Secrets of the solar track

by qaliellis

Summary:

Regulus, stuck as Crookshanks, vowed to watch over Harry Potter after the deaths of Lily and James. When Sirius breaks out of Azkaban, Regulus knows Sirius is going to need some help.

-

Sirius was a fucking idiot. Or at least, that’s the conclusion Regulus had come to. His brother was an idiot, an idiot who now had the entire castle on alert, making it more difficult for Reg to sneak out to yell at him. Or… glare pointedly. Whatever.

Notes:

The other parts in the series lend more context to this fic, but it can be read on it's own.

All you really need to know is Lily found Reg on his first day at Hogwarts and was like 'you're my baby brother now'

The title is from the poem 'Merlin' by Ralph Waldo Emerson. IDK why I chose it specifically, but I kinda like it.

Chapter 1

Regulus Arcturus Black let out a sigh as he curled his tail over his paws, plopping his head down on top. He had been staring up at the flickering light coming from the second floor window he watched every night. He had been watching this house for nearly twelve years now, ever since Lily and James- 

Glancing at the muggle wristwatch he had stolen from a house down the street, Regulus realized he had lost track of time. Harry had been 13 for nearly 30 minutes by now, though Reg doubted he had realized it yet either. It’s not like the Dursleys would remember, afterall. 

Casting a quick levitating charm, Regulus sent the poorly wrapped gift and letter up to Harry’s windowsill, using a quick tapping charm on the window to get the boy’s attention. As usual, Harry appeared as his window opened, scanning the streets for any sign of who had been leaving him presents for as long as he could remember. His eyes passed right over the large orange cat perched on the low stone wall of the house across the street, likely not even registering his presence. Reg knew Harry knew he was a wizard since he had given him a bag of galleons after his disastrous eleventh birthday, but he was pretty sure none of the teachers would have covered animagi yet. 

Glancing up, Harry noticed something and frowned in confusion. Regulus followed his gaze and saw three owls soaring together towards Harry’s window. At the last second, Harry seemed to realize and dove out of the way in time for the owls to crash through the space his head had been seconds before. 

 

The next time the window was opened, two of the three owls flew back out, disappearing into the night sky. Harry watched it until the last trace of it had faded, then turned back to the street, searching for something before setting an envelope on the sill and closing the window again. 

With the same spell he had used to place the original, Regulus floated Harry’s note down in front of him and popped the fresh seal with one claw. 

Dear R.A.B. the note started.

Thank you for the Galleons. 

In one of your previous letters you said you don’t get much contact with the rest of the world, so I’m going to tell you what my friends said. I hope that’s okay.  

Ron’s dad won the Daily Prophet Galleon Draw, so he’s in Egypt right now. He apologized for the phone call he made earlier this summer (did you hear it? I suspect most of Surrey did). His oldest brother, Bill, works as a curse breaker there, and he’s giving them a tour of the tombs. Apparently some of them were so bad Mrs. Weasley wouldn’t let Ginny go in. I’m attaching the Daily Prophet clipping to the back of this for you. Most of the galleons they won are going to the trip, but he’s going to get a new wand, one that actually works. His third brother, Percy, is Head Boy, which I’m sure he’s pleased about, but none of the younger Weasleys will be. 

Ron got me a sneakoscope, but he reckons it doesn’t work. You know what a sneakoscope is, right? I’m assuming you do, since you’re a wizard. Apparently Bill said they’re rubbish since it kept going off at dinner, but he didn’t know that Fred and George, the fourth and fifth of the Weasleys (they’re twins), had put beetles in his soup. 

Hermione, on the other hand, is in France. She says she’s jealous that Ron gets to learn about all the Egyptian wizarding history, but I’m just jealous that they get to leave the neighborhood. Apparently there’s loads of wizarding history in France as well, and she’s rewritten her entire History of Magic essay to fit it in. Apparently it’s two rolls of parchment longer than Binns asked for. I don’t understand how she does it. I’m still two and a half pages short. 

She got me a broomstick servicing kit, which is brillant. It’s got everything I could possibly want for a broom in it. I’m going to start reading the book that came with it as soon as possible. 

Next was Hagrid. He sent a biting book and a very ominous sounding letter. I had to belt it shut, and I’m honestly quite scared for what Hagrid thinks I might need it for in the coming year. 

Last was the Hogwarts letter. It had the usual information about the train leaving and my school list, but it also had a Hogsmeade form in it. Have you ever been? What’s it like? I don’t know how I’m going to convince Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to sign it, but I’m sure I’ll think of something. 

Ron and Hermione are meeting in Diagon Alley in the last week of the holidays, and I hope I can go. Think I could get the Dursleys to take me to the train? Probably not, but oh well.

Thank you again for the galleons and the letter,

Harry

Regulus wrinkled his nose fondly at his nephew and hooked a claw onto the corner of the second item in the envelope and slid it out. 

It was a clipping from the Prophet, as Harry had said, all nine of the Weasleys standing together in front of a large pyramid. Regulus recognized Molly and Arthur easily enough, his eyes raking over the seven children and landing on the boy right in the middle. Or rather, on his shoulder. 

As the photo morphed, the Weasleys waving and laughing, a rat climbed up onto Ron’s shoulder, his right paw prominently displaying the lack of a toe. 

Regulus hissed in disbelief. There was no way it was this easy. Thirteen years of searching, he thought, and he’s been sleeping in the same room as Harry in the one place I couldn’t follow. 

Snarling, Regulus took the letter in his mouth and ran across the street to the hole in the siding just beneath the Dursley’s kitchen window. 

Tomorrow he would formulate a plan to get to Pettegrew and get Sirius’s name cleared. 

 

-

 

The next day, Regulus woke to the sound of the Dursley’s television blasting the morning news out their open kitchen window. 

“… the public is warned that the convict, Sirius Black, is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately,” the reporter was saying, and Regulus froze, listening more intently to the rest of the broadcast. 

Abruptly, the reporter switched topics, but Regulus barely registered it. 

Could he have been right? He had thought it had been too easy, just finding Pettigrew like that, but what were the chances that Sirius had broken out only days after that paper had been published. Had he somehow seen it and recognized the rat on the front page?

Even if it was just a coincidence, Regulus couldn’t risk it. If Sirius had seen the Pettigrew on the paper, he would be heading for Hogwarts, and he would need help from inside when he got there. 

After slipping the letter under a board and casting a few protection charms, Regulus turned on the spot, apparating to Diagon Alley. 

 

Slipping between the legs of shoppers, Regulus made his way to the nearest magical creature shop. As he neared the shop a frazzled looking wizard with long brown hairs on his sliver robes stepped out. As the door swung shut behind him, Regulus slipped into the shop unnoticed. 

While the witch inside had her back turned, Regulus jumped up onto the counter. 

‘Imperio,’ he cast. ‘My name is Crookshanks. I have been here for years, and you can only sell me to a Hogwarts student.’

There was a beat and the witch turned around, her eyes slightly glazed over. She blinked, shaking her head, and seemed to notice the cat on her desk. 

“Crookshanks,” the witch said, putting her hands on her hips as she addressed him. “What are you doing down here? Let's get you back to your basket.”

She scooped him up in her arms, depositing him on a top shelf inside a wicker cat cave. Sighing, Regulus set his head down on his paws. 

 

It was a few weeks before an opportunity presented itself. None of the Hogwarts students had expressed any interest in an ugly orange cat, which Regulus only found slightly insulting. If worse came to worst he could just sneak himself onto the Hogwarts Express. 

Reg was lazily composing a reply to Harry’s letter in his mind when a loud voice he thought he had heard before startled him back to reality.

“It’s my rat,” a boy with ginger hair to rival Crookshanks’ fur said. “He’s been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt.” 

“Bang him on the counter,” the witch instructed, pulling her glasses from a pocket in her robes. 

Ron lifted a rat out of his inside pocket, placing him on the counter just within Regulus’ line of sight. Whiskers twitching, Regulus glared down at the rat. It was undeniable now. Regulus was sure that the rat in front of him was Pettigrew, and he was positive that Sirius knew it as well. 

Suddenly, Pettigrew’s nose twitched and he looked ready to run. If he made it away from Ron here, he could disappear forever. If Regulus made him flee with Ron right on his tail, he could be sure that Pettigrew would stay where he could watch. Also, terrorizing the traitor was an added bonus.

In one swift movement, Regulus pushed himself off of his shelf, landing squarely on Ron’s head before springing at Pettigrew. 

“NO, CROOKSHANKS!” the witch shouted, but Regulus had done it. Ron and Harry raced after the rat. Surprisingly, however, Hermione stayed behind. 

“He’s beautiful,” she praised, reaching to pet between his ears. 

“Do you go to Hogwarts, dear?” the witch asked. 

“Yes,” Hermione nodded. “I’m going into third year. My parents gave me some money to get myself a birthday gift. I was thinking an owl, but…”

Regulus grumbled, pushing his head against Hermione’s hand. ‘Stupid owls,’ he thought, ‘ruining my chance to see my brother and protect my nephew.’

Hermione frowned, scratching absent-mindedly. It was a strange sensation, almost like having someone run their fingers through your hair. Regulus leaned into the touch, only now realizing how much he had missed it. Not counting Harry, who had given sub-par pets as a child, Lily and James had been the last ones to touch him. 

As he nuzzled against Hermione’s fingers, Regulus sent a subtle nod to the witch. 

“Well,” she said, not knowing why, “Crookshanks seems to like you, and he’s been here for so long. I could give him to you for half-price. No one seemed to want the poor dear.”

Regulus froze, swiveling his head to look at the witch. He was not a half-price cat, thank you very much. As the offense passed, Regulus realized that to guarantee a place at Hogwarts, maybe half-price wasn’t so bad.

Hermione had noticed his reaction and giggled. “He doesn’t seem to think he should be discount. Don’t worry, Crookshanks, I’ll use the extra galleons to get you a nice bed.”

Reg meowed and bonked his head against her and she smiled. Removing her hand from Regulus’ head, she pulled out a small coin purse. Once she had finished paying, Reg jumped up and laid himself across her shoulders as she turned to find her friends. 

 

When Hermione caught up to the boys, Ron looked up and made a face. 

“You bought that monster?” he asked, his mouth hanging open dumbly. 

“He’s gorgeous,” Hermione glowed, pulling Reg down into her arms. 

Ron looked horrified, but Reg was focused on Harry. He hadn’t seen Harry up close for years. His face had decent color to it, but he still had the signs of malnutrition that Regulus knew well. Harry’s brows were scrunched as he frowned at Crookshanks suspiciously, but he shook his head and muttered something that even Reg couldn’t pick up.  

Glaring at Ron’s pocket, Reg settled in for the rest of the trio’s walk back to the Leaky Cauldron. 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

Summary:

The train, part 1.

It was just basic common sense to wait for Sirius’s backup before going after Peter, but Reg still kept an eye on the lump in one of Ron’s pockets as they prepared for Kings Cross. 

Just before boarding, Arthur Weasley pulled Harry off to the side, causing him to have to scramble to jump on the Hogwarts Express before it left. As Hermione and Ron pulled him in, Harry muttered “I need to talk to you. In private.”

“Go ‘way Ginny,” Ron snapped to his sister. 

“Ooh, that’s nice,” Ginny huffed, and Reg swiped at Ron’s leg from a hole in Crookshanks’ basket. Of the Weasleys so far, Ginny was his favorite. 

“Ow!” Ron complained, and Ginny smirked in satisfaction as she turned to leave. 

The trio started off in the other direction, looking for an open compartment. From what Regulus could tell from in his basket they were all full except for the one at the end, which had a single occupant. 

The familiar scent of old books, tea, and chocolate (and a hint of dog to the well trained nose) hit Regulus, and his ears pricked up in interest. Sitting in the compartment was probably the last person he had expected to see again. He looked quite a bit sicker than he had last time they’d met each other (albeit, that was before all of his friends had been brutally murdered twelve-ish years ago), and his once-curly brown hair now lay straight and graying, as if all the life had been sucked out of it. A little mental calculation confirmed that the previous night had been a full moon. 

“Who’s that, you reckon?” Ron asked as they filed into the compartment.

“Professor R. J. Lupin,” Hermione said, like it was obvious. 

“How do you know that?”

“It’s on his case, Ronald,” Hermione said in exasperation, pointing up to the luggage rack. 

“Wonder what he teaches,” Ron said, frowning at him.

“It’s obvious,” Hermione said. “There’s only one vacancy. Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

“Well I hope he’s up to it,” Ron said doubtfully, “He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn’t he?”

Regulus wished he still had the ability to snort in amusement (the best he had managed yet sounded like a strangled sneeze). ‘ As if,’ he thought. ‘This ought to be a fun year. Pettegrew, Harry, Siri, me, and now Remus? It’ll be almost as bad as before.’  

“Anyway,” Ron said, turning to Harry, “What were you going to tell us?”

Harry then proceeded to explain how Mr. Weasley had warned Harry that Sirius had broken out of prison to try and kill him, which Reg only half listened to.

Ron and Hermione both seemed frightened of the idea, as opposed to Harry who didn’t seem that worried.

Their conversation was interrupted by the familiar whistle of a sneakoscope, although much louder to Reg’s cat hearing. Annoyed, he pawed at the door to the box as they searched for, and then discussed, the sneakoscope. 

Finally, they shoved it into an ugly pair of socks which deadened the sound. As the conversation devolved into a debate over Hogsmeade, Reg curled back up and tuned them out. 

 

Reg was brought back to the conversation by Hermione starting to undo the straps on his basket. 

“Don’t let that thing out,” Ron said hurriedly, but it was too late. As Hermione undid the last of the straps, Regulus pushed out and leaped lightly down to the floor and stretched, before jumping up onto Ron’s knees, enjoying the way Pettigrew quivered in his pocket.

“Get out of here!” Ron said, shoving him off onto the floor. As he fell off he dug his claws into Ron’s legs, before landing on the ground and glaring up at Ron, who was quickly becoming his least favorite of Harry’s friends.

“Ron!” Hermione said angrily, and Reg brushed past her legs reassuringly before jumping up onto the seat next to Remus. 

Ron was about to argue back, but Remus stirred, turning in his sleep and effectively ending the argument. Reg stared at him for a minute before deeming him asleep enough and laying down, pressed up against his leg. 

At about one, the Trolley Witch arrived. Ron suggested waking him up, and Hermione approached him cautiously. She tried to wake him, but Reg knew it was pointless. Remus slept like the dead after a full moon. 

The three got their snacks, and Hermione got Reg a meat pie to eat. 

 

Around mid-afternoon, Remus once again became unknowingly useful in preventing conflict, when a blonde boy the spitting image of Lucius arrived, flanked by two large, black haired boys. 

“Well,” Malfoy Jr said, his voice a self-righteous drawl like his father, “Look who it is. Potty and the Weasel. I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley . Did your mother die of shock?”

Ron stood up, knocking my basket to the ground, which caused Remus to startle slightly in his sleep. 

“Who’s that?” Malfoy asked, taking a step backwards.

“New teacher,” Harry responded coolly, preparing to hold Ron back if needed. “What were you saying, Malfoy?”

Malfoy glared at Harry and sulked away.

Things went back to usual in the compartment as Ron settled down, threatening Malfoy with a tasteful enactment of what he would do to Malfoy’s head.

“Ron! Be careful!” Hermione hissed, gesturing to Remus, and Regulus once again wished he could snort. As if Remus hadn’t turned a blind eye to much more graphic threats that Siri had made.

 

As day faded into night, the lights in the corridors flickered on.

“We must be nearly there,” Ron said, leaning forwards to look through the completely black window. 

As if speaking had summoned it, the train started to slow down. 

“Great!” Ron said excitedly. “I’m starving. I can’t wait to get to the feast.”

“But we can’t be there yet!” Hermione cried, checking her watch.

“So why are we stopping?”

The train slowly chugged to a halt and the lights flickered. Harry, who was closest to the door, got up and looked out into the corridor. Then, without warning, the lights plunged them into total darkness. 

As Harry made his way back to the seat, Regulus got up and dug a claw into Remus’s leg. Not enough to break skin, but it would definitely hurt enough to wake him up. A moment later he heard his breathing change as he silently woke and started to take in his surroundings. 

There was a squeaking noise, and Reg looked over to see Ron wiping a patch clean from the suddenly frosty window. 

“There’s something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard,” Ron said, and dread started to fill Regulus. Surely they wouldn’t dare… but then again, this was the same ministry that had sent an innocent man to Azkaban without a trial. 

The compartment door suddenly opened and someone toppled in.

“Sorry,” a voice said, “Do you know what’s going on? Ouch! Sorry!”

“Hello Neville,” Harry said, pulling the intruder up by their cloak.

“Harry!” they said, “Is that you? What’s happening?”

“No idea,” Harry responded. “Sit down.”

Neville apparently took this as instruction to sit on Reg’s tail, so he hissed at him and dug his claws into his leg, causing him to yelp in pain. Regulus didn’t feel that bad about it. He was a cat, sue him.

“I’m going to go and ask the driver what’s going on,” Hermione said, standing and making her way over to the door. She slid it open and promptly ran into another figure, causing both of them to cry out.

“Who’s that?” Hermione asked.

“Who’s that?” Ginny’s familiar voice responded.

“Ginny!”

“Hermione!”

“What are you doing?”

“I was looking for Ron.”

“Come in and sit down.”

“Not here,” Harry said, “I’m here.”

“Ouch!” Neville cried as someone stepped on his foot again. 

“Quiet!” Remus’s hoarse voice said suddenly, causing everyone to go silent.

There was a crackling noise, and suddenly the compartment was bathed in a shivering light, emanating from the fire he held in his palm. He looked tired, but no less alert than usual. 

“Stay where you are,” he said, rising slowly. He looked as if he was going to make his way over to the door, but it slid open before he had the chance to even start moving.

And suddenly Regulus was drowning again, his lungs collapsing in on themselves, his mouth filling with water as he tried to scream. 

Standing in the doorway was a shadowy figure with tattered black robes and rotting flesh. 

Regulus could still feel the slimy rotten fingers clawing at his skin, dragging him down into the dark.

 

 

Notes:

Moonyyyy <3

anyway, hope y'all liked it. it's basically just the book so far, but from Reg's POV, but it gets more interesting soon. (probably)

please comment, as always.

Love y'all,
-Qali <3

Chapter 3

Summary:

Remus and Regulus begin to settle into life at Hogwarts

Notes:

Warnings: Mild anaphylaxis. He's fine though. its like the last few paragraphs after Remus drinks the potion.

Regulus was the first one to regain control after Remus banished the dementor. Across the carriage Ron and Hermione were shaking, clutching each other and watching Harry, who had passed out and fallen to the floor. Neville, who Regulus realized was Frank and Alice Longbottom’s son, had his legs curled to his chest, sobbing and rocking back and forth, and Ginny had her hands pressed tight over her ears, shaking her head as if trying to clear it of a voice. 

Remus looked fine. Or rather, he looked little worse than usual, shaken obviously, but otherwise unaffected. He had returned to his window seat and was now digging in his bag for something. Regulus got to his feet and made his way over. As he reached him, Remus looked up and stared at him. Regulus blinked once, not breaking eye contact, and then darted forward, bonking Remus’s arm with his head. 

“Well hello there,” he said, smiling slightly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Regulus mrowed in joy. Thank god Remus remembered. Purring, Reg wriggled his way under Remus’s arm and onto his lap, curling into a ball. Looking up, Reg saw Remus smiling softly down at him. Regulus glared back, doing his best to project ‘If you tell anyone about this…’ without actually projecting it.

Remus laughed, one hand scratching between Reg’s ears, the other digging for the chocolate Reg could now smell. Content that Remus would prevent any further harm to Harry, Regulus let himself drift off into much needed sleep. 

The opening of the carriage door woke Regulus nearly an hour later. Blinking sleepily, he looked around, realizing that he was no longer on Remus’s lap. Instead, the youngest Weasley held him, still shaking from the dementor. As he reached up to nuzzle against her chin, Reg saw Remus reentering the carriage. Regulus sent him a disdainful look, which he rudely ignored, smiling at Harry. 

“I haven’t poisoned that chocolate, you know…” he smirked. 

Harry looked down as if he had forgotten about the chocolate and took a bite. As it melted in his mouth, Harry melted too, sagging back into the seat in relief, the color coming back into his face. 

“We’ll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes,” Remus said. “Are you all right, Harry?”

“Fine,” Harry muttered, not meeting anyone’s eyes. 

They didn’t talk much during the remainder of the journey to Hogwarts. When the train finally stopped, everyone scrambled to get outside. Ginny had somehow managed to convince Hermione not to put Regulus back in the box, so the redhead held him in her arms, her cloak shielding him from the icy rain. She hurriedly climbed into one of the thestral-pulled stagecoaches, nodding to the other passenger. Before the coach could start, Remus’s hand caught the door and he asked if he could join them. 

Ginny nodded silently and glanced at the blonde girl across from her as if seeking her opinion. The blonde glanced up after a second, stared at Remus for a moment as if looking through him, and then nodded. 

The motion was so Pandora it hurt. He had no idea if she had survived the war. He hadn’t heard anything, but that didn’t mean much. Regulus could see from Remus’s expression as he climbed in that he saw it too. Poking his head out from under Ginny’s arm, Regulus blinked up at Remus, who had sat down next to her. 

“This is Luna, Professor,” Ginny said. “Luna Lovegood. Luna, this is Professor Lupin.”

“Hello Professor,” Luna said, her voice floaty and almost ethereal. “Is that your cat, Ginny? He has a lovely soul. What’s his name?”

Reg turned to stare at her, wrinkling his nose and ducking under Ginny’s cloak.

“This is Crookshanks,” Ginny giggled. “He’s Hermione’s cat but he helps with the dementors, so she said I could bring him in with me.” 

Luna nodded and smiled, a little too knowing. “He likes you. You remind him of himself.” 

Reg glared at Luna, annoyed that she was telling the whole world his secrets. From beside them, Remus laughed and Regulus turned his glare on him, looking betrayed.

A few days later, Regulus found himself in Remus’s room. He wasn’t back from dinner in the great hall yet, so Reg chose to explore the room. He jumped up on the desk and opened one of the books with his nose. It took him a few sentences to realize it was The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. 

When Reg was six, Sirius had found a copy in the square outside of Grimmauld Place and snuck it in. They had read it together, hiding in Sirius’s room after their parents had gone to bed. 

Pawing back to the inside cover, Reg stared at the messy letters of seven-year-old Sirius. For all the handwriting lessons their parents had forced on them, they had somehow never been able to rid Siri of his near-illegible scrawl. Although, now that Reg thought about it, he had seen Sirius write exquisitely, so it was likely just him being a little shit. 

Laying down, Regulus rested his head on the long-dried ink, imagining that he could still smell Sirius in its pages. 

Hearing the door open and then close, Reg opened his eyes slowly and looked up at Remus. 

Remus’s eyes landed on the open book and he sighed sadly. “I know, Crooks,” he murmured, “I miss him too.”

He reached forward and made to pick Reg up off the desk, but the latter resisted, letting himself go limp. Reg could practically feel Remus rolling his eyes as he readjusted his grip, flipping Reg into a hug. Reg made a noise of contentment and buried his face under Remus’s chin. 

“Why did he do it, Crookshanks?” Remus said sadly. “I still have a hard time believing that my Siri, my Padfoot, could have done that to James.”

Reg didn’t know what to do. He wanted to tell Remus everything. Wanted Remus to know he was alive, and Siri was innocent, but he knew he couldn’t. He settled for bumping his chin in what he hoped was a comforting way.

As September progressed, Regulus developed a pattern. During the week, Regulus would wander the halls, occasionally choosing a student to follow. So far, only Luna had noticed him, smiling sweetly whenever she spotted him and making a spot for him in her school bag, electing to carry her books instead. 

Evenings were usually spent with Remus, curled on a pillow beside him as he graded papers. Whether he would return to the Gryffindor common room or ‘accidentally’ fall asleep on Remus’ pillow was entirely dependent on Remus’ mood. 

Remus and Regulus hadn’t ever got on especially well in school, so Reg hadn’t anticipated caring so much about the man. Sure, they’d been friendly , and they’d known each other through Lily, and obviously through James, but he was pretty sure they hadn’t been alone together more than once. 

But nevertheless, Reg had found himself spending more time with Remus than anyone else. 

That meant that he was there when Severus arrived with Remus’ first batch of wolfsbane potion. 

Regulus had been napping, laying across Remus’ grading, and generally making a nuisance of himself when the doors to Remus’ office slammed open. Regulus started, hissing and going from nearly asleep to standing in a flash. When he saw it was simply Severus, he relaxed slightly, though he allowed himself to maintain a snarl as Severus stepped into the room.

“Lupin,” Severus drawled disdainfully, gliding over to Remus’ desk like an overgrown bat. 

No, Regulus thought. He liked bats. That was an insult to them.  

He’d seen the way he treated students, how he treated Luna , and Regulus’ distaste for the man had only grown. He’d never liked Severus, even at school. He was too slimy and power-hungry for Reg’s taste. Too hypocritical. But any of his redeeming qualities seemed to have died with age, leaving just the distasteful ones. 

Reg’s eyes tracked Severus’ every move, a low rumble of warning in the back of his throat. 

“Severus,” Remus replied amiably, standing and placing a hand on Reg’s head. “How can I help you?”

“I’ve brought you your potion,” he sneered. “You should take it right away.”

“Right,” Remus nodded, taking the steaming goblet when Severus held it out. “I’ll just take it now then?”

As Remus brought the cup to his lips, making a face at the smell, Regulus tensed, ready to spring. 

Remus downed the cup in one, gagging and doubling over. Regulus heard Remus try and inhale, only managing a wheezing rattle. 

Regulus snarled, rounding on Severus, who looked mildly bemused. 

“Oh, yes,” he said calmly. “I should have mentioned that was a possibility. It should only last an hour or two at most, don’t worry.”

Reg’s claws dug into the wood of Remus’ desk, poking holes through multiple students’ essays. Before he could do anything, however, Remus’ hand had placed itself back on his back. 

“Down, Crookshanks,” Remus wheezed. “I’ve not been poisoned. It’s just a reaction to the wolfsbane. It’s happened before.”

“Right,” Severus drawled. “I’ll be back tomorrow with more. I do hope you feel better.”

Notes:

so... yeah.

I've always thought that Remus not having any reaction to the Wolfsbane Potion other than it tasting bad was unrealistic. He's literally drinking a glass full of diluted death for him. It would be like someone with a severe peanut allergy eating a shit ton of peanut butter and nothing happening.

sorry. that was my rant.

in other news, LUNA <3 I love her so much, and she 100% knows more than she's letting on.

so, anyway. please comment.

Love y'all
-Qali<3

Chapter 4

Summary:

Potions king Reggie & an argument

Notes:

kinda short. whatever.

By the time Severus returned the next afternoon, Regulus had already begun concocting a plan in his mind. It took a few weeks for Reg to create an idea for a potion, and another few days for Reg to lug all the proper equipment and ingredients to his chosen location, a secret passage running along behind the wall of the potions corridor. 

 Reg had adapted a couple healing potions to best counteract an allergic reaction. Taking ingredients from the Wiggenwald and generic healing potion. 

Regulus added a few sprigs of Dittany, mint, and nettle to a cauldron, adding wormwood and ginger after a minute. Leaving it to steep overnight, Reg returned to the common room.

“Did you hear?” A girl was saying to her friends as he slipped through the portrait hole. “Sirius Black was spotted not far from here.” 

“You don’t think he’d come to Hogwarts, do you?” her friend squealed, looking nervous. 

“Please,” their third friend snorted, “what reason would he have to come here? And besides, he’d never be able to make it onto the grounds. Not with Dumbledore.”

Rolling his eyes, Reg crossed to Hermione, curling up in her lap as she read some thick charms book. He’d go looking for Sirius soon, he resolved. For now, he had to finish his potion. 

The next day Regulus returned to his potion, straining the gunky ingredients from the top with a piece of unicorn hair cloth and adding in the remaining ingredients in their proper order. By the end of the evening, Regulus had a small collection of phials filled with bright red potion. Leaving them to sit in the cool darkness of the dungeon, Reg made his way back up to find the common room abuzz. 

An hour later the portrait hole swung open, bringing with it the smell of wet mud and wind. Regulus propped his head up to see the Gryffindor Quidditch team climbing through the portrait hole.

“What’s happened?” Harry asked Ron and Hermione, who paused on their star charts and looked up.

“First Hogsmeade weekend,” Ron nodded towards a notice that had appeared on the board. “End of October. Halloween.”

“Excellent,” one of the twins grinned, “I need to visit Zonko’s. I’m nearly out of Stink Pellets.”

Dejectedly, Harry threw himself down into the chair beside Ron. 

“Harry,” Hermione said sympathetically, “I’m sure you’ll be able to go next time. They’re bound to catch Black soon. He’s been sighted once already”

“Black’s not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade,” Ron protested. “Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages—”

“Ron!” Hermione snapped. “Harry’s supposed to stay in school—”

“He can’t be the only third year left behind. Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry—”

“Yeah, I think I will,” Harry nodded, making up his mind.

Regulus didn’t see this argument going well for any of them, so when Hermione opened her mouth to respond he stretched out, snagging a claw in the fabric of the chair and using it to flip himself to his back. 

“Just keep him over there, that’s all,” Ron grumbled, Hogsmeade argument temporarily on hold. “I’ve got Scabbers asleep in my bag.”

Harry yawned and pulled his bag toward him, pulling out a roll of parchment and a quill like every movement was through quicksand. 

“You can copy mine, if you like,” Ron said, shoving his completed chart toward Harry.

End of his tail twitching, Reg watched the lump in Ron’s bag quiver slightly. Now that Pettigrew knew Sirius was nearby, he was more likely to try and disappear again, and Reg figured that ‘the mangled corpse of his enemy’ would make a decent welcome gift. 

Regulus sprung forward, claws digging into the fabric and trying to get to Pettigrew. 

“GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!” Ron roared, shaking the bag to try and dislodge him. Hissing, Reg swiped at Ron’s hand with the one claw Ron had managed to shake off. 

“Ron, don’t hurt him!” Reg heard Hermione cry, but Ron ignored her, whirling the bag around and hitting it against the chair. Using the force that Reg was actively trying to counter to his advantage, Pettigrew flew from the bag, landing with a soft thump. 

“CATCH THAT CAT!” Ron yelled as Reg resheathed his claws, jumping across the low table in order to pursue Pettigrew.

Dodging various gingers, Reg chased Pettigrew to an old chest of drawers, too low for Regulus to fit under. Hissing, Reg swiped under the base, claws swinging harmlessly past Pettigrew. 

Reg’s attempts to capture and/or seriously maim Pettigrew were interrupted by a pair of hands grabbing him around the middle and dragging him back. Reg let himself go limp, bonelessly protesting his removal from the situation. 

It was mild vindication, however, to see Pettigrew being dragged out by his tail, looking significantly worse for wear. 

“Look at him! He’s skin and bone!” Ron roared at Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of them. Regulus couldn’t resist the temptation to reach out and bat at the rat-shaped pendulum, making Ron shout and pull Pettigrew away. “You keep that cat away from him!”

“Crookshanks doesn’t understand it’s wrong!” Hermione defended, voice catching. “All cats chase rats, Ron!”

“There’s something funny about that animal!” Ron snapped, trying his best to shove the squirming rat back into his pocket. “It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!”

“Oh, what rubbish,” Hermione rolled her eyes. “Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d’you think—”

“That cat’s got it in for Scabbers!” Ron cried. To be honest, Reg was quite enjoying watching the boy make a fool of himself in the middle of a crowded common room. “And Scabbers was here first, and he’s ill!”

Ron whirled around dramatically, letting the door to the boys’ dormitories slam shut behind him as he stomped up the stairs.

Turning in Hermione’s arms, Reg nuzzled against her chin apologetically, making Hermione hug him closer.

 

 

Notes:

Hey y'all

hope y'all liked it.

love y'all
-Qali<3

Chapter 5

Summary:

Reggie stops avoiding shit

Notes:

Sirius <3

It was another four days before Reg ran out of excuses to not go looking for Sirius, so on Friday Reg slipped out of the castle while everyone was at supper. Reg had a theory about where he might find his brother (which he hoped was wrong, because it was the first place anyone who knew him at all would look), so he slunk across the grounds, sticking to the shadows, until he reached the Whomping Willow.

Reg dashed across the base of the tree, dodging slow-moving branches that hadn’t noticed him yet. 

Ducking into the tunnel at the base of the tree, Reg felt the floor begin to slope down, slick with mud from the rain the past week. Stepping carefully, Reg jumped from semi-dry patch to semi-dry patch, nose wrinkling at how much mud was caked to his fur. 

Finally, the tunnel leveled out, the floor turning to cold stone and the dirt walls changing to crumbling wood. Pausing, Reg used a quick Scourgify on himself, feeling the mud disappear. 

Reg only had to go up one more floor to catch the smell of wet dog, however faint. Rolling his eyes, Reg followed the scent to a room on the third floor. There was a bed in the corner that looked barely touched aside from a dog-sized gap in the dust. Sirius was nowhere to be seen, so Regulus cast another quick Scourgify on the various surfaces in the room, settling down on a dresser to wait. 

 

It was dark outside when a large black dog finally slunk back into the room. Reg raised his head off of his paws, blinking slowly at him.

Sirius froze, head flopping to the side curiously. He sniffed deeply and his mouth dropped open, tongue lolling to the side. Sirius bounded over to the dresser, propping his front paws up on the dresser, right in front of Regulus. He leaned forward, tail wagging, and Reg begrudgingly bonked his nose against Siri’s. Sirius grinned and licked across Reg’s face. 

Reg bapped Siri across the nose, snorting when Sirius reeled back, looking offended. 

Sirius plopped back to a sit, his face and body morphing back to human. He maintained his dog-like posture, head tilted to the side, and his legs were crossed. 

“Crooks?” He asked. 

Regulus mrowed, jumping down from the dresser and pacing around his brother. 

“What are you doing here?”

Reg hissed, projecting ‘rat’ at Sirius. 

Sirius jumped, staring at Reg in confusion. “Was that you?”

Reg rolled his eyes. ‘Duh.’

“Well how was I supposed to know?” Siri defended. “How does it work anyway?”

‘Magic,’ Reg responded dryly.  

Sirius rolled his eyes. “No, really? I meant like… can you only speak one word at a time? Also, how do you know English?”

‘Questions,’ Reg snorted. He’s gotten better at projecting, but it was a lot of work, so he didn’t bother most of the time. ‘It's hard.’

“It’s hard to talk a lot?”

Reg nodded. 

“Wicked,” Sirius grinned. 

 

Reg came back the next day, carrying a basket with him. As he entered the shack, dog-Siri’s head popped up, nose twitching, and bounded over to Reg, shifting back to a man as he moved. Reg dropped the basket and Sirius snatched it up, crossing back to the bed. 

Reg jumped up on the dresser again, sitting patiently as Sirius devoured the bit of roast and butterbeer Reg had nicked from the kitchens. 

“Merlin,” Sirius groaned once he’d finished, propping himself back on his arms, “I need a shower.”

Smirking internally, Reg shot a stream of water out of thin air, hitting Sirius squarely in the face. 

“Oi!” he sputtered. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

‘Lily,’ Reg replied, only slightly stretching the truth. She had helped him perfect the wand movement for Aqua Eructo.  

Sirius snorted. “Of course she would teach her cat magic. Can you do anything else?”

‘Yes,’ Reg shrugged.

“Cool,” Sirius nodded, pausing expectantly. “Are you planning on sharing with the class?”

‘No.’

Sirius rolled his eyes, laughing silently. 

 

It wasn’t very hard for Reg to sneak out to see Sirius, and he gave himself about a week before Remus started feeling the effects of the upcoming moon, so he was taking full advantage of his relative freedom. It didn’t hurt that he was also actively avoiding the common room, trying to make life easier for Hermione. 

Reg brought Sirius leftover food each time he visited as well, and Reg started to see a little of the old color return to Sirius’ face. His cheeks were beginning to look less sunken-in and his hands were a little less skeletal whenever he reached for Reg. 

As the moon tipped past half-full, however, Reg noticed Sirius withdrawing.

“I abandoned him, Crooks,” Sirius said one night, staring out the only non-boarded up window in the bedroom. “I promised I’d always be there for fulls, now look at me. I don’t even know where he is.”

Reg’s head perked up and, tail twitching, he crossed the room. He glanced back expectantly as he reached the door and saw Sirius watching him, confused. Reg glanced impatiently at the hall, and then back at Sirius. 

“You want me to follow you?” Sirius asked.

Not bothering to respond, Reg turned and darted down the hallway, pausing a second at the stairs to listen for the sound of thundering paws behind him. 

Reg led Sirius back through the tunnel to the grounds, pressing the knot in the tree to freeze it so Sirius could climb out too. 

Glancing around, Reg darted towards the treeline and into the cover of the Forbidden Forest. Regulus could feel Sirius close on his tail so he didn’t bother slowing down, following the curve of the forest until he reached the correct stretch of windows. 

Plopping down, Regulus sat and waited, eyes fixed on Remus’ windows. Sirius sat next to him, evidently confused, but still willing to indulge him. 

They had waited about an hour when finally a silhouette appeared in the window, pulling it open and crawling up to sit half out the windowsill. Remus absently rolled an unlit cigarette between his fingers, head dropping against the left side of the frame as he watched the last rays of sun disappear on the horizon. 

Reg saw Sirius’ ears perk up, tail thumping against the ground as he watched Remus. 

‘Gone,’ Reg projected at Sirius. ‘Moon.’

Sirius turned to him, nodding once in understanding. 

They sat there together, watching Remus until the man sighed and climbed back down from his window, closing it behind him. 

Retreating back into the woods, Sirius transformed back, tears running down his cheeks. 

“Thank you,” he said, smiling sadly. 

Reg nodded once, blinking slowly, before turning and slipping back up to the castle. 

 

 

Notes:

Hey y'all!

Hope you liked it! We've gotten our first Sirius & some wolfstar <3

I've always been curious about how fandom affects where people assume I'm from. Comment what you'd guess.

Love y'all,
-Qali <3

Chapter 6

Summary:

The potion and Halloween

When Remus returned to his office after a full day of lessons, Reg was already waiting. As was Snape. 

Sighing, Remus nodded to Snape, rubbing his temples as he crossed to his desk where a steaming goblet already sat. 

“Thank you, Severus,” Remus said. 

Without a response Snape left, cloak billowing behind him. 

“Hey Crookshanks,” Remus said tiredly, scratching between Reg’s ears and eyeing the cup with trepidation. 

Resigning himself, Remus grabbed the goblet and downed it, coughing as his breathing worsened. 

Reg mrowed, rolling the little red vial he had brought along across the desk. The vial bumped against Remus’ hand and stopped, making the man look up. Reg mrowed again, pawing at the vial until Remus looked at him. 

“You want me to take this?” he wheezed, and Reg blinked slowly in agreement. 

Remus frowned at the vial, suspicious, but after another bout of hacking coughs he brought it to his lips and downed it. Remus’ breathing eased almost instantaneously and Reg let out a breath of relief, bonking his head against Remus’ hand comfortingly. 

“How did you-” Remus asked before cutting himself off, shaking his head. “That'd be me then,” he chuckled, “talking to a cat as if it can respond.”

Regulus was offended. He could respond, he just chose not to. Because if anyone was going to figure him out, it would be the Marauders’ singular brain cell, and Reg wasn’t quite ready for that conversation yet. 

“Well,” Remus said, “thank you anyways.”

Reg stretched himself out, leaning against Remus in acknowledgement. 

Halloween fell on the day before the full moon this year, a fact which Regulus found particularly cruel. 

He was curled up on Remus’ desk, napping in a sunbeam, when he heard footsteps in the hall outside. He glanced up just in time to see Harry pass by, looking slightly dejected. Behind him, Remus got up from his desk, wincing, and crossed to the doorway. 

“Harry?” he called. “What are you doing? Where are Ron and Hermione?”

“Hogsmeade,” Harry said, voice a bit strained. 

Remus nodded. “I see,” he paused. “Why don’t you come in for tea? I’ve just started a pot.”

“Sure,” Harry shrugged, following as Remus turned back into his office. 

When Harry stepped inside the office his eyes fell on Reg, looking startled. “You know Crookshanks?” he asked.

Remus’ eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I knew his last owner.”

“Really?” Harry asked, curious. “Who?”

“A singularly talented witch and an even better friend.”

Harry frowned slightly. “What happened to her?”

Remus’ gaze dropped. “The war.”

“Oh,” Harry said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Remus glanced up, eyes gleaming again. “Thank you, Harry. Now, tea?”

Harry nodded awkwardly and Remus floated the kettle over to his desk, brushing off a dusty tin.

“I’ve only got teabags, I’m afraid,” Remus teased in the way he used to do to Lily, “but I daresay you’ve had enough of tea leaves?”

“How did you know about that?” Harry asked, glancing up as Remus poured tea into two mugs.

“McGonagall told me,” Remus grinned, passing Harry an old mug Regulus remembered from Hogwarts. “You’re not worried, are you?”

“No,” Harry shook his head, pausing like he was considering saying more. 

“Anything worrying you, Harry?” Remus asked gently.

“No,” Harry said, taking a sip of tea. “Yes. You know that day we fought the Boggart?”

Remus hid a smile behind his cup. “Hardly forgettable, when one works with Severus Snape.”

“Why didn’t you let me fight it?” Harry asked.

Remus’ eyebrows shot up and he leaned forward. “I would have thought that was obvious, Harry.”

Harry started, as if that wasn’t the answer he had been expecting. “Why?”

Remus frowned. “I’d assumed if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.”

Regulus winced so hard he would’ve fallen off Remus’ desk had the man not reached out and steadied him. That was the first time he’d heard the name in twelve years, he realized.

“Clearly I was wrong,” Remus said, glancing in concern at Regulus. “But I didn’t think it would be a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic.” 

“I didn’t think of Voldemort,” Harry said. “I – I remembered those Dementors.”

“I see,” Remus said, studying Harry like he was a particularly interesting puzzle. “Well… I’m impressed.” He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. “That suggests that what you fear most of all is fear itself. Very good, Harry.”

Harry looked like he didn’t know what to say, awkwardly taking another sip of tea.

“So you’ve been thinking that I didn’t believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?” Remus guessed.

“Well… yeah,” Harry said, smiling sheepishly. “Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors ”

A knock on the door cut Harry off, and Reg popped up, glaring at the door. Unsurprisingly, when the door opened it was Snape, another goblet of Wolfsbane potion in his hand. He paused at the sight of Harry, eyes narrowing in dislike. 

“Severus,” Remus said, smiling. Reg was impressed. It almost seemed genuine this time, though Harry didn’t seem to notice anything. “Could you leave it here on the desk for me?”

Snape set the goblet down a little harder than necessary, causing drips to splash over the rim and onto Reg. Reg hissed and jumped down, haughtily crossing to fetch Remus another vial. 

“I was just showing my Grindylow,” Lupin said, despite the fact that it had yet to come up in conversation.

“Fascinating,” Snape drawled without looking at it. “You should drink that directly, Lupin.”

“Yes,” Remus nodded. “Yes, I will.”

“I made an entire cauldronful,” Snape continued. “If you need more.”

“I’ll have some again tomorrow. Thank you, Severus.”

“Not at all,” Snape said sarcastically, backing out of the room as Reg glared, jumping back up on the desk.

 Harry looked curiously at the goblet, and Remus smiled.

 “Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me,” he said as Reg dropped another vial into his palm. “I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex.” He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. “Pity sugar makes it useless,” he added, taking a gulp and coughing.

“Why-?” Harry asked as Remus downed the rest of it, quickly popping the vial open and downing it as well. 

“I’ve been feeling a bit off-color,” Remus explained calmly, as if that wasn’t the understatement of the fucking century. “This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren’t many wizards who are up to making it.”

He was, Regulus wanted to protest, but he was stuck as a fucking cat, so he couldn’t do anything.

“Professor Snape’s very interested in the Dark Arts,” Harry blurted, trying to sound casual.

“Really?” Remus replied, only half listening. Reg figured he had probably learned how to tune out a Potter complaining about Snape early on. It was a survival skill. 

“Some people reckon –” Harry hesitated, then plunged on, “some people reckon he’d do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.”

Remus snorted softly. “Harry, when it comes to me, that was practically civil. I promise you, Severus bears me no more ill will than he ever has.”

“Right,” said Harry, putting down his empty teacup.

“Well, Harry,” Remus said, indicating the end of the discussion. “I’d better get back to work. See you at the feast later.”

Notes:

Hey y'all. I'm back!

I fucked around with the moon, because it's supposed to be on Halloween, same as the Hogsmeade trip, but Halloween that year was a Sunday, so I made it Saturday and kept the moon on Sunday. I don't think Remus would really be upright the day of the full moon, let alone able to do paperwork and entertain Harry.

Poor Reg just wants to fix all of Remus' problems, but he's a cat. Unfortunately I don't have any plans for him to un-cat any time soon. :(

Anyway, love y'all!
-Qali <3

Notes:

Yeah, so... I hope y'all like it so far.

I love Reg as Crookshanks. He's so chaotic and I love him.

idk what else to say here, so please comment and all that.

Love y'all
-Qali <3

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of The Secret Kept