Regulus stumbled through the Forbidden Forest, his wand flickering weakly in the darkness. The branches of the trees clawed at him as he pushed his way deeper into the shadows. He had no idea where he was going, only that he had to find James.
The memory of James' stricken face when he had stumbled into the astronomy tower earlier that night haunted Regulus. He had never seen his friend so broken, so vulnerable. James had always been the invincible one, the leader, the shining star of their group. But something had happened, something terrible, and now James was lost in a way that even Regulus couldn't fix.
He pushed aside a thorny bush and stumbled into a clearing. And there, lying on the ground like a broken doll, was James.
Regulus' heart constricted in his chest as he rushed to his friend's side. James was barely conscious, his glasses askew and his clothes torn. Regulus felt a surge of anger and hatred towards whoever had done this to James, but he pushed it down, focusing instead on the task at hand.
He lifted James into his arms, feeling the weight of his friend's brokenness as if it were his own. James was limp and unresponsive, his breathing shallow and ragged. Regulus cradled him close, feeling the tremors that shook James' body.
As he carried James back towards the castle, Regulus felt the weight of responsibility settle onto his shoulders. He was the one who had to be strong now, who had to keep James safe and protected. He felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he refused to falter.
The journey back to the castle was long and arduous, but Regulus never wavered. He kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, his mind racing with thoughts of what he could do to help James, to ease his pain.
When they finally reached the castle, Regulus was exhausted, but he refused to let go of James. He carried him all the way to the infirmary, where Madam Pomfrey took charge of his care.
Regulus stood by James' side as he was examined, feeling a fierce protectiveness surge through him. He would never let anyone hurt James again, never let him suffer in silence.
As the night wore on and James drifted in and out of consciousness, Regulus stayed by his side, holding his hand and murmuring words of comfort. He knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was ready for whatever lay ahead.
The days that followed were filled with pain, anger, and confusion. James was in and out of consciousness, his body bruised and battered. Regulus stayed by his side, refusing to leave him alone for even a moment. He brought him books to read, food to eat, and a listening ear whenever James wanted to talk.
Regulus knew that he couldn't take away the pain that James was feeling, but he could be there for him, be a constant presence in his life. He would listen to James' fears and worries, offer a shoulder to cry on, and be a voice of reason when everything seemed hopeless.
It wasn't easy, but Regulus was determined. He saw how James' eyes lit up when he entered the room, how his breathing calmed when he held his hand. He knew that he was making a difference, even if it was just a small one.
And then, one day, James opened up to him. He told him everything - the details of the assault, the shame he felt, the fear of being judged. Regulus listened, his heart aching for his friend.
But he also felt something else - a fierce anger towards the person who had hurt James. He wanted to hunt them down, to make them pay for what they had done. But he knew that it wasn't his place, that James needed support and comfort, not vengeance.
James collapsed onto the ground, his body shaking with sobs. Regulus rushed to his side, holding him tight as he cried.
"It's okay," he whispered, stroking James' hair. "You're safe now. You're not alone."
James clung to him like a lifeline, his body wracked with sobs. "It hurts," he whispered. "It hurts so much."
Regulus held him, rocking him back and forth as he cried. He knew that there were no words that could take away James' pain, no way to undo the damage that had been done.
After the confrontation, Regulus became even more protective of James. He made sure to check in on him regularly, asking him how he was feeling.
Regulus also made a point of keeping James busy, inviting him to attend Quidditch games or study sessions with their friends. He knew that keeping James occupied would help him focus on something other than the trauma he had experienced.
When James had nightmares, Regulus would stay up with him, holding him and talking to him until he fell back asleep. He never once made James feel like a burden, always reassuring him that he was there for him no matter what.
And when James had panic attacks, Regulus was always there to calm him down, talking him through his breathing exercises and reminding him that he was safe.
It wasn't always easy for Regulus, watching him suffer. But he never once wavered in his support, never once gave up on James. He knew that healing was a process, that it would take time and patience, but he was willing to do whatever it took to help James find his way back to himself.
Regulus sat in stunned silence as he heard James utter those words, "I wish I didn't wake up." He felt a chill run down his spine, a deep sense of fear rising up inside him. He knew that James was still struggling with the trauma he had experienced, but he had never heard him sound so defeated before.
For a moment, Regulus was frozen, unsure of what to say or do. But then he gathered himself and turned to James, his voice shaking slightly.
"James, what you just said..."
But James just laughed it off, as if he hadn't said anything concerning at all.
"I'm fine, Reg," he said, his voice light and breezy. "Just having a bad day. It's nothing to worry about."
Regulus knew better than to push too hard, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. He knew that James was trying to protect him, to spare him the burden of his pain, but he also knew that he couldn't just sit back and watch as he suffered in silence.
Regulus stayed with James through the long, difficult days of recovery. He watched as his friend slowly regained his strength, both physical and emotional. He saw the light return to his eyes, the spark of life that had been missing since the attack.
Regulus knew that he would never forget what had happened to James, that it would always be a part of their shared history. But he also knew that they had come through it together, that they had found strength in each other when everything else had seemed lost.
As they walked back to their dormitory, James leaned heavily on Regulus' shoulder, his hand clasped tightly in his. And Regulus knew that he would always be there for him, no matter what. Because that's what they do- they hold each other up, even when everything else is falling apart.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Regulus and James fell back into their old routine, laughing and joking with their friends, attending classes, and playing Quidditch. But there was a new closeness between them, a bond that had been forged in the fires of hardship.
Regulus watched as James grew stronger with each passing day, his confidence returning, his smile becoming more genuine. And he knew that he had played a part in that, that his unwavering support and love had helped James heal.
But there were still moments when the memory of the assault would come back, like a dark cloud hovering over them. Regulus would see the fear in James' eyes, the tremble in his hands, and he knew that they still had a long way to go.
And yet, they had each other. Regulus was there to hold James when he needed comfort, to listen when he needed to talk, and to offer words of encouragement when everything seemed bleak.
And James was there for Regulus too, in his own way. He saw the pain that he carried with him, the guilt and shame that had been eating away at him for years. And he listened, without judgment, as Regulus poured out his heart and soul.
In each other, they had found a refuge from the storms of life, a safe haven where they could be themselves without fear of rejection. They had found a kind of love that was deeper than friendship, more precious than any gem.
Regulus knew that he would always be there for James, no matter what. And he knew that James would always be there for him too. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, holding on to each other like two ships in a stormy sea.
For they had found something truly rare and beautiful, a bond that had grown stronger in the face of adversity. And in that, Regulus knew that he was truly blessed.