Chapter 2
James never takes this route home, but for some reason today he felt the need to. It was a nagging, uncomfortable feeling that tugged still him until giving in.
The weather was chilly and this would only double the time until he made it to his flat. He grumbles to himself and tugs his jacket right across his body that’s already jerking with cold.
Everything had gone smoothly so far, he managed not to get called into work, won a lottery ticket that was only ten bucks but still a plus, and Sirius had yet to have a mental breakdown so things were looking up.
One thing about James Potter is that when a good day hits he’s always expecting something bad to happen. Although he was good at shutting down his negative emotions, nesting them so
From a glance or even longer nobody would guess a single negative thought ever crossed the Potter boys mind. The truth was he just never let it show, knew if he thought badly for too long then he wouldn’t be able to be the happy friend.
Again, he shoves those thoughts down and continues forward. It was silent for the moment part but suddenly he swears he hears sneering and splashing.
Mostly anyone else would ignore it and continue on their way but James was too curious and had too much of a mojo to ‘save others’ It’s why he hadn’t hesitated to help the homeless when he could, or help a classmate study, and even why he’d taken in his best friend Sirius to live with him. Of course there was the fact they were best friends that obviously played a part.
He quits thinking a moment to listen, and for awhile it’s quiet. Too quiet. Almost as if there hadn’t been any to begin with, maybe he was imagining it.
Right as he about continues making his way home before his roommate calls all worried he hears a grunt and then a loud panicked ‘help!’
James is running before he can even think anything through, not even considering the fact he could be putting himself in danger. His fingers itch for his phone and pull it from his pocket as he makes his way down to the bank.
Once he rounds the corner he sees a few boys gathered around the water, and then with horror sees another being shoved under. Whoever it was barely moved, almost as if they were unconscious or-
The boy rushes forward and when one of the people see him they step back, obviously a lot younger than the others and not looking for a fight.
James grits his teeth when he sees who the perpetrator is-Severus Snape. He absolutely despised the boy, always up to trouble and picking on others for no reason but to try and satisfy his inferiority.
Without even seeing the boy approach he throws a punch, surprising the other into letting go and turning, his lip curling into a snarl.
“Potter.”
“Severus. Leave him alone. I’m on the phone with the police right now. I’m sure your parents would absolutely adore you getting thrown into jail tonight.” James spits, a very fake grin plastered onto his face.
For dramatic effect he waves the phone slightly and the other seems to falter, looking at the other two who were already running off. If Severus was any better of a person then maybe James would feel bad for the fact the boy has no real friends. The ones he did have didn’t hesitate to leave him behind.
After glancing at the phone again the boy grits his teeth and starts to walk away, shoulder checking James hard but continues forward without a fight. “I’ll be back for you AND Regulus.” He says, before jogging to catch up with the others.
The name makes James flinch, racing forward to pull the boy the rest of the way out of the water. With horror he realizes Snape wasn’t bluffing and that it actually was Regulus.
It was the same Regulus Black related to his roommate and best friend Sirius. A boy that he’d convinced himself he hated, but for some reason the adrenaline only spikes higher and a highly uncomfortable feeling twists are James’s chest.
He puts the other in the grass, immediately staring to hit the other on the back hard enough to bruise but it would be necessary. A moment passes and then another of sickening silence.
“Regulus, fuck come on. Your brother will kill me.” James spits, hitting down on more time and gasping loudly in relief at the same time the other does for air, turning the boy to his side so he could vomit out the water he’d inhaled.
A moment of nausea sweeps over James as well, reaching forward to gentle rub circles on the others back. Even if he did hate the boy, if it was him in this situation he’d want reassurance.
“Breathe, Reggie. You’re okay. Just breathe. They’re gone now, you’re safe.”
Once he speaks Regulus seems to realize just who was helping him, and turns his head up to look at James with an unfamiliar look in his eyes.
“James.” Is all he says almost as if questioning his help, voice croaking weakly.
“Shh, it’s okay. I chased them all off. I’ve got you..”
The words are soothing enough that the others body relaxes and his eyes go back to showing no emotion, which in James’s opinion was a lot better than the fear that flickered before.
Regulus takes a moment before weakly shoving James off and slowly staggering to his feet. His eyes although blank were blood-shot, and his body jerked either from fading fear or the cold, possibly a mixture of both.
James stands as well, putting distance between them but not a lot. He glances at the sun that was setting as they speak, sighing before shrugging off his jacket and slowly wrapping it around the others shoulders.
“I don’t need th-“
“Shut up. You’ll get pneumonia. Why don’t you come back with me for now? I’m sure you don’t want your roommate drilling you about what happened. Just to dry off and get yourself together, okay?”
Regulus opens his mouth to argue, James can tell by the look on his face but then seems to think it through. Although the boys roommate did mean well he would pry, and then if and when Reggie did spill Barty would probably accidentally tell everyone else. All he needed was for the town to know his weaknesses. Half of it already hated him and would love nothing more.
Instead of answering the other simply pulls the jacket tighter across his body, allowing James to wrap a gentle arm around his shoulder and pull the other close to try and give off warmth. The walk back to James’s flat was silent, except for the occasional sniff or teeth clatter.
Now James had to figure out why he was helping the same boy he’d hated the last few years. Maybe it was just his morals, but either way it ate at him uncomfortably and it was something he couldn’t swallow down and push away. He could push anything away so why not this?
That scared him.