It Meant Nothing?
The relief of having had a civil conversation with his brother lasted as long as it took for them to walk back toward their friends, then almost immediately dissipated.
“You’re not here to argue huh? Then what? Here to annoy us to death with your presence?” James scoffed, it seemed like they had been going back and forth since the brothers left.
“I told you I didn’t want to argue, but you never can just talk to me like a normal person can you? You’re an obnoxious prat, you know that?” Severus sneered back, not one to back down.
“Oh you wanna talk about which one of us is the bigger prat? We can do that.”
Regulus decided to interrupt before it escalated any farther, “He’s telling the truth. We really didn’t come over here to argue. We were told to learn how to be civil with you guys, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
James looked away from Severus to look towards the brothers, “This is what you call civil?”
Severus scoffed again, “Oh please. Don’t act as if you weren’t the one to throw the first insult. I’m just responding in kind.”
James rolled his eyes at him and went to reply but was interrupted. “It doesn’t matter who started the argument, just finish it.”
Everyone looked shocked that it had been Sirius to stop James. He seemed frustrated that his mostly good mood was being interrupted.
“No more arguing. But we do need to talk to all of you. Talking to you was a personal plan, Siri, but we still have to talk to all of you per Dumbledore's request.” As he was speaking Regulus looked from his brother to the other three Gryffindor men.
“Talk to us about what?” Remus spoke for the first time since the brothers had re-entered the conversation.
Severus sighed, resigning himself to explain so that he could at least say he tried.
“He wants us to find common ground, be able to work together, and to be civil with each other. We told him we’d try.”
Remus accepted this answer and went to respond but James spoke first.
“You agreed? Why in Merlin’s name would you agree to talking with us. None of us like you and the feeling is obviously mutual. We can work together in silence, can we not?”
“Personally I wouldn’t have a problem with that. It’s better than having to listen to your bullshit anyway.” Severus glared as he answered, James huffing in response.
“No way, we need to learn to be civil, so that’s what we’ll do. And besides… I wanted to talk to you anyway.” At the end of his statement Regulus looked at James to show he was talking to him.
“You? Want to talk to me? Why?”
Regulus seemed confused for a moment before he straightened his expression.
“I just wanted to be… friends. Again. I guess.”
James raised his eyebrow and looked conflicted for a moment before his expression settled on a mostly blank expression.
“What do you mean ‘again’? We were never friends.”
Regulus tried not to show how much the blatant expression of disinterest upset him.
“You acted like we were once. Was that a lie?” He genuinely wanted to know. Even if it would hurt to have the answer.
“I guess it was. It’s not like it matters now anyway.” James looked away, not making eye contact with anyone.
Regulus flinched, the answer hurting a bit more than he expected.
“And the way you treated me at Hogwarts? What, you’re just going to act like it all meant-“
“-Nothing. It meant nothing. How could it? With what you did? You chose the wrong side Regulus, that’s not something you can just pretend didn’t happen. It doesn’t work like that. And how am I supposed to forgive you for that?”
It was silent for a moment, Regulus looking away with tears in his eyes.
“Chose? You think he chose that? Chose to betray the people he cared about? You have got to be joking.” Severus scoffed, finally reentering the conversation, stepping closer to Regulus to show support. Before James or the others could respond Evan spoke up, Severus and Regulus having not noticed his and Narcissa’s reappearance.
“To be viewed as nothing but the worst by the people you love, do you really think that’s something anybody would choose for themself?”
“If that’s how you see him, see us, then you are terribly mistaken. If we had known any better, if we had had a choice, we would not have chosen to be consistently looked down on. Or for our family’s to be in never ending danger. We would have chosen differently if we could, but that is not how it works and that’s not what happened.” Narcissa continued where Evan had left off.
None of them had chosen for their lives to turn out like this, they never would have, and they were tired of these people thinking they had.
“When you find yourself able to talk to me as though I’m human and not just some evil thing you can’t look at anymore, let me know.” With that Regulus turned away, the others following him closely back down the path they had come from.
“Are you alright?” Severus said it quietly from his spot next to Regulus. Regulus looked at him for a moment, not really knowing the answer. Severus seemed to understand anyway, as did the others who gave him looks of support. Regulus collected himself for a moment before speaking.
“Where are Barty and Lucius?” He had noticed their absence when Evan had spoken before. Narcissa is the one to respond.
“Oh, they were getting thirsty so they went back toward the shops. We told them we’d come get the two of you and meet them there, if you’re still up for that.”
Regulus nodded, “I don’t want that one disagreement to ruin my entire day. Besides, now that you mentioned it I’m thirsty too.” Severus and Evan agreed so they let Narcissa lead the way back to the other two men.