The Lucky Ones (xoxo)

Chapter 7

Regulus Black

Regulus's reassurance did little to quell James's unease, as they watched their friends disperse. James shifted uncomfortably, his brow furrowed with worry.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm worried about Peter. He wouldn't have been there if it weren't for me."

Regulus offered him a supportive smile. "Everything is going to be fine, James."

James shook his head, worry still evident in his expression. "Weren’t you just in the same assembly as me? McGonagall looked serious. She's not one to make empty threats."

Regulus let out a soft chuckle, his tone laced with confidence. "Come on, James. Do you really think she's going to expel two-thirds of the junior class?"

James glanced at him, a flicker of uncertainty still lingering in his eyes. "I hope you're right, Reg."

Regulus squeezed James's shoulder reassuringly. "We'll figure it out, James. We always do. Trust the plan and stick together."

James nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Reg."

Regulus turned to James, his demeanour confident and resolute. "I have to go meet with McGonagall now," he stated, his voice unwavering.

James nodded in understanding, a supportive smile tugging at his lips. "Good luck, Regulus," he affirmed, his confidence in his friend evident.

"Thanks, James," he said, returning the smile, determination in his eyes as he turned on his heel and strode towards Professor McGonagall's office.

Interview Transcript: Professor McGonagall and Regulus Black

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[Beginning of Interview Transcript]

Professor McGonagall: I reviewed your record. It's pristine. I never would have expected this from you.

Regulus Black: I understand. I am the perfect one after all.

Professor McGonagall: Mr. Black, who broke into the pool?

Regulus Black: As you said, my unfortunate participation in said party was entirely out of character. I don't know anything about it.

Professor McGonagall: Let me remind you, Mr. Black, that a perfect record is not going to protect you if I find evidence of your involvement. Are you sure this is the story you'd like to stick to? Expulsion will look unsightly when the time comes for university applications.

Regulus Black: I assure you, Professor, I don't know how this happened. I'm disappointed I was there to begin with.

Professor McGonagall: That will be all then. And Regulus?

Regulus Black: Yes?

Professor McGonagall: If you find something out, you'll come straight to me, yes?

Regulus Black: Of course.

--- 

[End of Interview Transcript]

James Potter

The elevator doors slid shut behind them, enveloping Peter and James’ silence as they ascended to Pandora's penthouse.

James fidgeted with the strap of his bag, shooting a questioning glance at Peter. "Do you really have to show me this now?"

Peter flashed him a knowing grin, fingers navigating through the footage. "Trust me, you're gonna want to see this before stepping into the Black's evil lair."

James raised an eyebrow, scepticism written across his face. "It's a homework group to work on these essays, Pete. Plus, it's not even Regulus's house; we're at Pandora's, and her parents are never home."

Peter nodded, his gaze fixed on the small screen in front of him. "Yeah, but what about Bellatrix?"

James waved a dismissive hand. "She left, and she hasn't been back since. We'll be fine."

As the elevator neared its destination, Peter's finger paused on one frame of the video. "Here! I wasn't sure what it was until I brought it home and saw it on the computer, but..."

James leant in closer, his eyes widening as he recognized the figure on the screen. "That's Barty, but what is he holding there?"

“A key.”

Before James could respond, the elevator opened, revealing a scene that surprised them both. Instead of a quiet gathering focused on homework, the penthouse was alive with conversation and the clinking of glasses. It looked less like a study session and more like a party, complete with cocktails and laughter.

James exchanged a puzzled look with Peter as they stepped into the lively atmosphere, a sense of unease settling over them. 

Sirius appeared beside him with a relieved expression. "Oh, thank God you're here, Prongs," he exclaimed, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"I thought we were going to be working on our papers?"

Before he could receive an answer, Regulus intercepted their conversation, his tone matter-of-fact. "We are. Barty hooked up with a guy in Cornell's ethics program last year. He's getting tips for the essays now."

Peter, who discreetly had been filming the scene with his camera, suddenly found himself the target of Regulus's attention. "I thought I told you you couldn't film me?" Regulus remarked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Peter quickly averted the camera, focusing on the other people in the room instead.

Sirius shook his head in frustration. "I can't get anything done here, and Moony won't help. You wait here; I'll find us a quiet place to work."

With that, Sirius disappeared into the crowd, leaving James to navigate the chaotic scene on his own. As he watched his friend go, James couldn't help but wonder how they were ever going to get any work done.

As James observed the bustling scene, his attention was drawn to Barty. He was reclining on the couch, toying with a key in his hand. Pandora quickly walked up to Barty, her expression stern.

"I can't believe you brought that here. That's evidence. Give it to me," she demanded, her voice firm as she snatched the key from Barty's grasp before swiftly leaving the room. The pieces seemed to fall into place for James. Regulus had told him that Barty was there when the party started. Barty, who had a reputation for being wild and chaotic. Barty, who was caught on camera snatching the very key Pandora had just called ‘evidence’ from the scene of the crime.

James approached Barty, his expression serious. "Barty, you need to tell the truth," he urged, his tone pleading.

Barty glanced up at James, his eyes narrowing. "Whatever happened to 'don't speak until spoken to?" he retorted, a hint of defiance in his voice.

James sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look, I just saw you with that key. I know you had it at the party," he insisted urgently.

Barty's gaze hardened, his jaw set with determination. "Listen here, golden boy," he snapped, his tone laced with bitterness. "I only took the key from the party, so we wouldn’t all get blamed, including little Pete."

He searched Barty's eyes for any sign of remorse, but all he found was a steely resolve. James couldn't help but wonder if Peter was on the brink of losing everything he held dear. The rest of them would be fine no matter how things went, they had the money and status to guarantee it. But Peter doesn't, and James couldn't help but feel guilty for dragging into this in the first place.

Peter Pettigrew

Peter stealthily manoeuvred through the crowd, his camera ready to capture any juicy moments for his documentary. He scanned the room, his eyes lit up as he spotted Regulus and Evan engaged in heated conversation.

He pressed record as Regulus confronted Evan. "Do you wanna tell me what's going on with you and Barty?" 

"Nothing, Reg, leave it," Evan replied, shifting uncomfortably, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

But Regulus wasn't convinced. "Really? Because you two were always close, closer than ‘friends’ should ever be in my opinion, but ever since I got back, it's been… different," he pointed out, his tone accusatory.

Evan's jaw clenched, frustration evident in his expression. "You're one to talk," he shot back.

Regulus's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, seemingly confused. 

Evan didn't miss a beat. "Well, it's just that you seem awfully close to James for someone you claimed to hate so much," he stated bluntly.

Regulus's expression hardened, his defences rising. "I'm doing that for Sirius," he insisted. "What hope is there for us if I can't even get along with his best friend?"

Evan shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "We both know it has nothing to do with Sirius," he countered. "James was the one you called to invite to the pool party when you were drunk. James was the one you arrived to Kiss on the Lips with, holding hands, might I add."

Regulus's face flushed with indignation. "We weren't holding hands, he was dragging me by my wrist," he protested, his voice tinged with irritation.

Evan shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just saying, don't throw stones," he remarked, a warning. As Peter captured every word on camera, he felt a thrill of excitement at the drama unfolding before him. Finally, something entertaining enough to make this documentary worth something, Peter mused. James hadn't even wanted to help with it at first, but all it took was a few well-timed guilt-inducing remarks to get him to crack. It struck Peter as ironic that James, with his wealth and privilege, would end up taking a leading role in more ways than he had expected or agreed to. While a film about rich people had its merits, one fueled by sex and lies held even greater promise. It was the golden ticket into their world that Peter had been seeking, and he saw potential in using it to his advantage. 

Evan's eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of the camera pointed in their direction. "Wait a minute," he said suspiciously. "Are you recording us?"

Regulus's gaze flickered to the camera, his expression darkening with realisation. "You are," he stated, his eyes narrowing dangerously "What do you think you're doing, Pettigrew?"

Peter hesitated, his grip tightening on the camera as he weighed his options. "I-I'm just filming for my documentary," he stammered, attempting to play it off.

But Evan wasn't buying it. "Give me that footage, Peter," he demanded, his voice firm.

Regulus nodded in agreement, his eyes flashing with fury. "I told you you weren't allowed to film me," he added, jaw set.

Peter's heart raced as he considered their request, knowing that the footage he had captured could potentially expose their secrets. "I-I can't," he replied finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need it for my project."

Evan's jaw clenched with frustration, his patience wearing thin. "Listen, Peter, you don't understand. This is important," he insisted, his tone pleading.

"I'll save you both the indignity of grovelling by telling you now, there is no way you are getting that tape," Peter declared, his voice filled with determination.

Peter's words hung in the air, tension thickening as the confrontation escalated. Regulus's jaw tightened at the implication. "I wasn't going to grovel, and the fact that you even went there makes it clear you have no idea who you're dealing with," he retorted, the smile on his face anything but kind.

Peter scoffed, his confidence unwavering. "What are you going to do to me, Black? You have nothing I need. In fact, I have all I need right here on this tape," he taunted, holding the cassette up as if it were a prized possession.

Regulus's eyes narrowed, "You put that footage in your film, and you won't be able to show it. I won't sign a release, and trust me, you don't want me to stick the Black family lawyers on you," he warned, his voice cold and calculated.

Evan stepped forward, his presence imposing as he joined the fray. "Don't pick a fight you can't win, Pettigrew," he warned, his tone laced with quiet menace.

Peter's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before he regained his composure. "I'm not looking for a distribution deal. Just this Grant so I can pay for school. Now if you’ll excuse me," he explained, turning abruptly, he felt a surge of desperation to locate James, but the snippets of conversation he had caught between James and Barty had ignited a flame of anger within him.

As Barty left, Peter approached James with a determined expression.

"I'm gonna head out," Peter announced, his tone resolute.

James frowned in confusion. "Where are you going? Sirius is finding us a study room," he replied, puzzled by Peter's sudden decision.

"I'm just gonna write my paper at home," Peter explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "I mean, Barty is right."

James's eyes widened in disbelief. "Barty? No, don't listen to him," he urged..

But Peter shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "The guy has a point, actually," he insisted. "The reason none of you guys take this seriously is because, for you, it's not."

James opened his mouth to protest, but Peter held up a hand, cutting him off. "Look, I'm all for loyalty, and I'm all for sticking together. But we are not in the same boat here. I'm on a partial Grant, my parents have no way of buying my way back into this school or any other for that matter. I know this won't be a popular opinion with your band of brothers, but if the person who brought that key refuses to step up, then anyone who knows something has the right to say something."

"Pete, please, you don't understand," he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

But Peter's expression remained resolute. "You're right, I don't understand," he admitted. 

As Peter attempted to slip away, Regulus stepped in his path, his expression firm. "I can't let you leave with the tape," he declared, blocking Peter's exit with determined resolve.

As the tension in the room escalated, Peter felt a knot tighten in his stomach. James's bewilderment only added to the chaos, and Peter struggled to keep his composure.

"What tape? What's going on?" James's voice cut through the tension, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Regulus's glare turned to Peter as he explained the situation. "Peter here recorded a private conversation between Evan and I, like the worm he is," Regulus declared, his tone dripping with disdain.

The accusation hit Peter like a blow to the chest, and he bristled at the insult. "Don't call me a fucking worm," he snapped, defensive.

Evan's retort only fueled the fire, and Peter fought to keep his emotions in check. "It's a good thing we don't answer to you, wormy," Evan sneered.

Peter's facade of innocence faltered for a moment as he exchanged a meaningful glance with Evan and Regulus. Despite his outward demeanour, he knew the power he held with the tape in his possession.

"You don't?" Peter replied, deceptively genuine, his eyes flickering with hidden intent.

James turned to him, seeking an explanation. "Pete, is this true?" he asked, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief.

When James wanted answers, Peter adopted an air of innocence, his words carefully chosen to deflect suspicion. But beneath the facade, Peter knew the truth: he held the power in his hands, and he would do whatever it took to protect himself.

He met James's gaze with feigned sincerity. "It was an accident, James, I swear," he insisted, his voice tinged with desperation. "I can't give them the tape. It has all the footage I've filmed till now. I'll have to start from scratch."

James considered his words for a moment before offering a suggestion. "Maybe you just don't put that clip in the documentary then?" he suggested, trying to find a compromise.

Regulus's voice rang out with finality, his eyes locking onto Peter and the cassette tape in his hand. "You’re not leaving with that tape," he declared, his tone firm and unwavering.

"Let him go, Reg," James intervened, stepping forward to diffuse the situation. Regulus shot James a frustrated look, but he reluctantly stepped aside, his gaze never leaving James.

James turned to Evan, his tone firm. "And you're not getting the footage, Evan, it was clearly an accident. It's already bad enough he might get expelled because of us, let's not guarantee it by ensuring he has nothing to turn in for his grant," he stated, his voice allowing no argument. Peter had to fight the smile that tried to make its way on his face. Things had gone in his favour. James felt too guilty to push too hard for the tape and Evan and Regulus couldn’t exactly tell him why they needed it so badly without revealing their own secrets.

Evan's jaw clenched, but he relented, knowing that James's words held weight. With a reluctant nod, he backed down, though his eyes still burned with anger. James motioned for Peter to leave, offering him a reassuring nod. With a grateful glance at James, Peter hurriedly made his exit.

Sirius Black

Sirius entered Pandora's room, the sounds from downstairs fading into the background as he closed the door behind him. His eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. They landed on Pandora hastily slamming a drawer shut.

Pandora's sudden movement caught Sirius off guard, but he chose not to comment on it. Instead, he cleared his throat and spoke up. "Hey, Pandora," he began, his tone casual. "Do you mind if James, Peter, Remus, and I use your bedroom to work on our essays? It's a bit noisy downstairs, and we could use a quiet space."

Pandora hesitated for a moment, her expression conflicted. "Um, sure, that's fine," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of reluctance. "I should join the others anyway. It would be rude to stay in my room, while I have guests over."

With a nod of understanding, Sirius watched as Pandora left the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. As soon as she was gone, he couldn't resist the temptation to investigate the drawer, she had been so quick to close.

Carefully, he pulled open the drawer and his eyes widened in surprise as they landed on the key lying inside. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed it, determination coursing through him. Pandora was family, and you protect family.

As Sirius descended the stairs back into the bustling party, his eyes caught sight of the tense exchange between Peter, Regulus, and Evan. He watched as Regulus, his expression determined, pressed Peter for the footage, while Evan stood by with a mixture of frustration and concern. A knot formed in Sirius's stomach as he observed the scene unfolding before him. What could Regulus be so desperate to keep hidden? And why was he willing to go to such lengths to retrieve the footage?

Despite the questions swirling in his mind, Sirius knew one thing for certain: He had to protect the family, he had left. Whatever secrets Pandora and Regulus were hiding, he couldn't allow them to tear them apart.