"You poor thing" wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear when he relayed his story to his Aunt Lucretia, preferring to listen to her say how out of line Sirius was for arguing with their mother in the first place. "I'll go make you some tea, but stay here as long as it takes for things to cool down."

"Not as if I have anywhere else to go," Regulus muttered, flopping onto her couch, not worrying about taking off his boots as he would at home, his eyes closing as he let out a deep breath, relieved to be away from all the yelling, hoping Walburga wouldn't lay into him for taking off as well, mainly, now that he thought of it through the pounding headache, she likely had some fancy dinner planned as she always did when her two boys got back. He groaned. "She's going to be pissed that I left."

"Not if I can help it," Lucretia said.

"Sit up and drink the tea your aunt's brought you, Regulus. It should help with that headache. We know it is the real reason you're here," Ignatius said. "And Walburga really should have more consideration for both her children rather than focusing so much on the one."

Regulus sat up, waving his hand. "No, no. It's fine. Sirius is the heir. She's got to make sure she's in line." He took the cup of tea and took a sip, letting out a sigh as the tea started instantly to do its work of numbing the headache that started because his mother and brother got into it again. "I can't believe he actually told her that he might have purposefully flunked all his O.W.L.s."

"Sadly, I can," Ignatius said. "Nor would I put it past that boy just to piss her off. He seems to enjoy it."

"Enjoy it?" Regulus' eyes opened. "Enjoy what?"

"Arguing with your mother."

"Why did she have to take after her side of the family?" Aunt Lucretia said.

"Don't," Regulus gasped out. "He already hears he needs to be more like me as it is, but I know you were about to mention that I'm more like Papa's side of the family, your side, weren't you?"

"When did you get so wise?" Ignatius said.

"Our Regulus has always been so wise," Lucretia said. "Which, in turn, might be the problem?"

"The problem?" Regulus tilted his head, curious. "How?"

"You set the bar rather high on what she should expect on certain things."

"But in others, I fail miserably," Regulus said.

"Like?"

Regulus took a deep breath. "I know she doesn't want us to have friends."

"Now, where did you get that idea?"

Regulus' eyes blinked, then he said. "Honestly, do you think there's anybody at school she'd approve of?"

"Regulus. I'm sorry," Lucretia said. "I didn't know that was an issue. I mean, I thought..."

"Never mind. I've got an idea to handle that matter," Ignatius said as an owl tapped on the window. "Ah. It looks like your father's sent an owl letting us know you were coming; thus, Walburga can't get upset as Orion obviously approved you are coming, but I think he'll handle her on that end of things."

"Yes, there is that," Lucretia said, sitting beside Regulus. "You're certainly someone whose words hold more meaning than most."

Regulus frowned.

"True," another voice piped up.

"Oh dear," Lucretia said as Ignatius opened a letter, frowning. "Looks like you want to say your piece on the matter, Phineas?"

"Oh." Regulus looked up, catching sight of his Uncle Ignatius frowning as he looked at the portrait of an ancestor that hung in many of the Black family households as far as he knew. "Hello Phineas Nigellus. Have you had a good day?"

"You don't need to speak to the portraits, dear, as if they're still living," Lucretia said.

"I may not still be living," Phineas Nigellus said, holding his head high. "But that boy certainly knows I've sound advice. And no. It's a right sight over at Grimmauld Place. What about those two creating a ruckus to raise the dead? But hear me, Regulus. Sometimes words speak louder than actions."

"You mean they're yelling?" Regulus asked, eyes blinking as Uncle Ignatius lowered the letter.

"Lucretia. A second?"

Regulus' aunt stood, heading over to speak with her husband while Phineas Nigellus sniffed. "I'll chalk that answer up to that tea of yours not having quite kicked in and your head hurting and not because you've got a slight oddity in the way you think, dear boy, although now that I think of it, I can't blame you for thinking that I meant that in a negative manner. No, yelling is an action, a negative action that has negative consequences such as giving everyone headaches, but poor portraits can't have the luxury of teas made for us."

"Phineas, is it true?" Lucretia said. "Great-grandfather?"

"Is what true," Phineas said. "Buttering me up by referring to the fact I'm you're great, something removed..."

"Did Sirius really say to Walburga's face that Regulus is..."

"A murder?" Phineas Nigellus let out a sniff. "My dear girl, he said that about all of us, the right cad. I mean, it quite likely holds true of that niece of hers, of Bellatrix, mad as she is, but us Black are above that. Of course, I'm not counting honorable killings..."

"What?" Regulus' eyes blinked.

"We have served a greater purpose," the portrait continued, "Taking on a more diplomatic approach in modern years, using words with more meaning than actions," Phineas Nigellus continued, "But we've got a long, very forgotten history among the Auror as well, being Auror even before such a station existed."

"Sirius says..."

"Never mind what Sirius says, as he always takes the action of hurting this family that he wants nothing to do with, but none of us dear boy—none of us will be able to reach him."

"But..."

"Regulus, why didn't you say Sirius was..." Lucretia shook, sitting back down.

"It's nothing new," Regulus said. "He's always saying how horrible I am."

"Since when!"

"Since I was sorted into Slytherin?" Regulus titled his head. "Really, this isn't..."

"It's not right. When Orion..."

"Don't!" Regulus swallowed. "Please!"

"Lucretia. He's in enough trouble as it is with Walburga, but you've heard the whispers around the family that he..."

"Nearly killed a student. More than one, actually?" Phineas Nigellus said. "I really hate that grandson of mine, and yes, Regulus, why can't he be more like you, thinking before acting, using words to solve problems."

"It's not as if my words have any affect on him." He felt his aunt Lucretia pull him into a hug, then kiss him lightly on the forehead, his body tensing at the touch; even though he'd become used to receiving affection from his aunt, he didn't seem to receive it at home, even from Sirius. "Particularly Sirius."

"Drink that tea. It will help you sleep, but eat some of the biscuits as well."

"Yes, but I don't want him to be in trouble with papa as well."

"You never mind that," Lucretia said, shaking her head, looking at her husband as she held him tight as he complied, drinking the tea and eating the biscuits she provided, finding himself lulled into a deep sleep, a sleep that broke through the headache, but he didn't wake until the next morning.

"Wait. You're over here already?"

Regulus' eyes blinked, taking in the noon time sun outside the window, looking across the way at his cousin Adrian. "You're here as well." His eyes blinked, his finger pointing. "Hey. That's my notebook."

"I was curious to see if you've written any more lyrics," Adrian said, "Which you have, but you certainly don't disappoint."

"I need to appologize," Regulus said, keeping his voice low.

"What?"

"I can't," Regulus said. "Not with how things are with Sirius right now."

"Uncle Ignatius informed me, but he's also got this cocky-many idea that I'm the sollution to you not having friends."

"You can't be a friend," Regulus said.

"And why not?"

"You're family."

"I can be both."

"Nuh-uh. There's family and friends and acquaintances."

"You are an odd one," Adrian said, crossing his legs, still holding onto the book. "So there's a werewolf at school?"

Regulus paled. "What? No."

"You're lying, dear cousin," Adrian said.

"Are you mocking me?"

"Its in your song here."

"Last thing I need is someone finding that out, and who it is," Regulus said.

"I wouldn't think you'd care about one of Sirius' friends."

"How?"

"Well, he does disappear around the full moon," Adrian said, getting up and going to sit next to Regulus. "About the band."

"I told you that I can't."

"But you will, if you want to be heard."

"What..."

"Did Sirius? Did he really call you a murder? I mean, it's not as if you've joined up with him, right?"

"You mean the Dark Lord?" Regulus said, tilting his head. "You know..."