InsaneJournal

Dinner had been a stoic, tasteless affair. Sirius blamed Kreacher, his brother's ridiculous house elf, and he wouldn't be surprised if he'd end up with a bout of food poisoning later that even because of the wretched thing. The elf had never liked Sirius, and Sirius had never liked Kreacher. Truthfully, given the right opportunity, Sirius might have done off with the house elf himself, so he supposed he couldn't blame the thing for threatening to poison him.

After dinner, Sirius, Remus, and Regulus -- the bloody Minister for Magic, Sirius reminded himself over and over again; if their mother were still alive, she'd be in a constant fit of pride for her second born son, he was sure -- retired to the front parlor for a drink and conversation. Or, at least, what amounted to conversation among the three of them.

Sirius rarely had much to say to his brother that wasn't derisive or trivial. "You know, Reg, the more I think about your Remembrance Day speech, the more I think you ought to sack your speech writer. You said an awful lot without saying much of anything."

Regulus sat in the great wing-backed chair that once belonged to his father, holding a glass of port in one hand. His other dangled lazily over the arm of the chair. "I wrote it myself," he said simply.

"Ah, well, that explains it then," Sirius drawled.


Having a private audience with the Minister for Magic ought to have been a golden opportunity. Certainly Remus, as a younger man, might have thought so. They could have talked about anything- and the current political goings on certainly offered plenty of conversation fodder. But perhaps the front parlor of Grimmauld Place really wasn't the venue for such discussion- at least, Remus had a feeling that Regulus wouldn't be as enthused as Sirius might have been at the shift in tone.

So instead he sipped at his drink and attempted to make normal, non-political, non-offending conversation. Which was more difficult than it ought to have been, really.

"At least the vigil seemed well-attended," Remus offered, finally. There was something to be said for people not forgetting… Right?


Regulus turned his attention to Remus, his brother's … "friend." Oh it had never been directly stated to him, of course, but he wasn't an imbecile. He knew that his brother and Remus were closer than simply good mates. Not that it mattered to Regulus much either way. He welcomed Remus into his house the same way he welcomed Sirius in. At least, he thought wryly, it wasn't Potter. "It usually is. You attended in Hogsmeade, did you not?"

Sirius nodded. "Closest to the castle. Meant I didn't have to see your expressionless face as you recited such paltry words, at least."

He sipped his drink then straightened with a large intake of breath. "And what would you have had me say instead, Sirius?" he asked, his grey gaze settling on his brother.


Remus cleared his throat- albeit quietly- and glanced toward Sirius. He knew, of course, that Sirius had his own- well documented and really rather well deserved- reasons for the biting comments he shot toward Regulus, but... surely, couldn't they be civilized for an hour or two, once a year?

"I think Sirius may just mean it was a..." Pause, glance to Sirius, then back to Regulus. "Missed opportunity. Innocent people have died, Minister, and others will want to know why you didn't address that." So much for normal, non-political, non-offending conversation.


At that, Sirius arched an eyebrow and cast an approving and proud glance at Remus, the corner of his mouth quirking up toward a grin. But he kept his attention on his brother, who shifted, just slightly, in his chair.

"I could have," Regulus said, "but that isn't what the War Remembrance vigils are about. They are to honor the past so we can direct the future, and bringing up the sordid details of recent events disgraces the memory of what we're commemorating."

Sirius couldn't help it; he gave a short snort and shook his head. "Well, you've been silent on the entire thing as it is, so this doesn't surprise me."

Regulus pursed his lips. "This is why I fill this role better than you ever would, brother," he said. "It's because I understand that everything has a time and a place. The other night was not the time nor the place for that. There will be a time and a place, I assure you."

Sirius shook his head. "You're the one people are looking to, Regulus. You need to make a statement. You ought to do something."

"Not everyone is as … eager to take matters into his own hands as you are. I have the weight of the DMLE behind me, and I trust that Auror Shacklebolt and his team will do their jobs adequately. Do you two not share that trust?"


With all due respect- The words very nearly came out of his mouth, but Remus bit them back. Prefacing any statement with that caveat- especially one to the bloody Minister- would spell disaster. Wasn't he supposed to be the rational one here? The mediator?

"I rather think that any memories of the war have already been disgraced by the fact that innocent people are still being killed, seventeen years on. It isn't about whether or not we trust Auror Shacklebolt- though, for the record, I do." Kingsley, after all, had made no secret about his distrust of the so-called rehabilitated dark wizards. "But having the DMLE at work doesn't preclude you from speaking up, Minister."


"And I will," Regulus snapped in a haughty voice. "But not at a candlelit vigil honoring the memory of our fallen heroes."

Sirius nearly growled, both because he didn't like his brother speaking to Remus like that and also because it was a load of shite. "So if that's your stance on it, when are you going to make a statement? People are dying. Good people. Innocent people. And threats are being made."

"I'm well aware of the situation, Sirius," Regulus inserted quickly.


Then act like it! This time, Remus drowned his words in finishing his drink- too quickly, yes, but better that than making a fool of himself. He set the glass down on a side table- where it was soon whisked away by Kreacher, who gave Remus a glare at the offence. "No better chance to change things than the new year," he offered, instead. Surely that was complementary enough- after all, Regulus had said as much in his damned speech.


"Precisely," Regulus said, unmoved by the double meaning behind Remus's words. He took another slow swallow of his drink then set it aside. "Enough politics," he said. "How are things at Hogwarts castle?"

"Fine," Sirius answered quickly. He knew as well as did Remus and Regulus that Minvera had her own personal meetings with the Minister, wherein Sirius was certain she told him enough about what was going on as was necessary. Still -- "Except that pesky problem of poisoned Muggleborns."

"I believe that matter was taken care of by the expulsion of Miss Macnair."

Sirius almost sneered. "Yes, well."

Regulus leaned forward, just slightly, waiting for his brother to finish the sentence. He prompted him. "Yes, well, what?"

"Nothing."


Of course, Hogwarts wasn't free of politicking- it might have been separated from the Ministry's own brand of it, yes, but it had different problems to deal with. Which, mercifully, Minerva tended to do- with much more direct action than the Minister himself seemed to exhibit. "Let us all hope that Miss Macnair was the only problem we have to deal with this year." Though, even as the words left his mouth, Remus knew they wouldn't be true, in the end.


"I'm sure that'll be the case," Regulus said quickly.

Sirius let out a groan. "As though you can control that, if you're not even willing to broach the subject as Minister."

Regulus, it seemed, was getting impatient. "I told you, I will. Soon."


This wasn't a fight that either of them could win- not against Regulus, and certainly not here. "I think it is safe to say," if anything was, now, "that we both look forward to that day."


Sirius knew when Remus was trying to end a conversation, and if only for him, he nodded and sat back, running his fingertip along the rim of his glass. He took a deep breath. "Anything non Minister of Magic related things you're looking forward to in 1998?" he asked.

Regulus thought for a moment before answering, deadpan. "I thought I'd get married."

Sirius nearly sputtered. "What?"

His brother held up a hand, a smile actually tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I jest."


It was likely a good thing that Remus had already finished his own drink, else he would have spat out whatever was left. Mercifully, Regulus amended his statement, and Remus was able to keep his own reaction to a mere eyebrow raise. Admittedly, it was somewhat amusing to see Sirius caught quite so off-guard- it didn't happen often- but, at the same time, Remus (stubbornly) didn't want to give Regulus the satisfaction of a laugh at his would-be joke.

"I imagine that being Minister takes up quite a bit of one's time, anyway," Remus offered, instead. "Certainly more than one would want to leave for a spouse, at least."


Regulus shrugged again. "I'm sure I won't be Minister for the rest of my life," he said, not looking at either Sirius or Remus. "And as the heir to the Black family, of course it's my duty to continue the line, isn't it?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't you much rather imagining Mother rolling over in her grave at the idea that we're the end of the line?" His eyes sparkled a bit at the idea.

"Perhaps, but again, as I said, I was jesting. I don't have the time or the inclination to be married. What about the two of you?" At that, Regulus raised his gaze to look at the two of them quite seriously.


Remus met Regulus' gaze- if only out of sheer determination to not look at Sirius when that particular question was posed. "The Lupin family line has no such concerns about heirs or continuances," he offered, instead. Of course, that was easy enough to say, being that he was the only Lupin left- which Regulus may or may not have known, but the point was the same either way.


"That's not what I asked," Regulus said, moving his gaze to Sirius.

Who shrugged. "Dunno, Reg. Never really gave marriage all that much thought. When I was young I was sowing my wild oats and then there was that whole tricky business of being a murderer turned ex-con and now we're up to now. Don't really see the point."

"Uh huh."


This was certainly a strange line of conversation. Regulus hadn't ever asked after their relationship before- at least, not that Remus remembered. "If my answer changes, I'll be sure to invite you, Minister." It was still a vague avoidance of the question, perhaps- and almost certainly an empty offer- but maybe it would placate him.


Sirius raised an eyebrow. He certainly wouldn't be inviting his brother to a wedding, if it came to that. "Have we really resorted to talking about hypothetical and probably imaginary weddings?"

"It's better than the alternative conversation," Regulus said.


Remus glanced to Sirius, shrugging slightly. It was easy enough to say he'd invite Regulus to something that was never going to happen, right? "I have to agree with Sirius, Minister," Remus offered, finally. "It seems silly to concern ourselves over hypotheticals." The alternatives, such that they were, were potentially dangerous or even volatile topics- and Remus hesitated enough over them- but at least they were real.


"Very well, than perhaps a topic of your choosing, Remus," Regulus said. He finished his drink and motioned to Kreacher so subtly that Sirius nearly missed it. But there was the elf, appearing as if out of nowhere, to refill Regulus's glass. With a sour, angry look on his face, the house elf refreshed Sirius's as well, then walked off, muttering something that sounded liked 'filthy mudblood loving shame of a Black.' If Sirius hadn't been in the same room as his brother, he probably would have kicked the elf across the room.

"Actually," Sirius said, downing his drink in a few quick gulps. "Remus and I should get home. We've overstayed our welcome."


Remus had half expected Regulus to protest, but when the Minister remained silent, Remus stood. Just as suddenly, Kreacher had appeared in front of him, bearing the coat he'd taken upon their arrival- but, when Remus reached for it, the elf dropped it at his feet and disappeared. With a sigh, Remus bent to pick it up off the floor, shrugging it on before offering Regulus a nod of thanks. "Thank you, again, for the invitation, Minister."


"Regulus," The Minister said, standing as well. "Remus, none of this Minister sort. I've told you before." But Regulus didn't make any move toward his brother and Remus, simply stood there as he waited for them to pull on their coats.

Kreacher barely even bothered to get Sirius his coat, instead throwing it to the back of his chair as he stood. Sirius grunted and pulled it on. "Happy new year, Reg. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon."

Regulus gave a brief, curt nod. And that was that. Sirius touched Remus's elbow and nudged him for the door. He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I need to get out of this house. I feel like my dear old mother is judging my every breath."


Remus was all too glad to head toward the door, even for the cold that would await them outside and on the long walk back up from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, once they apparated away. "You're not alone in that," he agreed- even having barely known Walburga, her presence still hung over the house like a shroud.


Sirius visibly shuddered then turned back on their way out to give his brother a slight wave before he opened the front door, stepped out onto the front stoop, and apparated back to Hogsmeade with a crack. When he'd righted himself on the other side, he turned to look at Remus re-appear. "Thanks for enduring that for me. Hopefully we got a visit out of the way for the entire year."


Remus apparated just after Sirius did, and, when he appeared beside him in Hogsmeade, took a deep breath of the cool, clean winter air. "That seems to be the pattern, yes," he nodded. Looking ahead to the distant lights of Hogwarts up the hill, Remus instead turned toward the Hog's Head. "Come on. Let's go pay Bilius a visit while we're down here." Another drink sounded like a better option, at this point.


"Good idea," Sirius mumbled, his breath frosty in the air. He puffed a bit and fell into step beside Remus as they headed to the Hog's Head. "Something cheap and pedestrian like a good ale instead of that haughty whatever it was Regulus was serving us, please."


Remus laughed- but he could hardly argue the point. "I'm sure that can be arranged. Bilius has yet to lead us astray, anyway- which is more than could be said for our earlier company."


"I'm honestly surprised that he didn't poison the drink," Sirius said. "Or if not him, then definitely Kreacher. Why isn't he dead yet?" He pushed open the heavy door to the Hog's Head and held it open for Remus, then joined him inside and out of the frigid air.


He nodded in thanks for the held door, unbuttoning his coat as he stepped inside. "Perhaps he lives on air and spitefulness alone," Remus offered, but then reconsidered, adding, "though I rather hope not, as he'd be near enough to immortal by now, if that were true."


The very idea was enough to cause Sirius to grumble sourly, and he hurried over to the bar, at the far end, and commandeered a seat for each of them. He motioned for the barkeep -- who wasn't Bilius that evening -- and ordered a drink. "This is a far better way to enjoy the evening," he said.


Remus took his seat, and the barkeep placed a drink in front of him the same as he had for Sirius, even without Remus' asking. Maybe it just looked as if he needed it- which, considering the evening, and the full moon a few days away, was likely true enough. "Agreed," Remus replied, raising his glass to Sirius just slightly before he drank.