Confusion

"If I wasn't confused before, I am now."

Regulus moved past him, hood over his head, right hand jammed into his jeans pocket. He took long strides past the Healers and Mediwitches towards the elevators leading to the ground floor.

"Hold on," Sirius said, hurrying after him, taking a deep breath as he stepped into the elevator after his younger brother. "What are you doing?"

Regulus turned his head, standing close enough that he could see his brother's mouth twist into a frown despite not seeing Regulus's gray eyes. "What am I doing?" Regulus took a deep breath. "We're leaving, aren't we?"

"That," Sirius held off on saying what he wanted, as others in the elevator could easily overhear. When the elevator arrived on the ground floor, Regulus quickly disembarked for the entrance, forcing Sirius to follow after him. He called out. "Hey. Wait up." Sirius shook his head, saying a quick goodbye to the Welcome Witch, who noticed how fast they were leaving, but outside—

Outside of St. Mungos, where Remus waited for him, Sirius grabbed onto Regulus' arm. "You didn't exactly explain what happened back there."

"Huh?" Regulus sounded irritated.

"And what are you planning on doing?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Sirius said firmly, seeing the way Regulus' mouth twisted slightly in irritation. "No wand?" He nodded his head at Remus. "And your little black bag?"

"Not little," Regulus muttered.

"And your all too obvious Muggle clothing?" Sirius frowned, looking Regulus up and down, as he still held onto his brother's arm.

"You." Regulus let out a hiss. "You, of all people, have an issue with me wearing Muggle clothes, Sirius?"

"First stop is my place," Sirius said. "Something that doesn't stand out as much, Reg. And then we'll figure out what to do about your wand there."

"Wait," Regulus said, eyes blinking fast as Sirius nodded his head at Remus to follow him. They arrived outside of his flat, and he tugged Regulus to the entrance, only for Regulus to jerk his arm back. "You could have splinched me, Sirius."

"Not my intent," Sirius said, twisting the doorknob and opening the door, taking a deep breath as he headed into his flat, pulling Regulus along.

"Siri, I think..." Regulus started saying, letting out a light his as she did so, only to pause when—

"You're back!" Harry called out from where he sat, resulting in Orion looking up while Draco remained seated in another chair. "Tuni is in her room, being boring as always, while Draco is sitting there reading a book, being boring."

"Sorry, Harry," Sirius said, noticing how his father straightened and his eyes lit up. "As I said, I'll be busy this summer."

"Ah," Harry sighed, sliding down slightly in his chair. "Who's that?"

Remus stepped in, closing the door behind him and sighing. "Sirius. Really?" He nodded his head at Orion. "Apologies, Lord Black."

"That's actually..." Orion said, looking right at Regulus rather than his newspaper. "Well, my father."

"You know," Sirius took a deep breath. "Corner store. Muggle treats you two." Harry's eyes lit up, while Draco sighed, looking up from the book he was reading in annoyance. "Kid definitely reminds me of a certain someone when he was younger," Sirius thought, fishing in his pocket for change as he looked at Regulus, seeing his brother's mouth twist in annoyance, hood still keeping his facial features hidden. "Take Tuni with you."

Harry darted towards his sister's room, calling out for her that they would be getting a treat from the corner store. Sirius continued digging around for some Muggle change, while Regulus looked around as if he felt he was cornered. Draco now looked at Regulus, back at Orion, and then back at Regulus, his eyes narrowing.

"Little twat. If he finds out, Narcissa is likely to find out, though it's lucky he practically lives with us." Sirius sighed, continuing to dig for Muggle money, before nodding his head. "My room is over there. Something might fit you, so..." And then Draco's mouth opened slightly. Sirius cleared his throat, nudging Regulus towards his room as his brother grabbed the black bag from Remus with his right hand, shaking his head.

"Hate you," Regulus muttered.

"Sure," Sirius said, then let out a deep breath, watching Regulus enter his bedroom. "Is this what he means by us being on talking terms?" He saw Draco looking at him, frowning, and the book lowered. "What?"

"Not sure you're thinking things through, Sirius," Remus said, as Sirius continued looking for Muggle coin.

Orion sighed, reaching into the pocket of his gentleman's vest. "Here. I keep some on me, just in case."

"I do have..." Sirius said, eyes widening.

Draco frowned. "Have what?"

"Muggle coin," Orion said, frowning, then reached into his wallet. "Sirius always forgets where he puts his emergency Muggle funds, but you should have some on you, particularly as a young wizard who can't use the trace on you, in case you end up in a situation where you need to use it."

"That..." Draco's eyes blinked.

"Isn't something your father taught you, I know," Orion said. "But even Regulus had a bit of Muggle pocket change just in case."

"Say what?" Sirius said. "This is the first..."

"You were always rebelling and never listening," Orion said.

"So it was some kind of punishment?" Sirius asked.

"Knowing you," Draco said, "You'd have spent it on non-emergency and have shoved it in Aunt Walburga's face, right?"

"Ah," Sirius stared, then cleared his throat, looking away.

"He's right," Remus said.

"Have Harry and Tuni show you how to use Muggle money," Orion said. "There must be some other places to use this than just the corner store."

"Orion," Sirius said, caught off guard. "I'm not sure..."

"Take your time, and have some fun," Orion said. He held up one hand. "This is for the treats your Uncle Sirius promised, and this is for the other stuff. Just don't go buying Tuni makeup."

"Huh?" Draco asked, eyes blinking.

"He means spend it on yourself," Sirius said. "And don't let her manipulate you into buying her stuff; she knows full well her aunts will buy her."

Orion tilted his head as Harry and Tuni hurried out, while Tuni's mouth formed a pout. "What are you talking about?"

"Orion wants you two to teach Draco how to use Muggle money?" Sirius asked. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Wonder why I didn't think of that on a previous school holiday?"

"Because mother would kill you?"

"Ah..." Sirius said. "But wait? It's different when it's Orion?"

"Uncle Orion's different, you know," Draco said.

"Let's get going," Tuni said, grabbing Draco's hand and pulling him towards the front door. Draco dropped his book and let out a yelp.

"Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into," Harry said.

"Hey!" Sirius said. "No getting in trouble."

"Have fun," Orion said. "And be back for dinner and don't spoil your appetites."

The door clicked behind the three children, and Sirius sighed in relief. "Thanks, old man."

"Welcome," Orion said. "Wouldn't want Narcissa to find out about your brother without you informing her, right?"

Sirius stiffened, then turned to look at his father. "Hold on."

"I'm not stupid, Sirius," Orion said, looking at his newspaper. "But you should tell Narcissa. And your Aunt Lucretia, and anyone else..."

"No," Sirius said. "You weren't supposed to know."

Orion looked up, his mouth twisting into a frown. "What? If you don't want people to know..."

"I wasn't thinking, alright?" Sirius sighed.

"Obviously," Remus said. "Unlike Regulus."

"What?" Sirius turned to look at Remus.

"He told you to wait, but you didn't even give him time to say what he wanted to say."

Sirius lifted his hands, letting out a sigh. "He doesn't even have a wand on him, and what's with that bag? He's..."

Orion sighed. "Things between you two," the man said. "The hurt isn't going to be fixed with just a few words."

"That," Sirius took a deep breath, going and taking a seat, remembering Regulus' adoptive brother. He let out a huff. "Yeah. He's been living his life, not worried about anything these last few years, while I've lost..." He glanced at the door to his room as Remus took a seat. "Well, you know."

"You think your brother lost nothing?" Orion asked. "Just because he started a new life for himself?"

Sirius frowned, then let out a sigh, looking at the door of his bedroom, waiting for Regulus to finish, but then—

"What's taking him so long?" Sirius muttered.

"Please," Orion said. "Be patient with him."

"Yeah," Sirius sighed. "Sure."