Their group of eight sits around the radio like a band of lunatics. Some of them, like Mary and Marlene, don’t necessarily care much to hear about Regulus. But the times are tough, they support each other the best they can.
Sirius is sitting the closest to it, his hand squeezing Remus’ tightly on the carpet as he bites the nails of the other one.
There’s a loud static noise as the usual damage control channel breaks.
“Regulus Black, who has been missing for a month, has been presumed dead after an intense investigation.”
Remus’ heart sinks. He doesn’t have the time to care about himself, how he’s lost a friend too. He doesn’t dare look at James. Immediately, he’s looking at Sirius. He’s not sad at all.
He’s furious. There’s no other emotion on his face rather than extreme anger, brows furrowing and skin red.
He gets up in light speed, leaving the common room in seconds.
Sirius is like a storm, sprinting through the corridors and pushing people in his way with no care. His friends follows him, falling behind as Sirius enters the headmasters office.
By the time Remus, James and Peter get inside, Sirius is breathing heavily, anger coming off of him in waves. Profesor McGonagall looks at him with concern.
“Mr. Black, I suggest you sit down.” Dumbledore’s voice is as steady as ever. Remus doesn’t have to ask to know that it only serves to drive Sirius into another for of rage.
“Where is Regulus,” Sirius sounds.. calm. It’s scary, because he’s clearly on the very edge. Remus tentatively takes a step back, lets Sirius play this one out.
“Mr. Black, this might be a hard pill to swallow, please take a seat-“
“A hard pill to swallow?” Sirius scoffs, his breathing getting more erratic. “Where is my brother,”
Dumbledore stands up from his cushioned chair, walking around the desk in slow strides until he’s a safe distance away from Sirius. James moves to Sirius’ side, as if to protect him.
“Your brother was a very loyal and determined member of the Order,”
Sirius’ head snaps up abruptly from where he was observing his own shaking hands. “Was? What the fuck does that mean?”
“Sirius,” Professor McGonagall tries to reprimand him, but her voice lacks the usual sternness to it.
“What does that mean,” Sirius asks, hand tight around the wand in its holder.
“His loyalty will not be looked over, I promise you.” Dumbledore dismisses once again, and that’s when Sirius snaps.
Remus can see it. He can see the moment his wand is pulled out, and the uncontrollable way his head jerks to the side once, like a tick. He moves fast, his wand pressed against the headmasters throat. Someone gasps, but Remus’ eyes don’t leave Sirius’ shaking form.
“Loyalty? What fucking loyalty?!” Sirius spits out the words as if they’re acid, burning on his tongue. “There’s no loyalty! None! Especially not from you!” Sirius jabs the wood into the wrinkled neck. “You think he did it for you? Because you asked? You fucking fool, he’s so much wiser than that, all you asked of him was done because Regulus chose to do it, because it was his plan!”
Remus almost gasps himself, when with another push something sparks. It’s all around Sirius, as if falling in a glittery, pale blue blanket around him. He meets James’ eyes across the room, he looks equally stunned. Sirius’ magic forms around him like a shield.
“Where is he!?” Sirius shouts, louder than Remus has ever heard him before.
“Mr. Black, put your wand down, there’s no need for you to get into trouble.”
Sirius looks feral, face squinting in disbelief. “Trouble? You’re threatening me with detention, Headmaster? You’re threatening me with detention while my brother is fuck knows where?”
“Sirius,” James puts a hand on Sirius’ shoulder, and this time Remus does gasp at his reaction.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” Sirius shrugs his hand off rather aggressively, like his every move ever since the announcement. His eyes are wide, they don’t leave Dumbledores face. He’s scary.
Terrifying, even, if Peter’s sulking form in the furthest corner of the room is anything to go by.
“I’m going to ask you one more time before I light this bloody castle on fire,” He says it quietly, but loud enough for Remus to pick it up. “Where. is. he?”
“You have heard the announcement, Sirius.” Sirius grimaces at the use of his first time. Like Dumbledore is unworthy of it, and perhaps he is.
“Where is the body?” Sirius voice breaks at the end, but he continues standing tall and strong.
Dumbledore hesitates, looking to the side where Professor McGonagall is standing. “We didn’t find it quite yet.”
“What?” Sirius laughs, but it’s short and mean, so cold Remus frowns. “So let me get this straight.” He puts his wand into its holder on his thigh, hands pulling at his hair as he walks back and forth around the room. “You send him on a mission where you know he has little to no chances making it-“
“I couldn’t know that,”
“Do not fucking try me right now!” Sirius yells, turning to look at the headmaster once again. “You send him on a mission that you know bloody well he’s not making it out of, you don’t care about it a bit for almost a month and then you don’t even look for him? And process to announce his death that you’re not even sure of? What if he’s alive somewhere, unable to apparate and defend himself; waiting for your fucking army to save him like you promised?”
For the first time since Remus started attending Hogwarts at eleven years old, he sees the headmaster completely speechless. Because he knows, Sirius got it right, word for word. He knows there’s nothing he can defend himself with, that this is the moment everyone realises this help that he offers so much is worth nothing.
Sirius regards him for a second before nodding, sharply, heading for the door. James and Peter follow after him wearingly. Remus doesn’t hesitate. They pass Sirius in the doorway when he stops.
“You better start your little search party right now. And pray you find him.” With that he slams the door, walking away as the rest of the boys follows him.
Suddenly, there’s a loud crackling noise. Remus turns to see the statue of the gargoyle on fire, flames reaching the high ceilings.