Just because we're brothers... (Regulus)

[Sirius Black]

(Please note: This thread is taking place in the future. Kris has already been rescued from Norah at the time of this thread.)

Sirius wandered out to the Quidditch pitch, his mind working frantically. After what had happened with Kris, he was feeling more confused than ever. He had promised so many things to himself when he didn't know where Kris was or if he'd ever see her again. And now he wasn't sure if he knew how to keep those promises.

He swore he'd stay with Kris forever. That he'd spend every day letting her know how much he loved her. That he'd never leave her or cheat on her again. That he'd stay away from Amy. But now that she was back, and she was safe.... he was now trying to face the realities of those promises.

Forever was a very long time. When you were Sirius's age, it seemed even longer. How could he promise her that? How could he promise never to leave her? And how could he stay away from Amy? He didn't know why, but she fascinated him. Maybe it was the red hair and green eyes. Maybe it was the way she crinkled her brow at him when he was flirting with her. Maybe it was her smile that made it seem like the sun was coming out from behind a cloud. Or maybe it was just Kris.

He still loved her, he knew that, but... There was still something wrong. Something different. Something she was keeping from him that was starting to eat away at him. If Amy was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds, then Kris was the clouds. She didn't seem to smile anymore. And he didn't understand why.

He was still thinking all these thoughts and not really paying attention to what he was doing as he wandered into the Quidditch pitch. So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice when he nearly crashed into someone who was on his way out....

[Regulus Black]

Regulus smiled at every girl he saw. He just couldn't help himself. Obviously flirting ran in the family. Of course, Regulus was single and he sort of liked that at the moment because he could flirt with whomever he wanted, when he wanted. There was no harm in that.

Making it out to the Pitch, Regulus took his broom in his hand and started to fly. If he was going to be any good at quidditch, he needed to practice his flying. No one could have enough practice in his view. Practicing a few dives and a taking several laps around the field feeling the wind against his face was the best feeling. He felt like no one could touch him and he was free. Finally, Regulus' feet touched the green grass and he wiped a little bit of sweat from his forehead. He picked up his broom and headed out from the pitch, towards the school. However on his journey back, someone bumped into him. "Hey watch it," he began angrily. He realized that it was just his brother. A smirk came upon his face. "Well, well, if it isn't dear Sirius."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius groaned. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now... an encounter with his little brother. Once a long time ago, they had been close, but over the years, that had changed. Regulus had become more like the son his parents had been hoping for. While Sirius had been stuck in the house on virtual house arrest, Regulus had been allowed to go out and visit with his cousins, and other "specially approved" friends. It annoyed him, how he could be the older brother, yet Regulus was clearly the favored one.

He looked at Regulus with an annoyed expression on his face. "Oh, hi, Reggy," he said sarcastically. "Out trying to pretend you're older than you are again?"

[Regulus Black]

"Aw Sirius, don't pretend that you're excited to see me," said Regulus. "You don't have to pretend anymore. I can see you're really excited that I'm here! You can just let it all out! I won't tell." He gave his brother a smirk. "Ha! That's what you think. Besides, I can't help it if people think I'm actually older than I am. It's not my fault. There are just times when I don't feel like letting them down, you know? What are you doing out?"

[Sirius Black]

Sirius shook his head. Regulus really was unbelievably arrogant. Just a right perfect Black. "Wow, and to think some people think I'm full of myself," he grumbled. "Just because Mum and Dad had me on house arrest, doesn't mean I can't go out in public here at school, Reggy. But seriously, do they know you do such ordinary things like playing on the Quidditch Pitch? Why, if you're not careful, people might actually start to think you're a... kid!"

[Regulus Black]

"Hey, I heard that Sirius, and besides, I learned it all from my big brother. What can I say," said Regulus. It was true, Regulus was a bit arrogant, but he wasn't going to admit to it. It was just a part of who he was. "You know, I don't really care if they know that I was flying on the Quidditch Pitch. It doesn't make a difference to me," he added with a shrug. "It's not like they're going to kick me out. Besides, Dad knows I like quidditch, you know that." Regulus studied his brother a moment then scoffed. "I don't care if people think I'm a kid. That's their own perceptions. Although, you on the other hand. One may think you're up to something going down to the quidditch field to meet up with someone. I mean after all you don't have a broom in your hand."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius sighed impatiently. What was it about little brothers, he wondered, that they had to be so annoying? He had almost nothing in common with Regulus now, and it was hard to remember that there had ever been a time when they were close. "Not that it's any of your business, but I was just out for a walk to get some air," he said sharply. "I thought maybe this would be a quiet place to go and be alone to think. Guess I was wrong."

[Regulus Black]

"Aw Sirius, you don't have to take that tone with me," said Regulus. "It's not like I'm going to post your life all over school." He knew if Sirius did something then it could reflect on him, after all they were brothers. "Hey, I'm not the one bumping into people. You're the one that bumped into me. You know, if you hadn't done that then maybe I would have just passed you by."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius glared at him. "Oh, that's just like you. It's obviously my fault for accidentally occupying the same airspace as you. Gee, I hope you can forgive me." He rolled his eyes. "So how about you? Enoying being a no-good Slytherin? I don't exactly see you being swarmed with friends."

[Regulus Black]

A smug look appeared on Regulus' face. "I'll think about forgiving you," he said. "No-good Slytherin? Slytherin is the best house in this school and you know that. I don't see how a Black got into Gryffindor." Regulus eyed his brother. "So what? I don't have to always be swarmed with friends. I do want time on my own as well. Plus, if I'm practicing on my own, why be bothered by a group of people when it's better to do it yourself?"

[Sirius Black]

Sirius crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Regulus through narrowed eyes. "I'm glad I'm a Gryffindor," he said. "I wouldn't want to be in any house that has you as a member. It's bad enough I have to be in the same family with you. But this way, I can go whole weeks without having to see you at all!"

He laughed as Regulus mentioned wanting to practice alone. "Yeah, you wouldn't want your so-called friends to see how many times you fall off your broom."

[Regulus Black]

"Come now Sirius, you know that you can't resist to see my face! You and I both know this! You just love your little brother, but you won't just admit it," said Regulus with another smug like look on his face.

Now, it was Regulus' turn to narrow his eyes. "I don't fall off my broom," he replied. "I'm going out for quidditch next year since they don't let first years on the team, which I don't see why not, I'm better than most kids anyway. I guarantee you that I'm a better flier than you are dear brother. Unlike you, I actually stay on my broom without a problem."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius sighed. He was already getting annoyed with his brother. It really was best that they hardly ever saw each other at school. "You know, one day that over-inflated ego of yours is just going to cause you to float off into the atmosphere," he grunted. "You know full well that I fly better than you ever did... I'm the one who taught you, remember? Of course, that was before you became an arrogant tosser."

[Regulus Black]

"So what if you did teach me," replied Regulus. "I happen to practice a lot more than you, therefor I know that I'm a better flier than you. Me, arrogant? If I am, then I learned it all from my big brother." He glanced over Sirius. "In fact, I learned everything from you. So whatever you decide to call me, you're also just talking about yourself, so I'd watch it if I were you."

[Sirius Black]

"You didn't learn everything from me," Sirius said pointedly. "All that negative talk about muggles and muggleborns... that comes from Dad, not me. You've let him brainwash you into thinking the way he does and you never stopped to think about things from another perspective. Like maybe Dad doesn't really know everything." Sirius crossed his arms across his chest and stared at Regulus.

[Regulus Black]

Regulus copied his brother and crossed his arms across his chest. "Brainwashed? I wasn't brainwashed, you were the one that was brainwashed. That's true, dad doesn't know everything. But, muggles and muggleborns. How can you stand that? They aren't as good as pure-bloods. I don't understand it Sirius. I don't understand how you can be friends with them. I guess that's one reason why we have never gotten along. You and I have different ideas of what is right and wrong."

[Sirius Black]

"Yeah, I'll say we do," Sirius grumbled. "For you to think it's right to hate people that you don't even know just because they're born a certain way... I can't understand that at all. They're still people, Regulus. And they've never done a thing to hurt you, so why do you hate them? It's stupid. And muggleborns aren't that different from us, they can do the same things, and some of them are better than purebloods. I don't believe in discrimination, and somehow I'm the one who's wrong? Whatever."

[Regulus Black]

"Every one that's the same should stay together," replied Regulus. "That's just how it is. We shouldn't mix. The pureblood families are getting fewer and fewer. It's up to us to keep the purebloods going. That's just how it is Sirius. Purebloods are better than any muggleborn. But anyway, you can keep your opinions to yourself and I'll keep mine."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius rolled his eyes. "It's attitudes like that that cause inbreeding. I really hope you like your cousins, Reggy, because if you really want to keep the family pure, you're gonna have to marry one of them."

He really didn't understand the attitude at all. How could it possibly be better to stay with your own kind? That was how wars were started. Just as many so-called purebloods were likely to suffer and die as muggleborns and muggles. And there were already so few left, because they were so reckless and snobbish.

"Whatever, I know I'm not going to convince you now. You've let Mum and Dad filled your head so full of this crap that you don't even understand sense when you hear it. We're hardly even brothers anymore."

[Regulus Black]

Regulus never thought about how purebloods were brought together, nor did he think the reason most of the pureblood families were messed up was because they had to marry their kin. He would never really think about those things. He eyed his brother and then shook his head. "Whatever you say Sirius. Anyway you look at it we're brothers, even if you don't call me your brother. That's just how it is. We've never been close, and I hope that you weren't thinking of getting close while we were here at school, because you and I both know that that wouldn't happen. We can't stand each other for very long."