Toujours Pur, Toujours Famille

Toujours Pur, Toujours Famille

Chapter One: Number 12, Grimmauld Place

Regulus Black tugged nervously at the collar of his finest satin dress robes as he surveyed himself in the mirror. He was under no circumstances a vain child but relatives visiting the house usually sent everyone a bit out of orbit. For instance, his mother had barely spoken a word all day and his brother was quietly brooding in the bedroom next door.

"Sirius?" he called out weakly. There was a grunt. "Sirius!" he said, this time louder.

"You rang?"

The Blacks were usually known for having admirable looks but Sirius usually surpassed them all. His eyes were an icy blue and his dark colored hair hung stylishly at his ears. Currently, the locks were sticking up randomly and he was wearing nothing but a pair of pants and cut-off shirt, flaunting off his tanned skin and more muscular of a body than most eleven year olds have. Regulus looked his brother over and then turned again to look in the mirror.

"Something you wanted, kid?"

Silently, Regulus shook his head. Sirius rolled his eyes and went back to his bedroom to collapse onto the bed. Regulus was not ugly by any means. He had the Black traits: the sapphire eyes, raven black hair, slightly soft facial features. However, his brother still managed to outshine him. Countless nights were spent, hearing his mother and aunt talk about the two brothers; how it was a pity that Regulus' obedience and Sirius' looks could not have been one child.

With a defeated sigh he turned from the mirror and walked into his brother's room. Music was coming from what Regulus knew was a muggle contraption. "Mum'll beat the life out of you if she sees that," he said, flopping down on the bed.

Sirius looked over at the younger boy and shrugged. "Let her." Grinning, he lightly punched Regulus' stomach. "Don't you look fancy? What's the occasion?"

Regulus looked at Sirius. He knew his brother was somewhat forgetful, but not even Sirius forgot when the big family occasions were. "You're joking?" At Sirius' blank look he answered, "Bella and Cissy and the aunts and uncle are coming over today."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Shit! Nobody said anything to me!" He leaped off the bed and threw open his wardrobe. He ripped off his pants and shirt. However, he froze when he heard Regulus' gasp.

He swallowed as he remembered what had been given to him for his birthday earlier during the day. For the moment, he chose to ignore the fact that Regulus' breathing had become labored and an unspoken question lingered in the air. Finally it came.

"Sir, is that-"

Pulling on dress robes similar to his brother's Sirius turned. "Do me a favor. Go downstairs. Everyone should be here in a second. Tell mother...tell her I'm looking up particularly nasty spells to use on muggles." He laughed bitterly.

Regulus knew better than to not listen to Sirius so obligingly he got up and trudged from the room. Sirius couldn't ignore the shaken look on the boy's face. Quickly tying his boots securely to his feet, he trailed after Regulus into the entrance hall where a small crowd of people was taking off their coats and hats.

As inconspicuously as possible, Sirius descended the stairs, trying to make a quiet entrance. Of course his mother ruined that, just as she enjoyed ruining every aspect of his life.

"Sirius, dear, there you are." A pained smile was on her face as she greeted him. He was met with a wave of hellos and happy birthdays. Smiling graciously, he shook hands and dealed out hugs.

As everyone made their way into the living room, he was allowed to let out a sigh of relief. "Not stressed are you cousin?"

Even before turning around, he knew to whom the taunting voice belonged. "Hello Bella."

He and the fifteen year old had never gotten along well since the day he had been born. After Andromeda had been disowned a few years ago, though, their relationship had turned into loathe. Bellatrix did not like her older sister and disliked Sirius even more for staying in contact with her.

"Might want to comb your hair cous- you look a bit rushed." With a grin and wink, she followed the adults.

Now it was him, Narcissa, and Regulus. Narcissa and him had always gotten along fairly well when Bellatrix was not around, but now the pale girl was avoiding his eye as she murmured, "Happy Birthday."

"That's it?" he asked as she walked off. Narcissa was his age (in fact they were starting school together in September), but she had always looked up to him.

She turned, giving him a saddened look. "Bella says I'm not supposed to talk to you." Sirius stood stunned as she walked off.

"Sir, are you-"

"Fine," he said shortly. But even Regulus could see the hurt on his older brother's face. The hall became silent except for the descending sounds of footsteps. It was a long time until Regulus was able to join the rest of the Blacks.

Dinner was always an interesting affair. Regulus had been placed between his two nagging cousins and glared at Sirius who was sitting at one of the heads, Great Uncle Alphard on one side and Great Aunt Valera on the other. Apparently his mood had shifted for he was talking animatedly with the two. Other than that, though, the animosity was high and you could almost feel the friction.

The men talked of idiotic, meaningless things. The women, the power holders in the family, on the other hand talked of high society, who was disgracing purebloods, and other gossip. Every so often one would look over where Sirius was sitting with the two rather outcaste members of the family.

Uncle Alphard had never believed that being pureblood put you at a higher status than others. He married a witch with a muggle father and was immediately looked down upon by the rest of the family. Regulus had heard his mother and the aunts speaking of this being where Sirius got his rebellious streak from.

Regulus' reflections were broken by a clinking sound. His mother was tapping her crystal champagne glass with her fork. "Edward, if you would like to propose a toast."

The man of the household stood. His overbearing look was contradicted by his passive actions. All of their lives, Regulus and Sirius had been brought up by their mother, or another Black woman. It had been many generations before the men had any real influence in what went on inside the family business. After spending long hours listening to lectures with his mother feeding his father all the words, Sirius would swear to Regulus and make him swear back that things would be different when they married.

Having no real respect for his father, Sirius looked down at his plate, almost being able to recite the same speech that was given for every birthday celebration of his and Regulus'.

"As he grows on another year, we reflect back to what he has grown from and we look forward to what he grows into. The heir to the Black name." Bellatrix grimaced at this. She had always said someone grateful (like her) deserved the title of the heiress. "Toujours pur." The toast always ended with the family motto. It resounded in the dining room for a few seconds before the scraping of chairs and a buzz of chatter took its place as the woman retreated into the living room and the men to the study.

Regulus walked over to where his brother was sitting sullenly as Uncle Alphard wished him a final happy birthday. For the first tense moments, Regulus braced himself for Sirius to go on his usual rampage. It came as a surprise when he simply looked up and said, "Let's get out of here."

The Cave had been their secret place for as long as either could remember. The two of them found it years ago when they were playing in the woods located near Grimmauld Place. It was virtually impossible to find unless you already knew where it was or if, like Regulus had that day, fallen through the opening that day. Not saying a word they both got on their hands and knees and crawled in.

It was dank and dark but neither had ever cared. Sirius tossed his cloak to his shivering brother. "What about you?"

"Don't worry, I'm good."

For a long time they sat, embracing the silence and just each other's company. Regulus rolled on his side and looked up at Sirius. "What's on your shoulder?"

Deftly avoiding the eyes of his younger brother, Sirius looked towards the ceiling. "You know it's the crest."

"Yeah, I know, I know, but is it....Y'know...-"

"Burnt there? Yes."

"Does it hurt?"

"It did at first."

"Bad?"

"Like hell." He laughed a little. "Don't worry about Little Lion." Regulus grimaced as Sirius ruffled his hair, but a smile was on his face at the mention of his nickname. "You'll never have to worry about this damn mark on your shoulder. Only those that are "disloyal" to the Black name get it." Seeing he was going to get no response from the somewhat confused nine-year old, he continued, "Do me a favor, and tell mum I left to-"

"To the Potters," Regulus finished sullenly.

Sirius grinned, "You know me too well." At the sullen look he gave Regulus a supportive smile. "Don't worry Little Lion. I'll be home in a few days."

When an angry look was his only response he nodded and started to walk out. But his face brightened when he heard the small voice call after him, "'Bye Sir!"