Chapter 5
James was shellshocked. He had not been prepared for the Minister to come walking into their living area bathed in green flames, and even less prepared for the Ravenclaw boy that Regulus often was seen hanging around with to follow. While he did not know Crouch Jr well, everyone knew ABOUT him. It was not common that a Ravenclaw would get so deeply tangled with a trio of Slytherins, after all, and as a result almost the entire school knew about Crouch. They just did not talk to him, too wary to even begin to do so. There was something about the dark look in his eyes that caused everyone to stay well away. Everyone barring a small group of Slytherins, that was. Even the rest of the Slytherin house did not seem to care too much about Barty constantly sitting at their table, or-If what James and the others had been hearing was correct-staying overnight in the common room.
The whirlwind that was Barty Crouch had taken the entire room by storm as the adults left to sit in a more professional room and talk about his father's potions work. While James was glad that his dad was beginning to get some recognition, he just could not help but wonder why it was now that he seemed to finally be getting it. And from the Minister, no less. There was something else at work here, and seeing Barty immediately walk over to Regulus, pry Sirius's fingers from him-which James had not even noticed-and replace the brother from Regulus' side, he had a feeling that had to do with him. Even if he did not know Barty well, one had to be at least decent at subterfuge to be able to linger around Slytherins all the time.
He had taken Sirius into their little circle and they were talking about their plans for the night before he heard Barty shout "WRITTEN IN BLOOD" at practically the top of his lungs. When he glanced over, he noticed that Regulus seemed a bit harried, and was obvious trying to keep Crouch from talking. Moments later the teen stormed up to Sirius, blood in his eyes, and demanded to know where his room was-before entirely dismissing him and talking to Remus instead. Regulus had not really hesitated before rushing after him, barely sparing them a side look. James really wanted to know what the hell was going on. There was clearly something between the two, and Barty obviously knew something they didn't, so James did not waste time, and rushed after the two just as quick.
It didn't take long to realize why Barty was so pissed off, and even James had to choke back a cry as Barty threatened Sirius. The shock in his eyes and his face as he realized...Sirius had hijacked Regulus' wand. It was almost absurd to even think about. He couldn't understand quite why Sirius would even bother doing something like that. He knew that Sirius was paranoid, but he had not thought that he would go to such an obscene extent. A wand was part of someone's being, it was literally entangled with the individual. That Sirius would hold it hostage was...concerning for lack of a better word. It was horrible. He glanced at Sirius, watching the other's rather surprised expression. He clearly did not seem to feel guilty over harboring his brother's wand.
Regulus and Barty departed, James barely catching the 'my dear' Barty was expressing softly to Regulus as he led the boy towards his room. James-despite how horrible it may make him as a friend-was glad Barty had called Sirius out. Primarily because he knew that he would not have the ability to do it. Remus was a different story, as was evidenced in the huge smack upside the head the werewolf gave Sirius the moment Barty had closed Regulus' door. Then again, Remus had always been an exception to a lot of the rules.
"What the hell Remus?" Sirius spun around and glared at the other. Remus just stared back at him, anger masked behind dark eyes. It was a different sort of anger from Barty's, which seemed ready to consume everything including himself, but it was anger nonetheless.
"I cannot believe that you had taken Regulus' wand!" The other whisper-yelled, objectively the worst kind of yelling. "Not only have we all been fighting to make sure Regulus knows that he is safe here, and knows he can be included in our group and that we don't mean him any harm, but you completely negated all of it by keeping his wand hostage! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Wrong with me?" Sirius gasped. "If he had his wand he..." Remus shook his head, stopping Sirius from continuing.
"I don't care what you think he would or wouldn't have done. At the end of the day, he is the only one in this house that was entirely unarmed, and as I am sure you have noticed, he isn't exactly the most strong individual on the lot. No wonder he seemed so distrustful and reluctant to be anywhere around us!" Remus was choking back more anger than he was letting fly into his words, and couldn't bear to even look at his best friend anymore, turning on his heel and storming to his room, slamming the door shut.