Chapter 3
Chap 3
“Reggie?”
The word came out of James’ mouth but didn’t register in his head. The boy laid on the rug before him was a shell of the one he felt so much for. His skin was pale, far paler than was healthy, even for him; his shirt was hardened with dried blood and his nose was bent at a strange angle.
“Reggie what happened! Are you alright?!”
In response the boy gave a tired groan and tiredly pulled himself off the floor. James flew to him, almost knocking him back over in the process, and busied himself with checking Regulus for injuries. His ribs were sticking out far more than was normal and when James reached for his stomach the younger boy grabbed his wrists with a surprisingly strong grip considering his overall physical health.
“James...”
“Reggie you’re covered in blood”
“James, please” Regulus croaked, his mask breaking slightly as a wave of pain shot over him and doubled over so that James was supporting all his weight.
“Shit! MUM! MUM!”
The loud shout next to his ear caused Regulus to flinch and James’ hand yet again brushed against his wound, and he flinched back. He had thought the wound was healed well enough to travel, it certainly didn’t hurt this much when he left but he must have re-opened what ever Kreacher had done to try and heal him.
“James I’m sor-“
“Shh, it’s ok” James cut him off “Merlin, just hold on ok MUM! MUM!”
At his shout three pairs of footsteps pounded into the living room, wands blazing.
“Regulus?” This time it was Sirius who shouted for him.
The loud noises and banging in his head proved to much for Regulus and he promptly passed out.
Effie wasted no time running towards the boy, shouting orders to the others. James seemed to be in a state of shock and wouldn’t let go of Regulus even when his mum started to heal him. In the end Sirius dragged him back upstairs and slipped him a sleeping draught under Effie’s orders.
Regulus awoke boiling hot. He struggled against the white duvet over him but in his weakened state he could only untuck one side of the fitted sheet and was left breathless and only slightly cooler. Sunlight was shining through the thin curtains covering the window and a slight breeze shifted them every now and again. Initially Regulus panicked: everything white or a shade of it, something that would never be seen back at the Black Manor and in his half-asleep mind he assumed he was in a hospital of kinds. While he had never been to ones, he had been told of the bleak nature of medical buildings of any kind.
Shit. His parents would kill him. He was the heir now and being sent to St. Mongos over trivial injuries would only prove to them further he was a failure. He was half surprised his mother was not by his bedside, ready to lecture him on the disgrace he had brought the family. Only half surprised. Realistically he knew his mother could not care less whether he was in a hospital or not. If anything she was probably out doing her “damage control”.
And then, like the Night Bus itself had crashed into him, he was hit with the memories of the day prior. His mother had found a muggle book stashed under a seat in the library and had rightfully punished him for it. Regulus had kept it in a shot of rebellion, but the second he saw it thrown into the fire by his mother he realised his mistake. He blacked out after the second Crucio curse hit. When he awoke he was drenched in blood and Kreacher was the only one in the room, tenderly trying to heal where-ever the blood was coming from. His stomach apparently. And once he was back in his room; Kreacher's healing must of worked because he felt next to no pain at all; he packed his trunk and waited for his parents to leave for there dinner.
He may have been 2 days early to the Potter’s but another day in that house and Regulus was sure he’d be dead.