Chapter 2
A few days later, Regulus followed the soft sounds of muffled crying, rounding the corner he found something he didn't expect to see. Jem Potter slumped on the ground, hair let down and covering his face in soft curls, his arms held tightly to his body, knees up, as almost silent sobs wracked his body. "Jem?" His entire body went ridged and he looked up, quickly wiping away the tears on his cheeks as he offered the younger Black brother a smile. "No don't do that." Regulus knew that defense mechanism well enough.
"Don't do what?"
"Don't cover up whatever's wrong." He pressed his back against the wall when Regulus got a little closer, chin raising, "What is wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing's wrong Black." The tone was clipped, sharp, as if he was doing his best not to break down. Regulus had used the same tone with Sirius time and time again.
"Are you done lying?" At first he didn't say anything, but after a few moments he just stretched out the arm he held closely to him, "You're a death eater?"
"I never wanted to be, I swear I-"
"Hey, it's okay." He stretched out a hand slowly lowering himself down onto the floor. He noted the way Jem pressed himself a bit closer to the wall, muscles in his arms moving under the tanned skin. "It's okay."
"It's not okay, I'm..." his voice trailed off as his body shook.
"Breathe," Regulus coaxed quietly, "just breathe." It didn't get quite the right reaction but he did slowly draw in a shaky breath. "Can I come over?" He didn't answer but didn't say no so taking the chance Regulus moved so he was sitting knee to knee with the younger Potter. "Eyes on me," they opened slowly, those green eyes rimmed with red, "can you keep a secret?" Jem shrugged, "No, no, no you have to promise."
"I...I can keep a secret. Promise."
Regulus smiled and shrugged off his jacket, rolling up his sleeves he laid his arms over their knees, showing the Dark Mark on his arm too. "My mom made me get it a few days ago. It still burns."
"It doesn't go away," Jem whispered slowly relaxing, his fingertips brushed over Regulus's palm and up to the Mark of the skull and snake. Shaky hands slowly got steadier as his fingers traced over it. "Your birthday's soon, right?"
"Yeah, this coming Thursday," Regulus answered, watching Jem carefully, seeing as his shoulders dropped some, the tension was fading, a little bit at a time but fading. "Wanna go exploring on Thursday?"
"Where too?"
"Anywhere."
"S-Sure." He smiled at the soft answer, his voice still was a little shaky but he seemed to have calmed down some. Regulus moved so his back was too the wall, sitting beside Jem, his arm still in his grasp, the light hesitant hold that told Regulus he was still unsure.
"What happened?"
"I don't know, one minute I was fine, reading with Remus while James tried to get us to teach him how to braid because he wanted to do Lily's hair. The next, I couldn't breathe." Regulus hummed shifting his body slightly and ever so subtly tugging his arm towards his body getting Jem to move with it, laying his head on the Slytherin's shoulder. The shuddering Gryffindor slowly relaxing into him.
It was a while later before Regulus spoke up, after Jem had settled down enough to breath normally, "Come on," he stood up bringing the other with him, "let's get you back to bed."
He shook his head quickly, "I can't go back in there, not tonight. The library would be okay."
"I've got a better idea," Regulus didn't let himself think twice about it, didn't need to as he started walking with the Potter still holding onto him. He opened his hand, a silent invitation he took, Regulus couldn't help his smile when fingers threaded with his, he led Jem down a few flights of stairs before getting to a hallway that he walked down, he got to the door and said the password, the entrance to the Slytherin dorms opening.
Jem didn't seem to be paying much attention but moved a little closer to Regulus as he followed him down the stairs, hand still holding his. Then it was down a hall to his Prefect dorm, it didn't take much to get Jem to relax, just a nudge towards the bed and some soft words he seemed to take comfort in. When Regulus did get him to lay down he paused before letting go of his hand, "Are you gonna leave?"
The question wasn't meant for this particular situation, no Regulus had a feeling Jem didn't expect him to stay in the bed this moment, not with the common room still full of people and stragglers plus a few first years yet to find their way to their houses. No he meant in general, now that he knew, would he leave? "No." And he meant it.
Jem released his fingers laying his head down on the pillows finally, "Everybody always leaves."
"I won't." It was the truth. Jem nodded, already looking exhausted and relaxed into the green silk sheets mumbling something along the lines of a thank you as Regulus ran his fingers through his hair before he finally lost the fight against sleep and dozed off. "I won't." What made him decide that taking care of James' younger brother was his problem? No idea. But finding him shaking on the floor in the middle of the castle seemed like a good enough reason for now.
So leaving the Gryffindor in his room, Regulus went out to see what was going on in the common room. "It's all fun and games until somebody falls in love, Reg."
"What are you talking about Barty?" He gave his classmate a deadpanned look while dropping down into one of the empty arm chairs.
"The Gryffindor you just walked into your room? Isn't he Potter's younger brother? Hanging around with those Marauders and your brother?"
"Why is this your current topic of choice?"
"Because he was shaking and holding onto you like a life line. I don't know how you interpret it but that didn't seem particularly platonic."
"He's right," Evan piped up while plopping down beside Barty.
"Oh sod off, I've only known him for like 3 days."
"Love at first sight, how adorable."
Regulus rolled his eyes before tapping the mark now hidden beneath his shirt sleeve, "He's one of us."
"Like for real or some kind of double agent like us?"
"Well considering he seemed pretty messed up about it I wouldn't mark him as a willing participant." The two nodded, far more serious then they had been moments ago.
"Think we'll see him at the meetings?"
"Probably. I'll ask him about it tomorrow, if he doesn't panic."
"What's the theory?"
"Dumbledore wants more information than we could give him? He turned 16 a few weeks ago but it doesn't look new, he's had to have had it for at least a year."
"Think the Potters know?" Regulus shook his head this time.
"I don't think they'd even consider the idea." Another nod from each. "We're still down a few first years, just let him know if he wanders out that I'll be back soon."
"Sure thing Reg."
- - -
What Regulus did not expect to find when he got back were his two friends sitting with the Gryffindor he had left asleep in his room, they were just talking, all long since ditched the uniform robes and what not, leaving them in sweatpants and shirts, Jem was wearing one of his ridiculously large sweaters, that even made the well build man look small.
But he was smiling and listening to Barty talk about something and seemed to be sharing a chocolate bar with Evan. This was probably the first real conversation they have had with someone from his house. Not trading insults or sharp comments, just talking.
Regulus paused for a moment just to take in the scene, Evan sat beside Jem on the couch pieces of chocolate broken up and laid between them, Barty across from them due to the coffee table still talking about something that seemed to hold Jem's interest.
Barty and Evan were in black sweatpants with white t-shirts on. Jem was in a pair of black sweatpants and that sweater Regulus had left on the back of one of the chairs because he had to go be a Prefect and what not, it was a deep green that almost seemed to bring out his eyes more. His hair was pulled back and out of his face, hands covered by the ends of the sleeves. The only difference between the three of them was that Jem clearly enjoyed the sun more, he had more color to his skin, the soft tan something James shared with his brother it seemed.
"That would be implying a number of things." Jem huffed out while stretching a bit. "I'm not saying all of them aren't true, just a few of them. Like Sirius only smells like a wet dog because he can't seem to stay dry in his animagus form, it's very annoying. That is true." Evan and Barty laughed at that and Jem smiled.
Evan caught Regulus' gaze, "I like this one Reg."
Rolling his eyes Regulus pulled off his robes and loosened the tie plopping down on the other side of Jem and smiling a little when the other wizard leaned into him slightly. He was still exhausted that much was clear enough to see but he seemed at ease and happy to talk with Regulus's friends.
Hesitantly, Regulus offered a arm, setting it over the back of the couch and trailing his fingertips along Jem's shoulder, the Gryffindor hummed softly just loud enough Regulus could hear before he leaned into the touch, setting his back to Regulus's side, and relaxing into the soft circles being rubbed into his shoulder by Regulus's fingers.
His friends probably noticed but didn't comment or react just kept up the conversation until he felt Jem melt into him, body going lax and his head drifting towards Regulus's arm, eyes closed. "He's sweet." Barty commented, quieter now as if not to wake him up. "Clearly sleep deprived but sweet."
"How long was he up with you guys?"
"Little over an hour." Evan said with a shrug, "He's good company. Though he was a little unsure at first."
"After Evan offered chocolate he came and sat down." Barty said with a chuckle. "Think he'll be around?"
"I...honestly I have no idea. This could be the first of a lot or the last of none."
"You have a preference."
"Do not."
"Yeah right."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yeah and you don't have James Potter's brother asleep on you."
"Shut it Crouch." A grin came from said friend. "Okay, maybe."
"Maybe...?"
"Maybe I have a preference."
"Does it involve this happening more often?"
"Possibly. Now go to bed." Regulus ordered halfheartedly getting chuckles as the two wandered off. He woke up Jem briefly, just to get him into bed, but when he went to go sleep on the couch across the room a hand caught his.
Two half lidded green eyes met his, "Stay?"
Regulus nodded, "Okay."