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The Marauders: The Noble House of Black

Chapter 1: Changes

The House of Black is a renowned pureblood house, where traditional family values and purist beliefs are law. Walburga and Orion Black were arranged to wed shortly after leaving their school lives, before becoming workers in the Ministry of Magic. There is no love in their marriage, no friendship or kinship between them. It was miraculous that they were able to bring in two sons to the world. From the start Sirius was a force to reckon with, being born 9 lbs and 4 ounces, a full head of hair. kicking and screaming. Regulus was born as he would live: skinny, timid, silent and observing. But they were never alone, they always had one another. As they grew they found themselves in a box. They were expected to be respectable, intelligent and above all leaders. And they were.

The year is 1971, Sirius and Regulus sat on Sirius' bed, the room full of posters glued to the wall; musicians, women and motorbikes and an explosion of technicolour. Both boys are small, frail and skinny, the size of the bed engorging them. Pillows scattered around the room. Laying side by side the screaming from downstairs gets louder. What it's about this time, who knows. Looking at one another Sirius watches the muscle between Regulus' brow tense. Getting up Sirius walks across the room bending over

‘Reg I think it's time for some music’

Bringing up David Bowie's Hunky Dory album, a wide smile spreads across Sirius and Regulus' face. That's something they had in common, world changing smiles. Not bothering on the damaged sleeve edges Sirius flips the record in his hands bringing it down to the player. This is the moment where the air lifts and feels electric, stars begin to shine in their eyes as the starting piano of ‘Changes’ begins to play.

Jumping back onto the bed with a thud Regulus releases a loud laugh, laying side by side the two brothers face one another, smiles brighter than the sun and suddenly the screaming from downstairs dies down, and it's just Sirius and Regulus…… and David Bowie.

Chapter 2: Oh you pretty thing

Summer comes and it was time for the annual Ministry of Magic conference and ball, where the top of the organisation gather and trade stories of beasts and muggles, mudbloods and purist values. Orion Black is a strong willed man, righteous in his ways and beliefs, his way or none at all. This being said there was no warmth from him, not towards his wife, nor his sons. He has a white hot anger, burning under his skin and through his veins, he is a force to be reckoned with.

These are qualities he would have been proud to distil into his sons, had they turned out different. With a harsh shove unlocking the front door of number 12 Grimmauld way, the wood slams against the wall. Orion and his wife walk into the room, Walburgas hand holding Sirius' shoulder in a vice grip. With a flick of her wrist Walburga throws Sirius away as Orion back hands him hurtling towards the floor, landing with a thud, pain, relief and fear wash over his face in a flash of emotions. With fire under his skin, burning in his eyes Sirius looks up in a state of defiance as he begins to speak.

‘I didn’t even’

‘Be quiet, insolent boy. Do you have any idea how to control your actions?’ Walburga begins.

Regulus watches as their father walks over Sirius going into the living room, ignoring the son he hit, the berating he is getting from his mother.

‘You’re nothing but a weak child, how dare you go against what you were told. This is a big moment for your father and I. How could you be so rude’

Walburga carries on as blood trickles down Sirius' brow, Regulus notices straight away. Walburga carries on, droning on. Screaming at Sirius all while ignoring Regulus.

Chapter 3: Eight line poem

Christmas comes as Regulus is sitting in his room, awaiting Sirius' return from school, Hogwarts obviously. Sirius had only been gone 2 months but it felt like hell without him. The vast loneliness of feeling like an only child is something he had never wanted, these past two months as evidence. He’s been excited all day, woke at the crack of dawn and had brushed his teeth before the morning birds began to sing.

Itching is the best word to describe how Regulus felt. He wants to hear all about Sirius' time away, living through the tales of big school and dorm rooms. There's a bang downstairs. Jumping from the bed Regulus fluffy socks connect to the floor, pacing to the door as mother said it was improper to run.

Screaming. Screaming from his parents again. Apologising. Apologising coming from Sirius, he sounds so small, meak.

‘Im Sorry, I’m Sorry’

‘It’s not my fault’

‘I tried to change it, please mum’

Screaming, a different type. One Regulus hadn’t heard before. This is more primal. Apologising, a different type. One where there's gasps of breath and begging to stop. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what's happening. Its natural evolution. The parents who scream at one another and their children, are the parents who will hit their children.

The screaming stops, the apologising and crying doesn’t. Whatever happened stalled Regulus at his door, not brave enough to help. This is a change, a new danger.

Chapter 4: Life on Mars?

Later on Sirius and Regulus lay on Sirius' bed, there's a noticeable cut on Sirius' brow as bruises form around his cheekbone. David Bowie's Hunky Dory plays in the background once again, filling the air creating a bubble for the two brothers.

‘It was brilliant Reg, we were running down the halls with stink bombs and Peter, the shy one, fell under his laces and bust his lip on the ground’

Sirius talks animatedly looking to his ceiling as though star gazing, a wide smile covering his face, hands moving widely in strange motions. Regulus lays on his back, but facing Sirius.

‘And we get to choose where we sit so me, James - he's the potters kid, Remus and Peter all sit at the back and plan pranks’

This is what Regulus missed, the life in Sirius' voice. The house was so empty of life when he went away, it felt like the sun hitting that warm spot on the floor, creating a pool of heat to sleep in.

‘And obviously mother would hate them, all the best though really. Wouldn’t want Orion and Walburga junior. God they’re brilliant Reg. You’ll love them’

Regulus' eyes glaze over, imagining how these boys might look, sound, feel like. Are they full of life like Sirius? Do their parents cringe at the sight of them? With fear in his voice, shy, slow and quiet Regulus asks

'Will they like me Sirius?’

Without a beat Sirius turns to Regulus, eyes sparkling as though Regulus had asked him the most ridiculous question. Winking back to his younger brother.

‘I’ve got a bed for you in the dorm ready’

The two brothers smile at one another, Sirius getting up forcing Regulus up, laughing, to dance as brothers, but mostly as best friends. There is so much happiness and life, they are together and it's all going to be okay again. Regulus doesn’t even have time to think about Sirius leaving.

Chapter 5: Kooks

It's the summer before Regulus' first year at school, the two boys are in Sirius' room, as usual, while Regulus sits on the bed going through his school list of equipment, and Sirius walks around the room, fixing posters up and looking for the Hunky Dory Album

‘Alright Alright Reg, pipe down its sending my head west’

“What does that even mean?" Regulus replies with a sneer upper lip.

Smirking back Sirius says ‘Just something I learnt at school, Remus and Peter are northern, got that weird accent. Can’t speak properly. I think it's absolutely brilliant, these muggle words’

Regulus tries to go back to his list, finalising on opening his acceptance letter. He hadn’t opened it yet, with only a week before he started he was too afraid. The scenes of what happened to Sirius when he wasn’t placed in Slytherin replay.

‘Open the letter yet you little sod?’

‘Again speak normally, Salazar's sake. No I haven’t I don’t want to’ Pausing his breath holds, looking to Sirius' eyes the boys stop, silent yet everything that needed to be said has been with an exchange of looks. Sirius walks over, finally getting the album on the record player. Softly sitting on the bed.

‘Well if you’re a wimp I guess I'll just’ Going to grab the acceptance letter Regulus holds it close to his chest. Looking down with a huff Regulus tears the seal. Somewhere in his mind he knows it’ll be okay Sirius' there and this just means he will always have his brother, the other part doesn’t want to hurt his parents.

‘Well, congrats Reg, knew you’d be a swot and get in’ As though his name alone wouldn't secure his place the day he was born.

Regulus jumps onto Sirius as they laugh and rough house. Sirius quickly changes his mood not wanting to show Damon the fear he has about losing his brother, if he does end up in Slytherin. Really wanting to be happy for his brother, refusing to believe this will change them.

Chapter 6: Quicksand

Another year has passed and summer has arrived, the two brothers lay back at home, away from the safe haven of school. It had been tense ever since Regulus was placed in Slytherin, something the boys hadn't talked about, refusing to address as they try to carry on.

Sirius lays spread on the couch as his father sits across from him. This isn't something Sirius wanted, to be around Orion, but he had been so tired from the previous night's beating, showing in his baggy jeans and leather jacket, that he hadn't made the effort to leave the room.

The next events happen fast as Walburga drags Regulus into the room, face furious, thunder in her voice as she throws him to the floor.

‘You god forsaken child, you horrendous stain on our name’

Throwing a well read copy of George Orwell’s 1984, a common left wing read. Ians face twists in rage

‘ Found this under his pillow, pillock couldn’t find somewhere better to hide it. Are you stupid as well as immoral. A muggle book!’

Taking off his belt Orion stands as he doubles it over, Regulus' face now stained with tears, silent. Sirius' face shocked, sitting up now.

‘You right git, go crying to mother. You had no right to steal that. I was borrowing it from Remus and you had no right to take it’ feigning furious Sirius acts towards Regulus. Regulus' face twists, lips shaking not understanding what's going on. Sirius turns to Walburga.

‘I’ll have that back now’

‘Like hell you will’

Orion turns to Regulus looking him over, making eye contact with the boy as he turns to back hand Sirius, belt buckle on his knuckles. Sirius falls to the fall ungraciously a yelp of pain. Orion stands over him, towering over him as he always had. Turning to Regulus.

‘Good lad, next time bring it straight to your mother or I’

Turning had to Sirius, white anger in their eyes as they stared at one another, a reflection of one another.

‘Walburga take Regulus out’

Sirius' chest rapidly rises and falls. Fists clench, never breaking eye contact, not backing down.

‘Be back for tea’

Walburga ushers out Regulus, face still furious she whispers to him

‘Be a good lad and stay away from your brother. He’s a stain and cannot be saved, you will not be a disappointment as he has shown himself to be’

As they walk out the door they hear gasps of breath, the impact of hits, mumbled anger and of all, defiance.

Chapter 7: Fill your heart

Sirius finds solace in his friends at school, a band of brothers, a group of marauders who don’t fit in. Being away from home makes it feel like he can breathe, have his own life and personality. So going home for Christmas in his 3rd year of school was not something he looked forward to. He had become liberal, outspoken, everything his parents hated. It was common knowledge that the Black heir was outcast by his family for his 'radical' views.

Coming back Christmas had almost passed, carollers singing on the street as Saint Nick was to come through the night, and the house was quiet. Maybe it was the length of Sirius' hair, or the leather jacket, or even the endless streams of photos and posters he glued to his walls that Walburga couldn’t retrieve.

‘You ungrateful brat’

‘I hate you’

‘Worthless child’

Screaming is coming from both ends. Old enough now to scream back, no longer feeling the fear Sirius and his parents battle. Regulus sits in his room, under his much too large bed, beneath the safety of his blanket, twirling the rings around his finger, one he shared with Sirius.

It's not long before the screaming starts, the different types of screaming. No longer are there pleas for forgiveness, only screams of terror and anger. Sirius never gives up shouting back, fighting.

‘You’re wrong’

‘They’re my true family’

‘You’re crazy and as soon as you see that it’ll be too late’

‘People are people’

‘I will not be a pawn in your game of politics, it's wrong and you know it’

Still twirling his ring that lasts longer this time, there's a loud violence in the air impacting Regulus' breathing, his perspective of time as he feels it lasts hours on end. It does, last hours that is. But it feels more like days. The shouting stops as their parents storm out the house, fixing whatever damage Sirius has done.

Sirius bounds up the stairs rushing to his room, limping, bleeding, scared and out of breath. The rush of adrenaline pushed him through the pain. There's no time to spare. He grabs a bag, starts to empty his draws into them, underwear, socks.

Regulus finally gets up from his bed, grabbing a first aid kit he made for these situations. Its made of a frayed bag and some cheap plasters and materials. And antiseptic if Sirius was lucky, none of them old enough to practice magic outside Hogwarts. Taking it to Sirius' room was a routine now. It had been for a while. Sirius comes home, Sirius argues with parents, Sirius' punished, Regulus takes care of Sirius.

Walking to Sirius' doorway Regulus stops, shocked. No longer is Sirius hiding grace of the violence, acting like this is okay, this is normal. No more brave face Sirius is mad. The white hot anger that he shares with his father prominent,

‘Good, Reg get your bags we’re going’

‘What?’

‘We’re leaving here, get your bags’

‘What?’

Shouting Sirius screams ‘They’re psychos, mad. Mad on power and illusion. And I for one will not stand for it. You hear that you are self righteous bastards. Fuck you’ His voice breaking giving out.

Regulus walks over to the bed, watching Sirius pace around the room. Putting things in his bag, looking through his records with his back to Regulus.

‘ We'll live with the Potters, James' parents. He's an only child and they’ve always wanted more, they love me. They’re minted to so it won’t be that different, they have the room’

Sirius carries on looking through his record collection, packing down his record player. Regulus sats silent, unmoving on the bed

‘And then you’ll meet Remus and Peter properly, they come for christmas’

Sirius begins smiling, a wide smile, of fresh air, freedom and excitement. Regulus stairs on, unblinking. Hearing the words but not taking them in. Knowing what Sirius' saying but not understanding them.

‘And they have a big garden where we can all play quidditch and our rooms will be next to each other and we can listen to records at night again’

Turning around holding the Hunky Dory album, Sirius' 10 mile smile halts. Regulus hasn’t said anything. Regulus hasn’t moved. Eyebrows touching one another, his body ridgid.

‘Reg, get up. Come on. We’ve got to go’

There's a quiet violence in the air, different to the kicking and screaming and the beatings. This is worse. The air is full of smoke yet it's clear. Drowning on dry land. Becoming too tired to carry on swimming succumbing to the water. This is much, much worse. A start to the end. And in this moment both brothers realise.

‘For Godricks sake Reg get the fuck up, get your shit together we don’t have long’

‘No’

This is the moment the ice hits the titanic, where there is nowhere to go but the end. This was not meant to happen. Sirius gets angry again. Regulus becomes irate

‘Reg don’t argue with me on this please’

Sirius begins to beg, ready to fall on his knees, crawl for him to follow.

‘No. I don’t know what's happened between you and Mother but fix it, it’ll go back to normal’

Regulus chooses not to notice the scars that cover Sirius' back, the bruises currently littering his arms or the cuts that decorate his face as though ornaments on a christmas tree.

‘No, do not take their side’

‘Why not? They’re right you’re being unreasonable’

‘Don’t be dense Reg we both know they’re wrong’

‘So what’ Regulus screams ‘Who cares, they’re our family, we can’t just leave’

Tears begin to fall from Sirius' face in a sense of drama, much like a damn that's broken as the water rushed past its barriers.

‘No, Regulus, get your bag. Please’ His voice breaks, words coming hard as he fights for Regulus. ‘You have to come with me, we’ll be happy it’s okay’

With a burst of anger Regulus sneers ‘No, It’s not and if you want to be a child and run away go ahead. Just know once you’re done with the dramatics I'll be waiting’. Regulus storms out the room, slamming the door as Sirius stares in horror. The flood gates fully open as he packs David Bowie's Hunky Dory album.

Chapter 8: Andy Warhol

It hits midnight, Christmas morning a few hours away as the world sleeps in preparation for Santa and his reindeers. The Potter house is full of light and life as the family share drinks and tales of Christmas past. They didn’t expect a guest, so when the door thudded three times and the frost on the windows began to crack James was confused, who could be here at this time?

Getting up from the couch in his christmas pyjamas James answers the door, while a smile faltering as he realises who it is

‘Padfoot?’

Sirius tries to be strong, tries to hold it together, with a valiant effort he tries his best. ‘I’m - I didn’t know where to go’

James' mother Euphemia comes around the door. Euphemia looks every part the mother Walburga wasn’t. She had warm, kind eyes, smooth skin with wrinkles showing a life full of happiness. A stark change to Walburgas stern, unmoving face.

‘James, who's there? Sirius dear? Are you okay, you’ll catch a cold out there. Come in, before you catch death’

Sirius couldn’t hold it, as soon as he walks into the house, seeing the love that is shared he breaks down to his knees, sobbing, heartfelt, Earth crushing sobs escape his mouth

‘He, He wouldn’t come. I had to leave. He wouldn’t come with me, oh god fuck he, he didn’t listen he wouldnt come’

‘Who dear, what's happening?’

‘Reg, he didn’t come with me, I couldn’t save him, he wouldn’t listen. We have to go back, we have to get him please’

Realisation dawns over the Potters faces as Mrs Potter sends Mr Potter to set up a room for Sirius, next to James'. James and Euphemia try to calm Sirius down, huddling around him like a cocoon. Letting him cry, giving him love. Sirius' world has crashed in a night and there's nothing they could do, or say to change it.

Chapter 9: Song for Bob Dylan

School is back in session and it’s almost as though the brothers had never known each other. Not for lack of trying. Sirius had sent letters and plenty of owls to Regulus all over the Christmas break, to no reply. Thinking that this was just a cooling down period Sirius gave Regulus space.

Walking down the corridors Sirius, James, Remus and Peter walk tall, as if they own the school, as though they’ve nothing to hold them back, to shy away from. Laughing and justling between themselves, smiles wide and bright as they walk between lessons.

In this moment created by the fates the brothers end at different ends of the corridor, one noticing the other, the other turning away. Sirius' smile widens as he catches Regulus' eye, missing his brother was like missing air in his lungs, as though living without them is death alone. Waving his hands widely as they come close, trying to catch Regulus' eye. Regulus looks up.

‘Oi Reg how’s it been , what's been -’

Before Sirius has a chance to finish his sentence Regulus walks past the group of boys, keeping eye contact with Sirius as he walks past. This was a common tactic the boys had done before, together. That was when it was the brothers against the world, against their parents, not each other. This meant they were opposites, no longer cut from the same cloth. Again Sirius' heart crumbles inside his chest and Regulus' turns cold, burnt to ash.

Chapter 10: Queen Bitch

It's summer again in the Black household. It’s quiet. It has been since Sirius left. No longer is there noise from his room, records playing and constantly changing. No longer noise from downstairs as he challenges his parents. Regulus lays in his bed, his cheeks more hollow and the bags under his eyes like ink stains. All the photos of Sirius are gone. All of the memories of Sirius are gone.

The fighting starts downstairs, Walburga and Orion are in disagreement, again. The one thing they agree is they should’ve never married, a marriage of convenience doesn’t seem so convenient anymore.

Regulus leans over from his bed to grab his headphones, plugging them in he starts David Bowie's Hunky Dory. It’s not the same. Sirius would berate him for listening to, in his words 'God's masterpiece of love, life and never giving in the best album ever made’, through headphones instead of a record, on the speakers. Sirius believed this album was meant to be played loud, to be danced to, enjoyed. Regulus wasn’t enjoying it very much anymore.

Chapter 11: The Bewlay Brothers

Its turning spring and the sun is beginning to shine and nature is replenished. The Marauders sit outside after class as Sirius and James rough house, trying to bring one another down. Many would mistake the two for brothers with their closeness, and the fact that Sirius has now lived in the Potters for almost a year now.

Remus and Peter sit side by side, Remus is trying his hardest, while wrapped in a thick scarf, boots and a coat, to tutor Peter in the stars and planets - Astrology. Peter can’t concentrate, with the occasional ‘ Oof’ and ‘GO on Prongs’ with a mixture of laughter, James and Sirius have his attention.

Regulus comes by, forced to walk past to get to his next lesson on time, otherwise risking being late, which mother and father wouldn’t approve of. He doesn’t want to see Sirius, he actually hates him, hates what he stands for, how he acts, how he talks and how he left him to be replaced with James. Bitter. Bitter is what Regulus had become, cold, heartless and bitter. Inside he was still a young boy, scared of what's to come, what's expected from him.

As much as Regulus wanted to go unnoticed, he desperately wanted Sirius to notice him, beg for forgiveness, come home and make things right again. So, in a dramatic sense he scoffs with his nose turned up in an aristocratic fashion.

Catching Sirius' attention they make eye contact, blue eyes connected. One brother's eyes a light blue mixture of blue orchids and the morning dusk coming in. The other brothers a dark steel grey blue, crashing waves on a tyrant ocean fighting against the rocks.

‘Aye Reg, come ‘ere you used to love this’

With a scoff ‘used to being the key word’

James and Sirius stop, separating and standing tall, towering over Regulus. Peter no longer laughed, confused. Peter was always slightly out of the loop. Remus understood, he had listened to Sirius cry with night terrors well before Sirius ran away.

‘Why are you being such a dick?’ Sirius snaps back to him. In the short time Sirius had been staying with James he had become very protective. The same with Remus and Peter. These were his family now, and the way Regulus was looking down at them reminded him all too well of his mother. This ignited a flame inside Sirius.

‘Maybe since you were disowned and before I grew up, I would’ve never loved to rough about like blood traitors’

Sirius steps forward and snaps ‘I left, I wasn’t kicked out, or disowned it was my choice’

With a puff and eye roll Regulus turns to walk away, leaving the boys stunned

‘Whatever helps you sleep at night’

Sirius goes to run forward to jump on his brother. Wanting so badly to take him down a level, to knock out his parents' intrusion on his mind, his personality. He wants to hold him until his little brother returns, not the person who stands in front of him. Before he can take a step James takes Sirius down in a side tackle, pinning him down in a rough housing. Peter begins to laugh again and Remus rolls his eyes. The boys go back to how it was 5 minutes prior, as though Regulus hadn’t hurt them, hadn’t impacted Sirius, hadn’t ruined the whole day.

Chapter 12: Hunky Dory

In Sirius' last year him and Regulus had become estranged, gone down different paths and hated one another for it. They were the same, the same brothers, the same social standing in their respective groups with the same hatred between each other's friendship groups. As Regulus went through school he began to hang out with the pureblood - Slytherin- kids. The kids that Sirius and him were forced to sit with and talk to at functions. The same insufferable kids the brothers often pranked and made fun of.

It wasn’t uncommon for the brothers to cross paths while at school, it was bound to happen, and yet every time it happened it ended in a screaming match and fight. This was no exception.

‘Reg please, come with me, once I finish school I'll get a flat and you can live with me, I'm here’ Sirius is grabbing Damons wrists begging him to stay, eyes full of tears shining through his black lashes.

‘I don't WANT to live with you, you’re pathetic’ in anger Regulus pushes away taking steps back, not wanting to be tainted by his blood traitor brother. It had been far too long and too much had built between them, too many barriers.

‘And you couldn’t sound any more like mother Reg’ This was meant to hurt Regulus, had someone said this to Sirius it would have been an on sight fight, Regulus takes this as a compliment, proud to be worthy of his name

‘Yeah better than you. And it’s Regulus we aren’t kids anymore. You’ve nothing going for you, you’ve pissed it down the drain’

‘You can be a right git you know’

‘Takes one to know one’ Regulus begins to walk away, anger consuming him Sirius grabs his wrist trapping him in this moment. He will not allow him to walk away from him.

On his last tether Sirius brings him closer ‘ Please, come home, come with me, let me help you’ he begs Regulus, he can’t imagine leaving him, yet he already has and Regulus can’t forgive that.

Regulus' eyes turn hard once again, any momentary forgiveness or brotherly loyalty gone.

‘I am home, you’re the one who left’ Regulus pulls his arms away, walking away at a fast pace. The two brothers are on different sides of the fight. This was a relationship that couldn’t be fixed. Two brothers who use to listen to David Bowie and talk to the stars, now estranged strangers.

From the start Sirius was a force to reckon with, being born 9 lbs and 4 ounces, a full head of hair. kicking and screaming. Regulus was born as he would live: skinny, timid, silent and observing. But they were never alone, they always had one another. As they grew they found themselves in a box. They were expected to be respectable, intelligent and above all leaders. And they were.

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