Staying Strangers

They quarrelled, they learnt and then they did better.

“This…is a…house? Pictures of a house?” Regulus said slowly, continuing to flick through the pictures of rooms with open windows and hillsides in the background, wide tables and chairs worn by some other life. Sirius had never seen him look so confused, it was sort of funny.

“It’s in southern France.” Sirius said, barely a whisper.

Regulus looked up, something new in his eyes. Sirius had also never seen his brother look shocked before. He could usually predict everything.

“I don’t forgive you for making me into a parent before I was ready to be a kid.”