Chapter 19
It was a Thursday and as usual Regulus was going to his Defence Against the Dark Arts class. He didn’t know why but he had a bad feeling about it. He entered the class and today’s subject was written on the board: “The unforgivable curses”. Regulus knew they had to learn about it in sixth year but all he could think was that house. To make this lesson even worse, the person who was going to “teach” them about it was none other than someone who had used them on him. Regulus took a deep breath before sitting down at his usual spot in between Barty and Evan.
James and he had not yet managed to make the bracelets work so if something happened he could only rely on Barty and Evan to get James.
“Are you okay Regulus?”
“Uhm” answered Regulus with a nod
“We’ll go get James after class okay.”
Before Regulus could say anything, Tom entered the room.
“Hello my dear students. As you may have noticed, we are going to learn about the unforgivables today. And because we are not monsters, we will not perform the spells on humans but on spiders so I can show you the effect of each spell. We will start with the Imperius curse. Can someone tell us what the curse does? Yes Regulus, you surely can answer this question.”
“The Imperius curse allows the caster to completely control another’s action. It is possible to resist the Imperius Curse but doing so requires exceptional strength of mind. When under the curse, the subject feels light and free of worries, making it a relatively pleasant experience and even harder to resist. However whilst under the caster’s control, victims can be made to commit crimes such as murder and torture, or even … kill themselves.”
“Very good Regulus. I am now going to do a demonstration of the spell.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I beg your pardon Mr. Black.”
“I said : you don’t have to, professor. I think we all know what the spell does and that spider, even if she is little, still is a living being with feeling.”
“Well I still have to do my lesson even if you don’t agree with it Mr. Black. You’ll get detention after class for your attitude. You won’t leave with the other students.”
Regulus doesn’t know what happened for the rest of the class. He just froze in place after learning he was going to be left alone with this monster. The only thing he could hear was the screaming in his head like on that night. It can’t be real. It can’t be real. His vision was blurry but he could see the students filter out of the class and two of them running faster than the other. It can’t be real. It can’t be real. Suddenly a voice came through his ear. He could feel the breathing of someone on his neck. It can’t be real. It can’t be real. Regulus wasn’t the master of his body anymore. His voice was still here but couldn’t form a word or a scream.
“Hello Regulus. It’s been so long since we’ve been alone together. It was hard getting you away from that Potter boy or your Slytherin friends.” Regulus could feel a hand sliding up and down his arm. “I’ve missed you. Why would you run away from our wedding?” Regulus was doing everything he could to resist the curse that was cast on him. “Are you trying to get your body out of my possession? I’m afraid your mind isn’t strong enough.” One hand was now on his tight and the other cupping his neck. “Look at me Regulus.” he couldn’t resist looking. “What a waste of you to turn out this way. You were such a manipulable young man.” Stop it. Stop it. Get away from me.
Before the man could get any closer to Regulus the door was being crashed open. Regulus still didn’t understand what was happening. His vision became all blurry again. He could see that spells were being sent in between the two people in the room. A second later one of them was immobilised on the floor. Regulus could see a figure coming to him. As it got closer, Regulus tried to push it away. Regulus was crying, trembling and almost not breathing.
“Hey Regulus it’s okay, it’s me, it’s James. You need to breathe, love. Please breathe.”
“Je suis désolé. C’est ma faute. Il a voulu me toucher. J’ai peur James.”
“Okay love. I don’t understand a thing you are saying but you are breathing that’s a thing. Would you be mad if I sent Barty and Evan to get Sirius so he could help me understand.”
“Sirius, j’ai besoin de Sirius oui. Il peut comprendre. J’ai besoin de Sirius.”
“Okay I guess that is a yes. BARTY EVAN GET SIRIUS NOW.”
Regulus was having a new wave of hard breathing. His ears were ringing. James tried to hold his hand but ended up being pushed away.
“Okay no touching. Did he hurt you anywhere physically? Are you physically hurt, love?”
“Je…je …”
“Okay okay breathe remember. In and out. In and out. If you are hurt somewhere, show me where because I don't understand a thing you are saying and until Sirius arrives I won't be able to understand.”
Regulus pointed at his head.
“Okay I'll need to touch your head to see if you are bleeding from somewhere or if there is a bump. Can I , little star?”
Regulus nodded so James grabbed Regulus head to check if everything was alright on the outside. Before James could tell Regulus that everything looked alright, Sirius entered the room.
“What the fuck happened? Why is Regulus crying on the floor? James tell me everything.”
“Well if you are here it's because I don't understand what happened. I know it has to do with Tom Riddle. Regulus is not physically hurt but I can't understand a thing he is saying because he is speaking French. He understands what I'm saying though. Oh and he doesn't want to be touched. That's why I need your help Sirius. Could you translate what he's saying please.”
“Sure uhm what should we know.”
“Uhm hey Regulus did he put a spell on you before anything happened.”
“Oui. On était en train d'apprendre les sorts impardonnables. Je voulais pas qu'il fasse les sorts sur les araignées donc il m'a donné une retenue pour après l'heure. J'ai paniqué et ma vision c'est brouillé. Je ne me souviens pas de la suite du cours. Lorsque les élèves sont sortis, il m'a lancé Impero. Il s'est approché de moi et m'a caressé le bras. J'ai essayé de partir, de crier mais rien ne s'est passé. Après il s'est rapproché de moi. Il m'a attrapé la cuisse et avait son autre main qui me tenait la nuque. Il m'a forcé à le regarder et m'a dit que je n'aurai jamais dû partir avant le mariage. Avant qu'il puisse faire plus, James est rentré et je ne sais pas ce qui c'est passé après ça.”
“Attend Regulus, comment ça le mariage?”
“Quand tu es parti, papa et maman ont décidé de me marier le plus rapidement possible. Tom était le sorcier le plus prestigieux. Ils ont donc décidé qu'il serait mon mari. Des choses horribles se sont passées quand tu es parti. Je te les raconterai plus tard.”
“As-tu mal quelque part sinon?”
“J'ai très mal à la tête mais je pense que c'est la faute du sort.”
“Tu veux aller à l'infirmerie?”
“Oui je veux bien.”
“Sorry to interrupt but I don't understand a thing you are saying and it seems very important.”
“Oh yes James, so Riddle cursed Regulus under Imperio so his head is hurting we should take him to the infirmary. Riddle tried to touch him. Bring him to Mrs Pomfrey while I go to McGonagall to tell her everything I know. Regulus, est ce que je peux dire ce qui c'est passé à Madame McGonagall. Et est ce que James connaît l'histoire complète.”
“J'ai déjà tout raconté à James. Il en sait plus que toi. Nous retournerons voir McGonagall quand j'irai mieux. Tu peux déjà raconter ce que je t'ai dit.”
“Est ce que tu peux parler anglais.”
“Non je ne peux pas. Je ne sais pas pourquoi la seule langue que j'arrive à parler est le français.”
“Okay je vais voir McGonagall and you two will go to Poppy.”
Sirius ran out of the room and left James and Regulus alone.
“Hey little star, do you think you can walk?”
“Oui, je pense”
“Okay I understand this word. Do you need help to walk and to keep standing?” Regulus nodded so James helped him get up and walked in the infirmary way. While they were walking, a new wave of panic came over Regulus. He was shaking, crying and hardly breathing again. James led him to the floor but was pushed away.
“Désolé, désolé,désolé.”
“No Regulus, you don’t get to say that. I know what this word means because Sirius kept on saying it when he came to us or when he had nightmares. So no love, you can’t be sorry because you didn't do anything wrong. Nothing is your fault, do you understand love?” Regulus nodded once again. “I love you. Can we go on?” the younger boy shook his head which meant he was ready to get up again.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the infirmary.
“Hello Mrs. Pomfrey, I really need your help.”
“What is it, Mr. Potter?”
“Well, Regulus has been hit by a spell and he isn’t able to speak English anymore. He is stuck in French and I don’t understand much about what he is saying. He said his head hurt and he keeps having panic attacks. I don’t really know how to handle everything.”
“Could you help Mr. Black to get to bed so he can rest.”
“I sure can. Come on love, you are going to bed.”
-
“Hey Reggie, I'm going to give you your potions so you can get better. One of them is a sleeping draught and it’s also dreamless, okay?”
“Peux-tu rester avec moi Jamie. Je veux tenir ta main.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, love.”
“I think he said he wanted you to stay close to him and keep on holding him. Is that right Mr. Black?”
Regulus just nodded in response to make sure he was being understood by everyone.
“Of course I will, darling.” James turned to Poppy “Can I?”
“I will make an exception for this once. Now Mr. Black, you should really get to sleep.”
“Oh oui, bien sûr madame.”
“Here, the sleep potion, love. I promise I’ll stay with you for the entire time you’re asleep, okay. Sirius will also come by I’m sure and he’ll have a lot of questions. Do you want me to tell him about it?”
“Non Jamie, s’il te plaît.” said Regulus while falling asleep
“Okay I won't, darling. I promise. But he’ll need to know. And so will Evan and Barty. Especially Barty.”
“Arrête de t'inquiéter Jamie. Je leur dirai.”
“Okay…Okay. Goodnight little star.” he said, pressing a soft and gentle kiss on Regulus’ temple.
James sat on a chair next to Regulus’ bed and just watched him sleep peacefully. It reminded him of that night in August when a drunk Regulus confessed his feelings for James. This feels like a lifetime ago.
But right now it is different. He is looking after his boyfriend who needs him right now.
While rubbing circles on the back of Regulus’ hand, James just fell asleep on the other boy’s chest.