Part 13
Regulus left the Ravenclaw common room, still thinking about how Sirius would react to the news about him being invited to the gathering. If he could actually find him of course. According to James he was last spotted in lessons and at the foot of Remus's bed the morning after the recent full moon but that was it but that was it. He hadn't been spotted on the map after class hours but he was spotted in the corridors for a few minutes at a time before disappearing again. It was a strange case but Regulus had a small idea of where he might be though he couldn't be sure about it.
He stared at the paintings in the corridors he passed, each portrait looking at him with a welcoming smile. He had talked to a few of them and enjoyed listening to their stories from when they were alive. They would often ramble about their teenage years and list off all of their naïve dreams. Regulus often found himself taking notes about the paintings using them as reference for his own art. He saw every portrait as a friend unless they were actively rude to him or reminded him of his family or status- or anything he found painful to remember.
Regulus stopped outside the door to the Slytherin common rooms. Something was telling him to go up to the Astronomy Tower instead. It tried to get him to follow it through the hallways and up the stairs. He resisted it and ignored the feeling that weighed down on his shoulders, unable to shrug it off. He was sure that it was just nothing and just being paranoid as usual. There was no need for him to go up there tonight unless he couldn't sleep later on. It should be gone by then surely. He entered the room and sat in his normal spot in the far corner with a book in hand. He was out of view from anyone walking in but it was visible from outside the window.
Just as he was getting comfortable, a small knock came from the door. He thought that it was Dorcas or maybe even James taking a detour from practice. After all, they were normally roaming the castle at this time so it wouldn't be strange. Regulus stood up, book still in hand just in case it was a random student trying to flirt with him and answered the door, only to find Peter standing awkwardly by the door frame. He was holding a familiar chain in his hand but he couldn't exactly place where he knew it from. It was only when he saw the ring slip out of Peter's hand that he recognised it. It was the necklace that Sirius would never be caught dead without. The only thing that connected them that night he left.
"Peter." he said, voice unintentionally cold, "How did you get a hold of that?"
"I was cleaning my dorm and found this next to Sirius's bed. I was thinking that you would know something about since it has your initials on it."
"I see." Regulus motioned for Peter to come inside, "Do come in, I am not busy at all"
They sat around small desk, facing each other and the necklace in the middle of them. It was in good condition considering how old it was. Regulus could see his initials engraved into the ring but something else caught his eye. A date etched in roughly next to his name. It wasn't his date of birth but it was another important date. The night that Sirius ran away.
"Is there anything in general that you would like to know?" he questioned Peter, who looked and most likely felt sort of guilty. He had taken a piece of significant jewellery from Sirius and was now asking his brother for information.
"Just conformations about the date and whatever else you know."
"Well since you said 'conformation' I assume you have already made a theory on what it could be and from what I have heard you are quite smart so I am already sure that it is correct."
"I think that the date is when Sirius ran away to the Potter's house."
"Smarter than I thought. Well done Peter. That is not the only important thing about this ring, though." Regulus added the last sentence s if it was an after thought, something he didn't want to share but found necessary to. He sighed as he pulled out a matching chain with another ring attached but this one with a different constellation. "The one you found was my ring that I was given the day I was born. The one I have is Sirius's the day he was born. The constellations you see are the ones we are named after."
Peter stared at Regulus in almost surprise. He was not expecting Regulus to have a similar one as well.
"We gave them to one another before he left for Hogwarts just in case something happened." Regulus continued, ignoring the look on Peter's face. "It was stupid, really, but that didn't stop us from keeping them apparently."
"Well despite all the shit he talks about you, he actually seems to care. Who knew."
Regulus's attention was now fully on Peter, "What does he say about me?"
Peter knew he messed up but it was too late now, "He talks about how you raised your wand at him and how you always followed you Mother's orders. Some other things about how you only watched but never stood up for him."
"Is that so?" Regulus laughed quietly, "He knows better than that. I know he does. He knows exactly why I never stood up for him. He knows exactly why I picked up my wand but no. I'm the one in the wrong. Well good job Peter, you now have both sides of the story."
Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't seem to like the shift in voice. Regulus couldn't blame him of course, he didn't talk like this very often and he especially didn't share that much with somebody he barely knew. He stuffed the chain back into his pocket and tried to forget the fact he had shared the information that he did.
"I have one more thing for you." Peter muttered, looking at Regulus's expecting expression, "I found an old unsent letter under the necklace that Sirius wrote the morning after he left. I can't exactly remember what it said but it did mention that he wished you the best and that he forgave you for not acting up like him and he just wanted answers."
Regulus simply stared at Peter as emotions flickered through his eyes, choosing his next words carefully. "So not only did you find and take one of Sirius's prized possessions, you also read through an unsent letter that was clearly addressed to me?"
"Yes, but when, or if, you find Sirius don't mention it to him please."
"Who said I was looking for him?" Regulus questioned him. He was still processing what he had just heard. Sirius did care but he didn't send the letter to him. It was two whole years since he ran away and not a single letter or response from him. Regulus was the only writing between them and he was the one that had been told not to communicate with Sirius.
"Well I assumed since you are brothers, that you would at least try."
"You assumed Peter. Despite all the credit I give you, you aren't as smart as they say after all." Regulus leaned closer, "You may have done the planning for the map and you may have gotten the meaning behind the date right but that doesn't mean you have common sense, does it?"
"How did you know about my involvement in the map? You don't even have access to it at all times like us."
"James showed it to me and I managed to see the credits at the back with your signature next to the planning and spells. Who would have thought that James, a person we are both close to, would show me the map with your name on it?" Regulus said, sarcasm lacing every word he spoke. It wasn't exactly his best move but he was getting tired of this conversation. Peter was just being stupid at this point.
"Right, yes. I forgot about that."
"Very obviously."
"I guess I should go now. Have a good rest of your day Regulus."
"Tell James I said hi when you see him." Regulus answered sweetly as he waved off Peter, rolling his eyes when the boy turned away. He couldn't believe that he let himself spill that much to, especially Peter. The same boy who had read through Sirius's stuff and then bothered Regulus about it. That boy was fucking insane. He was smart, sure, but he lacked some critical thinking skills. Spent too much time around James.
Regulus picked his book and resumed his reading as if nothing happened but one line still played it the back of his mind.
Sirius still cared about him.
Or used to. He had no idea now.