Summer vacation part 1!
‘Uh? What did I miss?' Remus was very much confused, maybe seeing his confusion James told him the reason. “You have been sleeping for two days without waking up!”
Remus was taken aback, before nodding in nonchalantly. “What can I say? Other than that I really love Regulus so much that I wish he was my brother.”
“REMUSS! You can’t steal my brother!!!” Remus ignored Sirius’s cry in favor of drinking coffee.
“Dear, you just passed out after tapping on the necklace?” Remus looked at Mrs. Potter, he thought for a second before deciding to tell the truth. Regulus hadn’t said anything about it being secret. “Once I tapped on the necklace I heard a voice sing, it was a calm and soft male voice! Hearing the voice I felt relaxed and the nighties slept caught up.”
“We didn’t hear anything?” James said, Remus looked at him quietly for a second before. “It should be because it’s only for me, I think that was the purpose of my blood. Regulus must've found this necklace somewhere because if you look closely you can see that it’s old and magical!”
“Then why did Reggie send you this? And how did you two even get so close?” Sirius asked the question he had been thinking about these past two days.
“Sirius, remember I’m perfect and so are your brothers! Going to night scroll through Hogwarts together makes one close! We become friends from dealing with our burdensome friends then Regulus found out about my furry problem and started to send me, strange things that might help me or just want to share the item he found!” Remus calmly answered Sirius, he stunned another's by his answer. He was searching for paper to send letters on the second floor James room, his two friends were sitting on the bed.
After ten minutes of looking for suitable paper but unable to find one with a natural scent he gave up and sat down on the study chair, and it finally hit him that he had that tool! Remus quickly acco-ed his bag and took out an orb.
“Regulus Black!” He whispered not so loud but the duo could also hear. Not after a minute passed the call was answered showing Regulus who’s hair was very messy, his clothes were tattered and ripped like someone attacked him, his face was covered in dust. Remus was stunned that he forgot to say something and that made Sirius and James take a look at the orb and their faces turned into shock, disbelief and worry.
“Hello? Remus are you okay? You look stunned?” Remus heard Regulus' worried voice. “Ah- no I’m fine, I was just shocked why you look like that?”
“Huh?” Regulus' confused voice sounded as he looked at himself. The trio were waiting for his answer, they came to the conclusion that he wasn’t aware of the state he was in.
“Ah! This, you don’t have to worry! I was making a potion but it seems I failed!” Remus titled his head, he didn’t understand what kind of potion Regulus could not make when he is good at potion. “What kind of potion is that even Regulus you can’t make?”
“It's a secret but I can say that it’s a whole new potion!! Those past two days I spent on the recipe and ingredients and today I finally put in work but just as you see something went wrong!” The three who were listening to him were astonished. They can still hear Regulus mumbling. “It almost succeeded but something went wrong, I have to ask him why and what went wrong?”
Remus narrowed his eyes, he was surprised but not quite shocked at Regulus creating a new potion but the fact there is another person involved is what is most concerning to him. “I see, if it’s secret then I shall not question more, I just hope you will show it to me when it’s finished!”
Regulus nodded his head with clear excitement, he seemed to want to share everything with him but clearly couldn’t so his face was full of frowns.
“Anywayss, how was the effect of the necklace?” Remus smiled brightly at Regulus' question. “It worked like a charm! Where did you even find this gem?”
“That is for me to know, for you to just wait until the time is right!” Remus fondly listened to Regulus' mysterious tone.
“Alright I have to go now!” Regulus hurried voice and then the call ended. The trios looked at each other in dismay and confusion.
Back to Regulus, he had been trying to make a counter potion for Emerald potion that has the chance of Tom invented. Together with Draco he was able to make a recipe for the potion but they had yet to test. So today they were going to test it out, and the result was that they had wasted two cauldrons, and it exploded.
Draco was in fact laughing at the background while he was talking to Remus.
“Can you stop laughing and help me?” Regulus asked in a grumpy tone, Draco wiped away the tears that had come out because he was laughing too much. “Of course, cousin, I'm at your service.”
Regulus rolled his eyes at his cousin’s antics, really from the morning to now his cousin had been doing nothing but ordering him around. “At my service my ass!”
Draco moved away from his original position and floated above the new cauldron, Regulus just took it out. “Cousin! How about I just possess one of your parents and let them drink the Emerald potion? Wouldn’t that solve our problem?”
“That is a good idea but cousin, is that going to work? Won’t you get hurt?” Regulus considered for a second but he was worried about Draco getting hurt. “Of course not, I will not get hurt but I can't guarantee that your parents body won’t feel the aftermath.”
“Alright then let’s forget about this counter potion, we can move to another plan!” Regulus put away everything he took out and cleaned up. If there was such a convenient method then he would not waste his time on inventing unknown successful potions.
“We aren’t in a hurry, so you have exactly 4 days till the special class begins!” Draco’s cheerful voice stopped Regulus from going out, the potion room. Seeing Regulus frown, Draco helplessly sighed before he remembered something. “Since you don’t want to rest, how about you make a potion for your furry friend?”
Upon hearing that Regulus in very fast movement turned around to look at Draco, his face had excitement, passion and enthusiasm as he looked at his cousin because if his cousin didn’t have an idea then he wouldn’t have mentioned that. Draco smiled as he saw Regulus' lively demeanor coming back.
“Alright, come along! ” Draco said as he floated towards the desk in the middle of the room. Regulus followed after him with excitement, he sat down as his cousin’s wish and grabbed paper and quill ready to write down.
Ingredients:
17 wolfsbane flower
Juice of 2 Mandrake leaves
3 drops of dragon blood
1 powdered moonstone
3 Murtlap tentacles
Juice of 7 Sopophorous Beans
1 Occamy egg
Brewing instructions
Add seventeen leaves of the wolfsbane plant to the cauldron.
Put in the juice of two mandrake leaves.
Add three drops of dragon blood.
Control the precise temperature at the right time.
Add one powdered moonstone.
Stir thrice, clockwise.
Add three Murtlap tentacles.
Maintain a medium temperature.
Add the juice of seven Sopophorous Beans, one at a time.
Reduce heat to a low temperature.
Gently crush an Occamy egg and sprinkle it into the cauldron.
Wave a wand, stir six times anti-clockwise and wave a wand for a second time.
“Have you written everything down?” Draco asked, Regulus nodded. “Alright then, go ahead!”
Regulus held the recipe, and made his way towards the potion making bench. Draco watched as Regulus worked while he took out a book and started to read. So the two cousins in comfortable quietness did their own things. Draco wasn’t worried about Regulus brewing potion by himself, after all his mother was full of praise when she talks about this cousin of his and even his godfather had said if-he-hadn’t-died-then-he-would-have-become-his
-another-godfather was as excellent as his alive- godfather? Not sure if he should say his godfather was alive when he had already died in his timeline. ‘I mean he is still alive and well right now! But I'm not sure about my own timeline!’
Not to mention he had already brewed it by himself before he came here, just hadn’t tested it out.
Time went in a flash, Regulus let out a delighted squall, having successfully brewed the potion. Draco floated over and saw the potion color was pure silver, he nodded in approval. “Cousin, you are amazing to be able to brew potion successfully in one try.”
Regulus shyly lowered his head, he was praised again. Regulus wonders if his cousin is such a person that gives out praises even on little things one does? It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy about it but it was just that Blacks don’t give out praises even for such simple things like this. Not to mention what he heard from Narcissa, Lucius didn't receive praise on even doing difficult things such as being perfect heir.
“Since we have time, why don’t we give it to your furry friend to try it?” Regulus heard Draco’s thoughtful voice. He nodded in agreement, Regulus took out a potion bottle and put it in the potion. “Alright then, put that away. It’s time for dinner, we should go lest your mother start screaming.”
*****
After a silent cold dinner, Regulus went back to his room and prepared to sleep. He laid down and as soon as his head hit the pillow he heard Draco singing again.
And he knew that, once again he will sleep without nightmares haunting him.
Past three days he spent his days in the library searching for another way to destroy the horcrux. And today was finally the day he and Draco will give Remus the potion they brewed. It was a good thing his father was away from home, so Draco only put Walburga into sleep and they sneaked away that night to where Remus was.
They arrived at Potter manor through the floo, Alerting people in the manor so when he stepped out of the fireplace he was met with pairs of eyes.
“Good evening?” Regulus calmly greeted, then was enveloped in a hug by Sirius who cried out. “Reggieee”
“Hello, Siri.” Regulus hugged back his brother, he heard an amused snort above him. If he were to look up he will see amused Draco Malfoy holding his laugh back.
“Welcome!”
“Hi!”
Regulus was greeted by everyone in the manor. Regulus nodded his head towards them while patting his emotional brother. Regulus with Sirius clinging to himself made his way towards Remus. “Look! I finished my new project!”
Remus looked at the silver potion in Regulus' hand in confusion. “It’s called Moonbane! Is for you!”
“For me?” Remus, still confused, asked, the younger boy nodded his head. “Yes, today is full moon day isn’t it?” Remus nodded his head, he was about to leave before the moon came out.
“I found an ancient potion book. After reading it all though, I found an interesting theory about werewolves and came up with a potion that will help a werewolf on full moon day, after drinking, it will suppress werewolf transformation.” Regulus lied about finding ancient books but the rest were true. He had not noticed the change of expression of others, even if he did he wouldn't bother with it. Regulus pushed the potion towards Remus. “I don’t know if this is going to work but since it was successfully brewed it should work.”
Regulus ignored Draco’s protest, it was true his cousin hadn’t tried out. Remus slowly with shaking hands took the potion from Regulus hands. “Drink it one hour before you transform!”
Remus nodded his head, he was a tiny bit hopeful because it was Regulus who brewed it. Everyone knows the boy is excellent at potion. Remus nodded towards others before he left to take care of his furry problem.
Regulus finally noticed the shocked face of others.
Meh, today he decided to be ignorant of why they were shocked because he knows he is amazing at being able to brew that potion. His cousin made sure to he know that he was amazing these past hours.
Draco was proud, okay! Looking at his cousin’s ‘I know I am amazing’ manners. Draco clapped his hands for his cousin to hear that he was supportive of his action.
“Reggie, you are amazing!!” Sirius, coming out of his shock, joyfully said. He knows damn well, his little brother's ability to brew potion, anyone in this room -Draco cause he isn’t just anyone but the cousin and original owner of the recipe!
The three Potter nodded their heads in agreement, they were impressed at the boy’s work.
“Why, thank you Siri! By the way, how are you?” Regulus gently looked at his brother, making Sirius feel the long lost warmth everytime Regulus looked at him gently. Only now he remembers why he wanted to protect his brother so much that he took the blame. It was because he didn’t want his brother to lose this warmth and gentleness. Once upon a time Sirius was like this but because of his parents, he had turned cold and ruthless until he met his friends and did he regain his lost side. And because of that Regulus wanted to let his brother go for his own happiness just like how Sirius did.