(June 21, 1967)
Though the Black brothers grew up amidst subtle differences, none were enough to create distance between them. Despite the rigid upbringing dictated by their mother, Sirius and Regulus remained remarkably close. Walburga Black was determined to mold her sons into perfect specimens of Black family pride, breeding them into ruthless Slytherins. Orion, however, approached the boys with a softer heart. There were times he quietly absorbed blame for broken plates in the kitchen, shouldering the consequences of childhood accidents. He even indulged them with extra chocolates and sweets—a kindness he kept hidden from Walburga’s watchful gaze.
Despite Orion’s quiet interventions, one thing remained stubbornly unchanged: Walburga’s insistence on dressing her sons in green. As if mirroring each other, Sirius and Regulus frequently found themselves clad in identical shades of the color, exchanging frustrated sighs when their mother's gaze settled upon them.
It became a secret ritual. Once the adults had retreated, the brothers would tear off their clothes and race through the rooms, fueled by reckless abandon. Kreacher, the house-elf, would pursue them in a frenzy, his cries of protest echoing through the halls as he ensured their safety.
“I bet you can’t hold your breath,” Sirius would taunt, his eyes gleaming with challenge. Regulus, eager to prove him wrong, would readily accept. The competition became a test of endurance, each brother striving to outlast the other in a breathless standoff.
Their father, Orion, returned home unexpectedly one afternoon, discovering them mid-game. He stood in the doorway, amused by the sight of his sons—stripped of their green finery, their faces flushed with exertion. He quietly raised his camera and captured the moment, a quiet smile playing on his lips as he preserved the memory of their secret play.