Thin White Duke

It had been a week since the group left Fowey and James had last seen Regulus. The wander through the fort had been more fun than he’d expected as Sirius lectured them all on its history and compared it to other castles and manors he’d been forced to learn about. A proper show pony, Sirius had loved having an audience. Even the muggle tour guide had stopped her own script to watch the young man play various parts in his stories.  James wished Regulus had seen it. He wondered how different his version would have been.  

‘Stop it Potter.’ He berated himself for the ten thousandth time since he returned home.  ‘He left. Didn’t even say goodbye.  Clearly one night of passion meant far more to you then him. You need to let it go.’  But he couldn’t. Regulus had snuck into his heart and mind unannounced and wasn't going anywhere.   

James stared out over the back garden to the mini quidditch pitch. To the average muggle it looked like a unused field, and in summer the villagers would have picnics under the trees at the edge. There were sometimes cricket matches or soccer games when the regular grounds were out of action. James didn’t mind. He liked watching soccer, though he found cricket terribly boring. 

“Why don’t you take your broom out today. It’s been a while and you’ve got the trials coming up after Christmas.” A gentle voice said from the doorway. 

James jumped as Euphemia Potter glided in and wrapped her arms around him. Tall and strong, with her long curls tamed into braids framing her dark brown face, warm brown eyes and generous smile.  Originally from the Caribbean, her voice had a musical lilt which James adored. Grateful he turned and put his head on her shoulder. 

“Want to talk about it?” Effie asked softly. 

James shook his head. What was there to talk about? He fallen hard and been rejected all in the space of twenty-four hours. He felt stupid and vulnerable. And he didn’t want to cry anymore. He’d spilt enough tears to last a lifetime. “Thanks Mum.” He said. “Flying’s an excellent idea.” 

“When are you joining the boys in London?” Effie asked, as she let go of her son. He would talk when he was ready.  . 

“This afternoon. Sirius said they may have found something worth following up,” James replied, determined to find his happy again. 

“Sounds good. I’ll make sure lunch is ready before you go, and you can take whatever is left for tea.” 

James laughed and hugged his mum knowing there would be more than enough food. He suspected she liked feeding the ravenous beasts that were Sirius and Remus. James had never worried about being an only child, though he had often wondered why his parents who had so much love to give had stopped at one. He remembered the stormy night Sirius had arrived. It was after midnight. James had been in the kitchen unable to sleep when Sirius had landed at the back door. He been extremely badly beaten. bleeding from slices on his arms and torso. Further examination had revealed several broken ribs and a shattered femur.  And yet all Sirius had wanted was to go back for his little brother who he feared was dead or dying. James had been horrified.  Euphemia had gone pale with fury.

“Who did this to you?” She had ground out. James had never seen his mother like this. A cold and vengeful warrior . He never wanted to see it again. 

“Maman.” Sirius had whispered. “Regulus. Must save Reggie. She’ll kill him.” 

“I. I will kill her.” James had blurted. “I will save him.” 

“Not tonight son.” Monty had said, his quiet authority pulling James back from the edge of his overwhelming turbulent emotions. “Let’s focus on Sirius right now. I’ll go to the ministry in the morning and see what we can do about removing Regulus from that house.” 

Monty had tried. James and Sirius had known that, they even met with the Minister for Magic to give statements, but Regulus was only fourteen, he refused to say anything, and the ministry could prove nothing nefarious had occurred. Sirius himself had turned sixteen the day he escaped and was able to make his own decisions according to wizarding law. So Sirius came to stay, to be showered with warmth and love. Remus also began to spend more and more time with the Potters as his father grew increasingly violent and irrational around him. By the end of sixth year Euphemia had three sons. She had met Remus’s mum Hope and invited her to stay. Hope had smiled sadly and said no, but would visit as often as she could, and Remus went home to her whenever his father was away.  

All this was going through James’s mind as he retrieved his broom and headed for the practice pitch. He still wanted to rescue Regulus. He believed that beneath the cold hard exterior, possibly buried deeper than Regulus knew, there was a spark of pure beauty, of warmth, with the ability to love and be loved completely. And he, James Fleamont Potter was going to find and nurture it until all that was left was the glow he had seen the night they had been together. 

—- 

James was still filled with hope and resolution when he arrived at Alphard’s Kensington flat. Despite being disowned by his parents, Sirius had inherited his Uncle Alphard’s fortune putting him back into the one of the top twenty richest wizards alive (right behind the Potters themselves). Although he’d never lived there, Sirius and Remus used it to take mini-holidays which James thought was dreadfully romantic and teased them for it. The couple had been ensconced there for past week going through Alphard’s extensive library trying to find a way to help Willow and Tara get back to their own time and place.  

“Yo Pads, what’s up?” James asked, letting himself in and finding Sirius curled up on the soft maroon leather couch.  

Wordlessly Sirius handed his best friend, platonic soul-mate, and adopted brother a copy of the Daily Prophet. Taking centre stage was a photograph of Regulus and a woman James didn’t quite recognize.  

“Wizarding Royalty to Wed” James read the headline. Fascinated, he continued. “Walburga and Orion Black are proud to announce the upcoming nuptials of their only son and heir Lord Regulus Arcturus Black to the Honourable Elsbeth Tululah Parkinson, daughter of the Honourable Angus and Mara-Gret Parkinson. The wedding of the new year will be held at the magnificent LeStrange Castle on Thursday 22nd January for a small, select group of guests. When asked what she thought of her young cousin getting married at her home Bellateix LeStrange declared that she was, and I quote, “Glad to be recognised as the best part of the family.” And “gloriously happy to see the little lord shackled, and to such a perfectly ordinary bird.” When asked if the impending nuptials had come as a surprise - Lord Black not having been spotted on the social scene for some time -, Walburga Black insisted that Regulus had been “considering such a match for quite a while and there was no need to wait any longer.” We look forward to receiving the official photographs of this exciting event for our publication at the end of the January.” 

James looked up from the article. He wondered vaguely if he looked as bleak as Sirius. “Is it true?” he whispered, all hope and resolve vanishing at Sirius’s nod. Unable to speak James collapsed against the couch with Sirius wrapped around his shoulders. “We still have time to rescue him? Don’t we?” James felt the tears roll down his cheeks as Sirius shook his head. Even with only two months notice, once an announcement was made it unknown for an engagement to be broken off. 

Remus entered the flat as silently as he could. His Wolf had sensed sorrow emanating from the other side of the front door. Sorrow and food. ‘At least you got your priorities in the right order.’ Remus thought cynically. ‘Tasty.’ The Wolf growled happily. Remus walked over to where James and Sirius now lay curled up together asleep on the couch, the Daily Prophet abandoned on the floor. One glance at the paper told him all he needed to know. His heart grieved for them. Sirius had been so happy to spend time with his brother again without any constraints. He’d even begun to plan how to extract Regulus from the insidious grip of their parents. As for James. Remus had smelt the night’s activities and seen the daydream in James’s eyes while Sirius had been deep into his hangover.  He knew that James dreamt of riding to the rescue of his lover in distress - although he’d always figured the lover would be female, vaguely accessible and not a cold hearted murderer. That dream now lay shattered in glorious multicolour. He sighed. It was going to be a long couple of months. 

‘Food’ growled his wolf.

 ‘Ok. Let’s make some tea and have a snack while we wait for them to wake up.’ Remus agreed, and picked up the large picnic basket James had left by the front door. 

Remus was on his second mug when the phone rang. He grinned. When Sirius had inherited the flat he’d insisted on a phone in the kitchen, with an extra handset in the library for Remus, as well as a television in the sitting room. The presence of a phone was made funnier when Sirius realised that there were only two people who would ever call the flat - Lily or Marlene who had grown up with muggle technology - and Remus would use it to call his Mum or Lily.  James and Peter sent owls, while Dorcas related the occasional message through Marlene or dropped in when the two of them were there. 

Remus picked up the handset before it could ring again “Hey Lils.” 

“Hey. Have they seen it?” Lily's voice was filled with worry. 

“Seems like. I came home from visiting Mam to find them curled up on the couch with the paper beside them.” 

“Bugger.” Lily paused. “Should we come over?” 

“Might be good to have a brainstorming session. Maybe help distract them a bit. Will Pandora be with you.” 

“Possibly. She’s gone to find Regulus. I get the impression something’s happened to him but even she doesn’t know what.” 

“Okay. Timeframe?” 

“About an hour I think. We’ll catch the train across town. Do we need to bring supper?” 

A small chuckle escaped as Remus took in the mountain of food Effie had sent with James. “No thanks. Effie sent a picnic basket.” He heard Lily laugh. “See you when you get here..” 

“Ok. Bye.”

Remus hung up the phone. He wondered how Pandora was taking the news.  

—- 

Pandora was sad. She’d had a feeling today was going to be significant but it had not gone in the direction she had hoped. 

“Go.” Lily had said that morning as they ate a very late breakfast. “I don’t know what’s happened. I do know you need to be somewhere else,” 

With a grateful smile that lit up her entire being, Pandora kissed Lily and apparated back to her cottage where she found Regulus sitting under their favourite tree. 

“He won’t come inside Mistress.” Kreacher had said. “I did try. I gave young Sir lots of blankets and your special dandelion tea.” 

“Thank you Kreacher. That was very thoughtful of you. Would you mind bringing me some blankets and tea as well?” Pandora had said. 

Now Pandora was sitting beside Regulus under the tree. She’d cast a warming bubble in the hope the blue tinge would leave his face and hands. 

“When was the last time you ate?” She asked quietly 

“Mother had a dinner party last night to celebrate the formal announcement which came out today.” Regulus said, his voice a distant monotone.

“Anything today?”

Regulus shook his head as he replied “Your tea helps.”

“How can I help?”

“Look after him.”

“I am. Both of them.”

Regulus shifted . His body was numb from being out in the cold for so long. 

“You knew this was going to happen?” Pandora said gently. 

Regulus nodded. “I knew. I didn’t know it would hurt so much,” tears began to leak down his cheeks. He let them fall. “I’ve spent the last two weeks pushing and pushing it all away, then I saw the special edition mother had delivered and I … I had to escape. I couldn’t go back to my flat. Mothers broken all the spells so it’s not safe anymore. There was only here. But I don’t want her to know about this. About you.  About him.”  The tears fell faster. All the pain Regulus felt struggling to break free. 

“What happened?” 

“She… she murdered … she murdered our .. our half sister. And she enjoyed it. She took so much pleasure in torturing a six year old child. I had no idea we had a sister.” Regulus took a breath to try and steady himself. Now he started the story he couldn’t stop. “Father had started an affair with a muggle woman not long before he and mother were engaged. Father had stopped sleeping with the woman by the time they were married, however the woman had become pregnant with his child. He agreed to support the child through one of his many businesses, and would sometimes go and see them both. Mother. Mother was furious when she found out.  So she took revenge.  She lured the woman, who was also now married and pregnant with her second child, to what was supposed to be a business meeting at a restaurant in town. Mother had made sure no one would be able to mind the child forcing this poor woman to bring her as well.” Regulus paused, his face a mix of horror and fear and despair. “I know it’s hypocritical for one murderer to judge another, but I never took any pleasure in it.  I killed only those who had taken the lives of innocents and could lead me to finding a way to end the war. My mother. She lured a pregnant woman and six year old child to a fancy restaurant so she could torture them before she had them served up as the main course for my father and his business associates. Including Voldemort.” 

Pandora blanched. That was so much worse than she had thought. She gathered Regulus into her arms. He was stiff and unwinding. She didn’t care. She poured every ounce of love she had into him. 

“I thought I was so clever. I wanted to find out who else had helped Voldemort escape the hotel. He had given me one name but it wasn’t enough. I suspected Bella. I never dreamt it would be my Mother.” He barked out a derisive laugh. “Of course it was my mother. She was always so carefully neutral. She sent me to represent the family. I knew she was trying to manipulate me into thinking I was special but I had my own reasons for going so it worked to my advantage. At one point I thought Voldemort was sleeping with her. He may have in the past, I only saw Bella and even then it was driven by lust and ego - at least on his part.” Regulus shuddered, his mind a mess of images from Voldemort and Walburga.  “So much hate and loathing, pain and desire, all mixed up in their heads until the only thing that mattered was the pureness of blood and fear.” Regulus couldn’t go on. With a sudden jerk he tore himself out of Pandora's arms and began to retch violently. 

Pandora rubbed his back and waited. Regulus remained hunched over, his body wracked with spasms even though what little food he had eaten in the past few days now lay before him. 

At a quiet summons from Pandora, Kreacher appeared with warm water, face clothes and a warm towel. “Thank you Kreacher. If I gave you the address, would you be able to deliver a message to Lily? She’s in the city. You must not be seen by anyone.” 

Kreacher thought for a moment. “Yes. I can do that. Message for Lily only. Don’t be seen.” He repeated. 

Pandora smiled. “Please tell Lily. Pandora needs to stay. She will return when she can.” She waited while Kreacher repeated the message then gave him the address and a small dark lavender envelope. “If you don’t see Lily, please leave this message for her. In either case, return directly here once delivered. That is an order. Are these instructions understood?” 

“Yes Mistress.” Keacher said and disappeared to complete his errand. 

“I’m keeping you from your plans. I take it that you and Lily have progressed.” Regulus said in a small voice. 

“You are more important than my plans. And yes, Lily and I have reached an understanding.” She said, her smile bashful. 

“Thank you. I’m glad you two are together.” Regulus said, allowing her to pull him back into her warm embrace. “I spend so much of my life alone out of necessity. I don’t want that for you.”

And so they sat until the moon rose and the clouds cleared. Gradually Regulus began to regain the sense of peace he found at the cottage. His eyes strayed to stars, seeking and finding Sirius as he always did. He felt the ache of an old wound mix with the sharp stab of a new, self-inflicted one. “Do you mind if I stay tonight?” He asked so quietly Pandora almost missed it. 

“You can stay. Always.” Pandora whispered into his hair and apparated them up to the cottage.