I
Early in the morning, before the sun had even risen, a muffled argument could be heard outside of the prince’s chambers. Dorcas groaned, she could already feel a headache forming even before opening the doors.
She had a feeling the prince and Evan were arguing about something completely stupid and irrelevant, as always.
She pushed open the doors, trying not to burst out laughing at the view before her. Evan was standing on one side of the room, pinching his nose in frustration, while Regulus sat at his vanity with a scowl on his face. Kreacher was right next to him, purring contentedly.
“Regulus for the last time, I understand that you want nothing more than to quote unquote,” He paused to mime quotation marks. “‘Leave this hellhole.’ But there is quite literally nothing I can do about that. You heard Sirius.”
Regulus snorted, fixing his hair while he looked in the mirror.
“Trust me I’m well aware of what my brother said, I simply chose to ignore him.” Evan threw his hands up in defeat and gave Dorcas a meaningful look. She sighed, boys were so weird.
“What is this even about? Shouldn’t you guys be asleep? It’s barely six in the morning.” She crossed her arms, awaiting an explanation. Once Regulus was satisfied with the state of his hair, he turned around in his chair to face Dorcas.
“I’m leaving.” He smiled. Evan groaned. Dorcas raised her eyebrow.
“I kind of gathered that, but where to? And how do you expect to sneak past the guards, you know Sirius has tightened security since …” She trailed off. Regulus’ face hardened for a second, but he quickly slipped his perfectly neutral mask back on.
“Around. I miss seeing the city, my people. If I have to spend one more minute in this suffocating room I might just claw my own eyes out.” Evan snickered at Regulus’ dramatic nature. Dorcas didn’t feel like putting her life in danger though, so she made sure to try and hold her laughter back.
Sure enough, Regulus just glared at Evan before standing up and walking to his dresser.
He started picking out multiple layers of neutral colored garments.
Oh so he was being serious?
“Alright then. Fine, you’re going out around town,” Evan looked at her like she had grown a second head, getting ready to interject, but she held up a finger and he quickly shut his mouth. “But you never answered my other question. How do you plan on getting out of the palace?”
Regulus had that mischievous glint in his eyes. Dorcas frowned. She was so going to lose her job because of this.
“Evan is going to distract Sirius, and you will be distracting his personal guards. I can take care of the rest just fine on my own.”
Definitely going to lose her job.
She crossed her arms, still unconvinced. Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Marlene will be there.”
Dorcas’ eyes widened, a blush rapidly spreading across her features. Evan rapidly looked between the two of them in pure disbelief.
“You can’t possibly be considering this, right Dorcas?”
She looked at him sheepishly.
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“Idiots. I’m surrounded by absolute idiots.”
Regulus disappeared to his bathroom so he could get changed while Dorcas and Evan, albeit reluctantly, discussed how they were going to do this.
Once he emerged they had somewhat of a plan going. The three of them continued discussing it until it was almost time for breakfast.
~~~
Ever since the passing of the former sultan and his wife, the rules around the palace have been a lot more lax. For example, staff were never able to sit at the dining table before. But since the new sultan and his brother considered their personal staff their friends, this rule quickly changed.
So here Regulus, Evan, Dorcas, Sirius, Marlene, Lily, and Pandora all sat. Eating a delicious breakfast.
Normally Tom, Severus, and Peter would join them, but Tom had excused himself and requested the assistance of Severus and Peter a few minutes before breakfast. It was a little strange, but Regulus kept his mouth shut.
“Hey Reg, I forgot to mention, I invited Durmstrang’s princess to come talk to you.” Sirius said with a wink. Dorcas and Evan exchanged glances.
For the past few weeks Sirius had been inviting princesses from other kingdoms in an attempt to find Regulus a lover.
Which wouldn’t have been a problem in most cases, except for one small detail.
Regulus hadn’t told Sirius he was gay yet.
Dorcas and Evan didn’t know why, and they refrained from asking because Regulus always got closed off when they brought the topic up in the past.
Dorcas doesn’t understand how Sirius hasn’t figured it out yet with all the cold rejections he has shown the girls.
Evan is tired of seeing these girls embarrass themselves in hopes of catching Regulus’ eye.
Regulus is just tired.
He scowls at Sirius, picking at his food.
“I’m not interested.”
“Oh come on baby brother, just give her a chance will you? I hear she’s incredibly gorgeous.” Regulus had to use every ounce of his self control not to gag at that.
“Let’s not pressure him, My Sultan.” Lily spoke up with an understanding smile on her features. She had her suspicions about Regulus.
Sirius just sighed and shook his head in confusion. He never understood why his younger brother had such a distaste for social interaction.
They moved on from the topic, and close to the end of breakfast, Regulus got up to leave. Sirius looked up from his plate, “Reg—”
“Hey Marlene, mind joining me to escort Regulus to his chambers? I need your opinion on some new patrol routes.” Dorcas interjected, standing up quickly.
Marlene looked at her with curiosity, but nodded nonetheless and joined the other two.
Sirius frowned but allowed it to happen as Evan engaged him in conversation about his most recent trade opportunities.
~~~
The two guards walked slightly behind Regulus, quietly talking about patrol routes.
Regulus went over the plan again in his head, hoping Dorcas would be able to execute it correctly.
Evan had done his part, now it was all up to her.
“You know I was actually wondering, after we dropped Regulus off would you want to maybe.. I mean you know you obviously don’t have to—but I wanted to ask just in case you said yes, but like not pressuring you or anyth—”
Marlene stopped and turned to cover Dorcas’ mouth, laughing softly. Dorcas blushed furiously, hoping Marlene wouldn’t notice.
Of course she noticed.
“Dorcas, use your words, what is it you want to ask me?” She tilted her head, looking up at the other girl through her lashes.
Dorcas thought she was going to pass out.
“Uhm, I was wondering if you wanted to.. discuss more routes.. later?” She stuttered over her words slightly, but she was proud of herself for sounding slightly more composed than she actually was at the moment.
Her legs felt like jelly everytime Marlene looked at her like that.
Marlene raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on her features.
“In your room perhaps?”
Dorcas’ eyes widened.
“No! I mean, no, I didn’t mean it like that. Not that I would mind you know? I mean you’re a very attractive woman but I would completely understand if you didn’t feel the same,” Dorcas cursed quietly. “I’m really fucking this up for myself aren’t I?”
Marlene giggled and grabbed Dorcas’ hands with her own.
“Not at all. Now how about we get to discussing some more…” She paused, looking Dorcas up and down. “Patrol routes.”
Dorcas gulped.
Marlene pulled away completely, turning around with a smile on her face. “Now let’s not keep Regulus wai—“
Her smile fell
“Where the fuck did Regulus go?”
Shit.
Regulus had slipped away a long time ago. He would rather not have to endure those two undressing each other with their eyes.
Plan successful.
He made his way out through a more secluded path, and soon enough he was out on the town. He made sure his shawl was secure over his face before setting out to explore.
~~~
James woke up in a wonderfully pleasant mood.
Remus was always grumpy in the mornings, James had learned that if you present him with food as soon as he’s up he tends to mellow out.
Coffee was especially effective on the good days that they were able to have some.
James prepared breakfast for Remus while Moony watched him. He assumed Remus wouldn’t be up for another few hours seeing as it was only nine, so might as well leave him something to eat while he’s gone.
“Come on Moony, let Remus sleep in for a little longer. We have work to do.” He stuck his arm out for Moony to jump on, and then they went on their way.
They stopped by a few stalls, pulling their regular petty tricks. James was in the process of checking out some wonderful iron skillets and pans. Remus would love those, he thought.
Suddenly a woman came up to him and Moony. She looked very pretty, covered head to toe in beautiful golden and red silks. She was also laying on her charm pretty thick, asking lots of questions.
A fellow thief.
“What’s your monkey’s name?” She asked with a sickly sweet smile.
“Moony.”
“What a sweet little monkey!” She cooed at him, petting behind his ears and allowing him to climb onto her shoulders.
“That’s a lovely necklace ma’am.” He gave her a charming smile. She ignored him and kept asking him questions about Moony.
Then the second woman came, attempting to snatch a cup straight out of his pocket.
Amateurs.
“Wo—ah!” He swiftly grabbed it right back out of her hands, tilting his head a little.
“I think this might belong to me.” The women both scowled at him and turned around, walking away without another word. He chuckled to himself. Honestly, they made it too easy.
They began whispering to another man. Shit. He cursed. He turned around without a second thought, weaving in between people and jumping over crates.
Moony had made his way up onto a wall, also running away a little bit above him. James found a place where the wall was small enough for him to climb over it as well, jumping up and over onto the other side.
“Well? How did we do Moony?” He asked after dusting himself off. The monkey grabbed a necklace that was stashed in his coat, passing it over to James. He grinned, holding the necklace.
“Nice work buddy!” This could fetch a pretty penny at a local pawn shop. He headed over to one he was well acquainted with, a shop run by a kind lady named Minerva.
However, the moment he walked in the door and she saw him, she sighed exasperatedly.
“James, stop right there.” He froze, a look of confusion on his face.
“Whatever you stole today, I don’t want it.” She spoke with a serious look. He threw his hands up in defense.
“Now hold on a second, I didn’t steal anything! It's a,” He turned the necklace over in hands a few times. “Family heirloom.” He nodded in confidence.
“I’ll give you a bag of dates for it and nothing more.” When he looked ready to bargain, she held up her hand. “That’s final James.”
He sighed, pouting like a wounded puppy. But he took the bag anyway and made his way out of the shop.
He ignored the insults thrown at him as he walked.
Street rat.
Riffraff.
Scoundrel.
He was used to it, growing up without parents on the poorer side of town taught him a lot of things. But it wasn’t all bad. At least he had Remus and Moony, his two best friends.
Well one of them is a monkey, but details schmetails.
He opened the bag of dates and started sharing it with Moony, until he noticed a small family staring at him. They looked like beggars. A mother with two young children.
James’ features softened, and he passed the bag of dates to one of the children, winking playfully. He walked away with Moony, ready to find the next score of the day.
He found himself in a smaller bazaar, a well dressed man catching his eye.
That’s strange, those fabrics look imported. Glorious white silks with green accents, perfectly contrasting against the man's skin. Which can only mean royalty. Or perhaps a royal servant? Whoever he was, it looks like James might have to help him.
He was currently in an argument with a merchant, one he recognized as a man named Slughorn. It sounded like he had stolen some bread.
James could handle that.
“Honestly, how daft are you? Those children were hungry!”
“That doesn’t give you any right to steal from my brother!”
James stepped in between them, holding his hands out as a mediator. He noticed the man was going to extreme lengths to keep his face as covered as possible.
Interesting.
“Come on Slughorn, cut him some slack will ‘ya?” The man scowled and Slughorn rolled his eyes.
“I’ll only be satisfied when he pays me.” James sighed and turned to the unnamed man, lowering his voice before he asked, “Do you have any money?”
The man glared before slightly shaking his head. James glanced down at the ring on his thumb, a smirk crossing his features.
“Trust me.” He whispered before slipping the ring off of the man’s finger. He immediately tried to protest, but James had already turned around and given Slughorn the ring.
“Here you go, that’s what you wanted right? We’ll be on our way then.” He grabbed the man’s wrist, walking away quickly. The man struggled in his grip, trying to go back for his ring.
“I’m not leaving without my ring!” James sighed, slipping the ring out of his sleeve before handing it back to the shorter man.
“You mean this ring?” The man looked up at him in shock.
How the hell did he do that?
Slughorn realized he was duped relatively quickly, and began shouting for guards. The man turned towards James, a worried expression on his face.
“Are we in trouble?”
“Only if we get caught.” James winked before letting Moony get on the other man’s shoulder and pointing towards an alley.
“Go down there, Moony knows the way.” He nodded and James watched him sprint down in the direction he pointed to before turning around to taunt the guards that were rapidly approaching.
He quickly broke out into a sprint of his own.