Maybe someone who witnessed Regulus' death tells Sirius the truth. This person could be a fellow Order member or a magical insider.
Often, it could be that other characters who knew tell Sirius. Maybe it's a mutual friend or a family member. This way, Sirius gets the tragic news.
Fanfiction about these three can take many forms. For example, there could be time - travel fics where Harry goes back in time and meets Regulus and Sirius when they were younger. This could lead to all sorts of interesting plot twists, like Harry trying to prevent Regulus from joining the Death Eaters in the first place. Or it could be a fic where Sirius survives and he and Harry explore the secrets of the Black family together, including things that Regulus left behind. There are also fics that focus on the emotional bonds between the characters, showing how the different personalities of Regulus, Sirius, and Harry interact and influence each other.
The 'sirius hurts regulus fanfiction' often delves into the family aspect by highlighting the expectations placed on them as Blacks. Sirius's actions, like running away from home, can be seen as a betrayal in Regulus's eyes. This causes a rift between them. The fanfictions explore how family loyalty and the need for acceptance within the family are intertwined with the pain that Sirius's choices inflict on Regulus.
After Sirius dies, Harry is in a really tough place. He feels like a part of his family has been ripped away. He may start to question his own actions that led to Sirius being in the Department of Mysteries in the first place. Harry will also feel a sense of loneliness, even with his friends around. But over time, he'll remember the lessons Sirius taught him, about being brave and standing up for what's right. This will give him the strength to move forward, and he'll use his memories of Sirius as a source of motivation in his fight against Voldemort.
One common theme is family loyalty. Sirius and Regulus come from the Black family, and fanfictions often explore how their loyalty to family, or lack thereof in Sirius' case, affects their actions and relationships. Another theme is redemption. Regulus, in particular, is often given a chance at redemption in these stories as he had a more complex and morally ambiguous role in the original series.
In some fanfictions, Harry becomes more determined to fight against Voldemort. He channels his grief into training harder and becoming a stronger wizard. He often has flashbacks of Sirius which fuel his anger towards the Death Eaters and Voldemort, seeing them as the root cause of his loss.
At first, it might be a bit of a rocky start. Harry, having grown up without a proper family, could be wary of Regulus. But as time passes, he starts to see Regulus as a father figure. Regulus, on the other hand, is determined to make up for his past mistakes by raising Harry right. So he showers Harry with care and magical knowledge, and they gradually form a strong bond.
Sirius might be completely devastated. He could go into a state of shock at first, not believing the news. Then, he might be filled with guilt for not being there for his brother, and anger towards the situation that led to Regulus' death.
You can start by looking on fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). Just type in 'Harry Potter and Regulus' in the search bar, and it will show you a bunch of relevant fanfictions. There are also some dedicated Harry Potter fanfiction forums where people might recommend good 'Harry Potter and Regulus' stories.
In many fanfictions, Harry becomes more withdrawn after Sirius' death. He might lose his trust in the adults around him more easily, feeling that they couldn't protect Sirius, so he tries to be more self - reliant. He also could become more brooding and angry, his emotions more volatile as he grapples with the sudden and tragic loss.