A Brother Reborn

The chill of the Hogwarts corridors enveloped Regulus Black as he strode purposefully through the crowded passages, his dark hair messy and his eyes fixed on some destination only he could see. He had avoided the Great Hall, not wanting to draw attention to himself, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be here, to take a step towards a past he had tried to leave behind. As he turned a corner, he caught sight of a group of students laughing and chatting outside a classroom. Their faces were familiar, and Regulus's heart sank as he recognized the Gryffindor common room. He had been dreading this moment, but he knew he had to face it. Regulus took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the common room, scanning the room for any sign of... him. His eyes landed on a group of students sitting by the fire, and his heart skipped a beat as he spotted Sirius Black, the boy who had once been his brother. But that was years ago. Regulus had changed, grown, and learned to navigate the complexities of the wizarding world. He was no longer the scared, impressionable younger brother he had once been. As he watched, Sirius stood up, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. Regulus's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The room around them melted away, and Regulus felt like he was transported back to a time when life was simpler, when he and Sirius were closer than anyone else. Sirius's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a step forward, but Regulus shook his head, a warning look on his face. He didn't want to talk to Sirius, not yet. Not when he was still trying to process his own emotions. Without a word, Regulus turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sirius staring after him, a mixture of confusion and longing on his face. Regulus knew he had to be careful; he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. He had a plan, and he couldn't let anything get in the way. As he walked, Regulus noticed the staircases and corridors were slightly different from what he remembered. The castle seemed to have changed, and he realized that he must be in the wrong part of the school. He had heard that the years were arranged in a different order, with the younger students at the lower levels and the older students at the upper levels. Regulus stopped in front of a staircase and read the sign: "Third Year and Below". He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't realized he was in the year below Sirius. A mix of emotions swirled inside him - anxiety, nervousness, and a hint of excitement. He took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. What would the year ahead hold? Would he be able to keep his distance from Sirius, or would their paths cross again? Regulus pushed open the door to his new classroom, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.