Cellophane

  “Sirius stop,” James said, the door to their dormitory shut dramatically behind them, Remus and Peter following behind James. 

“This is fucking insane, do you even know what you’re implying?” James asked, almost laughing with confusion. 

“Yeah James I know what I’m implying.” The three of them stood watching Sirius, their expressions mimicking each other. 

“All of you stop looking at me like i’m fucking crazy,” Sirus said, flipping his hair and touching his forehead with irritation. 

“Then stop acting fucking crazy,” Remus said. 

“She did it. I know she did- or she’s going to-I don't know.”

They had about ten minutes of peace at dinner. Ten fucking minutes. 

“Come on,” Peter began, “Regulus would’t, I mean, come on- this is ridiculous right?” 

“Do you even have ground for this? Because you sound fucking delusional.” Remus said, setting his bag down and walking past Sirius to his nightstand. “She’s been acting weird-” sirius started, turning to Remus, “How the fuck would you know? You haven't spoken to her,” Remus mumbled with a cigarette in his mouth. 

“She looks like hell. I don’t need to have spoken to her to see that.”

James and Remus shared a moment of eye contact. 

“Listen,” Sirius started,sighing “I have a feeling. A strong one.” 

They were all silent. 

No, no, there's just know way Regulus became a Death Eater.  That’s insane. I would have seen it, right? The mark, I was with her like five hours ago. 

“Well, does anyone have any proof to the contrary?” Sirius inquired, looking at all of them one by one expectantly. 

How do I say this ? James thought, “Sirius listen,I’ve been fucking your sister for close to a month, I almost fucked her today actually- but i didn’t! She just slept in my bed, that's all! anyway In that time I've seen her naked more than once and haven't seen a dark mark! Don’t worry! Fear not!” 

“Okay,” Remus started, breaking James from his internal confession, “Let's say-god forbid- she did take the dark mark. What would we do?”

An immediate air of dread and anxiety filled the room. James knew they were all thinking the same thing. “What would we do?” 

“Hold on,” James interjected “Let’s not start throwing hypotheticals around until we know for certain.” 

“Okay,” Sirius said, “let's find out for certain then.” 

“What are you suggesting?” Remus asked, his eyebrow raised. Sirius walked over to his nightstand and fished the map out. He looked over his shoulder at the three of them who were staring dumbly at him, “Jesus, come over here,Idiots.” 

They all did, the map was opened on Sirius's bed and they leaned over each other looking down at it. “Alright,” Sirius pointed to Regulus’s name, she was in the slytherin dormitories. “This is my idea,” Sirius said, “we get Jamies cloak, we go to the pit of hell, sneak in, find Regulus, and hope she is wearing short sleeves or talking about it.”

“You’ve got to be fucking with me,” Remus said, stepping back and laughing. “Come on,” Remus said looking at James, and gesturing to Sirius, “I mean come on.”

“well,” Peter started,shrugging, “maybe it’s not the worst idea in the worl-

“Oh my god don’t indulge him!” Remus exclaimed. “Okay, stop.” James said, “How would the logistics of this even work? How would we get in the common room without being caught? And then the dorm itself? Not to mention the very likely possibility Regulus has her arms covered or is keeping this a secret.” 

“We wait for someone to open the door first and then slide in with them.” Sirius said evenly. They stared at him blankly. “And clearly you boys don’t know women very well. They have no secrets with each other.” Sirius said, smirking a bit. 

“Oh sure, you know, If we are really lucky we will walk in just as they are having their daily crime confession circle.” James said sarcastically. 

“Or better yet, a naked pillow fight.” Remus added. 

“Ha. Ha. Make fun. Let me ask you this, do any of you have sisters? Do any of you have girlfriends? Do any of you know the inner psyche of a woman?Do any of you know anything about women at all? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Women share things with each other, not to mention this is like a slytherin badge of honor. Even reserved little Regulus wouldn't keep this to herself. Not entirely.” 

“If anything Regulus would probably be more likely to tell Crouch and Rosier than her roommates. They are the ones she is always hanging out with,” Peter said. 

“No, you’re right,” James replied, looking to Sirius for his response. 

“We will check around their room too then.” 

“Listen, Sirius, I think it’s highly unlikely that this will work out the way you want it to.” James said. 

“But you’re willing to try right?”

James looked at Remus then peter. Remus was staring at his shoes, still nursing his cigarette. Peter looked nervous. He sighed. This whole situation was truly the worst case scenario. James ran a hand through his hair and rolled his sleeves up to his elbow, he suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline.“Fine. We can try But we call it at the first sign we might get caught, alright? I don't know how we could talk our way out of this one.”

It was only 9 o’clock. The plan was set. James didn’t want to be the one voted to go with Sirius, but Peter was too clumsy and Remus was too tall and moody about the whole thing. 

James wasn’t even 100% sure why Moony was, in a way, defensive over Regulus about this. Moony hated Regulus, understandably, especially after everything that happened this summer. But James supposed this was about more than just Regulus being an asshole or a pure blood cult follower. That's why Sirius wasn’t taking the time to explain why he “Cared” so much. This wasn't about caring. It was about whether Regulus just fucked up her entire life or not. James guest the notion terrified Moony enough for him to completely deny the possibility entirely. 

It would have terrified James too,if he didn’t know that it wasn’t true, and (as of now at least), Regulus was Death Eater free. This whole-possibly detrimental-feat was just to put Sirius at ease. 

“May Godric be ever in your favor.” Peter said to James and Sirius. They were standing at the door of their dorm. James had the cloak in his hand and Sirius had the map in his. 

“Don’t fucking die” Remus called, he was laying on his bed lighting a joint. “Or I'll kill you.” 

“Always a ray of sunshine,” James said, grinning. “Honestly it hurts me you’re not seeing us off.” Sirius said, “This could be the last time we are all together like this.” He put one hand on Peter's shoulder and the other on his heart, mocking tears. “Jamie and I are headed into the belly of the beast.” 

“We all know the plan, correct?” James asked, double checking. “If you’re not back in two hours without word Moony and I will come looking for you.”  Peter said, nodding. 

“Brilliant.” James replied. 

Sirius bent over and kissed Peter on the cheek, “See that Moony? Wormy gets a kiss because he's seeing me off.” He patted the top of Peter’s head. “You would get one too if being a little bitch didn’t come so naturally to you.” 

Remus was grinning despite himself. He took a drag , “I’ll give you a kiss,” he exhaled “when you come back, dignity in shambles and completely embarrassed because you’ve sent yourself on a wild goose chase to stalk and invade the privacy of your crazy little sister. All due to a- how did you say it? A hunch?” 

Sirius was grinning too, and James was thankful they could be light amongst the heavy situation.

“A feeling.” Sirius corrected. “And I’m holding you to that.” 

A quiet, almost unnoticeable beat past. 

“Alright Jamie lets get to it.” 

The walk to the dungeons was easy. The halls were empty and the two of them had done shit like this a thousand times before.

 James and Sirius whispered and laughed under the cloak but a growing feeling of anxiety and apprehension was slowly taking hold of them. 

“Listen,” James started while they were still a safe enough distance away for anyone to hear them, “If you want to bail at any point we can. This isn’t make or break, we will have other opportunities to figure it out okay?” 

Sirius looked at him, and nodded “If shit starts to get tight I’ll handle it though okay? Don’t be all self righteous, I’m the one dragging you into this.” 

“Well I am self righteous, you of all people should know that, “A smile cracked  his face, “You’re not dragging me into this, Sirius, I chose to do this.”

“James-” Sirius sounded like he was about to give some corny speech and James didn’t want to hear it. 

“Come on. this is child's play for us.” 

Sirius sighed and then grinned too, James unrelenting confidence was reassuring, “You’re right.” 

“Always am.” 

Godric really must have been watching over them that day, because they saw- what looked like- two first year boys coming from the opposite end of the hall. The two didn’t have to exchange words in order to know they had to move and catch up to them. The first years moved slow enough that once the door was opened they silently slid in with them. 

Yeah , James thought, This was going to be a fucking breeze. 

“Fuckkkkkkkkkkkk” Regulus groaned, leaning her head back and rubbing her nose.

 “Muggles and their fucking drugs. Brilliant little creatures.” Caroline said. 

They were sitting on the floor in between Caroline and Iris's beds, Caroline was already setting another line up on a copy of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.

 Regulus felt good. Really really good.  Not tired or anxious. She felt free and cathartic. 

The night's progression had been natural, Regulus ditched practice so Caroline and her could smoke, that's how it started. Then they went shopping for clothes and makeup and cigarettes, and on their way back they were sold muggle drugs by only a semi-sketchy looking witch. She was very beautiful, charismatic, and looked to be in her mid twenties which is probably why Regulus and Caroline trusted her and took the drugs without much hesitation. “You pretty girls look like you want to have some fun,” she had said, grinning. 

That was a bit ago, it was only something like 9:20 right now. 

“I’ve got to bring some of this to Barty and Evan,” Regulus said. She was on the floor across from Caroline wearing the new black dress she had just bought. It was short and strapless and not something Regulus would usually get. However, she had been high enough for Caroline, and the very old somewhat creepy shop owner, to convince her she looked like one of those models from the 60s. 

“yeahhh.” Caroline responded, she was in her underwear, a t- shirt that belonged to Alice, and the long fur coat she just spent her entire month's allowance on. 

A sober them would probably realize that the shop owner had dramatically overcharged them. 

“I think I should sleep or something,”

“Yeah probably,” Regulus stumbled up and went to grab a bottle of vodka she had on her night stand. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Caroline, “You will be out like a light.” 

“What the fuck?” Alice opened the door to their dorm and stopped in her tracks as she saw a near passed out Caroline, Regulus forcing a bottle of vodka in her hand, and a dorm that looked like a hurricane of rock stars and their groupies had passed through. 

“Ah Alice, wonderful timing. Caroline here needs some looking after.” Regulus walked over and handed the bottle to Alice, “I’m going over to Barty and Evans.” 

“Is this what you skipped practice for? Bleaker’s bloody pissed at you by the way. And what are you wearing?” She looked Regulus up and down. “Oh this?...Just my party attire.” Regulus replied, deadpan and without further elaboration. 

“Speaking of Caroline,” Regulus turned back around, “can I borrow your coat? Too nice for you to accidentally puke on it.” she walked over to where Caroline was still slumped. 

“Sure,” Caroline mumbled through a yawn, she sluggishly pulled it off herself. Regulus grabbed it and shucked it on. Alice stood and watched in the doorway, the bottle of vodka still in her hand. 

“What a dear,” Regulus bent down and put the little bag of Muggle drugs in the pocket. “Alright Alice you hold down the fort,” 

“Wait,” Alice said, “What has Caroline had?” 

“Nothing!” Caroline called from the floor. 

“Weed, alcohol and she just did two lines of coke.” Regulus said. 

“Fuck,” Alice replied. 

“She will be fine. She's a pro.” 

"She really isn't," Alice sighed,“You plan on staying at Barty and Evans all night?” 

“I dunno, probably.” 

“I just want to know if I should be expecting for you to stumble in here at three am or something.” 

“No, I'll be fine. See you tomorrow, yeah?” Regulus said, moving passed Alice into the hall. 

“If you’re not at practice tomorrow, Bleaker will come looking for you. Be there.” Alice called, 

Regulus said nothing but waved a hand behind her. 

Regulus liked the Slytherin common room, she liked most Slytherins, she liked the way they perceived her, she liked the way they left her alone.

 She walked gracefully, (she stumbled)Out of the girls dorms, through the common room, and to the boys dormitories in nothing but her little black dress, uniform tights, and Caroline’s overpriced rock star coat, receiving nothing more than some lingering stares and people moving out of her way and apologizing to her when she tripped by them.

Her mother would approve of this. Not over the way she was acting, or dressing, or the drugs she was doing. But over the fact that Regulus could probably walk through here high, drunk, naked, absolutely plastered, overdosing, covered head to toe in blood, holding the severed head of Dumbledore himself and these imbeciles would still fear her enough to keep their mouths shut and pretend like nothing happened. 

Her drugged mind vaguely wondered if they would respond to James the same way. If she could walk through here with him trailing behind her, or his hand holding hers. and if they would still act as if they had seen nothing? 

She reached Barty and Evans' door. She knocked once. She knocked twice.

Callum Carter is the one who opened the door. Regulus was never given a reason to dislike Callum; he was actually okay. He was nice enough and talkative when she was around. But he was also very stupid which annoyed her. But Regulus usually had little against the dimwitted. They had her sympathies, actually. 

 He looked a tiny bit like James. His hair was shorter though and more blond, his nose was different too. 

“Oh, Black, hi.” He looked her up and down, obviously a bit confused by her presence. 

“Hi.” She said back, looking past him into the dorm. “Hey Reg,” Barty called when he noticed her, “come in.” 

Callum moved out of her way so she could enter. She felt good, but woozy and unbalanced. Evan and Barty were sitting in between their beds the same way she and Caroline had been. “Hey femme fatale, nice outfit.” Barty said, laughing.

“I was just heading out actually,” Callum called, the door still hanging open. 

“Yeah, see you later mate,” Evan called, and Barty waved to him, uninterested. 

“You going to sit down?” Barty asked, clearly amused. “Oh, yeah.”she sat down on her knees in front of them. “I brought you guys something,” a grin stretched over her face as she reached into the pocket of Caroline's coat. 

“Christ Regulus, where the hell did you get that?” Evan asked, reaching out to grab the little bag she pulled from her pocket. “Only people I know who sell muggle drugs are the puffs,” Barty said, impressed.

 “Some woman near Diagon Alley sold it to us.” Regulus said, “It’s good.” she smiled. The sight of Regulus’s hazy grin made them grin too.

“Well if her majesty says so.” Evan said, 

"I will be the judge of that." Barty replied. He grabbed his transfiguration text book and poured a bit of white power on top of it. 

"If only Minerva could see you now," Regulus said. she slid her coat off and crawled over next to Barty to lean her back against his bed. "If only," he replied,bending down to quickly snort it up. 

"God damn." he said, leaning his head back. Evan and Regulus laughed. 

They carried on like that for a while. Evan put on his Velvet Underground record and they laid around drinking and periodically snorting.

"So Regulus," Barty began, "Evan and I both know you've been shagging someone and we want to know who it is." 

This broke Regulus from her blissful peace of mind.

"wh- why would you say that?" Regulus asked, raising herself to her elbows from where she was laying down. 

Fuck fuck fuck fuck

"Well your response for one thing, and second you have been acting weird for a while. We know, it's okay." 

"We agreed not to ask you about it till you seemed better," Evan started, "But when does Barty ever keep his promises." Evan said, rolling his eyes. 

 "Fuck off, Evan.The drugs come out the secrets come off we all know that." 

"It's not a big deal, we jus-" 

"No, it is a big deal, it's literally all we talk about." Barty said, cutting Evan off. 

Regulus looked back and forth between them, "Well i'm not telling you. Just leave it alone." 

"Fuck Regulus please!" Barty begged.

"No." 

"okay," Evan started, "It's not Beaker though right?" 

"What the fuck? No it's not Bleaker." Regulus replied. 

"Okay so-"

"I said drop it." 

"But-" 

Regulus shot up,she felt dizzy and out of it, "I said drop it." she pointed at both of them, "I'm not going to bring you drugs anymore if you keep asking about this." 

She watched the two of them exchange looks. "Fine,fine." Barty said, putting his hands up in mock surrender, "Can we have just one question answered?"

"Depends."

"Are they a Gryffindor?" 

a beat of silence passed where Regulus's drunk and drugged mind couldn't articulate the lie. 

"I knew it!" he shouted, 

"Fuckkk," Evan groaned 

"Ha! I knew it! Evan,you owe me 5 galleons!" 

Fuck, fuck. Regulus couldn't process any of this. She let her upper body fall back down so she could stare at the ceiling and barely registered the sound of the door open and shut over Barty's exclamation and Evans groaning.