Chapter 11
"I think I'm in love with you." Evan rolled his eyes while plucking the joint from Barty's hand.
"You're high, mate."
"And I'm in love with you."
"No you're not."
"How do you know?" Barty almost sounded offended.
"I'm asexual." Was Evan's answer, blowing out smoke, waiting for Barty to take in the sentence and leave.
"Then thank you for telling me?" His arm didn't move, didn't even shift as he stole the joint back. How was he not getting this? Could he be playing dumb?
"Barty, we're not gonna fuck." He deadpanned the words waiting for Barty to put it together, "We will literally never shag."
"Works for me." Bart's reply didn't even hold a hint of sarcasm, no hesitation.
"Never." He emphasized the word, "I have no idea if I like shagging but I don't want to." Their friendship had been so blurred lately and now Evan was starting to regret saying anything.
"So you're not into sex. Who cares?"
"You don't...?"
"Bloody hell, no. You're into me, that's more than enough." Evan froze as lips were pressed to his temple before Barty turned his attention back to the crowd. Jem was there, hair pulled up except for a few strands framing his face. He'd disappeared again, this was the first time in weeks any of the three had gotten in the same room and it was at a meeting. "He's not okay is he?"
"No, but Reggie doesn't even know what's going on."
"So, Remus Lupin is the only one who knows what's going on and he refuses to explain."
"Not to mention rumor has it he plans almost all of the marauder's pranks. That's why they get away with them."
"In my heart and in my head, tell me why this has to end? Oh no," they both looked to the Gryffindor who had managed to catch sight of them in the crowd, "I can't save us." He shook his head slightly before looking away, "My Atlantis, we fall. We've built this town on shaky ground, I can't save us. My Atlantis, oh no. We've built it up to pull it down."
"What do you think happened?"
"Something bad enough he won't tell Reggie."
"It's like 2 am and the bars all close at 10 in hell it's a rule I made. Anyway you say you're too busy saving everybody else to save yourself and you don't want no help. Oh well, that's the story to tell."
"Where's Reggie?"
"On his way." Evan answered softly, leaning on Barty's shoulder. "Maybe we can keep him from disappearing tonight."
"Maybe."
"Along at parties in a deadly silhouette," they looked up at his voice as Regulus walked in, Jem didn't notice. "He loves the cocaine, but cocaine don't love him back. When he's upset he talks to 'dora and takes deep breaths. Yeah, he's a monster, my compliments if you wanna love him, just deal with that. He'll never love you, more than money and cigarettes. Every night's a heartbreak!" He stepped away from the microphone, hands moving along the guitar, "Hey, don't think about it. Hey, just let it go. 'Cause his boyfriend is the rock 'n' roll. Savor every moment until he has to go, 'cause his boyfriend is the rock 'n' roll." Reggie didn't move, "Yeah, he's a monster, my compliments, if you wanna love him, just deal with that. He'll never love you, you look just a bit like his dad. Every night's a heartbreak!" Gold and green, a sight to behold as he ignored his surroundings and played his part, "Hey don't think about it. Hey, just let it go, 'cause his boyfriend is the rock 'n' roll. Savor every moment, 'till he has to go, 'cause his boyfriend is the rock 'n' roll." He caught sigh of Regulus when he opened his eyes, fingers faltering over the cords as he shook his head.
"Maybe this is going to go, way worse." Evan nodded in agreement.
The room went silent as Jem slid to a stop in front of Regulus, his back to the Slytherin as something dangerous danced in his eyes, his hands were up and his body was easily blocking Regulus. "Move Julian."
"No."
"And what makes you think I won't go through you?"
"I slaughtered a boardroom full of people to buy what freedom I have. What makes you think I won't add you to that list?"
"You have no wand." He shrugged and sparks danced over his fingers.
"I don't need one. Think very carefully about your next move." Voldemort just watched with a faint smile. He was enjoying this. He wanted a fight. An unfair one that would end very very badly. Wait...where was his wand?
"Julian," his eyes flicked to Voldemort and there was a moment when everyone froze. "Crucio." There was a brief flash of what could've been betrayal before the pain hit and he dropped to his knees, arms barely catching him from hitting the floor completely. All three Slytherin's paled and then Regulus was there beside him, trying to soothe the shaking Gryffindor. The Death Eaters capable of destroying him forgotten. "You were always too much like Thalia, too loyal-"
"Take her name out of your mouth." The words were low and his voice broke between them as his hands curled into fists, "You don't deserve to mourn." His hands splayed out on the tile as he leaned into Regulus, arms shaking as pain painted his features.
"Maybe that animagus has rubbed off on you too much." It was Jem's turn to pale as he shook his head no, strands of hair falling free of it's hairband at how quickly he was moving. "Beg for it."
They watched, the brightest wizard of their age, shaking on his knees look at Voldemort and plead, voice breaking, "Please."
"And they said he wouldn't get on his knees." He collapsed with a gasp as Voldemort disengaged the curse, arms giving out as he let Regulus pull him into him. The party started back up and the four teenagers just sat there, not saying anything just being close enough to understand that it was okay.
"Home?" All three Slytherins nodded and Regulus helped Jem to his feet, he waited for the Gryffindor's white knuckles to relax some before they walked for the door.
"Strut!" The group of Gryffindor boys called to James Potter as he strutted into the great hall, popping his collar with a shit eating grin.
"Let it be known from this day forth, anyone who says the Potters don't strut are bloody liars!" A laugh went through the great hall as James pulled Jem up from the table who matched his brother step for step with equal sass.
Nothing showed what had happened last night, he was all genuine smiles and laughs. When they split up it was for James to grab Lilly and Jem to distract Regulus long enough to get him away from the table. Evan and Barty were quick to help.
"Oi!" James and Jem both looked at Remus who shook his head, "Knock it off idiots."
"Anything for our Moony."
"Anything for our Moony." James echoed as everyone sat back down, Jem with Regulus, Evan and Barty at the Slytherin table and James chasing Lilly around the Gryffindor table.
Regulus rolled his eyes at the other Potter brother's antics before turning Jem's face towards him with a finger hooked under his jaw, pulling the long haired man into a kiss, feeling those soft lips curve up into a smile and the hint of cold metal trace his lips as Jem hummed happily.
This was right. Safe. In a place without fear. A place of learning and contentment, love and happiness. This was right. Too bad this was the last week. Summer had come fast, far too fast.
It'd been a mess and chaotic but it was the first time Regulus remembered actually feeling...anything. "Just hanging out in the common room later, wanna come?" Regulus's eyes darted to Evan and Barty who seemed far too interested in the table. "They can come too. It's gonna be a mess of us."
"Sure." He got another kiss before Jem settled down beside him, stealing a piece of toast from Barty's plate and getting a laugh as they started arguing.
Maybe this was what he'd been looking for. Maybe Jem was that final piece that made things right.