Chapter 10
It was the screaming that alerted him before anything else. Then the distinct shriek of distress, and more screaming that overpowered it. James and Remus raced back into the house to see what the hell was going on, because things had been going so well and now they seemed to have fallen totally apart. Yes, perhaps it had not been the wisest idea to allow Sirius and Barty in the same room alone with the tension that had seemed to be constantly escalating between them, and then they all knew of the reputation between the black brothers...they had just thought that since everything had been going well, perhaps they could have finally made an exception. It was just for a few minutes...but it seems like a few minutes was all it took.
They entered a totally trashed living room. James couldn't help the groan that lifted from his mouth. His mother was going to be absolutely pissed. And even that was an understatement. Hopefully, they would be able to clean it all up before she came home, because he knew for sure that while she was really nice, she definitely had a way of decorating the house, and when it was disrupted, she raged. The more pressing concern, at the moment though, was Regulus who was collapsed on the floor crying silently, tears streaming over delicate fingers, and Barty and Sirius who were at the ready with their wands raised above him. James felt a rage that he had never felt before fly through him like nothing, and he stormed over, snatching both wands and throwing them behind him. Remus, ever the gentleman, was helping Regulus up, who fell into the werewolf to cry uncontrollably. In moments Remus' tee shirt collar was soaked, though he did not show any distress over it.
"What the hell happened?" James grit out lowly, his eyes a fire from where he was standing. Both Sirius and Barty were still glaring at each other, but a soft choking sound from Regulus had Barty immediately turning to try and comfort him. Only for Sirius to yank him back and pin him to the floor before the two started fist fighting. Regulus, still being held up by Remus, curled deeper into the werewolf to try and avoid the violence, his body shaking at the sounds of phsycial violence, even though he did not see them. "Remus, why don't you take Regulus to his room?" Remus nodded at James' suggestion, and the two slowly but steadily made their way upstairs, Remus supporting Regulus' entire weight as the boy was completely out of it.
Once the two were out of sight, and James heard the slam of Regulus' door closing, he immediately jumped into the fight, yanking Sirius off Barty, and standing in between the two, a hand curled around Sirius' shirt, and one around Barty's. Both were breathing heavily, and James just had a headache almost immediately as the two were glaring, practically breathing smoke from how angry the two were. Regulus out of the way, though, James felt far better about smacking the ever living shit out of both of them, leaving both stunned, and turning to stare at him in wide-eyed shock. "Now, would either of you like to tell me what the FUCK was happening?"
"I found this pest trying to..."
"Pest? What about you, you..."
"ENOUGH!" James' shout was enough to shut both of them up, his own breathing heavy in his chest. "One at a time. Sirius, why don't you go first. Barty, do not interrupt, and you will tell your side once SIrius is done, yes?" The two grumbled about it, but agreed in the end. Sirius turned wide eyes onto James.
"I saw him assaulting my brother!" James immediately felt his headache throb even harder.
"Barty, what do you have for your defense?" James asked softly.
"Regulus and I were kissing, then Black came in and promptly had a homophobic fit!"
"I..."
"No, Sirius, I didn't give you permission to speak." James cut in, glaring at the elder Black. James kept a firm grip on both boys. "Sirius, is this true?"
"No," Sirius grit out angrily. "I know what I saw. And I'm not homophobic. I'm dating Remus for merlin's sake!"
"Let's stay on topic," James said, ignoring the shocked look in Barty's face at the information. "If you weren't being homophobic, and it wasn't about the two kissing, why do you say Barty was assaulting Regulus." Sirius felt his lower lip tremble in anger.
"Regulus was crying," He said simply. His voice low in rage. "He was asking Crouch to stop, and the vile cretin didn't stop, just started laughing and yanking at Regulus' clothes!" James sighed heavily.
"Crouch,"
"You can take my memories if you want!" Sirius burst through, before Crouch could even get a word in. "I don't care. Whatever you have to do. I'm not exactly a good person, I know that, I kidnapped Regulus, and held him here, without his wand, and I know that means you don't really trust me like you used to, and I swear I have a good reason for it, I just don't know how to approach it, especially not with Regulus around, and I was hoping I wouldn't even need to say anything, and Regulus would be willing to stay of his own volition before returning it, but I am not lying about this!" Sirius' eyes were a feverish and determined glint. "I'll take whatever potion or whatever spell you need of me to prove it." Barty's own defense seemed to be chopped off at realizing just how serious the elder Black was about proving his misdeed. He tsked, but was unable to say a single word in his defense, growling lowly.