[ little prince ]

LOCATION: hog’s head DATE:  16th of July, 1979   

   “Please,“ Sirius practically begged, wiping clean the last shot glass left. “Save me from my misery. Y’know, I feel like after people finish their drinks they take a leak in the glass. Like, how do they always smell so filthy when they give it back?“ He shook his head, clearly disappointed. “I’m tired, I want a drink and a pack of cigarettes.“

“I don’t think I want to,” Regulus said, his eyes steely in the light. He’d come to the Hog’s Head to look for someone or other Walburga had sent him after, presumably to gift them with a bribe Regulus hadn’t needed to use. Instead, Rex had come face to face with the person he tried to no longer consider family. 

This, Rex thought, was an opportunity to remind Sirius of what he’d lost when he left. “It doesn’t seem as if you’re in any better condition than most of your customers,” Rex said, eyeing him up and down.

Regulus breathed deeply. Today was not a day to be struck by nerves, not when he had to put up a strong front. Normally, an impenetrable calm took over him during stressful situations, but this was perhaps the most nerve-wracking thing he’d ever done. 

He adjusted his jacket in the mirror, ran his hands through his hair, then left the comfort of his room. He walked down the stairs, the rumble of voices growing louder. Rex entered his living room, meeting his father’s too-wide smile with a nod of his own. 

“Regulus,” a deep voice said from the corner of the room. “I hope you are prepared for what’s to come.” 

Slowly and without fear, Rex turned to the Dark Lord and bowed deeply. “Of course, my Lord.” 

Safiya sits in the corner of a bar, legs crossed as she finishes off her virgin cocktail. The day had been a long and strenuous one; If her tolerance for alcohol had been better, she would no doubt be on her third or second glass of firewhiskey. Instead, she settled for sugary mocktails and watching others drink away their troubles.

“I’ll have another, please,” she smiles, lifting her glass daintily towards the bartender. 

Rex had gone to a favourite pureblood haunt, expecting no company. It would have helped calm his nerves to be alone, sipping at some firewhisky without his mother breathing down his neck. When he arrives, he finds Safiya. Immediately, he realizes that her presence may be more welcome than he’d thought. 

“Drinking so early in the afternoon?” he said, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He lifted his hand at the bartender to request his usual, before taking almonds from the bartop and biting into one.

            “Incredible,” he said dryly and sarcastically, “I see that seven years of magical education has not been wasted on you.”

“Fuck off, Severus,” Regulus said. “You think you’re the only one who can pull of Legilimency?” Ignoring the sweat dripping from his forehead, Regulus breathed out. “Again.” He nodded once at Severus, blinking before focusing again. “Walls up.”

There weren’t many people Bellatrix loved. She simply wasn’t meant to be soft and loving: she was meant to be a ruthless soldier, even if that wasn’t who her parents had intended for her to be, and she had little use of a heart. But then there was Regulus, who was so much younger than her, but whom she loved, truly. Besides him, there was only a handful of people more that she felt that protective, warm feeling for, a feeling foreign to her, but a big motivator nonetheless.

“Vodka it is,” she said, pouring two shots. Bellatrix didn’t raise any eyebrows at his comment, knowing very well how controlling and condescending parents could be. “They’re blind, underestimating you like that. Can I do anything to help? I’m very persuasive, y’know.”

“Excellent,” Regulus said, taking the shot glass as she handed it to him. “And it’s alright, Bella. I’ve gotten used to being underestimated, as you say. Remember, Grandfather used to say that anything can be turned into a weapon, and their idiocy and short-sightedness will get them in the end.” Clearly, Rex was drawing from other hurts, from the sneers purebloods gave him because he wasn’t brawny, loud, or especially, outwardly cruel.

He wondered whether there was something he ought to do to be more intimidating. “Well,” he said, hesitating, “do you think I ought to change, somehow?” Rex grit his teeth, realizing the earlier shots he’d taken might have affected him more than he thought. “It’s useful for people to think all I am is a spoiled brat, but sometimes I wonder if I could be recognized as something else.” Powerful. Terrifying. “Maybe we just ought to take the shot.”

“You know I can’t handle my liquor, Rex. Besides, I quite enjoy actually remembering my evening,” she says with an amused smile. “I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t approve of you– Dark Lord included.” Discreetly, with her glass just barely touching her lips, “Even my mother is drooling at the sight of us. Would a surprise betrothal be a good graduation gift? If not I think it’s best your mother keeps talking to those two rather than anyone with children.”

“Yes, why do you think I’m asking you to drink?” he said with a straight face. “I can always show you the memories in a pensieve later on, though I doubt you’ll enjoy watching yourself vomiting on the potted plants.” Regulus rolled his eyes, pointedly not glancing back at his parents. “They’ve promised not to meddle with heirs till after I’ve gotten a Mark, so I don’t have to worry about that tonight. Though you could be right; my mother isn’t the most trustworthy of individuals.”

There was a high possibility Remus had already started drinking for the night. Liquid courage, indeed. But if Sirius wasn’t going to show up to the damn party, he hardly could be upset. Or find out. Besides, he hardly wanted to make a scene. And fighting over Sirius in a crowded ballroom definitely counted as a scene. He gave a soft snort at the question and gave him a wry smile and a head incline towards the tray. ‘’After you.’’

Rex knew his instincts about Remus had been right; he was the most reasonable of Sirius’s friends. Or maybe that was his desire to drink a little bit more than he ought to. Either way, Regulus was glad Remus had said yes. He handed Remus a shot before taking one of his own, downing it before picking up another one. “Let’s take this one together? Or are you planning to watch me get drunk tonight?”

And there it was again, the reminder that everyone within five years of her up or down thought of her as an uptight bitch incapable of fun. Amelia lulled her head to the side, eyes desperate to roll but she kept them fixed on her drink, a subtle smile on her face as if enjoying a private joke. “Hmm, you all need new material, Black, honestly I thought your lot was more creative than that.” Why take offense? Regulus was just a snotty little brat after all and his opinion meant less than nothing. She sipped her drink, unbothered. 

“The old but classic always proves effective, methinks. Although I almost feel bad making fun of you; I’m sure besides commendations for legible handwriting, you get little other affirmation.” Here was someone even worse off than Regulus; immediately, he felt better, a slight smile making its way onto his face.

Bellatrix let out a dramatic sigh of relief at Rex’ question, hand on her heart. “I thought you’d never ask.” She’d followed his gaze before, noticing his parents as well, and was of the opinion that whenever parents decided to interfere, a few shots were in place. 

Besides, she was slowly feeling her nerves get to her, and she needed something to soften her edges. Linking her arm with his, she moved to the bar. “What’re you in the mood for, then?”

While he and Bellatrix had the biggest age difference among the Black cousins—nearly ten years, if he remembered it right—he’d always admired and respected her tenacity and brilliance, chuckling whenever people told him she was terrifying. Of course she was; she was a member of the most noble house of Black. Bella had always understood how irrational Mother and Father could be. 

“Anything, really, to get my mind off how little my parents think I’m worth.” Rex spoke with a bitter smile, not bothering to keep his emotions in check in front of someone who knew where he was coming from.

Narcissa glanced over at the boy with a raised eyebrow. She, of course, had been invited to the party from the start. There had been no doubt she’d be there with her husband. Who was off in a private room somewhere having ‘conversations’ she was annoyed she wasn’t there for. Which meant she was already in a sour mood and that didn’t bode well for her cousin. 

 ‘’I didn’t think they served kids liquor, Rex,’’ she challenged in a nonchalant tone. 

“Ah, Cissy. Lovely to see you out of the house, though I didn’t think you’d be able to considering how many pureblood tea parties you’ve had to host.” Rex smiled his sweetest smile before downing another shot. He’d need a break after that one, the liquid burning his throat as it went down. 

“Where’s Lucy? Not off playing with his peacocks again, is he?”

Amelia had arrived at the party a bit late; despite being a highly punctual person she had no real desire to be there at all and felt her usual principles lax a bit. In fact, she had no idea why her boss insisted she come, or why her friends did the same; it was just a party after all. Seating herself heavily at the bar she ordered a drink and not two sips in she was spoken to. “Shots?” She eyed the person before her, Regulus Black, not her cup of tea. “I already have a drink, thanks.”

Regulus resisted raising an eyebrow at the person he’d happened to talk to. Of course he’d stood beside Amelia Bones, one of the most sanctimonious and uptight sticks in the mud in his age bracket. “Merlin forbid you actually enjoy yourself today, eh, Bones?” In defiance, Rex took a shot on his own, savouring the burn of alcohol down his throat. “How’d they manage to get you to leave the Ministry cave?”

Remus didn’t know what he was doing here. He really, really didn’t. It definitely came from a sense of guilt and responsibility to the Order and James though. He couldn’t hold a job because of his furry little condition, so he needed to feel useful somehow. And apparently, that meant recon at a Pureblood party. Because what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, Sirius’ brother could reach out to him. That could apparently happen. 

He glanced over in surprise and raised a cautious eyebrow. ‘’What did you have in mind?’’

Rex finally got a better look at the person he was talking to. He managed to keep his expression straight as he realized he’d been talking to one of his brother’s best friends. Regulus resisted both of his immediate urges: to ask how Sirius was doing, and to snipe at someone who’d, yet again, assured Sirius that he was better than his pureblood family, duty and honour be damned.

It seemed as if Remus Lupin—Moony, was it?—wanted to pretend as if they hadn’t got a dog-animagus-shaped problem between them. Regulus shrugged; what was one night of drinking with the most rational-looking of Sirius’s friends?

“Well,” he said, waving a hand at the floating tray of firewhiskey, “that seems like a good place to start. Are you up for it?”

“ Not much of a drinker. “ The brunette replied awkwardly, bouncing on her toes as she spoke in an attempt to hide her obvious discomfort. Besides it wasn’t like she was actually LYING, she was prone to stupidity when sober ; adding alcohol to her equation? That was just asking for trouble. “ Can’t even handle the soft stuff, mate, and it would be utterly un-lady like to end up pissed at a party. “ there was an obvious hint of mocking sarcasm in the young witch’s voice which was not aimed at the boy in particular, just more of an annoyance with the entire situation.

“Unladylike?” Rex said, snorting. “Even more of a reason to get wasted, don’t you think?” He glanced at her again, trying to remember where he’d seen her. She didn’t look much older, so they were likely together at school, though he doubted she was in Slytherin. Not a pureblood, either, so it was curious she was here. “If you’re not friends with our lovely host—pardon him; a house elf is catching his vomit in one of the smaller alcoves—and you’re in no mood to drink, what exactly brings you here?” 

Following his line of sight, Safiya’s smile stiffened, “Never, but I’ll happily sip on my glass while you do.” She stood tall beside him, eyes narrowing slightly at Walburga and the Wizarding World’s most idiotic duo. “How long before your mother realizes that is not the way to join the ranks?”

“That’s no fun at all, Saf,” Regulus said, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t know. Guess she thinks that people who just missed getting thrown into Azkaban for corruption charges are going to get the Dark Lord to approve.” He took a flute of wine and clinked it against hers. “But hey, this is an opportunity to drink for free, no sneaking around required. To my graduation.” 

Instead of annoying himself further, he turned to the person next to him and said, “In the mood for some shots?” 

“I’m ready to do so, yes.” Regulus couldn’t help the small smirk as he answered. “It’s practically a requirement for proud purebloods, at least while everyone’s watching.” 

“When you’re from one of the best and most illustrious pureblood families, all eyes tend to be on you. I’m used to being insulted, underestimated, and ridiculed; it’s a fact of life.”