I will follow
James Potter had never been one to cry. It wasn't that he feed in to the whole 'men shouldn't have emotions' propaganda. It was more that he was so positive that there was never a reason to cry. The problem was he couldn't see how he could possibly remedy the situation. So even though he hadn't cried since Gryffindor lost in a quidditch match to Slytherin in his 3rd year, James sobbed. All alone in his bed, he contemplated the hurt and pain in Reg's eyes. He had only said to deny it because he didn't want to cause his lover problems, not because he saw it as "just a bit of fun" as Reg had said.
Just a bit of fun.
The words were circling his head. Whatever he was feeling was a whole lot more then a bit of fun and yet that was what Reg saw it as. Saw them as. He had spent the previous night awake creating a future for the two of them in his head. A house. Kids, or a dog if Reg didn't want them. And all that was crumbling before him. Ripping at his heart.
"James" It was Sirius he must have been back from his detention, the other two had decided to go to the library so they would have an alibi but obviously James had opted out.
"Mate are you crying" he was coming closer. What could James say, he couldn't tell Sirius the real reason he was crying. But he couldn't lie to his brother.
"No, obviously I'm singing. Cant you tell" James sarcastically laughed through sobs, he had to be the positive friend he always claimed to be.
"Come on Prongs its me. Tell me what's up. Is it that mystery girl" Sirius said sitting next to him on his bed and holding him in a warm embrace.
James thought, he would tell Sirius a half truth. "Yeah, they think I only want them for a bit of fun. But I really like them Sirius. I really do and they hate me now. I feel empty without them" it was the truth, this was exactly how he felt.
"James mate, I think your in love" Sirius said more soothingly then he had ever spoken before. James was the only person Sirius was ever this sincere to, even excluding Remus.
That thought however made everything worse. "I've got to... I've got to speak to them" He sobbed out.
"I'll help you mate we'll sneak back down to the Slytherin dorms. Wait. No. Shit. There full of stink bombs. Wait for them to go off and hopefully poison Snively and my dickhead brother then we can go and find this girl"
This made James cry even more. His best friend hated the man he loved and although he hated to admit it, he had plenty of reason to hate him.
"No, I've got to do this on my own" James said wiping his tears. "Ill be back later" He was sprinting out his room to the only place he could hope to see Regulus.
Regulus's thoughts were wild. Had he over reacted? His emotions were overcoming his usually sombre being. He wanted, no he needed James right now. He needed James and he couldn't have him.
"I have to go to the tower" he said to himself through tears. But as he was rushing out his room, wiping his face to ensure he looked as stone cold as usual, the screams began.
It was vial. The scent encapsulated the dark dudgeon, as Barty and Evan ran towards him both with a large bubble over their heads.
"Those fucking marauders have gone to far this time I'm telling you their all dead" Barty yelled as Reg cast the bubblehead charm on himself to ensure he didn't inhale any of the putrid gas. After clearing his senses he realised that these were no normal dung bombs, everyone that inhaled their smoke was faced with blistering hives covering their body's in the shape of the dark mark.
"I am for once with you Barty this is bloody awful" Even spat out as the three of theme ran towards the exit with the crowd, in their peripheral vision they could see Snape, body covered in the ugly, bubbling wounds.
Regulus didn't know what to say. This was to far even by the marauders standards. There were tiny 11 year old first years writhing in pain all around, he just knew James had nothing to do with this he would never. So he continued his way up to the astronomy tower, forgetting Barty and Evan were trailing close behind him.
"Oi Potter" barty cackled as he saw James sat by the ledge.
"What do you want crouch"
"I say suck my dick or I'm gunna push you strait of that ledge for what your little mates have been up to" Barty spat back.
Even looked at him incredulously, maybe even slightly hurt. Staring at the ground he muttered "Yeah crouch I think that sounds fair"
With that Barty hoisted James in to the air by his ankles, like Regulus had done mere hours before. The difference was this time he was being strung a good hundred feet above the ground.
"Let him down safely, now" Regulus spat in Barty's face any recognition of friendship between the two gone.
"And why should I do that pretty boy" Barty retorted swinging James around even more so that his glasses fell off his face all the way to the bottom of the tower.
"I'm telling you Barty if he has even a scratch"
"Yeah Reg what are you gunna do about it" Evan was stood of to the side clearly unhappy with the situation but unaware what to do.
James's face had gone bright purple and he still pressed out "Leave it Reg I'll be fine" before passing out.
"I'm going to fucking kill you" Regulus cussed pointing his wand in Barty's face "come on crouch you know in a duel between you and I, I will always be the one to win"
"Why'd you even care so much about this stupid blood traitor" Barty hissed confusion written across his face.
"Because that blood traitor is mine I've told you this before crouch and if you don't let him down now I will wipe out your entire bloodline, including your boyfriend over there" he said pointing to Evan "I don't care how good friends we're supposed to be"
At that Barty released James but instead of returning to safety he plunged down the tower. Without even thinking Regulus jumped over the banister falling with him holding James tight to him. Regulus thought 'I wouldn't be able to live without him, breath without him, so if he goes to the beyond I will follow him' and then it all went black.
Sirius was crying, why was he crying. James where was James. He couldn't let go of him. Black again.
"Finally Mr black your awake" Madam Pomphrey "I must say I didn't expect to see you and Mr Potter back here so soon. A nasty fall you had. If it hadn't been for your brother I don't know what would have happened"
He glared, stone cold. He had to pretend he didn't care. This was the result if he did.
"You needn't worry, Mr Crouch and Rosier are facing upmost punishment. I'm afraid that brother of yours is as well though, out of bounds after bed you know, and he admitted to being the one to cursing those awful dung bombs" she said it in a somewhat motherly way yet still in her usual gossip tones. As regulus looked around he realised the hospital wing was full of Slytherins all covered in vile oozing wounds.
After a stern nod from his direction she let him be. His eyes instantly fell as he searched the cold, white hospital wing for James. He was lead covered in sweat face purple asleep. And it was all Regulus's own fault. Had he not made the mistake of liking this untouchable boy he never would have been in the tower, never would have been hurt.
Standing up shakily he hobbled over to James and collapsed in the chair beside his bed. He placed James's broken glasses on his and cast "oculus repairo" fixing them instantly. then for hours he sat staring stroking James's pail face. He checked the time, it was only noon the next day so Monday the 5th. Him and James had only had this well whatever it was for a few days. If he stopped it now he could protect him. So slowly after giving the handsome boy a longing look goodbye he swept from the hospital wing all trace of feeling gone.
James awoke in a cold fit. It was to Remus, Peter and Sirius all sat around his tones. Remus and Sirius were clearly arguing in quiet tones.
"What happened" He said shooting up staring at all of them.
"Well mate..." Moony choked out "You were..."
"You were dropped off the astronomy tower head first by that evil crouch" Sirius cut in "Apparently he was mad about the prank and wanted revenge. I'm telling you James had i not been there to cast a spell to stop the falling... you would have been a goner" Sirius muttered his eyes darting to the floor, anywhere but at James's face.
Peter chimed in squeakily "The one thing we cant work out is why Regulus black was falling with you. James he was like holding on to you" He said shrilly. Regulus had jumped after him. Surely this showed he liked him as more then 'just a bit of fun' but where was he? Was he okay? James's eyes darted aro9und the hospital wing and he realised it was full of Slytherins covered in the most vial pustials he had ever seen. Was this his fault.
"Where is Reg? and what's happened to the Slytherins?" he said looking round at each of the marauders as they avoided his gaze
"My brother left this morning Pumphrey says, pain free. And the Slytherins well that's my fault, see I wanted to get back at them and I mean really get back at them so I may have hexed the stink bombs to give them dark mark shaped boils" Sirius croaked out hastily.
His mind was racing at 100 mph. In his head Barty's response was well justified, James and his fellow marauders had hexed the entire house including those who were innocent. He knew Sirius had a knack for doing brutal evil pranks but this in his mind was way to far even for Sirius. Had it been reversed he himself likely would have done the exact same.
But also Regulus had left he had left James, likely unaware whether or not he would ever wake up.