Chapter 2
"Mum!" James yelled, staring at the crippled Regulus in his front porch.
Sirius was not far behind, trying to figure out what had James so concerned. James was trying to lift Regulus up as he heard Effie rushing down the stairs.
Sirius followed behind him. "Reggie?" He breathed out. His eyes had already welled up in tears as he ran up to his little brother. He started helping James cary Regulus inside and locked the door behind them.
"Oh goodness! " Effie exclaimed, rushing over to direct James to bring Regulus to the couch. He laid him down gently, not wanting to do any further damage. Effie cradled Regulus' face in her hands, a distraught look still plastered on it.
"How did he get here? What happened? Is he going to be okay?" Sirius sputtered out, his eyes frantic and red.
"James, please take Sirius upstairs. I can't stand him having to experience this sort of fear again. " she whispered to James. He nodded and directed a worried Sirius upstairs, reassuring him they would check in him later.
After they both had gone upstairs, Effie started addressing the injuries and running to get some things she would need.
Regulus' eyes drifted open and he was startled realizing he had no idea where he was. Right. The potters. He thought. He didn't bother trying to sit up but he did lift his arms too see the bandages on them. Effie entered back into the room with a glass of water in her hand.
"Oh, good, your awake! " she said, a smile spreading across her face.
Regulus had always admired Euphemia. She is an amazing mother and raised James perfectly. She's also very beautiful.
She set the glass down and helped Regulus sit up. He tried his best not to make any noise but Effie saw his face scrunch up in pain.
"Drink this. I'm going to get you a pain killer potion. " she said, handing Regulus the glass of water. He drank it quickly, only realising just how thirsty he was after she handed him it.
Effie returned a minute later with the potion. "Go ahead and drink this. It should help with most of the pain. " she said. "Do you mind taking off your shirt? " she asked.
"Oh. Erm- alright. " he said, startled by how croaky his voice sounded. He pulled his shirt over his head, wincing at the loss of friction of the shirt against the open wounds.
He could tell Euphemia was struggling not to gasp, or curse, or straight up sob. He tried his best to ignore that. He didn't know how bad his back was, but even if it wasn't bad he still had some scars that seemed to freak people out. He hated that.
She immediately got to work using various spells on him to help close up the wounds. "This is going to sting." she warned him.
It did sting, and Regulus hissed. He reminded himself that this was a lot better than everything that happened yesterday and that helped.
Effie wrapped gauze around his back and then helped him put his shirt back on. She rolled up his jeans and repeated that process on his legs.
Just as she was finishing up, he saw Sirius and James walking down the stairs from the corner of his eye. Sirius looked worried and Regulus couldn't help but feel grateful that he cared.
Sirius froze and cursed under his breath after seeing the state Regulus was in. After 1 or 2 seconds, he started rushing down the stairs again.
"Regulus!" Sirius exclaimed. He immediately engulfed him in a careful hug and Regulus couldn't help the tears that stung his eyes as he wrapped his arms around his brother.
They stayed like that for a while until Sirius finally let go. "I'm so sorry. I- I should have been there for you. I can't believe you had to do that alone. I can't believe they even did that too you. What happened? How did you even get here? You clearly didn't floo since you were on the front porch. And surely you didn't walk."
James was quietly laughing at Sirius' rambling and Regulus felt a smile tugging at his mouth. "Slow down. I'll explain. "
Sirius sat next to him and James sat on the fluffy chair by them. Effie was already sat on the couch across from him.
Regulus explained everything. Even everything he was thinking. By the end of it Sirius and James" mouths were wide open and Effie's brows were crinkled in concern.
"I have so many questions. " James said.
"You walked? You dated a dude? You yelled at Walburga?"sirius said in utter astonishment, emphasising each word.
"Erm- yeah? " Regulus said, a slight smile on his face.
"How-"
Effie cut him off.
"Boys, I understand you want to talk to him right nos, but Regulus needs to sleep. You guys can talk more in the morning."
Regulus would love to talk to James and Sirius for hours, but he was thankful that Effie said that. He was practically half asleep.
James and Sirius (reluctantly) stood up and Sirius hugged Regulus one last time and followed James out of the living room, talking in a hushed and worried tone.
Sirius glanced back one last time. Regulus gave him a weak smile, and Sirius smiled back, though his eyes were still worried.
Effie handed Regulus a sleep potion, though he probably didn't need it since he was already so tired. He still accepted it.
He slept a long, dreamless sleep.