After the funeral, and after the reading of the Will (which had been rather explosive, considering the usually stoic Blacks. But then when there was a room full of them feeling slighted by a recently deceased brother and cousin, well, a little melodrama had been warranted) there was, unfortunately, still a great many things to be attended to. Alphard might have known that the end was approaching, and while he had put many of his affairs in order, his town house still stood untouched; as though he had merely stepped out for a moment and had intended to return. 

Regulus was not in a mood to meet with Sirius. His resentment of his brother had resurfaced, simmering just below the surface. Where was the disadvantage, the karma, for abandoning the Family? Sirius now had, seemingly, everything he could ever want and, thanks to Alphard, the means to do whatever he wanted in style. 

But someone had to be there to ensure that there were no incriminating documents floating around in the office, nothing that Sirius could take and use against them. Regulus had volunteered, knowing that he had a better chance of making it through the afternoon than any other member of the family. 

And besides, he wasn’t entirely sure that he could stomach the unceremonious scorching of the tapestry that was surely imminent. 

Regulus waited, seated on the stoop, for Sirius, uncertain of exactly what sort of welcome he would receive. He had left the reading prior to his brother, who had documents to sign to begin the process of officially changing everything into his name, and so assumed, but was not entirely certain, that he had arrived at the house first.