Chapter 7
James woke up before dawn on Monday morning, as he usually does almost every day of the week, to train for Quidditch. He got out of bed, quietly, as to not disturb his dorm mates, they usually didn’t like being woken up this early in the morning.
He was making his way out of the dorm when he stepped on a creaky floorboard, it was like one of those muggle cartoons Moony had them watch.
James stood still barely breathing, none of the boys were exactly pleasant if they were woken up early.
“James,” he heard a voice whisper, “Stop standing there like an idiot, they’re still asleep.”
James sighed in relief,” Thanks Moony,” as he made his way towards the door, “Bloody werewolves,” he muttered
“I heard that!” Remus called.
James jumped and ran down the stairs.
James wanders through the common room, observing the magical portraits on the wall. Leftover garlands and Christmas decorations litter the floor and walls, along with Remus’s menorah, which he had brought to the common room complaining about “Bloody wizards and their lack of awareness.” James still had no idea what he meant, or what that weird candle holder was. The candles in the great hall float, why does he need a fancy muggle holder.
James tidied up the common room a bit, trying to make the job a bit easier for the house elves, who no doubtably would be cleaning during classes.
After cleaning up a bit, James begins to head down to the pitch, trudging down the steps of Gryffindor tower, stopping by the Owlery and feeding Elton, before grabbing his quidditch stuff.
By the time he makes it to the pitch, the sun’s starting to come up. That reminds James about his early morning flight with Regulus and his dangerously high Wronski’s Feint. Why had he been up that high, and why had he waited so long before pulling up?
Hopping on his broom to start his warm-up laps, James lets his mind wander, wandering about classes and friends, mapping out the rest of his sixth year, and mostly, thinking of Lily.
James had been chasing after Lily since his first year, and at the end of his fourth year, she had finally relented and let him take her on a Hogsmeade date, and things escalated. They became an official couple, but it wasn’t meant to be. Long story short, the breakup at the beginning of their sixth year was anything but friendly. He wishes things had ended better. He’d prefer not to have one of his oldest friends hate him.
After his laps, he spotted two figures standing on the pitch, flying closer to look he spots Regulus, broom in hand, deep in conversation with his roommate, Barty Crouch
“What do you mean you're not taking potions or divination with Ev and me?” Barty asks.
“McGonagall and Slughorn moved me up to the sixth-year class,” Regulus explains, as though he’s said this many times.
James felt his heart jump, Regulus is joining his class. Both his divination and his potions classes were with Slytherin. Maybe he’d get a chance to get to know him better, maybe they could be friends.
“But Reg, you don’t know what those kids are gonna do to you, like Snape-“
“Snape can’t touch me,” Regulus growls.
“You’re not the Black heir anymore, you don’t have the pureblood protection anymore.”
Regulus visibly stiffened.
“I do not need my family to protect me,” Regulus says darkly, “I can deal with Snape or anyone who crosses me, myself.”
Barty steps close, so close that James can’t see Regulus anymore, “Reg,” he says, taking his hands.
Regulus pulled back, “Not now,” he said making eye contact with James, “We might have some uninvited listeners.”
James blushes and flies away, Regulus joining him soon after.
“So, you’re joining our potions and divination classes?” James asks
“You know, when two people are having a conversation, they would usually want it to be private,” Reg says, not taking his eyes off the sky in front of him.
James blushes a deeper red, “Sorry,”
“But yes, I am joining you for some classes.”
James smiles, his bright, winning smile. “That should be interesting.”
Regulus’s eyes darkened, “yeah… interesting.”
James, sensing the shift in Regulus’s mood, turns to face the horizon beyond the quidditch pitch. The beginning of the sunrise lit the sky with a marvelous display of reds and yellows.
Turning back to Regulus, who had also noticed the gorgeous sunrise, James grinned, “Wanna race, for tradition’s sake.”
Regulus scoffed, “What tradition?”
James cocked his head, “Well,” he starts, “If I can recall correctly this is our second sunrise, and on a quidditch pitch no less” he smirks “I feel like that makes is a tradition.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, “You’re ridiculous Potter.”
Potter winks “Thank you” and flies away.
“Cheater” mutters Regulus as he speeds off after him .
~~~~~
Regulus wanders back down to his dorm after flying with James. It had been nice to fly with a friend. Friend? What was he thinking? Disowning his parents was bad, but being friends with a Gryffindor, a Potter, would surely get more than a couple of curses flung his way from his housemates.
When he opens the door, he finds Barty perched on the foot of his bed, waiting.
“Ev already went down,” he said coolly, “We can head down after you shower.
Regulus smiled, a silent thanks, and headed into the washroom.
Barty had always been the person who looked after Regulus, ever since they were first years. He always seemed to know what Reg was thinking and how he felt. Regulus felt drawn to Barty, and Barty felt a desire to protect him.
Five years ago:
Regulus sat alone at the Slytherin table. Still reeling at the results of the Sorting Ceremony. He was a Slytherin. All the anxieties and fears instilled by his family could finally come to rest. He was not a failure.
He glanced across the hall at his older brother. Sirius looked solemn, deep in thought, aware of the presence of his brother, yet refusing to acknowledge it. Regulus could feel his uncertainty.
They hadn’t spoken much since Sirius went to school. Regulus was heavily encouraged to avoid his brother, especially after he was sorted into Slytherin. He didn’t though. He sent letter after letter. Each one remains unanswered. Eventually, he had to accept that he meant nothing to his brother. It broke his heart, to be abandoned by the one person that had sworn not to.
His spiral was interrupted by a figure sitting down next to him. A tall lanky boy with unkempt brown hair.
“What’re you thinking about” the strange boy asks.
“What?” replies Regulus.
“You look slightly distressed, what’s on your mind?”
Regulus bristled at the comment. He was not in distress, he was a Black, the definition of composure and-
“Barty Crouch”
“What”
“That’s my name,” the boy says, “Barty Crouch.”
“What kind of name is that?” Reg comments.
“Hey now,” Barty says, “It’s a family name. And it’s not much better than Regulus Black.”
“Hey,” Regulus started to retort, then stopped, “Wait, how do you know my name?”
“I saw you during the sorting, you seemed like an interesting kid. Also, Black isn’t a very common name around here.”
“So that’s why you came over here?” Regulus asks, insulted, “Because of my family?”
“No,” Barty answers sincerity flooding his voice, “I came because it looked like you needed a friend.”
Present day:
After his shower, Regulus joins Barty in the common room.
“Come on slowpoke” Barty jabs, “We’re gonna miss breakfast.”
Sirius is already awake when James gets back to Gryffindor tower. He’s been up for hours, trying to avoid starting the day. He stood by the windowsill, smoking a cigarette and staring at the frost-ridden grounds of the Hogwarts campus.
“Ugh, Padfoot do you have to do that here.” James complains, “It smells like shit.”
Sirius looked him up and down, taking in his disheveled, sweaty look. “You probably smell worse mate, go take a shower” nodding towards the open bathroom door, “Pete’s not up yet.”
James, defeated trudges into the shower.
Sirius stands for a moment, staring across the Quidditch fields where he had seen James practice. Until he heard the shower turn on.
Turning away from the window he heads to his bed, where his tie hangs haphazardly over the headboard. Tiring it around his neck, he ponders the events of the past week.
Regulus almost died.
Regulus almost died, for him.
Why would he do that? When he could’ve had everything he’s ever wanted. The family’s praise and adoration, the love of his parents. Why would he give that up?
Unless,
Unless Reg was not the person, he thought he was.
He just had time to register the sound of footsteps before Remus walked into the room and over to their sleeping roommate.
“WORMY” He yells, into their poor roommate’s ear, “WAKE UP”
Pete jumps awake, stumbling out of his bed and onto the floor. Flailing as he tries to register what just happened.
“Moony, that was mean.” Sirius lectured, trying to stifle his laughter.
Remus, laughing, apologizes to Peter, “Sorry mate, I didn’t know how else to get you up. You sleep like a rock.”
“Yeah, thanks” Peter mutters, annoyed. “Is Prongs in the shower?”
“Yup,” Sirius says, “He should be out soon.”
After Peter had gotten ready, the four of them walked down to the dining hall, talking about all the pranks they could pull during the new year.
A crashing sound stops the group in its tracks. But it’s Regulus’s scream that sends them running.