Chapter 4
“So you’re not dead,”
“Right.”
“And you’ve been in hiding this whole time,”
“Yes.”
“Trying to destroy these... Horcruxes?”
“Yup.”
“And you just stumbled upon Harry Potter, who was supposed to be hidden and in Dumbledore’s care,”
“He wasn’t exactly, but yes.”
“AND you’re trying to free your traitorous brother from Azkaban?”
“He’s not a traitor.”
Mary leaned back in her chair, raising an eyebrow. Regulus glanced over at Remus who had done nothing but enchant a little paper dragon for Harry to chase and stare in stony silence.
“So Voldemort just found the Potters on his own then?” Mary challenged.
“I didn’t say there wasn’t a traitor, I just meant it wasn’t Sirius,” Regulus explained, hoping that they would catch on. Mary narrowed her eyes but said nothing. They sat in silence for several tense moments. Finally, Remus spoke.
“Who then?”
Regulus took a deep breath, unsure of how they would react. “Pettigrew.”
Remus snorted. “Pete? Really? You expect me to believe James’ number one fan betrayed him?”
“It’s not like he and Sirius were on worse terms,” Regulus pointed out. “And Peter had the motive.”
“Oh really?” Remus narrowed his eyes. “And what motive would that be?”
“He was 19 fighting in a war he was too weak to be in, all his friends were moving on and leaving him behind-”
“We didn’t leave him behind!”
“You always left him behind, even I knew that,” Regulus said quietly, hoping not to trigger Remus’s infamous temper. To his surprise, Remus just looked away for a moment and nodded.
“I suppose we did lose sight of him more often than not. But would he really go that far?”
“Anyone would go that far if they were scared enough,” Mary piped up. “And Peter’s always been..flighty.”
“But James trusted him,” Remus insisted. “We all did.”
“Sirius didn’t.”
They went quiet, considering Mary’s words. She was right, Sirius had never fully trusted Peter. He’d said as much to Regulus when they were younger and still living in Grimmauld Place.
Over in the sitting room, Harry caught his paper dragon. Remus didn’t take his eyes off of Regulus as he flicked his wand and the dragon flew up and out of Harry’s hands, so the boy could chase it again.
“Why tell us this now?” He asked, clearly suspicious.
“Because I need to break Sirius out, destroy these horcruxes, and find Peter and help Harry and I cannot do it alone.” Regulus stared resolutely at the wall as he spoke, ignoring the part of him that begged him to walk out and pretend this interaction never happened.
“What do you mean, you have to find Peter? Peter is dead, that’s the whole reason you’re brother is in jail,” Mary was looking at Regulus as if his years of isolation had damaged his memory.
“Well, we thought he was dead,” Regulus paused, gauging their reactions. Mary tilted her head in confusion, but Remus’s eyes widened in understanding. “He was recently spotted in Diagon Alley by… an informant of mine.”
“Informant? What is this, a crime drama?” Mary snorted. When Regulus frowned, she just shook her head. “Never mind. When you say he was spotted, you mean it was actually him or someone who looked like him?”
“He’s living in animagus form, but it was him.”
“How are we supposed to believe you? I want to help, really, I do but you show up here out of nowhere despite the concealment charms I put up and try to tell us that our dead friend isn’t actually dead but instead the reason things ended the way they did?” Mary rubbed her temples, and Regulus started to worry that all this had been in vain.
“I believe him.” Remus finally stopped staring into Regulus’s soul to look over at Mary. They seemed to have a silent conversation before both of them nodded and turned back to face Regulus.
“I trust Remus. If he says you're telling the truth, then fine. I’ll help any way I can.”
Regulus almost slumped onto the table in relief.
“Thank you,” he said with a nod.
“And so will Remus,” Mary added with a pointed look at the man in question.
“I’ll help catch Peter.”
“You’ll help with everything,” she corrected. After an intense staring contest, Remus sighed in defeat.
“I’ll help with everything.”
“Help with what?” Regulus almost jumped out of his chair when Harry, seemingly bored of chasing the dragon, appeared right next to him.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to put a bell around your neck,” Regulus muttered, regaining his composure. “We’re going to go... Visit my brother.”
“You need help to visit your brother?” Harry tilted his head in confusion.
“You’ll understand when you meet him,” Remus said, getting up from his chair and stretching.
“I get to meet him?” Harry stared up at Remus, who looked down at the boy in shock.
“Of course you do, he’s your godfather-”
“WHAT?” Harry screeched, before turning back to Regulus with what was supposed to be an intimidating glare, his cheeks full of air like a pufferfish. “You said you’d tell me everything! You didn’t tell me I had a godfather!”
In all fairness, Regulus had forgotten Sirius was Harry’s godfather.
“What’s a godfather?” Harry asked, turning once again to Remus. The man laughed before crouching down and getting on Harry’s level.
“Well, he’s the one that’s supposed to take care of you right now. He’s like… an extra dad. Sirius is very busy making sure you’re safe, but we’re going to get him soon, and he’s gonna love you,” Remus explained with a smile.
“Are you sure?” Harry whispered.
“Absolutely,” Remus whispered back.
Regulus smiled in spite of himself. This is what Harry needed. A family, people who will take care of him and help him. It’s what he would have had with James and Lily. It’s what he should have had even after they were gone.
“I have a favor to ask,” Regulus looked at Mary while Harry and Remus kept whispering about godfathers. She nodded, gesturing for him to continue. “I need to talk to Albus, and I don’t want to bring Harry.”
“I’m assuming you're going to ask what the fuck he was thinking when he left Harry with Muggles?” She guessed with a smirk.
“Essentially, yes. From what he’s told me his Aunt and Uncle were… less than stellar when it came to caring for Harry. He didn’t deserve that,” Regulus explained as he watched Harry as he tried in vain to tackle Remus to the ground. The man just laughed and lifted Harry into the air, making the boy squeal.
“Are you going now?”
“I’d like to, yes but-”
“We’ll watch Harry as long as you need. You can use our Floo. On one condition.” Mary leaned forward suddenly Regulus felt a lot smaller than he was. “When you get back, tell me what old Dumbledore has planned. I’m not letting this kid get pulled into that old man’s schemes like we were.”
“Thank you, Mary,” Regulus said sincerely. She smiled and walked over to him just to clap him on the shoulder.
“Ah, don’t thank me yet. We got a long road ahead of us, Baby Black.”
Regulus looked over at Harry again.
“Yes, I suppose we do.”