*disclaimer I am not French so apologies for any mistakes, however this is a legitimate lullaby that can be found here*
“It hurts.” Regulus’ voice wobbled and he stuck out his bottom lip. Tears gathered on his eyelashes.
“You’ll be okay Reggie, it’ll only hurt for a little bit, I promise,” Sirius tickled Reg in the side and flopped backwards onto his bed. His brother seemed to calm down a bit and curled up next to him. They lay there for a moment, legs tangled, minds racing. After a moment Sirius heard his brother get up and walk across his room.
“Siri it’s bleeding again,” the elder say up to see his brother on the other side of the room holding his arm.
He huffed, ”Reg I told you to be careful with it. Don’t worry I’ve got some more tissues.”
Sirius clambered off his bed and grabbed the box off his dresser. Kneeling down he lightly dabbed at the cut on his brothers arm. “What were you even doing?”
“I wanted that toy up on the shelf but I couldn’t reach it even on tippy toes.” He point with his uninjured arm up at the little stuffed lion on Sirius’ shelf.
“Don’t worry I’ll get it for you! Just hold still while I put another plaster on your arm.”
A few moment later, Regulus was back on Sirius’ bed, this time tucked under the covers.
“Here you go,” Sirius wandered back over and tucked the lion in next to his brother. “You’ve been very brave, just like a lion!”
Regulus smiled, to which Sirius started making quiet roaring noises making his brother giggle. “Can you sing me that song again tonight?”
Sirius looked at his brothers sad face. Still upset from his parents earlier. He smiled at Regulus. “Of course Reggie.”
« J’ai trouvé l’eau si belle »
I found the water so beautiful
« Que je m’y suis baigné »
« Il y a longtemps que je t’aime »
I have loved you for a long time
« Jamais je ne t’oublierai »
“What does it mean?” Regulus interrupted.
“You’ve been doing your French lessons right?”
“Yes,” Regulus wrinkled his nose, him and Sirius didn’t like their French tutor much.
“Well, then keep practicing and you’ll be able to figure out for yourself one day!” Sirius grinned at his little brother.
“No fair! Mother let you start French much earlier than me. It’s gonna take aaaaages for me to learn in.”
“Well then you better go to sleep so that you can wake up tomorrow and keep practicing!” Regulus pouted at his words but stayed quiet.
« Sous les feuilles d’un chêne »
Under the leaves of an oak
« Je me suis fait sécher »
« Sur la plus haute branche »
« Un rossignol chantait »
A nightingale was singing
« Il y a longtemps que je t’aime »
I have loved you for a long time
« Jamais je ne t’oublierai »
“Why did mother and father do that?” Regulus was looking up at him with a troubled expression. ‘To teach them a lesson’ his parents usually said. Sirius didn’t know about that but he did know that he didn’t like it when people hurt his little brother.
“I’m not sure Reggie, don’t worry though, you’ve got me! I’ll always protect you!”
“Thanks Siri,” Regulus snuggled back down, keeping a tight grip on the lion toy.
“Now shush and let me finish the song petite étoile.”
“Is that me? Pe-tite é-toile?”
Sirius had sung that to him every night he’d asked. He’d believed in Regulus even when no one else had. Regulus had failed Sirius. He had not been brave like his brother wanted; many bad choices and cruel words had led him here. To this lake. His final chance to prove he was as brace as Sirius had believed. Maybe it was the liquid he’d drunk, maybe it was because he was dying, but all Regulus Black could think about was the lullaby. Sirius’ lullaby.
« Chante, rossignol, chante »
His voice cracked as he choked on the words.
« Toi qui a le cœur gai »
You who have a happy heart
You have a heart to laugh
He hope Sirius would get a chance to laugh again, when the war and killing is all over.
« Moi, je l’ai à pleurer »
« Il y a longtemps que je t’aime »
I have loved you for a long time
« Jamais je ne t’oublierai »
Without having deserved it
« Pour un bouquet de roses »
« Il y a longtemps que je t’aime »
I have loved you for a long time
« Jamais je ne t’oublierai »
« Je voudrais que la rose »
Was still in the rose bush
« Il y a longtemps que je t’aime »
I have loved you for a long time
« Jamais je ne t’oublierai »