Little Mischiefs [Inglorious Bastards/Black Anthology | HP Fanfic]

+ What If: Voldemort Never Became the Dark Lord?

The house at the Hill let out a yellowish glow. Inside, a young father could be seen playing with his infant daughter, tossing her in the air and catching her without fail. The girl would let out a hysterical laugh at the feeling of temporary flight, even more when she was smothered with kisses on her cheek. Not long after, a woman came to the view of the wide windows, the sight of her had the girl reach out and did not stop until she was in her mother’s arms. Even when the mother did not toss her in mid-air or danced her around, the little girl’s smile never fell. If possible, her smile grew bigger with both her parents present, and even more when both her parents kissed her chubby cheeks. 

So, this was a family. Growing up in the gloomy house of Grimmauld Place, Regulus Black found the attachment of families to be foreign. To him, family was simply blood, nothing more. Then brother was sorted to Gryffindor, whenever Sirius would come home and start arguing with Mother, the word “family” would always be shouted. 

This is not a family! Sirius would scream. It was what he said to their mother when he came back to their doorstep to tell them all that his school-sweetheart, Emmanuelle Goldstein, was expecting. This – what this “family” does is simply breeding! You arrange marriages and breed and breed to keep the Black family line’s purity. What do I have with Nell, with the Goldsteins and the Potters? That is a family… and I am here to offer you a chance to make this breeding den into a family by letting you meet your grandchild, but guess not…

After that little speech, Sirius left a trinket in his mother’s hand. It was a mitten used by infants to stop them from scratching themselves. Then he left. But that was not the last time Regulus saw his brother. 

No. It was not going to be the last.

Because the next time he did was after his graduation in Hogwarts. Of course, Sirius was at Hogwarts to attend Tom Goldstein’s graduation with the Goldsteins, his family, and Tom’s girlfriend, Charity Locke. It was the first time Regulus saw Sirius’ daughter, who he recalled over-hearing from Tom Goldstein’s stories, was named Carina. Carina Emmanuelle Black. 

Just before he could join the others to the boats and sail away across the Black Lake, Regulus found himself following his brother who had been looking at him since he came on stage to retrieve his certificate. For the past year, Sirius has changed drastically, Regulus could see maturity in the brother he knew would laugh in simple cock-jokes and would cause trouble. Was this the work of fatherhood?

What they talked about – what Sirius talked about – had Regulus stare at the ceiling of his room every night. 

You’re of age now, and you finished school. You’re free Regulus, Sirius told him. You can leave if you want.

And go where? Regulus asked. I don’t have a Potter to go to – or – or a Goldstein to take me in.

But you have me. Sirius told him then. You have Carina who very much wants to meet you. And you have Nuelle. You have a family waiting for you out here. 

Maybe it was his pride that have him say, what I have is pity from you and from your new family. Not a family. 

Look into Carina’s eyes and tell me that that is pity. Sirius pointed to the direction where Emmanuelle was introducing Carina to Professor McGonagall, and the old witch was delighted with the girl. The girl’s silver eyes was full of happiness. Not a trace of fear, of sadness.

There is a room in the house, with your name on it. Sirius told him. It will be waiting for you.

That was the last time Regulus saw Sirius and his brother’s family, until the night he found himself outside with nothing but the clothes on his back, and the little fortune and belongings he had in his old school bag, watching the family through the window from afar.