Chapter 12
"Over here, son," said the Master at Arms.
The Master at Arms handcuffed James to a Water Pipe. The pipe happened to be running at the wall of the Master at Arms' office.
James' arms were wrapped around the pipe, and he didn't get a chance to sit down. It was uncomfortable, but James had no right to complain.
One of the crewmembers' rushes in anxiously.
"Sir, there's a big mob at the Second-Class Purser's office," he blurted out.
The Master at Arms turned away from James and faced the crewmember.
"Go on. I'll keep an eye on him," Malfoy assured, pulling out his pistol.
"Ay, right," the Master at Arms said without hesitation.
The Master at Arms gave Malfoy the keys to the handcuffs and then left the room with the crewmember.
Malfoy said nothing. He just sat down in one of the chairs and looked at James.
~~~~
Sirius ran down the aisle while trying to avoid the other passengers. He had expected to find the two of them in their cabin, but nobody was there.
"Remus? Remus! Marlene?"
Where were the two? They could not be far.
Shouldn't he have stayed with his family?
"Hey, have you seen Officer Lupin?" Sirius asked one of the young stewards.
"No, sir," he answered quickly and walked on.
"Crap."
Sirius looked around; the hallway was now completely empty. Which of course was understandable, because everyone was now needed to put the passengers into the lifeboats.
His plan was to find Remus and Marlene, go back to Regulus and then make sure the three landed in one of the lifeboats.
He hadn't expected that he wouldn't find Remus and Marlenw. Were they already safe?
The young man hoped so. But knowing Remus, he would not just disappear when the going got tough.
Sirius walked around the next corner and almost bumped into someone.
"Sirius?"
The black-haired young man looked into a familiar face. Remus Lupin stood in front of him - hair dishevelled and a worried look on his face.
Marlene stood next to him and held his hand. She had wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and still looked sickly.
"What are you doing here?" Remus asked.
Sirius told, in two sentences, his plan to get him, Marlene and Regulus onto one of the lifeboats.
Remus could not help it, a wide smile spread across his face. He was pleased that Sirius had thought of him and Marlene.
He couldn't help but give Sirius a quick kiss. Then he grabbed Sirius' hand with his free hand and the three of them ran.
Just understandably Marlenw wasn't as fast as Remus and Sirius, and they had to stop after a few meters.
"Is it ok if I carry you?" Sirius asked Marlene.
The blonde girl nodded before Sirius picked her up. He nodded to Remus and the two men continued their way.
~~~~
James looked through the small, round porthole with a worried look. He could clearly see the sea surface - part of the window was already under water.
Malfoy put one of his pistol balls on the table, which as the ship banked and rolled towards Malfoy. He caught the ball again with ease.
"You know, I do believe this ship may sink," Malfoy said.
The blond man got up from the chair and approached James.
"I've been asked to give you this small token of our appreciation," Malfoy explained, punching James in the pit of his stomach with full force.
The young man doubled over in pain.
And if James weren't handcuffed to the pipe, he would have hit back.
"Compliments of Mr Severus Snape."
Malfoy grabbed the handcuff key and left James alone in the room.
~~~~
Walburga was still holding Regulus when they were already standing at one of the lifeboats and about to get in.
"Come on, sister, you heard the man. Into the boat," said Molly and helped another woman into the boat and then got in herself.
"Any room for a gentleman, gentlemen?" Snape inquired in a mock polite tone.
"Only women at this time, sir", explained the crewmember.
"I'm not going to get on this boat without my son," Walburga said in a tone that allowed no argument.
"He's still a kid," she added in a desperate tone.
The crew member nodded, Regulus was also allowed on board and suddenly Walburga's demeanour changed.
"Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?" she asked, but got no answer and then added, "I hope they're not too crowded."
This was too much for Regulus. It was enough.
"Oh, Mother, shut up!" he hissed. "Don't you understand? The water is freezing and there aren't enough boats. Not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are going to die."
"Not the better half," Severus commented.
Better half? Regulus wondered. The third-class passenger was worth more than all the first-class passengers combined.
"Shut up," Regulus hissed.
His mother did not like it at all and tightened her grip on his wrist.
"Come on, Walburga," Molly called her from the boat. "Get in the boat. First class seats are right up here.
Walburga let go of her son to climb into the boat. His wrist was red from being held so tightly by his mother.
"You know, it's a pity I didn't keep that drawing," Snape said. "It'll be worth a lot more by morning."
Regulus looked at Snape and realized that James had been right. Snape, or rather Malfoy, had put the locket in the other young man's pocket.
Well, he didn't realize it was true.
Regulus realized that at no time did he believe James stole the locket.
He knew all along that James was innocent.
An incredibly bad conscience rose in him.
It was all his fault that they took James away.
Regulus should have helped James.
He had made a big mistake by not saying anything—keeping quiet.
But now he would change that. Regulus would not keep silent anymore.
"You unimaginable bastard."
"Come on, Regulus darling. There's plenty of room for you," said Molly. "Come on. You're next."
"Come into the boat, Regulus," Walburga said when Regulus didn't move.
"Come," Snape tried, holding out his hand.
That only made Regulus back away.
"Regulus. Get into the boat!" Walburga instructed him. "Regulus."
But it was enough for the young man. He would do it now.
"Goodbye, Mother."
Then Regulus turned and walked away. Snape immediately ran after him to stop him.
"Where are you going?" Snape demanded, holding the younger man back. "To him?!"
Regulus did not answer. Snape was not even worth the calories Regulus was burning talking to him.
"You– Are you– Have you lost your mind? You are smart. Think about what you are doing."
"I already did," Regulus reported.
"You– I mean… that gutter rat?
Regulus suddenly saw red. He swung back and hit Snape in the face with a perfect punch.
It felt amazing, kind of liberating.
He had wanted to do this for so long.
Snape staggered back and Regulus took the opportunity to run.
~~~~
There weren't as many passengers in the first-class lounge as there had been when Sirius had just left.
"See him?" he asked Remus.
The brown-haired man was slightly taller than Sirius and could see over most of the others' heads.
"I don't see your brother or the others."
Sirius adjusted Marleen's blanket and draped it back over the young girl's shoulders.
"Maybe – maybe he's already outside," Sirius suggested. "Maybe already in one of the lifeboats."
Remus doubted that. Only women and children were allowed on the boats up to a point.
But he said nothing. Instead, he nodded and suggested going outside as well.
Outside, some lifeboats had already been lowered into the water.
Chaos had broken out in front of one of the remaining lifeboats.
"Wait here," Remus said to Sirius and Marlene.
The young officer squeezed through the crowd and saw a very overwhelmed steward.
"Mr. Lupin, sir, I need your help. I- I can't do the boat by myself- Hey! Please stand back!"
Remus nodded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please–" the young officer tried, but no one listened to him. "QUIET!"
Suddenly, all the surrounding passengers were silent and stared at Remus in surprise and in some cases, frightened.
He waved Sirius and Marlene over. Sirius put the little girl in the boat.
Then Remus explained the plan.
"Sirius, you stay in here and help me get the women and children on board. I'll help from outside. You, Mr. Lovegood, are coming with me."
"But sir," complained the steward. "We're only supposed to let women and children in the boats, and he—"
"Are you questioning my orders?"
You see, Remus Lupin was a nice guy, but he could also be formidable when he wanted to.
For most, that had the effect, Sirius in turn found that very, very appealing.
Mr Lovegood shook his head.
Remus nodded in satisfaction and then turned back to the crowd.
"Well, women and children first. Then we'll see if there's still enough room for the gentlemen here. Got it?"
The passengers nod in unison.
Remus, Sirius and Mr. Lovegood then began to help the women and children climb into the boat.
Surprisingly, it worked very well. No one pushed or otherwise drew negative attention to himself.
Which was probably because they all had too much respect for Remus.
The group of passengers in front of the boat was slowly shrinking when he saw a person running past him.
Remus recognized who it was and grabbed his arm.
"Let me go, you- oh Remus."
Regulus looked at the brown-haired officer in surprise.
"Thank God you're okay," Remus said. "Your brother was already sick with worry."
What? Regulus thought. Sirius was worried about him?
The corners of his mouth twitched up. Had Sirius been looking for him too?
"You've seen Sirius? Where is he?" Regulus asked hastily.
The young officer pointed in the direction of the lifeboat.
"He helps the people on the boat. You should also get on it quickly, otherwise you probably won't get a seat."
The black-haired young man recognized his brother's shock of black hair in the crowd.
Regulus breathed a sigh of relief. Sirius was safe, now all he had to do was find James.
"I can't," Regulus said.
Remus looked at him in horror.
"You can't?! Why? Regulus, listen–"
"No. You're listening," Regulus interrupted the other man. "I have to find James, ok? I won't go without him."
Regulus, like his mother a few moments before, spoke in a tone that did not allow for any arguments.
Remus wanted to say something. Something like 'You're crazy.'; 'You will die.' or 'Think of your brother.'
However, he then decided not to say any of this. Sirius had talked about how stubborn Regulus could be.
What Remus didn't know was that Regulus was thinking of his brother.
He now knew that Sirius had a place in the lifeboat and now he could die with peace of mind.
Regulus didn't want to die, of course, but it would be easier knowing Sirius was okay.
Remus sighed. He glanced at the lifeboat, then back at Regulus.
"I can buy you some time, but just minutes, ten tops."
"I won't need any longer," Regulus assured.
The young man turned and continued his way.
I promise I find you, James. And then we run away together– I swear.