The Prank pt2
Regulus's heart was in his throat.
Run. Run. Run. Run faster.
That's all Regulus could do.
Potter pushed him down a hall that seemed to be the opposite of the front door. Why were going deeper into the shack?
Lupin howled as he ran behind, following the two down the corridor.
They just needed to get back to Hogwarts. But before they could get any further down the hall, James trips. Perfect. Lupin wasn't far behind, his long legs giving him the advantage. Regulus thought quickly. They just needed a place to hide.
Regulus grabbed James and pulled him into the closest room. He warded the doors with the strongest spell he could think of and waited for Lupin to reach them. He wouldn't know if his spell was strong enough until the wolf tried to break through.
It seemed to take ages before the shabby door started to rattle. Regulus stepped back on instinct, wand raised. The door rattled again, an angry howl coming from the other side.
Once the rattling stopped, Regulus and James seemed to be holding their breath waiting for the inevitable. After what seemed like an eternity, the wolf finally walked away from the door. But judging from the footsteps it didn't go far. They couldn't get out of the shack without restarting the wolf's hunt.
"The spell should hold," Regulus released the breath he had been holding, "We should be fine for now."
"Thank you," James shakily sat on the small bed frame sitting off to the side of the room.
"For what?" Regulus kept his wand in his hand.
"For not leaving me back there," James kept his eye averted.
"And get blamed for your death? No way." Regulus let out a huff of laughter.
"What are you doing here, Regulus?" James looked up.
"I was looking for Sirius?"
"Did Snape send you?" James said in an accusing tone, but Regulus focused on the statement rather than the tone James was using.
"Snape? Why would you think that?"
"Because Snape just, so, happened to find out about Remus earlier tonight, according to Sirius." James ran his hands through his hair.
"What else did Snape do tonight? Where was he? Did you see him?" Regulus stepped closer.
James furrowed his brows, "So, Snape didn't tell you about the shack? How did you end up here?"
Regulus took a deep breath, "Someone imperiod Pandora to tell me to meet Sirius here. So I came to find out who it was and to-" He probably shouldn't say kill them.
"Kill them?" But he didn't have to. James said it for him.
Regulus nodded, "Something like that."
"Did you think it was one of us?" James asked.
"Not really," Regulus paced the floor, "None of you had any reason to. But I thought if I showed up, I'd at least have a clue why someone would want me to come here. I didn't think about Lupin."
"Wait." James snapped his head up, "You know about Remus?"
Regulus nodded. Obviously, "I'm smart. I figured it out" Regulus didn't know what else to say.
James just giggled in aww and shook his head.
"What?"
"It's just, you sound like you think you're better than everyone else but you really mean it, so I just thought it was funny," James smirked.
Regulus gave a confused look. He was smart. He always had been. He noticed things others didn't. He was always analyzing people. Trying to figure them out. It never took him too long to figure out others' patterns and secrets.
His thoughts were stopped when Lupin's steps from above-caused dust to fall from above them.
James shook the dust from his hair, "So, do we just stay here all night?"
"We can't," Regulus started examining the window hoping it wasn't magic sealed.
"Why? Will your spell not hold?" James suddenly had worry seep back into his voice.
"Oh, no. It'll hold for a few days if I wanted it to." Regulus said simply, "But we still can't stay here all night. I need to get Snape to release the curse he put on Pandora." Of course, the spell on the windows would be stronger on the inside than on the outside. Probably a way of keeping Lupin inside.
"We can go past Remus," James said as if they hadn't just barely got away.
"Are you insane, Potter?!" Regulus turned to him, "We'll be ripped apart,"
"No, if you follow this hall," James pointed in the direction they had previously been running, "You'll make it to the castle. The path leads out through the whomping willow."
"Me? Hello? Did you not hear the part of me getting blamed for killing you? I'm not leaving you here."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"How can you stand against a werewolf?"
"Don't tell anyone." James stood and transformed into a magnificent stag. Regulus was actually breathless. James's antlers were beautiful, his fur shown in the moonlight coming through the window.
"You're an animagus. Alright, we'll go with your stupid plan that's probably going to get us both killed," Regulus muttered as he walked toward the door, "On the count of three." Regulus wrapped his hand around the handle, "One. Two. Three."
Regulus opened the door and bolted. He put everything he had into his speed. The sound of floorboards creaking and pounding as Lupin his way towards him.
But James had placed himself in between them. His magnificent antlers were being used as a shield against his friend. James just had to keep Remus distracted enough for Regulus to get away.
He was expecting Remus to be angry. After all, James was the only thing standing between him and his hunt. What James wasn't expecting was for Remus to shove him into the wall like he weighed nothing.
James felt his head go dizzy from the force. He had also changed back to normal. Crap.
"James!" Regulus had turned around. No. Keep running. James got to his feet unsteadily. Regulus had pulled his wand and pointed it. He cast Potrificus Totalus. However Remus didn't completely freeze, he only seemed to be moving in slow motion. And it didn't look like it would hold for long.
Did Magical Creatures become affected differently by spells?
Regulus didn't have much time to think about it before James slammed into him rushing them both down the hall.
Keep going. They had to keep going.
Another howl from behind.
Well, that spell didn't last long.
They were almost there. James could see the opening.
Just. One. More. Jump!
James finally took a breath. Until he heard Regulus yelp beside him.
The whomping willow had grabbed a hold of him. It pulled the Slytherin up by his leg and started shaking him.
James pulled his wand as he tried to avoid getting hit himself. He cast the spell that made the tree drop Reg to the ground.
"Are you all right?" James tried to help the younger boy up.
"Oh, I'm fine," Regulus dusted himself off, "For someone who just fell from 4 meters in the air,"
"You're welcome," James rolled his eyes, "Now what?"
"Now I go find Snape."
"Oh, whoa, then what? Kill him?"
"Will you stop assuming that's my first thought?" Potter was really getting really annoyed with how Potter thought he knew him so well when they had a total of three conversations.
"Oh, come on, it is your first thought."
"That's beside the point." Regulus turned to walk away, before hissing at the sting in his leg.
"Oh, Merlin," James's eyes went wide, "You're hurt."
Regulus examined the cut on his lower leg. He's had worse. So much worse.
"Relax. It's nothing serious," Regulus sighed, "You're the one who probably has a concussion."
"'Relax?" James throws his hand up, "Do you know this means Remus could get expelled?" Regulus didn't seem to understand what was truly at stake.
"But it was the tree that scratched me, not him," Regulus said.
"Are you sure?" James looked at Regulus, hoping desperately that he was telling the truth.
"Yes," Well, Regulus wasn't totally sure. With all the running and adrenaline Regulus couldn't pinpoint when he acquired the injury, but it looked like any other answer would cause him to explode.
James let out a deep breath, "We need to find Sirius and Peter. When I left them, Sirius wasn't looking too good."
"What did Snape do to him?" Regulus really was going to have to kill him.
"I don't know. I found him locked in a cupboard and I left him with Pete to find Snape. Who I thought was at the shack. Turns out it was a trap for you, I guess."
Regulus stopped in his tracks. A cupboard? No wonder Sirius wasn't doing well after that. Regulus knew how claustrophobic his brother was.
While Regulus found comfort in hiding places, Sirius couldn't stand them. It was mainly because it's how their mother would punish Sirius when he was young-well younger.
"Reg!" A girl in Slytherin's robes ran towards the two boys.
"Cas. Where's Pandora?" Regulus asked quickly. Surly they have gotten a professor by now.
"She's in the infirmary,"
"Infirmary?!"
"She broke out of the spell before Barty could get a Professor and passed out."
"Is she alright?" Regulus let his concern slip through.
"Madame Pumpfry said she'll be fine," Dorcas seemed to finally notice James watching them, "What's he doing here?"
"He's fine, Cas," Regulus waved his hand toward James.
Dorcas brought her eyes once more to Regulus scanning him up and down, "Are you hurt?!" Her eyes landed on the red staining his pants leg.
"Dorcas, I'm fine. I just need to see that Pandora is alright." Dorcas averted her eyes slightly, "Dorcas? I thought you said she was going to be fine?"
"She is, but... she may have memory loss. So we might not know who did this."
"Yes, we will." Regulus looks over at James, who nods, "It was Snape."
*******
"Sirius, we need to go to the infirmary," Peter sat next to Sirius on the bed.
After Sirius had initially calmed down, he chose to drag him up to their dorm, hoping whatever was at the shrieking shack James could handle on his own.
Sirius hadn't truthfully said much after the fact of what he had told Snape. Pete didn't really blame him. He would feel horrible if he ever put any of his friends in danger like that.
"Pad's," Sirius just kept staring at nothing. Peter was starting to worry more every minute his friend ignored him, "Come on, your hand is clearly broken. We need to let Poppy have a look at it." Peter was seconds away from running and getting the nurse himself.
"He's..." Sirius started, "...never going to speak to me again."
Peter sighed, "Hey, don't worry about that right now. Okay? Right now all I'm worried about is you. You're scaring me, Padfoot."
"Sorry..."
Pete ran his hands through his hair, he was running out of options, "I'm going to get Lils. Do you hear me? I'll be right back Pads," Peter took one last look at Sirius sitting motionless-emotionless on the bed, before running down the hall of the tower.
This was bad. This was really bad.
*****
James, Dorcas, and Regulus made it to the infirmary. Regulus and Dorcas split from Potter once they saw Evan.
Pandora was laying on the hospital bed, sleeping. Her white hair caught the moonlight.
"What happened?" Regulus looked to Evan. Evan held Dora's hand while Barty sat on the foot of the bed.
"After you left the common room, Dorcas came in and Barty went to get Slughorn. And Dora kind of came out of it, but she passed out before she could tell us anything."
Regulus looked at Dorcas and shook his head. Not yet.
"Reggie," Regulus looked up at the voice from across the room where he saw his brother. Sirius looked up from where he just walked in, "What are you doing here?"
The silence that filled the room was deafening.
*****
The first thing Remus felt when he woke up was the usual ache in his bones. He woke up in the hospital this month. Sometimes, after a particularly ruff moon, Remus would wake up in the infirmary. His friends would bring him there before he even woke up in the shack.
His friends? The shack. Regulus.
Remus looked up to see his friends all sitting by his bed.
"What happened? All I remember was seeing Regulus Black being in the shack. Did-did I hurt him? What was he doing there?" Remus's mind was racing.
James had a solemn look on his face before he started explaining. Remus's face became less confused and angrier. And Sirius became smaller and smaller.
After what seemed like an eternity, James had finished explaining.
That's when Remus started yelling.
Remus kept yelling. And yelling. And yelling. James and Peter just stood to the side, knowing this wasn't their fight. Remus was the one who needed this. He's the one who had been betrayed.
But while Remus was the one screaming, all Sirius could hear was her. All he could see was his mother.
Sirius's breath quickened when he walked out of the hospital wing. He was sure if Remus had even finished yelling at him. Had he given Sirius what he deserved if Sirius couldn't even remember? Should he go back and see if he needed to be yelled out more?
The only thing Sirius knew was that he had messed up. Just. Like. Always.
******
"Well, Mr. Snape, Mr. Black." Dumbledor sat at his desk, across from the two Slytherins, "It seems we have ourselves quite the dilemma."
The boys remained silent.
"I'm sure it's obvious, what I'm going to ask of the both of you."
"To keep quiet," Regulus spoke.
"Mr. Lupin is one of our best students and the... Pranl that was pulled tonight put him and yourselves at risk."
"Professor, if I may?" Regulus asked. Dumbledor waved his hand to continue, "It was not my intention to witness what transpired at the shrieking shack tonight. I was lured there."
"This is what I wish to discuss. Who lured you, Mr. Black?" Dumbledore leaned back in his seat prepared to listen.
"Snape."
"Professor, I must interrupt. I did no such thing," Snape interjected.
"He used the Imirious curse on Pandora Rosior, and used her to lure me to the shack where Lupin was tonight." Snape continued to interrupt while Regulus spoke, only to be completely ignored.
Dumbledor looked between the two boys, "That is a very strong accusation, Mr. Black. Do you understand?"
"Professor, please examine my wand. See what my last spell was." Snape held his wand out to Dumbledore, who took it and looked it over thoroughly as if he were reading it.
"It would appear, that Mr. Snape's last spell was a reading charm." The man handed the wand back to Snape.
"I understand that Miss. Rosior was greatly wronged tonight, and I plan on finding the culprit. That being said, I would like to get back to the matter at hand here."
"That is the matter at hand here!" Regulus spat, "He used an unforgivable on MY friend. And innocent."
"Mr. Black, May I speak with you for a moment?" Dumbledor rose from his seat, and Regulus followed.
They walked deeper into the headmaster's office behind the second door.
"I understand that this is an upsetting event for you, but I cannot accuse a student without proof."
"What more do you need?! Pandora will tell you who cursed her, and it'll be Snape's name she speaks," Regulus stood, doing his best to control his voice.
"If that is the case I will do everything in my power to make sure justice is served,"
Regulus wasn't so sure. Something about this whole thing felt off. There was plenty of reason to believe it was Snape who cursed Dora. Why couldn't someone at least suspect him?
The rest of the time in Dumbledor's office was spent with Dumbledor explaining why they couldn't say anything about Lupin.
When they were free to leave, Regulus quickly followed Snape, "You will not get away with this."
"What's wrong, Black? Not used to things not going your way?" Snape cocked his head.
Regulus's eyes were lit with fury, "I know people who have killed for less than what you did tonight."
Snape stopped, turning toward the younger boy, "Do you think you can scare me, Regulus? You're nothing but a child."
"And you're a coward. You hide behind others hoping teachers will save you." Regulus filled his words with as much spite as he could.
Snape had the nerve to smile, "See you around, Black."
******
The last two nights in the dorm had been hell. Sirius wasn't staying there at the moment. Remus wasn't sleeping. Peter was crying at night, even though he thought no one knew. James's whole world changed.
All he wanted to do was to fix it. Logically, he knew this was not going to happen quickly. He knew it would take time. And things would likely never be the same. But James had to try.
So, James made his way up the Astronomy tower, where he knew Sirius was. He had been checking in on him every second he could with the map.
Ever since Sirius stopped showing up in the Great Hall to eat Jame made sure to keep tabs on him when he did see him in class. James caught him on the map sneaking around the kitchen at night, so at least James knew his best friend was eating. And he WAS going to class so that was something. Other than that, Sirius was elusive and hidden from all of them. Well, Lily had seen him, and she even spoke to him. Only because she cornered him, Jame thought.
James finally reached the top of the tower where he found Sirius standing next to the railing, staring at the night sky.
"Hey," James walked up softly, standing next to him.
"What are you doing here, Prongs?" Sirius didn't even look at him.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you how badly you screwed up because I know you have already been there with yourself."
He had. Sirius had already gone over every reason why this was his fault three dozen times. It was a natural state at this point. analyzing what you've done wrong. Probably a result of how he was raised.
"I am here to make sure you are safe." Sirius almost laughed.
"Oh, I'm terrific. One of my best mates won't ever speak to me again, for good reason. My brother was hurt because of me. YOU were hurt because of me. I've single-handedly destroyed the only real family I have ever had, all because of a greasy, slimy git." Sirius did laugh that time. It was hilarious how fanatically he could destroy so many live with a single sentence.
James sighed, "Look, you messed up, big time, but you didn't destroy our family."
Sirius shook his head.
"You didn't, you just hurt it," Ok, not much better, James thought, "You just have to try and fix it."
"I can't. I can't fix this one, James," Tears stung Sirius's eyes, "I- I don't know how- I- I don't even know how I broke it in the first place. I know I lose control of my emotions, ok, I know, but... I have never put anyone else at risk. Never." He paused, feeling the light breeze that flew into the Astronomy tower as they stared at the stars.
Sirius always liked to look at the stars, but the thing that always caught his eye was the moon. He loved looking at the moon. It was beautiful and bright. It lit up the darkness. The darkness that was always so present in Sirius's life. The darkness that he thought would swallow him someday.
To Sirius, the moon was as deafening and as bright as the sun. It was his northern star. The one thing Sirius tried to follow. The thing that kept him away from the dark. Now, when Sirius needed him the most, his moon didn't want him.
But Sirius understood. He wouldn't want himself either.
"Sirius?" Sirius was pulled from his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Are- are you going to be okay?" James asked softly, but his tone only irritated Sirius.
"Just go ahead and ask James. Say it out loud." Sirius whips his head around to see the sad, hurt face of James. Sirius sighs, "No. James, I won't kill myself. I'd probably just screw that up too." James knew the motions. He knew how bad Sirius got sometimes, how 'dramatic' he could be. Even if James always said it wasn't dramatic to feel your emotions.
Sirius knew that his and James's emotions were not equal. Sirius could feel happy one minute and then completely depressed the next. His anger rivaled Remus's, but at least Remus had a reason for the way he acted. Sirius just had his upbringing. He must have gained his mother's personality. What a shit deal, he thought.
"Sirius, no matter how mad any of us ever get at you... we ALL still love you. We wouldn't be able to go on without you." Yeah, you would, Sirius thought, but he didn't say that. "And I want to make sure you don't hurt yourself either."
"I won't," You can't promise him that, "You don't have to worry."
I'll always worry, James thought. He knew how hard this had to be for Sirius, it was hard on all of them. It was especially hard for Remus.
He seemed so broken over the last two nights. That wasn't going to just go away. It was going to take time. Unfortunately.
****
Regulus had sat next to Pandora when she woke up. It had been two days. She had woken briefly the first day but not enough to be lucid.
Madame Pumpfry had mentioned that the spell may have strained her mind if she were the one to break out of the spell on her own. Knowing Dora that's exactly what happened.
She was stronger than she looked and more spiteful than most.
She woke and Evan was the first at her side, "Hey, Dora,"
"Hey, Ev," She looked up fondly before glancing around the room, "What happened? Why are we in the hospital wing?"
Regulus filled with rage.
"Don't you remember?" Evan stroked her hair away.
"N... no, what happened?"
"You were cursed," Dorcas spoke up first, "Do you remember who cursed you?"
Pandora sat there for a moment, before shaking her head, "No. The first thing I remember was eating breakfast in the Great Hall. Reg, where are you going?"
Regulus was already halfway out the door.
****
"Oh for Merlin's sake, James we've been over this. I'm stable for now, you don't have-" Sirius's words caught in his throat when he turned around, "...Regulus."
"Hello, brother,"
"What are you doing here?" Sirius stood up a little bit straighter like he would if he were speaking to his mother.
Regulus furrowed his brows when Sirius stood up straight, eyes sad, "Do you really think I'm that much like our parents?" Did Sirius truly believe the worst in him? "Is that why you stopped speaking with me?"
Sirius felt like he had just been smacked in the face, "No, that's- I don't ignore you-"
"Yes, you do. You have ever since the first year." Regulus spat.
"I didn't mean to," Sirius kept his eyes downcast, unable to look his brother in the eyes, "I just..."
"You just what, Sirius?!" This isn't what Regulus had intended to talk about, but in the long run, they had to. They had to figure out whatever this was.
"I-I just wanted to protect you!"
"Oh, and making me feel invisible is protecting me?!" Regulus stepped closer, his words echoing in the tower.
"Yes, yes, it was!" Sirius was yelling now, "Because you actually got into Slytherin. Like I was supposed to do. Mother was cursing me for my choices. I wasn't about to lead you to make the same mistakes I did."
"So your solution was shutting me out?" Regulus spat.
"I was 12!" Sirius felt the tears in his eyes, "12! I just wanted to keep you safe..." Sirius's voice broke.
"You said I could protect you too," Regulus whispered.
"What?" Perhaps he heard him wrong.
"You said," Reg took a deep breath, "That I could protect you too. You promised."
Sirius started racking his brain. That sounded familiar. Promise? He had promised, hadn't he? When they were little after Sirius had been punished. Or maybe it was Regulus who was punished that time. He couldn't remember. His memories just got blurrier the further back he got.
But leave it to Regulus to remember every detail of their lives like a book.
"You don't even remember, do you?" Regulus inhaled sharply. He couldn't really blame Sirius. After everything their mother did to him, of course, he's blocked things out. Even blocking out Regulus.
"No, I do, but-" Sirius sat down on the bench, "I'm the big brother. I'm the protector."
"You," Regulus stepped closer, "Have a savor complex,"
"Can you be serious for two seconds," The older brother stated. Which was weird, normally he would be the one being told that.
"I would say, 'I'm always serious' but that's you," Regulus smirked.
Sirius couldn't help but huff a laugh. He hardly ever saw Regulus even hint at a smile.
"I'm sorry, Reg," Sirius might as well get the saying tattooed on his forehead. Oh, Mother would love that!
Regulus shook his head, "It doesn't matter, I didn't come up here to talk about this."
"Then what did you want?"
"Snape," Regulus said, simply.
"What about him?" Sirius looked up. Please say revenge, he thought.
"Why would you say anything to him? I thought you liked your friends." Regulus asked.
"I do!" Sirius shot up.
"Really, then what'd he do to you?" Come on, give me something to work with Sirius, Regulus thought. He was looking for something, anything that would give him a reason to expel Snape. Something undeniable.
"What?" Sirius raised his eyebrows.
"Did he do something to you? Did he hit you with a spell or something? Catch you off guard?"
"I- I don't know. Maybe? I don't- I was a little preoccupied at the time..." Sirius stumbled on his words.
"With what?" Reg lifted his eyebrow.
Sirius cleared his throat avoiding eye contact, "Kissing someone..."
"Of course, you were." The younger brother rolled his eyes.
"What? You're allowed to kiss people, but I'm not?"
"Who said anything about me kissing anyone?" Regulus asked with his eyebrow raised.
"No one." Sirius didn't think he should say anything about what Snape told him. It was Reg's business. If he felt comfortable telling Sirius then he would gladly listen but until then, it should be his choice.
"Did Snape do something to you, Sirius?"
"I don't know, Reg. I think it was just me. I think I just screwed up." Sirius leaned his head against the railing.
"He used imperio on Pandora."
"What?! How is he not in Azkaban right now?!"
"Because he covered his tracks, and Dora doesn't remember. No evidence. No witnesses."
"I wasn't under imperio," Sirius said, reading where his brother's thoughts were heading.
"But did he slip you something? Veritersurem? Anything?" Honestly, Sirius didn't think he would even remember if Snape had done anything.
"I... maybe?" He said, unsure.
"Then let's make him pay," Regulus said with a glint in his eyes. One that gave him a resemblance to their mother. And for once, Sirius wasn't afraid of that look.
"What do you have in mind?"
*****
Lupin wasn't speaking to Black. Pettigrew was like a lost puppy. Potter was driving himself mad trying to keep everything afloat.
Severus was almost giddy.
He made his way from the potions classroom. Snape had stayed behind to make some extra Dreamless sleep. He was halfway to the Slytherin common room when he heard footsteps behind him.
Someone was following him. Severus drew his wand keeping his eyes vigilant. His wand flew from his hand without a warning. No one shouted the spell. The attack was silent.
Snape froze when he heard the caster speak.
"I hope you enjoy your little victory while it lasts, Snape. Because it won't," Regulus stepped closer, "Last I mean. Because your little plan didn't just make me and Sirius your enemy. Do you really think Evan is going to let you get away with using an unforgivable on his twin sister?"
"I didn't-" Snape stuttered.
"Or that Lupin will let you run around knowing his secret, knowing he'll always have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life? Do you think Potter and Pettigrew won't follow his lead? Do you think Dorcas and Barty will just stand around and watch? And what's Lily going to think about you when it all comes out in the open?
You're a dead man walking, Severus. Might want to enjoy your peace while you have it. Because me and my brother will lead them straight to you."
"Are you threatening me, Black?!"
"Yes."