Chapter 2)
Regulus did not hear one word during the meeting. His mind was… preoccupied.
1. No wandering off.
As the group dispersed to the living room, Regulus quietly abandoned his mother, hoping she wouldn't notice. He watched as Peter headed into the foyer and quietly he followed after him. He’d headed up to the second floor, presumably to the bathroom. Regulus couldn't let him get away, but had to be far enough away so the rest of the party were not able to hear. Despite his best efforts to stay quiet, Peter stopped dead in his tracks and spun on his heel to face regulus. “Why are you following me?” he muttered through gritted teeth.
2. No asking questions.
Regulus sneered. “Why are you here?” he growled, trying his best to keep his voice steady. “Betraying my brother, are you?” he was being sarcastic but Peter shifted uncomfortably, clearly in some sort of internal conflict. “Why do you care?” he bit back indignantly. Regulus scoffed, “Believe it or not, Sirius is still my brother and unlike you” he looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice,
3.Keep your mouth shut.
“I'm not here because I want to be”.
“Is this some marauders bullshit? Infiltrating a death eater meeting? I mean that's a bit bold even for you four” he held Peter's gaze earnestly because honestly, he was starting to hope it was some marauders bullshit. That seemed a lot better than the possibility that had been brewing in the back of his mind since Peter had acted so strangely to the betraying comment. Peter tried to break eye contact but Regulus held it firmly, daring him to say it.
“We aren't gonna win” he muttered pathetically. Regulus gritted his teeth and tried to steady his breathing. “i just don't wanna be there when we lose” Regulus didn't know what to say and just stared in disgust at the pathetic, cowardice boy in front of him. “They should have never put you in Gryffindor,” he managed. But it didn't seem like enough. He would never be able to find the words to describe the raw hatred consuming him. “You are a coward” regulus spat, he straightened himself to his full height and clenched his jaw, looking the boy up and down with utter contempt. “Don't you dare go near my brother, don't you dare lay even a finger on him”
He took a deep breath, feeling his anger drain back to a familiar sense of emptiness. Leaving nothing but a hollow feeling in his bones. “Fuck you” he breathed. Peter looked small, miserable and pathetic, ringing his hands and looking as though he wanted to cry. Regulus stalked away and as he turned a corner, he hid behind it, taking a deep breath. When he’d gathered his composer, he peered around the corner. Peter had his eyes squeezed tightly shut and a hand over his mouth. When he removed his hand, he took a sharp, shuddering breath. He leaned back, weakly against the wall behind him and slowly slid to the floor. Regulus resented the small part of him that pitied Peter, but he was only eighteen. Naive, afraid and yet to realize that no one wins in war, no matter the side.
Regulus gritted his teeth and turned away. Peter had chosen his side. Regulus’ top priority was his brother now, he had to get away from his mother and find his way back to Sirius. Regulus hadn't the faintest idea what this plan would look like, but he would shove down every inch of distaste he had for the marauders and truly embrace his brother's mischievous ways. If Sirius could escape this life, so could regulus.
right?