Snuffles bounded through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross station with as much abandon as one could possibly expect a dog to have when charging through a train station. He barked loudly as the scarlet red Express engine came into view, the steam smoking up from the stack, the pistons sighing in their rest.

Regulus followed as indiscreetly as he possibly could. By the time he'd come through, several girls from second and third years were petting the dog merrily, scratching him behind the ears as the dog seemed to grin happily.

"What a pretty puppy! Do you reckon he coming to Hogwarts?"

"I didn't know that dogs were an option for the animals!"

"Nor did I, all my letter offered were cats, toads, and owls!"

Snuffles made them all cry out with disappointment as he charged down the platform after Regulus, leaving them and the adoration behind. His ears flopped happily as he walked along, tongue lolling out, looking about as they made their way through the crowd to find Kreacher, standing at the far end by the luggage compartment.

The old elf sat atop Regulus's steamer, peering grouchily about at anyone who came too near to his Master's belongings. "Here you are, Kreacher," Regulus said, nodding his approval.

Kreacher stared at the dog in Regulus's wake. "Master's got a dog that is following Master," Kreacher said, pointing.

Snuffles bounded forward, startling Kreacher so he tumbled off the trunk and shook with worry as he peered over the top of it, his long nose hooking over the lid, eyes wide and staring untrustingly at the dog. "Bad dog," Regulus said and the dog let out a series of barks that sounded a good deal like laughter. Regulus's palm covered his eyes as he counted to ten, wondering what the bloody hell James Potter had thought this was a good idea for - he ought to have taken Sirius and gone home right from Russell Square, rather than wasting their time by sending Snuffles along to the Platform at this rate!

Kreacher scrambled nervously up onto the trunk, eyeing Snuffles suspiciously. He was about to say something when Barty Crouch Jr. approached, carrying a book bag and accompanied by a tiny elf, who Kreacher eyed with suspicion. The elf trotted merrily alongside Barty, her ears flapping, but Barty looked quite sour.

"'Lo Barty," Regulus greeted the other Slytherin boy. He could feel the tension in Snuffles, his hackles raising as he glowered at Barty's approaching frame. "Knock off, Snuffles," he murmured too quiet for Barty to overhear, "I'm supposed to be mates with this bloke." But Sirius stayed on guard, glowering up at Barty. Regulus smiled at Barty's elf. "And who is this?" he asked.

"I is Winky, sir," came the elf's reply, her twitchy ears twisting with excitement.

"Don't you dare speak to wizards!" Barty glared at Winky.

"Winky is sorry, Master Barty, so so sorry." Her ears were flat and she looked near to tears and quickly punched herself in the side of the head. "Bad Winky! Bad, bad, bad Winky!"

"Stop! You didn't do anything wrong - Barty, tell her she didn't do anything wrong! I spoke to her first. She would have been rude not to answer me!" Regulus pleaded.

Barty rolled his eyes, "Winky, stop."

"Yes, Master," she squeaked rather pitifully.

"Since when do you have an elf?" Regulus asked Barty. He flexed his fingers and balled them up, anger at the mistreatment of the elf scorching through his nerves. He wanted to scoop the poor thing up and hug her for how upset she looked.

"Dad convinced Mum that they were dead useful and that I needed someone watching over me." Barty scowled. "He isn't too keen with me going off alone."

Regulus raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't realize that you're in sixth year, ickle witty Barty?"

Barty smirked. "Rather thinks I need it to protect me from your lot."

"My lot?"

Barty's left arm twitched ever so slightly.

Snuffles let out a low growl.

Barty looked at the dog. "Merlin, you aren't actually bringing that thing to Hogwarts are you?"

Regulus replied, "Nah, Kreacher shall bring him home with him when he goes."

Kreacher's ears laid flat in disapproval.

"Yes, right, of course." Barty was about to ask something else - he got so far as "so what did you..." - when he was interrupted by the first shrill whistle of the train and a magically amplified voice called out:

"All aboard!"

"Well, let's get this over with then, shall we?"

"Yeah," Regulus agreed. "Go on and I'll join you in the compartment."

Barty nodded and snapped, "Come, Winky." He turned and walked away. The little elf glanced back as she followed Barty, and she waved shyly to Regulus before scrambling along after him.

"Master must board the train," Kreacher croaked.

"I will in a mo' -" Regulus started, but Kreacher inadvertently interrupted him, by having continued talking.

"Shall Kreacher -- care -- for the... dog?"

"No need. I shall take care of him." Regulus said, "Kreacher, go and see to it that my trunk is stowed properly."

Kreacher looked surprised to be banished off to the task, but they were about to magic shut the luggage compartment below the card and so Kreacher snapped his fingers and both he and the trunk disappeared with a crack before reappearing down the platform at the first compartment with extra space for the luggage.

Regulus turned to Snuffles, whose hacklee were still raised. He hesitated; he nodded for Snuffles to follow him and stepped back a bit from where the other witches and wizard were scrambling to give their last goodbyes and board. He didn't have long, but he did have things to say.

When they were apart from the crowd as much aw possible, Regulus hesitated, then blurted out, "Look, I know you can't answer so much as you normally would knowing you but perhaps that's best, since you tend to be a bit much when you talk."

The dog growled as Regulus smirked with friendly amusement.

Regulus continued, "I want you to know that I --" he paused, words catching in his throat. "I - I'm sorry. For... not - you know - listening to you. Sooner." He licked his lips nervously and lowered his voice, scared of being overheard. "The hat wanted to sort me Gryffindor, you know. I fought with it - him - whatever." Regulus bit his lower lip for a moment, then said, "I wish I'd gone to Gryffindor. You've no idea how much I wish I'd gone to Gryffindor. I --" He paused again.

Why were these things so hard to say? he wondered. They were all the harder to say to people you love, too. Why was that?

"I'm sorry for being a little maggot early on, for all the rubbish things I did and said to you before. I'm sorry I didn't apologize sooner. You -- I look up to - to you - and to - to James, and I - I wish - I -"

He stopped. No more words would come. He couldn't cry, he couldn't speak. He swallowed very hard, tamping down his emotions, trying to collect himself. He was practically shaking.

From across the platform came the second call of "All aboard!!" He had to go.

"Thank you for seeing me off. I've got to --" he waved vaguely at the train. "Alright then. I'll just -- go." Regulus turned and started to walk away.

He'd only gone two steps before he felt a warm nose press into his palm, followed by a quiet whimper.

A thousand unspoken words seemed to rush through his veins. Regulus closed his eyes, feeling each message throb through his palm and his throat constricted even tighter and he nodded, telling Snuffles that he understood.

The last call rang out, the bell whistling lowly, and Regulus broke away, running toward the open door of the train, leaping onto the steps just as the train let out the last bellow of departure. Regulus stood, clutching the rail as the gears ground to life and the train lurched as the brakes were releaser and stared to grind forward...

Snuffles broke into a run down the platform as the train started to move, the wheels moving along the tracks, and he followed as Regulus clutched the railing, staring at the dog, the steam belching forth a billow of smoke, and the train began its journey. Snuffles ran until the platform ran out and he barked as the train left King's Cross and embarked out on the way to Hogwarts. Regulus watched the dog grow smaller and smaller and finally blink out of view before he stopped waving, and slowly trudged up the steps and into the car, headed to his compartment to begin the term.

Sirius waited until the train was completely gone, until the witches and wizards filling the platform had disapparated away, before he stepped back through the barrier and wandered through King's Cross, back toward the Underground. He decided to get some air before he headed back to James, and instead of going down the stairs to the tunnel, he stepped out into the light outside and padded along through the small square before the station.

Sirius transformed back in an alley 'round the corner where he'd once parked his motorbike to shrink it down to pocket size. He emerged back out onto the square and found himself a place to sit on one of the stone walls that close in a little garden island. From his leather jacket's pocket, he withdrew his pack of cigarettes, shaking one out and lighting it with an old muggle lighter. He took a long drag off the cigarette, appreciating the surge of nicotine that rushed his nervous system.

Regulus's words tumbled about in his mind and in his heart, burning ever more into him with each pull off the cigarette, his eyes wet, though he didn't cry, really. Not really.

When he'd finished the cigarette, he drew a deep breath and smushed the end out against the pavement with his boot. He walked with his fists in his pockets, thinking, and barely noticed when a light drizzle started falling. A couple blocks, a fifteen minute walk, and he arrived to the lobby of the Russell Square station to find James leaning against the wall outside.

James looked up as Sirius came to a stop before him. "Off to Hogwarts, is he?"

Sirius nodded.

James asked, "How'd it go? Alright?"

Sirius nodded again.

"You alright, Padfoot?"

"Spiffing," Sirius murmured, voice thick.

James studied Sirius a moment, then leaned in and gave him a hug.

Sirius hugged him back. Tight.

James patted Sirius's back.

None of them would ever speak of the incident again, but Sirius would never forget it. Regulus's words were too deeply embedded in him, and, one day, when it mattered more than anything else, he would remember that moment... the feeling of his nose pressed to Regulus's palm... to keep the dementors away.