very lucky, then Severus will never meet Harry Potter.)

Scarry

As for Scorpius and Harry, it only works if Severus isn't in the picture.

In every world, I imagine Scorpius with a giant crush on Harry! His best friend's super hot, super sweet, superhero of a dad. It's innocent enough. Albus teases him about it. Scorpius knows it will never happen, even if he dreams about it endlessly.

The older Scorpius gets, the more daring he gets. Never serious. Albus would kill him for one. And so would Severus, Harry's husband. Until Severus...well. Until Severus isn't around anymore. And Harry is heartbroken.

And Scorpius is there. And so very different from Severus. Young and beautiful, soft and sweet. There is guilt on Harry's end for a host of reasons...the age gap, the longstanding crush, Albus. But worst of all, the feeling of betraying Severus (even though Severus is gone.) And from Scorpius there is sorrow and jealousy, that he can never replace Harry's great love.

But he doesn't have to. He's different, and that's a good thing. It's slow going between Scorpius' immaturity and Harry's need to heal, but they work their way together in the end. Their easy camaraderie remains, even when they realize there is more to each other than the Savior and the Cinnamon Roll. Harry is moody and obsessive. Scorpius is entitled and evasive. Harry is intense and reckless. Scorpius is nosy and careless. And the more of each other's flaws they see, the more in love they fall.

Scorpius is complicated in a quiet sort of way. His sugary sweetness hides a lot, as Harry discovers. Scorpius is a challenge, which is good. It's good they butt heads. Harry would be bored if life was too quiet and easy.

They play Quidditch together. Go to games and concerts together. Harry teaches him how to bake. Scorpius teaches him what all the forks are for. Harry learns that it's okay to move on. Scorpius learns that there's room enough in Harry's heart for him, too.

Snarry

But if you hadn't noticed, Harry and Severus reign supreme in my heart and mind. With them, it's forever.

There's baggage. Pain and rage. They're caught up and tied together by their history. By their roles in the war, as tools and weapons. How they are touched by loss (of others) and by death (of themselves.) How they understand loneliness, and ostracization. They both have wounds that run so deep, and they're both so damn good at pouring salt in the wound.

It's built on bitterness. But it doesn't grow there.

They connect through so much grime and darkness. The bond grows stronger, bolder, as time wears on. They're both obsessive, intense, and passionate. They're both intelligent and skilled, in their own ways. They're dedicated. And loyal. And brave.

They'd both be bored without a challenge, so Severus studies and experiments while Harry explores and adventures. They butt heads, too, of course. Enlightening debates on good days, heated arguments on bad days.

Severus brings out the worst in Harry, and appeals to his darker side. Harry needs to accept his own darkness, and be accepted for it. He was the Boy Who Lived, turned Savior. He went from not being good enough to the Dursleys to being this picture perfect hero in the Wizarding World. He needs to face the darkness, and work through it, and know he's not alone in it.

Harry brings out the best in Severus, alongside the rest. Harry sees the good in him. He recognizes his strength and his bravery and his perseverance. When Severus can accept that Harry believes those things, he can begin to see them for himself. To be sure in the knowledge that bitterness and badness isn't all there is to him. He is more than his cruelty and danger. He is capable of tenderness, and romance. And he is worthy of kindness, and generosity.

They see the best and worst in each other, and drag it out into the light. They clash, and rip each other to shreds, until their broken pieces commingle in the dirt. They burn each other alive in the heat of their passion: fear and lust and hate and love. They're reborn in the ashes. A sacred fire, a sacred ritual. One they can't explain to anyone else, could never find in anyone else.

There is also peace, and joy. Quiet nights by firelight. Whispering beneath the stars. Cuddling in bed. Sharing breakfast. Severus does the crossword while Harry reads him bad jokes. They tease, and play, and make love. They share a life together, a home together, and love; things they always wanted and never really had, before they found each other.

More than that, they trust each other. They test each other time and again, unable to give it a rest. But as time goes on, there is little doubt that they're in it for the long haul. The other isn't leaving, isn't flinching away. There is devotion. Unbreakable faith. They're a team. They'll face any foe together, be it sleazy politicians or deadly Dark wizards. Oh, and that rude neighbor who is definitely stealing their tomatoes.

IN CONCLUSION: Snarry are soulmates, but other ships are kind of valid I guess 🤣 Sorry for talking your eyeballs off. 10 points to your House if you've read this far.

(In hindsight, I should have stuck to my original Snarry questions and chosen a safer extra ship. Oops.)

ship headcanon meme

Snarry: 1, 12, 28; 3, 23; 4, 8, 9; 11, 17; 6, 22, 27, 30

Drarius: 1, 13

Snilch: 2 & 30

Snegulus: 30

Scarry: 30

[artemisia-black]

Theory: The commissioning of Walburga's painting

So this is a theory attempting to give nuance to Walburga’s portrait that doesn’t rely so heavily on misogynistic tropes.

The Theory is based on the following key components:

1. I theorise that Orion’s death is tied to Regulus death. They both die within a year or so of each other and Orion dies young for a wizard.

2. Despite being disowned, Sirius still inherits the family elf and Grimmauld place. And when Sirius's death is announced Phineas Nigellus says the following:

'“Am I to understand,” said Phineas Nigellus slowly from Harry’s left, “that my great-great-grandson — the last of the Blacks — is dead?”

So we can infer that the Blacks are patrilineal. And we know that they are very proud of their family:

" Convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal ." OoTP

At the time of his imprisonment, Sirius was one of the last males left in the family who could father children. The only other two being:

-Actrurus Black

- Cygnus Black

Yet he was left in prison and not given a trial, unlike his cousin Bellatrix. My theory for the Blacks leaving him to rot and not intervening is two-fold:

1. Firstly because he has run away from the family

2. Secondly (and this is the main one), Sirius commits his crime long after his family's deaths . Therefore it would seem that he was a still loyal to the man who had killed his father and brother. And he ran to the Potters and had them murdered too. So he's scum with no loyalty to anyone but Voldemort.

For Walburga:

1. She can't stop the magical Primogeniture, so Sirius will inherit Grimmauld

2. She has a very similar temper to her son and is verbally cutting.

3. She's a blood supremist but not a Death-eater:

"They got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though."

4. In her mind, Sirius chose another family over theirs and still betrayed them, so he is the ultimate traitor.

So she commissions the portrait, so he'll never know peace while he's in the house. She also uses a permanent sticking charm, in the exact way Sirius does with his posters.

A side-note:

In OoTP there are several scenes where Sirius interacts with items bearing the Black Crest (the ultimate symbol of their privilege).

“Yes,” said Sirius, surveying it with distaste. “Finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest.”

"When Sirius wrested a large golden ring bearing the Black crest from his grip."

"The china, which bore the Black crest and motto, was all thrown unceremoniously into a sack by Sirius"

In all three scenes, Sirius has a very visceral reaction to the family crest and while this is partly coming from his emotional wounding, I interpret it as fury that his privilege didn't save him from rotting in Azkaban. And hurt that his powerful family didn't intervene on his behalf.

Shout-out to the amazing @ashesandhackles who chatted this through with me :D

[regulusrewritten]

regulus black hcs:

(these are all from my imagination, you don't have to agree with them)

he was an extremely quiet baby - never cried, never fussed, was an absolute angel (sirius was the noisy one).

he believed in blood supremacy in the sense that he definitely thought it was fishy how there were witches and wizards without any magical heritage.

but he never held it against them. sure, he had no hesitation using someone's blood status against them if they managed to cross the line with him, but he only ever did that in a tit for tat kind of a way.

the hat considered ravenclaw for him.

he absolutely sucked up to slughorn and the teachers couldn't help but like him. he was a charming lad in a quiet manner, unlike his boisterous brother.

regulus sucked at studying. he had a learning disorder that was never diagnosed, so while his talents on the quidditch pitch were extraordinary, he barely passed in most subjects.

that was a great excuse for his parents to "punish" him.

that led to him being insecure about his grades.

he never showed it though, he was too busy locking up his emotions.

he was a stoic guy, and he had very few friends, preferring instead to read and write.

he was great with literature.

regulus was a huge fan of shakespeare's works, particularly 'twelfth night'.

he had a crush on james from the middle of his fourth to the ending of his fifth year.

it started when james talked to him and apologised on sirius' behalf that he got left behind at their parents' house.

it ended when he got the mark and staying alive became his priority.

regulus died a virgin, and was probably asexual.

he loved the hogwarts kitchens - and all the elves loved him.

regulus never became prefect because of his poor grades, but he did become quidditch captain.

in his seventh year, he dropped out of school.

had he lived, regulus would've become a professional quidditch player.

regulus only got the mark because the dark lord was already angry with the blacks that sirius had left. he did it to save his family.

he would've rather remained neutral during the war.

his last thought before he died was that he let his brother down in the same way the latter let him down, and that he would never get to reconcile with him.

[hpdabbles]

Gods Sirius' reaction was soo understandable btw really james? that guy is still ur bf's brother. if ur still taking prompts, maybe regulus trying to makeup for unintentionally pissing off harry while simultaneously paniking about his parents' reaction?Oh, also a confrontation with Sirius (Harry feeling like crying bc its SIRIUS)

Harry hadn't spoken to him for days. Regulus wasn't sure he wanted him to, since he was still coming to terms with the fact he married a half-breed. Someone who's blood was tainted by magic stealers, a person responsible for stealing a poor young wizard's or witch's magic from them and making them into squibs.

Regulus knew this from a young age to be true. That's why squibs were so pitied, even some hated, because they couldn't protect their magic and instead allowed some mudblood to take it, entering their world that they had no right to.

Yet, he has always been told magic stealers were weaker because at the end of the day they weren't worthy and would only be able to use a portion of the power they robbed. It was why mudbloods and half-breeds were never truly able to beat any pureblood.

Oh they could score higher in academics, but never in magical prowess. They could graduate Hogwarts as the top students like Evans did, but they were there due to intelligence not power.

Regulus, as much as it burned to admit, was in a similar boat. He is smart, ridiculously so, but it never really matter to the magical world, because Regulus is weak when it came to casting. He is a failure of a wizard born from such a powerful bloodline and no one ever lets him forget it.

If Sirius hadn't run away due to his ridiculous ideals when he did he would be the Heir his parents wanted so badly. After all Sirius was born with everything a Pureblood should be born with.

Sirius had the charisma, the magic, and even the looks. Regulus was born with everything else, and as far as he can remember, his parents bemoaned the fact.

His uncle Alphard used to tell him that all that didn't matter, that Regulus just needed to find what he loved, what his passion was and that would lead him to a life of happiness.

That he was enough just the way he was, and if others couldn't see it then it was their lost.

Maybe it was easy for the man to say that.

He who didn't have weak magic, who had a backbone made of steel and the kindest eyes Regulus knew, because Uncle Alphard was successful in life. He build his own charms company from the ground up, and made so much money it rivaled Lord Black's own vault. A mighty feat since Lord Black's vault was the combination of wealth through the family history.

Money he left all to Sirius upon his death proving one last time that for all his talk about caring for Regulus that was just that. Talk.

For years after Uncle Alphard's death Regulus tried to put the memories out of his head; of spending hours on end pouring though the man's personal library, weekends gushing about theories and even helping him in some experiments because his uncle valued his mind.

Thought that Regulus was incredible when no one else did.

But the man died, proved he only cared about the more magical nephew with his will and Regulus sent the rest of his life since trying so desperately to get his parents' approval.

But no matter what he did, Sirius outshone him again and again, even when it made his parents throw a fit they were still far more impressed by his older brother.

Regulus was his house youngest seeker, but Sirius and his Gryffindors won the cup each year.

Regulus was in the slug club, but Sirius was the belle of the Slug Balls always invited by one of other members.

Regulus created three new charms cleared by the patent board before he was seventeen but Sirius could cast them after reading the theories in the Charms yearly academic journal.

He didn't believe in the cause as much as his friends did, but he joined the Death Eaters because it was expected of him and a small part of him thought his parents would finally be proud. He joined, he got marked and was thrusted head first into the war.

Uncle Alphard, who fought in the war against Grindelwald, for a few years as a favor to the Germany ministry and MACUSA, had once told him "There is no honor in war. There is no good war. There is only horror and survival. " when a younger more naïve Regulus asked him what a honor it must have been to be chosen as part of the unit.

Regulus of back then didn't understand how the man could say that when the history books hailed him a hero, a man of honor and dignity but when he went on his first raid he knew. Sometimes Regulus can still hear the mudblood scream in his nightmares and he doesn't feel honor of ridding the magic world of tainted blood, he just feels horror.

He was deemed too young to be out in the field, especially as Heir Black, so after his first raid he was allowed to be support and though his parents bemoaned the news Regulus was grateful.

He instead spent the last few years reviewing battle plans, organized defensives and looked over reports. His uncle's library was a gold mind of knowledge, hailing from all corners of the glob in both Light and Dark magics so Regulus who was raised on the old texts was often handed the higher level stuff.

Ironically this was how he realized what the Dark Lord had done. He pieced together everything, especially when the Dark Lord was fatal hit in battle but did not stay down and that made the moral of the Death Eaters go through the roof, sure they would not be defeated.

A week later the Dark Lord approached him for Kreacher and he knew for show that the Dark Lord was truly mad.

Everything he done was for the work of a mad man and now Regulus was paying the price.

Part of that price was gaining a husband who was a halfbreed, with a mudblood mother, and was refusing to speak to him even thought the tent they lived in could only expand so far.

The thing was, Harry, despite only knowing him for few days reminded him so much of his Uncle Alphard that him not talking to Regulus hurt the same way it did when he heard from his mother what Uncle Alphard's will had said.

"Get up" Harry's voice started him from where he was slowly sinking into his mind in the corner of the tent. He blinks up to the stone cold face of his husband unsure of what to say now that he been addressed after four days of heavy silence.

"What?"

"I said get up. We're going out."

"To get another Horcrux?" Why else would Harry bother talking to him? Over the last few days Harry had gone out in disguise to fight off Death Eater raids saving families of half-breeds and Mudbloods.

Regulus caught him a few times stumbling back with injuries' to piece together the schedule for upcoming raids he had overlooked a few days before he deflected.

Harry's lips pressed tight together. "No. We've been summon by Gryx."

"Who?"

"Gryx. You're family goblin. He said it was important about our marriage." Harry's eyes narrowed "A marriage you are magically bond to keep up."

"My family goblin is named Terixon. I do not know a Gryx." Regulus responded choosing to ignore the threat even if he felt like he was speaking to his parents who made him feel little. "It may be a trap."

"No. I verified him before agreeing. The Bank Dragons claim his legit." Harry dismisses, once again reminded Regulus he can speak broken dragon which is still strange. "He's a family goblin alright, but apparently you guys been ignoring him for years. He mostly works with your brother now, and a cousin, Mrs. Tonks"

What?

"I...this is the first I am hearing of this." Regulus admits and Harry squints harder before his eyes flash in a way that Regulus has only seen the Dark Lord do. His magic, so powerful it makes his eyes glow and Regulus is momently stun by how pretty green Harry's are.

"You're not lying."

Regulus nods and then Harry does something so strange that the Black freezes in his seat. Harry reaches out and pats his hair, green glowing eyes softening, and for one moment he is looking at Regulus like he can actually see him. "Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing."

They leave for the bank without acknowledging the way tears gather in Regulus eyes or how Harry doesn't stop reaching out to gently tap or play with his hair as if the physical contact is meant to comfort him.

Oddly enough, it does.

Gryx is a old tiny thing waiting for them in lobby, where Regulus struts in like the Lord he now is, ignoring the wide eye looks of the others with Harry hanging off his arm like a good trophy husband does. Things about their marriage has calm down a little but people still don't know anything about them and he knows people are still trying to focus on something happier.

The goblin leads to a private room that shockingly is not empty. Harry freezes at his side, a chocked gasp leaving his lips just as his brother turns to them with a nasty glare, besides him Potter and Lupin are seated looking just as angry (Potter) and tense (Lupin) as his brother.

"Um, hello." Harry starts his voice strain with a unknown emotion, a little chocked, a little breathless and heartbroken. Regulus is suddenly reminded that when he first met Harry, that he concluded his husband was a admirer of his brother.

“I know of him but he doesn’t know me."

Harry is in love with Sirius and if that doesn't burn.

Lupin awkwardly smiles at Harry, looking exhausted to the bone. The full moon was but yesterday so it makes sense. Regulus would worry for him if he wasn't his brother's idiot friend instead of a poor creature who was suffering. "Hello."

"Great. We greeted each other." Gryx grumbles. "Now, Lord and Consort Black, please take a seat. We have much to cover."

"C-consort?!" Harry croaks letting his hand drop from Regulus arm. "Is that supposed to be me?"

"Seeing as you filed to take Lord Black's name then yes."

"Can't I just be Mr. Black?" Harry wines. His childish attitude making Regulus crack a smile, finding him enduring in his pureblood robes and his small pout. Strange sure, but enduring.

"Were you born a Black?"

"No."

"Then you married in and thus are a consort."

"Regulus, do something!" Harry whines and it's like the four days of silence is gone. He knows what the other is doing, he's making them out to be a pair, with a unity that no one else will question. Regulus can't help the happy smile from growing on his face.

"I can not do anything about your proper title Harry. You are my husband, I am Lord Black and thus you are Consort Black."

"That sounds so gross. Shut up" Harry grouches but he is smiling too and even if it's fake, even if Harry is in love Sirius, it's still aimed at him, its only for Regulus. The knowledge is like liquid gold.

"Lord Black." Gryx snaps, reminding them they are not alone and are still standing in front of the door way grinning at each other like a pair of loons. His face heats up, especially at the weirded out looks the Marauders are sending them. "I would rather have you sign over the Universe Charm Company to Mr. Black today and be done with it-"

"Sign over what?" Sirius is the one who speaks this time. "Universe Charms was closed the day Uncle Alphard died!"

"No, it was merely given to a temporary CEO as instructed by Lord Black."

"What? It was what?" it took a moment to realize that the dead voice that spoke belong to Regulus. But he can't hear very well over the ringing of his ears. Harry's warm hand slips into his, prying his fingers away from his skin. It's only then he notices he drew some blood with how tight he made his fists.

Gryx looks highly vex with him but answers anyway in the same gruff tone of all Goblins. "As per Alphard Black's will, he left two-thirds of his wealth and a sealed letter to Sirius Orion Black, and one third of his money, his company, family home, his private library and a sealed letter to Regulus Arcturus Black. However, Regulus Black at age fourteen sent the bank an owl claiming to have someone else run the company and to keep everything as he did not want, nor need anything from a blood traitor."

Regulus, goes deathly pale, and would have fallen over had it not been for Harry's fast reflexes to hold him up. "He left me something?"

Gryx annoyance seems to ease just slightly looking as surprise as a goblin can. "Of course he did. Your mother had been informed along with the others at the Will reading you missed due to not being allowed leave from Hogwarts."

"She...she said he left it all to Sirius. She wouldn't...she couldn't." Regulus can't breath. He knows his mother had no forgiven Uncle Alphard for supporting Sirius and making it impossible for his brother to come crawling back to them for finical support if nothing else but to lie about this, when she knew how much it destroyed him to think his uncle didn't care?

Sirius gives a nasty laugh. "What you expect Reggie? It's mother. She lives to use you and hurt you."

The words feel like a slap because Sirius had said them over and over again throughout their lives but never before had they felt...so real. So true.

"I think we all need to sit down and harsh out the details." Harry says sounding like he isn't the only thinking Regulus together and isn't afraid of Potter, Lupin or Gryx. He makes eye contact with Potter with quite difficulty and if Regulus was in a better mental place he would have found that strange "Let's burry the hatchet for now yeah?"

"Burry the what?" Potter snaps and Lupin quickly intervenes as Potter had gone for his wand taking the strange words Harry used as a threat.

"It's a muggle saying James. It means let bygones be bygones. He's trying to apologize."

"Why would a Pureblood supremist use muggle sayings-"

Harry helped Regulus into his seat before growling- like a tiger- at Potter. It was alarmingly attractive, and Regulus pale face turns just the slightly bit red.

Sirius who had been watching him, raises his brow. Regulus snaps his eyes back to Harry who is still giving the deadliest of glares to his old childhood crush. Regulus shivers.

"I'm a half-blood, who's parents were murdered by supremacists so watch yourself Potter. I'm not above breaking that deliciated little nose again."

Goodness. Regulus fought the urge to fan himself.