Peter’s threat
february 17th, 1980
“for Salazar’s sake!” Regulus groaned. “why didn’t you tell me what his owl looked like!”
“did you think i was expecting Peter’s owl to show up there again?!” Sirius sizzled. “if i was, of course i would have bloody told you!”
Regulus dropped his head. they were fucked. as in, horribly fucked. not just him, but Sirius too.
“what are we supposed to do now?” Sirius shrugged in response, he shook his head.
“nothing!” he exclaimed. “there’s nothing we can do except wait for the moment they kill us, Reggie.”
the feeling of guilt just now hit him. even though it was not even his fault, Regulus knew he had messed up. his mind went back to that one nightmare he had had a couple of weeks ago, he tried his hardest to block the pictures entering his mind, but he saw them all again.
“hi love, i’m home.” Remus’s voice sounded from behind Sirius, a door closing.
“i got to go,” Regulus said abruptly. he didn’t know what else to say, and he really didn’t want to face Remus after just figuring out he had basically just killed Sirius and himself. “sorry.”
he pulled out of the fire. sitting back down properly again, head resting against the leather of the sofa in the common room.
he would never be able to forgive himself if they even got close to hurting Sirius. what would he do if they did, though?
Regulus didn't know what he would do. he honestly didn’t think he could ever live without Sirius being in his life.
“Reg?” Regulus turned around being met by Barty, standing behind him in his PJ’s. “are you alright?”
“i’m good, thanks.” Regulus didn’t get up though, staring at the floor again.
“sorry to say, but you don’t look like you’re good.” Barty took place next to him, but Regulus didn’t look back up at him. “hey?”
he didn’t want to cry. he wasn’t gonna. he hated crying, he always had. for the longest time he had not even been able to cry, like his emotions were turned off. but ever since his parents had passed, it was like nothing stopped him anymore. like he was finally free.
“it’s okay. whatever it is, we can fix it.” Barty threw an arm around his shoulder.
‘we can’t, though,” Regulus thought. ‘we really can’t.’
the next morning Regulus stayed in bed, despite it being a regular schoolday. it was pouring outside, as well. he had even got Barty and Evan so far as to tell the teachers he was a bit ill, so they’d leave him be.
the curtains around his bed were closed, leaving him curled up behind them. there was nothing else to do but wait, wait until he’d die.
unlike last night, it was like the tears couldn’t form now. he was in a mental trance of worrying. what if they had Sirius right now? Regulus wouldn’t know.
he got up from his bed, bare feet hitting the cold floor. he knew he looked awful, but there was no one near, anyways. so it didn’t bother him.
the loads and loads of homework on his nightstand were calling his name, but he was sure he wouldn’t get behind. skipping it once wouldn’t hurt, right?
besides, there were things way more important to think about. for a moment, Regulus had considered telling McGonnagal, seeing as she had told him he could always go see her for advice.
he didn’t want to be a burden, though. and she could probably just call him stupid, because it was a dumb thing to do. not just dumb, life endangering as well. shaking his head at the thought, Regulus changed into some comfier, cleaner clothes.
where was Peter right now? was he telling Voldemort? was he keeping to himself? what was his plan now? did he even—
a knock was heard at the door, making him stop in his tracks.
“go away, Evan!”
“it’s me,” a scrawny little voice sounded. “Winnie the house elf. i’ve got mail for you, kind sir.”
Regulus didn't want to groan, knowing it would hurt her feelings. instead, he slowly made his way towards the door, opening it slightly.
“thank you, Winnie.” she nodded heavily, bowing down. “no need to bow.” he smiled at her, as she nodded, making her way back outside the common room.
Regulus closed the door again. he looked at what she had handed him; two pieces of toast, with a note written by Evan telling him to eat something. and a letter:
Regulus
fucking. hell.
“fuck, fuck.” Regulus muttered, the feeling of a panic attack on his chest.
what if this was the letter telling him Sirius was dead? what if that was it? what if it was Remus telling him Sirius had been murdered, and that it was his fault?
Regulus threw the toast on Barty’s bed, not knowing weather he would ever eat it or not. he sat down on the edge of his bed, hands trembling as he opened the envelope.
meet me, the Hog’s Head, tomorrow, 9 p.m. sharp. be there, or you won’t be here much longer.
Regulus sighed, not knowing weather it was in relief or in fear. what did that even mean? did this mean Sirius was safe? alive??
all he knew was that he for sure had to be there tomorrow. he didn’t know how, but he would.
okay. this could still be fixed, right? maybe Barty had been right after all. Regulus crumbled up the paper, but instead of throwing it away, he put it carefully under his pillow.
February 19th, 1980 — 8:27 P.M.
did Regulus have any idea how he would get out of Hogwarts by this time unnoticed? absolutely not. did he have a vague plan? maybe. he was fairly sure it would fail, in all honesty. but it was his only shot.
maybe he was like Sirius. in some way, at least.
“you set off a what?!” Evan exclaimed while Barty patted his back after he choked on his pumpkin juice.
“shh! for fuck’s sake.” Regulus silenced him. “you heard me. now, i need you guys to go there now. i have to be… somewhere, outside of here in a bit. and i need to get there unnoticed.”
Barty raised a brow in interest, which Regulus rolled his eyes at.
“it’s a very long story, i’d put you guys in unnecessary danger.”
“i don’t care,” Barty said. “come on Reg! we know you’re hiding something!”
Regulus sighed. he couldn’t tell them, he just couldn’t. but he also knew they wouldn’t judge him, well, eventually they wouldn’t.
“you guys go there now, and i’ll think about it.”
Barty opened his mouth to protest, but Evan raised his brows, elbowing him.
“fine.”
Regulus got up shortly after they left, grabbing the note from under his pillow. this would be an adventure on its own.
he had set of troll slime bombs on the seventh floor, big enough that they’d cover the entirety of the hallway and a part of the stairs, if he was lucky.
this would give him enough time to sneak away through the secret hallway under the statue of the witch with the large ears. Regulus made a mental note to thank Sirius for this information, if he were to ever see him again.
the walk wasn’t too long, around fifteen minutes maybe. he was dressed in regular clothing, to make sure he wouldn’t get send back to the school as soon as he entered the pub.
it was crowded, much to Regulus’s surprise, seeing as it was a Monday evening. he looked around for a bit, seeing if he saw any familiar faces.
Peter.
Peter was staring at him from a table in the far back, holding a piece of paper up, waving with it. sinister smile on his face.
Regulus walked towards him, head up in pride. he couldn’t look afraid.
Peter’s face that was once kind, and open, was now grim. he looked ill, pale, dark circles painting the undersides of his eyes. he looked crazy, like he was out of his mind.
“Pettigrew.” Regulus greeted him through his teeth.
“Black.” Peter said, same insane smile still on his face. “didn’t expect you’d actually show.”
“what do you want?” Regulus snapped. “huh? tell me!”
“let’s just keep calm for now, you’re not making it yourself any easier.”
Regulus felt like throwing up. he had never been more disgusted with someone, ever.
“so, how’s our beloved Sirius doing?”
“better, since you’re gone.” Regulus said. “fucking coward.”
“well well,” the boy across from him chuckled. “your mommy didn’t really teach you manners, did she?”
“what do you want from me.”
“i think you know exactly what i want.” Regulus let out a laugh, throwing his head back.
“oh please, Petie,” he folded his arms over the table. “don’t try to sound intimidating, it’s clear you’re an amateur.”
Peter didn’t know what to say at this, instead he took a sip of his drink.
“don’t order me around like the stupid know-it-all you are, Regulus.” Peter now chuckled too, still sounding as maniacal as before. “i could tell them all; your beloved cousin Bella, the Mulciber’s too, i’m sure they’d like to have that information. and of course, how could i forget? the dark lord himself.”
he spoke with pride, like he was actually proud of his actions. Regulus rolled his eyes in disgust. they wouldn’t believe him, anyways.
“come on Peter.” Regulus said, raising his brows, now leaning closet towards Peter. “you don’t truly think they care about you, do you?” he let out a chuckle. “you’re useless to them.”
he stopped to watch Peter’s expression change.
“i will make sure they kill you, if you try to hurt me or my brother ever again. Voldemort wouldn’t care, anyway. you’re useless, a traitor. you don’t seriously think they trust you? much less that they’d protect you.”
once again Peter appeared to be stunned, but he started laughing.
“oh you wouldn’t dare.”
“yeah? try me.” with that Regulus got up, without looking in Peter’s direction another time.