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If there was one chore Sirius despised, it was hoovering.
Washing up was made easy by the new dishwasher he finally convinced his partner was a worthy purchase, walking the dog was hardly a chore at all, and mopping was almost fun with the microfibre cleaning slippers he always wore.
Hoovering, though, was a nightmare.
As much as Sirius adored Padfoot, the furry menace was the sole reason they needed to hoover the house so frequently. Some people could get away with hoovering a few times a week but not Sirius and Remus. No, they had to hoover every day—sometimes even more than once a day—to account for the constant black fur covering their nice, only a little scuffed, hardwood flooring.
Arguably the worst part was knowing the chore would never end. And their hoover was so bloody bulky, because regular hoovers couldn’t handle the sheer mass of Padfoot’s fur, so they had to invest in a denser, more powerful machine that cost a startling amount.
Sirius was in the midst of psyching himself up to drag the beastly contraption out of the hallway cupboard when the doorbell rang.
Leaping up from the sofa, Sirius happily went to the door, grateful for an excuse to delay his least favourite task.
Already smiling, Sirius leaned against the door. “Yes?”
Stood on his dog-themed welcome mat was a very tall man holding a dark blue clipboard. The man had wide, muscular shoulders with dark brown skin and curly hair. Although Sirius was a taken man, he knew how to appreciate beauty and this man was handsome. Dark eyes were framed by dense lashes not at all obscured by his circular lenses. His nose was broad and perfectly proportioned for his face. Thick lips were spread in an affable but strained smile and Sirius’ eyes zeroed in on the tenseness of his angular jaw, noting the beard scruff that came with several days of not shaving. It could have been a stylistic choice but paired with his wrinkled shirt and tired eyes, he suspected something was keeping the man from maintaining his appearance.
“Hello, my name is James,” the man said with a friendly smile, then he just stared.
Vaguely confused, Sirius nodded. “Hello, James.”
James startled and gestured with the clipboard. “Do you mind if I ask you some questions relating to blood and organ donation?”
Sirius blinked slowly. “Excuse me?”
James ducked his head, suddenly seeming shy. “Sorry, I was supposed to show you my badge first.” A rectangular identification badge was tugged out from his pocket. He slung the lanyard over his neck then raised the badge so Sirius could see it properly.
“First day?” Sirius asked breezily as he looked at the badge. The plastic lanyard and badge were NHS issued. “‘Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation’. I didn’t know that was a thing.”
“We help look after donors and recipients as well as their families or carers.” James wriggled the clipboard again. “Did you know minority groups are the most overrepresented patients on transplant waiting lists?”
“Er, no. What does that mean?”
“There are more of us that need organs than those donating them. Sometimes it’s because of cultural or spiritual beliefs, other times it’s simple mathematics. A majority white population means most of the donors are also white.”
“I have to admit, I’ve never thought of organ donation.”
“Most people haven’t but it is incredibly important to consider,” James said passionately. “The waiting list for organ donation can mean several months of waiting while a person’s condition worsens.”
Sirius did not know whether the guilt angle was recommended in training but it was working. His health was pretty good but as someone in a relationship with a man with such poor health, he felt ashamed to admit he never considered organ or blood donation.
“I thought gay men couldn’t donate.”
“A common misconception. Gay men are welcome to donate so long as you have had the same partner for three months and meet other eligibility criteria applicable to everyone.”
“Oh, well—” Sirius went to ask for a form or leaflet to look over when Padfoot abruptly began barking. Hissing through his teeth, he stepped back. “I bet it’s that blasted squirrel again. Sorry, come inside a moment.”
“You have a dog?” James sounded pleased as he stepped inside.
“I have a pain in my arse on four legs,” Sirius said fondly. He wrenched open the back door and shouted, “Padfoot! Inside, now!”
Padfoot whuffed and snorted before bounding towards him. As Sirius suspected, the squirrel that had been terrorising their walnut tree scampered back up over the back wall. Sirius shook his head as Padfoot waltzed through the kitchen and froze at the sight of a stranger hovering on the inside welcome mat.
“I would have followed but my mama taught me to take my shoes off in the house,” James said awkwardly. Sirius eyed James’ black socks contemplatively. His parents had the same rule. “Is he friendly?”
“Very, don’t let his size fool you.” He petted Padfoot on his massive, furry head and the dog huffed at him. “Go and lie down.” Padfoot loped off to do as instructed, not sparing James another glance. “Tea?”
“Sure.”
“So, when did the NHS start sending out nurses to get more people involved in organ donation?” Sirius rifled through the cupboards. Thank heavens for Remus and his tea addiction. He dropped a teabag into a mug for James and a spoonful of hot chocolate into his usual Iron Man mug.
James sent the counter an amused look. “Hot chocolate in July?”
“Tea and coffee taste vile.”
James suddenly looked sad. “I see.”
The sound of the kettle boiling faded into the background as Sirius assessed the man in his kitchen. “So, is it your first time doing this?”
“You could say that.” James tugged at the tie loosely knotted around his neck. “Mind if I go over the form with you?”
“Have at it.”
“Excellent. First, do you know your blood type?”
“No,” Sirius admitted.
“I have a blood typing kit.”
Sirius almost laughed as James tugged a small box from his pocket. “Do you have an umbrella stand in there too?” Or an ice box for Sirius’ precious organs.
“My partner makes a point to always be prepared.”
“Is he in the neighbourhood?”
James looked confused before abruptly nodding. “Oh, yes.”
“Have you worked together for long?”
There was a thoughtful pause as Sirius turned to lift the kettle once it finished boiling. “Not long enough,” James finally said.
“Milk? Sugar?”
“Yes. Two, please.”
Sirius heaped the sugar into his tea before adding a splash of milk. He stirred with a clean spoon before tossing it into the sink and sliding the mug towards James.
“Superhero fan?” James asked.
“I like to see the bad guy lose.”
James laughed. “My partner says the same thing.”
“Can I see that?”
James passed the blood typing kit to him. The box was sealed. No NHS logo or issuing number, it looked like the sort of thing he could purchase in a shop or online but it wasn’t like he knew how NHS blood typing worked. Did they use test kits like this? Maybe it was more cost-effective than using big machines. Could big machines even determine blood type?
Shrugging, Sirius tore open the box and pulled out the plastic bag inside. There were many items. A little card with reference images, an instruction sheet, a lancet, an alcohol swab, a pipette, and four little plastic scoopers. After reading over the instructions, he decided it looked simple enough.
“So, I prick my finger, put a drop of blood in each circle, add a drop of water and let the solution do its thing,” Sirius said.
“Yes! Very easy work. I did my own, then my parents wanted to try it too.”
“And?”
“Mama and I are A-positive. Papa is B-positive.”
“I have no idea what that means. My mother had strange beliefs on blood. She was a bit sensitive about it.” Sirius curled his lip at the memories of her barking at him about the sanctity of their bloodline and keeping the family pure. “Keep asking your questions. I’ll do this.”
James looked a little unsteady for a moment. “Of course. We’ll leave the blood type question blank for now. Are you a smoker?”
“Used to be,” he admitted as he started arranging the contents of the test kit on the counter. “My boyfriend and I are currently eight months clear.” The itch still bothered him. Most days he could try to ignore it but sometimes, especially when he thought of her, he felt the urge more than ever.
“Excellent! It takes a lot of effort to quit a bad habit. Drinker?”
“Not a chance.”
Alcohol was the one vice Sirius refused to indulge in, and in his darkest moments he had done a lot. Smoking, various drugs in various forms, body modification from dyeing or cutting his hair to tattoos and piercings, but he had never let a drop of alcohol touch his lips.
“Good. Age?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Ethnicity?”
“Korean,” Sirius said breezily as he pricked his finger with the lancet. He massaged the length of his finger, watching the blood bead on the tip. Carefully, he applied the drops to each section of the card.
“Do you know your BMI? Alternatively, what is your height and weight?”
“No clue about my weight. Last time I measured my height was last year.” Sirius tried to remember what the doctor said. “I think I’m about five-nine.”
“Five feet and nine inches.” James scribbled the answer down. “You look like you’re in good shape so we won’t worry about your weight. This is only to get a general gauge of your health. Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?”
“No.” Sirius eyed the card contemplatively. Health was such an odd thing. He was luckier than many. He rarely caught colds or had odd aches and pains. He was born with almost perfectly straight teeth, he never suffered from double vision or any hearing problems.
“Allergies?”
The thought of allergies made his stomach flip, remembering the first time he used an epi-pen. His tiny hands strangely steady as he held his baby sibling’s life in his hands. Subconsciously, his gaze moved to the cupboard across the room where all of Remus’ medication was kept.
“No.” Sirius’ mouth felt dry and he hurriedly took a sip from his hot chocolate with his free hand.
“Do you have a history of chronic conditions like liver disease or hepatitis?”
“No. I think this is almost done.”
James almost flew across the room, clipboard abandoned on the counter. Sirius lifted the comparison card for him to take. “Let’s see…”
Sirius grimaced. “I think your kit is broken. None of them look different.”
Instead of looking disappointed, James seemed fit to burst. “You have no agglutination!”
“Which means…”
“O-negative! The universal donor.”
“Universal donor?”
“O-negative blood can be given to anyone regardless of their blood type.”
No wonder James was so excited. He was a golden goose for a blood donation nurse. “Great,” Sirius said plainly.
“Sorry, O-negative is somewhat rare,” James said.
“Is it?”
“Sort of. Technically, it’s the third most common blood type but the problem is it’s in extremely high demand.”
“Because of the whole universal donor thing,” Sirius surmised.
James went back to his clipboard. “Yeah, more people are using it than giving it. While AB is the rarest blood type, it is the easiest for recipients because they can receive from anyone. On the other hand, O is the most common blood type which can donate to anyone but people with blood type O can only receive from fellow O types.”
“Well, I guess you hit the jackpot, I’ve got blood to spare.” And hoovering to avoid. “Are there any more questions?”
“History of substance abuse?”
Sirius cringed. “Not…really.”
James blinked. “Mental health problems which could impede decision making?”
“No.” For all his problems, making his own choices was never something he struggled with. Sometimes he thought he was a little too well-versed in making difficult decisions, even if the consequences haunted him for years after.
“Active infections?”
“None.” Sirius set the plastic cover over his blood card. Remus would probably get a kick out of it. No doubt Remus knew his own blood type. He was in and out of hospital enough.
As if his thoughts were capable of magic, the familiar scratching of a key in the door lock caught his attention. Padfoot’s collar jingled as he rushed out into the hallway and Sirius craned his neck to see the edge of Remus’ jacket as he gently rubbed Padfoot behind the ears.
“Afternoon, Pads, go on, step back,” Remus said fondly. The crinkling from a plastic bag made Sirius smirk. Another visit to the bakery. “Sirius?”
“Kitchen! We have a visitor.” Sirius glanced at James who had gone strangely stiff. Remus’ slippered footsteps padded towards the kitchen door and Sirius smiled as soon as his eyes met his partner’s. “Remus, this is James. James, my partner, Remus.”
Remus had always been quick. Sirius watched his eyes dart across the room, from the clipboard to the kit spread out on the counter to the blood card in Sirius’ hands. Finally, his eyes settled on James’ badge. “Hello.”
“Hello,” James said with a tense smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“Molly’s?” Sirius asked.
Remus gestured with the bag. “She caught me walking past. I couldn’t say no.”
“Oh, I’m sure. Give me my treat.”
“Who says I got you anything?” Remus moved to stand beside him, settling a hand on his back as he passed over the bag. “What is this?” Remus took the card from his fingers.
“Blood typing. James is an organ donor nurse raising awareness about donating blood or organs.” Sirius uncovered the sweet pastry with a distracted air. Molly Weasley was a saint. He took a hearty bite of the apple turnover—his favourite. Only after swallowing the sweet, apple-pie like filling did he realise Remus was staring hard at James.
“Raising awareness,” Remus said flatly.
“Yep!” James smiled sunnily.
“Can I see your badge?”
James wilted. “Oh, I’m not supposed to do that.”
Sirius continued eating. Molly really was a genius in the kitchen. Her gormless brothers could learn a thing or two about contributing to society in positive ways. And not flirting with people’s boyfriends.
“We both know that isn’t true,” Remus said. “The NHS doesn’t send out specialist nurses to act as errand boys.”
“This is a new development.”
“The NHS is understaffed and underfunded. They aren’t going to waste time going door to door with disposable blood typing kits. Even if they did, they wouldn’t send a nurse to do it.”
James straightened his glasses, his clipboard held in front of him like a shield. “I don’t know what to tell you, mate.”
Quicker than Sirius could anticipate, Remus snatched the badge from James’ neck and pulled the card from the lanyard casing.
“Oi!” James started forward only to falter when Remus peeled something off from the card.
“The badge itself is real but your ID picture has been plastered over whoever the badge really belongs to.” Remus scratched at the card with his fingernail. “Did you steal this from someone just to take advantage of people?”
Sirius lowered his pastry. “What?”
Rather than denying it, James raised his hands. “Okay, I know this looks bad—”
Sirius grabbed for the card. The flimsy image of James was still in Remus’ hand, leaving nothing but the real thing left. The badge was definitely real and belonged to a female junior doctor with dark brown skin and a relaxed expression. The name still suggested it belonged to James but Sirius could see a slight inconsistency around the edges of the letters, something which had been invisible at a distance.
“Who are you really?” Sirius demanded. “Is this some scam to steal my blood and cut out my kidneys while I’m sleeping?”
James shook his head wildly. “No! No, I swear. I have no intention of hurting you.”
“Excuse me if I find that hard to believe.” Sirius prowled forward. “What were all those questions for then?”
“Questions?” Remus asked sharply.
“Medical history, making me determine my blood type, convincing me of the joys of donation,” Sirius rattled off. His heart hammered in his chest. What if Remus hadn’t shown up when he did? Would Sirius have woken up with stitches in his side and an organ missing?
James looked uncomfortable. “Those were all standard questions.”
“Look, you obviously aren’t an actual nurse or doctor, so who are you?”
“James Potter.”
“Not James Meadowes, then,” Sirius waved the card pointedly.
“Wait, James Potter…like the author?” Remus frowned.
James straightened. “Exactly like that!”
“Really?” Remus sounded disbelieving as he folded his arms.
Frantically patting his pockets, James pulled out his wallet and removed a very real driving licence. Sirius glanced over at it. Definitely not fake. Probably. “See? James Fleamont Potter.”
“Are your book sales so low that you stepped into black market organ trading?” Sirius asked uncharitably.
Remus frowned. “Why are you doing this?”
“Research for a book?” Even James did not sound confident in his own answer.
“Try again.”
James fiddled with his wallet. After a moment, he removed a slim piece of photograph paper. Sirius could not see who the picture was of but from the way James’ expression and posture softened, it was someone important.
“My husband is dying,” James finally said.
Sirius felt some of his anger ebb. It was hard not to immediately imagine himself in a similar position. He had been close a few too many times. Times when Remus’ health would deteriorate. When he would get a cold which would quickly turn to pneumonia if he was not careful. The amount of nights Sirius spent, unable to sleep from sheer terror as he watched the wheezy rise and fall of Remus’ chest.
“I’m sorry,” Remus said kindly.
“He needs a transplant, it’s the only way he’ll survive.” James peered up at them with wet eyes. “I swear, this wasn’t meant to go this way. I just wanted to see if you were compatible. I would never have hurt you.”
Sirius frowned. “How many people have you asked?”
“All of our friends and my family have been tested. Not a single match.”
“I meant in the area. How many doors have you knocked on?”
James shifted. “Only one.”
Remus’ head cocked. “You said you wanted to see if Sirius was a match. You meant that literally.”
James averted his gaze.
“Why?” Sirius looked between them, then he remembered one of the first things James said before Sirius invited him inside. “Is your husband Asian?”
Reluctantly, James nodded.
“There are plenty of Asian families all across the county,” Remus said suspiciously. “You came here specifically.”
Sirius followed Remus’ eyes to the clipboard. At first, Sirius could not understand what have prompted Remus’ suspicion, then he realised there was only one sheet of paper. His mind worked quickly. There had only been one blood testing kit too. Sure, maybe James kept more in his car but what if Remus had been home? How could James know one kit would be sufficient?
“You wanted my details, not anybody else’s,” Sirius realised.
Defeated, James’ eyes closed. “They said a biological match was our best bet.”
Ice as cold as the arctic crept across his body. The chill swept up his legs, freezing him in place. Frost curled in his gut, pervading his chest cavity and encasing his heart until he felt as empty as he had while living under her thumb.
“Get out,” Sirius whispered.
“Please,” James begged. “Just hear me out—”
“I want nothing to do with that rotted, twisted excuse for a family,” Sirius hissed. He tossed the identification card back at James and pointed to the door. “Leave, now.”
“He’s dying—” James pleaded.
Sirius smiled cruelly. “Good. I hope whichever Black you were foolish enough to chain yourself to dies slowly and painfully.”
James reeled as if struck. “How dare you speak about him like that? Does he really mean so little to you?”
“I don’t give a damn about a single one of those heartless monsters,” Sirius spat. “Which one is it, hm? Alphard died years ago and Mother would never let Orion leave her, she’d kill him first. Must be Uncle Cygnus. Doesn’t surprise me to hear he ditched Druella for someone younger but I have to admit I always thought he was straight. Guess it runs in the family, bet Mother loves that.”
Blinking rapidly, James shook his head. “What are you talking about? I’m not married to some miserable old man.”
“Then you’ve got the wrong person. I can’t imagine there are many people called Sirius Black in the country but these things happen.” Sirius gestured again to the door. “The only men in my family still breathing are Orion and Cygnus.”
Looking as gutted as Sirius felt, James held the photograph out. “You forgot someone.”
Sirius was tempted to slap the picture out of his hand but curiosity quelled his rage. Clearly, this author guy was crazy or confused.
Flipping the photograph over, Sirius’ eyes scanned the image of James with a young man curled into his side. The two of them stood in front of a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, white cliffs, and the rich blue ocean. In the picture, it was clear to see that despite the flat ground, James held a head of height over his partner. Both of them appeared equally as proud, their arms and legs on display with sunglasses resting on their heads.
“What is this?” Sirius asked in confusion.
James cleared his throat and Sirius looked up. In his hand, he held another photograph, this one he treated with reverence. “See for yourself.”
Sirius snatched the second picture, eyes already taking in a face he immediately recognised. There were obvious differences. Fuller cheeks, a healthy flush to the same pale skin, a defined jaw no longer obscured by puppy fat, and short hair. Sirius’ heart raced. For all the differences, there were still so many similarities to the face he once knew better than his own. A small nose and high cheekbones covered in sparse freckles, a little mole under his left eye, plump lips with a slight pout, inky curls that ended just past his ears rather than tumbling over his narrow shoulders.
Heart leaping into his throat, Sirius brought the picture closer to his face.
Those eyes.
“What is his name?” Sirius whispered.
“Regulus Arcturus Potter,” James said, tone rich with devotion. “Although, it used to be Black.”
Remus startled. “Excuse me?”
“Regulus,” Sirius breathed, fingers tracing the angles of his face. “Regulus.”
The heart of the lion. The little prince. The Lion’s Heart. The little king. Alpha Leonis.
His little brother.
“Regulus,” Sirius said again, eyes stinging with tears.
Relief and hope flooded his chest. Regulus got out. He was no longer living as Mother’s doll. As her favourite puppet, one only she could control and manipulate to her whims. Regulus was free. A blazing star with a husband and a life he was living happily. Sirius could hardly bear to look away from the photographs, stricken by Regulus’ easygoing smile and the way he was proudly tucked into James’ side.
Questions flitted through his mind as rapidly as the beat of a hummingbird’s wings. When did Regulus leave? How did it happen? Where did he go? Did he go to university? What did he study? Where did he live now? Where did he work? Did he have friends? Did he have hobbies? What were his dreams? What was his passion? Did he still like blueberry muffins? Was japchae still his favourite food? Did he still swoon over Keanu Reeves? Did he ever adopt a cat like he always wanted? Why had he never reached out to Sirius? Did he speak to anyone else in the family? Did he hate him still? Was there any hope for a reconciliation between them? If so, did Regulus want to be brothers again?
Then he remembered something crucial.
“You said he’s dying,” Sirius remembered numbly.
James sniffled. “Liver cancer.”
Everything crashed around him. Sirius’ chest caved in. The ice melted, taking his breath with it.
“Oh,” Remus said quietly. “I’m so sorry.”
Although the words could have been directed at James or Sirius, from the shattered expression on Remus’ face he knew it was meant generally. To both of them. To Regulus. To the whole situation.
“We used to go hiking,” James suddenly said. “A hobby of mine, obviously. Reg complained incessantly the first time.” He nodded towards the image in Sirius’ left hand, the one with the hills and the ocean. “That photograph is from the first hike we ever did together. The Seven Sisters’ hike. Took us about six hours because Reg kept stopping to take pictures. We ended up asking a tourist to snap one of us.”
“He likes photography?” Sirius gazed at the picture of Regulus’ brilliantly shy smile.
“He does.” James’ own smile dimmed. “We don’t hike anymore. Haven’t for months.”
“What happened?”
James looked down at his hands.
“Let’s take this to the living room,” Remus said. “Would you like anything to drink?”
James shook his head. Sirius ignored his own scratchy throat and went directly to the sofa. Padfoot trotted over dutifully and flopped onto the floor by his feet. Any other time Sirius would have petted him or teased the big furry lump on being so clingy but he found himself struggling to formulate any coherent sentences.
“You probably remember but he was always a little sickly,” James said once everyone was settled in the living room. With him in the arm chair and Remus pressed against Sirius’ side on the sofa, he felt oddly like they were interviewing him. In another life, Sirius would have met James years ago and grilled him to determine whether he was good enough for his baby brother. Maybe he would have been at the wedding too.
“I remember,” he said weakly. “Thin, pale, prone to colds. Mother despised it.”
James’ lips tightened. “Thankfully I have never had the displeasure of meeting her. Regulus has told me more than enough.” Sirius wanted to know what Regulus said about him but could not bring himself to ask. “We met in university. I was nineteen, he was eighteen. I fell pretty much immediately, he thought I was the world’s greatest nuisance. I spent months trying to pluck up the courage just to speak to him. That was when I first noticed he was ill fairly frequently.”
“Still?” Mother always thought he would grow out of it.
“Once we became friends, I made it my mission to make sure he was as healthy and happy as can be. My mama helped me fatten him up, Papa convinced him to stop staying up all night to study, all three of us along with Reg’s friends staged an intervention to get him to put down the energy drinks.”
Remus huffed. “Sounds like someone I used to know.”
Sirius nudged him. “I only drank those occasionally when I was in school.” He looked back at James. “Did it help?”
“For a while. He was healthier, less prone to sickness. We were together by then and it felt like nothing could go wrong. We graduated, Reg got his dream job, my career took off, we bought a house…we were even considering…” James’ gaze went distant. “Then the symptoms started.”
The joy Sirius’ felt at hearing of his brother’s good fortune evaporated.
“First it was a loss of appetite. Mild enough that I didn’t notice it at first. A missed lunch, a smaller portion at dinner…” James swallowed. “When he lost weight we assumed it was because of exercise. All that hiking and his job meant he was on his feet pretty much all day, we didn’t think anything of it. He was tired a lot too but we assumed it was the same thing. Exhaustion from work and his hobbies. Nothing to be overly concerned about. I bought a new mattress, we reduced our hiking trips, we thought it would help.”
“But it didn’t,” Remus said softly.
James sniffled and a tear ran down his cheek. “When the nausea started, for a second we thought…but then it just got worse and a test dismissed that idea. He was sick constantly, he had pain in his abdomen and back, his body temperature kept skyrocketing. After he fainted one day at work I managed to convince him to go to the doctor but they said it was either stress or a side effect of his testosterone.” James scowled. “They soon changed their tune when the jaundice set in.”
Sirius squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to pretend none of this was happening but that felt wrong. Like a disservice to his brother who was suffering in ways he could only imagine.
“The diagnosis process was pretty simple. Of course, by then it was almost too late. They assessed him, diagnosed him with stage two hepatocellular carcinoma, then they stuck him on the waiting list for a liver transplant,” James finished with a dry smile. “And here we are.”
“What can they do?” Remus asked seriously. “Is there any other way to slow the cancer?”
Sirius flinched at the word.
His baby brother had cancer.
“In his case, the only way to make sure the cancer is gone is to remove his liver before it can spread,” James said tightly. “The second it advances…a transplant will be useless. We need the transplant now but the waiting list is too long. His age, blood type, and ethnicity are all working against him. By the time we find an eligible donor, chances are it will be too late.”
“Which is why you’re here,” Remus said in understanding. “The best chance for a match is a close relative.”
James looked at Sirius beseechingly. “You have the same blood type. I know it’s a lot to ask and you don’t have to do it and I don’t want to pressure you but—”
“I’ll do it,” Sirius said. There was no need to think about it. He didn’t care what it did to him. If Sirius had to carve his own liver out with a rusty spoon then he would do it for his brother. “How do we do this?”
James’ head bowed, his shoulders shook. “There’s steps to it. Assessments, physical and psychological—”
“I don’t care about any of that. I want to see Regulus. I want to get this process started.” Sirius stepped around Padfoot. “Are you okay to drive?”
“Sirius—” Remus started.
“I have to do this.”
“I know but this isn’t something you can just decide.”
“Yes, it is,” he snapped. If it were Remus, he would do the same, and he knew Remus would not hesitate if it were Sirius who had been given such a grave diagnosis.
Remus only sent him a patient look. “You misunderstood me. Did you forget about work?”
Sirius tried not to think about the impact of losing half their income. Despite the silver spoon upbringing, Sirius and Remus were not exactly wealthy. With Remus’ sporadic health, his part-time employment at the book shop was somewhat unreliable. At least with Sirius working full-time as a graphic designer they had a steady income to fall back on whenever Remus needed to take the week off because of his sore back or knees.
What would happen if Sirius was no longer able to work? The recovery period for a transplant must be long and difficult. He would be able to do some work from home but how soon after the surgery would that be?
James cleared his throat. “If you are worried about your finances, don’t be. My family is more than happy to cover anything and everything you need.”
Prideful as ever, Remus shook his head. “We cannot ask you to—”
“Brilliant,” Sirius said. Payback for marrying his brother without asking for permission. “So, can you drive?”
James rose with a bright smile on his face. “I’ll be in the black Audi at the end of the driveway. Pack a bag. Bring the dog, Reg will love him.”
Sirius turned to Remus.
A beat. Two.
Remus sighed as he stood. “Let me call Irma. I have a feeling we will be out for a while. You pack, I’ll go and sort my medication.”
Sirius caught his hand before he could pass. Squeezing gently, he brought Remus’ knuckles to his lips. “I love you. Thank you.”
Remus squeezed back. “I know, and it’s because I love you that I knew what you would say even before James asked.”
“He’s my brother.”
“I know.”
“I have to at least try.”
Remus smiled down at him and brushed a kiss over his forehead. “I’m excited to meet him. Don’t forget to bring Padfoot’s brush.”
Sirius watched him leave, heart pounding for several reasons. He would never know what he did to deserve Remus but whatever it was, he was grateful for it. Without Remus and his steadfast support, Sirius would have been adrift all these years.
Remus was his anchor.
What did that make Regulus?
Sirius spent most of the drive in silence.
While Remus and James chatted quietly in the front seat, Sirius stayed in the back with Padfoot’s massive head in his lap. The weight was a comfort. Somehow, Sirius had forgotten every terrible word exchanged between him and his brother until the moment the engine started. Now, it was all he could think about.
Part of Sirius wished he had been in the front seat, mindlessly nattering on to James, but he always let Remus sit in the front if he could. Remus’ long legs and aching knees meant he needed as much room as he could get and while James’ car was incredibly nice and clearly expensive, it was no limousine.
When the car suddenly veered onto a private road, Sirius wondered if being an author really paid so well, especially as they crawled up a lengthy driveway to an enormous mansion. No other word sufficed. The house was almost obscenely large, as big as the Black family chateau in Versailles.
Remus made a comment about the lifelike lion statues guarding the metal fence protecting the palatial structure and James laughed. Sirius tuned them both out, not so much stunned by the size of the place but surprised by how someone like James could come from such grandeur. Everyone Sirius knew who was raised in cushy mansions was either arrogant, heartless, or just plain ignorant yet James was nothing like that.
From how he spoke of Regulus to how he quickly offered to carry Padfoot’s foldable crate and the suitcases when he saw Remus struggling to haul them into the boot, James appeared polite and kind. Two traits Sirius hesitated to use to describe someone who might have been as wealthy as the Blacks—maybe even wealthier. If James’ parents were smart enough not to fall into vices like high-class escorts, gambling, and alcohol addiction then they probably were. The stars only knew just how much money Cygnus burned while on his trips to Vegas, then there were the additional costs of buying his companion’s silence.
Sirius’ shoes crunched pleasantly against the gravel as he stepped out of the car with Padfoot’s lead in hand. Padfoot shook out his fur, immediately raising his nose to get a good sniff.
“Welcome to Potter Manor,” James said with a wide smile. “Home to the Potters for generations. Sort of.”
“Sort of?” Remus asked as he shouldered his satchel.
“The land was originally owned by a man my grandfather, Henry, saved. Henry was the first Potter to step foot in Britain and he only did so to claim ownership of this land. He built this house to symbolise kindness and compassion, two traits my abuelo thought were sorely lacking in most people.” James gazed up at the mansion with glittering eyes. “My abuelo was a good man. He saved that nasty businessman out of the goodness of his heart, something which inspired my papa to be the man he is today. I’ve always tried to do the same. To be kind to everyone even if they do not deserve it.”
What a bizarre way to live. Sirius tugged Padfoot to follow along as James walked up to the rippling stone staircase. He could only imagine growing up being taught to be selfless and kind rather than vicious and acquisitive.
“If you need the ramp, we can go around the side,” James said but Remus waved him off. “I also don’t want to pressure you into staying here but if you would rather be with the family then you are more than welcome to do so.”
“We couldn’t do that,” Remus said immediately. “We can get a hotel.”
“Nonsense. Do you see how big the house is?”
“Do you own this place?” Remus asked.
“No. The house is in Mama and Papa’s names.“
“Maybe we should wait until they have met us first. I gather they are expecting us?” Remus settled at the top of the staircase while Sirius lagged behind. He looked down at the beautiful, almost pristine stone. They must wash it fairly regularly for it to retain such a smooth surface.
Only when Sirius stood beside Remus did he realise James had yet to reply. Padfoot huffed a little when he realised they had stopped only to stick his nose to the stone and take another deep inhale. The shuffling from Padfoot was the only noise aside from the rustle of the trees around them as a breeze swept past.
“Let me guess, they have no idea,” Sirius said plainly.
James grimaced. “I meant to text them.”
Sirius sighed. “Well, I remember Regulus being spectacularly patient although given the circumstances I’d assume that has changed.” Sirius certainly wouldn’t feel very pleased with waiting for the person housing his chance at living long enough to see thirty.
James stayed silent.
A sinking feeling settled in his gut and he squeezed his eyes shut. “Please tell me you told him you were coming to see me,” Sirius said desperately.
James’ boots scuffed against the stone. “I mentioned it.”
“When?”
“About a month ago.”
“What did he say?” James averted his gaze. Sirius wanted to be sick. “He told you not to bother.”
“Look, he’s been going through a lot. I was happy to follow his lead but he keeps…and the more we wait the worse his chances get. He can shout at me later so long as he is alive to do so.”
Sirius let his upset go. Wasn’t that what this was about? Did it really matter if Regulus did not want him there? Regulus could use the rest of his hopefully long life to hold a grudge. All that mattered was that he was alive.
“Okay,” Sirius said.
James did not wait any longer. He unlocked the front door and waved them inside. Sirius and Remus removed their shoes at the door, taking their slippers out of Remus’ satchel. The bottoms of their slippers scuffed gently against the smooth hardwood flooring and Sirius wanted to apologise for the inevitable blanket of dog hair that would stick to their fancy antique carpets and rugs.
Padfoot waddled along beside him, nose working frantically as his ears pricked and his tail wagged. Thank the heavens they managed to pick the friendliest dog from the adoption centre.
They continued walking down the lengthy hallway until they were in a beautiful kitchen with dark wood cabinets and matching high beams in the vaulted ceiling. Wide windows displayed a portion of the garden and Sirius knew Padfoot would have the time of his life frolicking across the plains of clipped grass and bounding over the beds of flowers. There were no appliances along the counters, the kitchen was designed in a way that hid them, something he was familiar with. Mother always thought it was too plebeian to have their kettle or toaster on show, he hoped the Potters simply appreciated the aesthetics of an uncluttered kitchen space.
“Oh, hello, there,” a woman said from across the room. Sirius had not noticed her from where she was tucked into the pantry space rifling through a basket filled with fresh fruit. “Who do we have here?”
James gestured to them with a broad smile. “Mama, meet Sirius and Remus.” Padfoot sat down with a huff. “And Padfoot.”
The woman immediately turned to stare at Sirius. “You cannot mean…”
“Sirius Black,” Sirius said awkwardly. What did she know about him? James did not seem to hold any ill will towards him but from the way James spoke of his parents’ relationship with Regulus he could imagine they felt a degree of protectiveness over the young man they took in.
“Euphemia Potter,” she said carefully.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Remus said.
Euphemia nodded and went to speak only to be cut off by the sound of the side door opening.
A man walked inside, speaking in rapid Spanish. Euphemia quickly cleared her throat, cutting off whatever the man was saying.
“Monty, we have guests.” Euphemia nodded towards them. “Meet Sirius, Remus, and Padfoot.”
The man looked first at Padfoot, then Remus, then finally he stared at Sirius. “As in…”
“Yes, the very same.”
“I see. Well, nice to meet you boys. I’m Fleamont Potter.”
Being under the scrutiny of the Potters was almost painful. With as handsome as James was, he should have known it was likely inherited. Euphemia was both tall and stunningly beautiful with a face ripped straight out of a magazine. Her smooth, dark skin was complemented by her deep purple dress and golden jewellery, and Sirius felt especially nervous under her gaze. Mothers had never liked him much. First his own, then Aunt Druella, then pretty much all of his teachers, and even Molly had disliked him in the beginning, deeming him unruly and unsuited for Remus. Hope Lupin was perhaps the only exception.
Fleamont was somehow the least intimidating of the three despite his height and wide stature. Clearly, James inherited his physical attributes from his father as not only were their bodies of similar size but their faces were almost identical. Sirius found himself darting his gaze between them, categorising their dark eyes, broad noses, angled jawlines, and curly hair. Even their golden-framed circular glasses were the same, only Fleamont’s were dangling on a chain over his dark blue shirt.
In truth, fathers had never liked him much either.
“May I inquire as to why you are here?” Euphemia peered at them shrewdly.
Sirius’ shoulders hunched. “James told us about Regulus’ condition.”
Fleamont looked at his son. “James…”
“I know,” James said contritely. “I had to try.”
Euphemia sighed shortly. “We will discuss this later.” Her expression softened as she turned back to Sirius. “I apologise, dear, we were not expecting company. I am not even in my best dress.”
“Nonsense, you look resplendent,” Fleamont said, visibly offended.
“Thank you, my love. Why don’t we sit down and have a talk over lunch?”
“We don’t want to impose,” Remus said.
“Have you seen how big this place is? We could invite a whole football team over and still have a dozen rooms to spare.” Fleamont snorted. Usually a comment like that could have come across as bragging but Sirius knew how to distinguish arrogance from candidness.
“Where is he?” Sirius blurted.
The Potters glanced at each other.
“Let us eat lunch, I presume you had a long drive,” Euphemia said mildly.
Sirius wanted to argue but if he had any hope of the impending confrontation between him and his brother going well, he needed the Potters on his side.
Instead, he nodded and followed the beautiful couple out of the kitchen.
Lunch ended up being a bowl of delicious shrimp soup with a platter of fresh fruits Sirius demolished in minutes. He hadn’t realised how hungry he was until Fleamont set the steaming bowl down in front of him, and he hadn’t realised he was still peckish until Euphemia brought out a tray of chopped fruits for them to pick at.
Between Sirius and James, the food vanished pretty quickly.
Throughout lunch, Euphemia gently informed them of Regulus’ whereabouts. Supposedly he finally felt well enough to visit his friends, something James awkwardly explained was why he decided to approach Sirius today.
“Barty picked him up early this morning,” James said once lunch was over. “I knew he would be busy until late afternoon at the earliest. Crouch is possessive and he hasn’t seen Reg in a few days.”
Sirius’ mouth pursed in distaste. “Barty Crouch? Skinny, lanky, looks like he wants to slit your throat when he smiles?”
“You know him!” Fleamont smiled brightly.
“Unfortunately.”
“Of course he does. Regulus and Barty have been friends since they were very small.” Euphemia nodded. “He’s a sweet boy. Rough around the edges but he means well.”
“All of Regulus’ friends are wonderful, I’m sure you’ll meet them soon enough,” Fleamont added.
“Does he have many friends?” The warmth in his chest turned slightly painful. Regulus always struggled to make friends when they were younger. Not only was he terribly shy but their closeness hadn’t helped. Most kids his age thought Regulus was a whiny baby and most of the kids in Regulus’ year group were afraid of Sirius. Only Barty had never feared him, maybe that was why he was the only one Regulus bothered with.
“He has a few very close friends,” James said with a small smile. “Barty is his best friend. He met Dorcas in school.”
“I’ve never heard that name before,” Sirius said with a frown.
“They met when he was around sixteen or so.” James said distractedly, not noticing Sirius’ flinch. No wonder the name Dorcas was unfamiliar to him. He had left by then. “They met Pandora and Evan in their first year of university since they all studied the same subject.”
“Which was?”
James shared a fond smile with his parents. “Veterinary medicine.”
Sirius’ heart ached. “Of course.”
“All of them?” Remus inquired.
Fleamont nodded. “Aside from Dorcas. Barty is rather clingy. When Regulus chose veterinary medicine, he followed. Pandora was originally studying biological sciences but transferred after befriending Regulus. Your brother is…very special.”
“He has a way of touching your heart,” Euphemia agreed warmly. “Such a sweet boy.”
“They never talk about me like this,” James said with a wide grin. “I might as well not exist.”
“Deservedly so for killing off Timaeus.”
“I had to!”
Remus made an upset noise. “I liked Timaeus.”
“You’ve read my books?”
“I sell them pretty often. You’re very popular.” Which was Remus’ way of saying yes.
Like a good partner, Sirius did not mention Remus’ extensive collection of all things James Potter. Like a good brother-in-law, he grinned and turned to James. “He’s a fan.”
Remus sent him an unhappy look.
James brightened. “Always love meeting fans!”
“Tell Remus why you killed Timaeus.” Euphemia took a sip of her tea.
“Timaeus was murdered out of spite.” James admitted. “I base most of my main characters after someone I know personally. Timaeus is Barty.”
“Barty teased him a little too harshly at our last Christmas party,” Fleamont said with a sly grin. “Think mistletoe and coaxing Regulus under the sprig every chance he could.”
“He deserved that sword to the back,” James murmured.
Fleamont laughed and went to speak only for the sound of a phone chime to cut through the silence. James snatched his phone from his pocket.
“Is that—” Euphemia began.
James nodded. “They’re coming up the drive.”
Sirius’ breath hitched. “Regulus?”
James showed him the screen. The notification must have been their security system and he squinted at the image of a sleek black car crawling along the winding driveway. He couldn’t see the passengers but that didn’t stop his heart from hammering wildly against his sternum.
Regulus was here.
“I’ll go and greet them,” James said as he stood hurriedly. “I need to explain everything. And give Dorcas her badge back.”
“What?” Fleamont frowned.
James darted from the room before he was forced to respond.
Any other time, Sirius would have jumped at the opportunity to tease his new brother-in-law and win some points with the Potters but he suddenly felt too sick to speak. His stomach squirmed uncomfortably like he had been shaken upside down by a particularly vicious rollercoaster.
“You alright?” Remus murmured as he took his hand.
Sirius clung to him. “Definitely not.”
“I’m sure Regulus will understand.”
“The last thing he ever said to me was that he hated me.”
Euphemia tutted. “Nonsense. That boy isn’t capable of hating anyone.”
“He’s very tender-hearted,” Fleamont agreed.
Sirius shook his head firmly. “Not after what I said to him. I was so cruel.” It burned something fierce to hear his brother say those harsh words but Sirius had wholeheartedly deserved it.
Faintly, he heard the sound of a door opening followed by much louder voices. Exchanging a worried look, Euphemia and Fleamont rose from the table. Sirius and Remus did the same, letting the Potters lead the way out to the main entrance hall.
Barely two hours ago, Sirius walked through those same doors. Now, his brother was finally here.
There was a small huddle of people in front of the door and Sirius’ breath felt trapped in his throat when he caught a glimpse of his brother. Regulus was hunched over slightly, one hand resting on the arm of the lanky man beside him while the other was held in James’ hand.
The lanky man was easy to identify. Tattoos, piercings, and time did little to mask the familiar manic gleam and sharp features of his brother’s best friend. Barty stood next to a young woman with dark skin and long braids he also immediately recognised. Sirius didn’t know her personally, but considering James had used her badge to dupe him, he gathered this was Dorcas. Beside her was another young woman he guessed was Pandora and a man he supposed was Evan.
“For the final time, I am not incapable of walking by myself,” Regulus said firmly, and Sirius’ eyes stung at the sound of his voice.
“Come on, gorgeous, don’t rob me of a chance to have your delicious hands on me,” Barty said teasingly as he continued to support Regulus.
Regulus rolled his eyes. “Have you no shame?”
“Not an ounce.”
“My husband is right here.”
“He can watch.”
James sighed loudly. “Pleasant as always, Barty.”
“Home at five, just as his majesty requested when I picked him up,” Barty said grandly.
“Only because I had to remind you of the time,” the unfamiliar man said flatly.
“You’re breaking my heart, Rosie.”
“Thank you, Evan,” James said pointedly. “At least someone is sensible.”
“James Potter talking about being sensible. How times have changed,” Dorcas said wryly.
“Ouch.”
The woman he suspected was Pandora giggled. “Don’t mind her, she’s in a bit of a snit. She’s lost her badge and she doesn’t want to have to tell her supervisor.”
“You try having a boss as sharp as Poppy Pomfrey.”
James cleared his throat awkwardly. “Er, right…”
Regulus turned to him and raised an eyebrow. Sirius had to grasp Remus’ forearm to keep himself steady. So much had changed but that look was eerily familiar. How many times had Regulus given him that knowing, vaguely suspicious glare whenever he suspected Sirius had pulled off some scheme?
“So, I have something to tell you,” James said carefully.
Regulus narrowed his eyes but before anybody could speak, Pandora abruptly gasped.
“Is that a dog?” she said in shock, finger pointing directly at Padfoot who was standing just off to the side of the staircase.
Padfoot panted happily at being seen, tail wagging furiously.
Regulus turned to James for an explanation.
James smiled weakly.
“You adopted a dog?” Dorcas asked in confusion.
“No.”
“You stole a dog?” Barty asked.
“Why would I steal a dog?”
“Well, I wouldn’t pay a penny for that thing. I can’t even tell what breed it is.”
“Then you’re a poor excuse for a vet,” Regulus said with a sigh. “Newfoundland, obviously.”
“A very well cared for one,” Evan said.
“Just look at how glossy his coat is,” Pandora agreed.
Barty slung an arm around Regulus’ shoulder. “Next time a tarantula comes in, I’m going to have you try to guess the species.”
Regulus smacked his arm away only to stumble slightly. At once, several hands reached for him but Regulus made a sharp noise of discontent. “I am fine. As for you, Barty, unless you would like me to schedule you for nothing but anal gland expressions, I suggest you be quiet.”
Barty pretended to zip his mouth closed but even from the end of the hallway, Sirius could recognise the sudden tension in his body. The whole group were stiff, constantly orbiting Regulus to make sure he was well.
“James, why is there a dog here? I thought we agreed to avoid any…long term commitments,” Regulus said tightly.
“He isn’t mine,” James said in lieu of an explanation, then he turned and looked directly at Sirius.
Slowly, Regulus and his friends all did the same.
Sirius could tell Regulus recognised him immediately but his brother didn’t speak. He just stood there, staring at Sirius with a horribly blank expression on his face.
Mustering up what little was left of his courage, Sirius walked forward until they were within touching distance.
“Hi, Regulus.”
Moments later, a fist flew towards his face.
Sirius hissed as the prodding fingers finally pulled away.
“Don’t be dramatic,” Dorcas said plainly. “Some ice and painkillers and you’ll be right as rain in a few days.”
“I just got punched in the face.”
“I’d say it was more of a smack,” Remus said.
“It still hurts.”
Remus smirked. “Luckily for you, Crouch hits like a bitch.”
“I heard that,” Barty said unhappily, only to groan when Evan readjusted the ice pack over his decidedly broken nose. “Rosie, that hurts.”
“Be quiet. You brought this on yourself.” Evan popped a few tablets from the blister packet Dorcas handed him.
Barty scoffed. “Do you even know who that is?”
“I can make a guess. Now, shut up and take these pills.”
Barty rolled his eyes and removed the ice pack to swallow the capsules and a mouthful of water. When he put the ice pack back on his nose, he groaned again. “Son of a bitch.”
“Language,” Euphemia said tightly. “Honestly, brawling like schoolchildren in my nice entryway.”
“It was hardly a brawl,” Barty argued. When Euphemia cut him with a glare, he ducked his head. “Sorry, Effie.”
“As you should be. Have you thought about how your actions made Regulus feel? You know what the doctors said. Minimal stress.”
Barty’s shoulders hunched.
“I’m sorry for punching Barty,” Remus said honestly. “I’m really not a violent person at all. I just reacted.”
“You only did that as a response to him hitting Sirius,” Fleamont said as he entered the room. “More ice?”
“I’m good,” Barty said.
“Over here,” Dorcas called. “Keep switching out the packs.”
Remus nodded and laid the cloth-covered ice pack gently against Sirius’ jaw. “He really does hit like a ponce. I doubt this will even bruise too badly.”
“He is a ponce,” Dorcas said as she stood up. “Right, where did James put my badge?”
“Here,” James said as he shuffled inside. Sirius had to turn his whole head to see him and immediately wished Barty had aimed a little higher to give him a black eye. James looked like a kicked puppy. “I’m sorry, again.”
Dorcas only rolled her eyes. “I’m going to say goodbye to Reg. I’m on an early shift tomorrow and I need to sleep. Keep me updated, okay?”
“I will.” James agreed, then he lowered his voice. “Can you see if he—”
“I can’t do anything without his permission,” she said firmly but gently. Dorcas patted James’ arm. “I’ll do what I can. We made sure he took it easy today but I’m a little worried about his dizziness.”
“Could that mean his condition is worsening?”
The room went eerily still.
Dorcas’ expression was impenetrable. “I refuse to speculate. Not with him. I’ll speak to you all later. Thank you for the biscuits.”
Fleamont waved a hand. “Nonsense. You’re family!”
“Does everyone around here get biscuits?” Remus asked.
“Yes,” Euphemia said. “Except for Barty.”
Barty whined. “I said sorry!”
“You have yet to explain why you behaved like that with a guest in my home.”
Barty shot Sirius a scowl. “Because I promised I would.”
“Would do what?” Pandora asked curiously. She had stayed firmly out of the ensuing argument that followed Barty’s assault and Remus’ retaliation, opting to sit by the window and pet Padfoot.
“When this disloyal prick abandoned Reg, I swore to him that the next time I saw him I’d clock him in the jaw.”
“Maybe you should have taken some boxing lessons then because a pensioner could hit harder than you,” Remus snarked.
“I never abandoned him,” Sirius ground out.
Barty snorted. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. What I’d like to know is why the two of you are here in the first place.”
Evan turned to James. “I didn’t hear him screaming at you so either he’s too exhausted from today to argue or you calmed him down.”
“The former,” James said tiredly. “He’s not happy with me at all and I can’t blame him but…”
Pandora made a noise of understanding. “The doctors said a biological match was our best shot.”
Barty sat bolt upright and hissed as the ice pack slipped a little. “Shit. What are you talking about?”
“Regulus needs a liver transplant.” Sirius gestured to himself.
“Absolutely not,” Barty snapped. “He doesn’t need anything from you.”
“He quite literally does.”
“I’ll rephrase, then. He doesn’t want it.”
Sirius glared. “Did he tell you that himself?”
“He doesn’t need to.”
“Barty,” Euphemia said firmly.
“You can’t be serious.” Barty looked around the room, focusing mostly on James. “You know how he feels about that ignoble prick and you thought it was a bright idea to bring him into his home?”
“We’re out of options,” James said wearily.
Sirius tuned the argument out. He didn’t want to hear how much Regulus hated him. He just wanted to make sure his brother was okay.
“Erm…” Dorcas’ voice came from the doorway. Abruptly, the bickering ceased and James straightened eagerly. “He wants to see you.”
James took a step forward but paused when Dorcas shook her head.
“No, not you.” Dorcas glanced at Sirius. “Your brother would like to speak with you, if you’re up for it.”
Sirius’ eyes widened. “Me?”
Nobody else spoke. Barty made a disgusted noise and leaned back against the sofa but even he didn’t say anything as Sirius slowly stood. One of Remus’ hands caught his and Sirius squeezed his fingers reassuringly.
He could do this.
“Lead the way, I guess.”
Dorcas didn’t speak the whole way to Regulus’ bedroom until they were right outside. “This is it.”
Sirius nodded. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” She cut him with a pointed stare. “I don’t know the full story behind your estrangement but as reckless as Barty is, he doesn’t throw punches for no reason. Not anymore. Not when Reg is…”
“How bad is he?” Sirius whispered.
Dorcas’ mouth pursed. “As a doctor, I am not at liberty to say. As his friend, though, he’s struggling. The last thing he needs is you of all people turning everything upside down for him. He’s been through enough.”
“I know. I’m not here to make things harder. I want to help.”
“Good.”
“Thanks for the check up.” He gestured to his face. “If I don’t see you before I leave.”
Dorcas rolled her eyes. “You won’t. I’m on my way out but Reg asked me to get you as a favour and I’m hardly going to say no to him.”
Sirius couldn’t tell if Dorcas liked him much. The Potters and James welcomed him and Remus with open arms. Pandora seemed happy enough, mainly because of Padfoot. Barty would sooner set him on fire than shake his hand and he suspected Evan would take Barty’s side regardless of his personal feelings. He was pretty sure they were together. But Dorcas hadn’t hesitated to help him when he was hurt and she hadn’t tried to make any snide comments like Barty.
Just as Dorcas was about to leave, she paused and turned to him. “He might be sleeping. The medication he’s on makes him drowsy but he’ll need to be up to eat in about half an hour so if he nods off, gently wake him.”
As Dorcas left, Sirius glanced at the door uncomfortably. This was Regulus’ bedroom. What would it look like? Sirius hadn’t been in Regulus’ room since they were teenagers. Back then, Regulus had an obnoxious sign on his door warning against unauthorised entry. Not that the sign ever stopped Mother from bursting in and Father never bothered going onto the third floor in the first place.
Because the sign was never meant for them. It was meant for Sirius.
Stomach twisting, Sirius forced himself to knock quietly. There was no response. Trying again, he rapped his knuckles a little louder but the result was the same. Remembering Dorcas’ words, he turned the handle and shuffled forward, clutching the door as a shield of sorts.
Like Dorcas said, Regulus was asleep. His upper body was propped up in a cushy armchair, his legs raised by a footrest. Draped across his lap was a dark green crocheted blanket, the same colour as the slippers laid on the floor beside the stool.
Mindful of the silence, Sirius carefully closed the door behind him and took a moment to survey the room. Unlike their childhood bedrooms, this room had a large window with a view of a beautiful array of flowers. He vaguely recalled Fleamont saying something about gardening. Had he cultivated those flowers for Regulus or had they always been there? Was that why Regulus chose this room on the ground floor rather than living upstairs? Was it for privacy, perhaps?
Who chose the deep green colour of the wallpaper on the accent wall? Who painted the other three walls in a soft off-white? Who chose the dark hardwood flooring? Who selected the circular green rug underneath the armchairs and coffee table? Did they both like superheroes or were the comics stacked across two shelves for only one of them? Who picked the books on display? Who cared for the plants atop the bookshelf? Whose fondness for snow globes led to a collection spread out by the media centre? Who owned the large cactus plant on the windowsill?
“Sirius?”
The voice was soft and wispy. Sirius’ heart flipped as he met his brother’s sleepy eyes.
“Hello,” he said numbly. “Dorcas said you wanted to see me…”
Regulus blinked slowly several times. Sirius tried not to fidget as clarity sparked in his brother’s eyes, the glassiness leaving as his usual sharp glint appeared. “You are really here.”
“Er…”
“I thought I had been dreaming. Did Barty really hit you?”
Sirius brushed his fingers over the slightly tender spot on his jaw. “He has weak hands.”
“Nothing like Mother or Father.”
Sirius stiffened. “Are we speaking about that?”
Regulus looked amused. “I’m dying, Sirius. There is no point fearing them anymore.”
The weight of hearing his brother say those words hit him like a freight train. How could he be so casual about his own mortality? Unable to speak no matter how fiercely he wanted to argue back, he took a moment to breathe. As a teenager, Remus tried to help him manage his anger issues but nothing seemed to work, not until he went to therapy and realised anger wasn’t always the answer. Rage did nothing but hurt.
Breathing carefully, he cut through the boiling heat in his chest. Regulus wasn’t being cruel or callous, he was coping with something Sirius couldn’t comprehend.
“You think I’m afraid of them?” He chose to focus on the second part of Regulus’ response, partially because it was easier, mostly because he just wanted to hear his brother speak.
“Of course you are. You’re terrified of them. I think you might have been more scared of them than I was.” Regulus looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “You had something to lose in that house. I didn’t.”
Sirius furrowed his brows. What was Regulus talking about? Was incoherency a side effect of the medication he was on?
Regulus sighed shortly. “Nevermind. Why are you here?”
“You asked to see me.”
“Why are you in my home?” Regulus clarified. “I know the story from James so save me a retelling, please. I understand he came to you under false pretences for which I would apologise for if you hadn’t been foolish enough to let a strange man into your home. Honestly, did our parents teach you nothing?”
There was a slight quirk to Regulus’ mouth.
Abruptly, Sirius said, “Are you making a joke?”
“Well, that depends. Was it very funny?”
“No, not really.”
“Oh,” Regulus said plainly. “I will have to try harder next time. Was it the subject matter or the intonation you took issue with?”
Sirius tried to follow his breathing exercises. This was a coping mechanism. It had to be.
“Regulus, you know why I’m here.”
“No, I don’t actually,” Regulus said somewhat snidely. “You see, the last time we spoke, you made it blisteringly clear that I was less than nothing. More importantly, you made it evident I was unwelcome in your life and that you would be far happier without me— what was it you said?”
“Regulus—”
“Ah, right.” Regulus cleared his throat and took on a deeper voice. “‘Always hanging on like a leech, sucking the life out of me just like the rest of our tainted bloodline’.”
“Reg—”
“Of course, that was just before you told me I was nothing more than a burden lumped on you by our neglectful parents, one you couldn’t wait to be free of.” Regulus’ voice sped up. “Then I told you I hated you. And then you told me I was going to die as Mother’s little pet just before you walked out of the door.” Regulus gestured to himself. “Well, look at me now, Sirius. Dying, rotting away, but at least I proved you wrong. I haven’t spoken to her in years, in case you didn’t know. So I suppose I won’t die her pet—I won’t even die as her child.”
Regulus swallowed thickly, his lower lip trembling.
“I will die as nobody’s child.”
Sirius felt the pain in his chest as if it were physical. He could have been impaled on a sword and felt less agony than he did in that moment.
“So, I will ask you again: why are you here?”
“Do you really think—” Sirius couldn’t get the words out. “Do you really think I meant any of that?”
“I did,” Regulus said honestly. Another blow. “I hated you more than I had ever hated anyone when you told me that.”
Sirius closed his eyes. “And I deserved it. I deserve your hatred.”
Regulus laughed bitterly. “No, you really didn’t but I suppose it’s too late now.” Regulus looked out of the window at the flowers, eyes glistening. “Do us both a favour and go home. You don’t want to be here. My doctor believes I have ample time. James is merely overreacting.”
”That’s your answer?” Sirius spat, anger getting the better of him. “Do you not care whether you live or die?”
“I have a husband whom I love dearly,” Regulus said with a poisonous glare. “A husband I long to start a family with, to grow old with.”
“Then why won’t you fight?”
“How can I fight this? My only hope is a liver transplant and since the waiting list is—”
“That’s why I’m here!” Sirius snapped. “We’re going to get you that bloody transplant and you are going to live.”
“Oh, please. I do not need your charity.”
“Charity? It’s my bloody liver! I’m giving you a hell of a lot more than some coins in a pot!”
Jaw tight, Regulus shook his head. “You are only doing this out of some warped sense of duty. I can imagine what James said to you. He is very convincing. A talent of being a writer, I suppose. He must have given you a good story.”
“He told me the truth. What little he forgot to mention, Fleamont and Euphemia covered.”
Regulus frowned a little only to shake his head again. “You feel guilty about what happened all those years ago, it’s clouding your judgement.”
“That’s not it at all!”
“So, you don’t feel guilty?”
“Of course I do!”
“Then that is all I need to know this is a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“You think this will be like donating blood or something equally benign. A liver transplant requires surgery and that is only after numerous tests, both physical and psychological. You will be poked and prodded, cut open and a piece of you removed just to sustain the little brat you never wanted—”
Sirius slammed his hand on the coffee table and roared, “I would give you my heart if you needed it!”
Stunned into silence, Regulus only leaned back and stared at him.
Panting, Sirius’ hand curled into a fist and he hit the table again. “Ever since I left, I have regretted what I said to you. I told you the worst possible lies I could conjure because I knew it would hurt you—and I wanted to hurt you. I wanted you to feel an ounce of the pain I felt when I realised I was going to have to leave you there because you wouldn’t come with me. I wanted you to ache the way I ached at the knowledge that you had chosen them over me. I wanted you to lay awake at night and wonder if everything we had been through together meant nothing just as I did in the days leading up to my…departure from the family.”
Sirius couldn’t bear to look at Regulus but he knew he had to. He needed his brother to see him.
When their eyes met, Sirius continued.
“And it worked. I knew in that moment, when I said those words, when I called you…when I said you were a leech, when I blamed you for my suffering, when I told you that I wished you had never been born, I could see how much it hurt.” Tears burned in his eyes and he blinked them away. “I knew I’d succeeded.”
Sirius rubbed his chest in a futile attempt to soothe the pain.
“Just as I planned, I made you hate me. I made myself the villain Mother always saw me as, and not a day has gone by where I haven’t regretted it.”
Regulus’ eyes were glossy. “You said—”
“I know what I said. Trust me, I’ve repeated those words to myself incessantly. My therapist can probably recite them for you, if you’d like, I must have said them to her a hundred or more times over the years.”
Quietly, Regulus said, “Therapist?”
“Remus suggested it. Hate to admit it but it’s pretty brilliant.” He glanced at the slight dent in the coffee table. “Maybe it’s not working as well as I thought.”
Regulus followed his gaze and sniffled. “Family has a way of bringing out the worst in you.”
Sirius smiled grimly. “My worst…I think that was my worst. That night. Looking down at you, seeing you clutching the bag I was packing with this…” Sirius’ nose tingled. “This look of pure betrayal on your face. It made me so angry. How could you look betrayed when I was the one that had to leave? How dare you ask me to stay as if every day in that house wasn’t killing me?”
“I—”
Sirius held a hand up. “Let me finish, please.”
Regulus went quiet again.
“I was so fucking angry at you. I wanted to scream and smash up my furniture and shatter all the windows. I had all this rage inside of me and nowhere for it to go because I knew if I did start shouting that Mother would hear me. And then you started crying. And I just remembered thinking ‘I wish he would shut up’ and ‘I wish he would go away’ and then…”
Sirius felt the familiar twist in his gut. The same nauseous feeling that always came when he remembered this part of the story. The part he had only ever whispered to Remus, the part he had told his therapist after several dozen sessions only to immediately throw up all over his shoes after getting the words out.
“I remember thinking I wanted to hit you.”
There was no stopping the tears as they flowed freely.
Disgusted, Sirius stared down at his own hands. “I remember as soon as that thought came to me, I wanted to be sick. I thought I would be. You were crying and begging me to stay and I wanted to hurt you just to make you stop.“ Sirius clenched his hands into fists and kept them locked by his thighs. “After that, I knew I had to leave no matter what. I couldn’t risk becoming her. So, I made myself the bad guy. I was cruel. I was malicious. I was exactly the sort of person she was making me into even if I didn’t realise it.”
“You…”
Sirius wiped his eyes. “I need you to know, I’ve been in anger management therapy for years. I have control of my temper. I’m…I’m better now. I know how to channel my emotions more productively. It’s just sometimes I slip up but never…I’ve never hurt anyone. I didn’t even hit Crouch when he smacked me—”
“I know, I was there,” Regulus said quietly. “Your partner hit him instead.”
“Remus.” The name always brought a sense of relief and he smiled reflexively as he thought about Remus swinging for Barty as soon as Sirius stumbled back. “He’s not violent at all, just so you know. I know his mam made him join a self-defence course with her when he was a teenager. She worried a lot.”
“Seems to me like he can handle himself.” Regulus began picking at the blanket, fingers tugging at the loops. “Isn’t he the boy you used to write letters to?”
“You remembered that?”
Eyes fixed on the blanket, Regulus shrugged.
“Anyway, I just don’t want you to think I’m some bomb waiting to go off. I would never, ever, hurt you.”
“I know.”
“But back then—”
“No, even back then,” Regulus said firmly. “You said you thought about hurting me. Sirius, how many times do you think I felt the urge to kick you? How many times did I kick you in the shin when you annoyed me?”
“It’s different.”
“Why? Because I was—”
“No,” he said sharply. “You were younger. I was meant to be the mature one—”
“You are only four years older than me.”
“Exactly. I was sixteen and thinking about hitting my twelve-year-old brother while he was crying!”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “I was twelve, not two. Siblings fight all the time. I was in university with a pair of twin boys who used to brawl in the courtyard for all manner of reasons.”
“Twins are the same age—”
“I also know they have an older sister who is around six or seven years older than them and she used to join in,” Regulus said loudly when he tried to interrupt. “Siblings fight, they hit each other and pull each other’s hair. That’s quite normal.”
Miserably, Sirius said, “But I wasn’t just your sibling.”
“Maybe not, but you should have been,” Regulus said gently. “You weren’t my parent, Sirius, no matter how much it felt like it at times.”
“I wouldn’t…I wouldn’t have hurt you,” he said wetly. “I never would have hit you.”
“Do you really think I don’t know that?”
Sirius’ eyes stung. “I wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“The only person you ever truly hurt in that house was yourself.” Regulus went back to fiddling with the blanket. “You only stayed so long because of me. I was selfish to ask you to stay even when I knew it was destroying you.”
“I hated them, I hated being there.”
“I know.”
“But I wanted to stay. For you.”
Regulus’ smile was tremulous. “Your burden.”
“You weren’t—”
“I was. I was the one thing you were terrified of losing. I was the reason you were so afraid. Not for yourself, but for me. You were terrified of what they would do to me because you always put me first.”
A sob hitched in his chest. “I couldn’t let them hurt you.”
“You didn’t. You protected me.”
“After I left…”
Regulus didn’t respond.
Sirius angrily wiped his eyes. “I knew it. What did they do?”
“Nothing they didn’t already do to you.”
“I should have stayed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. There was no point in us both being miserable. Things were quieter when you left. I stayed in my room, spent holidays at school…the only time I ever really saw them was during the summer and I spent most of that time studying under Mother’s watchful eye. I think she liked sticking me in a room and nitpicking while I read. She developed a heart condition shortly after you left, so she couldn’t fly off the handle as often.”
“A heart condition?”
“As well as liver failure. Somewhat ironic. She was at a dialysis appointment when I made my own departure from the family.”
Sirius rubbed his forehead. “I can’t imagine her in a hospital.”
“She’s as human as we are.”
“She’s not human, she’s a malevolent spirit stuffed in a human meatsuit.”
Regulus snorted. “I wonder what Father would be. Some sort of invertebrate, probably.”
”She’s really that unwell?” Sirius found himself ruminating on his mother’s poor health. Could she have died without him knowing? He always thought he would feel it in some way. The sun would shine brighter, the constant pressure on his spine would lift, angels would descend from the sky, something like that. There would be signs.
But, maybe, he wouldn’t have had any idea. She could have died years ago, just like any other person.
“It isn’t really a surprise. She did nothing but drink and diet.”
“My god, remember those diets? That spinach soup was horrific.”
Regulus giggled weakly. “Of course I remember. She forced me to eat them with her once you were gone.”
Sirius frowned.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. I left the day after I turned eighteen. Barty and I had been packing in secret for months and we applied to university together. He stole his father’s card and bought us a flat together right on the edge of campus.”
“How the fuck did he manage that?”
“Well, his father always left his wallet lying around. When he found out what we had done, he sent Barty some money to his account and hasn’t spoken to him since.”
“I’m surprised he gave him anything at all.”
“If he didn’t, or if he flagged the transactions as suspicious, he would have to explain why his eighteen-year-old son had run away covered in bruises.”
“Ah.”
Things went quiet for a bit after that. Sirius occupied his time by pretending to look around the room while mostly staring at Regulus. He looked so thin, so tired. Sirius wanted to inquire about his health but he knew any questions would be unwelcome.
Regulus sighed. “Come here, you big idiot.”
“What?”
“I can see you staring.” When Sirius continued to just that, Regulus rolled his eyes. “Come here. I’m trying to offer you a hug.”
Sirius’ eyes widened. “You… What?” he blurted. “Are you sure?”
Regulus sent him an unimpressed glare and pointedly raised one of his arms.
Without another thought, Sirius threw himself forward and squeezed Regulus as firmly as he allowed. Careful not to hold him too tightly, Sirius tucked his face into Regulus’ shoulder. The warmth and excitement of hugging his little brother filled him almost as quickly as the terror and pain from feeling just how frail Regulus was.
Gently pulling back, Sirius took Regulus’ hand and dragged the armchair until their knees touched. “I’m giving you my liver.”
Regulus’ face pinched. “You haven’t had time to think about—”
“Shut up,” Sirius snapped. “I am not losing you. Not again. You’re going to take my bloody liver and you are going to live, okay? You’re going to start that family you want, you’re going to grow old with James. You’re going to outlive our bloody parents and, more importantly, you’re going to outlive me, am I clear? I am not burying my baby brother. I refuse to, so don’t argue with me. Big brothers know best, remember?”
Regulus’ lower lip wobbled. He looked exactly as devastated as he had all those years ago when everything went wrong between them.
“That’s not a real saying,” Regulus protested weakly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Of course it is. I would know, I’m a big brother.”
“I didn’t mean it,” Regulus sobbed. “I didn’t hate you. I don’t hate you now. I couldn’t.”
“Oh, Reg.”
Tender-hearted was the term Fleamont ascribed to Regulus. Sirius had never heard something so fitting. As a child, people thought Regulus was cold and unfeeling, incapable of emoting outside of poised smiles and forced laughter. What they didn’t realise was that Regulus was incredibly soft and gentle, so much so that Mother did all she could to ensure he wouldn’t act out in public by being kind to a waiter or crying over a stray cat.
“I love you,” Sirius said directly against his ear as he brought his brother in for another hug.
“I love you too,” Regulus said with a sniffle. Abruptly, he sobbed again, "I don't want to die!”
“I won’t let you,” Sirius said fiercely. “Do you think a single person in this house would ever let you go willingly?”
Sniffling, Regulus said, “I’m sure Remus—”
“Is quite taken with you already.”
“I do have that effect on people.”
Sirius laughed and ruffled his hair. “Get your own handsome Welsh man.”
“My handsome James is more than enough for me,” Regulus said with another sniffle. “I can’t believe he pretended to be a doctor to get you here.”
“I believe the exact title was ‘Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation’.”
Regulus snickered. “He is ridiculous. Did he really make you do a blood typing kit?”
Another laugh spilled from his lips. “Oh, he told you about that, did he? Did he also show you the form he had me fill out? Or the picture he pasted over your friend’s badge?”
Regulus sighed lovingly. “I cannot believe I am married to him.”
“He seems wonderful,” Sirius said honestly. If there was one requirement he had for whoever ended up with his brother it was that they loved him fiercely. James checked that box several times over.
“He is. Yours isn’t half-bad.”
“A true compliment.”
“Well, I only met him briefly. Between seeing him staring at me across the room and then watching him sucker punch my best friend in the face, I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him.”
“We could remedy that,” Sirius said lightly.
Regulus met his look. “We could.”
Sirius brushed Regulus’ hair back from his forehead. A worried frown tugged at his lip as he saw the faint sheen of sweat. “Are you hot?”
“Hot flushes,” Regulus said passively as Sirius removed the blanket from his lower half. “A side effect of the medication. Preferable to the incurable nausea I had the first few weeks of taking it, thankfully my body has adjusted.”
Sirius’ brow creased.
“Oh, stop looking at me like that or I will have you thrown out. I know Barty would be more than willing to do so and I have Monty wrapped around my little finger. Not to mention James is no doubt pacing and trying to think of a way to make it up to me for going behind my back.”
“You’re devious.”
“I learned from the best.”
In unison, they said, “Aunt Cass.”
Sirius grinned. “I missed this.”
“This?”
“You. Me. Us. Having a little brother.”
Regulus smiled faintly. “Me too. Now, not to be rude but I am starving and if I don’t eat soon I might pass out again.”
Immediately, Sirius hopped to his feet and held a hand out for Regulus who made a show of rolling his eyes but Sirius could feel how much of Regulus’ weight rested against his arm. He needed the help more than he wanted to admit.
“Before we go, though,” Regulus said softly as Sirius reached for the door handle. “I am truly glad you are here.”
Sirius squeezed his hand. “I’m happy to be here.”
“Even if it means getting punched by Barty?”
“Punched is too strong a word. Mother hit me harder than that when I was six.”
A peal of laughter burst from Regulus’ chest so strongly he had to lean against Sirius to stay upright.
“On a scale of Andromeda to Mother, where would you rank him?”
They exited the bedroom and Sirius hummed. “I’d say…above Cygnus but below Grandmother Melania.”
“Cygnus had terribly weak wrists,” Regulus agreed. “I didn’t know Grandmother ever hit you.”
“Oh, she didn’t. I saw her backhand Grandmother Irma when she made a comment about how much you were eating at dinner.”
Regulus perked up. “When was this?”
“You were about five,” Sirius said with a fond smile. Despite not knowing where he was going, there was something blessedly familiar about leading his baby brother through the wide halls of a mansion. “Irma made a nasty remark at the table and you started sniffling. Grandmother waited until you left with Narcissa to practically leap across the table and whack her.”
“Hard?”
“So hard her glasses cracked.”
“And she’s only one notch above Barty?”
Sirius shrugged. “Never saw her hit anybody else. She loses points purely due to a lack of recorded incidents.”
“Oh, do you remember when Alphard recorded one of our Christmas gatherings and he caught Father drunkenly punching Cygnus?”
“And then he made copies of the video and sent it to everyone in the family on Father’s birthday.”
They were still giggling as they rounded the corner to the family room where everyone else was waiting anxiously. At their appearance, James leaped to his feet almost as fast as Padfoot who whuffed excitedly when he saw them. Reflexively, Sirius shifted in front of Regulus, keeping his right arm free just in case Padfoot decided to jump at them.
He always ensured his right arm was free.
“Hello, there,” Regulus said as Padfoot sniffed at his palm and barked happily. “Such a handsome young man you are. Look at those gums.”
“Leave his gums alone,” Evan said with a slight smile.
“They are so pink. Do you brush his teeth?”
Sirius startled at the question. “Er…”
“I do,” Remus said from the sofa. “Sirius gives him dental chews.”
“I didn’t know dogs needed their teeth brushed,” he murmured, blushing.
“Some don’t, really,” Pandora said with a smile. “Although it is recommended to reduce plaque build up.”
“Why is he still here?” Barty said loudly.
Regulus shuffled over to him and pinched his earlobe.
“Ow! Reg!”
“Sirius is here because he is my brother and I am stealing his liver,” Regulus said flatly. “If you have a problem with that, you are free to try and hit him again but I will not intervene if either he or his partner see fit to retaliate.”
“I let him get one hit in as a courtesy,” Sirius said, folding his arms. “I won’t let him get another.”
“Oh, is that so?” Barty tried to stand only to be shoved back by Evan. “Ev!”
Evan scowled. “Stop it. Don’t stress Reg out.”
“And you most certainly are not getting any biscuits now,” Effie said primly.
Barty threw his hands up.
“You agreed?”
James’ voice was quiet. It took a moment for Sirius to figure out what he was responding to.
“Yes,” Regulus said. “Sirius and I have spoken. For the benefit of everyone else in the room, we have decided to let the past stay in the past.”
“No point dwelling on it,” Sirius decided. “We were teenagers.”
“Well, I was a pre-teen.”
“You aren’t helping.”
“My apologies.”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “The point is that we both said some awful things and neither of us meant them.”
“And I think it would infuriate our parents to know we were not at each other’s throats.” Regulus’ expression turned pensive. “Plus, Sirius said something about outliving both of them which sounds very appealing.”
James surged forward and wrapped Regulus in a tight hug. Sirius politely averted his eyes when he then tipped Regulus’ head up and joined their lips. There were some things he simply did not need to see. Remus’ favourite author sticking his tongue in Sirius’ baby brother’s mouth was one of them.
“This calls for a celebration!” Fleamont said brightly.
“We are not throwing a party,” Regulus said. “I am too tired and I was promised food.”
Fleamont lifted a plate of biscuits. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
Sirius glanced at the array. There were chocolate chip cookies, plain biscuits as well as double chocolate, coconut, and ginger biscuits, shortbread, and biscoff. As Regulus lifted his hand to pick one, Sirius already knew he would choose the shortbread before he lifted it. Surprisingly, Regulus then chose a chocolate chip biscuit which he passed to James, then a chocolate and coconut biscuit which—
“Me?” Sirius blurted.
Regulus’ cheeks turned pink. “These were always your favourite.”
“They still are,” Remus said knowingly as he sipped from his Wolverine mug. Someone in the house definitely liked comic books, his money was on James.
Sirius nibbled on the outer edge, eyes stinging. He had forgotten what it was like to have a baby brother. All things considered, it was pretty much the best thing ever.
Even when they did nothing but bicker and break each other’s hearts. Sirius wouldn’t trade Regulus for anything.
“How do we get the process started officially?” Sirius asked once everyone had moved into the dining room.
“We can deal with that tomorrow,” Regulus said from where he was distractedly petting Padfoot’s head. Apparently his dog had a new favourite.
Nobody dared to argue, not while Regulus was eating and smiling down at Padfoot. Sirius’ chest felt warm at the joy on his brother’s face. How long had he been since he saw him so happy? Even when they were children, happiness like this was rare.
His gaze turned to the rest of the family after that. Barty, Evan, and Pandora were rushing through their plates. James was too busy staring at Regulus to bother making a dent in his food. Fleamont and Euphemia were sharing adoring smiles and Remus…
Remus was looking at him. Eyes soft and gentle, his mouth curled into a slight smile, Sirius’ heart soared at the easy way Remus slotted into the little family. They ended up having to forcefully separate Remus and Regulus once the topic of literature came up. Sirius had never anticipated his brother meeting his partner but now that they had he couldn’t believe they had ever been apart.
Heart full, Sirius tangled their fingers together.
There was a lot of uncertainty ahead of them but he was ready to face it all. He would do whatever it took to keep his baby brother alive, even if it meant sacrificing a part of himself. Besides, he had done that already. He had given flesh and blood and bone for Regulus before.
This wasn’t really any different.