no_martyr | (no subject)

It's very quiet in the house, without Sirius.
Regulus can't say he'd really noticed it before, other than as a welcome respite until either Sirius or Mother came back from wherever it was they'd gone and started shouting about... whatever topic it was they were arguing over that particular day. (Regulus does tend to agree with his mother about the stuff Sirius calls music, but can't help being impressed he actually bothered bringing home something with provenance she'd have to accept.)
But now... well, it'll probably take a miracle to get Sirius back into the house, and he's probably happier staying with Potter anyway (Regulus is assuming that's what he's doing; it makes the most sense by far), and Mother, in a fit of not being able to un-decorate his room, has taken refuge in her old favorite of burning Sirius off the tapestry.
Regulus is trying to enjoy the fact that he can get enough peace and quiet in the sitting room to work on his summer homework, for once, but it's almost too quiet. He may have to retreat to his bedroom soon; at least there, he knows why it's quiet.
Putting up your own silencing charms to keep the arguments out will do that.

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For his part, Orion actually rather misses the arguments. It beats the almost-overwhelming quiet that has been around the house lately. Walburga has taken her righteous indignation elsewhere, (where that is, Orion doesn't know nor does he want to ask) and has left him to potions creation and book reading.

On the bright side, he does have some more time to talk to his younger son, and that is what he is intending to do. "What are you working on, Regulus?"

"Divination," he replies, without really looking away from his work. "Professor Device gave us a few puzzlers for summer hols, and I haven't sorted them all out to my satisfaction."
Nor to his professor's. He suspects 'Nostradamus was just playing silly buggers with everyone' is a perfectly valid interpretation, but it's still only one interpretation. That means now he has to figure out what the bastard was on about.

"Ah." Orion shakes his head. "I have to say, Regulus. I never expected you to go for Divination of all things. It doesn't suit you." He pauses. "Yes, I know what you have said about your professor, but..." His point stands.

"Well, if the professor were more inclined to reading doom and gloom in every glob of tea leaves they could find, we might well be having a different conversation." Besides, he needed something other than Arithmancy, Sirius was already taking Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures (which Regulus wasn't much interested in anyway), and Muggle Studies was right out in the name of avoiding a shouting match with his mother.
Regulus shrugs. "Besides, it's a fascinating subject, when one doesn't focus on all the bits most people can't pull off."

Orion just smiles a bit wryly, taking a seat across the room. "So you have said." He picks up a book from a side table, looks at it, then puts it down again. "I cannot help but wonder when your mother will find something new to complain about." Yes, it's a bit out of the blue, but it's been bothering him for quite a while.

Regulus sighs, folds his work in progress, marks his place in the textbook, and closes it. "It's Mother. I give it a week, if we're lucky. She's already started going on about how I need to get on the quidditch team this term, never mind that I can hardly stay in the air and I can't exactly practice that in the courtyard."
She should know this, as one of her other favorite topics is how the neighborhood is teeming with Muggles these days. (It was a solidly wizarding neighborhood when Phineas bought the house, but these days, the Blacks are about the only magical family there.) Besides, there simply isn't enough room back there.

"I do not understand that." Orion sighs deeply. "Quidditch is something that if you have no love for it, you should not do. I will see what I can do to help."

"Likely because she thinks it'll bring honor and glory to the family. Or something like that."
Regulus smiles a little. "Thank you. I'd really rather not embarrass myself in front of the entire school."
He has a reputation to uphold, after all. Said reputation does not in any way, shape or form include being the laughingstock of the quidditch season. (Even if it would almost guarantee one Gryffindor Beater couldn't bring himself to aim at him.)
"I don't suppose we could find something to eat before Mother and Kreacher get back?"