Chapter 9
Marauders spend weeks trying to find any clues, it felt like trying to catch a shadow. It was like Regulus had vanished from the earth without leaving anything behind. James, more than anyone, tried to do anything to find something. He didn’t sleep, eat, anything, until he would find something about Regulus.
It was a cold winter day, marauders were sitting in James’ flat. They were listening to the radio, the radio listed names, people that went missing or murdered because of the war. James listened to it every day since he got the letter. He was hoping to hear Regulus’ name, not because he wanted him to be dead, but because he needed answers.
“The only son from Black's family, Regulus Arcturus Black, who has been missing for weeks has been confirmed dead only at the age of 18-” The world went quiet.
James felt his chest tighter, he could not breathe properly. The words confirmed dead repeated in his head.
“Turn it off.” Sirius whispered. Nobody moved for a second, until Remus turned the radio off. “This can’t- he is not dead.” Sirius continued. James didn’t know what to answer, he didn’t have any words left.
“Sirius, it’s over.” Remus said. His voice was calm, but you could hear the pain in it.
The room stayed in grief, nobody said anything for a while. James replayed every moment they shared together in his mind, all the times they met in the tower, all the words they said.
“I should have done more.” He said after a moment.
“What do you mean?” Peter asked, confused. Everyone was now looking at James’ tearing eyes.
“I should help him earlier- I should let him know he is not alone- I told him that not even war can come between us.. I promised.. And now I've betrayed him.” James' voice broke more every word.
“He knew that James. That’s why he wrote to you.” Remus tried to comfort James.
James shook his head. “And I could not save him.”