Bad Reputation
The friends sat in silence as Regulus walked through the spell and waved the door shut. James desperately wanted to leap up and hug him. He looked like he was about to collapse.
Pandora did as well but knew that it wouldn’t be appreciated so held back. “Sit” she commanded instead, forcing Regulus into her spot between James and Lily while she dropped onto the floor.
Sirius was the first to break the silence. “Did … Did you know?” His voice was raw with emotion.
Regulus nodded. “I had my suspicions. This confirmed them.”
“Why?” James whispered, unsure whether he felt anger, shock or disappointment as his emotions soared all over the place.
“Why did he betray us? Or why did Regulus suspect him?” Lily asked, still processing what they’d heard.
“Yes. Both. I thought he was one of us. He was quiet sure, but so is Remus. And he’s clever. He did come up with the best pranks, which we always told him. And he’s a bloody genius at chess. We trusted him. Told him all our plans, even when we weren’t supposed to.” Tears ran down James’s face. “We’ve been friends since I fell off my training broom outside his house when we were three.”
Regulus gave a tiny tired laugh. Of course it involved James falling off something.
Sirius looked at him, worry in his blue eyes. “You okay?” He asked
“Given I was mostly dead earlier this afternoon, I’m completely fine.” Regulus said sarcastically
“Hey. Trying to be concerned here.”
“I will be. After about a week of sleep.” Regulus took in the shattered faces around him. “How are you all?”
“I don’t think any of us suspected a thing. It’s a lot to take in.” said Lily. “What are you going to do with him?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?! You’re going to let him go?” Sirius asked incredulously
“Why are you in Budapest?” Regulus countered
“Health conference and holiday.” Willow said
Regulus waited. They looked at each other. “Monty sent us to investigate rumours of a new Voldemort inciting disruption in this part of Europe.” Sirius said eventually.
“Then you take him back to the ministry and they deal with him.” Regulus suggested.
“You don’t want to destroy him or wipe his memory or anything?” Sirius asked
“Why would I do that?”
“Isn’t that what you do?”
Regulus stared at his brother. “Just how bad is my reputation?”
“Weeeelllllll you are a Black “ Sirius said with a grin. “And the heir apparent to the most wicked wizard in Britain has ever seen. So not too good.” Sirius paused. “Apparently I’m reformed but there’s a rumour or two about what I like to do.”
“Broom cupboards don’t count.” James said
Regulus laughed unexpectedly. “I remember those ones. I got asked once if I was as good.” James fought the urge to tell Regulus just how good he was.
The room settled into silence. Each lost in their own thoughts. Regulus resisted the urge to rest his head on the broad shoulder beside him. He was so very very tired.
“How do we get him back to England?” Tara asked after a while.
“Dad has given me instructions for the portkey home so I guess we can take him that way.” James answered. He looked down at Pandora “How are you getting home?”
“Regulus.” Pandora said breezily.
James looked at the man beside him. “Aparate? You two could come home with us?”
“Do you mind if we talk about this tomorrow? I really do need to sleep for a week and I have business stuff to sort out.” Regulus said, avoiding the question and hopeful look in James’s eyes.
Sirius perked up. “Got info on that. Do you want it now or at breakfast?”
“Breakfast.” James and Regulus said together. “In the meantime, keep Peter in there until you go.” Regulus continued. “The room is completely locked down so he can’t get out and nor can anyone get in or hear anything if he wants to make heaps of noise.”
“I like this plan.” Pandora declared. “The timelines changed so we have this suite for tonight and tomorrow. I’m happy to stay and make sure nothing happens, and we can all meet back here for breakfast in the morning.”
Sirius looked at Remus, and then Willow and Tara who had been sitting quietly watching the interaction, before his gaze swept the group on the couch. “I think we should go out for dinner and drinks and see more of the city tonight.” He said enthusiastically, determined not to let their discovery bring them down any further.
“That’s an excellent idea. We’ll let Regulus sleep and tell him all about it later. “ Willow said. “Come on. I’m going to go get ready. Meet you all downstairs in an hour.”
Tara laughed and stood up. “I guess that’s sorted. See you soon.”
Remus pushed Sirius to his feet and followed suit. “Come on love, let’s go make you beautiful.”
“I’m already beautiful, thanks very much.” Sirius grinned and looked down at James “See you downstairs soon.” he said as Remus pushed him out the door.
James stood and reached out a hand. “Are you okay to stay with me tonight?” He asked
Regulus took the proffered hand and allowed himself to be pulled out of the couch “Thought you’d never ask.”
Pandora squealed and jumped up to kiss them both on the cheek. “Go to bed, boys. We’ll see you in the morning.” She said.
Lily smiled up at them as James hooked an arm around Regulus’s waist and practically carried him from the room. “It’s a start.” She said as Pandora lay on the couch and put her head in Lily’s lap. “Will it last?”
“A few more bumps but then I think so.” Pandora answered, enjoying the sensation of Lily playing with her hair. “We’ll just have wait while we’re in Greece,”
“Greece?”
“Yes. To wait and see.”
Lily laughed and kissed Pandora. “I’ve never been to Greece.” She said
“You’ll love it. It’s full of salad. And boys. And proper sand.” Pandora responded and pulled Lily into another kiss thus preventing any real conversation for the foreseeable future.
——
Regulus stumbled into the room he had woken up in that afternoon. It wasn’t his room. He didn’t care. James still held him. It felt odd. He had never had this much physical contact from only one person before.
“Would you like me to stay? I can sleep on the floor?” James asked, sitting Regulus on the bed.
Regulus lifted tired eyes and shook his head. “Stay. It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before. Although I can’t promise you’ll get much sleep.”
James gave a lascivious grin. Regulus threw the shoe he’d been removing at the man. “Reign your thoughts back in Potter. I’m brilliant but I’m not a machine.”
“Modest too.” James responded as he caught the shoe. “Would you like me to help you?”
“No.” Regulus sighed. “Yes. But no energy to follow through.” And fell back onto the bed. He didn’t even have anything left for an undressing spell. James did and stripped them both down to boxers and tee-shirts before getting under the covers. Regulus sighed and manouvered himself under the covers as well.
“Can I?” James asked quietly. Regulus didn’t respond, simply rolled into his arms and hugged him back. Regulus was asleep less than a minute later. James felt like the luckiest person alive as held Regulus. This was a level of trust he never thought was possible from such a reserved and private person. James fell asleep with a huge smile on his face and song in his heart.
——
Breakfast the next morning was a silly affair. Sirius and Willow had stumbled into the suite looking worse for wear while their partners refused to offer any sympathy for their condition.
“This is what happens when you try to out drink each other in foreign countries.” Remus said mercilessly.
“I thought it would be a sure thing.” Sirius whined.
“Me too. You’re much tougher than you look.” Willow groaned.
“And it’s not like you’ve not done this several times before in London.” Tara said with a straight face. “I mean how were you to know that shots of vodka would have such interesting consequences,”
Laughing, Pandora handed them both a croissant and the potion she’d prepared earlier. “Here. These will make you feel better.” She said brightly.
“I feel like we’re being mocked,” Sirius said. Willow nodded then instantly regretted the action.
Grateful for Pandora’s forethought. Sirius and Willow tossed back their potions and settled down to nibble on their breakfast while chat about the previous evening resumed for a while.
Lily was brewing more coffee when James and Regulus arrived. Both had a healthier colour to their skin, she noted. Regulus was still deathly pale, but the grey tinge of yesterday had gone. James simply glowed. She smiled broadly. “Good morning. Sleep well?” She said brightly, resisting the urge to hug them both. She had very high hopes right now.
“Only two nightmares and back to sleep quickly.” Said James happily. “I’ve been told that’s a good night.”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “You need to get a life Potter.”
Lily handed them cups of steaming coffee, before refilling the rest of the cups in front of her.
“Don’t suppose there’s any breakfast left? I can’t remember the last time I ate more than the biscuit you made me swallow yesterday.” James asked in time with his stomachs rumbling.
Pandora handed him the largest ham and cheese croissant James had ever seen, and a much smaller one to Regulus. “Eat.” She commanded, looking straight at Regulus. “It’s been two days and you need the energy. If you don’t finish this I’ll make you eat carrots!” She looked at James. “He doesn’t like them for some reason. I think they’re very tasty.”
Regulus took the plate and mug and sat in a vacant armchair. He needed a sense of space which the couch didn’t provide. James on the other hand plonked himself down between Remus and Sirius who both automatically moved to give him enough room. James grinned. He was in his happy place - he had several. Regulus smiled on the inside, then forced himself to eat while the others resettled themselves, coffees in hand.
James wolfed his breakfast down and levitated a couple of sweet pastries across to his plate. “So much better than oats,” he said around a mouthful of buttery goodness.
“It shows too.” Sirius said, poking James in his flat stomach, James responded with a poke at Sirius which promptly led to the two starting a tickling match. Regulus watched as Remus stood up to give them space. He knew better than to get in the middle. The rest laughed at the antics of two grown men acting like five year olds.
“Enough.” Regulus said a few minutes later when it was clear they weren’t going to subside. “Potter. Sirius. Stop. Now.” He cast a stinging charm at them.
“Hey. Not fair. That hurt.” Sirius said, rubbing his arm.
Regulus shrugged “I have work to do and need information before I leave. You can go back to being children when I’m gone.”
James stopped. “Will you be coming back?” He asked, proud to have kept the anxiousness out of his voice.
“Maybe” Regulus answered, his face and eyes impassive.
“Yes.” Pandora said at the same time, catching the hurt that flashed across James’s features.
Regulus had also seen it but refused to promise something he couldn’t guarantee keeping, instead he looked at his brother and asked , “What did you learn yesterday?”
“That you’re a right royal prick.” Sirius said. “Everyone I spoke to had an opinion and not many were flattering.”
“How did you get people to talk?” James asked
“Said I was writing a piece on Lord Black to be published in the lead up to his nuptials in January.” Sirius grinned. “Quite a few people expressed sympathy for ‘dear Elsbeth, such a brave girl.’ Although they did acknowledge access to the Black fortune would probably be worth it,”
Tara snorted. She couldn’t help it. Willow looked at her questioningly. “It’s like a soap opera in real life. The evil corporate villain marrying the sweet innocent socialite.”
“I’ll have you know Elsbeth is neither sweet nor innocent. Pleasant, agreeable, perfectly happy with her polycule, and only seen in wizard society when required.” Regulus said coldly.
“Did you notice he didn’t defend himself? Maybe he is a corporate villain,” Sirius grinned. Regulus glared at him. “Anyway, once we got through the fun stuff, we did find out that there are loads of rumours around a huge shake up at the top level. Everything from some or all of the senior wizards have resigned, are in hiding, or are dead, possibly murdered in their sleep by minions of the Heir, to the empire is actually bankrupt and the massive explosion which was felt but not witnessed is a cover up so that the senior wizards can claim that the famously elusive vaults collapsed, burying all the gold rumoured to be piled up under the cathedral. Nobody has seen Lord Black so it’s been assumed that if he isn’t dead or in hiding for murdering other wizards or running away with all the gold he’s buggered off back to England and good riddance to him.”
Willow giggled. “You’re right. It is a soap opera,”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “Guess I’d better go put those rumours to rest.”
“Which ones?” James was curious. He was fascinated by this side of Regulus.
“The being dead and having murdered the senior wizards one. Not that it isn’t tempting. Their corrupt incompetence needs to be addressed, however I’ve chosen not to follow our parents methodology in this case.”
Lily shivered at the icy control and contempt radiating from Regulus. Given that was how he always acted, it was no wonder he was seen as remote and villainous. Her eyes wandered around the room. Everyone else appeared to be having the same reaction as her. Except James. He was trying to look serious but had a soft smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. One he probably wasn’t aware of, but from the way Regulus was drawn to it, Regulus certainly was.
“So what’s the plan?” Sirius asked. “Do we go in and pose as reporters again?. Maybe go exploring and see what we can dig up? Hey maybe we could kidnap Regulus and then give him back without a ransom demand as being too prickly to deal with.”
Remus reached across James and whacked Sirius on the shoulder. “Idiot. He’s more likely to kidnap you. Wonder if I could pay him to keep you.” Remus mused as if an afterthought.
“Do you think he’d let me out once in a while for good behavior?” Sirius pondered
“Guess it depends on your definition of good.” Remus responded
Sirius waggled his eyebrows.
“I don’t think that would work. You’re pretty but not his type.” James said
“True.” Sirius sighed. “Maybe if I was a girl.” He added brightly.
James choked on the mouthful of coffee he’d just swallowed. Regulus looked incredulously at his brother.
“You alright mate?” Sirius asked, thumping James on the back.
“Coffee. Wrong way.” James choked out blushing furiously as images of Regulus in a tailored low cut black dress took over his mind.
“Moving on.” Regulus said once James had calmed down a little. His imagination had also gone into overdrive around James in long skirts and cropped tops but none of it had shown on his face or in his actions. “Sirius, thank you for your assistance while I was incapacitated, however I think you need to get your prisoner back to Mr Potter as soon as possible.”
“Our prisoner? But you helped capture him.” Lily said
“And you encouraged him to confess,” Willow continued.
“Since when have you not wanted the credit for something you’ve done?” Sirius asked incredulously.
Regulus ignored him and met the eyes of each person in turn. “This was your mission. You can tell Mr and Mrs Potter of my involvement if you like but under no circumstances are you to mention it to Dumbledore or anyone else even vaguely connected to the ministry. There are a great many people still loyal to Voldemort who work there or have paid informants inside the different departments - including St Mungos. And before you ask, I’ve removed any trace of myself from his mind. As far the rat is concerned it was Remus who captured and questioned him.”
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed this casual mention of such powerful magic.
Regulus turned his full glacial gaze on Sirius. “And just out of interest brother, when was the last time you saw me take credit for anything?” He asked mildly.
Sirius blanched. He hadn’t. Ever.
“Precisely.” Regulus stood “Assuming you choose to stay another night and all goes well with my incompetent staff, I will meet you here in time for dinner.”
“And if it doesn’t?” James blurted
Regulus meet the anxious brown eyes, his heart soaring and breaking at the same time. “Then remember me in your dreams.” He said quietly, perversely enjoying Sirius’s confused look.
‘Unworthy.’ The Wolf growled ‘Eat him.’
‘I agree.’ Remus thought back. ‘But they are both absolutely smitten with each other so no eating the unworthy one.’
‘Not fair.’ The Wolf grumbled and subsided as Regulus left the room.