Chapter 13 - Remus’ Secret
Regulus and James had been hanging out in the Room of Requirements, listening to music James had been playing.
He had good taste, although Regulus hadn't much of a music education to judge with.
"Why were you in the Forbidden Forest last night?" James asked out of nowhere.
Regulus had been doodling on a piece of paper and came to a stop immediately.
"Who said I was in the Forbidden Forest?" Regulus quizzed, suddenly the room had grown warmer.
"I saw you coming out of it. When I was heading back after rounds", James explained, "What were you doing?"
Regulus sighed and placed his quill down.
"You have to promise you're not going to freak out." Regulus started.
"Reg-"
"Promise you're not going to get mad at me." Regulus insisted.
James moved his beanbag to sit beside Regulus.
"I promise."
Regulus averted James' gaze.
"He was there. It was a meeting for him." Regulus explained.
"Who?" James questioned, not understanding.
"They call him the Dark Lord. He was recruiting students to become death eaters." Regulus muttered, his voice shaky.
"He was here?!", James exclaimed, "V-"
Regulus smacked his hand over James' mouth.
"Don't say his name!" Regulus squeaked.
"Regulus-"
Regulus shook, tears threatening to spill.
"I didn't want to go, but Barty and Evan they dragged me and I couldn't say I didn't want to because they would freak. And he was there and Bellatrix and I- I was so scared." Regulus cried.
James tugged the boy into his chest and held him.
Regulus instantly broke into sobs.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. You were so brave", James cooed, "Don't want you to worry. I'm gonna make sure it never happens again. Gonna protect you."
Regulus clung to James like a lifeline.
He believed the boy would protect him.
Regulus never wanted to see the man again.
James would make sure of it.
~
Regulus hadn't meant to be out of his dorm that night.
And he definitely hadn't meant to hear his brother and Snape fight.
"-Go to the Whomping Willow and touch the knotted branch at the bottom. It will freeze the whole tree. You really want to know the truth? You want to know Remus' secret?-"
Regulus didn't like this- he didn't like this at all.
"Stupefy!" Snape spat.
Sirius was thrown back and onto the ground a couple feet away, stunned and unable to move.
Snape jumped to his feet and took off.
"Shit!" Sirius cried, letting what he'd done sink it, "Remus- fuck."
Once Sirius could, he jumped to his feet and raced down the hall.
Regulus paused.
Remus' secret?
Regulus had seen Remus in the hospital wing a lot. He was in there at least once a month.
The whomping willow. The scars. The-
The full moon.
Regulus was running, sprinting as fast as he could.
Remus- Remus was a werewolf.
Regulus couldn't let Severus find out.
Sirius loved Remus- he needed Remus. And Remus would never forgive him for this.
The grass was wet and Regulus had slipped more than a dozen times.
Severus reached the willow and touched the knot.
Regulus watched as the tree froze and pushed himself harder.
Severus stood at the base of the tree, grabbing his wand, ready to jump down.
And Regulus sucker punched him.
Snape fell hard to the ground from the unexpected throw, hitting his head on the stump.
"Fuck!" Regulus cried, holding his hand.
He'd definitely broke it.
Regulus grabbed his wand and pointed it at Snape, thinking about the memory of Sirius in the hall.
"Oblivate." Regulus huffed, out of breath.
The blue wisp of the memory pulled from Severus' head and dissipated into the air.
Within seconds James arrived on the scene.
His eyes flickering between Severus and Regulus.
"I had to- I had to stop him. He can't know." Regulus choked out.
James grabbed Regulus' face in his hands.
"You know?" He asked softly.
Regulus nodded.
"I won't say anything- I- I promise." Regulus muttered.
"I know." James sighed, kissing Regulus' forehead.
He took a look at Regulus' hand, his knuckles all ripped up and bleeding.
"I think I broke it." Regulus whined in pain.
James glanced towards Snape.
"He won't remember. He won't remember anything from tonight." Regulus assured.
James looked back at Regulus and his eyes sparkled.
"You are amazing, you know that right. My favorite boy." James cooed.
Love.
Regulus felt- loved.
"Let's get him away from here and then I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey." James quipped.
Regulus nodded.
James tossed Severus over his shoulder like he weighed nothing- which was so hot- and hit the knot to unfreeze the tree.
Regulus followed beside him as James carried Severus all the way to the dungeons.
He spoke the password and James dropped Severus onto the sofa.
As soon as the door to the dungeons closed, James looked around before smashing his lips to Regulus'.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" James breathed, resting his forehead on Regulus'.
Regulus felt all warm and tingly inside and it was wonderful.
At the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was able to heal his broken knuckles easily, so he only had to bandage them- which was much better than a cast.
She had Regulus take something for the pain, but otherwise shooed them off.
James guided them through the castle- not back to the dungeons- but to the Room of Requirements.
This time when James pulled him inside, it was not a little library, it was a bedroom.
It was plain, nothing special really.
Regulus wasn't going to complain, especially after he sunk into the foam mattress.
James joined beside him and hovered over him.
"Thank you." James muttered, brushing a curl from Regulus' face.
Regulus shrugged, "I like Remus."
James smiled, pecking the boy on the lips.
"Can we sleep together?" James asked, eyes wide and all doe like.
Regulus knew what the unsaid connotation was.
He bit back a smile.
"Yeah." He breathed.
And it was the best night of Regulus' life.