REGULUS BLACK: 3 February, 1976

[favourite_son]

Bella,

I’m sure you must have heard. Its great news, isn’t it? Mother and Father never need to worry about him Sirius him embarrassing them ever again. And of course you’ll know that I’m officially the heir now that he’s been after they now.

I couldn’t be happier. What if I let them down? What ifI'm a much better son than he ever was. I

Comments

[snakes_heart]

*smirking*
If you were a smart boy, you'd leave, too.

[favourite_son]

*frowns*
If I were smart, why would I want to give up being the heir to the very best wizarding family there is? That's senseless.

[snakes_heart]

Because being head of that family comes with a very high cost - one that smart wizards have learnt to avoid.

[favourite_son]

*coldly*
What would you know of our family?

[snakes_heart]

*sarcastically*
Erm...let me see... I had the misfortune of being born into it?

[favourite_son]

*sharply*
Well, seeing as you're no longer a part of it, I don't think you have any right to comment on it.

[snakes_heart]

*rolls eyes*
Of course I do, Regulus. I know this family better than you. I lived longer in that house than you did.

*meanly*
And, as the heir to the family from the start, I was privy to much more than you are.

It was my decision not to have anything else to do with the Blacks and their prejudices.

Alphard's not sorry at all for being disowned. He's a Black all right, though. Stubborn, proud, and with a very sharp tongue.

And he'd be mad at me, but I want to pet Regulus to death.

[favourite_son]

*narrows his eyes*
You can't do, or you would never have behaved as you did.
*flushes with anger*
I doubt that very much. You threw it all away! You know nothing of what it means to be a Black!

Tell you what, you can pet Regulus if I can cuddle Alphard?

[snakes_heart]

I behaved admirably - I didn't agree with what our family was all about and I left.

And left your dear father in charge. Second fiddle: he was nothing more than that. The spare. Just in case something happened to me.

Rings a bell, Regulus?

Sure, take him. Are you sure you want a meanie like this? But I'm petting Regulus anyway, OK?

[favourite_son]

*scoffs*
Admirable? Is that what you call dereliction of duty?

*looks mutinous, his hands clenching into fists at his side*
Don't you dare speak of Father like that! He's a great man, and you know nothing of me or my family! Nothing!

Quite sure! I'm horrible and thoroughly enjoy people being mean to poor Reg! And feel free to pet him any time. He scowls, but he likes it really. :)

[snakes_heart]

Actually, I fulfilled my duty quite well. I worked closely with the goblins at Gringotts to manage the family's fortune. I left everything perfectly set up, so not even and idiot like your father could squander it.

This was my first duty as the head of the family. And may I tell you, my father thought I did an admirable job at it.

I had no other duties to the family.

*shakes his head sadly*
You're right: I don't know you. But unfortunately I know your father very well.

Alphard is quite proud to be a Black; he just doesn't like the family. And he wasn't sad at all about being disowned.

[favourite_son]

I don't believe that anything you did could have been admirable! You don't know the meaning of the word; you can't, or you wouldn't have been disowned.

*glares*
Unfortunately? It is unfortunate that Father is related to someone like you.

[snakes_heart]

*shakes head*
Regulus, you don't understand.

*enunciates*
I.didn't.give.a.damn.about.being.disowned.

*laughs*
That's the disgrace of families, Regulus - we can't choose whom we're related to.

[favourite_son]

I know you don't. Which is exactly why you don't understand.

*slightly shakily*
No. But we can choose to remove those whom we don't wish to be.

[snakes_heart]

Being disowned didn't change a few fundamental things. Yes, I was removed from the family tree - as Sirius was - but we're still Blacks.

Our blood is still the same, Regulus. No disowning or silly blasting from the tree can change that.

The House will always let us in. Always. It will always see us as Blacks and the elves will obey us, should we decide to return.

I chose not to and I hope that Sirius does the same. There's happiness to be found outside and none inside.

Oh, Alphard, poor Sirius won't be as lucky!

Alphard is actually very proud of being a Black. It's weird, I know. He just has a very different agenda.

He wants to adopt Regulus! Like Slughorn, he'd love to have the set.

[favourite_son]

You're a Black only by name! And I'm sure that if it were possible to take that away too, it would be done.

*small voice*
And you're wrong. You're wrong. I'm perfectly happy inside. I would never give it up like you and Sirius have.

I would very much like Alphard to have the set! He should steal them. :)