Regulus was an idiot, even a bigger idiot than Sirius. He'd fooled the Dark Lord, he had lied to a lover and his group of crazy dark wizards, he was strong and independent and then Sirius hugged and he crumbled.
He held his brother close, fingers tight around the fabric of his clothes. He didn't care about House difference or height difference. For a moment, they could be Sirius and Regulus, two brothers who'd grown up together and had stuck together against their parents until-
He wasn't going to think of that now. "I thought Dumbledore would tell you," he said in a whisper. "I should have known that he wouldn't. I should have reached out."