You don’t remember the walk to Sirius’ flat. Your legs moved on their own, guided by the numbness spreading through your chest like frost. Kreacher’s words repeat over and over in your mind, like a cruel lullaby: “Master Regulus is not coming back.”

You knock softly only once. The door creaks open to reveal James, his casual smile faltering as he takes in your pale face and red-rimmed eyes.

“Hey…” he breathes. “What happened?”

Your lips part, but no words come.

That’s when Sirius appears, hair tousled, eyes half-lidded from the drink he had buried himself in. He sees you, and the casual indifference evaporates.

“Where’s Regulus?”

The silence that follows is deafening. Remus steps into view behind them, watching the scene unfold with quiet dread as James steps aside and lets you in.

You take a few shaky steps into the flat. “I... I don’t know how to say this.”

Sirius stiffens, his entire posture shifting. “Tell me he’s okay.”

Your voice cracks. “He’s gone.”

Sirius blinks, like the word doesn’t register.

“Gone where?” he asks.

You shake your head. “He’s gone, Sirius. He’s not…he’s not coming back.”

“No.” He says it like a command, like if he says it enough, it’ll rewrite reality. “No, he wouldn’t do that. Not without telling me. He wouldn’t just leave me like that.”

“He didn’t tell anyone.” Your voice trembles, eyes stinging. “Kreacher said he gave strict orders…”

Sirius turns away from you. His hand finds the kitchen counter, gripping it so tightly his knuckles go white.

James takes a step toward him. “Mate…”

“Don’t,” Sirius snaps in a razor-sharp voice. “Don’t do the whole comfort routine. Not for him.”

But you hear it. The crack in his voice.

Remus speaks, quiet but firm. “You don’t mean that.”

Sirius exhales shakily, still facing the wall. “I do. I do. I mean every word. He spent his life being our mother’s perfect son. He hated everything I stood for, and now—”

His breath catches.

“Now I don’t even get to be mad at him. Because he’s gone.”

You close the space between you slowly, gently placing a hand on his back. “He didn’t hate you.”

“He didn’t know me,” Sirius says bitterly. “And I didn’t try hard enough to know him. That’s on me.”

He turns around, eyes finally meeting yours, and you see it. The fear. The heartbreak. The guilt.

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” he whispers. “Did he say anything about me?”

You hesitate for a moment, then shake your head.

Sirius looks down, blinking fast to diminish his tears. “Right. Of course not.”

The room falls quiet again. No one knows what to say. What could they?

You lean your head on Sirius’ shoulder, and for once, he doesn’t push you away. Instead, he reaches for your hand, holding it like a lifeline.

The only sound is the ticking of the clock and the quiet clatter of Sirius’ breath catching on another silent sob. You don't know if it was a sacrifice, a mission, or something else entirely—but one thing is clear:

Regulus never got to come home. And Sirius... never got the chance to tell him he still loved him.