The first week of summer went by quickly. I exchanged letters every day with Jolie and Lily, with the occasional letter from Marlene or Mary. However, the most exciting piece of mail that I got was an invitation to Alice and Frank's wedding.

They had gotten engaged over the Easter holiday, despite not being done with school yet, and were planning on getting married next August.

We were all excited about the wedding, especially James. He likes weddings apparently.

Euphemia was extremely excited as well and had been helping Missus Longbottom with some of the wedding planning.

We were sitting around the living room, the early evening sun shining in through the long windows, illuminating everyone.

Sirius and James were playing a game of wizard's chess, Remus was reading a book, Euphemia was reading some muggle wedding magazine, and I was currently writing to Henry and Beatrice to check upon them.

Euphemia sighed, "Augusta is so lucky, I just love weddings."

"Me too." James chimed as Sirius made his move, knocking out James' knight.

"You better let me help plan your wedding, James."

Everyone in the room turned their attention to Missus Potter, who was still absentmindedly flipping through her magazine.

I glanced at James across the room, and he winked at me.

"Of course you can mum," James replied, "Not that it will be happening within the next year, but I like the idea of a winter wedding. What about you, Daphne?"

I looked up from my parchment, "Winter is nice, I'd prefer December."

Euphemia looked up at us and smiled, "I can work with that."

"I would like a summer wedding, so everyone can be outside." Remus said nonchalantly as he continued to read his book.

Sirius looked at his boyfriend, "Summer is nice."

"It is, but I've heard of outdoor winter weddings-, they use warming charms and have the reception inside." Euphemia chimed in, smiling at the two boys.

James looked at me and pointed to his mum, "I like that idea, especially if it's snowing."

"It would be quite pretty." Sirius muttered, having completely forgotten about his ongoing chess game with James until his queen took out Sirius's queen.

"Oi-, bloody hell!"

James, Remus, and I all laughed and Euphemia shook her head, "Language, please."

"Sorry, mum."

Euphemia laughed, "How is everyone? Lily, Marlene, Jolie?"

"Jolie is doing good, she's at home in Edinburgh with her family this summer."

Sirius added, "Lily and Marlene are doing good as well, they started dating."

"Really, when?"

"The end of March I believe." Remus replied, turning a page of his book.

Euphemia smiled, "That's wonderful, are they happy?"

"Very." I replied with a smile.

The older woman smiled, "Good, I am glad."

Alice had asked me to be a bridesmaid. We never very close but we got along quite well. Lily, Marlene, Mary, Jolie, Dorcas, and I were all bridesmaids, and had a 'dress fitting' at the end of July, after our trip to Italy.

The squawking of an owl could be heard as a beautiful owl flew in through the open window and perched itself on the coffee table in front of Sirius.

"Whose owl is that?" Remus asked, closing his book.

The tawny owl stuck its leg out, waiting for Sirius to untie the attached envelope.

Sirius untied the envelope in silence, a dumbfounded look on his face. He gulped, "It' Reggie's owl."

"As in your brother Regulus?"

He rolled his eyes, "Yes Prongs, Reggie as in Regulus as in my little brother."

"Do you think your parents are trying to recruits you again, but through Reg?" I asked, keeping my deep blue eyes on the raven-haired boy.

"No, they gave up on me a long time ago."

Euphemia had looked up from her magazine and was watching Sirius curiously, yet protectively.

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, and Remus moved to sit by his boyfriend, draping his arm across Sirius's shoulders.

The red wax seal didn't have the Black family crest on it, which was unusual, but Sirius opened it anyway and pulled out the parchment letter from the crisp, cream-colored envelope.

His sterling silver eyes grazed the parchment, reading each and every word that his estranged brother wrote.

Remus was reading the letter beside Sirius, and James came and sat between Euphemia and me on the couch.

Sirius finished reading the letter and passed it over to James, without saying a word. Euphemia and I leaned over and read the letter as well.

Dear Sirius,

I know that I have been horrible to you, and your friends are more of brothers to you than I have ever been, but I need your help.

On my sixteenth birthday, in two weeks, they're going to give me a Mark, even though I am not of age. Mum and dad have forced me to sit in on last week's meeting, and I want absolutely nothing to do with the Dark Lord.

I'm sorry for being too much of a coward to leave with you, but I'm finally ready to leave. Please be careful and vague if you write back, mum has been intercepting owls left and right, and I was barely able to write this one.

I'm awaiting your response, but understand if I don't get one.

Regulus

My hand flew to my mouth in shock. It was almost too late, Regulus was to be given the Mark in two weeks. He's only sixteen! He's a child. Reg was too young to truly understand why Sirius was defying their parents, but now that he finally did it might be too late.

"Oh dear," Euphemia mumbled. She stood up from the couch, "Let me go get Fleamont, he's in his study."

James' mother hurried up the stairs, flyaways falling into her face as they slipped out from her grey bun.

I got up and sat down beside Remus, grabbing Sirius's hand and squeezing it in reassurance. "He'll be okay-"

"Vixen's right," James added as he sat down on the other side of Sirius, "Dad will know what to do."

"I should have made him leave with me, I should have tried harder to help him-"

There was a puff of smoke and green flames coming from the fireplace just a few feet away from the four of us. I tried to peer through the smoke, but it was difficult.

There was a cough coming from the fireplace as Regulus Black stepped out of the Floo.

His eyes were beginning to bruise, his nose was crooked and bleeding, and his lip was dripping blood onto the hardwood.

"Kids! Who's here?"

Two sets of footsteps came from the stairs as the Potter's came to see what the noise was.

Sirius met his younger brother's eyes and jumped up from the carpet, rushing over to him and pulling the youngest Black brother into a hug.

"Reg-, what happened?"

When they broke apart, Euphemia and Fleamont came rushing down the stairs, while the three of us watched the two brothers interact.

Regulus glanced at me, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I'm sorry, I-, I didn't know where to go. Mum started hitting me-"

Euphemia came up beside Regulus and moved his hand to inspect his injuries, "It's okay dear, we're just glad that you're here and that you're safe."

"I'm sorry-"

"Stop apologizing Regulus, you are always welcome here." Euphemia smiled sadly at the pale boy, his face bloodied up and his eyes red. "Now, let's go fix you up, okay?"

Regulus nodded, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. The older woman pulled him into a hug, stroking his raven-colored curls. He cried into Euphemia's shoulder, his thin body trembling.

James patted Regulus on the back, "We're all happy that you're safe now."

Regulus nodded at James before looking at his older brother.

Fleamont spoke next, "Alma?"

There was a crack of apparation as the small house-elf appeared beside Mister Potter.

"How can Alma help Mister Potter?"

"Can you please make up a guest bedroom for Regulus? He'll be staying with us for a while."

"Alma would be happy to."

Just as soon as she appeared, she left.

Regulus looked up at Fleamont with his bloodshot eyes, "Thank you, you can kick me out, I couldn't think of anywhere else to go-"

"Sirius is our son, and you're his brother. You're more than welcome here."

Euphemia instructed Regulus to sit down on the couch as she pulled out her wand and began to heal his cuts, get rid of his bruises, and snap his nose back into place.

Sirius was sitting beside his brother, and they were talking in hushed voices, only loud enough for them and Euphemia to hear.

I looked across the room at James and Remus, both of which were sitting on the opposite couch, watching the two brothers speak. None of us had seen them talk much, and when they did it was hardly ever civil, but the two used to be very close when they were young. It just stopped being that way as soon as Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, and even more so when Sirius left home and was disinherited.

After healing Regulus's injuries, Euphemia disappeared into the kitchen to make dinner for all of us, while Fleamont went back to his study to write to Dumbledore. He insisted that Alma would go gather Regulus's things, so she had left shortly after making up a room for the youngest Black brother.

That left the five of us in the living room.

Regulus was laying back on the couch, with Sirius sitting by his feet, staring at him as if Regulus might disappear at any minute.

"I know you lot don't like me very well, but thank you."

I looked up at Regulus, continuing to fiddle with the hem of my denim shorts.

Remus and James shuffled nervously, looking at Regulus as well.

"I don't hate you Reg," I spoke, "I never did."

"Me neither, I'm just glad that you were able to get out of that fucking cult." James added with a laugh.

Regulus chuckled, "It really is a cult."

"I fucking told you." Sirius teased, his signature smile plastered across his face.

Remus cleared his throat, "I never hated you, I'm just happy that Sirius got his brother back."

I nodded in agreement, locking eyes with James, who was standing across the room, leaned up against the fireplace.

There was a crack in the living room entrance, and Alma appeared, along with a trunk full of Regulus's things. With the snap of her fingers, the trunk went floating up the stairs and into a guest room, when Regulus would be staying.

"Alma is sorry she took so long, a woman didn't like that I was there. Kreacher helped Alma get Mister Black's things."

Sirius laughed, "That would be our mother, thank you, Alma."

She smiled, "Is there anything Alma can do for the misters and mistress?"

"No, thank you, Alma." I replied with a small smile.

Alma nodded in agreement and disappeared with the snap of her fingers.

Euphemia walked into the living room, wiping her hands on her apron, "Dinner is ready, I made Italian food in honor of your trip!"

"Thanks, mum." James and Sirius chimed in unison.

I extended my hand to Regulus and helped him up from the couch.

"Thank you, Daphne."

The five of us trickled into the dining room, taking our seats at the table. I sat next to James, Sirius sat across the table, sitting in between Regulus and Remus, Euphemia was seated at the end of the table, while Fleamont walked in and took a seat at the opposite end of the table.

"Did she say that you lot were going to Italy?" Regulus asked as we all began dishing food onto our plates.

Remus took a sip of his water, "Yes, we're going to Amalfi next week."

"Oh," Regulus replied, "That will be fun."

James smirked, "Of course it will, you better start packing."

Regulus and Sirius looked up at James, both of their eyes wide.

"No-, I couldn't possibly intrude."

Sirius smacked the table, startling Euphemia, and making Fleamont laugh. "Sorry-, you should come, Reggie. It will be fun, we have a whole house to ourselves."

I got a brilliant idea, thinking of a way to kill two birds with one stone.

"Jolie's was thinking about coming as well," I added nonchalantly, "She doesn't want to be the odd one out though, so if you come then she won't be."

Euphemia gave me a knowing look, giving me a quick thumbs up that only we could see.

"Okay, I'll go." Regulus replied shyly. "But only if Jolie goes."

James squeezed my thigh under the table, and leaned in and whispered, "This is going to be the best holiday ever."

• • • • •

Regulus Black portrayed by Timothee Chalamet