Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Regulus's POV

-1979-

Drowning is something Regulus had never thought he would experience. Rather, he wished he would never experience it. 

But here he is, pulled underwater by the Inferi. The walking dead that the Dark Lord created. 

He should never have listened to his mother. It truly is mostly her fault. Regulus thought that he would be making a difference in the world, accomplish wonders, and help the wizarding race for the better by following a madman who was afraid of Lord Death himself. 

And because the youngest Black listened to all the sweet lies his mother told him, he believed he would succeed. Believed he would- could make a difference. Help make wizards great again. Help them conquer the Muggles and Muggleborns. 

But then he met the monster himself. 

The monster that threw Crucio's at anyone that brought him bad news. The monster that laughed while innocent people were slaughtered. As soon as Regulus met the Dark Lord, he knew he had made a mistake. He should've followed his big brother. He should've run when he could. But by then, it was too late. 

His mother had introduced him while she was simpering at the foot of the beast that looked more snake than man. Regulus knew that kissing his robes was the only action he needed to do to prevent him from being killed. Or running for the hills. 

Oh, he had been eager in the beginning, right until his first Crucio. 

But it was too late to turn back, too late to run to his brother. If he would've done that, his brother would've died just like he is doing right now. And he would do anything he could to prevent Sirius's death. 

He wanted to laugh, laugh manically, because, what a way to die like this. He hoped that the Dark Lord would rage and throw a fit when he found out that Regulus had discovered his biggest secret. Something that fool Dumbledore didn't even know. 

Something that would really accomplish something in the wizarding world. 

Because Regulus had learned about that Salazar-awful Horcrux, it made him sick to know that the Dark Lord, one of the most powerful wizards in the world, had been reduced to this. 

It made him wonder, too, wonder how much more the man could've been if he had his whole soul. It did make more sense, in a sick kind of way, that the man was this mad. 

If you had just half your soul, it would make anyone crazy. 

But alas, here Regulus was, pulled down by the Inferi while his loyal house elf brought the locket back to safety. And hopefully, destroy it as soon as possible.

After drinking the damning potion, Regulus wanted to die. He ordered Kreacher to go and crawled to the water, dying of thirst and madness from the visions he was still seeing. 

In his visions, he saw the disappointed look of Sirius aimed at him when Regulus stayed passive in a fight between Gryffindors and Slytherins. He saw the devastation in grey eyes when he turned away while Sirius was begging him to leave with him because the Potters would take him.  Of course, they would. 

But what hurt the most and drove him mad beyond anything were those few words from the only person he ever loved. 

''I love her, Reg, this-this was just fun.''

''You don't mean that.'' He begged. Hoping it was some twisted prank. 

Those beautiful hazel eyes were watching him. But this time with sadness instead of laughter, lust, or- something Regulus thought had been love.

''I do. I'm going to marry her.'' 

''Did I mean nothing to you? Did the last couple of years mean nothing?'' He had spat furiously. How could  he  do this? Regulus had been almost ready to give this man everything he had to give.

He took a step towards Regulus, his hand outstretched as if to calm him. But he wasn't touching him, not like he had done so many times before. 

''You know that isn't-''

''Was I just convenient? While you were waiting for her to notice you?'' Regulus whispered, the fight leaving him, and only a shattered heart remained. 

''No! That was never it! For Merlin's sake, I do love you! But - I just love her more!'' 

I just love her more. 

The words impacted Regulus for the rest of his very short life. And now here he was, reliving the words that had shattered him. Maybe it was fitting that while he was dying, he could see the eyes of the person he had loved more than anything. 

James Potter, Prongs, married to Lily Potter, née Evans. They had married two weeks ago. Regulus had to read about it in the Daily Prophet. It had made his heart burn every time he thought about it. But all of that soon would stop. 

Because a dead person couldn't feel anymore, and Regulus was craving to not feel anymore. 

Not feeling shame for his former actions, not feeling disappointed in his family, mostly his mother, not feeling like his chest was pulled apart while someone poked at his heart. 

And mostly, not feel like he still was in love with James Potter. 

Salazar, what a fool he had been. But still- but still, he couldn't forget the man. 

He watched the Inferi above him with a blank stare, still holding his breath, something that became more and more difficult. He hadn't fought when the Inferi grabbed him, but he did take a deep breath, out of shock mostly, but it was the only reason he was still alive at this moment. 

What most people don't know about Inferi is that they don't eat people. That is just a Muggle tale, they had written stories about walking dead that ate living people, and somehow that tale had made it into the Wizarding world, probably a Muggleborn or something like that. 

But Inferi are just guards, they are violent, but they don't bite or eat you. They just try to tear you apart. Regulus should be grateful that they aren't doing that to him, at least. They are just dragging him down, drowning him, because Regulus cannot save himself from their clutches. 

He feels his lungs begin to struggle for air. His throat is working, trying to breathe, but he stubbornly is still clamping his mouth shut. There is a roaring in his ears, and his vision starts to swim. 

He had lost his wand at the beginning. It was somewhere on the island, but Regulus didn't need it. 

No, he wanted to embrace his end. 

Or at least, that's what he thought until he felt the tingling of the end of the wards at the bottom of the lake. 

Regulus's eyes grew large. The Dark Lord hadn't warded the lake fully. When Regulus's back connected with the bottom, he felt the wards fall away. The anti-apparation wards included. 

He knew he was stupid to try, but for some reason, he didn't know. He needed to try, try to live. 

He gathered his magic and apparated out of the claws of the Inferi, back to the cliff where Kreacher had guided him to, the cliff near the cave where he almost died. 

Regulus screamed in pain when he felt himself splinch. He coughed up water, blood, and vomit while feeling up his torn torso with shaking hands. 

He needed help, and he needed it fast. Otherwise, he would still die. 

''Kr-Kreacher!'' He cried out in a hoarse voice. 

A soft pop and a gasp were enough for Regulus to know that his loyal elf had come to him. 

''Master Regulus! You is hurt!'' The elf started to wail. 

''B-bri-br-ing me h-home, I-I-I g-got p-p-p-'' He couldn't finish his sentence, but Kreacher seemed to know what he needed either way. 

They popped inside Grimmauldplace, and Kreacher softly lowered him to his own bed. He stuttered out the potions he needed, and Kreacher obeyed. It didn't take long at all before Regulus passed out. 

**

Regulus woke with a groan. Kreacher helped him sit and fed him, he was still too weak to do anything. Only whisper that his mother must not know that he was hurt and at home. 

Kreacher locked and warded his room. Made excuses for him to his mother and nursed Regulus for three weeks. By then, Regulus felt more leaning toward the 'alive' side instead of the 'dead in progress' side. All the while, he had been thinking. Thinking what he needed to do. 

''Kreacher, I'm going to ask you something, and you will not like it, but you need to obey me, do you understand?''

Kreacher looked at him with awe in his eyes and nodded. 

''Kreacher, you need to put on the tapestry that I died.'' 

The fervent nodding stopped, and Kreacher began shaking. 

''No, master Regulus, you are to be Lord Black! You's needed!'' The elf protested, but Regulus was already shaking his head. 

''I need to disappear, Kreacher, it's the only way.'' Regulus then looked down at his marked arm in disgust. 

''The dark and light sides will want to murder me. I cannot walk anywhere in the wizarding world without being recognized. What I need is to disappear, and by faking my death, I can. I will go live in the Muggle world-'' He spat out the words, he didn't want to live in the muggle world, but he could not live in his ancestral home as long as his mother was still alive. He could not go to his old friends, as they were Death Eaters too. He could not turn to Sirius because his brother would be in serious (no pun intended) trouble too. 

And that would be if his brother would believe him, something he had no hope of. 

''-There are so many Muggles, I will be just another face between millions.'' 

It took another three days before he had convinced Kreacher. By then, he could walk for short amounts of time. 

On the fourth day, he cut off his left arm, leaving only the part above his elbow. He had downed multiple pain potions, so thankfully, it didn't hurt too much. 

He then used some very dark magic to regrow a new arm. Sure there was light magic that could do it, but it would take triple the amount of time, and his arm would never feel his completely, so he used the dark equilivant. 

Regulus watched in morbid fascination how his old arm shriveled up and died because of the dark mark. He needed to research that, but he was sure that the Dark Lord would've felt the arm dying and hopefully thought Regulus died with it. 

He then sent Kreacher to Gringotts and let his personal account be emptied and turned into Muggle currency. The Goblins are bound to silence, and his personal account was an account he only had access to, and nobody knew about it. He had been transferring money to that account for years, from his Black trust account to his personal vault. 

He was a Slytherin to the core, and it had been proven he couldn't trust his family. 

When Kreacher had returned, and when Regulus was sure his mother had left the house, he went with Kreacher to the tapestry in the drawing room. 

''Change it so it will look like I died, Kreacher,'' He whispered, and the elf whimpered but obeyed. 

It pained Regulus to see his dead date on the tapestry. He felt unbalanced and cut off from the Black family. The family he thought he could be proud of. 

''Master will not be able to call upon Kreacher anymore, not until he will return to the house.'' The elf rasped, and Regulus nodded. 

''I know, Kreacher, I am sorry. I really am, but this is the only way. Do you wish for me to obliviate you?'' 

He has always had a soft spot for the elf, and to him, it was natural to ask the elf what he wanted. 

The elf fervently shook his head. ''No, master Regulus, Kreacher will obey and not tell anyone.'' 

Regulus smiled. 

''Then I thank you, goodbye Kreacher.''

**

-1987-

Rigel Brown, formerly known as Regulus Black, was sipping his tea while reading the paper. After many years in the muggle world, he had become accustomed to it. 

The muggle world had frightened him at first, but after learning more about it, they seemed somewhat smarter than he initially thought. He had studied and traveled the world, learning more and more about the Muggles and about the wizarding world in other countries, but he still was sure the Muggles could be a threat to the Wizarding world, but he also grudgingly admitted that the Wizarding world would seize to exist without the Muggles. 

The Muggles didn't have any magic, but their technology and science were things of wonder for Regulus. They tried to explain everything. They tried to solve every problem. Even if it wasn't possible, they just didn't gave up. 

This made them very dangerous, in Regulus's opinion. Because what would happen if they found out about magic?

Rigel Brown didn't have any close friends or any relationships because Muggles were still truly old-fashioned about two men being together, and he didn't want to have anything to do with that hassle. 

He also couldn't truly connect with others because he was always lying to them about who he was, and even if he was a Slytherin to the core, he didn't wish to have fake relations. And there was the fact that they were Muggles, of course. Even if he did have a healthy dose of respect for them, he didn't want to really mingle with them. 

So here he was, drinking his tea in a little shop in Surrey, mostly to get his neighbor to stop spying on him from behind her curtains while she thought Rigel wouldn't notice. 

He hadn't found a job he truly enjoyed. He thinks it is because it isn't in the wizarding world, and Muggle jobs are pretty boring. So he mostly invests and gets enough back to live off. He can travel when he wishes and has a nice home. 

His life is simple but nice, a bit lonely, but nice. 

He has just taken another sip of his tea when something outside catches his eyes, and he promptly chokes on the last sip.  

Outside, walking by is a long thin woman with a horse-like face and blonde hair. With her are a fat boy who is stuffing his face with chocolate and a scrawny kid with a head full of wild ebony hair. The small boy cannot be older than five and shrinks in himself while the woman is berating him for something or the other. 

He seems to swim in the clothes he's wearing, and when Rigel glances at the fat boy, he sees the boy smirking at the smaller boy, the clothes the small boy is wearing seem to fit more on the fat boy. Did the small boy spill something and needed he to wear something of his- brother, friend?

But that wasn't why Rigel had almost choked on his tea. No, when he saw the face of the small boy, it seemed like he was looking at a much younger version of James Potter. That had made him asphyxiate. 

Could it be?

He knew that James had a son with Lily before they had been- before they had been slaughtered by the Dark Lord.

But surely, the boy-who-lived was not living with Muggles? Right?

Rigel shook his head. He needed to know. The boy could be the only thing left of James. And even if Regulus  should  have stopped loving James a long time ago, he just couldn't let him go completely. What if this boy was James's son? What if something was wrong? He looked five, while he knew for sure that Harry James Potter had been born in 1980. So he needed to be seven, at least. 

Rigel nodded to himself. He was going to follow the small family and check up on Harry. Well, if it even was Harry.

As soon as he stepped out of the shop, he casted a disillusionment charm on himself, making him invisible to the Muggles around him. He followed the family closely and was getting angrier with the minute when he heard the taunts of the fat boy to the small one and the sneers and name-calling of the woman. How dare they treat a boy like this? He thought viciously. 

After he had come to the Muggle world and tried to fit in, he found a Psychiatrist. Who helped him understand what his mother had done to him and Sirius. The truth had hurt, but he now knew for sure that what his mother had done had been awful. 

He was a little thankful that she wasn't under the living anymore. She couldn't hurt him anymore. 

He just couldn't understand why Sirius had betrayed the Potters as he had. Sending the Dark Lord to their front door while he had been the secret keeper! It was because of Sirius that James had died. And he would never forgive his brother for that. 

Sirius hadn't been with the Death Eaters when Regulus had. Sirius always acted like he was on the Light side, but maybe their mother's speeches had finally reached Sirius. 

Regulus got a headache again by just thinking of it because it didn't sound like his brother. He just couldn't understand WHY Sirius would do something like this. 

He forcefully pushed the thought out of his head when the woman harshly grabbed the small black-haired boy and shook him. It was clear to Regulus that the small one he thought was Harry would have bruises because of it. 

Regulus stepped closer to hear what she was saying. 

''-you freak! I told you to stop those freakish things!''

''I'm sorry, Aunt Petunia, I did-didn't mean to!'' The boy was holding back tears. Regulus didn't know if they were out of frustration or pain from the harsh grip on his arm. 

Regulus was confused about what the woman meant and tried not to get angry about how the woman was treating the boy. 

He needed to distance himself to make a proper judgment. 

''Stop it!'' The woman hissed in agitation, and this time, there was fear in her eyes, especially when she looked back into the alley they had been walking by. Regulus softly got closer and was glad for the silencing charm on his person. 

In the alley were two snakes watching and hissing at the small family. They looked angry and ready to attack, but they were weary too, and it almost seemed like they were waiting for the small boy to do something. They were common snakes, a bit out of the way, but in the fields around the city, they were common. 

When he heard hissing, he thought he had heard it wrong, but when he focused back on the small child, he saw him hissing at the snakes with a frown on his small face.

Regulus watched in amazement how the snakes hissed something back at the boy before they turned and slithered away. 

''They are m-my friends, they just wanted to see me-'' The boy whispered to which the woman almost seemed ready to faint. 

''That's it. We're going home.'' She sneered, but Regulus could still see the fear on her face. Fear for the little boy. 

''You are a freak!'' The fat boy yelled. ''A freak! A freak! A freak, freak, freak, freak, freak!'' He taunted and sang. 

Regulus wasn't someone to hit children, but he was certainly ready to do so with this little shit. 

It was clear to him that the small boy (he still thought it was Harry) was a wizard. Only wizards could talk to snakes. 

The popular belief (In the British Isles) was that only the Dark Lord could do so because he was a descendant of Slytherin. But after traveling the world, Regulus had also seen other Wizarding parts of the world. In India, it was a very common gift. Only because of the Dark Lord, people who could speak Parseltongue had been given the status of 'Dark wizards.' If you asked Regulus, they were all ignorant bigots.

He didn't think James could speak to snakes or Evans, but it wouldn't surprise him if one of them could but had decided to keep it a secret. 

Regulus cursed when the family got into a car but quickly placed a tracking jinx on the car before they left. 

He would follow the car tonight and see where they lived. He still needed to be sure if the boy even was Harry Potter. Regulus groaned to himself and squeezed the bridge of his nose. He was acting like a fucking Gryffindor. What would he do if the boy was Harry? And what would he do if the boy wasn't Harry? It was clear that the boy was A. A wizard, and B. Being treated like shit by his 'Aunt.' He couldn't just walk away from this. 

And what if the boy was Harry? What could he possibly do with the boy? He couldn't just kidnap him and raise him. 

He shook his head. No, he needed to think about this. He needed to make sure what was happening in that house and think his actions through. 

***

He acted like a fucking Gryffindor. 

In the actions he had took the last hour, it was clear that he hadn't deserved to be in Slytherin. 

How it possibly could've derailed like this was a mystery to him. 

Well. Not really. 

When he had arrived at the boring house where the car with the tracking trace had been parked, he felt wards around the house. For a moment, he thought that the ward meant that they weren't Muggles but wizards, but when he examined the wards, he found that they hadn't been updated or even fed with magic in six years. Something that astounded him and disturbed him. 

Who would put a wizarding boy in a house with such lousy wards? And if his suspicions were correct, he was talking about the savior of the Wizarding world! Which maniac would leave him in such a vulnerable place?

He altered the dubious wards so he could enter and erased his magical signature. Something he had learned from the Dark Lord. It could only mean bad things if anyone knew he was still alive. 

He entered the house through the open back door, it was early in the evening, and with his disillusionment and silence charm, nobody even noticed him. 

The woman from earlier and the fat kid were seated in front of the Tele. He couldn't see Harry, but if he was careful, he could see if he could get any information from these two.  

He knocked them out with two silent stunners before diving into their minds. First, the woman, and then the boy. 

When he saw what had happened, he almost puked. 

It was Harry. The small boy was Harry James Potter, and he had been placed here by Albus fucking Dumbledore, according to the woman's memory. 

They treated him like a house elf, put him in a cupboard under the stairs, mentally abused him, and the fat boy abused him physically too, bullied him with his friends, and kicked him when Harry wasn't quick enough. He had also seen flashes of a large man with a mustache slapping and kicking Harry around. 

No more. Harry would never get this treatment again! 

He placed a vicious curse on both Muggles before he stormed to the cupboard under the stairs. 

He unlocked it and bit his lip when he was met with a tiny Harry Potter, curled in himself and watching Regulus with wide green eyes. 

''Who are you? And why are you shimmering?'' Harry whispered. Before Regulus could come over his shock that Harry could see him through his charms, the boy talked again. ''Are you here to hurt me?'' The tiny voice broke something in him, and he fell to his knees. 

He canceled the charms, making Harry's eyebrows shoot up on his head. Regulus gave him a small smile.  

''Hello, Harry, I'm Regulus, and I'm here to take you away from your awful family. Are you alright with that?'' He spoke softly, not wanting to startle Harry. 

Harry's eyes filled with hope but also weariness. 

''Why? And how do you know my name?'' 

Regulus hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest with his young companion. 

''I knew your father, and he would never have wished for you to be treated like this. He and your mother loved you very much.'' 

Harry's big green eyes filled with tears. ''Really?'' the small boy didn't seem to expect that this was true, so Regulus carefully reached out to Harry's hand and took it in his. The boy was startled at the soft contact but relaxed quickly. 

''Really. I know you don't know me, but will you come with me? I promise I will do anything to help you and not to hurt you.'' 

''You promise?'' Harry asked, and there was a little fire in those green eyes. Something Regulus couldn't help but smirk at. 

''I promise.'' 

At that moment, the front door opened, and Harry shrunk into himself in fear. 

''Oh no! Uncle Vernon!'' The boy hissed, and Regulus gave Harry a soft smile. 

''I'm not afraid of him, Harry. Do you want to know why?''

Harry nodded his head, his eyes still wide in fear. 

''Because I'm a wizard,'' Regulus whispered, and Harry frowned at him. 

''A what?'' 

Regulus chuckled, but on the inside, he was cursing the Dursleys to hell and back. ''A wizard, and you are too.'' 

Harry gaped at him before a loud yell was heard from the doorway, and he shrunk into himself again. 

''What are you doing in my house?!'' 

Regulus gave Harry a wink before standing and facing the fat lump of a man that kicked and slapped a small boy. 

''That's none of your concern,'' Regulus replied evenly. He let his wand slide into his hand, and Vernon Dursley spotted the movement and went white. 

''Y-You are one of those freaks! Just like the boy!'' 

Regulus snarled at the man. ''We are no freaks, you useless, fat, abusive dick of a Muggle!'' 

He then pointed his wand at the man and stunned him, making the man fall forward on his face with a loud smack. He hoped the man had broken his nose.

He then placed the same curse on the fat man as he had done on the woman and boy. Regulus then tapped the wand against his chin. 

''What to do, what to do,'' he murmured. 

''To do about what?'' Came Harry's voice, who looked in awe at his fallen Uncle. 

''Well, I already placed a curse on them, so they will feel everything they have done to you,'' 

Harry's mouth fell open for that. But Regulus just continued. 

''Now I'm wondering if I should erase their memories of you or if we should pretend you were still living here for the old goat.'' 

Harry frowned at that. ''Who is the old goat?'' 

''Hmm?'' Regulus answered, distracted. ''Oh, that's Albus too many names Dumbledore. He is the one that placed you with these Muggles.'' Regulus spat. 

''What are Muggles?'' Harry asked, and Regulus frowned. He needed to teach Harry a lot about the wizarding world. 

''Non-magical people, regular people, boring people.'' He told the child with a wink and Harry giggled. 

Then Harry sobered. ''I don't want to come back here, not ever.'' 

Regulus knelt down so he could look Harry in the eye. 

''As long as you wish to live with me, you are welcome. Is that alright for you?'' 

Harry nodded excitedly. 

''Great, then I think the best thing to do is erase their memories. Or at least alter them, so it would seem you have run away. There will be questions in the future, but that is not a problem for right now. Agreed?''

Harry shrugged, not seeming to care what would happen with his 'family.' 

Then Harry surprised him with a clever note. ''If you can make it seem like I've run away, they couldn't come after you, right? Not that they would, but nobody will know I'm with you, so I won't have to return here. I'm okay with that.'' 

Regulus smirked again. ''I think, Harry, that we will get along splendidly.'' 

*** 

Regulus apparated them back to the apartment he had bought in the Muggle world and immediately thought it would be better to have a place behind better wards and maybe a Fidelius charm. 

Unfortunately, he could only think of one place that would work in that case. 

Harry was happily but shyly walking around the living room when Regulus asked for his attention. 

''Harry, I want to take you somewhere else, somewhere that is safer, but I will be honest with you, it's not a nice place. It's very dark, and I'm afraid that it hasn't been cleaned since my mother passed away.'' 

Harry frowned. ''Why can't we stay here?'' 

Regulus sighed but seated Harry and gave him a glass of water which Harry drank greedily. 

Regulus pushed the thought away that he really should feed Harry soon. The Dursleys had starved him many times, and it wouldn't surprise Regulus if that was the reason why Harry was this small. But hopefully, with nutrition potions, Harry would grow more. 

''Harry, what do you know about your parents? Or the wizarding world?'' 

At this, Harry ducked his head. ''Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon said that my parents were drunks who killed themselves in a car crash. And I know nothing about the wizarding world. I didn't even know I was a wizard until you told me.'' 

The boy was fidgeting as if expecting harsh words. 

For Salazar's sake, was he the right man for this? The child clearly needed care and love! Could he give something like that to Harry? He thought hysterically before pushing the panic down again. He needed to do this. He knows it probably wouldn't have been James's wish, but he knew for sure that they didn't want Harry abused like he was. 

He wouldn't be the perfect guardian for Harry, but he would do his best. He would try to make sure Harry knew about the wizarding world, about his parents, and was loved. He could do that. 

So with a deep sigh, Regulus told Harry about his parents, how they had been killed by the Dark Lord, and how they were very brave people who had stood up for themselves and the wizarding world. Harry was listening in awe with a hint of sadness. 

''It's because of this. Everyone in the wizarding world knows who you are, Harry. There isn't a child in our world that doesn't know your name.'' 

Harry frowned at this. ''Why? I was a baby. I couldn't have stopped the Dark Lord, it was probably my father or mother, but because I lived, everyone thinks I did something.'' 

Regulus blinked a couple of times. That-that was a very clever reply. 

''Are you sure you are seven? You sound a lot more clever than that.'' Regulus remarked with a bit of humor. 

Harry wilted at that and kicked his feet. ''I-I am smart, b-but Uncle Vernon got mad if I was smarter than Dudley in school.'' 

Regulus bit his tongue and held out a hand for Harry to take, careful that Harry was the one who would initiate contact. 

''Harry-'' Regulus began softly when Harry had taken Regulus's hand. 

''You can be proud of the fact that you are this clever. You should never be ashamed of something like that.''

''Really?'' 

Regulus squeezed Harry's hand carefully. ''Really.'' For a moment, Harry only blinked at him before he threw his arms around Regulus' neck and hugged him. 

Regulus hadn't had physical contact with anyone since returning to Britain, which was now almost a year ago. 

Before that, he hadn't had affectionate contact for almost three years. 

So it wasn't a surprise that Regulus stiffened and didn't react at first. But when he felt Harry start to sniffle against him and try to hold back tears, he quickly returned the hug. Within moments Harry was sobbing in his arms, and he comforted the small boy until Harry had cried himself to sleep. 

**

They stayed in his apartment for a week. Harry didn't want to leave Regulus's side, afraid that the man would disappear and he would be forced back to the Dursleys. 

Sleeping was not something he could do alone anymore. At least not at this moment. He had transfigured a second bed from a chair and put it next to his own bed. Making sure that Harry could see him if he woke in the night. 

They talked a lot during that first week, Regulus telling him everything he could think of about the magical world, promising Harry books and lessons so Harry would know everything he wanted to know about their world.

In the meantime, Regulus had made a schedule for Harry so he would learn to eat more. Because of the multiple starvations, his stomach had shrunk. It would take some time before Harry was used to eating full meals. 

He also brewed a nutrition potion while Harry watched in awe. He explained everything he was doing. He wasn't a potion master, he never had the time to get the mastership, but he loved potions and was good at it. He was not as good as Severus or Evans had been, but he was decent. 

Regulus also told everything about James and Evans, or Lily, and Harry loved every story he got from Regulus. 

Regulus would start explaining about his alter ego Rigel Brown and the fact he was 'dead' when they were in Grimmauldplace. But first, he needed to go to Grimmauldplace to let the wards accept him as a Black again. 

''Regulus-'' Harry said tentatively after a week. Regulus was getting ready to go to Grimmauldplace after he would need to go to Gringotts and make sure that nobody could take Harry away from him. He was already attached. Seriously, how had he become such a Gryffindor, or even worse, a Hufflepuff?! And he was planning on asking Harry if he would be okay with being adopted by him, but Regulus was still doubting if Harry would even want that. ''Yes, Harry?'' He replied while putting on his coat. His mind was in a lot of places, but he still gave the boy attention, especially when he asked a question. Harry deserved to know that Regulus would listen to him. When Harry stayed silent, he turned to look at the small boy. 

Harry was biting his lip, clearly doubting if he should ask what he wanted to. Regulus kept silent, waiting for Harry to gather his courage. 

''Did you love my father?'' 

Regulus gaped at the small boy, who was shrinking in himself. 

''Uh-''

''It's just, you look so happy but at the same time sad when you talk about him, and you talk more about my father than my mother, and sometimes you seem almost jealous or something. I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked!'' Harry rambled, clearly afraid that Regulus would punish him for his questions. 

''No-no, it's alright,'' Regulus said softly. He slowly lowered himself onto a chair. Smiling softly when Harry grabbed a mug and poured tea for him. 

''You didn't need to do that, but thank you, Harry.'' He said gratefully. He saw that Harry was still weary, afraid that he had done something wrong. 

Regulus heaved a heavy sigh. 

''Your father was the only man I've ever loved.'' 

Harry had taken a seat in front of him, and he tried to keep his face impassive, but he wasn't very good at it. Regulus would teach him, of course, at a later date. 

''Did he love you?'' Came the tentative question making Regulus exhale sharply. 

From the first moment he had seen Harry in that cupboard, Regulus had decided to be honest with Harry, and he wouldn't break that promise. 

Not even if the truth hurt. 

''He did, but he loved your mother more,'' Regulus told him with a sad smile. 

Harry nodded very seriously as if he understood exactly what Regulus was talking about, and Regulus couldn't help but smile. 

''You look a lot like your father. It's how I recognized you that day. The reason I was at your former home was because I couldn't let you stay there if you turned out to be James Potter's son. I know James wouldn't have wanted you to stay there, and he probably wouldn't want you to be with me either, but-'' Regulus stopped himself for a moment while rubbing his hands through his hair. It all came out sounding wrong. It almost seemed like he only wanted Harry because he was James's son. 

''I- well, that sounded like shit.'' Regulus grimaced, and Harry let out a small giggle at the bad word. Regulus seriously needed to rely more on his Slytherin heritage. Merlin, he probably was turning Harry into a Gryffindor!

Regulus sighed again. ''I only want you to have better care than you had. I want you to be happy because you deserve that, and yes, I hope that you will stay with me, but if you don't want that, I-I understand.'' 

Harry scrambled off his chair and was on the other side of the table in a flash, hugging Regulus's waist, his head buried in Regulus's coat. 

''I do want to stay with you! I don't want to go anywhere else. I love the stories you tell about my father and about my mother. Please don't send me away, Regulus!'' 

Regulus felt his chest warm and wrapped his arms around the small boy before pulling him onto his lap. He placed a soft kiss on the top of Harry's wild hair. 

''I won't send you away, Harry, but I do have a very serious question. I want you to think about it before giving me an answer.'' 

Harry nodded and pulled back so he could look into Regulus's gray eyes. 

''I want to adopt you, so you will be registered as my son. I will not replace James, he is still your father, but if you want, I will be too,'' He didn't mention that Harry couldn't be taken away from him anymore if Regulus adopted him. He thought that that was too much like manipulation for the young boy. And Harry was very smart. He deserved to decide on his own. 

Harry's eyes lit up before tears welled in them. Regulus almost thought he had said something wrong. 

''You want me to be your son?'' Harry sniffled. 

''Yes, Harry, I very much wish for you to be my son,'' Regulus said with a small smile, hoping Harry could see how much he meant that. 

''Nobody ever wanted me,'' Harry said softly while fumbling with his shirt. A new one Regulus had gotten him on the second day. Harry only had Muggle clothes that fit him at the moment. Wizarding clothes would follow as soon as they had a home and money. 

He lifted Harry's head so he could look into those green eyes that looked so much like Lily's. 

''Your parents wanted you too. And I want you because I want to look after you and make you happy, I want you to be the best you can be, I want you to be as ambitious and cunning as a Slytherin, as brave as a Gryffindor, as intelligent as a Ravenclaw, and loyal and friendly as a Hufflepuff.'' He told Harry, and Harry beamed at him. Regulus had told him a bit about Hogwarts and the houses, and Regulus wasn't as biased as he had been, not after living in the Muggle world so many years. 

Harry hugged him again. ''Thank you,'' He whispered, and Regulus understood that Harry wasn't thanking him for just getting him away from his godawful family but also for everything else. 

They went to Grimmauldplace. Regulus took a deep breath while standing in front of it. He smiled when he saw number twelve suddenly appear and heard Harry gasp. 

''It's really magic!'' Harry whispered, and Regulus took his hand so Harry could pass the wards. 

Regulus couldn't help but sneer at the layers of dust and grime the house had collected over the years his mother was dead. She had only died two years ago, but it seemed as if no one had been here since. 

Harry was looking around in awe before stumbling against an old troll leg that was used as an umbrella stand. It made a lot of noise and immediately the curtains flew open that had hidden a big painting. 

''WHO DARES TO DEFILE AND ENTER THE ANCIENT AND NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK! FILTHY HALF BLOODS AND-'' The painting of his crazed mother halted when she saw who was standing in front of her. 

''Regulus?'' She asked, sounding surprised before exploding again. Regulus couldn't even get over his shock to react. ''HOW DARE YOU TO SHOW YOUR FACE AFTER DISAPPEARING? EVERYONE THOUGHT YOU DEAD! THE DARK LORD PUNISHED  ME  FOR YOUR INSOLENCE! YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD!'' 

Regulus gulped, he hadn't expected this, and he had been angry at his mother for everything she had done, but this sudden attack was something else. Something he had hoped to evade forever. 

''Mother-'' He tried, but she was ranting and raving again, her painting looking crazier and crazier by the minute. 

''-SHOULD HAVE BLASTED YOU OFF THE TAPESTRY LIKE YOUR BLOOD TRAITOR OF A BRO-'' 

''THAT'S ENOUGH!'' Harry yelled, completely red in the face and angry as hell. Regulus hadn't expected it of the boy because he seemed well mannered in the week they had gotten to know each other. To have him explode like this made Regulus think of Evans. 

His mother focused her attention on the small boy, and Regulus had to give the boy credit. He didn't even shrink back. He didn't even flinch. 

''YOU DARE TO SPEAK TO ME? YOU? A FILTHY HALF-BLOOD OF A CHILD?!''

''I DARE! YOU ARE A MEAN AND - AND DIRTY PAINTING! YOU CAN NOT JUST TALK TO OTHERS LIKE THIS!'' 

''DIRTY?!''

''AND MEAN!'' Harry yelled back as if that was the biggest insult to the painting while stomping his foot down. 

''YOU-'' His mother was getting ready to rant again, and Regulus wanted to interfere, but Harry balled his fists and slammed them against the large frame of the painting. 

''SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! REGULUS HELPED ME. HE IS GREAT!'' Harry yelled, and Regulus was touched by the simple words. 

''HE IS A FILTHY TRAITOR! HE COULD'VE HAD EVERYTHING, AND HE RAN AND HID! INSTEAD OF STANDING WITH HIS FAMILY WHERE HE BELONGED!'' 

''IF YOU WERE HIS FAMILY, I UNDERSTAND WHY!'' 

His mother gasped from the rude answer before she sneered at the little boy. ''You cannot harm this painting, boy! I will forever be on this wall, and you cannot do anything about it!'' She hissed, but it was clear that Harry didn't care for her words and that being called 'boy' was the wrong thing to say to Harry. 

With his little hands, he grabbed the frame and pulled and let it be clear that Harry is a small boy and really isn't strong, and Regulus was ready to stop him before he would hurt himself when a blast of wild magic threw Regulus back against the wall. He coughed because the wind had been knocked out of him before staring with wide eyes at Harry and the painting of his mother. 

His mother's painting was lying on the ground, gaping, too shocked to say anything, and Harry was sitting on his bum, looking smug at the woman with his arms crossed. 

''H-how?'' His mother whispered, and Harry just shrugged, still looking very smug. 

Regulus smirked at his mother before kneeling next to Harry. ''Harry is very powerful.'' He said to his mother's painting before turning to Harry. ''What do you say, Harry? Shall we burn it?'' 

Harry's eyes shined with amusement, and he nodded, so they took the painting behind the house while Regulus had put a silencing charm on his screaming mother. 

There he cast a simple  incendio  and watched how his mother's painting went up in flames. 

Then they went back inside, and the house immediately seemed more inviting. Regulus left Harry in the kitchen for a moment so he could go to the ward stone, somewhere Harry couldn't come yet until he was carved into the wards. 

As soon as Regulus was connected to the house, the house seemed to exhale in relief. It was glad it was bound to a Master again as every wizarding house needed. 

The wards also told him they weren't the only ones in the house, and he rushed back upstairs, only to stop and stare in the kitchen, where he saw Harry chatting at Kreacher, who was looking with wide eyes at Harry. 

''-then he took me home, but now we are going to live here, and what is your name? My name is Harry!'' Harry said before holding out his hand so Kreacher could shake it. 

Kreacher looked ready to faint, and Regulus barely held back his laughter. 

''Kreacher,'' He said softly, still thankful for the loyal elf. The elf in question whipped his head around to look in awe at him and then threw himself at Regulus's feet. 

''MASTER REGULUS HAS RETURNED TO THE ANCIENT AND NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK!'' 

Regulus scratched his head a bit, feeling a little bit awkward, especially when he saw Harry's amused look. 

''Not a word.'' He grumbled before asking Kreacher to stand. He then told Kreacher to clean his old room and to clean the room next to it so Harry could be close. 

Harry did frown a bit at the orders he gave the elf, so Regulus quickly explained why Kreacher was happy to get the orders, and then he explained why people had house elves. 

Harry frowned for a long time. ''My family treated me like a house elf. Are you going to ask me to clean and cook too?'' 

He pulled Harry into his arms again. ''No, Kreacher  needs  to be ordered because he needs the magic. In return, he works for us. I will not ask you to clean the house or cook us food, I'll only ask you to keep your room clean, and if you want to cook, I'll let you cook, but only if I am with you in the room so you won't get hurt.'' 

Harry nodded before looking at Regulus again. ''You will not hit him, right? And you will treat him good?'' 

Regulus nodded, and it seemed to calm Harry. 

They drank some tea Kreacher had made with glee, and Regulus had asked Kreacher to get some groceries so they could eat some dinner later. Kreacher seemed to swell with pride for being asked and gave a big-toothed smile at Harry when he thanked him. 

The smile, or at least Regulus called it a smile, was horrifying, but Harry didn't even bat an eye.

Regulus then took Harry in his arms and apparated them to Diagon Alley. He had put a glamor on both of them so they wouldn't be recognized. Harry had grimaced at the cracked egg feeling on his head but had laughed when he saw he was now a blonde-haired boy with blue eyes. 

They made their way through the alley, and Harry was watching everything with awe on his face, and Regulus again felt that warm feeling in his chest. 

''There are brooms, Reg! Brooms!'' Harry said excitedly while almost scrambling out of Regulus's arms. 

''When you're old enough, we will get you a broom, and you can learn how to fly, deal?'' 

Harry nodded happily before frowning. ''When am I old enough?'' 

''I don't know yet, maybe when you're forty,'' Regulus told him with a smirk while Harry pouted. 

''But forty is sooooooo old!'' Harry whined, and Regulus laughed, feeling delighted that Harry was this enthusiastic about flying and magic and being a child. 

They made their way to Gringotts, and Harry again was freakishly polite to the Goblins, just like he had been to Kreacher. 

''Hello, mister Goblin!'' Harry said with a big smile, not the least bit intimidated by the ugly Goblins. Regulus had to give it to the Goblin. He didn't even bat an eye. 

''Good afternoon, heir Potter.'' The Goblin then focused on Regulus. ''Heir Black, what can Gringotts do for you today?'' 

Regulus sucks in a shocked breath. He knew that Goblins could see through glamors, but he hadn't expected to be spoken to like this. He quickly straightens his spine. His pureblood upbringing shot through him now he is recognized. 

''I wish for a meeting with the Black account manager and the Potter account manager if they are available.'' He asks in a composed manner. The Goblin nods and takes them to a meeting room. There they wait, and Regulus cancels both the glamors, so the Goblins will see that they aren't hiding from them. 

Half an hour later, two Goblins make their way into the room. Harry is looking again intrigued at the Goblins when they enter and introduce themselves. 

''Welcome, heir Black and heir Potter. My name is Hookfang, I am the Black account manager, and this is Sharptooth, the Potter account manager. How can we help you today?'' 

Regulus nodded and took a deep breath before speaking again. ''I wish for the wills of James Fleamont Potter and Lily Rose Potter nee Evans to be read. And I want to blood adopt Harry James Potter if possible after hearing the wills.'' 

Harry nodded with him in a severe manner. He was nervous and was fidgeting a bit. Because of that, he was also still in Regulus's arms, as Harry didn't want to leave him, and Regulus's arm comforted him. 

Little did Harry know that Regulus was also comforted by Harry because of it. 

The two Goblins glanced at each other before they talked in Gobblydook. After a couple of minutes, they sent a message, and it took everything in Regulus to keep his composure. He was only afraid that the Goblins might tell the Wizarding World about Regulus and Harry. 

''We will get the wills of the Potters, but heir Black, if you are not mentioned as one of the preferred caregivers, you cannot blood adopt heir Potter unless you have permission from his current guardian.''

Regulus cursed softly. There was no way that he was named in the will as everyone thought him dead. Then he got an idea. 

''What if there was proof of neglect and abuse by his current guardians? Doesn't the laws around that soften in that case?'' 

Sharptooth narrowed his eyes before smirking. ''I believe so, but first, let us listen to the wills of the Potters.'' 

Another Goblin entered, and he was holding a golden globe. With a tap of the wand of the Potter's account manager, the globe let up in red. 

''It seems that the will has been sealed. That is peculiar.'' Sharptooth said with a scowl.

Regulus frowned. ''Why is it sealed?'' 

''The will was sealed on the first of November 1981, we cannot see why, but with the permission of heir Potter, it can be unsealed.'' The Potter manager told them, and Harry swallowed heavily. 

''I give permission.'' He murmured, and the globe lighted up in gold. 

Then mist poured out of the globe, and two figures appeared. Regulus clutched Harry tighter, and Harry did the same to him. There were James and Lily. Harry's parents. 

Regulus knew that this was the first time Harry saw them, he had never seen pictures or anything, but Regulus wanted to change that. Unfortunately, the mist was colorless. They only took the shapes of the persons the will was from. 

''Mom, dad,'' Harry whispered, clearly emotional, and Regulus turned his face into Harry's hair for a moment pressing a kiss to his head. 

Then the figures started to speak. 

''Hello, sweetheart, we hope you don't have to see this for a very long time, Harry, but in these dangerous times-'' Lily started, and James pulled her in a side hug. Regulus swallowed, but he couldn't deny the love he could see between them. ''we don't know what will happen.'' 

''We are leaving our home at Godric Hallow, the Potter estate, and the Potter mansion in France to you, Harry, our cabin in Skye we leave to Remus John Lupin, for your monthly problem-'' At this, James gave an exaggerated wink, and Regulus huffed a laugh. ''To Sirius, well, we don't leave you any houses because you won't accept them either way,'' James got an elbow in his ribs from Lily, and he grunted before turning to her. ''What? He won't!'' James turned back to them and rolled his eyes. 

Lily took over at that. ''Now, for Severus, we leave the cottage on Spinners End. I know how you hate the house you lived in but loved the neighborhood, Sev, so I want you to take it. No buts about it! I even built a good Potion's lab downstairs. So just accept it!'' Lily said in a motherly tone which made Regulus and Harry laugh. Harry whispered softly. ''Who is Severus?'' 

''He was a friend of your mother's,'' Regulus quickly explained, pretty surprised that Lily left Severus anything at all. 

Lily's eyes turned sad. ''I know we had our differences, Sev, but if we survive this, I want to try to be friends again. I've missed you.'' James seemed to squeeze her shoulder for a moment before he continued again. ''Snivelus- ugh, sorry. Snape. I want to apologize for the things I've done at school. Schoolyard fights seem so insignificant right now. So I'm sorry. I really hope you haven't passed out because of this, and Sirius, if you're in the same room, apologize to the greasy git. He didn't deserve all the shit we put him through. Ow!'' James said, again on the end of a sharp elbow between his ribs because of Lily. ''Don't curse in our will!'' She said in a sharp tone before shaking her head. 

''The money will be mostly left to Harry and a bit to Remus, Sirius, and Severus. The Goblins have a summary. We are not leaving anything to Peter because if we are dead right now, it's his fault. He was the secret keeper, but you probably already knew that because we can't imagine Dumbledore not telling you.'' Lily told them with a little wave. As if she didn't just shake Regulus's whole world. 

''What?!'' He exclaimed, but the will wasn't finished, and he still needed to listen. 

''And for where Harry is going to stay, is very simple. Sirius, you're his godfather. Take good care of him, please, and let it be said that I don't want Harry living with my sister at all. She hates magic! If he ends up there, I will haunt your ass!'' She laughed a bit, clearly not expecting that that was exactly what would happen. Regulus was struggling to breathe, to swallow, to do anything. Who the fuck did this to Harry? ''If Sirius isn't capable of taking care of Harry, we want Remus and Severus to take care of him. The reason is that we know Remus won't be able to take custody of Harry, but Severus can, so you will be able to take care of him together in this way.'' Lily said with a nod and a glint in her eyes that told Regulus that the men didn't have any choice. 

''Harry,'' James was talking again, now in a soft voice. ''We want you to know that we are so happy with you, we love you so, so much. If you are watching this, we aren't there anymore, and that hurts my heart, but never forget that we love you and that we will be proud of you no matter what.'' 

Harry was silently crying in Regulus's arms, and Regulus was rubbing his back. 

Lily blew a kiss to them before waving and saying. ''We love you.'' 

The glow stopped, and Regulus was glad the will was over. He gave all his attention to the crying boy in his arms and comforted him as much as he could. 

Thankfully the Goblins had left them after the reading had been finished, so they were alone for the moment. 

After fifteen minutes, Harry had calmed down and was now sitting sleepily in Regulus's lap. The Goblins returned.

Regulus's eyes sharpened, and he had already formed multiple ideas in his head. ''I know I wasn't named in the will, but the will was wholly ignored. My brother Sirius was arrested and thrown into Azkaban while he isn't guilty. Harry was placed with his Aunt, but Lily Potter explicitly said that she didn't want Harry with her. Lupin and Snape don't even know that they should've been Harry's caregivers since James's and Lily's death. I also have evidence of Harry's neglect and abuse over the last years at the hand of his Aunt, Uncle, and nephew. They were his guardians until he ran away, and I found him.'' He lied easily. He didn't think he could adopt Harry if he told them he had kidnapped the boy. 

''And this was all the fault of Albus Dumbledore. You heard it yourself in the will, Albus knew who the real secret keeper was, and I have evidence that the headmaster placed Harry with his Aunt.'' He hissed. His magic reacted in anger, but it soon sank into him that he couldn't start a crusade against Dumbledore. Nobody would ever believe him. 

No, he needed to plan this carefully and ensure that Dumbledore would fall. 

''Do you wish to press charges against Albus Dumbledore?'' Hookfang asked him with a dangerous glint in his eyes. 

Regulus combed his fingers through Harry's hair, and with a sigh, he shook his head. ''No, not yet, but can you maybe start a file against him with this evidence?'' 

Hookfang scowled but nodded. ''Of course, heir Black. Now, you wished to blood adopt heir Potter? Where is the evidence you claimed?'' 

Regulus gave them Harry's story, Harry was now sleeping in his arms, and he had placed a silence bubble around him so he could stay sleeping while he talked with the Goblins. 

The Goblins were appalled by the treatment the little boy had endured, and with a wicked glint, they accepted the request for blood adoption. 

Regulus gingerly woke up Harry, who rubbed his eyes before focusing on Regulus. He gave the man a sleepy grin. 

''Are we going home?'' Harry mumbled. 

''Not yet. We are just ready for the adopting ritual if you still want to do that.'' Regulus said softly. Harry's eyes lighted up, and he nodded. 

Hookfang started speaking again and put a bowl and knife in front of Regulus and Harry. 

''This ritual is mostly about intention. Heir Black, please put seven drops of your blood into the bowl while chanting the Latin words.'' 

Regulus did as told, and he felt the magic rush through him. Sharptooth then turned to Harry. ''Heir Potter, you don't need to chant, but please put three drops of blood in the bowl while being honest with yourself.'' 

Harry smiled and nodded. He then took the knife, Regulus kept a close eye, but as long as Harry didn't ask for help, he would let Harry do it himself. He knew that Harry had experience with knives because of those horrible Muggles. He wasn't afraid that he would hurt himself, but still, he was a bit nervous.

Harry poked the tip of the knife against his thumb without flinching and held his thumb over the bowl with Regulus's blood. Three drops later, Regulus's breath left him with a rush of magic. The whole chamber lighted up, and Regulus closed his eyes while also putting a hand over Harry's eyes to protect them.

''Now all that is left is the name,'' Hookfang told them, and Regulus looked at Harry. 

''Do you still wish to be called Harry?'' 

Harry seemed to think about it before nodding. ''Yes, but I want to be named Potter-Black, is that okay?'' 

Regulus beamed at him, ''Of course, Harry.'' He then turned to the Goblins once more. 

''Heir Harry James Potter-Black. That's his name.''