Chapter Text
Sirius is not enjoying Ancient Runes. He only took it because Remus wanted to, saying it was going to be a fun class. He truly doesn't think Remus understands what “fun” means if this is it for him.
“Moony, mate, do you have any extra parchment?” He whispers. “I used all mine for doodling.”
“No. Now shut up.” Remus’ quill doesn’t even stop moving on the paper.
The classroom door swings open, and Professor McGonagall stands there looking incredibly flustered. Even Professor Babbling looks alarmed at the intrusion.
“I’m sorry, Professor, but can I borrow Sirius Black?”
Twenty pairs of eyes immediately turn to land on him. Remus looks especially curious, probably thinking he got up to some prank without him.
Truth be told, Sirius can’t think of a single thing he’s done recently to deserve to be taken out of class so suddenly.
Something must be wrong.
James? No, she’d have asked for Remus too in that case.
His parents? Perhaps, though he’s not sure anything other than their death would warrant being pulled from class.
One of his dreadful cousins died? Unlikely, but plausible enough.
“Mr. Lupin can bring your things back to the common room for you.” McGonagall says with a pinched expression.
Sirius stares at her, unmoving.
Remus’ knee nudges his. He raises his eyebrows and tilts his head towards the door.
“Right. Sure thing. I’m on my way.” Sirius stumbles up from his seat and hurries to the door.
They start a quick pace down the hall, and it doesn’t take long for Sirius to figure they’re going to the infirmary rather than her office.
“What’s going on, Minnie? You seem a little tense.” He tries to joke, but it falls flat.
“There’s been an accident… with your brother.”
A cold and heavy stone lands in his stomach.
Regulus .
Something bad has happened to Regulus.
Not that he cares anymore. They haven’t spoken in three years, and he hadn’t even seen his brother for longer than a glance in the Great Hall since moving in with the Potter family. His brother has made it abundantly clear that they are on opposite sides of both the familial and moral line.
“What kind of accident?”
McGonagall’s lips twist up, and she looks anywhere but at him. “Regulus, it appears, was the target of an attack from some of his housemates. We aren’t sure what exactly… he was hit with a combination of spells and… we believe he was forced to drink a homemade potion of sorts.”
“What?” Who in their right mind would attack a Black? “By who?”
“He won’t… or he can’t say.”
“Can’t? What happened to him?” Panic is slowly working its way up his back, creeping over his shoulders and whispering horrible scenarios into his ear. “Why are you telling me? Surely his precious Mummy and Daddy will have this taken care of by the end of the day?”
“He asked for you.” She says it so simply, as if that doesn’t shake him to his very core.
They approach the infirmary doors. She squares her shoulders with a sigh and finally meets his eyes. “He is in an incredibly delicate state of mind. I suggest you think carefully before you say anything that might… upset him.”
And then she leads him inside.
He scans the beds quickly before spotting Madam Pomfrey. She’s kneeling on the floor beside one of the beds, talking quietly. He can’t quite see who is on the floor she’s talking to before she spots him and stands up.
“Sirius, thank goodness you’re here!” It’s full of false cheeriness and way too loud, as if she’s trying to be heard by the entire room. He also frowns at the use of his first name so casually said by a professor.
Before he can respond, something short and heavy collides into his legs.
“Siri!”
He stumbles back, catching himself before he can fall to the floor. He looks down in bewilderment then looks back up at his professors for answers.
“Is this Regulus? ” He asks incredulously.
The small body still wrapped around his legs shifts and sure enough, a small Regulus looks up at Sirius. His clothes must have been shrunk with him because Hogwarts robes do not come that small.
“Yes, we believe he’s been… transported back to the state of his five year old self.”
Regulus frowns up at Sirius. “I’m six.”
“Sorry, six year old self.” Madam Pomfrey corrects with a little smile. “Physically and mentally it appears. He unfortunately has no current memory to tell us what happened. I’ve tried a few reversal spells but since I don’t know what was in the potion they gave him I… Well it might take a little bit of time to get him back to normal.”
Regulus looks up at him, icy blue eyes as they blinking owlishly. It hits him somewhere behind his sternum just how much trust is in them. “Where are we? I couldn’t find you and I was lost.”
“We’re at Hogwarts. You remember all the times I told you about it?”
The small boy nods, his hair bouncing all around in wild curls. “How did we get here? I don’t remember Maman bringing us.”
He looks at McGonagall in bewilderment. “Have you told his- our parents?”
“I have not. I thought… He was only asking for you. Would you like me to?”
He’s relieved. He can’t imagine the response his mother would have to knowing Regulus let himself get transformed back into a little kid.
“You said he could be like this for a while?”
Regulus pokes his thigh to get his attention. “Did I do something bad? Everyone looks angry at me.”
“No, no, you didn’t do anything wrong. We just have to figure out what to do with you until you’re big again.” Sirius forces a smile down at his literal baby brother. This is the child he vowed to always protect, to always be there for.
The one he let down.
He can’t do that again.
“Don’t tell our parents, Minnie, please. He can stay with me while we come up with something.”
She nods. “Alright. We will let you know when we have a possible solution.”
“Here, he might need this. From what I can tell, he still has full use of his magic, so I’d be careful.” Pomfrey smiles as if that’s not anxiety inducing. “Hopefully he won’t be a handful.”
The two women cross to Pomfrey’s office to speak, and with that, Regulus is his to care for once more.
“Hey little star, you want to meet all my friends?”
Regulus’ eyes light up. “You have friends?”
“Yes, I have friends! I’m seventeen now, of course I have friends.”
“Why are you so old?”
Sirius takes his hand to lead him out of the infirmary. “I’m not old, you’re young.”
“Oh. Why?”
“I really wish I knew.” Sirius says with a frown.
Now how exactly do I tell the boys I’ve got a six year old Regulus?