"I'm damned if I do and I'm dammed if I don't."

The wind was harsher than Regulus remembered from a few hours prior. The frigid air nipped at both the brothers as they made their way to the shrieking shack away from prying eyes.

Neither of them spoke a word as they walked through the town. Regulus glanced to his right, trying to get a better read on his brother without trying to make it obvious about his curiosity.

Sirius had his hands tucked into his coat, a coat that Emmaline gifted to him after their parents swore up and down he was to no longer get the satisfaction of receiving the fruit of their labor. He recalls that Christmas, hearing Sirius cry through the walls that separated their room. He was unsure how Emmaline knew, but the next morning on Boxing Day, the Selwyn owl came into their home, a parcel wrapped and addressed for Sirius, and only Sirius.

Sirius kept staring ahead. He could feel Regulus's glances from the moment they stepped out from Three Broomsticks. Eventually, Regulus moved his gaze from him to the path ahead, the house coming clearer into view.

The only sound between the two of them was the crunch of their shoes against the snow. Once in front of the shack, Sirius pulled it open and held it for Regulus to walk in. Once inside, the brothers took to one wall each, staying as far away as they could from each other.

"So," Regulus started, clearing his voice. "What do you want?"

"Right down to the chase, huh?" Sirius asked, leaning against his wall. Regulus stayed quiet, watching him. Sirius stared back, looking for anything that showed he cared. He found nothing.

"Emmaline needs you,"

"Yeah, I am very aware of that fact, thank you." Regulus replied sharply. Sirius closed his eyes in frustration and huffed, his hand rubbing harshly against his face.

"No, I mean she needs you in a way that you need to step up and take. She's enduring things at home and you need to be there."

"Like what?" Regulus questioned; his interest finally peaked.

"She hasn't told you?" Sirius asked. Regulus stared blankly back at him, waiting for him to realize, this is Emmaline they were talking about.

"Right." He hummed. Sirius took a deep breath and looked away from Regulus.

"Just don't let her be alone with Arthur." Sirius said. Regulus stared at him, his mind trying to piece what Sirius's words meant but he came up empty handed.

"If anything is going on in her home... Malcolm would know, and in turn make sure she was fine." Regulus concluded, trying to get a hint of anything that Sirius was speaking about. His eyes searched for anything.

Sirius scoffed at the mention of the eldest Selwyn. Regulus was unsure what that meant. One year, Sirius was ready to be with Emmaline and be the successor of their family name, the next, he's ready to run from it all.

"He knows and so do her parents." He confirmed.

"And you're not going to tell me?"

"Obviously, she didn't want you to know. Or else she would have trusted you with the information already."

Regulus looked away from his brother, biting his cheek hard. The words Sirius carried struck him harder than he would ever admit. Sharp as a knife, the feelings came in hard. Emmaline did not confide in him as much as he thought she could. As much as the revelation of Arthur concerned him, it was the sense of exclusion that hurt the most. They were friends before the incident, and they had gotten significantly closer since then. Questions were running in his mind before he turned back to Sirius.

"Is there anything else you need?" He barked out. Sirius shook his head, confirming that nothing else needed to be said.

Regulus nodded his head in understanding. Watching Sirius take his leave, he felt vulnerable and as they prepared to part ways, Regulus hesitated. "Sirius," he called out, stopping him in his tracks. When Sirius turned around, Regulus asked the question that had been burning in his chest since that night.

"Why did you run away?"

Sirius gave him a look of 'are you serious?' But Regulus didn't say anything.

"I left because Walburga and Orion were not my parents. That manor was not a home, just a house. You were their prized possession once you got sorted. Maybe they held onto some false hope and narrative that I would change. That was stupid on their part."

"But Emmaline?" Regulus pressed.

"When our parents confirmed that the arrangement was between me and her, I cried. Not because of what it meant for me in terms of our family, but because she's my best friend and if I had to be stuck in that world, I knew she would help me..." He trailed.

Regulus raised an eyebrow, beckoning him to continue.

"But her views on our world... She agreed with them. She didn't fight them. As we got older into our 4th year, I asked her to run with me, and I should have known she only agreed at that time because her mother taught her to be obedient and even though she said she would, that's when I knew I needed to be away, even if it meant without her." Sirius looked away, ashamed to admit that he was ready to leave her much sooner than when it happened.

"I asked her to run that night. I'm not sure if she told you. But she refused to leave you and Perseus." He stated, looking back over at Regulus. Regulus looked at his older brother, who was waiting for him to react.

"But you could? Leave all of us? You left me to Walburga and Orion for what? To be without responsibilities with the Potters?" Regulus accused, his voice becoming thick with emotion.

Sirius's eyes filled with regret. "I should have asked you-"

"I would have. Did you know that?" Regulus confirmed the question before it was asked of him. Sirius looked at him in shock, unsure he heard him correctly. "I wanted to when I found out about it. I know you. And I figured if I followed you, you would know where I stood and so would the Potters. But then I looked at Emmaline's face when she asked me what to do. I couldn't do that to her."

Sirius went to take a step towards him, but Regulus matched him by taking a step back, keeping the distance between them.

"But it doesn't matter now." Regulus continued; his frustration etched on his face. "Emmaline and I are together now. She is safe because of that."

"You think yourself so big and bad, don't you?" Sirius questioned. Regulus gave no indication of a response, causing Sirius to shake his head disapproving.

"You think you know better... But watch yourself little brother." Without waiting for his response, Sirius disappeared.

The shrieking shack stood silent, a witness of the brother's bond that evaporated within moments of what was left. Regulus remained alone in the space, the sun outside setting and diminishing the light inside the small room.

He was left to grapple with the confessions that Sirius dropped on him. Emmaline was ready to run but stayed for him and her own brother.

His chest was heavy and exposed. He tried to walk around the room, to calm himself down but he couldn't. He leaned against the old wooden wall, the freezing air drifting in between the cracks of the wooden structure. The wound inside of him was raw and throbbing. He kept replaying the moment of Sirius walking away from him. He shook off his jacket and looked down at his front side, inspecting to see if he was truly physically injured because there was no way his heart could hurt him this badly.

The walls of the shrieking shack seemed to close in on him, the confined space mirroring the suffocating weight in his chest. Regulus sank onto the dusty floor, his knees pulled up against his chest. He wrapped his arms around his knees, tears brimming in his eyes, the memories of their childhood playing through his mind. Each image hurt as bad as the last.

The pain Regulus was feeling was more than physical. It was a visceral ache, an ache that whispered abandonment. As much as he wanted Sirius to come back to their family, he knew that wasn't happening. Even if Sirius came back, he knew what Walburga and Orion would do.

A choked sob escaped Regulus's throat, causing him to hide his face in his knees and chest, trying to not go into hysterics.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Regulus pushed himself to his feet. His eyes were void of any emotion he just felt. His jacket was back on him, and he stepped out into the dark night. It wrapped around him like a comforting hand. The moon was high in the sky, almost at its fullest as it lit the way for him back to the castle.

He was sure his friends and Emmaline were back in their common room, so he headed there, leaving Hogsmeade.

—

Meanwhile at Three Broomsticks

The remaining Slytherins stayed at their table, watching the table of Gryffindors and the door to the pub, each group waiting for their Black brother to come back to them.

Emmaline shifted in her seat as time went by, listening to Henry and Evelyn conversate about anything and everything. She offered her opinion and words every now and then, adding to the conversation but her mind was filtering to Regulus and Sirius. She didn't want to worry about Sirius, but she was coming to know Regulus, and knew that nothing good will come out of this conversation.

Her attention was brought back to her table mates when Evelyn stifled a yawn, her energy waning as the evening continued to get dark.

"How much longer do you think it will be?" She questioned. Henry shrugged, pulling her into him, causing her to lay her head on his shoulder. "I hope he comes back soon," she continued. "I could use some sleep."

"Let's wait a bit more-" Henry began but was cut off by Emmaline.

"It's okay, Henry. Why don't you take Evelyn back to our common room? I'll wait for Regulus here. You know she gets cranky when it gets late." Emmaline teased.

"Are you sure?" Henry questioned.

Emmaline nodded her head reassuring him. "I'll be fine."

Henry hesitated, concern for her written all over his face but Emmaline was right, if Evelyn didn't get her full 8 hours of sleep, she becomes unbearable.

After a moment of contemplation, Henry nodded. Evelyn managed a small smile, getting up from her seat, prompting Emmaline to get out of hers.

Evelyn hugged her tight, "Be careful," she murmured into her ear. Emmaline smiled and nodded at her, unwrapping herself from her best friend's embrace. Before she had a chance to tell them anything else, Henry hooked her into a hug as well. "Be safe and wait for Regulus to come back." He told her. Emmaline rolled her eyes at him but nodded as well.

"See you guys soon, okay?"

As Evelyn and Henry left, the atmosphere shifted. The warmth that Emmaline had, seemed to disappear when they left her sitting by herself at the table.

Emmaline nursed her drink, beckoning the bar maid for another one. She wasn't sure how long it would take for Regulus to come back, but in case he wanted to talk about it, she knew he would want something to hold to keep himself in check.

As the minutes continued to tick by, Emmaline's gaze landed on the table where she first spotted the Gryffindors. She expected to see James, Peter, and Remus but only the latter of the three sat at the table, most likely waiting on his friend.

Emmaline glanced at the clock; her body filled with nerves as the air around her became palpable.

The door creaked open, and she looked up, seeing Remus also turn towards the noise, hoping to see the return of the missing brothers. Yet, it was only the cold night wind that swept through the entrance, stirring the air in the now nearly empty pub.

Emmaline sighed, resigning herself to the wait. She wondered what they could be speaking about and when they would come back, the clock continuing to tick by. The door opened again, Emmaline's eyes flickered over to the door, expecting the wind to be the one pushing it again but instead, Sirius walked in. Hope rose in her chest, but it deflated as she realized that Sirius was alone.

She watched as Sirius walked towards Remus who met him halfway. She watched as they embraced briefly, exchanging words she couldn't hear. The fleeting glance in her direction caught her attention. She raised an eyebrow and noticed they began to make their way over to her.

She rolled her eyes and sat up straighter. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Mind if we join you?" Remus asked.

Emmaline glanced around at the now sparsely occupied room. She nodded which caused Sirius to grin, pulling out a chair and sitting himself across from her. She shifted in her seat uneasily, Remus joining and taking a seat next to Sirius.

Sirius didn't attempt to make conversation with her, something that peaked Emmaline's interest. Remus and Sirius made conversation between themselves that flowed effortlessly while Emmaline's thoughts remained occupied with the absence of Regulus. The night deepened, and still, there was no sign of him.

Sirius, sensing Emmaline's restlessness, stood up abruptly. "Well, I've waited long enough. I'm not going to wait around for my little brother all night. Let's get going." He urged Remus but Emmaline knew it was an open invitation for her as well.

Remus shot him a disapproving look. "We can't just leave Emmaline."

"You can, I'm not going with you guys." Emmaline confirmed.

Sirius rolled his eyes at her stubbornness and shrugged his jacket on him. "You heard her. Let's go Mooney."

Remus stayed seated and glanced from Sirius to Emmaline before sighing and shaking his head.

"I'll stay until Regulus shows."

"Suit yourself. My brother isn't forgiving when it comes to sharing his toys." Sirius warned and left the pair of them at the table.

Emmaline didn't know whether or not she should make conversation with the boy in front of her. There used to be a time where she didn't mind them. Now all she wanted was to keep a distance from them.

"So," Remus began, clearing his throat. "How have you been? Aside from the obvious of course."

Emmaline shifted to turn towards him, "Fine." She said.

Remus nodded at her response and didn't bother with any more conversation with the witch.

The bar maid approached them, a dirty towel in one hand and a scowl on her face.

"You'se better go. I got to close up shop." She informed them. Emmaline felt Remus glance over at her, concern in his eyes.

"Lets go."

Emmaline shook her head, putting on her coat to leave. "I'll wait outside for him."

Remus scoffed at her. "Let's just walk back to the castle. If anything, you can wait for him by the entrance. I'm not leaving you here by yourself."

"You heard Sirius, I'm a big girl," She argued. Remus rolled his eyes at her and raised his tone. "Emmaline, it's late. I'm sure Regulus didn't forget about you. But in the off chance he did, I'm not going to let you wait by yourself or walk alone."

With those words, Emmaline bit her lip softly before agreeing and stepping out into the chilly night. The path of the castle was dimly lit by the moonlight, the shadows dancing around them as they made their way back.

"The moon is beautiful tonight." Emmaline commented, trying to fill the silence that surrounded them.

Remus shifted awkwardly. Emmaline was unsure why, but she could only assume it involved her betrothed and how they were alone together.

"Sirius said Regulus isn't keen on sharing his toys, but just to let you know, I do not belong to him. Our families just have an agreement that when me and him come of age, we keep our family lines strong and pure." Emmaline explained, trying to ease the tension she assumed was caused by Regulus

Remus chuckled, shaking his head. "Your fiancé doesn't concern me. I just figured after we stopped talking when we were young, you wouldn't want to keep conversing with the likes of us."

Emmaline smiled at the small memory of what their first years at Hogwarts was like with the boys who get called Marauders.

"I could never hate anyone, you know that Remus."

Remus smiled at her words as they trudged along the path. The air around them was cold but they hardly noticed it as they continued to be entrapped in conversation. As the pair of them made it to the castle entrance, Remus checked his watch. It was near midnight, and he knew Regulus was either already inside or not coming back until the next day.

"Let me walk you back to the Slytherin common room. Make sure you're warm." He offered. Emmaline nodded in agreement and the two began to make their way down to the dungeons.

"I don't think Regulus would have left you on purpose." Remus said softly. Emmaline could feel the tension in her shoulders easing after his words.

Once near the top of the steps, Emmaline stopped and in turn, Remus did too. "Are you okay?" He questioned. She nodded and hesitated for a moment before she reached out for his hand, giving it a soft squeeze.

"Thank you for the company. I appreciate it. But this is your stop. I can make it the rest of the way."

"I'm already here, let me walk you to the door."

"And have you listen to the password so you and your friends can come inside our safe space?" She scoffed out a laugh. Remus laughed too.

Emmaline took a step down to the dungeons before Remus called out her name, asking her to wait. When she turned, Remus was quiet before he spoke, "Sirius is sorry for what he did."

"I know," She confirmed immediately. Remus wasn't expecting that response, Emmaline could see that on his face. Before he had a chance to say anything else she turned around again and continued the rest of the steps to her common room.

Emmaline stepped into the Slytherin common room, the heavy door closing behind her with a soft thud. The hour was late, and the room was dimly lit, the hushed conversations ceased as those inside the room turned their attention to her.

Severus Snape raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes narrowing in curiosity. Henry Nott paused his pacing, shooting her a glance and a once look over, confirming that she was alright. Her bright eyes landed on Regulus Black who sat on the couch with a look she couldn't read, and she made sure her face resembled his.

Henry made his way to check in on her, but she walked past him, her footsteps echoing into the cavernous space. "Emmaline, wait!" Henry called out. She didn't stop. She might have thought it was Regulus who called her name, but it wasn't.

She made her way to her room and shut the door. The emotions of everything that happened that day was heavy on her chest. She believed she was getting somewhere with Regulus, when at the end of the day, he was the same stranger she grew up with. He left her alone at the pub. He didn't come looking for her after finding Henry and Evelyn back in the Slytherin common room.

She sat on her bed, careful not to disturb her roommates. The silence was deafening as she took heavy breaths. She heard her name being called beyond her door but didn't bother getting up from her bed. Emmaline didn't bother changing out of her clothes, either. She grabbed a blanket that was folded at the base of her bed and pulled it over her, ignoring the voice that resembled a boy she thought she knew.