Chapter 2
Once James made it to his room, he swiftly made to sit down on his bed, but stopped once he noticed a certain raven-haired boy lying on it.
“Sirius? Why are you on my bed?”
“Why are you hanging out with my brother?” He said the word with such distaste that James almost buckled on the spot and apologized; but he steeled himself. Even though he would never fully understand the horrors of the Black household, Regulus could not be as bad as Sirius described.
“Sirius- look, I don’t want to offend you in any way, I just enjoy hanging out with him!”
“What, collecting us like Chocolate Frog cards? He’s a horrible person James, you don’t deserve to deal with him.”
“But he’s really not that bad! I swear! I know he can be a bit of a prick- hell he was today! Treated me like shit! But since I had some time to think on it, I don’t think he really meant to. He’s good person Sirius.”
Sirius just stared at him, face void of any emotion.
“Keep telling yourself that.” He got up and swiftly left, leaving James completely alone.
“Fuck.” He sagged onto his newly empty bed, and watched the clouds part and the rain stop through the window.
(This happens at the same time as James’ POV)
Regulus slammed the door to his dorm, making Evan jump up from his place on Barty’s bed.
“Christ Regulus, are you trying to make me shit my pants?”
“..sorry” he placed his bag down and walked over to the bathroom, shutting the door much softer than he had before.
Regulus stared at himself in the mirror, his face looking droopy, and disfigured. It only got worse the more he examined the glass so he turned away to twist the handle on the shower. It was like his body was betraying him, pulling Regulus further down the rabbit hole he’d been in since James snapped at him.
why had James been so angry in the first place? What did Regulus do?
Things like this happened with everyone, and it honestly shocked him that Evan and Barty were still friends; same with Pandora. Though she was always a little strange, how could Regulus stir things up for her any more than she did for herself?
He rinsed the soap suds off himself, doing his best to check if any were leftover without looking at his skinny frame. He really did try to eat more, he just forgot so easily.
“Reggie? You alright in there?” Evan asked, pounding on the bathroom door; scaring Regulus and causing him to slip in the tub.
“I would be if you didn’t knock like a troll!”
“Fuck off!” Regulus heard Evan walk back away, probably back to Barty’s bed.
As he made to stand up, and nearly tripped again from the pain that shot through his leg. He looked down to see a scratch on his thigh from a cracked tile piece in the shared bathroom- probably something to do with what Barty and Evan got up to when Regulus left to stargaze. (Ew)
“fuck me god fucking dammit” Regulus muttered as he hobbled over to the medicine cabinet. The cut wasn’t that deep, but it seemed to bleed a lot for a small gash. Regulus did his best not to pass out at the sight of so much blood.
About ten minutes later; after wrapping his leg and drinking a little sip of a blood replenishing potion, Regulus felt incredibly loopy and attempted to walk to his bed and lay down.
“You alright Regulus? You’re looking really fucking pale mate.” Barty commented as Regulus exited the bathroom, gently pushing a sleeping Evan off his lap and walking over to where Regulus was leaning heavily on the bed post.
“It’s nothing, just a small scratch is all.” Barty suspiciously glanced him up and down, taking in his weakened appearance and the bandages peeking out underneath his pajama shorts.
“Alright, c’mere.” Barty swiftly picked up Regulus and brought him over to his (and usually Evan’s) bed.
Regulus didn’t fight it, not that he could if he wanted to in this state; and although he would never admit it out loud, Barty made a damn good pillow.
There had been a period of time in third year where they thought they were right for each other, but it only took two weeks and one angry Evan to realize that was very much not the case.
Barty sat down on his bed and gently placed Regulus next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Regulus turned and wrapped an arm around his waist lightly, and a barely awake Evan rested a hand on Regulus’.
“Sleep well Reggie.” Barty whispered
He mumbled a response and drifted off as the sky cleared far above him.