Chapter 20
November 8, 1975
Remus
Remus wakes up with the worst hangover he’s had in a long while. He stretches his back and reaches for the water standing on his bedside table, emptying the glass greedily. Barty and Evan are comfortably settled on Evan’s bed, Dorcas snoring on Barty’s. A black cat curled up on the green rug by Remus’ bed, snuggled into a ball and softly nuzzling.
Remus dresses up quickly, grabs a pack of cigarettes and quietly heads out. Autumn wind awakens him instantly, and it takes Remus a few long seconds before he successfully inhales the first nicotine of the day. His legs carry him mindlessly to the Black Lake where he watches the sun rise and gradually lighten up the grand castle stretched out in front of him.
Remus’ mind wanders back to the Halloween night. He’s never witnessed Sirius lose his ability to speak before – usually getting him to shut up is the real challenge. A nervous Sirius is an incredibly rare phenomenon, and the fact that Remus is the one who made him speechless – well, it makes his heart skip a beat or two. He wonders if there might be more to Sirius’ unnatural behaviour than meets the eye.
Remus puts out his second cigarette and heads back to Hogwarts. It may be a Saturday, but it doesn’t mean he can’t squeeze a couple of extra hours of sleep into his busy-learning-about-dark-magic schedule.
In the afternoon Barty suggests that they go to Hogsmead. ‘To sober up, of course,’ he says, which in Barty’s language actually stands for ‘to get knackered’. No one protests, so a couple of hours later Remus and his friends end up at the Three Broomsticks, with a pint of butterbeer each.
‘I don’t understand how you can be partners with Snape,’ Barty shakes his head. ‘He’s a sore loser.’
‘It’s not like I signed up for it willingly,’ Dorcas complains.
‘He should be expelled.’
‘Wishful thinking, Rosier.’
‘Objective thinking, Crouch. He’s equally as guilty as Avery and Mulciber.’
‘Look!’ Barty exclaims. ‘Are you seeing this?’ he points behind Evan’s back.
‘Seeing what?’ he looks around.
‘Zero fucks given. Evan,’ Barty sighs, ‘no one cares.’
‘I do. Next time one of ours can end up in Potter’s shoes, and what’s then? Would you be okay if someone else got away with that?’
‘We’ll see about it if it happens, Evan.’
‘I agree with Crouch,’ Remus cuts in. ‘No one has any proofs that Snivellius was involved. It’s a dead end.’
‘What about justice?’ Evan insists.
‘You’re so, so naїve,’ Barty shakes his head.
‘Let’s change the topic,’ Pandora says as Evan’s jaw visibly tenses. ‘Who wants to have their fortune read?’
‘No one, Dora,’ Regulus replies.
‘Actually, I do,’ Dorcas raises her hand.
‘Wonderful,’ Pandora smiles.
‘Does anyone want to go for a stroll?’ Remus asks. ‘I have a headache, need some fresh air.’
‘What you really need, Lupin, is a second round of drinks. Have another pint!’
‘I’m afraid I have to decline this proposal, Crouch. I already have more alcohol in my blood than I should.’
‘It’s a good thing, no?’
‘No, Barty, it’s not,’ Remus sighs and turns to Regulus.
‘Fancy a walk?’
‘Sure.’
Regulus gives Pandora and Dorcas a goodbye hug and follows Remus outside. The streets are full of other witches and wizards, and for a while Remus and Regulus have to maneuver through the crowd before finally hitting an empty alley. They slow down eventually, and once Remus is sure there’s no one within earshot, he breaks the silence.
‘You’ve hid it already?’ he asks.
‘Yes, right after you left this morning,’ Regulus replies. ‘It’s safe and sound now.’
‘What about Bella? Will you just hand it to her or…?’
‘Of course, not. I’ll tell her I’ve hidden it in the room of requirement. She’ll need a proof, so she’ll see it for herself, and once she’s gone, I’ll run the same scheme I did with the snitch.’
‘Bold of you, Black,’ Remus whistles. ‘You have my approval.’
‘Not that I needed it, but thanks,’ Regulus grins. ‘And thanks for helping out with all of…this. I don’t know what I would do without you. And I mean it.’
‘I’ll always be there for you, Reg. It’s the least I can do,’ Remus says reassuringly.
Just as they turn around the corner, Remus is knocked off his feet.
‘Fuck,’ he curses as Regulus helps him get up from the ground. He looks around but sees no one, and his blood starts boiling with anger.
‘Black, I know it’s you, take the goddamn cloak off,’ Remus shouts.
‘You were actually supposed to thank me, you tosser,’ Regulus raises his voice.
‘It’s not you, it’s your brother,’ Remus hisses.
If he had any ounce of common sense at all, it left him the moment his ass touched the asphalt. Remus starts hitting the air around him, cursing and groaning, while Regulus tries to keep his distance.
‘You are insane,’ Regulus concludes.
‘M’not,’ Remus murmurs. ‘See these muddy steps? It’s Sirius’.’
Regulus raises an eyebrow.
‘And you know it because…?’
‘It’s obvious!’
‘Let’s just go, Remus,’ Regulus sighs and grabs Remus’ hand.
Remus grumbles but gives up. He looks around once more, trying to take in the whole scene, and, finding nothing unusual besides the muddy steps, meekly follows Regulus.
‘I’m going to the Gryffindor Tower,’ Remus announces at dinner.
Regulus puts away the cutlery. ‘Don’t tell me it’s because of the incident in Hogsmead.’
Remus purses his lips.
‘Remus,’ Regulus starts, ‘you are supposed to be rational and sensible here, so tell me how we ended up in a situation with the roles reversed?’
‘I am being rational and sensible. That’s why I’m going to teach your brother a lesson. What if he overheard our conversation? Haven’t you thought of that?’
‘Maybe Sirius knocking you off your feet is the friends we made along the way,’ Regulus murmurs. ‘And I need you tonight, by the way.’
‘What for?’
‘I’ve never been to a room of requirement, figured you might help me with that?’ Regulus says suggestively.
‘’Course. After I go to th-’
‘Lupin,’ he hears from behind. A girl in Ravenclaw uniform holds out an envelope to him.
‘That’s for you.’
‘Thanks,’ Remus says. ‘Who’s-’
But the girl doesn’t listen to him. She turns around and walks back to her table, leaving Remus and Regulus equally as bewildered.
‘Who’s it from?’ Regulus finishes the question, this time addressed to Remus himself.
‘Dunno. There’s no name or anything,’ Remus says confusedly.
‘Just open it. Maybe the letter inside is signed.’
Remus shrugs his shoulders and opens the envelop, revealing a silver snake ring and a note:
‘See you at the Astronomy Tower at midnight.’
‘What does it say? Is it signed?’ Regulus tries to peek.
‘It’s nothing,’ Remus lies. ‘Someone tried to pull a prank on me. Forget it.’
‘If you say so,’ Regulus replies. ‘Now, shall we find the room of requirement?’
Sirius
‘I can’t believe they didn’t allow to reschedule the match,’ Sirius complains. ‘That’s unfair!’
‘It’s for the better,’ Mary says. ‘We would definitely lose without James.’
‘Yeah, and now we’re behind Slytherin and Ravenclaw,’ Sirius sighs. Mary throws a spiteful look at him.
‘I’m not a monster, Macdonald,’ he raises up his hands. ‘I’m probably more worried about Prongs than all of you altogether,’ he states. ‘But the competitive spirit in me never dies.’
‘Why aren’t you focusing on your Astronomy homework, then?’ Mary clicks her pen. ‘Where’s your competitive spirit?’
‘You’re playing with fire, Macdonald,’ Sirius squints his eyes and shakes his head. ‘This homework is a child’s play, I’m not wasting my time on it.’
‘Naturally,’ Mary rolls her eyes.
‘That’s just facts,’ Sirius shrugs his shoulders. ‘Anyway, what’s going on with McKinnon? She’s been acting weird lately.’
‘Dunno. She’s not talking to us.’
‘What? Aren’t you, like, best friends?’
‘Everyone has secrets, Black. If or when she’s ready to talk to us, she will.’
‘Fair enough.’
Mary stops paying any attention to Sirius and concentrates solely on her parchment, which Sirius finds extremely annoying. Dying of boredom, he decides to leave the library at once, and instead goes back to his dorm.
‘Hiya,’ Sirius says as he enters the room.
‘James?’ He throws a glance at James’ unmade bed, with the boy himself nowhere in sight.
‘Pete?’ Muffled grumbling comes from the bathroom. Sirius sighs and takes out his Astronomy homework. Peter’s likely to come out of the bathroom in no less than two hours.
‘Sirius? Are you here?’
‘Prongs? That you?’ Sirius murmurs. The lights turn on, he rubs his eyes and stretches his back.
‘Sorry, I didn’t know you were sleeping,’ James says apologetically,
‘I didn’t know I was sleeping, either,’ Sirius sighs. ‘Where were you? Is everything okay?’
‘Alright. Decided to take a quick stroll and ran into Marlene, she was a mess.’
‘She tell you what happened?’ Sirius sits up tensely.
‘Not exactly,’ James bites his lip. ‘Didn’t really go into details,’ he says.
‘Okay,’ Sirius sighs. ‘How are you, Prongs?’
‘Alright,’ James smiles weakly.
‘You can talk to me, you know it, right?’
‘Sure, Padfoot. I swear, I’m doing better. Might even go to classes this week.’
‘You better. I can’t survive another double Potions with Slytherin without you,’ Sirius pats him on the shoulder. James grimaces.
‘Sorry, does your shoulder still hurt?’
‘Nah, s’not that. Just out of habit, I’m fine.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, Sirius, I’m sure,’ James says tensely. ‘I can’t stand it when you’re acting like you’re walking on eggshells when I’m around. I’m not a broken toy. When I say I’m fine, I mean it. I don’t need you to double-check each time.’
‘Got it,’ Sirius says. ‘I’m just worried, that’s all.’
‘Well, don’t be!’ James raises his voice.
Sirius bites his tongue. How did they go from telling each other everything to constantly lying and hiding secrets? Sirius’ mind races like crazy, and he can’t help but draw parallels between James and Regulus. Once his best friend, Regulus is now nothing but a fleeting memory of their golden days. It all started out with shortcomings and misunderstandings on Regulus’ side, and James is now acting exactly the same way. Is it all Sirius’ fault? He doesn’t know, but he reckons it might be.
‘Okay,’ he whispers. ‘I’m sorry.’
James shakes his head. ‘Whatever. Let’s just go to dinner.’
Sirius feels his stomach sink and can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of their downfall.
They barely talk at dinner. They actually don’t talk at all. Sirius tries to strike a conversation with Mary and Lily, but neither of the girls acts interested, so he gives up, eventually. He looks over Mary’s shoulder at the Slytherin table, trying to spot Regulus. His brother is naturally sitting next to Lupin, the older boy actively gesticulating and throwing quick glances at Sirius. Sirius clicks his tongue and returns his attention to dinner, trying to force a spoon of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
‘Prongs, Padfoot,’ Pete greets them as he takes his place next to James. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Alright,’ James says.
‘All good,’ Sirius says. ‘You?’
‘Yeah, all good. I’m starving, spent half the evening in the library with Mary,’ he nods his head towards the girl, offering her a smile, which she returns.
‘Done with the Astronomy homework?’ Mary asks him.
‘’Course. Would’ve finished it earlier if you hadn’t left,’ he shakes his head disapprovingly.
‘You were doing great without my help.’
‘Lies, lies,’ he sighs. ‘Anyone fancies a game of chess after dinner?’
Everyone remains silent.
‘Just like I expected. You lot are boring.’
‘We’ve got more entertaining hobbies, that’s all,’ Mary shrugs her shoulders.
‘And what are those, Macdonalds? Braiding each other’s hair?’
‘That’s sexist,’ Lily intrudes.
Sirius feels like his head is about to explode. He wanted to talk so bad but now he wants to tell them all to shut up. Everyone seems pretentious, insincere, and fake. Their smiles look strained, their eyes tired, and he simply can’t stand it anymore. It’s like being back at Grimmauld Place.
‘See ya,’ he throws as he leaves the table and all his friends behind him. No one tries to stop him.