Chapter 17
1st April 1977
They had done it.
They had succeeded in creating a spell that would alter the memory of Regulus’ parents.
That was the easy part.
Now all he had to do was use it.
Regulus was sitting in the train that was currently heading back to Hogwarts. He was alone in the carriage that he would normally sit in. Normally he would be grateful of the solitude, but today? He was freaking out.
In theory, he should be happy. When he would lay awake at night staring at his ceiling, picturing what it would be like to escape, he would always imagine himself as being happy. But for some reason, all he felt was dread.
The train was moving fast, he could feel the steady rhythm of it underneath him. There was only half an hour until he would have to cast a spell at his parents, something that he could never imagine himself doing. He really hoped that he would be able to do it, that he would be able to look them in the eyes as his cast it.
He hadn’t seen Remus much that day, they had smiled at each other as they boarded the train, which is more than what they would normally risk doing in public, but he really wished he was here.
Remus always seemed to be confident. He wasn’t, Regulus knew that. He had seen Remus in his most vulnerable moments. But even a fake air of confidence would really help Regulus right now.
—
Remus was sitting in his usual carriage, with all of his friends, and everything was okay.
He had to keep telling himself that.
Things with Sirius were still slightly tense, for reasons that Remus could not understand. James was doing his best to not cause any fights, and Peter seemed to be completely oblivious about the whole thing.
But Remus worried most about Regulus. He wasn’t sure how he was able to look at Sirius and not tell him everything, but he managed. He was good at secrets. Even against Sirius.
—
Once the train had come to a stop, it seemed Regulus had as well. He told himself to get up, to move his feet, and to go save himself.
Eventually, after what was probably only 30 seconds, he managed to move his feet, putting one in front of each other.
He didn’t really process what happened next.
His feet took him over to his parents, that was muscle memory at this point.
They walked out of the train station.
They were just outside of the alley that they used to apparate.
Regulus cast the spell on his father.
He collapsed.
Regulus looked at his mother.
And stopped.
“Oh, little Regulus, can’t even cast a spell at your own mother?” She sneered, “Pathetic,”
She drew her wand.
He heard a spell being cast.
A hand grabbed his and they were running.
“I’m going to apparate, okay?” A soft voice spoke.
He heard the crack, and the surroundings around him had changed.
“Hey, it’s okay, you did it, you’re safe.” Warm hands wrapped around him. Remus.
“Remus?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Oh”
Everything came flooding in. He had done it, he would never have to go back to his house again. He wouldn’t have to become a death eater. He would be able to do whatever he wanted.
He was free.
“Oh, Remus!” He melted into his arms, and the tears started to fall.
They stayed like that for a little while, Remus let Regulus cry into his arms. Regulus had never cried so much in one go, especially whilst being sober. It was cathartic in a way.
“Thank you,” He mumbled into the sleeve of his jumper.
“No need”
In all of his imaginings, he had never really though of what would happen right after he escaped. He pulled away from Remus and looked around. It was a flat, not very furnished, but it was getting there.
“So, this is my flat,” Remus smiled.
“This is all yours?”
“Well, ours, but yeah,” Remus gestured around, “Dad owns a lot of flats, for some real estate reason, and now that I’m an adult, I get one.”
“Wow”
“Yeah, there’s only one bedroom, though, so we’ll have to make that work.”
“Can I sleep with you?” Regulus asked quietly.
“Regulus, you know, I’m flattered, but I prefer your brother,” Remus snorted.
“Ew! Get your mind out of the gutter, Lupin.”
“Yeah, yeah, you can sleep with me though, and speaking of your brother…”
“Ugh.”
“Yeah, I know, but we’re gonna have to tell him now, or at least soon”
“Why?” Regulus cried.
“Because he’s your brother, who loves you, for some reason, and he worries about you, so he would be very happy to hear that you are now safe.” Remus thinks for a moment, “And because I’m telling you to.”
“I hate it when you’re all responsible.”
“Well at least one of us has to be at any given time.” Remus shrugs.