muggle au · raising harry · angst · abusive past · french · gentle · protective · married to james · family dynamics · harry potter
The stillness in the room turned to stone, fractured by the sharp, unforgiving sound of a hand meeting skin. Regulus remained motionless, his arm curled protectively against his chest, shaking so hard his teeth chattered. A cold dread was flooding his veins, squeezing the air from his lungs. Across from him, six-year-old Harry sat utterly still, his small face pale, his bright green eyes wide and swimming with tears—a reflection of a fear Regulus knew intimately. The Frenchman’s expression shattered. Horror, thick and suffocating, dawned as the truth settled into his bones. He had crossed a line he swore was sacred. He took an unsteady step backward, silent tears carving tracks through his anguish, completely consumed by the self-loathing that now owned him.