You had always been close to Regulus. Despite his cold exterior, you knew how kind and thoughtful he could be beneath it all. Being his friend meant you had an unspoken understanding of the expectations and burdens placed on members of pure-blood families.

But things became complicated when you started dating Sirius Вlaсk. Sirius—loud, rebellious, and everything Regulus wasn’t—had swept you up in his chaotic charm. It wasn’t a decision you made lightly. You knew how strained the relationship between the brothers was, but you hadn’t expected Regulus to take it so personally.

When Regulus found out, his response was immediate and sharp. “Sirius? Of all people, him?” he had spat, his usual calm demeanor cracking. “Do you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into?”

At first, you tried to reason with him, explaining that Sirius wasn’t the reckless traitor Regulus believed him to be. But no matter what you said, Regulus refused to listen. While Regulus never openly criticized your relationship, he couldn’t help but make pointed remarks whenever Sirius came up in conversation.

"Sirius can’t commit to anything,” he’d say casually, flipping through a book. “Don’t expect him to stick around when things get difficult.” Or, “Did he mention how much he enjoyed being the center of attention before he left?” The comments weren’t constant, but they stung nonetheless.

Despite his barbed words, it became clear over time that Regulus’s anger wasn’t entirely about Sirius. There was jealousy, too—a bitterness that you had chosen his brother over him, even if your relationship had always been platonic.

One evening, Regulus finally let some of his feelings slip. “I just don’t understand why you’d want to be with him,” he muttered, staring into the fire in the Slytherin common room. “He abandoned us. He abandoned me. And yet you...” He trailed off, shaking his head.

It was the first time he’d admitted how deeply Sirius’s departure had affected him, and it made your heart ache.