He set a finger in the notebook, looking down at the scribblings of random thoughts that might turn into lyrics as he shifted in the train compartment seat, sighing. Regulus reached fingers into his hair, frustrated at the thought process or lack thereof.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Regulus muttered in response to Evan's question as his cousin entered the train compartment.

"Please, Regulus, tell me you aren't still studying. We're heading home for the summer, so can't you give it a break?"

"We're taking our O.W.L.s next year," Regulus responded, still focused on the various thoughts he'd jotted down as nothing bore any kind of fruit when it came to lyrics, the worry lingering in the back of his head regarding how Walburga Black would react if she knew he was attempting this rock and roll Muggles were fond of, that Sirius loved to blare as loud as possible.

A hand reached out, shutting the book and drawing his gray eyes up, only for him to look out the window rather than look Evan in the eyes. "Put the studies away, Regulus. Honestly, just do." There came a pause. "Or does this..."

Regulus' eyes blinked, his head turning slightly. "What.

"No. Never mind. I won't ask. Whatever Sirius did this time caused that last letter from your mother. I know it upset you, so I won't ask. Barty might, just to forewarn you, though. He's certainly been bugging me about it, wondering what you've been up to. Told him to give you some space."

"Thank you," Regulus said, taking a deep breath and sliding the notebook into his book bag. "You're really upset about that?"

"Upset about?" Evan let out a deep breath. "I'm not upset about that. In fact, it's not about me being upset at all, but you being upset. I can't stand it when he upsets you like that."

"Yes, well, Sirius is likely going to be laid into when we get home, that's for sure," Regulus said, thinking back to his lyrics. "Banshee, huh? I'd not really thought about those lyrics as I wrote them, so am I overthinking this."

"Ugh," Evan said, sliding down slightly and looking out the window. "They'll be screaming at each other then?"

"Very likely," Regulus said, shrugging his shoulders, thinking about returning to his notebook with the scribblings of thoughts to turn them into some semblance of lyrics.

"Says my cousin, who doesn't like loud noises," Evan said, sighing. "Acting like it's not a big deal when it is. Will you be alright?"

"I'll find ways to stay busy," Regulus muttered, then paused, looking up at Evan. "I'd say something, you know. If not for."

"Not for what?"

"The risk of someone else getting hurt," Regulus murmured.

"Snape? He's not innocent," Evan sighed.

Regulus shrugged his shoulders, closing the notebook again and looking out the window, finger still holding his place when Barty flowed into the compartment, laughing—

Regulus cringed. "I've never liked that laugh of his."

Barty's hand reached for the notebook, only for Regulus to pull it away, slipping it back into his bag, glaring at his other cousin. "Barty, no!"

"No, Barty. Bad Barty," Evan said, laughing. "You know Regulus hates people looking over his shoulder, copying his notes:

"Yeah. He'll copy them for you instead," Barty murmured, flopping down in the seat nearby, then flopping sideways so he lay on top of Regulus, resulting in Regulus stiffening up. "Hey. Don't do that!"

"Don't do that, Barty!" Barty murmured, a slight whine to his voice. "Always, don't do that, Barty!"

"If you weren't such an annoyance," Evan said, resulting in Barty sticking out his tongue, wrinkling his nose up at Evan, yet not letting Regulus have his personal space until the train stopped and they got off the train.

Regulus looked around nervously, flincing upon seeing his mother, Kreacher, standing nearby. "Here, Regulus." She clicked her tongue, and he hurried over, his eyes on the ground, at least at first. Warily, his head turned, looking at his bag, feeling like the notebook was burning a hole in his bag. He heard her foot tap. "Where is that child?"

"Sirius?" Regulus muttered. "Sorry. I'm sorry, maman."

"You aren't your brother's keeper," Walburga said, her voice sounding as if she were about to erupt on him, then her neck craned. "Sirius Orion Black! Get yourself over here now!"

Regulus turned, seeing the look of horror on his brother's face while also noticing James watching with his mother. His mouth opened, wondering how long Sirius would take to get to their mother's side. "Please. Sooner rather than later. You're already in enough trouble with her as it is, Sirius."

He looked down at his mother's black shoes and Kreacher's bare feet, waiting; then, the squeaking sound of his brother's shoes drew his attention up towards Sirius, who seemed paler than usual. He opened his mouth, only for their mother to latch onto his shoulder; the next thing he knew, being—

Kreacher apparated them home.

Regulus blinked, taking in the sound of the family portraits at their arrival and the way their mother said, "You!"

Walburga's hand dug into Regulus' shoulder, preventing him from escaping. "No. Please, not right..."

"Sirius Orion Black!"

"... in my ear."

"What were you thinking, nearly getting a fellow student killed!"

"It was more than one student, though," Regulus thought, wishing their mother would let him go, so he could get farther from the yelling. As Sirius started laying out, he felt Snape, let alone everyone else in Slytherin, was beneath him, perhaps even lower than human.

"You mean like us, dear cousin?"

Regulus sucked in his breath, looking up the stairway to see Bellatrix peering down, smirking, his mouth opening and closing. Instinctively, he covered an ear, having already wanted to cover his ears, only stopping himself knowing..."

"Regulus, don't cover your ear like that," Walburga snapped, their mother said, looking up the stairs and speaking typically. "It's nice to see you, Bellatrix dear. Perhaps you can set this one straight?"

"As if!" Sirius said, pulling away and heading up the stairs, the thundering of his footsteps resulting in the headache that already started to grow. Regulus' eyes opened and closed.

Walburga squeezed his arm. "Regulus, why don't you go to the drawing room with your cousin Bellatrix? While I do have a stern word with that brother of yours?"

"Uh, sure," Regulus said, cringing as Walubrga stormed up the stairs after his brother. He let out a sigh.

"Well?"

"What are you doing here?" Regulus said, letting out a sigh.

"I heard a rumor that Sirius nearly killed a student," Bellatrix said in a sing-song voice. "Is it true, Reggie, dear?"

Regulus sighed, then headed up the stairs to the drawing room, pressing his lips together, heading to the piano, and sitting down, hoping to drown out the noise that came from upstairs with the piano music. Gently, he lifted up the keyboard cover, taking a deep breath at the sight of the beautiful ivory keys.

His pale fingers reached out, ready to strike a beautiful note when—

A loud, loud noise rattled through his head, making Regulus feel like throwing up as Bella set her hand down on the deeper notes. "I asked you a question."

"Ask maman," Regulus murmured, pale fingers hovering over the keyboard, the sensation of needing to vomit not going away. His headache grew worse. "What do you want?"

"Uh, for you to answer my question?"

"I did. Ask maman," Regulus said, then frowned. "Or..."

His head tilted, his eyes going to look at the hallway as he took a deep breath. Bella squeezed his shoulder. "Or?"

Her fingers tightened, and Regulus closed his eyes. "Phineus Nigellus."

"Him?"

"He was a former headmaster."

"Him," Bella let go of his shoulder, walking away.

Regulus sighed, a finger pushing down on one of the keys, hearing the note resonate, calm him, and—

"What are you doing?"

Regulus turned, his own fingers pushing down to create a sound of cacophony, his eyes widening. "Bella!"

"What?" his cousin asked.

"What are you doing with his portrait?"

"I'm asking him if Sirius almost killed a student."

"But you didn't need to remove it from its location!" Regulus said. "Put grandfather back!"

"Not until I get my answer!"

There came a sigh, and then, "You already know the answer," Phineus Nigellus said. "It's not as if that aunt of yours, and that mother of yours, wasn't screaming her head off at whatever family member would listen."

"Sorry," Regulus muttered. "Can you put grandfather's portrait back, Bella?"

"Don't want to."

"Hey! Stop..."

"You're going to make him ill!" Regulus said, reaching out for the portrait only for Bella to hold it over his head, out of his reach. "Bella!"

"Aren't you adorable!"

"You, young lady, are making me seasick!"

"You, old fart, are just a painting and not real!"

"He's real," Regulus murmured. "Real enough." He stood on his tiptoes, wishing he was on his broom, reaching for a golden snitch rather than a portrait looking ready to topple into something destructive."

"Bella!"

"Oh, Uncle?" Bella let out a sigh. "I was just speaking with Regulus."

"You're here because?"

"To talk some sense into that cousin of mine," Bella said, handing Regulus the portrait. "And the fact she's still yelling," she let out a humming sound. "I think I'll go and see if I can be of some help."

"That..." Orion turned, not getting another word edge-wise. "Nothing good can come of that."

"Can you stop hugging me, boy?"

"Oh!" Regulus said. "Sorry, grandfather." He noticed his father, his eyes blinking. "I—shall I go and put his portrait back?"

"Please. Please do," Orion said, sighing.

Regulus nodded his head, heading into the other room where Phineas Nigellus' portrait hung, hanging it on the wall, his head tilting. "Sirius. I wish there was something I could do to stop him from getting into so much trouble with maman."

"Oh?" The portrait let out a sniff. "Have you ever considered, young Regulus, that sometimes words speak louder than actions?"

"What?" Regulus' eyes blinked. "But Sirius? He doesn't listen to me. Ever."

"And why is that?"

"I, uh, don't know," Regulus said. He looked at the ground. "Sirius was the courageous one, sorted into Gryffindor."

"That's not actually what I meant, boy, but think about it."

"Yes, sir."