Chapter 346: Back to School at Last [bonus]
January 7th, 1974. The first Monday of the year. Opening day at Hogwarts.
Ten in the morning, sky overcast. Two figures stood outside 12 Grimmauld Place.
Sirius stood beside him in a new robe of his own, dark, cut similarly to Regulus's though the cuff patterning differed slightly. The same Black crest over the left breast.
He hadn't fought wearing it. Pulled it on and walked out.
Maybe because he'd made peace with something, or maybe because he'd made a decision. Next holiday, he probably wouldn't be walking back through this door. Last time. The family gave him a new robe, so he wore it.
Regulus glanced at him. Said nothing.
A crack split the air, and Kreacher squeezed into existence between them.
The elf was wrapped in his old tea towel. His ears quivered twice. He looked up at the young master, then at the elder master, and reached out a bony finger toward their trouser legs.
Sirius sidestepped.