mud and blood
“While wizards have a longer lifespan than muggles, there is no feasible way for one to achieve immortality- that is, unless they are willing to give a piece themselves up for it. Magic never truly dies, it is only ever transferred, and if one were to transfer that magic elsewhere, could they live on in that form? See page 164 for more on magical lifespan.”
And that was it.
Regulus huffed, shutting the book with mounting irritation at the lack of information given. Again, he was left with odd mystical musings about different ‘possibilities’ and questions with no answers. Clearly if he had an answer, he wouldn’t be looking through books that were written before toilets were invented.
He heard the stone around the entrance begin to shift and he quickly vanished the books with a snap, sending them up to his room. His magic had started to healthily trickle back in and he was able to manage the sort of magic he had been able to conjure up before.
While his peers likely couldn’t even manage the spell he had just performed, to him- this was still rudimentary. He was loath to admit missed the familiar hum of magic that burned under his skin when he had trained with Bellatrix, that was magic in its most raw and manic state.
“Hello,” James sang as he entered, shutting and locking the door behind him.
“Hi,” he called over his shoulder, already feeling all of his previous worries from his research melting away. James was always a welcome distraction.
James wound his arms around his chest, leaning over his shoulder to see what he was working on but all he saw was a sheet of his notes in which he changed the title to make it look like a half-written Charms assignment. He learned his lesson when Barty interrupted him once and in his haste to clean up, Regulus didn’t have an alibi which resulted in him seeming as though he was just staring at a blank piece of parchment, no quill or anything.
He groaned in his ear, standing up straight and bringing Regulus up with him, “Ugh I don’t want to see or hear anything related to school or classes or work.”
“And why’s that?” Regulus laughed, spinning around in his arms so that they were face to face, raising a hand to run through his hair in hopes of fixing some errant strands but he only managed to mess them up more, if that was even possible.
“McGonagall reminded us that I’m to have our ‘Career meeting’ with her tomorrow and it’s all everyone has been talking about for the past week now,” he said, pulling them over to the sofas by the hearth.
“Well what are you thinking?” he asked, realising that it wasn’t a topic he and James had ever actually broached.
Staying away from talks about the future seemed to be a sort of subconscious agreement between the two of them. They only ever spoke about it in abstract terms- James offhandedly saying he’d take Regulus to Pakistan sometime because he just ‘had’ to see this landmark or Regulus raving about a French restaurant he’d take James to but they never actually spoke about their lives.
They erred away from topics like what careers they’d hold, what they wanted to do right after graduation, where they wanted to live…whether they’d still even be together.
It was no secret that Regulus would be expected to marry a Pureblood girl, pop out heirs, and work at the Ministry, taking up his spot in the Wizengamot and all but on quiet nights, Regulus mind drifted to James, older with some grey in his hair, a small cottage, the voice of childlike laughter drifting in from the open windows. His thoughts never broke past that fantasy stage into what reality could be.
James on the other hand feared the future greatly. He never spoke about it- always getting immensely uncomfortable and redirecting to something else. He hated change and uncertainty and something about growing up and moving on from all he knew caused him to baulk despite the freedom he had in carving out his own life.
So it was entirely understandable after McGonagall’s comment looming over him and now his own gentle interrogation that James attempted to shut him up with a kiss.
Regulus smiled into it, obliging him, before pulling away and asking a touch more seriously, “No really, what do you want to do?”
He flopped back on the sofa, “Well I said I want to be an Auror but my dad’s against the idea. Everytime I talk about it, he refuses, which doesn’t make sense because we need Aurors now more than ever.”
An Auror? It made sense in theory for him to be one but to really see James as one…Regulus shared Fleamont’s sentiment.
“What do you mean?” he asked in reference to James’ latter comment.
He stood up and grabbed his book bag that he abandoned by the door and pulled out a copy of the Prophet dated from a couple of days ago, “Look,” he ordered, holding the crumpled paper out.
‘Attack in Cornwall Leaves Five Muggles Dead and Dozens injured!” the title read in bold and before Regulus could read on, James regaled the story, leaning in conspiratorially despite the privacy they were allotted,
“The Aurors altered their memories to make the Muggles think that the building they were in was on fire due to a gas leak but I wrote to my Dad and he said that they found traces of magic at the scene. They even caught someone there who says he’s a death eater- he didn’t tell me anything more but it’s clear that it’s getting tough out there, this is just one story of dozens,” he said passionately.
The fire in his voice and glint in his eye had Regulus’ heart clenching. James was so good, too good, and the idea of him entering a fiery building made him nauseous, especially if he was pitted against death eaters who didn’t follow a moral code of conduct like he and only knew how to kill.
“I have to agree with your dad James, I don’t think being an Auror-,” he tried but was cut off.
“You can’t be serious!”
“I’m not,” he smiled in an attempt to keep the conversation from escalating and James softened, losing his sharp edge.
“Good thing you’re not,” he grinned, sitting up and pressing their lips together once more in a sweet and soft kiss of acknowledgement and appreciation. Regulus didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of kissing James or the saccharine sensation that thrilled through him every time.
“How is it with him now?” Regulus murmured, wondering if anything had changed in the past week. Today marked a fortnight since Sirius had initially found out and subsequently fought with him in the corridor.
“Well, He’s talking to me now. It’s just weird though, like he’s holding back- I can see it, the way he looks like he’s about to say something before changing his mind and staying quiet. I’d take him yelling at me than whatever this is,” he admitted, throwing a hand up.
Regulus hummed, “Remus said to give it time, I guess that’s all we can do.” There was a moment before he implored, “Has he ever mentioned what he wanted to do in the future?” He never really considered what Sirius’ future might look like now that he was freed from the constraints of being the Black Heir.
“He wants to be an Auror too but I don’t think that comes as a surprise. Dumbledore’s been talking to him about it and-.”
“Dumbledore? What does he have to do with this?” Regulus asked, the mere name of their Headmaster bristling painfully against him but James was completely oblivious to it.
“He’s been talking to the students who expressed an interest in Auror training- with the war outside mounting, he said he’ll mentor us, help us through it, maybe even expedite our training so we can immediately get out there,” James said excitedly.
It only made him more uncomfortable and confused. Why was Dumbledore taking a personal stake in this? And why was he so eager to send children out into this war? He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised since he was willing to turn him into his own little spy but this was just absurd- he had a responsibility to take care of the students of Hogwarts, not turn it into some sort of military school to fight its’ very own student.
James was sly and turned the question back onto him, knowing how much Regulus hated it, “What do you want to do then hmm?”
It was enough to make them both drop the topic entirely, “I say we never leave this room? Deal?”
James pretended to consider before providing him with an emphatic grin, “Deal.”
_________
He was playing Cards in the Common Room when he felt the energy shift and he identified the source being Mulciber walking in alongside an annoyed Snape and a furious Avery.
Avery was whispering intelligibly at Snape who just muttered something in reply but his eyes were glued to Mulciber who had blood dripping out of his crooked nose. He had a wad of tissues held up but the blood quickly seeped through and his large and crooked nose made him look like a failed painting come to life.
“What happened to him?” Dorcas asked, leaning around Regulus to get a better look at him.
Regulus just shrugged, “He’s always picking fights, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone got fed up with it.”
“He had it coming,” Barty agreed, divvying up the cards and spreading them out.
“If he looks like that then I don’t want to know what the other person looks like,” Evan cringed.
It was true- Mulciber was a fierce fighter especially if up against a lesser opponent. He clearly wasn’t scared to use increasingly risky spells, especially now that he was in his final year. Regulus doubted he even cared if he got expelled now.
“I can’t wait till they’re gone,” Barty mumbled.
“Hey,” Dorcas said affronted and they all laughed.
__________
Sirius ground his teeth as he lounged on the sofa of the Common Room, map in hand. It was empty tonight- everyone either at Dinner, in the Library, or galavanting elsewhere in the numerous places to hide around the castle. He saw Remus pacing the stacks, Mary and Lily in a distant classroom, their feet far too close to each other to just be studying, and even Peter sitting right next to Sybill in the Ravenclaw Common Room.
However, his eyes kept flitting back to the two sets of footprints by the Black Lake.
James had left the parchment haphazardly on his bed and Sirius wondered if it was truly an accident or if he figured he didn’t need it anymore considering his little secret was outed- he was guessing it was the latter considering James took special care in hiding it or keeping it on his person before, never daring to make such a careless mistake as this.
Almost three weeks had passed and he still didn’t know where his head was at.
He hadn’t meant to blow up at Regulus that night in the hall but his emotions from the morning were still running high and seeing him in the corridors at night just brought a fresh wave of betrayal and anger that Regulus’ mere existence was enough to throw him off the edge.
He had gone in with the intention of releasing his anger out on the entire situation but his brother had completely blindsided him when he asked “Why do you hate me?”
He considered it- Regulus reminded him of home, Regulus hadn’t gone with him when he left, his brother was just a carbon copy of their parents- but each of those involved his association with something or someone else.
When he looked just at Regulus- he still saw the too-small ten year old who clutched at his mother’s robes when he boarded the Hogwarts express for the first time or the one who had snuck him candy they had stockpiled in their small hidden box when he was locked in a cupboard.
Perhaps he hated him because he couldn’t reconcile that child with who he was today- someone who had the capacity to love and be loved by someone else he considered his brother.
The way James entangled their fingers at the end of the fight in the corridor felt like a line had been drawn- that he had picked his side, but then he considered the silent attempts James had been taking to repair their own friendship since then- the implied offers of snacks that he always shared, bringing over two books instead of one when they were doing their homework, even the small jokes he tried to crack when they were together. No one could doubt that he was trying.
And Sirius hated himself for rejecting the two of them and which only served to push them closer together.
The idea of them dating went against everything he knew, but the idea of forcing them apart didn’t make him feel any better either.
James was in a right state when Regulus had disappeared to gods knows where for the entire weekend after the full- his eyes constantly scanned every room they entered and his leg constantly jumped in anticipation. He had the same look on his face as he had over every holiday since the two of them had gotten together.
At the time he hadn’t realised it was because of Regulus but it all made sense now.
No matter how he felt, at his core he loved James and that would simply never change, he’d never wish him to become ill and lose a chance at whatever he and Regulus had simply because of him- James would never forgive him for that.
If James had tried to stake some claim on Remus and force them apart- Sirius would never be able to accept it.
He still couldn’t help but think what James and Regulus had wasn’t exactly genuine- it couldn’t possibly be anything more than a fling and the thought played like a loop in his mind.
He was always a bit nosy and he felt like maybe he had earned that right now considering the position they were in so it didn’t take much self-convincing to run up to the dorms, take the Invisibility cloak, and head right back out the portrait hole and down to the Lake.
Dodging students while under the cloak had been a skill he had gained and honed over years of stalking and prank pulling so he had easily wound his way out to a courtyard that led to the Lake.
It was freezing outside, the late October-early November Scottish weather coming in and bearing down on them in full force much like McGonagall.
As the still Lake came into view, he remembered Regulus saying something along the lines of being under the Imperius and having been forced into the Lake. His mind had filled with a roaring static sound as memories of his own time under the Imperius assaulted him but he couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Regulus or how James dealt with that.
He’d never forget how Regulus had entered the Hospital Wing, soaking wet and scared, before promptly passing out in just the first few days of term last year. A small part of him always wondered what happened but he just figured he’d never get answers so he let it go- what would’ve happened if he hadn’t? What if he pressed Regulus? Begged him for an answer? What if McGonagall had forced the two of them together instead of Regulus and James?
He toyed with the silver bands on his fingers, suddenly incredibly nervous, and he hoped that maybe the Map was wrong and they weren’t there just so because he didn’t know what exactly he’d come across. He didn’t know whether them being real or not was his preferred outcome.
In the distance, he saw the two of them, nothing more than shapeless blobs and he advanced, his feet already slowing despite the fact that he was still invisible.
This would be the one time he might be able to see them in their most natural state, so that he might decipher what they have together- the two other times involved a life or death situation and a standoff in the middle of the corridor so those weren’t quite bona fide.
As he approached, he saw Regulus, the shorter of the two, tucked against James’ side with his head resting on James’ shoulder. His hand was resting on James’ lap and his lips were moving but Sirius couldn’t catch what he was saying. There was a slight furrow in his brow but he seemed otherwise content.
James was matching Regulus’ position, playing with Regulus’ fingers and gnawing his lip bottom slightly as his brother spoke. His red Converse laden feet bounced incessantly and Sirius could already tell by the body language alone that his concern regarding something was mounting.
He couldn’t help but move closer to catch a glimpse of what they were saying- in the name of research of course.
As he got impossibly close, he could feel a slight hint of warmth that was carried on a breeze towards him and he figured that there must be a warming charm around them that allowed them to be so comfortable out here and he stopped once he could register their voices.
“It won’t happen again,” Regulus all but whispered, forcing Sirius to strain his ears.
“You don’t know that,” James frowned.
“Well I don’t know what you want me to say. You know I have no control over it,” he remarked snidely and at that, a tendon in James’ jaw jumped as he tensed.
As Sirius eyed them, his eyes caught on the jumper Regulus was wearing- it was his. It was slightly too big on Regulus and Sirius remembered that it was just one of the many articles of clothing he had left at home in his haste to leave…he hadn’t realised that some of his clothes may have survived his departure.
“I want you to- to say or do something!” James spoke emphatically.
“What's going on?,” Regulus implored, taking his eyes off the Lake and up to James’ face, tenderly cupping his cheek and turning it towards him so their eyes would connect. It was such a warm touch and James’ willingly went along with it, the icy exterior he had developed suddenly melting as he tilted his head into the touch slightly.
“I’m sorry, it’s just- it feels like we’re running out of time. When I graduate and you’re still here- and after that- I just don’t want to lose you,” James murmured in a stunted fashion, running a hand through his hair messily.
Sirius was stunned at the honesty shining through his words.
“Hey, you won’t lose me okay? We’ll just work through it. I’ll figure out a way to send letters and everything,” Regulus chuckled.
He felt like he was watching two entirely new versions of the people he thought he knew like the back of his hand.
James was practically the king of optimism- he could fall into a ditch and still find the good in it. He knew it was sometimes hard for James to keep it up after some time but still- he usually tended to manage it. Regulus, on the other hand, was always rather negative or a ‘realist’ as he liked to call it but here he was, brightening the dark depths of James’ words.
Regulus' words about Sirius not knowing him rang in his head. He started pulling at the grass by his feet and he hadn’t even realised he had sat down as he was so enraptured in their conversation.
“But your owl is a demon,” James lightly laughed.
“Eh, I figured it out last time didn’t I? I’ll just ask my friends to kidnap me more often,” Regulus joked and they both laughed at that.
Sirius didn’t know what that meant- he didn’t grasp much of the context of their conversation but all their lingering looks and closeness told Sirius all he needed to know.
This was no harmless fling to be forgotten in a few weeks- what he just witnessed was only a snapshot of a hundred similar moments, of months of shared kisses and promises, hopes and dreams shared, and a bond that went as deep as any other tying them together.
James loved loudly and proudly- his heart big enough to capture everyone, but this was something else entirely, as though Regulus was something special, in a category outside of everyone else, that James got to cherish and nurture all on his own.
“Sirius might like something from you too, you could write to him as well…”
“Yeah maybe,” Regulus replied but Sirius saw the way his face tightened when he looked away, the way he chewed on the inside of his cheek..
“Or you could just come home with m-.”
“James,” Regulus spoke instantly, cutting him off.
“I know love,” he said airily in response, like this was a conversation they had many times before.
Sirius remembered the way he and James had danced around the topic as well before he finally bit and gave in. It had only taken him being on the brink of death to do it but he did accept and it was the best decision he’d ever made. To see him extending the same offer to Regulus was certainly unexpected.
James leaned in to kiss Regulus and he took that as his cue to leave, turning away and bounding back to the castle as quickly and soundlessly as he could.
Only when he got back to the dorm did he loose a breath.
“Sneaking around were we?” Remus asked from his bed with a single raised brow.
He nodded mutely, dropping his head back against the door and shutting his eyes.
_________
When Regulus got back to his dorm, he was met with the imploring faces of Barty, Evan, Dorcas, and Pandora staring back up at him.
“What’s going on here?” he questioned, stepping in and shutting the door behind him.
“We’ve all been spending far too much time apart,” Pandora instantly complained.
“So we’re having a sleepover!” Barty jumped up, finishing her sentence.
A smile instantly pulled at his lips as he stepped further into the room and as he got a good look at all of them, he saw they were all wearing matching pyjama sets.
Dorcas threw one right at him, a green and blue plaid set, “Get changed, we were just about to play a game of Exploding Snaps.”
“Without me!” he scoffed, already heading towards the bathroom to change.
Once changed, he settled between Evan and Pandora on the floor, instantly diving into the game.
Hours passed in a mess of laughs, accusations of cheating, and limbs when a particularly tense game came to an end. He didn’t even know how much time had passed, the lack of windows giving the effect of some ephemeral space where time didn’t exist.
He had to agree that he felt like he had been spending less time with them and while they were still as close as ever, he wanted to soak up these carefree moments with them as much as he could because no matter how his relationship with James blossomed or his relationship with Sirius started to defrost- these four were his everything, always were and always will be and he wanted to savour these moments.
When they banned games because Pandora and Barty got a bit too competitive, ending in a shouting match of Pandora accusing Barty of cheating and him sticking his fingers in his ears to block her out and shouting in return, they separated.
Dorcas and Barty ended up on his bed with Pandora as Dorcas braided a section of her hair and Barty tried and failed to copy her motions- his side significantly worse than hers.
Him and Evan however, were on another bed, doing their assigned astronomy charts together, mixing business and pleasure.
At one point, Evan’s hands stilled, his quill pooling ink onto the parchment all over Venus and Regulus tapped his hand quickly so that his work wasn’t completely ruined.
“You okay?” he muttered, trying to decipher between dozens of tiny identical circles that were meant to be a constellation.
When Evan didn’t reply, he finally looked up at him to meet his blue eyes, wide and alert.
“Yeah?” he prompted.
“Barty and I are together,” he rushed out, the words mushing together hastily.
He didn’t know whether or not this was supposed to be news to him…it was rather obvious wasn’t it?
“Okay,” he said slowly, his voice lifting slightly at the end as he put his quill down.
“We were going to tell you but then everything happened with you and James and then Sirius and we didn’t think it would’ve been right then,” he elucidated nervously.
He didn’t want to shut Evan down by saying he already knew, seeing how this was clearly weighing on him so he just smiled with a, “I’m happy for you both.”
“Really?” he sagged in relief, his eyes darting over to Barty who was slowly improving with Pandora’s hair, making it look less like a bird’s nest and more of a general mess.
“Of course, I always saw something between you two to be honest.”
“But you and Barty-”
“Don’t even mention that,” he laughed, bumping his shoulder, “All I ask is that you don’t do anything while I’m in the dorm.”
Evan guffawed, “We would never.”
Regulus cringed at the memory but saved Evan the embarrassment by telling him that no actually, they would.
“We’re all in relationships, who would’ve thought?” he mused.
“Certainly not me,” he reflected honestly.
“Reg, my dad sent me a letter,” Evan said after a beat, much quieter than before, “He said that we had to ‘stay vigilant.’ He couldn’t say much just in case the letter got caught but he did say that all of the kids were ‘taking up the mantle’ and that we were to prepare for the ‘honour.”
Evan’s words were dark as he considered them. The others in the room were none the wiser, laughing about something he hadn’t caught and Regulus gave up on his work in favour of analysing this.
“All the kids?” he asked, wanting to clarify.
“I’m assuming he’s talking about the Mulciber's, Avery’s, Yaxley’s, all the pureblood Slytherins. You know the circles they run in. He made it sound like they were all marked and ready.”
“Surely they’re not?”
Evan’s doubtful gaze told him what he needed to know.
The Dark Lord was clearly moving quickly and his methods reflected Dumbledore’s funnily enough- the way he recruited kids to his cause, using them as pawns in his own war. It was discomfiting while also entirely predictable.
“The whole reason I was scared about being with Barty is you know how he is, he’ll do anything for those he cares about, and it’s only gotten worse since we made it official. He keeps saying that we’ll always stay together no matter what and I’m scared he’s going to try and follow me into this too,” he worried. “I didn’t even tell him about the letter- I can’t risk him knowing.”
“James is the same,” Regulus shared, “But we won’t let that happen okay? And I’ll do whatever I can to protect you too-.”
“Reg-”
“Evan, I care about you just as much as I do all of them. We’ll make it work,” he stopped Evan before he could try to discourage him.
He didn’t know how far he could go to stay true to his vow but he knew his family was much closer with the dark Lord than the Rosiers- he could try to step up to ensure Evan could stay in the shadows for as long as he could.
“Come judge who did a better job!” Pandora called them over.
They both shared one last look before going over and joining them as though all was well.
Because it would be if he had any say in it.
________
He was walking back from a slightly agonising Occlumency lesson with James a few days later in the Room of Requirement when he heard scuffling and shouts in the corridor right by the Slytherin dorms. He would have to pass by the commotion to get to his destination so he just hoped he could slip by and hope they could agree on a pact of mutually assured destruction if they tried to tell on him for being out past curfew.
When he turned the corner though, he saw it was a couple and he could just make out Mulciber’s stocky frame closing in on someone unfamiliar to him.
“Call yourself a filthy Mudblood slut!” Mulciber howled with laughter, uncaring about how loud he was being.
He paused his steps slowly, watching before proceeding, letting the shadows obscure him.
“I’m a filthy Mudblood slut,” the female voice intoned monotonously.
“Now kiss me like one too,” he crooned.
The girl leaned in and Mulciber grabbed her by the arms and shoved her against the wall, the thud lough enough to echo off the stone walls. She stood as still as possible while he groped and grabbed at her with his meaty hands.
She remained completely still, her eyes glazed over as she stared at the opposite wall, the only change in her actions was the pucker of her lips in response to Mulciber’s orders.
Regulus’ blood boiled as the realisation that she was under the Imperius curse gripped him, his own memory being under Mulciber’s foot rising up like a tidal wave, threatening to pull him under.
It was just like that night he almost killed Mulciber, his anger roiling restlessly within him, and this time- James wasn’t here to stop him.
“Get the fuck off of her,” Regulus instantly shouted, stepping into the light that reflected off the Lake, his wand already levelled at his face. He shot a glance towards the girl and recognised her to be Mary MacDonald.
Her robes were already askew, her uniform top unbuttoned halfway, and she just stared blankly at him and bile rose up in his throat at the thought of what Mulciber had done before he had even arrived.
Mulciber whirled around on him, his face already turning beet red in anger, “You never know when to leave well enough alone do you? You’re lucky I haven’t killed you for what you did last year!” he shouted.
“Lucky? You fucking jumped me like a coward,” he spat. “Drop the curse,” he ordered, gesturing at Mary.
“I don’t think I will,” he cajoled, flicking a finger under Mary’s chin before pulling his own wand out of his pocket and aiming it at Regulus.
He wanted to incapacitate him already but he needed Mulciber to drop the curse or else she’d be stuck under it for even longer than she already was. He knew what it was like to be forced into the backseat of your own mind- exacted to watch yourself perform at the whims of others, and it grated against him.
Regulus pushed even the closer, his wand just an inch away from Mulciber’s neck, “Drop the fucking spell.”
“Careful Black, too close and I’ll cast it on you as well, don’t worry, I like watching too,” he sneered and Regulus recoiled in disgust at the insinuation.
Mulciber pushed forward, physically pushing Regulus out of his way but his brute force was no match to Regulus’ magic which flared in outrage and he used his wand to electrocute him and the zap racked through his body making him twitch awkwardly but he still remained standing.
“Curse him,” he shouted at Mary who instantly pulled her wand out and began attacking him.
He couldn’t fight her- it wouldn’t be fair, but she was advancing on him and he fought to keep his eyes on the both of them.
“Incarcerous!,” he spat horribly and ropes leaped up from the floor and wrapped around her, keeping her down. Mulciber had only ordered her to hex him and she was powerless to defend herself.
“Can’t fight for yourself? I don’t imagine your master would be too impressed hearing about that,” Regulus forced out.
Mulciber growled before casting some unknown red hex that sliced through his arm, sending blistering heat up and down his forearm.
“Can’t imagine your little boyfriend would be too happy to hear about this- James was it?” he teased.
Anger blinded him and he had to withhold the urge to take away Mulciber’s vocal cords and instead settled on using force to achieve his goal.
Regulus spoke a flurry of random jinxes and hexes to send his way and distract him but he silently cast the spells he had learned in his books on dark magic and they bypassed his shield easily and landed true. If Regulus remembered correctly, one would cause pus boils to erupt on his skin, the other would turn his blood into mud, and one wrapped a thick rope right around his throat- designed to press right on the carotid artery that pulsed under his skin.
He was thrown off his feet into a kneeling position and his hands scrabbled at his throat to pull the rope free.
“Don’t test me. Drop the fucking spell or I will leave you here to die,” Regulus finally spoke with cool calm, his anger settling comfortably on him like a cloak.
Mulciber’s face remained angry and red but panic finally shone in his eyes as the effects of the spell were likely starting to sink in.
Regulus flicked his wrist and the rope bound tighter around him and he gasped. His wand was dropped on the floor uselessly by his side and Regulus snatched it up and held it between his own hands, “I’ll snap it if I have to.”
“You wouldn’t,” the bully choked and he had to admire his endurance.
“Tell me, what did you call Mary just now?” he hissed, as he leaned down so that they were eye level.
“A fucking mudblood that had it coming!” he shouted.
“Interesting,” he hummed, twirling his wand in his hand as he approached.
Regulus grabbed his hand then and flipped it so that his palm was facing up and using his wand, he drew a thick line across it and a mix of mud and blood poured from the wound, “Would you look at that, you’re a mudblood too!” he cheered, laughing gleefully right in his face.
He cursed, “Give me my wand! I’ll fucking do it!” he hoarsed out.
Regulus dropped it back in his hand and watched closely as he aimed his wand at Mary and spoke the counter curse.
Mary sagged instantly and Regulus quickly vanished the ropes and knelt down by her side, “Are you okay?” he had to ask but it was pointless- of course she wasn’t.
She was distraught, tears instantly pooling in her dark brown eyes that looked widely up at him for only a moment before refocusing on Mulciber, narrowing angrily. Her body was wracked with tremors and she was unsteady on her feet as she grounded herself. Regulus offered her his hand to help her up but she refused, likely not wanting to touch anyone or be touched in turn.
Mulciber stared up at her as she approached but she didn’t pull out her wand or even shout at him, she just reared her arm back and punched him right in the nose and sludge poured out coating his mouth and teeth. She punched him twice more, screaming as she pounded him once on each side of the head, before turning and walking away with her head held high, leaving them alone in the corridor.
He suddenly ascertained that Mary must’ve been the one to initially break his nose all those weeks ago and this was his idea of revenge.
He slowly came down from his high as he leaned down close towards Mulciber’s bloody face, hearing his pathetic moans and whimpers, “Say a fucking word to anyone and I will not hesitate to end your life. And if I ever see you even think of the Imperius curse again, I will force you to drown yourself and happily watch. Arsehole.”
He turned on his heel and walked into the Common Room, only dropping the curses on him at the last minute and once inside, he hastily stitched up his arm.
He had probably damaged his magic even more tonight but it was well worth it- someone needed to put Mulciber back in his place and if he was the one to do it then all the better for him.
Surely this would come back to bite him in the arse but what did it matter when he could at least enjoy this victory tonight?
He slept well that night and forced the thought of how reminiscent of Bellatrix he had been tonight to the far reaches of his mind.
_______
He walked to Potions the following morning just as he did every day but this time, he faced James, Sirius, and the rest of their group approaching from the end of the corridor.
All of their eyes were glued on him and he was distinctly uncomfortable from having the whole of their attention latched onto him. He hadn’t even looked at Sirius in almost a month, too afraid at what he’d see, and now his steely eyes bore into him almost painfully but he didn’t drop his gaze for the fleeting hope that maybe that look meant something.
He slowed down as he reached the door but suddenly, Lily broke out from behind them and jumped forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly and he was stunned, his arms locked under her crushing grip.
“Thank you,” she whispered harshly in his ear.
The once busy corridor went silent as she wrapped herself around him, her hair getting caught in his mouth and her breath hot on his neck.
She pulled back, composing herself and straightened the collar of his robes for him awkwardly, “I- sorry I just, thank you, truly,” she spoke.
“I didn’t do anything,” he replied awkwardly and he met the eyes of the surrounding students who jumped at his attention and scurried off.
“Mary told me what happened and she’s getting cared for right now but she told me about what you did- how you helped her. And I never properly thanked you for helping me with Snape, I know that must’ve been hard for you seeing as he’s from your house and all,” she shrugged, tucking her fiery red hair behind her ear.
She was rather pretty and her eyes were striking, green with flecks of gold around her iris, and he knew he wasn’t irrational for being jealous of her when it came to James.
“Unfortunately, most people from my house are pricks, it wasn’t even a question,” he said earnestly and she nodded, giving him one last beaming smile before turning back and heading into the classroom.
Slughorn arrived soon after and the corridor quickly emptied as students went to class but Sirius remained rooted to the spot and Regulus waited as well, mentally preparing for whatever it was that his brother had to say to him- he had been waiting for so long that he’d accept just about anything now.
When it was only the two of them left, Sirius shuffled a step closer, glancing at the open doorway to Potions before whispering, “Wanna bunk?”
Regulus nodded wordlessly, trepidation and hope swirling madly within him.