Betrayal in the Shadows

Sirius couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered from the previous night's conversation with James. The rumor about Regulus and the older Slytherin students had left him with a sense of dread that he couldn't ignore. As soon as he finished breakfast, he made his way to the Slytherin common room, determined to get to the bottom of the story. The Fat Lady, the portrait that guarded the Gryffindor common room, gave him a nod of recognition as he strode past her, but Sirius barely acknowledged her. He was too focused on finding Regulus. He entered the Slytherin common room, his eyes scanning the room for a glimpse of his brother's familiar messy black hair. Regulus was sitting in a corner, surrounded by a group of older Slytherin students, including Crabbe and Goyle. Sirius's eyes narrowed as he watched them laughing and chatting with Regulus, who seemed entirely too comfortable in their presence. Sirius's anger simmered just below the surface as he made his way over to them. "Regulus, we need to talk," Sirius said, his voice firm but controlled. Regulus looked up, a look of apprehension crossing his face. "Sirius, what's going on?" Sirius didn't waste any time on pleasantries. He reached out and grabbed Regulus's arm, pulling him to his feet. "Don't 'what's going on' me, Reg. I know what's going on. And I'm taking you out of here." The Slytherin students protested, but Sirius didn't care. He dragged Regulus out of the common room, his eyes flashing with anger. Regulus stumbled to keep up with Sirius's long strides, his eyes wide with fear. As they emerged into the corridor, Sirius spotted James waiting for them, a look of concern etched on his face. "What's going on, Padfoot?" he asked, his eyes flicking to Regulus. Sirius didn't answer. Instead, he yanked Regulus's hair, pulling him along as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room. Regulus yelped in pain, but Sirius didn't let go. Once they were safely inside the common room, Sirius released Regulus's hair, his chest heaving with anger. "Tell me the truth, Reg. What were you doing with those Slytherins?" Regulus looked up at Sirius, his eyes brimming with tears. "I...I didn't do anything, Sirius. I swear. They just...they just made me feel like I was part of the group, like I was important." Sirius's face twisted in disgust. "Important? They were using you, Reg. They were taking advantage of you." James placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Easy, Prongs. Let's get to the bottom of this." Regulus sniffled, his eyes welling up with tears. "I...I didn't mean to hurt you, Sirius. I just...I felt so alone, and they made me feel like I was part of something." Sirius's anger began to give way to concern and protectiveness. He pulled Regulus into a tight hug. "You're not alone, Reg. You're my brother, and I'll always be here for you. But you have to promise me you'll never get involved with those people again. They're not worth it." Regulus nodded, his body shaking with sobs. Sirius held him close, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, worry, and a deep love for his little brother. He knew that he would do anything to protect Regulus, and he was determined to make sure those Slytherins paid for what they had done.