Chapter 2
Evan smacked Barty promptly the moment the words left his mouth. Regulus' grip on the teen faltered, and he couldn't help but glance up at Sirius, who was frowning now. The rest of his friends were hanging back, as they normally did in these situations, but even they were sporting confused looks. "What are you talking about?" Sirius barked angrily, fingers curling into fists. Regulus eyed Evan, who quickly covered Barty's mouth with his hand to stop the other from speaking more damning evidence. Clearly, though, their best friend did not seem to catch on and merely bit Evan so hard he ripped his hand away.
"I mean that if it were not for Regulus your little taunts would have landed you in the hopsital wing more than once. Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for you and your little pose, Regulus evoked an order of protection for you. Not that you deserve it you little twat." Regulus groaned, fingers flying to his temples, wincing at Sirius' enraged growl. "Do..."
"Barty..." Regulus hissed. "That is enough, please...no more." Barty's eyes swung towards Regulus, and Regulus recalled similar situations to the glossy film that covered them. None of them good. Regulus should have noticed the fever that had taken hold. The last time this had happened Barty ended up in detention for almost a whole month.
"I just...He just...I'm sorry Regulus I'm just tired of his stupidity! He should be thanking you and what do you get? Not thanks that is for sure. I just wanted to..."
"Enough! I said it was enough, so stop talking!" Regulus grit out, his tone taking on a dangerous edge to it. Barty finally shut himself up, and gazed uncertainly at his best friend.
"Reggie, what..."
"Don't call me that!" Regulus finally cut his eyes towards Sirius' pale summer night clashing with dark winter clouds. "You, of all people, do not deserve to call me anything. I cannot anymore...I just cannot. You are constantly constantly trying to to undermine me, and my feelings, and my experiences, making up accusations that you have no understanding of, and situations you have no background over...I am not you, and I was never you and I never will be you and honestly I do not want to be you. Because as much as you blame me, and hate me, and vitrify me, the one most like mother is you...Not me. You were raised by Mother, but I...I was raised by father. Needless to say, Black, there is a big difference between something so simple." Regulus turned, ingoring Sirius' scoff and turned towards his housemates. "Do what you want, I'm done protecting him." The words were painful to say, and Regulus could feel the tears filming at his eyes. Evan sighed as he stormed off, not bothering to look backwards.
"What the fuck Barty?" Evan shoved Barty angrily. "Have you realized what you did?" Barty crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"He has it coming. I hope," Barty stated, moving straight into Sirius space, blue tye glinging in the pale light. "I hope that Slytherin beats you arse. I hope they take the last five years of desperation out on you, and I hope you realized you royally, royally fucked up."
"BARTY ENOUGH!" Evan finally screamed. For someone that never screamed, this was a day for the gossips. Regulus revoking his protection of the mauraders, Regulus finally hitting back at Sirius' taunts, and Evan screaming at Barty? THe rumor mill would have a field day for the next few months at least. "Regulus does not need this on top of everything else. Winter solstance will be hard enough for him, don't add more problems onto his plate. You know what will happen in december." Barty's whole demeaner seemed to shift from cocky to worried.
"OH shit..." The words were breathless and Sirius was just getting more and more confused.
"What...what happens in december." Barty just glared at him.
"None of your fucking buisness black!" Barty turned back around and locked eyes with Evan. "Let's go, we need to get him, before he does something stupid...again." The words did not leave Sirius comforted, who wanted to follow them, and would have, if Remus had not put his arm around his waist, and kept him in place.
"I don't think that is wise, my dear," Came the soft tones of Sirius' favorite werewolf. He sagged into him.
"I need to know what is going to happen. Something bad is going to happen to Reggie." Peter rolled his eyes. None of them could understand this relationship that Sirius had with Regulus. The two hated each other, and Regulus seemed to have nothing but utter disdain for him...a protection order? They did not know what that was about, but they definitely needed to figure it out.