Regulus had done his best to keep up a front with the Slytherin's. As much as he wanted to just avoid them and be done with it, that wasn't an option. He sat at the dining table, stabbing his food as though he had to kill it before eating it.

Barty approached the table, a look of confusion and fear on his face. Regulus opened his mouth to question the state of the boy but Barty beat him to it, "What are your parents doing here?"

"My what?" Regulus asked, the question not fully resonating with him. He shook his head, standing up from the table, "What - what do you mean?"

"Your parents," he repeated, "They-" Just then, the doors to the Great Hall opened and the room fell silent as Walburga and Orion Black entered the room. "-are here."

"Shit," Regulus said as he stepped over the bench and started his way across the room.

"Be careful," Barty said but Regulus waved him off.

His parents' sight was fully on the Gryffindor table. Regulus was practically sprinting across the Hall as his parents approached his brother and his friends. "Mother, Father," he greeted, stepping in front of them, stumbling slightly. "What a wonderful surprise!"

"Step aside, Regulus," Orion suggested. "We have business to attend to." Regulus was about to argue but they simply walked past him. He turned to call after them when he saw that Sirius had stood up to greet them, seemingly not shocked by their presence in the slightest.

Sirius bowed, taking Regulus by surprise and his friends as well. James stood up, taking his friend's side as though this weren't a terrifying change of events, "Pads, what are you doing?"

"We got your letter," Walburga said as Regulus joined them.

"Letter?" Regulus asked. "What letter?"

Sirius smiled and Regulus felt as though he were about to throw up in front of the entire school. "The one I wrote to them, of course."

"You wrote to your parents?" James asked in surprise and both James and Regulus shared a confused look.

"Of course I did," he replied simply, "They're my parents after all." Whispers broke out across the hall and even the teachers were listening now. "I take your presence here to be an agreement."

"An agreement for what, exactly?" Remus asked as he joined them. "Sirius, what's going on?"

"It doesn't concern any of you what goes on within our family," Walburga pointed out, focusing her attention on her eldest son, "Yes, we agree to your terms, so long as you keep your side of the deal."

"Stop it," Remus said, stepping in front of Sirius. "Don't be stupid," he said, shaking his head, "You can't do this. This isn't you."

"I thought I had said this has nothing to do with you," Walburga stated, stepping forward.

"Of course it has something to do with us," James countered, joining Remus at his side. "Sirius is our family. We're not letting you anywhere near him."

Walburga rolled her, waving her wand. The two boys flew to the side, hitting the table. This caused both Minerva and Dumbledore to act, stepping down the stairs quickly, "Oh, relax, would you?"

Regulus had moved forward but had to stop himself from helping James off the floor. "What is going on?" he asked. "I think it has something to do with me, before you go waving your wand at me."

"Don't speak to your mother that way, boy," Orion demanded, grabbing him by his collar. "Watch your mouth."

Regulus dropped his voice, "Mind your manners father, we have an audience." Orion let the boy go, patting down his clothes. "Now, care to explain what exactly you're doing here."

"We're here to celebrate," Walburga announced, clapping her hands together. Regulus only grew more confused before she continued, "Your brother is returning home."

The world seemed to stop around him. There were no students, not teachers. Just Sirius. He turned to look at his brother, trying to figure out what plan he had to screw his parents over. But all he was met with was resignation. "Sirius-"

Sirius waved him off, moving closer, "This is a good thing, brother. We're reunited at last."

Regulus deflated, everything crashing down around him. He looked back to see both Remus and James who looked distraught. And the look of pure joy and victory on his parents face. This was happening. This was actually happening and he had no idea what to do from here.

"And we're here just in time to watch you win the Quidditch Championship," Orion announced, patting his son on the back and guiding him to the doors. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yeah, absolutely perfect," Regulus replied in defeat. It was over, it was all over.

James sat on the bench in the Great Hall for what felt like hours. Remus sitting next to him. The other students had left shortly after and both Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore had spoken to them before leaving as well. They were alone now. "I am so sorry, Remus," he finally spoke and Remus looked over at him. James looked up, his eyes no doubt red from crying. "I didn't think he'd ever do this. This is my fault."

"No, it's not," Remus shook his head in disagreement. "I - I don't know why he did this. But we can fix it. We'll figure this out."

"Remus, he went back to them," James countered. "We can't fix this. There's nothing to figure out." James rested his head in his hands. "How do I tell my parents?"

"Prongs, we have to-"

"Don't call me that," he pleaded, "Please."

Remus frowned, "James, this can't be it. We made a promise back in second year, that doesn't change."

"Do you know how set on a decision he'd have to be to go back to them?" James asked. "And not even bring it up to us?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Remus, it's over," James shook his head. "We got him out by the skin of our teeth and he went back in. I - I don't know what else we can do this time."

"This isn't-"

The doors to the Great Hall opened, cutting their conversation short. "James, Remus-"

Remus stood up immediately, approaching the Slytherin boy with a look that could kill, "What did you do?" James stood up as Remus grabbed the boy, shaking him, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," Regulus said, his hands up in surrender. "I - I don't know why he did this. My parents haven't left his side since they got here and I don't know how to figure out what's going on." Regulus looked to James for help, "I swear." Remus reluctantly let the boy go and Regulus looked between the two, "So, what's the plan?"

Remus shot James a look and Regulus frowned. James shook his head, "There is no plan."

"No plan?" Regulus asked, turning to Remus, "Is he being serious?"

"Apparently," Remus replied, taking a seat again.

Regulus walked up to James, "You always have a plan. And when that doesn't work, you have a back up plan."

"Not this time."

"So you're just giving up?" Regulus asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's it? You're throwing in the rag?"

"What do you want from me?" James asked. "It's not as though you're willing to do anything about it."

"I want you to try," Regulus said, placing his hands on either side of the Gryffindor's face. "This isn't the James I know and love. We have to fix this." James shook his head and Regulus moved closer, resting his forehead against his. "The James I know is brave, and kind and would do anything for his best friend. For his brother."

"I can't."

"He needs you," Regulus pointed out. "He's doing this for you. It always tracks back to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember what you told me?" he asked. "That you could live without me, but you can't live without him? Did you ever consider that he felt the same way about you? That he'd do anything to keep you safe?"

"You think he's doing this to protect me," James concluded in confusion. "How does this- oh."

"The agreement," Remus spoke up. "He gave up the rest of his life for you."

"No, he wouldn't-"

"He would," Regulus said. "Anyone would, honestly."

"He's an idiot."

"That's nothing new," Regulus said. "You have to be careful here, James. This is far more complicated than some familial dispute."

"It's war," Remus filled in. "And Sirius is just another weapon for them."

"Exactly," Regulus nodded with a frown.

"And you?"

Regulus hesitated, "I will do whatever it takes to protect my brother. The same way he'd do for me." He turned to look at James, who was clearly coming up with a plan, "What is it?"

"It might not work."

"But it could work," Remus countered.

"Potentially."

"What's the plan?" Regulus asked.

"You won't like it," James replied, a slight grimace in his face.

"I'll do whatever it takes."