Top Of The Class

After God knows how long, the bus stopped again. Murmurs arose from a few seats, but mostly people kept their mouths shut. A few hostages who were apparent chatterboxes had already received duct-tape across their lips earlier in the ride. One girl with smooth, dark skin and jewelry adorned locs kept biting at the captors when they did it. She laughed out loud when the man flinched at her movements. Another boy complied rather easily, grinning like he thought it was funny. He had been flirting with his seatmate, the blonde boy from before. It left Regulus a bit flabbergasted.

With the lurch of the bus, the captors rose from their seats. Simultaneously, everyone’s restraints snapped back, startling Regulus. James' eyes darted toward him at the motion, before apologetically turning away. 

“File out, left, right, left, right, two by two!”

Regulus was five rows back on the left side, which meant the ninth pair, he concluded rather quickly. When it was their turn to get in line, Regulus found himself behind a girl with a pasty complexion and sleek blonde hair, almost albine in appearance. And he was actually the fifth pair. He forgot to account for the kidnappers in the front seats. One of them stood up at the front of the lines.

“Right line, follow me!” 

Shit, you’re right line.

In small steps gradually getting bigger, Regulus followed those in front of him out of the bus. The cool air outside flicked through his hair and sent shivers down his scalp.

There was a large steel fence with barbed wire at the top, which seemed redundant as the fence was nearly seven meters high. What was even more grand, however, was the building behind the fence. A stone and brick four story structure with about a million windows, an indulgent, large courtyard, and a gargoyle statue at the very top of the roof. In gold capital letters, above the entrance was written:

AZKABAN SCHOOL FOR TROUBLED YOUTH

Troubled youth. Holy fuck. That’s why his parents didn’t help when they heard him scream.

With a loud buzzer sound, the gate swung open, like arms beckoning them all.

“Stay single file!” The captor shouted as he led the line forward through the courtyard green. Regulus found himself unwillingly focused on the liquid swoop of sleek white hair as the girl in front of him pulled it off her neck. 

Regulus peered over his shoulder to see that the left line had followed the right out of the bus. He spotted James, who shielded his glasses from the glare of the overcast sky. Piece of shit.

Once everyone had made it out of the bus, the lines moved forward once again, inside the school.

|||

The hallway was wide and long, adorned with portraits, and had burgundy walls with intricately carved baseboards. Upon further inspection of the plaques beneath the pictures, they were actually Azkaban alumni. A collection of the “most improved”. 

A flashing red light caught his eye. Security camera. Noted.

Towards the end of the hall, he noticed a particularly interesting portrait.

Bellatrix Lestrange

2016

His cousin, Bellatrix? A model student? She had been a troublemaker since she could walk, but by eighteen, she reached certifiably insane. 

By eighteen. Oh god.

He tried to think back to their summer trip that year, but it was a long time ago. It was hard to remember exactly when Bella took a turn for the worse. 

There was that one year- the one when she returned from her academics workshop.

Right, because when we saw her she wouldn’t even talk to anyone. We thought she was just pissy.

And at the family dinner she smashed her plate of steak into the wall.

Regulus felt a bit sick to his stomach. 

The hallway opened into a great hall, where Regulus could see the rows and rows of bench risers, wooden like church pews. They went around the whole room like a small stadium. 

“Step forward when your name is called.” The captor spoke again, “We will provide you with your assigned seat- the first number tells you which side of the assembly hall you are on. One means left, two means right. The letter tells you which of the five rows you’re in, A through E. The last number is your seat in that row. These instructions will not be repeated.”

“Marlene McKinnon!” 

The skinny blonde haired girl from before stepped forward. He gave her a small yellow slip, and she made her way to a seat. They kept calling names.

“Frank Longbottom!”

“Peter Pettigrew!”

“Alice Fortescue!”

“Mary Macdonald!” Regulus recognized her as the biter.

“Vulcan Mulciber!”

“Severus Snape!”

“Benjamin Fenwick!”

“Remus Lupin!”

“Pandora Lovegood!” The girl in front of him walked ahead.

“James Potter!” 

He visibly swallowed, jaw clenching as he smoothed his shirt down and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. He walked forward.

“Regulus Black!”

He didn’t hesitate to meet the captor and take his sticky note. He read his seat number: 2D4. 

So, he turned right. Counted four rows up, four seats in. Found himself next to a tall and lanky boy. He had wavy and unkempt light brown hair, but got away with it because it was short on the sides. Freckles dusted his nose and cheekbones, surrounding a scar that crossed the right side of his face diagonally. He had a long and slender neck, and you could see his collarbones where his sweater hung down. He sat in 2D5.

“Remus,” he said, as he held out his hand. 

Regulus went to take it, but before he could, a guard yelled out, “No talking!” So instead, Regulus sat down. 

He turned his yellow note towards Remus so he could know his name too. Remus smiled at him.

His attention returned to the people being called up. The other boy who had his mouth taped (and since then had it removed) walked up to the guard and took his slip. He glanced at it for a second, then with a cheeky smile, stuck it to his forehead. The captor looked unamused.

“Tough crowd!” The lad said, as he walked away.

“Dorcas Meadowes!”

“Lily Evans!” The redhead he had stared at for too long.

More and more names were called until no one was left on the floor. Half the seats were still empty.

Like they had heard his thought, the captors led in another two lines. 

|||

Once everyone was in their seats, the captors made them stand right back up again.

“Everyone rise for your headmaster!”

Reluctantly, people followed suit. A man with hollow cheeks and combed black hair strode in and stood at a podium. 

“You may be seated,” he started with.

“My name is Headmaster Riddle. You all have been brought here because you have lost your sense of authority and the rules. All one hundred of you crossed a line, and your parents and instructors have deemed Azkaban an appropriate place for you all to regain your respect for those in charge.”

“For the next ten weeks, you all will complete a rigorous education and discipline program, with each week having a different intensive topic.”

“Your first week is mathematics. Your second week is practical skills. Your third week is art, and your fourth is calligraphy and handwriting. Then you’ll have astronomy, followed by economics. Science is week seven, then history, geography, and finally English.”

“Each week will be spent with a four day review, and an assessment on the fifth day. You’ll receive no work on the weekends, instead you’ll have assigned chores and opportunities to get ahead in the next week.”

“In a moment, you will all be given a placement test to determine your disciplinary goal. Before you do, however, I want to let you all know that Azkaban only produces well behaved students at the end of the program. We have never failed at that. You are no exception. Thank you.”

He left the podium and reentered what was presumably his office. Soon the guard piped up again:

“Attention everyone! You may all pull down your desks from the back of the chair in front of you.”

Regulus fumbled with the mechanism for a minute, but it turned out the desks worked just like airplane tray tables. On the inside was a tablet screen, blank white except for where it displayed his initials.

CONFIRM 

He pressed the button.

WHEN YOUR INSTRUCTOR TELLS YOU, BEGIN THE PLACEMENT TEST

“You may begin!”

Regulus clicked the “START” option, and he was presented with a title screen.

YOU WILL RECEIVE TEN QUESTIONS

THESE WILL DETERMINE IF YOU ARE A LION, RAVEN, BADGER, OR SNAKE. YOU WILL THEN BE ASSIGNED A CORRESPONDING DISCIPLINARY GOAL.

He clicked the “NEXT” button.

QUESTION ONE:

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS DO YOU EXCEL IN THE MOST:

A: MATHS

B: ENGLISH

C: HISTORY

D: SCIENCE

Regulus selected “A”.

QUESTION TWO:

WHICH OF THESE SUBJECTS DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST:

A: MATHS

B: ENGLISH

C: HISTORY

D: SCIENCE

Regulus selected “C”.

QUESTION THREE:

FOR WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WERE SENT HERE?

A: ASSAULT/FIGHTING

B: SUBSTANCE ABUSE

C: VANDALISM/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY 

D: GENERAL POOR BEHAVIOR

Regulus selected “C”.

QUESTION FOUR:

WHICH OF THESE OPTIONS IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

A: MORALS

B: FAMILY

C: FRIENDS

D: SUCCESS

Regulus hesitated, but settled on “B”. Only for Sirius.

QUESTION FIVE:

WHICH OF THESE OPTIONS IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

A: TRADITION

B: HAPPINESS

C: MONEY

D: SAFETY

“D.” 

QUESTION SIX:

YOU NOTICE A CLASSMATE OF YOURS CHEATING ON A TEST. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES OF ACTION DO YOU TAKE?

A: BLACKMAIL THEM WITH THE INFORMATION

B: TELL A TEACHER

C: SAY NOTHING

D: VOLUNTEER TO HELP THEM STUDY THE NEXT TIME

“C”. None of his business. Probably not the answer they wanted, but alas.

QUESTION SEVEN:

CAN A GOOD PERSON DO EVIL THINGS AND REMAIN A GOOD PERSON?

A: YES

B: NO

“A.”

QUESTION EIGHT:

IS IT EVER OKAY TO KILL?

A: YES

B: NO

“A”. 

QUESTION NINE:

ARE SOME LIVES WORTH MORE THAN OTHERS?

A: YES

B: NO

“A”.

QUESTION TEN:

IS YOUR LIFE WORTH MORE THAN OTHERS?

|||

CALCULATING…

YOU ARE A:

SNAKE

STRENGTHS:

• RESOURCEFUL

• CUNNING

• DETERMINATION

WEAKNESSES:

• PARANOID

• VINDICTIVE

• RULE BREAKER

DISCIPLINE GOAL: UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT UNTOUCHABLE.

Interesting. Regulus was hoping they would ask him for his zodiac sign next. 

“What’d you get?” Remus had leaned over to ask, this time quieter than before.

“A snake.”

“Ooh. Remind me not to get on your bad side. I’m a lion,” he said, adding sarcastic flair to the title. “And apparently, I need to learn that ‘the rules come before all else’.”

“Well, I have to understand that I am not untouchable, so.”

“We’ve got quite a bit of work ahead of ourselves.”

“Attention students!” A guard called out, “You have all completed the placement test. You will now be called down row by row to learn your dorm room number. You will also be informed of your roommates.

Being fourth row up, he had a bit to wait.

“Once you receive your number, find your roommates and stand in a single file line.”

Regulus looked down to see who people were paired up with. James had been in the first row, and after scampering around a bit, he found a chubby boy with shaggy, shoulder length blonde hair. From their body language, they were hitting it off. James did have that effect on people. 

When row two came down, it included the redhead- Lily, wasn’t it?- and the escapee who Regulus watched get tackled to the ground. Seemingly, they were roommates. The troublemaker, who still had the sticky note on his forehead, came down but couldn’t find any roommates of his.

Row three came down, and much to his dismay, it seemed, the short blonde boy was paired with sticky note face. Regulus felt bad enough for him on the bus when they were sat together. Frankly, the blonde already looked tired of his shit.

Also, the biter (determined to be named Mary) joined the group with the redhead and flight risk. Quite the trio, if you asked Regulus.

Finally, row four was called. Regulus and Remus made their way down to the line, Remus one spot ahead. 

“Lookit, we’re together, Regulus!” He said once he collected his slip.

“Really?” Regulus went to grab his, and sure enough, they were. Worse news quickly followed.

ROOM NUMBER 204:

REGULUS BLACK, REMUS LUPIN, PETER PETTIGREW, JAMES POTTER

Just his luck.

“I know which group we’re with. Follow me,” Regulus beckoned.

Remus followed him forward a bit, and then Regulus pointed at their two new roommates.

“Do you know them?”

“No,” Regulus answered quickly. “I just paid attention when they called names earlier.”

“Hmm.”

“Are you Remus and Regulus?” presumably Peter asked.

“Yeah. Which one of you is which?” Regulus couldn’t help but feel like the question from Remus was silly. James was unmistakable. But whatever.

“I’m Peter,” he held out his hand to Remus first, then Regulus.

“And I’m James,” he piped up, shy and out of character. He didn’t even try to shake hands like Peter had.

“Remus. And this is Regulus.”

“Yeah,” James sighed.

Regulus gave a small nod. “We’re supposed to get in a line.”

|||

In room 204 were two bunk beds on either side of the room, a small cupboard closet and a window. Each bed had a folded polo shirt and a pair of khakis. Upon further inspection, the shirts were embroidered with their initials.

Regulus had the bottom bunk on the right side. He was glad he at least didn’t have to sleep up high. He was less pleased that James was his top bunk.

“I guess we’re bunking together, huh, Black?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Sorry.”

A sudden crackly noise distracted them. 

“Attention students,” the PA system boomed, “Put on your uniforms and return to the assembly hall for lunch.”

Regulus was fine with that. He had been in those clothes for 24 hours at this point. He had never wished more to be someone who actually wore pajamas.

Despite his eagerness to change, Remus managed to do it first, darting out the door.

“He’s hungry,” Peter quipped from his top bunk.

As Regulus fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, he heard Peter climb down the ladder and leave as well.

Shit.

“Regulus?” James whispered, gingerly.

“What?” 

“Can we talk about him?”

“I thought I gave you that answer months ago.”

“I was hoping it had changed.”

“You don’t know me.”

Regulus pulled the shirt over his head as quickly as he could, but James was already down the ladder, standing in front of him. 

“Please, Regulus. I miss him.”

Regulus looked at him. In a moment of weakness, he almost gave in. Instead, he pushed right past James for the door. James snagged his arm before he could make it.

“Wait-”

“I don’t care if you miss him!” Regulus snapped.

“Regulus,” James pleaded.

“Just leave me alone.”

And with that, Regulus shut the door on James. Again.

|||

He mulled it over while he ate. The sandwich was rather dry and made his throat scratchy, but he was hungry. He had arrived in the assembly hall to find Remus and Peter already sitting together, and he thought it rude not to join them.

It had been mid-July the last time he saw James. And the first time he saw James. The doorbell had rung. Regulus had answered.

It came as a bit of a surprise. He’d heard about James countless times. He’d seen him tagged on Sirius’ social media. Regulus was annoyed at how much Sirius talked him up, like he was this perfect golden boy. No one was perfect like that.

He was proved wrong when James showed up at his door, bits of fringe hanging down and glasses covered in drops of rain.

“You must be Regulus,” James had said.

“And you’re James.”

“That I am.”

“I think it’s best if you don’t come back here again.”

“But-”

And the door was already closed.

Regulus could pinpoint the beginning of the end. He received a call from Sirius one night. Well, for Regulus, early morning. And Sirius sounded so sad.

It started out like your typical drunk call.

“I miss you Reggie. Come to America, please, please, please Reggie,” he slurred.

“I’ll hop on the earliest flight,” He had joked back.

“Good. Because I think you’ll like it here. I think you’ll like James too.”

He rolled his eyes a bit at that. “I think I’ll miss healthcare.”

“Just don’t get hurt.”

“Hmm.”

“Reggie?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I’m dying. I think I really am. I think it’s killing me.”

“Sirius. Don’t talk like that.”

“I think it’s gonna happen any day now, Reg,” Sirius’ voice was fragile.

“Stop it. Sirius, don’t think about this when you’re drunk.”

“I can’t stop Regulus. I can’t stop.”

“Sirius-”

“Did you know I tried coke the other day? She called me and then I went out and I did fucking coke. And I want to do it again, Reg.”

“Sirius, calm down. We can talk about this all once you calm down.”

“You don’t know what it’s like living in my head, Reg, I can’t calm down.”

“Okay, Sirius, then can you at least tell me the album opener for Evermore?”

“What?”

“The opener? It’s also the single?”

“Willow. Why?” Sirius was gasping out words at this point.

“And the second?”

“Champagne Problems?”

“Keep going.”

“Then it’s Gold Rush.”

“Mhm.”

“Tis the Damn Season.” Sirius started to slow down.

“Yeah.”

“Then Tolerate It, then No Body No Crime,”

“Doing great.”

“Then Happiness. And Dorothea.”

“Next?”

“Coney Island.”

“Yes.”

“Cowboy Like Me.”

“Your favorite!”

“My favorite, yeah.”

“Sirius, where is James?”

“Home. Studying. He didn’t want to go out.”

“Can you go to him?”

“He’s mad at me.”

“But can you go to him anyway?”

“I don’t know, Reg.”

“I don’t think you want to be alone right now. As much as I would love to keep quizzing you, you need rest. Can you go to James?”

“I can go to James.”

“Alright. Stay on the phone with me till you get there.”

“Regulus?”

“Hmm?”

“You going to finish that sandwich?” 

“All yours, Remus.”

Practically the last person to show up, James shuffled into the assembly hall. He actually took the time to tuck his shirt in, Regulus noticed. 

“So what are you lads in for?” Peter piped up. “Like what do you think did it?”

“I slashed my professor’s tires,” Regulus admitted. “And I would do it again. He’s a prick.”

“Nice. Remus?”

“Me? I killed someone.”

Regulus and Peter’s eyes widened, taken aback.

“I’m taking the piss. I think my dad’s just tired of my shit.”

Regulus was relieved at that news.

“Oi! James,” Remus called out. James held the blue lunch tray like he was scared of it. He reluctantly joined the three others.

“We’re talking about what our final straw was. You know, what got us here. Got a story?” Peter raised an eyebrow.

“I…” James paused for a moment. “It doesn’t matter what I did, because honestly, nothing warrants us all being kidnapped.”

“Fine, don’t tell us.”

“Aren’t you guys upset?” James asked. “That your parents all chose for this to happen?”

“It’s not that surprising, to be honest. My dad’s been threatening reform school for years,” Remus explained. 

“Besides, it’s just ten weeks. That’s what, two and a half months? We’ll survive,” Peter added.

James gave him a weary look, but didn’t push the issue.