Chapter 15
"Snape?" Regulus was surprised as the halfblood willingly came up to him this time. He glanced towards Lucius, who did not seem angry, so the halfblood had to have at least informed Lucius what he was going to do. Regulus was supposed to be watching over him now, after all. That was what Lucius said. Something about Snape helping him get leverage over Potter and Dumbledore. Regulus hated the two just as much as anyone else in Slytherin, perhaps a bit more due to his own personal beef, maybe closer to something like Snape, but this was super strange. "What is it?" He questioned, tilting his head slightly.
"Wanted to continue our conversation from yesterday, before Malfoy interrupted us." Snape said with a shrug of his shoulders. "We both have a free period after breakfast, so I wished to go to the library and talk with you." Regulus picked the underbed of his nails nervously, barely noticeable if Snape had not been looking for any sign of discomfort.
"Have you spoken to Lucius about this?" The words were quiet, but sharp. Snape understood the premise. Regulus was not going to do anything Lucius disapproved of. He rolled his eyes. Regulus really did not manage to think for himself.
"Yes, he has agreed." Regulus looked doubtful, glancing once more into the icy gaze of Lucius, who nodded curtly, and the boy promptly lost all tenseness.
"Very well," Regulus paused, looking towards his breakfast. "May I finish?" The words were quiet, as if he was expecting to be told no. His fingers tensed on the silverware, a mournful look towards the food which was barely even started. Severus stared, a bit unnerved that he was being asked for permission to continue eating. He just sat down next to Regulus and nodded.
"Of course, I am not going to keep you from eating." The expel of air, the relief, was not something Severus failed to notice, and it left him unnerved. His family was poor, they did not have a lot of money and that included things like food, but he was never kept from eating, even when his father was in the foulest of moods. To know that a family as rich as the Blacks would willingly, and with no care, withhold substance from their child was something Severus did not know he could ever get his mind over.
Regulus finished his meal quickly, but not without the standard finesse he had come to expect from the Purebloods, and from Slytherins in general. Even the muggleborn slytherins, as rare as they were, had a certain elegance while eating, though the Purebloods made it effortless. "We may leave now," Regulus said simply, standing from his table, "But we must hurry, Sirius tends to corner me after breakfast." The words left Severus feeling almost...he was not entirely sure. While he knew that the two brothers did not have a good relationship, he was surprised that Sirius hunted his brother as he often hunted him.
Severus took the lead, despite how strange it seemed, and Regulus was clearly on edge and nervous. "We have to get to the library quickly, because Sirius hates it, and would never dare step foot in it. Though he may wait for me outside of it." The hysterical mad laugh that Regulus handed out made Severus feel even more like shit. He, like everyone else in school, knew the brothers got into these clandestine fights. He just always assumed they were like these one off things. He never thought that it was because Regulus couldn't deal with Sirius' shit anymore and flew off the handle. It made sense, though, and he had to say, he was lowkey proud of Regulus for it.
"Come on," Severus snatched Regulus' arm, ignoring the flinch it produced, and sped walked him straight to the library, taking a few short cuts and hidden paths. Once safely in the library, he shoved Regulus down into the chair, and pulled out his potions book.
"I want to get one thing straight before we continue with this," Severus said simply before pausing, "Well, two things actually." Regulus gestured for him to continue. "The first is that...Malfoy wants to use veritaserum in the trial he is plotting against Potter and Dumbledore." Regulus swallowed, and Severus knew that he knew exactly what he was getting at.
"It is not unsurprising," His voice was low, and sad. "I will, obviously, do as requested from Lucius. I do not know if Mother and Father will be happy about it, but...Lucius will handle them for me." The words were resigned and somewhat irritated.
"I don't want you to agree if you think you have to," Severus began but Regulus shook his head.
"Lucius has been working with me to expose my parents, and this is likely what he intends to use as a jumping off point. My parents' actions and behaviors will greatly explain Sirius', and the company he keeps." Regulus shrugged. "It does not matter either way. The Dark Lord intends for me to join him once I turn sixteen, though I am hoping I may speak with him about waiting until I turn seventeen. I am not too certain how convincing I will be, though,"
"Well, beyond that, the second thing I wanted to talk to you about is that Healing Potions are good for you to focus on. everyone should focus on them. Black or not, they are important, especially going into a war, like we will be when we turn seventeen. Even now, clearly, healing potions are important to you otherwise you would not have been focusing on them." Regulus stared at him with almost bated breath.
"I...Did not think of that, thank you," Regulus admitted softly. Severus gave one simple nod before flicking his potions book several chapters ahead and smoothing the pages down on the healing chapters.
"I want to you to help me, since you are clearly capable." Severus admitted, a soft, hesitant smile lighting on Regulus' face, his eyes shining. Severus knew that this was a good way for him to go.