Bursts of magic
4th week of January, 7th year
It’s been a couple of days since he last saw Poppy and he’s spoken to Regulus a couple of times in private, mostly about books or needing more medications but he still hasn’t told Sirius. He’s been working up to it honestly, building it up since he got outside confirmation and he was almost there honestly. Regulus didn’t react badly and he’s usually seen as the stoic one so hopefully that means Sirius won’t react badly either, right? Honestly at this point he’s not sure because he wasn’t expecting Regulus to react the way he did so maybe neither will Sirius, the not knowing is really what’s holding him back.
Remus is in Potions class gathering ingredients for Lily, when Evan Rosier drops something into his pocket. He looks up confused but all Evan gives him is a smile and a wink then walks away. He tries to force down the blush rushing to his cheeks but he can’t help it, he’s pretty and he winked at him and he’s not great around pretty people. Hence how he got into the situation he’s in, in the first place. He can feel Sirius looking at him oddly but thankfully he doesn’t comment. But he assumes it has to do with Regulus so he waits until he’s back in the dorm by himself before he checks what it is. He’s correct, it’s a letter with a coin inside. The letter has instructions on the charmed coin, press twice to alert him, press and hold and it will lead him to Remus by a string only he can see, and a couple other ways they can communicate if he can’t talk. He understands they can’t always be seen together yet so he understands.
He wasn’t sure if it was entirely necessary until a couple days later. They’re on their way back to the dorms from lunch, it’s a Saturday and an abnormally nice day out so most people are already out on the grounds. They stop at the sound of a voice coming from behind them. “Ooi! If it isn’t two blood traitors and the filth they run with”
They snap around to see Avery, Mulciber, and Snape eyeing them like they’re gearing up for a fight. Remus subconsciously takes steps to the side out of the way and stays silent hoping they’ll forget he’s there but he can tell Snape hasn’t. “What do you want Avery?” Sirius responds in a bored tone. Mulciber sneers before responding, “We want to see you hanging from the astronomy tour by your ankles, but I’ll settle for practicing some unforgivables, you’re used to that aren’t you?” Sirius looks stoney with barely hidden fury, James looks like he’s going to drop his wand and go straight for punches, Peter’s eyeing everyone trying to figure out what the next move is, and Remus stills before discreetly putting his hand around the coin and pressing hard as if the harder he pressed the faster they’d get here. “You could very well try Mulciber but as you said, I’m used to that and you’re a tragic comparison to anyone in my family so I’d love to see you try” Sirius responds as if they were talking about how they take their tea. Concerningly, Avery and Mulciber smirk a bit at that. “We never said we’d practice on you did we?” Responds Avery before turning his wand on Remus and Mulciber turns to Peter.
At this point, Remus is internally panicking, he’d probably survive an unforgivable okay but his babies wouldn’t and he just came to terms with being pregnant he doesn’t know if he’ll survive losing him. James jumps to Peter's side as Sirius bolts in front of him. Remus hears the beginnings of the Crucio curse and two protego’s before Remus has had enough “NO” he yells. And the Slytherins all get slammed back by a burst of magic, all 3 knocked unconscious on the floor. He’s shaking but standing stock still with intent. Regulus, Barty, and Evan round the corner at the same time his friends all turn to him looking gobsmacked and a bit concerned.
“How in Merlin’s name did you do that Moony? You didn’t even raise a finger!”
“Regulus, what're you doing here?”
“Are they unconscious?!”
James, Sirius, and Peter exclaim all at the same time.
“I- I don’t know but I don’t feel great…. Reg?”
Remus was wobbling dangerously and Regulus is on him in a flash too fast for even Sirius to do anything but watch in confusion”
“Remus! Hey hey! Did you eat today ? That was a lot of magic.”
“Yeah.. woke up late and forgot my potion, couldn’t keep anything down..”
“Merlin Remus, right now is not the time to be forgetting that, fuck. Okay are you all just going to stare or are you going to help me get him to his bed seeing as I cannot enter the Gryffindor tower?!”
That seems to snap everyone in action, Sirius lifting Moony straight off his feet to carry him, James grabs all of their school bags that they dropped and Peter is murmuring to Remus to keep him awake. Regulus, Barty, Evan are following with somehow stoic and murderous expressions.
Back at the dorm, Remus is in his bed, has taken his potion, and is watching as Sirius paces back and forth trying to gather his thoughts. James & Pete are on their own beds. Evan and Barty are standing by the door like someone might burst in. Regulus is sitting next to Remus looking exasperated and waiting for his brother to speak.
“Okay.. okay why? No. How? Actually when did you two start getting close? How did you even start talking and when? We barely leave you alone! And why the hell do you need a potion to be able to eat? Are you sick ?”
Remus, however, was now only focused on the fact that he was no longer nauseous and was now ravenously hungry, he looked around the room until he landed on Regulus with a request in his eyes that he understood immediately. Without breaking eye contact he nodded and said “Everyone except Sirius, out, that’s not a request, we’ll let you know when you can come back in.” In a tone that they all knew meant there was no arguing and they all filled out.
“Sirius, could you sit down please?” He was still pacing but seeing Remus looking so anxious stopped him in his tracks and he sat down across from him. “I’m pregnant.”
…..
“What?”
“I’m pregnant”