The encounter
Regulus is honestly so done. He can't deal with people anymore, especially not Barty. Barty has been screaming for the past two days. It's been two days since he revealed his plan to everyone, and James and Lily have been acting weird. They haven't been acting all lovey-dovey and like a couple. Don't ask Regulus about relationships he hates talking about them. All the relationships he has been in have been shit. He actually dated Barty once, that wasn't too bad but at the same time it wasn't great. It almost felt like incest and Regulus does not want to continue that family tradition. Regulus hasn't been able to go back to the Black manor because of Dumbledore's orders. Regulus couldn't give a fuck less about Dumbledore's fucking orders, he is on his own side of war. And his friends also can't leave, because they know about Regulus's plan. It is so loud at Sirius's flat, and Regulus wants his wand so fucking bad. Remus had taken Regulus's, Pandoras, Evan's and Bartys wands because they used to be death eaters. Regulus does not think this is fair; he thinks that Remus is picking favorites and Regulus hopes Remus falls flat on his fucking face one of these days.
Regulus hasn't gotten any sleep because all he can think about is the inferi, and scared he just got everyone he cares about in danger. Pandora has been trying to get him to sleep which is why he's currently laying on the couch with his head on Pandoras lap as she reads. He thinks this is a very dumb idea, but Pandora is terrifying sometimes so he will not be saying no. He actually has been trying to sleep, for Pandoras sake because she really is trying to keep everyone sane, but he genuinely can't sleep. Barty has stopped yelling because Evan is trying and is letting Barty lay in his lap. But Evan keeps having physical tics where he hits himself and Barty keeps having to stop them. Regulus finds Barty's reactions very funny. Like right now for example, Evan is sketching, what are they sketching? Regulus has no clue. But Evan is sketching and then he'll either drop his sketchbook or pencil, it's usually his pencil, and then Barty will grab Evans hands and make them hit the floor.
When Evan had this tic, he had dropped their sketchbook, and the paper had ripped slightly. "I fucking hate this"
Barty looked at the sketchbook. "Nah, it's fine" Barty looked at Evan who was still staring at the ripped paper with a solemn expression on their face. "Ev, Ev listen" Barty grabbed the sketchbook and got out of Evans lap. Regulus saw Barty disappear around the hallway corner then he heard talking and then Barty was dragging Sirius out from the hallway. "Okay Black, fix the rip or give me my wand to do it myself. Or so fucking help me-"
Sirius rolled their eyes and took the sketchbook out of Bartys hands and interrupted him. "I get it, geez" They grabbed their wand out of their hair and said. "Repairo" After Sirius used the repairing charm, they handed the sketchbook back to Barty and turned to walk back down the hall.
Regulus had been wanting to go to The Three Broomsticks for the past two days, just to simply get out of Sirius's flat and it seemed Sirius was kind of in a good mood so Regulus decided to take his chances. "Wait, wait Sirius"
Sirius turned around. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, I just want to go to The Three Broomsticks because this place is crowded and loud. So, could we?"
Pandora closed their book and put it on the arm of the couch. "That sounds fun" They began to run their hands in Regulus's hair. Regulus would take this to his grave but he secretly loved people playing with his hair.
Sirius looked very skeptical but eventually sighed. "Fine, if you want to go you can"
Regulus nodded. He is not good at saying thank you unless he has to like to waitresses, or hosts but if it isn't expected to say thank you, he really struggles. Sirius must've remembered because they smiled and nodded back then walked back down the hallway. Pandora looked over at Evan and Barty who were talking about pencils, why? Regulus has no clue. "So, are you two coming to The Three Broomsticks?" Pandora said, trying to get Barty and Evans attention.
Evan looked over at Pandora and smiled. "Yeah, I think I'm going to go" Barty nodded which meant he was coming too.
"Meadowes if you don't get your arse in here in the next two seconds, I'm getting rid of your jewelry!" Pandora yelled across the flat. Dorcas was hanging out with Marlene more often and no one in the group liked it.
Dorcas came walking in from the kitchen. "Don't you dare. Also, I heard everything and yes, I'm coming"
Pandora nodded and pushed Regulus up into a sitting position. "Come on Reg, this was your idea after all"
Regulus nodded and stood up with Pandora. They were all already dressed to go since they didn't have any other clothes. So, they all got on their shoes and left. Evan kept having varying tics. One of them he would snap, the other he would poke Pandoras arm, she didn't seem to mind though because she poked him back. They all know about Evans Tourette's I mean, they aren't something easy to miss, but they don't find Evans tics annoying, they actually find it very funny and tease Evan about it more than they tease Evan about anything else.
Once they had all gotten to a safe spot, they apparated to Diagon alley. Diagon alley wasn't very busy today which was very nice. The group walked to The Three Broomsticks, but Regulus had seen some familiar black hair. Severus. That's not good. "Guys, wait" Regulus grabbed Pandoras arm and everyone stopped and turned to look in the direction he was looking at.
Dorcas bit her lip. "Fuck, what do we do?"
"As long as he doesn't see us it should be fine" Pandora was obviously trying to calm everyone down, but it wasn't working too well.
"If we don't want him to see us, why are we standing right here?"
Barty was never the voice of reason that was usually- well literally anyone else in the group, which makes sense on why Severus had seen them a couple seconds after Barty was the voice of reason. Severus was with another person, Mulciber. Regulus hates Mulciber because he was one of the people who bullied Regulus when he had transitioned. Perfect. Severus and Mulciber walked over to them. "Black, Crouch, Rosier's we haven't seen you guys in the death eater meetings recently, is there a reason for that?"
Regulus shook his head. "No Snape, no there's not"
Mulciber spoke up. "I'm not sure I believe that"
"well believe it" Barty spoke up as well.
"You know, I think we should force an answer out of them, what do you say Mulciber?"
"I think that's a great idea Severus"
"Don't you dare" Pandora stepped in front of Regulus who was at the front of the group.
Mulciber smirked and walked closer to Pandora. He put his wand under their chin, and she didn't even flinch. "Feisty huh?"
"Don't test me" Pandora said in their warning voice. That's not good, Pandora is pissed.
"Why pretty girl?" Severus smirked and Evan stepped up and pushed Severus away before he could step closer to Pandora.
"Do not, and I repeat, do not touch them" Evan turned to Mulciber and pushed his arm down. "And you, will not be pointing a wand at them"
"Watch it Rosier" Mulciber raised his hand to point his wand at Evan but quickly got punched to Pandora.
Pandora grabbed his wand out of his hand. "Which Rosier?" Pandora pointed the wand at Mulciber and kicked him in the knees to make his go to the ground.
"One wrong move Snape and you'll end up worse than him" Dorcas warned when he moved his arm to point his wand at Pandora.
Severus put his wand back in his pocket. "Got it, I got it"
"Good" Dorcas moved to Pandora. "Hey love, it's time we go" Pandora nodded and threw the wand to the ground. Regulus, Dorcas, Evan, Barty, and Pandora all apparated back to Sirius's flat. Safe to say they didn't get their butterbeer.