Chapter 7
Barty was right in that Crouch was almost estatic to see his desire to stay the night. With a few quick orders to get more information from Potter about his potions and future venture ideas, Crouch left, leaving both Regulus and Barty almost dumbfounded. "Have to admit, I was expecting a bit of a fight, but that was surprisingly accepting." Regulus did not share Barty's postive outlook. It was clear that Crouch wanted more information from the Potters, though for what ends he did not know.
"I would not celebrate just yet, Barty, you know how he can be." Barty shrugged, clearly not wanting to continue to talk about it, and definitely not willing to worry about the future when the present was amongst them. It was one of the things that Regulus admired about him. Before Barty, he had not met anyone so carefree, so laxidaisy. Sure, Barty's father was a rite asshole, and Regulus would thoroughly enjoy the day that he was finally given permission to Avada him, but Barty had somehow come above that. Regulus was the opposite. His parents infected him, just as they did everything else they came into contact with.
"Let's worry about it at a different time, Reggie, not now, okay?" Regulus hummed, inclining his head slightly. Sirius and James were walking down the stairs just as they turned to walk back up. Barty narrowed his eyes, gently tugging Regulus behind him, fingers around his forearm. "Well, well, well, look who it is."
"We don't want trouble," James started off, and Barty laughed.
"Maybe you don't, but Potter, I don't believe that Black gets to hold that title...after all if he truly didn't want an arguement eventually he wouldn't be holding Regulus hostage."
"He isn't!" James spat, gaining a tinge of red. Regulus sighed, tensing at the look Sirius was giving. Barty gripped Regulus tightly, not allowing him to try and escape.
"He isn't...so I suppose the flu powder being hidden was a coincidence? And the wand situation was merely in good fun? And Regulus was, of course, just naturally was fully willing to come with Sirius to this house...right."
"Barty," Regulus whispered in his ear, tentatively gripping over Barty's arm. "Barty, please, it is not..."
"Quiet, Regulus," Barty's tone-that dark, angry, undercutting sharp tone made Regulus fall silent, tears welling in his eyes, but he did not bother to try and stop him again, and ignored the pain as Barty unknowingly dug his nails into his arm. "Look...Potter, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, just as I will give Lupin, perhaps neither of you truly understood what was going on between the brothers, and maybe you were biased...no...I know you were, but I have to wonder...did Black truly take Regulus with him just because he was worried about him?" James furrowed his brows, his facial expression clearly hurt on the defense of his friend.
"Of course, Sirius loves Regulus..."
"Then I have to question what you truly think love between siblings is. I understand, you are a solo child, obviously you can never quite grasp the complexities of a sibling esque relationship. Though I like to think that since I managed to do it, surely you would...and I must then ask you, someone that you consider your sibling, would you ignore them, just because they did not get sorted into Gryffindor?"
"Welll...ah...no, of course not...But that isn't..." Barty cut him off again.
"And would you pick fights with your parents, knowing that it would only lead to you both getting into major trouble,"
"Well...I mean...siblings fight, don't they..."
"Oh yes, they do, Potter, but if the situation ended up in violence and pain for both parties, would you purposefully irritate your parents, after being begged not to?"
"Now wait a minute!"
"Black I am not talking to you so I highly suggest you shut up before I make you."
"Barty!" Regulus gasped, trying to tug him away now, but Barty was relentless, and Regulus was not exactly the prime example of strength. "Come on, please,"
"As I was saying, would you?"
"Well...I suppose it would depend on the circumstances...but probably not on purpose."
"And keeping in mind all of that, would you willingly, and knowing it would cause your sibling great distress, steal their wand, keep it out of reach, and then get angry when they try and take it back from you?" James bit his lip, and sighed. "Well, I can guess your answer," Barty declared with an obviously politically polite smile. "And it isn't all that great is it? Then you will clearly understand why I have to really question how deep Sirius' love had a part to play in this." James sputtered, once more trying to do something to come to the defense of his friend, but Barty just shook his head, scoffed, and finally dragged Regulus upstairs. Regulus, who flinched after passing Sirius, letting himself be cradled further into Barty's embrace, did not know what to think of this defense. He was grateful, but worried. Sirius was not one to back down so easily. He was nervous now, because Sirius was not fighting...not yet, at least. Bu he would, and he worried what would happen to Barty-and himself-when Sirius did finally step up.
It was not as though Regulus could do anything about it. He was just as helpless now as he had always been. Perhaps that was why he was so angry all the time. The anger festered, and it made it almost unbearable. Yet, he was also sad. He could not save Barty, and yet here he was, putting his neck-literally-out on the line for him. Regulus was angry at the boldness, but he also admired it, and was thankful, as hypocritical as it may be for him to think. After all, he never was able to stand up or protect himself from Sirius, nevermind their parents. It was nice...finally having someone that was able and willing to protect him like Barty did.
The only major downside was what would become of Barty once Sirius finally lost his cool, and his patience. Regulus had a strong suspcion that his desire to get back into Lupin's good graces was all that was saving him and Barty from a major showdown-and a bloody one. Sirius never took hits to his pride and ego well.