Chapter 5
“Bugger off?! Will you!” Regulus exclaimed as he glared at the brown haired boy who was trailing behind him.
“No, I don’t want to. I find you far too interesting.” William said, grinning.
“I swear, I will sneak into Ravenclaw tower in the middle of the night and strangle you.” Regulus said, as he turned on his heel and walked towards William. Digging his pointer finger into his chest as he began speaking.
William opened his mouth to speak but Regulus beat him to it.
“I don’t befriend people who go around and associate themselves with filth.” Regulus hissed, digging his finger into William's chest with each word. Once he was done he turned and began walking down the corridor when he heard William raise his voice.
“Yeah? Then why are you friends with Remus and Lily? Especially Lily since she is the ‘filth’ you talk about.” William asked. Regulus froze and turned back to look at him. “Because if I’m correct they have ‘filth’ running through their veins. A lot more than I do.”
“Leave them out of this. They’re different.” Regulus said coldly, glaring at the brunette.
“Why because Remus is a Slytherin and Lily is friends with Remus?” William asked.
Why are they different?
“Tell me Regulus, why are they different? Why can they be friends with you but I can’t?” William asked.
A muggle born and a half-blood, they have muggle blood running through their veins. They have filth running through their veins.
“Because if I’m right it'd be worse for you to be friends with them than me.” William said.
They’re not pureblood.
They’re not pure.
It was wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
Regulus felt his breathing quicken and it felt like his chest was constricting.
“Shut up. Shut up!” Regulus exclaimed. He did the only thing he knew how to do.
He ran.
William stood in place, watching as the boy ran away, a clearly troubled and overwhelmed look on his face.
Regulus ran and ran until he was gasping as the air burned on its way down.
He didn’t know where he was running, all he knew is that he was running up flights of stairs and turning corners. He entered into what seemed like an abandoned study and tried to catch his breath. He sank down to the floor and brought his legs up to his chest. Feeling his body shudder with sobs that never came.
Regulus didn’t know how long he was there.
“Hello. Are you doing okay?” A voice asked. Regulus looked up, flinching at how fast he performed that action which caused the nerves at the back of his neck to pinch. He expected to see someone there, someone living but was instead met with the sigh of a ghost.
“I don’t know.” Regulus said, as he rested his chin on his knees. Letting out a sigh his eyes traced the dusty books lining the wall. “Do you believe in blood supremacy? Do you think it's worth losing two possible friends over it? Two wonderful, smart people.”
“If you want me to be honest, no. Blood supremacy, I don’t like it. If you truly think that those two people are great then you should be friends with them.” The lady said.
“It's not that simple. I wish it was.” Regulus said.
“Why is it not that simple?” The lady asked.
“It's not that simple because I’m a Black. Regulus Black, nice to meet you.” Regulus said, sending the lady a smile.
“Ah. Yes I’ve heard about your brother though it seems you are nothing like him.” The lady said, a sort of concerned look on her face. Regulus’ mood soured at the mention of his brother.
“I’m nothing like my brother as he has told me multiple times. I’m not brave.” Regulus said, looking up at the lady.
“Well then keep it a secret. Convince your parents that you don’t like them and that they only hang around you because of obligation. Tell them something.” The lady said. “Normally I wouldn’t condone lying but this time I can see that it’ll be good for you, should they not find out.”
Regulus sniffed slightly as he leaned his head on one of the book shelves.
“Just convince your family that your only friends are Barty Crouch Jr. and Evan Rosier.” The lady said.
“You know who they are?” Regulus said.
“I do. I’ve observed a lot of you but especially you and your friends.” The lady said. “You three are very smart and I admire that.”
“You think we’re smart?” Regulus asked, his eyes shining a bit in adoration.
“I do. The three of you have very bright futures ahead of you, if you choose the right path after all.” The lady said. Regulus cocked his head to the side at that, confused as to what she meant.
“What's your name? You’re a ghost yet I’ve never seen you around the castle.” Regulus said.
“My name is Helena Ravenclaw. People know me as the grey lady, but I don’t really like that name.” The lady said as Regulus nodded, feeling a little in awe about the fact that Helena Ravenclaw called him and his mates smart. “You must visit again.”
“I will.” Regulus said, nodding firmly.
“I will always be here, just make sure no one follows you. I wouldn't really fancy having a bunch of people find this place. This is my sanctuary.” Helena said, a kind smile on her face.
“I’ll make sure of it. I promise.” Regulus said.
And Regulus Black always keeps his promises.
“Thank you, Regulus.” Helena said. “Now I think it's time you get back, if I remember correctly I heard your friends calling your name.”
“Thank you Helena. See you soon.” Regulus said as he got off the floor and made his way to the door. Sending the ghost a wave he stepped over the threshold into the corridor.
His day continued as normal albeit a few concerned questions about where he was but he answered those easily. He told everyone the same story, he got lost somewhere in the castle and that's when Barty and Evan found him.
The second time Remus was ‘sick’ was the month after October. Regulus bothered at his lips for a moment as he began scribbling down his notes for transfiguration. The 21th of November, Remus said he was sick and he left for the infirmary, the next day he came back with a limp and what seemed like fresh scars. It was safe to say that Regulus was worried.
The third time it happened was the 18th of December. Two days before they left Hogwarts for the holidays. It was currently the 19th of December and it was the afternoon, three boys and one girl were huddled around a table whispering to each other in the library. At a very concealed table in the back.
“Do you think he has muggle cancer? Or some type of muggle disease?” Barty piped.
“No! That's not how cancer works, you dolt.” Lily said.
“Jeez. I was just offering a suggestion. It's not like you lot are offering any ideas.” Barty said dryly.
“Okay, well let's just review our notes. He gets sick like a lot.” Regulus started.
“He has a bunch of scars.” Barty piped.
“And when he's ill he's really weak.” Evan said.
“Also very irritable.” Lily said, as she ran a hand over her face.
After Lily stopped speaking the four students waited in silence before Regulus broke it.
“That's all we have?!” Regulus exclaimed.
“Well, aye. There's not much to report on.” Barty said, shrugging.
“Okay, well then the three of us will do research over the holiday since you can’t do any research.” Regulus stated, directing the last bit to Lily. Lily nodded. “We better come back here with some ideas!”
“You don’t really have much to go off.” Lily said, shrugging. “Why do you guys even want to find out what's wrong with him?”
“Because we are concerned.” Barty clarified.
“Don’t you think he would’ve told us if he's ill?” Lily asked as Regulus scribbled out the notes on the piece of parchment and crumpled it up. Tossing it into a wastebasket near a bookcase.
“Not if he's really ill.” Evan said. “I mean have you met Remus? He has this whole thing going on where if something troubles him he won’t tell anyone unless they ask. He could be allergic to peppermints and someone would give one to him and the bastard would actually eat it.”
“I guess.” Lily said, before she combed her fingers through her hairs, pulling out a shredded paper heart. Barty let out a laugh at the sight.
“He's still not giving up is he?” Barty asked, an amused grin planted on his face. James Potter had made a declaration of love to Lily Evans in the great hall and had hearts that were sloppily cut out of parchment be thrown on her by his friends. Lily stormed out of the great hall after yelling at him.
“No. I don’t understand how he thinks that he's going to woo me when he's insulting my friends. Like that's going to get him anywhere.” Lily said flatly.
“Ooh, what did he say?” Barty asked, an interested gleam in his eyes.
“Just the usual. Oh you shouldn’t be hanging around them, they’re not good people. Although he did bring you up a lot for some reason.” Lily said, laughing.
“Wow, my fan club is huge. Honestly I’m flattered.” Barty said, grinning. Evan whacked him in the back of the head once he said that, muttering something about developing a big ego.
“Oh piss off Barty. If you don’t tone down your arrogance then you’re almost going to be as bad as Potter.” Lily said, looking at him.
“I could never be as bad as him.” Barty said, waving her off.
“That is very debatable.” Regulus piped as he flicked through the pages of his notepad, scribbling something down with a stub of graphite.
“You really need a new pencil.” Lily noted.
“Is that what they’re called?” Regulus said, looking up at her.
“Yes, those are pencils.” Lily said, letting out a laugh.
“Well excuse me for not knowing about muggle contraptions.” Regulus said haughtily. “Remus gave me this, I never bothered to ask what it was called.”
Lily just let out a snort as she began talking to Evan and Barty. The two of them had always been closer to Lily since Regulus was afraid of getting close to her, for fear that his mother would find out. Knowing his mother she would assume that he liked Lily. And with Lily’s blood status, it wouldn’t fair well for Regulus. Remus was another situation altogether, no matter how much he tried to stray from the boy Remus always found a way to him. A way to involve him in conversation.
“Speaking of Remus I believe it's my turn to go and see if I can visit him in the hospital wing.” Regulus said as he stuffed the notepad into a pocket in his robes. Giving it a little pat he stuffed the piece of graphite in there with it.
“Is it time already?” Evan asked, looking down at his wristwatch.
“Uh huh. I believe he should be getting discharged soon.” Regulus said, nodding as he got up from this seat at the table.
”We’ll see you in the common room.” Barty said, nodding.
”We’ll I won’t.” Lily mused.
Regulus allowed a small smile to grace his face as he waved goodbye before leaving the library.
He began the long walk to the hospital wing. All of them had developed a schedule to go and pick up Remus from the hospital wing after realising that this cycle was probably going to repeat every month.
Every month.
Regulus pulled the notepad out of his pocket along with the stub of graphite and wrote it down inside. After writing it down he put it back in his pocket and began speeding up so that he could get to the hospital wing on time.