ashes of a fallen star

by stagstruck

Summary:

Regulus Black never wanted to get married.
Why anyone would willingly commit themselves to another person was beyond him. Why would you tie yourself down for another? He never understood.

James Potter always thought he would marry someone he loved.
People always told him he was the type of guy who that happened to, yet here he was on his way to marry someone he had never met.

Chapter 1

Regulus Black never wanted to get married.

Why anyone would willingly commit themselves to another person was beyond him. Why would you tie yourself down for another? He never understood. Blame it on the lack of love in his life, but he didn't understand the hype of ever falling in love. But that did not matter anymore, seeing as Regulus Black was now engaged to a man he had never met.

Of course, he knew of the heir of Potter, who hadn’t? He was known far and wide, debatably the most well-known heir out of all of the territories, the one with the most potential. Maybe it was because his territory was known for its loving nature, which reflected in him. He was well-loved. The family of Potter was always giving back to their own territory. People would come from all over just to meet the heir of Potter.

When Regulus’s older brother started sending letters filled to the brim with stories of the two heirs, Regulus fell under the trap, he grew to understand why everyone liked the heir of Potter so much. Why he was such a good person, why people came from all over to see him. Regulus would have traveled far to meet him.

Sirius’s letters painted him as every good thing you could think of. Telling Regulus of every adventure the two would go on. He knew every aspect of their lives.

Regulus would often wait eagerly for a letter to arrive describing the trouble the two got into, the tales of their pranks and troubles. Regulus knew everything about the heir of Potter. But he never met him, he only ever got one letter from the heir of Potter, but Regulus burned it before he even read it.

As the years passed and Sirius’s letters stopped, Regulus's view on the heir of Potter changed.

 

So no, it didn’t matter that he was engaged to his brother’s best friend. He did not care. That did not put him at peace in any form.

 

“At least it isn’t the heir of Malfoy.” Mary McDonald stated as she made Regulus’ bed. “I know from experience, the heir of Potter is one of the better ones.”

Regulus was standing in front of his mirror, buttoning up his shirt. “The heir of Malfoy just went to my cousin instead.”

 

Mary McDonald had been Regulus’ companion for nearly a year now. She came highly recommended by the Potter family. Regulus was hesitant with her at first, he never had a companion before Mary, unless you were the heir it was uncommon for you to get your companion. Since the role had been turned over to him, his parents were very efficient in getting him his own, and in walked Mary.

The two had a very rocky relationship at the start, Regulus was stubborn and angry, but Mary would not put up with it.

From Regulus’s eyes, it seemed as if Mary had this innate knowledge of how to put him down a few notches. She knew what made him tick and how to give him a piece of what he was dishing out. It is safe to say that Mary affirmed herself with Regulus fairly fast. Now, he trusts her more than anyone else in the world.

 

“Your family is stealing all of the heirs, soon there will be none left for anyone else.” The curly-haired girl joked as she walked over to Regulus and started messing with his outfit.

Regulus shrugged, “There is the heir of Longbottom, though Mary Longbottom would be a pitiful name.”

A laugh erupted out of the girl across from him “That it would,” she continued to fix the collar of his shirt. “Regulus Potter doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Don’t remind me,” Regulus complained, his voice holding a sharp edge.

Mary shook her head “You need to get that attitude out of you, your parents don't like it.”

 

Regulus turned from the girl and looked back into the mirror, fixing his hair slightly as he spoke “I believe my parents lost all right to care about my attitude the moment they agreed to this notion of marriage.” His curls were laying perfectly on his head.

“We both know your parents don’t care about your feelings towards the heir of Potter, they only care for the money.” Mary started walking towards the door. “We best not keep them waiting.”

 

Regulus hesitantly followed Mary out of the door and led the way to the war room. It always seemed ironic to him that all family talks happened in the war room, from every small talk to the big one. They happened in the room of war.

Mary was just a few steps behind him as they walked through the halls that he grew up in. Now Regulus was far from a sentimental person, but it hit him at this moment that this very well could be the last time he ever walked to the war room. He froze only slightly before he opened the door exposing his parents sitting in the room.

 

Each of them was on separate couches, his mother was sitting close to the fire, the warm color illuminating her face, though it made her look colder. His father was sitting in the large seat the furthest from the fire, sitting stiffly, his eyes not moving from the fire.

 

“Mother. Father.” Regulus greeted as he stood in between his parents, Mary stood towards the back of the room, disappearing into the surroundings, but Regulus could always spot her no matter how hard she tried.

“Regulus,” they both said as his mother stood up, she wiped the invisible dirt off of her dress before walking over to him.

 

Her cold hand moved to his face, grabbing him by the chin and turning his head in every direction as if it was an examination. “Companion.” She called firmly, Mary appeared next to Regulus.

“Yes, madam,” Mary questioned

 

“He needs a haircut, I want him to have a lavish bath tonight, and pull all of the strings, he needs to be perfect for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Regulus questioned

Wilburga looked at her son. “Your husband will be here in the evening, you must be prepared for him, you must have all of your things in order by sundown tomorrow. They want to head back the moment the ceremony is finished so your things must be loaded up tomorrow night. Companion, See to it that he has all of his things, I will be checking your work.”

 

“Yes, Madam.”

 

“You may leave us for a moment, Companion.” Orion stated as he finally got out of his chair. “The boy will be alone in a moment.”

Mary lowered her head and exited the room, leaving only the members of the Black family in the war room.

 

“When you get to Aurelia you must write to us immediately, they will not send the payment until we have written proof you are happy there.” Orion explained annoyance dripping from his voice, “The Potters have always been a sentimental bunch, you must make sure they are happy. Feed into whatever they want you to. Fake being happy, but do not forget why you are there.”

 

A part of Regulus had hoped that this arrangement was just to get him out of the house. He knew he was never the first choice. They have always made that clear. Sirius is the one they wanted to take over.

It makes sense why they want Regulus to leave. They don’t even want Regulus to rule, but if he has to rule then they are going to make him prove himself.

 

They wanted him to take over Aurelia. To steal it from the grasp of the Potters and make the Black's land become the largest territory. Only then would they be worthy.

 

The one thing that Regulus can not decipher is why the Potters are entertaining this marriage. It isn't as if Regulus is well sought after. Even in their territory, no one knows of Regulus as more than the heir.

So why would the heir of Potter choose Regulus when he could have anyone he wanted?

 

Regulus nodded at his father's words, affirming that he would listen to his father's words.

His mother’s hands reached back up to his face, grabbing it harshly. “You will make us proud my boy, if not…” she drifted off, a callus smirk entered her face “You will make us proud. Do not follow in your brother’s footsteps, you were always so much better than he ever was.” Regulus had grown up listening to his mother's voice, yet something about the way she said these words was laced with more venom than he had ever heard.

 

Don’t be like Sirius.

 

“We will give you a book full of the policies we want you to push. You will need to have a voice for yourself. We will not have our son just sit back and relax, you must assert your power. Remember you come from the noble house of Black, you are better than them.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Regulus nodded, listening along, his mother's hand still firmly gripping onto his face, giving one last squeeze before harshly letting go. He knew that if she wasn’t careful she would leave a bruise, a part of him wondered if she would still do it with the wedding less than forty-eight hours away.

 

He knew not to push her.

She would.

She has never cared before, what would stop her now.

 

“You are free to go to Regulus.” His mother started looking him up and down as he left the room.

 

Mary was nowhere to be seen when he exited the room. He took an extra moment to be sure the door would not slam behind him before he started down the hall.

When Regulus walked with Mary he would always take the fastest route back to his room, but he found himself taking the long way.

 

When he was young he would only ever walk this way, he would take the extra time just for a chance to see his older brother.

 

It was always rare for the parents to call for both brothers at once, if they did it meant trouble. They never were able to have the peace of being in the room with their parents with someone who loved them. They always had to face them separately, Sirius almost always went first meaning that he would be in his room by the time that Regulus got out.

 

Most times the two would spend time taking care of each other, wiping wounds, and saying kind words.

 

The door to Sirius’s room always seemed bigger when he was younger, it towered over him.

As a child Regulus was always smaller than most, always looking much younger than he was. Most things seemed to tower over him, but Sirius’s door always seemed the largest.

 

Regulus had not been in his older brother's room since the day the last letter came. No one had. It stayed preserved from the moment he left. He was sure if he were to walk in dust would be everywhere. But it would look the same as his big brother left it. The only thing out of place was the bed that Regulus could never pull himself out of.

 

“You haven’t been here in a while.” A voice said softly from around the corner, he didn't need to turn to know it was Mary.

 

“I need to grab a few things.”

Mary stood next to him crossing her arms, her head tilting slightly “Are you going to go in or not?”

 

Regulus took a deep breath before stepping to push open the door. It was heavier than he remembered, louder too.

 

When he stepped into the room, it was not dusty, it was pristine. Nothing had been moved, but it had been cleaned.

Stepping into the room felt as if he were stepping into the past, he couldn't help but feel smaller, younger than he was. His worries brushed under the run.

For just a moment he felt his brother there in the room.

But he wasn’t there.

 

Regulus’s older brother died one year ago.

 

He had wanted to change the world, and, in doing so, he had left behind his little brother.

He had been waiting for a letter from Sirius when the news arrived. He thought it was strange that he didn’t recognize the postman, he didn’t recognize him because he wasn’t their postman, he was sent by the House of Potter, his name was Peter. He explained that Sirius had died during a raid, and that the heir of Potter had been next to him as he died.

He had written a letter to each of them to explain it more in detail.

He watched as his mother opened her letter and scoffed.

His father opened his and didn’t even read all of it before letting it fall to the ground for one of the servants to pick up.

 

Peter had handed him his letter last.

Regulus will never forget the look of mischief that was twinkling in Peter’s eye and the smallness that danced on his lip as he handed him his letter.

 

The family went into the war room to talk. His parents were disappointed in Sirius, saying, he should have died better, more extreme, and things like that.

Regulus thought he should never have died at all.

 

Not even death could separate the Black brothers from their parents' cruel words. Death would not make their parents love them, or even care for them.

 

Once his parents dismissed him he went straight to his big brother's room, and like now it seemed bigger than ever.

 

Regulus never read the letter sent to him by the heir of Potter.

He didn’t need to know how his brother died.

He didn’t need to know what scheme Sirius thought was more important than coming home to his little brother. He didn’t need to hear the heir of Potter's sympathies.

Even now Regulus would not read the letter if it was placed right in front of him.

He couldn’t help but walk to the fireplace in which he had burnt the letter. He wonders if the ashes in front of him held all of the answers that he seeked.

 

Maybe if Sirius had never died Regulus would not have the heir of Potter. If the heir of Potter had not taken his brother from him maybe Regulus could have been happy in this marriage. He could have made the best out of it.

 

But Sirius did die.

And Regulus hates the heir of Potter.

 

Regulus looked over to Mary and shook his head.

“I have to get out of this marriage.”

 

***

 

James Potter always thought he would marry someone he loved. People always told him he was the type of guy that happened to.

That he was everything people look for in a spouse, that he was loving and kind. He didn’t always believe them. People always told him that he was the type of person everyone wanted.

He longed for the big wedding, being able to see the love of his life look at him, a true love's kiss, and long vows. He wanted that, but he wouldn’t be getting it.

 

Instead, he was on his way to Noxis to marry the heir of the house of Black.

Someone who was practically a stranger to James.

Though James did know more about Regulus Black than most people. Regulus never made many public appearances before this year, it was always Sirius’s job to make those. So while most people did not know more than Regulus’s name, James has known Regulus’s name since he was eleven.

From the moment James met Sirius, he heard the stories that made up Sirius’s childhood. The memories that he held onto, more often than not, included his little brother.

 

James knew that Regulus was the only good thing in that house.

 

At the end of the day, James had to remind himself that this marriage was his choice.

Ever since they were young, all Sirius wanted was to get Regulus out of that house, and, to James, this seemed like the most logical way to do it. Not only would it make Sirius happy, but James knew that it was better.

 

So, yes, maybe looking back one day James would regret his decision and wish he got married for love. But a marriage to save his best friend's brother would always be more important to him.

James always wanted a large wedding, but it would not work having it in Noxis, too many people he would want there so it would not make sense for them to travel all that way just for a wedding.

James and Regulus may not love each other, and they may not even know each other, but at the end of the day, James had always wanted to get married with everyone he loves there so he was going to do that.

They would have a small ceremony in, with only the Black family being in attendance, along with a few notable families from their territory, before heading back to Aurelia. The moment the wedding was finished, they would leave for the day-long trip back to Aurelia. Three days after they get back there will be a larger informal wedding celebration for the two.

He was excited about that. To be with everyone and have a reason to celebrate. He wanted that. Anything for an excuse to party.

 

“Okay stop. You have been looking at that page for twenty minutes. Talk to me, about what's going through your head.”

 

Marlene McKinnon had been the right-hand woman to the heir of Potter for six months now. But she had also been one of James’s best friends for over ten years.

He would never forget the moment he met her, some other seven-year-old bully was making fun of James for crying over a butterfly being killed. Marlene had seen that happen and took it upon herself to fight the bully. The moment she finished she skipped over to James with a grin on her face and told him, “My name is Marlene McKinnon and I am going to protect you.”

 

And that she did, even before she was his right-hand woman. She would always take it upon herself to make sure he was safe and shielded from harm.

So when James asked her to accompany him to the wedding, she accepted before he even asked the whole question.

 

“I’m going to be married in less than five hours.” James started looking at Marlene, he sat the paper carefully on the seat next to him.

The seat Regulus will sit in within the next seven hours.

Marlene gave James a soft smile and shook her head. “We can turn around now if you would like. Run away from it all.”

A smile bloomed across James’s face “Yes, we can run away and fall in love and have a million babies.”

 

“I’ll make a little log cabin for those million babies, we all know your hands are too soft to do that.”

James reached his leg out to kick her softly. “Rude,” he smirked.

 

Marlene smiled back at him and shook her head. “If only you had tits I would take you up on that offer.” James smiled and shook his head at her response, a small laugh escaping his lips.  “It will be okay James.” her voice changed tones to one of more sincerity.

“I know it will be okay, I just…” his voice drifted as his gaze moved to his shoe “I’m getting married tonight. I’m getting married to Regulus Black.”

The girl nodded “You are.”

 

“I’m scared.” James stated, “What if he doesn’t like me.”

“James, he would be crazy to not like you,” Marlene replied.

 

“Well, as Sirius Black once said, every member of the House of Black is a little crazy.” James started, causing Marlene to kick him softly.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You know he didn’t mean it like that.”

 

James smiled softly and shrugged. “Who knows.”

 

“Regulus is going to like you, James. If he's anything like Sirius, he is going to like you.”

“They are their own people, Marls.”

 

The girl nodded “They are, but if Sirius raised Regulus even half of the time he said he did, then you’ll be okay. You are just getting in your head, Jamsie”

James looked at her and took a deep breath in before moving to the seat that was next to Marlene and resting his head on her shoulder.

 

“I miss Sirius.”

“I know you do.”

 

The two stayed like that for a while. The carriage rattled slightly as they moved through the countryside. James knew they would be arriving in the city within an hour. He would have roughly an hour to meet everyone, an hour to get ready, and then the wedding.

He wasn’t as scared to get married as he thought he would be at this point. Right now all he was worried about was Regulus.

What was he really like?

Sure, James knew all about Regulus on paper, but paper and real life are very different things. James also only knew Regulus from Sirius’ point of view. He knew what he thinks he understands about Regulus, but that does not mean he knew Regulus.

 

He could only hope that everything would be okay.

Ever since this marriage was decided on two months ago, James had had everyone telling him it would all be okay. “You’re a good guy, James, he is lucky” or “You know if it doesn’t work out it just doesn’t work out. You can both rule together and it will be good.” Everyone poured in with their opinions.

He did listen to them, but it was hard when everyone was telling him what they thought.

 

James reached over to grab the paper that he sat down on earlier. It was some new plan that James had to look over for his dad. Since the announcement of the marriage, James had started to work hand in hand with his dad to learn the ropes of ruling a territory.

He was good at it.

But it still scares him.

 

He was supposed to read a bunch of plans that were created by people in the ministry to help against the ongoing war, but the plans were very boring in James’s opinion.

But they say they should help, so that is enough of a reason for James to force himself to read them.

 

James and Marlene both read over paperwork for the remainder of the trip. Once they arrived in the city, he opened the curtains to watch as they drove through.

 

Noxis was very different from any other territory he had been to. It was much darker than anything he had seen. He had always heard that Noxis was always devoid of color but it never really dawned on him what a territory with no color looks like.

It looked sad.

The streets were filled with people, it looked like every other territory he had ever been to. It was strange how similar it looked to Aurelia, yet nothing was the same.

In theory, every single territory looks the same, they are all the same size, their capital city all have the same layout and the land has the same amount of resources, or they did to start with.

 

It is very well known that if you were to visit each of the territories today, they would all look vastly different. It always mattered what each family thought to do with the space. For the Potter’s territory, they liked farming, so that is what they focused on mostly outside of the city. James found himself wondering what the Black family focused on outside of the city. It was probably something dark.

 

The castle in the middle of the city was where they found themselves heading, and, like everything else, it was very dark. The exterior was such a dark green that almost appeared black. As they pulled through the gates he noticed all of the little intricate details on everything. Constellations.

 

As James and Marlene pulled out of the carriage they stuck out like a sore thumb. They were the only ones who were wearing any sort of color.

A group of people were moving swiftly towards the pair.

 

“Heir of Potter, lovely to meet you.” A man started moving closer “My name is Kreacher.”

James flashed his signature smile. “Lovely to meet you as well Kreacher.”

“Shall I lead you to Lord Black?” Kreacher questioned.

“That would be a lovely, Kreacher, thank you.”

 

The man led them through the castle.

James didn’t know what he was expecting. But it was not this. It was dark and cold, he couldn’t imagine Sirius here. Not now, not as a kid, not ever. James sent Marlene a look, knowing they were both thinking the same thing.

Everything looked as if you were not allowed to touch it. James knew that as a child he would have wanted to touch everything.

The castle was beautiful, but it was not a place to live.

 

“Right in here, Mister Potter,” Kreacher stated as he opened the door for James.

He flashed his smile once more “Thank you, Kreacher.”

 

James knew Marlene followed him into the room. Orion and Walburga Black were the only ones in the room.

Only one bothered to stand up.

“Heir of Potter, lovely to finally make your acquaintance.” Orion Black stated.

James smiled and nodded. “The feeling is mutual, Lord Black.” He felt nasty just saying that.

 

He wanted to get in and out as fast as possible. He did not want to have to spend too much time with either Orion or Walburga, knowing if they said the wrong thing he would not be able to hold himself back.

“May I ask,” James stated looking at the two, “Where is my future husband?”

 

Walburga sounded as if she let out a small sob at those words, causing worry to spread throughout James’ whole body.

Orion looked at his wife and then back to James.

 

“It seems the heir of Black is missing.”

Notes:

ahhh here we go! welcome to my very first fic here on a03! I am literally so exited! i hope you enjoyed the first chapter and you are exited for the many more to come! i hope your day or night or whenever you are reading this is going well and you are having an amazing week!
see you next sunday for chapter two!

Chapter 2

Walburga Black did not care for her son. A part of James always thought that there would have to be some shred of mother’s love that would be prevalent in her, but there was nothing.

Sirius had always told James of Walburga’s love for Regulus. If there was one person that Walburga Black loved it was supposed to be Regulus. Yet as James sat in this room with the Black parents he would never have guessed that Walburga cared for Regulus. She was separated from the whole situation and looked disgusted at everything they were talking about.

Anytime Regulus’s name was spoken she looked as if she was slapped, sometimes it looked like it hurt her other times it looked like she just missed him.

She confused James. How could you say cruel things about your child? How could you hurt your child, but still look like you miss him?

The moments were short, but you could see it.

 

Maybe Regulus was a mama’s boy, or maybe Walburga was just crazy.

 

The room was tense and cold. James was sitting on the couch but he felt far from comfortable. Orion watched James as if he would also get up and bolt, but James hardly felt like he could move.

They did not allow Marlene into the room. James had tried to fight them on it, but, after one harsh glare from Walburga, he stopped trying to get his way.

Not having Marlene made him feel ill at ease. He never wanted to be alone with Orion and Walburga. That was part of the reason he wanted to leave the moment the wedding was over.

 

James truly did not understand how the Black brothers grew up with their parents. Though he had only been in their presence for just a few moments but it felt as if there was an invisible breeze drifting through the room every time either of the two looked at him.

You could feel the heaviness in the air. Ghosts haunted this room, you can feel it.

 

He wasn't sure what had happened in here, but, knowing what Sirius had told him, he wouldn't be surprised if the ghosts of the Black brothers resided in this room.

 

“You may return to Aurelia, and once we secure the heir of Black we shall send him to your home, you may do the ceremony in your home. In a year you are expected to come back here, you will have a ceremony here as well.” Orion Black stated, his words sounding like the law.

He felt small on the couch looking up to Orion, as he was towering over James. He couldn’t picture being a child in this room with Orion and Walburga. He would not have survived.

 

Questioning their methods, James shook his head softly, “How will you find my betrothed?” From his point of view they were doing nothing to find Regulus.

“We shall send out some sort of search crew to scour the land.” Orion stated looking annoyed

“What if he is outside of Noxis?”

 

Walburga harshly stood up and crossed the room “If my son left Noxis we shall send more people to find him.” She moved in front of James, despite her being a small woman she seemed larger than life. “I assure you we will deliver our son to you even if it is the last thing he does.”

 

“You are dismissed Heir of Potter.” Orion harshly stated.

 

James did not waste a single second before standing up and exiting the room, looking for Marlene the moment he left the room.

“Marls?” he questioned looking around.

 

For just a moment James could not find her, panic soured through his body until he saw a familiar head of blonde hair.

“Come here.” Marlene whispered from the edge of the wall.

 

James shot her a look “We are not sneaking around the Black Family home are we?”

“Of course we are. Now, come on.” Marlene stated before disappearing around the corner yet again, a grin appeared on James’s face as he ran off after her.

 

“This room.” Marlene started with a small smirk on her face, her arms crossed in front of her chest as she gestured towards the door.

James smirked and looked at her, hastily placed his hand on the door handle and then pushed.

 

The door was heavier than it looked, as he pushed it open he couldn’t help a smile from growing even larger on his face.

“Is this?” James looked at Marlene questioning.

“I think so. It’s just how he said it was.”

 

Sirius’s room.

 

Standing in this room it dawned on James how much he truly missed Sirius.

He wished his best friend was here with him.

Sirius always knew what to do, the two of them could do anything together and succeed. So James knew that if Sirius was here right now, he would know what to do.

 

But Sirius is not here, he couldn’t be here.

 

James was standing in his best friend's childhood bedroom and for the first time in twenty four hours he felt at peace.

Was his fiancee missing? Yes.

But he was in Sirius’s room. It made James feel closer to him even if it was only for one second. It made James’ smile and that lit up the room.

 

“We probably shouldn’t stay too long James.” Marlene explained

He nodded as he looked around the room, he looked at the bed, the only thing in the whole room that was messy.

He wondered if Regulus had slept in the bed last night.

The rest of the room looked perfect, just like a room that Sirius would be expected to have. James knew that Sirius’s room did not actually look like that. His room was never clean, always dirty.

 

He started to look through the dressers, looking through anything he could find.

He needed to find Sirius’s box.

 

Besides Regulus, there was always one thing that Sirius always talked about wishing he took from the house of Black. It was a box. Now, James did not know all of its contents but he knew enough of them to know that given the chance to get the box for Sirius, he needed to do it.

 

James found the box under the dresser, when he found it he sent a large smile to Marlene “Found it.” he got up and smiled, handing it to her “Want to sneak around a little more?”

 

“Do you even know me? I already found his room too.”

“You were busy weren't you?”

Marlene smirked, “You spent a lot of time with the future in-laws.” She bumped into James.

He shook his head. “Please never call them that.”

 

The two shut the door behind them as they headed for the room of Regulus Black.

“What do you want me to call them? Future mommy and daddy?”

“Find your own way home, you’re not allowed in the carriage with me.” James joked

Marlene smirked and shook her head before turning the corner once again.

 

“Here is your lover boy’s room.” She started pointing to the door in front of them.

It was clear how Marlene knew this room belonged to Regulus the moment he looked up. The door had a large sign on it that said ‘REG’S ROOM’ in children's handwriting, Sirius’s handwriting. The sign must have been at least ten years old, he thought fondly, a smile forming on James face as he looked at it.

“Your spy skills are impressive.” He joked looking at the girl next to him.

She flipped her hair with a smirk. “Took me forever to put the pieces together.”

 

James took it upon him to open the door, this door was nowhere near as heavy as the last door. But as he stepped in he learned a lot about Regulus, if he thought that Sirius’s old room was neat, then Regulus’s was spotless. It was almost eerie to James, the room had no sign that anyone had ever lived in this room. If not for the sign on the door he would not think anyone had even stepped food in this room.

“Shit, this room is clean” Marlene stated the obvious causing James to smile “Your future husband James, how will you manage.”

He started to look around the room “Mom always said she wanted someone who will help me clean up, maybe he will.”

 

The two shook their heads as they looked in the room. It looked as if he had cleaned out anything that was not generic, anything that seemed personal didn’t seem to be in the room anymore. James was searching high and low for anything.

He was on the floor when he saw the sliver of paper on the ground under his bed.

“Found something” James started crawling under the bed to pull the paper out.

Marlene helped him up, looking over his shoulder as he started to read.

 

The paper didn’t have anything more than scribbles.

“What could he have in Benevola?” Marlene questioned,

James turned the slip of paper full of scribbles “It think it is an inn.”

“So, he didn’t want to get married to you so instead he went to a random inn in Benevola?”

James shrugged “There are two different handwriting's.”

 

Marlene took the paper out of Jame’s hand and started to examine it “He would have a right hand person right?”

“Something of the sorts I would assume.”

The girl smirked and twirled the paper in her hand. “I think Sir Regulus had some help.”

 

James raised his eyebrow, then in one moment it clicked. “His right hand person helped him leave.”

Marlene nodded, “I mean I would do it for you.”

 

It made sense that Regulus would have helped. It was not like he was able to know much of the outside world, he would have needed someone else to help him know his way around. If Regulus was alone he would be in trouble.

James looked at Marlene and shook his head “I have to go after Marks, if he is alone.”

 

The girl nodded her head. “I will load up the carriage we can head out now, we should be able to be in-”

“No, I have to go alone.”

Marlene looked at James and shook her head. “I can’t let you go alone James.”

 

“I have to go alone Marlene, if you show up with me then it will be obvious. If I show up in a red carriage in the land of the Rosier’s, it would stick out like a sore thumb. Sirius always said that Regulus is smart, he would put two and two together. He would not talk to me if he knew. He already ran from me one time Marlene.”

 

The girl looked at him and shook her head, her hand running through her hair. “James Fleamont Potter, if your mom kills me I will come back and haunt you.”

“We both know mom loves you more than me some days.”

“That’s only because I call her pretty.”

James shook his head. “You can flirt your way out of it, I’m going to be the one that she is mad at. I just need you to go back.”

Marlene shook her head. “We need a fail safe James, I can't…” she paused and started pacing, playing with her hair as she walked, “I can’t just let you go out there James.”

 

“We will make a deal, If I am not back, or not sent a letter in one week you have full permission to come with anyone you want to find me.”

“Anyone?”

“Anyone.”

 

The two looked at each other for a moment, Marlene looked at James and shook her head “You be careful Potter, you hear me?”

 

“Don’t worry Marls, I’ll be so safe.”

 

-

 

Sirius Black never had a real grave.

No matter how much Regulus had begged his parents they refused. They told him that his older brother didn’t deserve one. They didn’t have a body to bury, so what would be the point of wasting land that they could plant flowers in, those would make the area beautiful, a grave would not. The only thing a grave would add is a constant remembrance of the failure that was Sirius Black. Regulus remembered the rage that flowed through his body when those words left his mother’s mouth.

 

That rage left him unable to go to the only sort of public mourning for Sirius; they had invited the people of the city to come for a walk in the gardens to pay their respects.

It all seemed fake to Regulus, none of them knew his brother like he did.

But Regulus knew that Sirius would have loved the attention, so he never tried to stop it. Not that he could have if he tried, he couldn’t even walk.

 

Regulus did his mourning at the back of the property, at the foot of a tree that he had once fallen out of, in front of the makeshift grave he had made for his big brother.

It was always the Black brothers’ favorite spot, with trees to climb and water to swim. It was made for them. The last time they went out there together was the summer before Sirius went to school, it also happened to be the time Regulus broke his arm falling out of the tree while trying to yell something down to Sirius. He couldn’t remember what he thought was so important that he risked his life to tell his older brother. But he did know that Sirius was at his side the second he hit the ground.

 

Regulus couldn’t help but feel haunted every time he stepped foot in that area, so it always seemed the best place to mourn his brother. It was a place he could avoid, a small area that he could confine all of his issues to.

Every bad thing of his life has been connected to this small stretch of land.

 

The water, the tree, and the grave.

 

He always thought that his big brother deserved more than this small land that Regulus had dedicated to him, but it was the only thing he could give.

A part of him wondered if there is something more for Sirius in the Potter’s territory. A grave for him.

 

A grave with the family he wanted, not the family he was born with.

 

Regulus went out to the land one last time before they left Noxis. He knew he had to say goodbye one last time before they started the journey to Benevola.

The first bit of the journey was easy, they both had stolen horses from the stables and road away. It was nearing midnight when they had left so no one was awake. They were able to get away with no run-ins with any guards.

 

“How do you know them?” Regulus questioned, looking around as they rode through the trees. They had stopped running a few hours ago to give the horses a break. Now they were walking together leading the horses behind them.

 

Mary looked over to Regulus and took a deep breath, “I met her on vacation.” She kicked a rock as they walked “Her family owns the inn we stayed at.”

Regulus nodded as they walked. “I am assuming people will be coming after me.”

“I would have to agree with you.” She shook her head “Your parents won’t stop until they find you.”

A deep breath was taken by Regulus before he nodded “Will she keep me hidden?”

 

“She would do it for me.”

 

Regulus raised his eyebrow and looked at the girl walking next to him. “A friend would do that for you?”

Mary’s face started to heat up. “She might be more than a friend.”

“Might be?” He questioned

She shook her head. “We had a thing while I was there, she told me I could always come there if I needed her and well… It looks like we need her right now.”

 

They both nodded and walked together in silence for a while. “We will have to get jobs when we get there. You might need to cut your hair.”

“I’m not cutting my hair.” Regulus snapped, shaking his head, “I will get a job, I won’t cut my hair.”

 

Mary looked at the heir next to her and shook her head. “Fine, you don’t have to cut your hair but you have to… Dirty up.”

 

“Dirty up?” He questioned, causing Mary to nod and stop walking. It took Regulus a moment to stop himself and his horse. Mary handed Regulus the reins which he took without much thought, then she reached down to the ground for a moment.

 

She looked peaceful as she ran her fingers over the dirt. She always looked like she was one with nature, like she belonged here.

Regulus watched as she dug her hand into the dirt and scooped some up to look at it before watching it fall from between her fingers. It was strange no doubt, he could not help but wonder what was going through her mind. She repeated her previous action a few times before grabbing some dirt and standing back up.

 

She threw a fist full of dirt right at Regulus.

 

“You look too clean.” She picked more dirt up, Regulus still in shock as she threw even more dirt at him.

“Mary!” he yelled looking at her in shock. “Really? Throwing dirt at me. How mature.” He started trying to wipe some of the dirt off of himself.

 

“You look prissy Reg, You look like you are the heir to the house of Black.”

The boy raised his eyebrow. “I am the heir to the house of Black?”

 

Mary threw more dirt at him and laughed, “You don’t want to look like you are. We won’t be able to get you new clothes until we get into town.These clothes fit you too well, you spent money on them.”

Regulus looked at Mary and shook his head “Why are you not putting dirt on yourself?”

“I don’t look like I am an heir. I am nothing more than your companion, and I look like it.”

 

He shook his head “Companion’s are still well off are they not?”

“Sure, but unlike you I grew up with no money so I know how to not act prissy. You can’t be a commoner wearing clothes like that and be a bitch.”

 

Regulus shook his head and then sighed. “Take these.” He handed her the reins before bending down and rubbing dirt on his body.

“Do you want to take a break for a bit while you dirty up?” Mary questioned “We are probably about an hour or two from the town if we walk.”

Regulus nodded, not responding, watching as Mary moved out of earshot to tie up the horses.

He then turned his attention back to the dirt.

 

Regulus was wiping dirt on his neck when a body slammed into him without warning, catching him off guard making him crash to the ground, the weight of his attacker pinning him down.

He struggled as the arms pinned him in his place.

For just a moment Regulus was unsure what to do, when he felt the blade of a knife touch the back of his neck he tensed up momentarily.

He thought for just a moment before he shifted, bucking his hips and twisting he used his momentum to flip their positions. The man on top of him hit the ground with a grunt.

 

Regulus took his chance and quickly moved to pin down his attacker. He used his foot to kick the knife away from both of them.

 

At the sound of all of the commotion Mary found herself running back to Regulus and this new man with them. “What is going on… Regulus, who is this?” Mary questioned

He turned and looked at Mary. “Come, take this mask off of his face”

 

The boy beneath Regulus thrashed and moved trying to remove himself from Regulus’ grasp, but he could not move.

Mary removed the mask from his face revealing a boy who looked around Mary’s age. “Who are you?” Regulus demanded.

 

“I… I’m sorry,” the boy said. It was like something switched inside of him. All the fighting left his body. “I was just looking for food.”

He did not look like he was going hungry, the boy under Regulus was tall, he had not seen him standing but Regulus would guess he was at least six foot. He looked rugged with the scars and freckles that littered his face.

“You attacked me for food?” Regulus questioned, not believing the boy.

He nodded eagerly, “I have been out of food for weeks, I had to leave home and I saw you and so I thought you had to have food.”

 

“What is your name?” Mary questioned.

The boy’s face moved so he could look at her. “Remus, My name is Remus.”

The girl looked at Remus for a moment before picking up the knife he was carrying, tossing it between her hands. “How old are you Remus.”

“Nineteen” he said, almost breathless.

 

Mary glanced at Regulus before taking a deep breath in. “If we give you food, will you come with us?”

Remus looked almost taken aback, but before long he nodded. “Yes. Yes I will go with you.”

 

Regulus looked up at Mary and shook his head, pushing Remus into the ground harsher. “No, I don’t want him with us.”

The girl shook her head. “Too bad, I do. He is obviously strong. He looks the part.” She looked as if she was thinking for a moment. “Remus, if you give Reg your coat I will get you a job as well when we get to our destination.”

 

“Deal.”

“Mary!”

 

The girl shoved Regulus off of Remus, “You can hold onto this, That makes you happy? Hold onto the knife.” Mary handed it to Regulus before helping Remus up.

Regulus scrambled to get up himself, Remus handed him his coat and Regulus pulled it on.

“I will go grab our horses and we can head to the inn!” Mary started and then disappeared once more.

 

“I don’t trust you.” Regulus started looking at Remus.

“The feeling is mutual.”

“Then why come with us?”

Remus looked at Regulus and shook his head. “Food. I need food.”

 

Regulus was not happy about this arrangement. It was not that he didn’t like Remus, it was that he didn’t know Remus and he could not trust someone he didn’t know.

He couldn’t help but wonder why Mary would be okay with allowing a random person to travel with them. It was not something that she would normally do, so why was she so okay with him?

Regulus did not trust him whatsoever, it was odd.

How did he find them in the large forest? They were on the move for hours, meaning at some point they should have run into each other before. The odds that they would naturally run into each other now were slim to none. So what was Remus doing in the woods?

 

He did not know what to think at this moment. Regulus did not think that Remus was a guard sent by his family, he was too injured. Their guards always had to match the Black family aesthetic, no matter how horrible it was true. If you did not look a specific way you could not be a guard for the Black family. In every other scenario it was horrible, but seeing as Regulus was on the run as of now, he was happy that his family’s guards all will look similar. Meaning they will be easier to spot.

 

So, where Remus played into all of this, Regulus was not sure. If he was sent from the Potter territory then maybe Mary recognized him from the guards, but Mary would not betray Regulus like that. She would make sure that he was not sent by the Potter family either.

She knows that Regulus does not want to be found by any family, Potters and Blacks alike. He would like to hide himself from them.

 

Why else would he go to the land of the Rosier family?

Any other territory would not make sense for him to go to, as well as being the closest territory to the Black’s, it made the most sense. Mary knowing someone who would be willing to help them is just the cherry on top.

 

“Look, just get on the horse and we will go to this town okay? Then we will never have to see each other ever again.” Remus started looking at Regulus.

 

For some reason, Regulus thinks that Remus will be around for much longer than just an hour trip to a town.

Notes:

ahh, chapter two!
from the top,
Marleen and James, I love their duo so much, it isn't even funny. like, they are so amazing together like besties and ugh don't even get me started on how much I love them
Sirius's room, guys, i kid you not i am obsessed with james and sirius's friendship, like please sedate me because it is the cutest thing in the world.
ugh and then sirius's grave, i cannot even i cried writing that ngl (you guys are gonna learn i cry a lot when i write)
look not everyone see's mary and reg, but i see it and i will be pushing this agenda, like i love the idea of them being besties and so i made it reality xoxo,
and then REMUS, i love this man sm and what's he doing in the forest you'll never know
until next sunday!

Chapter 3: chapter three

Remus Lupin had been an assassin for Tom Riddle for the past three years. Never had he failed an assignment, until now.

 

He had been given a fairly simple task, kill Regulus Black.

Did Remus understand why Riddle wanted to go after the heir to the house of Black? No, but was he going to do it? Of course, he always needed the money.

Riddle always paid fairly, especially for such a hard worker like Remus. While it didn’t make the killings worth it, it did help.

 

When Remus looked at the letter from Riddle explaining the next order he was shocked to see the name of the heir to the house of Black, the new heir.

The house of Black was not a typical target for Remus to go after. If he did have a job inside the territory of Black, it was on the outskirts, never in the city. It made Remus wonder what happened to the house of Black, what caused Riddle to turn yet again.

 

The Black family had been hit with tragedy upon tragedy, and now they were going to lose their spare heir. They lost their true heir only a year ago, everyone knew when it happened. The news spread across the territory like wildfire. It didn’t take more than three days for it to travel all the way to Morsis, he had been taking a rest from killings when the news came.

Riddle called an emergency meeting to tell everyone about it, he explained to his loyal followers that this meant the younger brother would be the next heir.

 

Maybe that was the nail in Regulus' coffin, the moment his brother died, maybe he too was sentenced to death.

 

But Remus think's it was something to do with the Black-Potter engagement, that was too much for Riddle, he didn't like it. So he went after Regulus.

One of their informants working with Dumbledore had reported to them of this. It took Remus by surprise, such an unlikely pairing.

But then again, it was in Aurelia that Sirius Black was killed, so it made sense for the Potter’s to try and regain peace with the Blacks. By offering the one thing that everyone wanted, their heir.

 

James Potter was well known, even in the rival territories he was known as a loving human. He was one of the only heir’s that communicated with the public, causing him to stand out the most. People were upset when they found out he was betrothed, especially to someone like Regulus Black.

Everyone had known of Regulus, though not much is known about him. He was always quiet, following behind his brother like a shadow. It was widely known that he didn’t even go to his brother's wake. He was not well liked.

 

Seeing his order, Remus thought that it would be no issue to kill Regulus Black, but oh how wrong he had been.

From the moment Remus laid eyes on him he knew it would be harder than he originally thought, for Regulus was hardly ever alone. Normally that would not be an issue for Remus but he had to be more careful with this job. It had to be clean.

Regulus was also a lot smarter than Remus thought, he was interesting. The first few days, sure, Remus had the intention of killing Regulus.

 

But the more time Remus spent around Regulus, the more he grew to like him. He watched as Regulus did his day to day tasks, he couldn’t help but think they would get along. He watched Regulus spend a lot of time in the library, he wished he could go join him.

 

That was why Remus had to jump out in the forest, or else he was worried he could never do it. He would grow to like Regulus too much and the killing would be too hard for him.

But he didn’t expect Regulus to fight him back.

 

He was stronger than Remus had expected, that was naive on his part. He had spent the past three weeks watching him, he knew that Regulus was a skilled fighter.

Remus just did not expect Regulus to have the roles reversed so fast.

 

So he failed his job, and now he was traveling to a random town with Regulus Black and a woman named Mary. Remus was not sure who she was, he had seen her in the castle and from the moment he saw her he couldn’t help but wonder who she was.

It was obvious that she did not grow up in Noxis, she was filled with too much joy to be from the Black’s territory, she was too lively and filled with too much color.

 

Since Remus had traveled all territories he knew a lot about them. Regulus was the epitome of everything that the house of Black looks like. Well, it was almost everything, it just wasn't until Regulus was around Mary that Remus would sense any form of joy in him.

If Remus had to guess, Mary would be from either the Potter or the Longbottom territory. She would fit in fine in the Rosier territory, Regulus would stand out, but it wouldn’t be too odd. Benevola was the one territory it was hardest to know someone was from. They were the mixing pot of territories, they had a little bit of everything you can find.

It was Remus’s favorite territory.

 

Watching Mary and Regulus interact was strange for Remus, he had been watching them for the past three weeks, but he had learned more about them in the past hour than anything he thought he learned.

Mary and Regulus do not talk a lot, they both are reserved. But they are both very bold when they do talk. Remus witnessed Mary yell at Regulus three times in the past hour, Regulus always yelled right back.

Their arguing was never malicious, it was always a small fight about something. At one point when Regulus was “walking too fast” it led to a five minute argument between the two. But you could tell they both truly cared for each other.

 

When they got into the town Regulus forced Remus to walk alongside them, to hold onto the reign of one of the horses as he walked between the two.

Remus wondered if Regulus thought someone would recognize him. Remus knew that no one would know who he was.

But he didn’t say anything.

 

“The inn is right over here, we can tie the horses up and carry our bags so they don’t get stolen.” Mary started leading them towards an inn. It was pretty, far prettier than most things that Remus stayed in, it surprised him.

Regulus firmly nodded and started to tie up the horses without a second thought.

“I am going to go in first, I can talk to my friend and arrange things for us? You two stay out here and I will be back.” She fixed the dress she was wearing before taking a deep breath. “Do not kill him, Regulus Black.” Mary snapped, sending a glance to Remus before she walked away.

 

Regulus quickly turned his back from Remus and started to unload bags from the horses, not allowing anything to touch the ground.

He did so with such grace that it shocked Remus. Regulus hardly ever made any mistake no matter what he was doing. Every one of his movements were calculated, you could tell he put great thought into every little motion he made. He thought everything through. Even split second decisions were thought out.

 

Remus had watched him slip a few times, those are when he knew the real Regulus came through. Those moments showed that Regulus was a real human, those moments made it even harder for Remus to think about killing Regulus.

 

Killing a person is something that Remus has done, he does it well. Yet, this is the first time that he takes the time to think about it.

He does not give himself much time to think about it before Regulus pushes a bag into his arms

“Hold this,” he stated. It took Remus only a second before he grabbed the bag, putting it on his back.

 

“Why were you rubbing dirt on yourself?” Remus questioned, wondering what Regulus would respond.

The boy sent him a harsh glare before turning his back yet again, “It is a good exfoliate.” His voice monotone as he pulled his own bag onto his body. Remus could not help but let out a laugh at those words.

 

The two stood together, Remus watched as Regulus softly rubbed the horse's nose. Remus leaned against the wall of the inn.

It was a peaceful moment, not many people were walking the streets, this was a town on the outskirts. They were probably another hour or so from the main city of Benevola. This had to be one of the bigger towns in this territory, yet not many people went out.

Remus wondered where the main center of town was, he did not see it on their way in meaning this inn was on the outskirts of the town.

He had never been to this area so he was excited to get to know it, Remus was not sure how long he would stay here.

If he didn’t kill Regulus then he wouldn’t be able to go back to where he had been living, so maybe he would find some area in the land of Rosier.

 

“Boys, come on in” Mary said, poking her head out of the inn and then heading back outside.

Remus watched as Regulus petted the horse one last time before walking towards the inn, following after him.

 

Soon enough, the two were inside the inn, only it was not only an inn, but a restaurant too.

It was busy inside, much busier than outside of the inn, catching Remus slightly off guard.

People were lively chatting as Remus and Regulus walked towards Mary, who was standing next to a girl who looked like she was working in the restaurant. He assumed she was the person they all came to meet.

 

“You two have a room on the second floor that you can share, Remus you have a job in the kitchen. Reg you are a server.”

“Mary I-”

“You will be a server Reg, now go to your room.” Mary scolded like a mother.

 

Regulus took the key from Mary without another word, walking to the room. Remus took just an extra moment to hand Mary her bags before following after Regulus.

They both walked up the stairs finding their room fairly fast. Regulus took a moment to unlock the door, but it was clear he did not know how to.

 

He was able to put the key in the slot, but as he kept trying to twist it and push open the door it was clear that he did not know how to open the door.

Remus softly reached his hand around Regulus and unlocked the door.

 

“I’m not stupid.”

 

“I know.”

 

Regulus quickly went straight to a bed, throwing stuff on it, taking things out of his bag and placing them around the room. Remus followed and put his own bag on the bed.

Remus had always known to live out of a bag. So he did have enough to make it seem like he could settle in.

He watched as Regulus tacked up a photo.

 

Remus finished taking his things out of his bag and then sat, he just took one moment to think.

 

He was sleeping in the room with the boy he was sent to kill.

 

-

 

Emmeline Vance was going to be the death of Mary Mcdonald.

From the very first moment Mary saw Emmeline two years ago she knew she would be her downfall.

 

She was head over heels for Emmeline from the moment she stepped into the inn the very first time she was sent to this town on a mission.

Mary was not supposed to come to town, it had been an accident. A storm had come in, making her seek shelter as soon as possible. She was supposed to be heading to the house of Rosier to check in on the raids that have been happening. But she never even made it there.

She had been on a tight deadline, and with the storm she had to head back early. Leaving her stranded in this small town.

 

The town where Emmeline Vance resided.

 

Emmeline was Mary’s waitress, she had walked in drenching wet from the storm longing for warm food.

When Emmeline flashed her smile Mary knew it was over. She ordered soup and stayed for three hours. Far past the closing of the restaurant, Mary even helped clean up. Wiping down tables helps clean everything.

They ended up in Emmeline’s room and the rest was history.

 

Mary had to leave two days later, not enough time for either of them. Not a single word was exchanged since Mary left those doors.

She had given her address, and she had Emmeline’s address of course but she didn’t write either.

 

It was harder for Mary to write. She was constantly on a mission, always on the road, always doing something. Then, of course, with the mission within the house of Black it made it nearly impossible for Mary to have any sort of communication with Emmeline.

She knew that Emmeline had sent letters, or at least before she left for the house of Black she received some. But Mary never opened them.

 

Mary found it hard to even think about Emmeline, let alone read her letters. She never thought she would be able to come back to this town again, so what would be the point in trying to communicate? It could never work.

 

The moment Regulus brought up running away to Benevola she knew that she would lead Regulus here.

Was it the most safe spot for them to go? No. But Mary was crazy for Emmeline so she did not care for much else.

What she didn’t think through was what she would do once she actually arrived, of course she had a ten hour ride to think about it. But she could not come up with anything.

Mary never responded, she wouldn’t be surprised if Emmeline hated her.

 

So now she stood in front of the place they first met, and she had to go inside.

One step in and she felt like she was seventeen again. She felt freshly recruited to the war, she felt young again.

The moment she saw Emmeline it was as if the whole world stopped.

She had not changed.

 

She was still beautiful. In fact she was more beautiful than she remembered.

 

Emmeline was waiting tables, her natural charisma was perfect for a job like this. She was moving with ease carrying the drinks as she talked to her customers. She laughs like a symphony to her ears.

Mary was too scared to move. So she just stood there.

 

It took thirty seconds for Emmeline’s eyes to meet Mary's. She watched as Emmeline faltered, a soft “Mary” dripped from her lips.

That was all Mary needed to walk up to her.

The dark haired girl sat the drinks down and walked over to Mary, the two just staring at each other for a moment before Emmeline grabbed Mary’s arm and dragged her to the back storage room.

 

“You're not dead.”

 

Emmeline placed her hand on Mary’s face softly and then anger flooded her face, “You're not dead” she said again this time with venom dripping from her words. “I thought you were dead, you didn’t write back.”

“So you assume I am dead?”

The girl shook her head with anger. “I know what you do for work Mary, It is dangerous. You could have died. It was easier to think you were dead than avoiding me.”

 

Mary’s face softened, “I didn’t mean-”

“Cut it out, you could have responded.”

 

The curly haired girl hesitated “Okay yes, I could have responded.” Mary shook her head “But I couldn’t. Half of the time, this past year I was on a mission that was different than anything I couldn’t blow my cover… I can’t blow my cover.”

 

Emmeline looked at Mary, she folded the towel she was holding. “Why are you here Mary?” Her voice was heavy.

“I need help.”

“What do you need?”

 

No hesitation, Emmeline helped Mary without even thinking twice.

That alone made guilt creep into Mary’s mind, even after everything Emmeline was willing to give Mary whatever she needed. She almost wished she had put up more of a fight. It would have made Mary feel better about avoiding her.

She expected to have to come here and beg for help, to plead with her and ask for forgiveness. But Emmeline didn’t even ask for it.

That ate Mary to the core.

 

Mary knows that what she did is wrong. She knows that she should have written back, she knows that she could have made it work. She could have kept Emmeline a secret from everybody.

 

But, Emmeline deserved to be more than just Mary’s secret. She deserved much more than that, but a secret is all Mary could ever give her.

She would rather be alone than drag someone else into this war.

She felt guilty enough dragging the Potter family into it, now she might bring Regulus with her.

Mary couldn’t sentence Emmeline to a life fighting in this war.

 

A war that Mary didn’t even want to fight in anymore.

 

“I have two friends, we need a spot to stay. We can pay and work, whatever you need we can do.”

Emmeline thought for a moment. “I need another cook and another person on waitstaff, everyone quit on me when the raids began.”

 

“Done and done, what else do you need?” Mary questioned.

Emmeline looked at Mary for a moment before taking a deep breath in, “You can work with the inn, I need someone to clean the rooms, you told me before that you worked in an inn when you were young, is that true?”

 

Mary nodded “When I was younger I needed money so yeah, I did.”

“Perfect, you will work with me in the inn and the other two can work in the restaurant. As for rooms, I only have one worker’s room available, so you will have to stay with me and the other two will stay together. There are two beds in each room.”

Mary nodded yet again, “Thank you Emmeline.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

 

The curly haired girl left the restaurant for a moment to grab Remus and Regulus giving them their keys as well as grabbing her bag from Remus who was kind enough to bring it in for her.

 

“You know where my room is, feel free to get comfortable in there, I will be up soon.” Emmeline stated before disappearing.

 

Walking to her room felt like a dream, it felt like something that happened in a past life that she was now reliving.

Everything that happened in the past two years had felt as if it were a dream, it was another life. Mary was not the same girl that Emmeline once knew. The war did something to her, the constant on edge, it changed a person.

She had lost a lot in the past two years, so yes the last time Mary walked to this room she had been another person.

 

The room itself had not changed much, sure there were new things added to the room but in the essence it was still the same.

It was still Emmeline’s room.

 

Mary sat her things on her new bed before allowing herself to look on Emmeline’s side. Was this a breach of privacy, Mary didn’t know. But she was doing it.

 

In the span of three days, they had learned everything you can learn about a person in three days. Emmeline knew Mary’s favorite color, her motivation, the things that got her up in the morning.

It was strange that now they knew nothing.

She wondered if Emmeline’s favorite color was still blue.

 

Mary knew that the color she told Emmeline two years ago is not her favorite color anymore. No, since the moment Mary learned Emmeline’s favorite color was blue, blue took over Mary’s life.

She saw beauty in everything blue.

The sky. The water, anything. If it was blue, it was Emmeline.

So maybe Mary didn’t want to know if blue was still her favorite color, if not it would just be one more thing that she no longer knew.

One piece of the Emmeline she no longer knew.

 

Her room was full of new memories, her wall had letters and flowers all over it. A few stray cigarettes littered her bedside table along with parchment and ink.

Mary drifted her fingers softly over the bed before smiling softly.

She went back to her side of the room to unpack a little. She didn’t bring much, and truth be told she didn’t have much.

 

It took her fifteen minutes to arrange everything as she liked. Mary tried to just sit in the room for a while but it didn’t take her long to grow restless. Before she knew it she was in front of Regulus and Remus’s door knocking.

 

It was Remus who opened the door “Hello?” he questioned, his face scrunched up in confusion. But as soon as he saw Mary’s face it fell from his face, “Oh, hi” he said, stepping aside to allow her into the room.

Regulus was laying on his bed almost looking like a corpse. His arms were at his side and he was staring at the ceiling.

 

If Mary didn’t know him she would be concerned.

 

This was normal for Regulus, it was odd but it was one of the only things he finds comfort in, but Mary needed to do something.

“Get up, we are going shopping.”

 

Regulus hesitantly sat up and looked at Mary, “Shopping?”

The girl nodded. “Remus you are welcome to join us but Regulus needs new clothes.”

“I need new clothes?” He questioned as Mary walked over to his dresser taking out his clothes only leaving a few of the pieces of clothing that she knew Regulus liked the most.

“Your clothes stand out like a sore thumb, if you are going to be working you need new clothes.”

 

“She’s right, you come from money, it radiates off your clothes even with all of the dirt you were exfoliating with.” Remus jumped in, causing Regulus to send him a glare.

 

“Fine, but I am also getting books if we are going out.” Regulus stated as he pulled his shoes on.

Mary nodded and smiled, “I can work with that.”

Her grin was wide as she left the inn with Regulus and Remus at her side.

 

“Remus, do you know how to cook correctly?” Mary inquired

The boy nodded and laughed, “Yeah, I know how to cook pretty alright, I should do fine.”

Mary smiled as they began to walk towards the town center where all of the shops would be, “Reg, I will help you with being a waiter tonight when we get back to the inn. You both will be up in the morning to help.”

 

“Where are you working?” Regulus questioned

 

Mary gestured to the store she wanted them to go into as she explained, “Emmeline said she needed help in the inn with cleaning and things like that, so I will be there.”

Regulus only nodded in response as the three of them went into the clothing store.

 

The trip was an overall success. Mary had been able to sell Regulus’ nice clothes for some good money. They had all been able to get new clothes.

It was strange to see Regulus in clothes that were not very high end, but he did instantly look more in place.

They had ended up in the bookstore where it seemed Regulus and Remus started to get along the most. The both of them animatedly talked about their favorite books.

 

Mary was not sure how she felt about Remus, she wondered if it was a mistake to bring him with them. She wasn’t sure why she acted the way she did. Why did she know that she had to bring Remus with them?

Truth be told he looked like trouble, he had scars covering his face that Mary couldn’t help but wonder where they came from.

He was taller than most, that made him stick out.

But something about him made Mary want to take him with them. Even if Regulus was upset about it, she needed to do it, she knew she had to.

 

Mary was glad she did, as she watched Regulus talk to Remus about books she knew that it would be okay.

 

Remus wouldn't kill them.

Notes:

eyy better late than never, here is the next chapter lol

Chapter 4: chapter 4

As much as he wanted to James Potter could not look away from him.

He had never seen anyone look like him before, not in a bad way. He had never seen anyone with such beauty that I made him stop. James Potter had never seen anyone as truly beautiful as Regulus Black. And not in the cheesy way, in the effortless way. Even the curls that bounced at the top of his head seemed effortless in a way that James knew he could never accomplish.

He was beautiful and that was that.

It almost felt as if something was pulling his eyes toward Regulus Black. Without even thinking he was looking at him, it keeps happening James can’t stop it. He isn’t sure he wants to stop looking.

In the back of his mind, James always knew Regulus would be beautiful, beauty runs in the blood of those from the house of Black. Thinking about Sirius that notion was true, even James would admit he was full of beauty. But it didn’t compare to the beauty of Regulus Black. James could not look away.

James had never been an artist, but for the first time in his life, he longed to be one, for he had discovered his muse. He wishes he could pick up a brush and show the world how he sees Regulus Black, he knows that even if he spent the rest of his life on the painting it would not be a fraction of the beauty of his muse.

What stood out to James about him was the fact that Regulus moved like a shadow, he faded into the background. It almost seemed he was hiding from everyone and did not want to be seen. His clothes were dim, people only paid attention to him when he brought them their food. James didn’t understand why others could not see the beauty that was right in front of them. Like a shadow Regulus seemed graceful, his movements looked thought out. Every single step, he knew what he was doing. He was in control of his body, it added to his beauty.

There was a quiet intensity to him, a presence that pulled at something deep inside of James.

He wanted Regulus in a way he had never wanted anything before.

James’s whole life people have been throwing themself at his feet. He has had people wanting to love him for as long as he can remember. He never understood why people did that, James was just another human. He was nothing special, so why would people ever fall at his feet? Why would people do things for him that he never asked for, that he would never ask for? He thought he understood once, There was one girl he would have moved mountains for. A girl that stole his heart, James thought she was the one for a long time. But it didn’t work out, and that is fine. If James had moved mountains for Lily there is no telling what he would do for Regulus.

For the first time in his life, he understood the want to throw himself at someone's feet.

He would do anything to get Regulus to notice him. Even if it was just for one moment, he would fall at his feet, he would dance on tables. Anything for just one moment.

On his trip to Benevola, he had found himself second-guessing going after Regulus, after all, he did run. James didn’t know why he ran. But he did run, maybe he didn’t want to be found. No James knew he did not want to be found. But did that mean he saw marrying James as yet another prison? Maybe he didn’t want to trade one prison for another.

Maybe James did make a mistake by running after Regulus, but he had to. He couldn’t explain it but he had to follow Regulus. Many times on his trip he debated turning around, to return to his home, and allow the house of Black to find their missing heir. But it had to be him, he knew that. If his parents had sent their guards then Regulus would have run even more, as far as James knew Regulus didn’t even know what James looked like.

James always knew what Regulus looked like; he saw photos of him when he was young. Sirius used to hang them all around their dorm during their school days. He would always proudly tell everyone that his little brother Reggie was the boy in the pictures.

But those pictures were old, both of the Black brothers were young in all of the photos. So James was never fully prepared for Regulus' beauty.

The more James thought about his doubts about seeing Regulus for the first time, he realized that even if he traveled all of this way to not bring Regulus home with him. It would have been worth it just to see his beauty.

However, a part of him will always wonder what if.

At that moment he realized he would not leave until he talked to Regulus, he wanted to get to know Regulus. Call him selfish but he needed it. He had told Marlene to give him a week, he would be stupid to not wait the week. He would stay until the week was over, if he was not able to convince Regulus to come home with him by the last day then he would leave.

Maybe his heart would break into a million little pieces. But he would leave.

James knew he had to go back home, but at the end of the day, his duty had to take priority over his falling in love. He knew he always needed to rule; his parents would have to step down one day. He knew there would be alternate routes if he did not want to become the ruler of the House of Potter. But he wanted to make his parents proud; they wanted him to rule.
It was not that his parents were forcing him to rule, they would be happy with whatever he chose to do. But he knew they would love for him to take over, so he will.

James sat at the table and looked longingly at Regulus, he couldn’t take away his eyes.
He longed to know Regulus Black.

It was almost as if James’s eyes looking at him was a call to Regulus because their eyes met after moments. A smile flashed onto James' face as Regulus took that as a sign to walk over.

“What can I get you today?” Regulus questioned looking at James with an annoyed look on his face.
James scrunched his eyes together “What?”
A large sigh left Regulus’s mouth “Hi, My name is Reg and I am your server what can I get you today?” he asked in a fake happy voice.

Another one of the workers walked by just as Regulus said this, he earned a soft little push, James could almost hear a faint “Be nice” causing a smile to grow on his face.

Regulus looked at him with curiosity at his smile, his one eyebrow raising as the question left his lips “Find that funny do you?”
“No nothing about that is funny, you are going to take my order.”
The Black heir looked at him with a sharp glare “You know what? I’m sick of this-”
“Do you guys have butterbeer?” James questioned his voice softened as he sent Regulus a softer look.

“We do, Would you like some?” Regulus said faking the joy yet again.
“Please.”

Regulus nodded and turned on his heels “One butterbeer coming right up.”

James could not help but smile as he watched an annoyed Regulus walk away from him. It was kinda cute in James’s opinion.
He watched as Regulus walked over to get the Butterbeer, the other waitstaff that told Regulus to be nicer was now talking to him. The annoyance rolling off of Regulus’s body was very visible, anyone could see it if they were looking. No one else was looking like James though.
He was watching as if his life depended on it.

Regulus was pouring his Butterbeer, he was focusing on it. It was clear he had not been doing that for a very long time, the way his hands shook and he spilled a little every time he poured. But it did not take too long for him to come back over with James’s butterbeer.

“One Butterbeer, just for you.” Regulus said his voice dripping with sarcasm “I hope it is everything you hoped.”

James leaned his hand out to grab the Buttbeer taking a drink “You know it is really good.”
“Are you surprised?” He questioned slightly annoyed
“No!” James exclaimed quickly turning down that idea “I think you did well actually I think it is really impressive. You are doing a really good job.”

“I didn’t know I was being scored for serving you a drink?”
“You not! I was just saying you did a good job at it, like navigating through the people, I couldn’t do that and you did it very well.” James defends almost fumbling over his words.

Regulus could barely hold back a scoff “Well I guess I’ll take the compliment stranger.”
“I mean you deserve it, you are doing so well, and this drink is so good and you can move through these people with so much… Grace,” James said a bright blush appearing on his face as he stammered over his words.

“Grace?”

James’s eyes widened and shook his head “I didn’t mean for that to sound weird I was just watching you and”
“You were watching me?” Regulus questioned yet again, it took James only one moment before he realized he was talking himself into a deeper hole. “It almost seems like you are trying to be nice to me.”

“I am.” James said with a soft smile on his face “You deserve it.”

Regulus shook his head “Cut the charm.”

“I’m not trying to charm you like that, I am just trying to say you are doing well and I don’t think anyone tells you that.” His voice was soft, his smile seemed even softer than before as he looked at Regulus.

He watched as Regulus froze for just a moment, seeming caught off guard by the sincerity, but a scoff quickly replaced that “You’re ridiculous.” He shook his head “I don’t know who sent you or what you are trying to win but I am not interested.”
James couldn’t help his grin from growing wider “Good thing I can be nice enough to learn stuff about you, don’t worry I am very insistent, You can keep the butterbeer’s coming.”

“You’re insufferable,” Regulus muttered.
“And yet, you’re still here,” James stated, his tone playful as he looked directly at Regulus.

That caused Regulus to pause, James could not help but be proud of that accomplishment, and without another word, he turned and walked away. James could not help but notice the faint smile on Regulus’s face as he walked away. Though it was barely visible it was enough to make James feel like he won, like he was on the top of the world.

He said ordering butterbeer for the next two hours before it was time for them to shut down for the night.

“You have to go,” Regulus said as he tossed a chair on top of the table in front of James.
“I thought this was an inn?”

Regulus looked at him annoyed and shook his head “You have to go into the other side to get a room, not over here.”

“Well looks like you’ll be seeing more of me Reg,” James said as he got up, he helped to put some chairs on top of the tables as he walked to get a room.

If there is one thing about James Potter it is that he is confident, and he is confident that he is going to make Regulus Black like him, even if it is the last thing he does.

 

-

 

Regulus Black was not meant to work, he was not supposed to do hard things.

Growing up as the spare he never had expected to do great things with his life. Of course, he wanted to do great things but was not destined for it.
His destiny like most spares was to work for the ministry, his parents raised him to be the best ministry worker, and they made it no secret they wanted him to grow up to be the next minister. He would have been a good minister if only he could have gotten out of his parents' grasp. If Regulus had been a minister while his parents were alive they would have fed him information with that they wanted him to do.
Just like a dog, Regulus would have listened to them.
He would have done what they said until both of his parents were dead on the ground. Regulus was always the perfect son to them. He was truly the opposite of Sirius in every way in their parent's eyes.

Though when it came down to it Sirius was the perfect heir, and Regulus was the perfect spare.
It was their role, Regulus fell into his role easily, he would bend at his parent's will. They say jump he said how high. He knew it would lead to less trouble. Sirius never cared about the trouble, he was always passionate about his opinions and his beliefs. They were so different.

When the news came that Sirius had died Regulus knew he would have to do more work, but it was never hard for him.
Regulus was born to be a leader, just not a loved one.

 

Sirius was loved, and because of that, Regulus was not.

Who didn’t love Sirius Black? Even Regulus loved Sirius more than he loved anything, so it makes sense that everyone wished for him to lead. He had everything you could ever want from a leader, he was charismatic, he was funny, he was kind. Everyone loved him, so much love went towards him that none was left for Regulus.
Even inside their own home, it was clear that their parents loved Sirius more, even if he got punished more. They blamed the punishments on their love. Regulus could be a mama’s boy every single day, he could bend over backwards but he would never be as loved as Sirius was.
Walburga loved Sirius, that much was true. From the outside it seemed as if Walburga would favor her youngest, she would even say that to people. She would go on and on how her spare was her true son. She would talk about how no son of hers could do the things Sirius had done.
But that didn’t stop her love for Sirius to pour through.

Regulus had never seen his mother so completely broken as the day the news of Sirius’s death came. In the days after Sirius’s death, she seemed to disappear into herself, swallowed by grief in a way that he could not understand, in a way, Regulus never thought he would see his mother. Walburga was always a force to be reckoned with, but during those days she was a ghost of herself. She destroyed everything that had reminded her of Sirius- Family portraits, self-portraits, his photo on the family tree, she didn't stop until nothing was left but ashes. The only place left untouched was his room, the whole family left the room untouched. None of them could bring themselves to face it, especially not Walburga.
During her grief she even scorched Regulus’s hair, it was known that the Black brothers did look similar, and when Regulus let his hair grow just too long it only took Walburga mistaking him for Sirius one time for her to burn it off. As if she was trying to erase any trace of the son she had lost, even if it meant hurting the one she still had left.
Regulus knew she was not afraid to hurt her children, but for some reason, he thought with Sirius gone she would love him more. But that was far from true, he knew that she just wanted her older son back. She would have traded Regulus for Sirius in an instant. It was strange to him, within her grief, it seemed as if she loved him more in his absence than she ever loved him when he was alive.

Regulus may have been the perfect son but he was never Sirius. He knew he could never be Sirus, he was never nearly as loved as him. No one loved him. No one loved Regulus Black.

No one loved Regulus Black except for Sirius Black. Sirius would have rearranged the cosmos for his little brother. Looking back Regulus knows that now, he knows of his brother's love for him.
When Sirius left this world so did the only person to love Regulus.

Regulus was not ever going to be a good ruler, how can you be a good ruler when you don’t know love?
It would have never worked. He was born to live a meaningless life, he was supposed to work at the ministry until he died.

But then Sirius died.
Regulus died right after him. Maybe not in a physical sense, but he died.

The moment the news came he lost all hope to live, he knew he would waste his life away, but he was ready to do it. For his parents, maybe they could love him one day.
But then they sold him to the highest bidder, and now he is here, working.

Waiting on other people, unloved and annoyed.
Mary had yelled at him three times in the past hour, he was not made to work, yet he is.

Regulus is now determined to do something with his life. He ran, he did the hard part. A part of him couldn't help but wonder if Sirius would be proud of him right now.
They both ran.

But unlike Sirius, Regulus would not run to his death. He would run to life.
For the first time in his life he wanted to live, he wanted to do something. He didn’t want to be a waiter, but it would be the first step.

“I swear Mary I didn’t mean to!” Regulus pleaded
The dark-haired girl looked at him with an expression that could bite his head off “You threw soup at him Regulus! The bowl does not start flying towards someone without your hand, last time I checked you are not magic.”
“He kept talking to me, what was I supposed to do?”
“It is quite literally part of your job to talk to people.”
“You got me this job, you want a nice person put Remus up here, I am not a smiley person.”

Mary picked up a bowl of soup and handed it to Regulus “Well listen here, you are going to plop a smile on your face and walk your pretty butt over to him and give him a new bowl of soup.”
The black-haired boy hesitantly took soup from Mary muttering an annoyed “Okay” before walking back over to the man he had just thrown the soup at.

He plopped the bowl on the table and walked away without saying another word. As he turned to walk back to Mary he saw the door open, and in walked ht same guy from yesterday.

James.

Finally, a customer he could deal with, Regulus quickly sent Mary a look saying she’d got him before heading over to him. “You again?” a small smirk playing on his face.
“Me again,” James said not hiding the grin on his face.

Regulus nodded and turned on his heels expecting James to follow behind him, he took James to a better seat than the one he sat in last time. This seat was one that Regulus would be able to stop by more when he was doing other things. As soon as he showed James to the table he left him without another word.

Truth be told he had the butterbeer already ready. He had made it himself hoping that James didn’t lie when he said he was insistent. He returned to James’s table faster than James expected, Regulus watched as James nearly jumped out of his skin when he sat the butterbeer on the table.

“For me? You shouldn’t have.” James joked quickly recovering from the slight scare. Regulus nodded.
“You ordered five of these yesterday, you trying to beat that record?”
“We will see how many of these it takes to make you smile,” James said with a grin spread across his face.
Regulus shook his head “You think that you drinking butterbeer is going to make you smile? You are sorely mistaken.”

James shook his head and took a sip of his butterbeer “No, I don’t think it is going to be the butterbeer that makes you smile.”
“What is then?”
“I am” James smirked and took another drink “This tastes really good by the way, did you do something different?”

Regulus looked at James for a moment before nodding ‘You are going to make me smile?”
“I am”
“Very confident in yourself”
“I am”

At that moment, if it wasn’t for the sound of the door opening Regulus might have smiled. But the door drew his attention.
It was a large group of people, Regulus could not help but feel annoyed at the sight of them. He hoped Mary would serve them. He watched as Mary quickly walked over to greet them, Emmeline came out of nowhere and was also standing not far from Mary. She glanced at Regulus quite a few times before he turned around and looked back at James.

“How long are you in town?” Regulus questioned.
James hesitated for just one moment “A week or two.”
Regulus nodded and then took a deep breath, “Would-”

“Reg.” Mary snapped reaching out to grab his arm “I need you in the back for just a moment.” He nodded and followed Mary to the back leaving James for just a moment.

When they walked to the back room Mary locked it behind them. “Look I am sorry I threw soup at him but he deserved it. So actually I am not sorry, I am far from sorry.”
“Regulus stop it's not about that.” Mary said looking at him “You need to go up to your room and stay there.

“What? What is it about then?”

“The group of people who just walked in, they are not good people and I don’t have time to explain all of this to you right now.” Mary shook her head “You can’t piss them off Reg, if anyone pisses them off it will be bad for this town okay? So you need to just go to the room until they leave.”
“What are you going on about Mary? Give me something, I am not going until you explain it a little.”

Mary let out an annoyed grunt before looking around for a moment and shoving them both into a small closet. “They are called death eaters.”
“Death eaters?” Regulus questioned raising his eyebrow “That’s a stupid name, what are they?”

It was obvious that comment made Mary just a tad bit annoyed, she took a deep breath before looking at Regulus “See it is stupid comments like that, you can’t be out there right now and Emmeline is out there with them, and..”
“I will shut up, just continue and explain it.”

Mary took just one moment before taking another deep breath and looking at Regulus “They are from the house of Riddle, most of them are centered out of Morsis hence the name Deatheaters. Plus the fact wherever they go death follows.”
“What do you mean death follows?”
“They destroy towns, it happens mostly in the house of Rosier and the house of Longbottom since they are neighboring the two territories that are associated with Lord Riddle. They burn cities to the ground for small things, they try and get people to join his cause.”

“Mary I love you but what are you talking about?”

Her eyebrows furrowed and looked at him “Your parents didn’t tell you anything did they?”
“What do you mean Mary?”

“There is a war Regulus.” 

Notes:

sorry this chapter was a bit late, honestly i keep forgetting to update this! but here we go from the top
i adore james thinking about how beautiful regulus is like stop someone sedate me pls
just like a whole pov of james litereally head over heels for reg like stop its too cute.
then reg, oh sweet boy. that whole sirius vs him part was so sad i cannot
then reg being a horrible server like this boy would be so bad customer service never, the customer is always right nah not with regulus black around think again.
then finally the war! ahh
see you guys soon lol

Chapter 5: chapter five

Regulus Black was hard to understand, Remus didn’t understand him, not one bit.

He was strange to watch. Although the two had spent a lot of time together the past two days, Remus had learned practically nothing about him.

Remus learned quite fast that Regulus liked the quiet, and Remus did too so that worked well. When they did talk it was mostly Remus doing the talking, trying to hold a conversation with the heir of Black to learn something.

 

Remus didn’t want to kill Regulus, not truly. But he needed something, he needed something to tell him that he shouldn't do it. Something more than a feeling in his gut that he shouldn’t kill him. He needed to understand why everything inside of him was screaming not to kill Regulus. He needed to understand what his subconscious thought was so important about Regulus.

 

“Explain it to me,” Regulus demanded the moment the door to their room slammed behind them. Mary had sent Remus upstairs with Regulus, he thought it was to babysit him but Remus would take it. He couldn’t risk the death eaters knowing who he was.

“Explain what to you?” Remus questioned feeling almost slightly lost as he looked at Regulus whose face was painted with a look he had not seen on the boy.

 

“There is a war,” Reglus started acting like Remus was the dumb one as if Remus was the one who had no clue about a war that had been going on for years.

Regulus was smart to ask Remus to explain it to him, though he didn't know how lucky he was to have someone who truly knew all sides of the war to explain it to him. “Yes, there has been a war for six years,” Remus stated as a matter of fact.

The heir of Black shook his head as he started pacing the room.

“You didn’t know of the war?” Remus questioned looking at Regulus with one eyebrow raised, his arms crossed across his body as he watched the heir.

 

Remus watched as Regulus thought over his next words “My family was more protective than I thought I guess, I knew there was conflict but not a war.”

The brown-haired boy nodded for just a moment, he knew that Regulus was not telling the whole truth but he was surprised at how easily Regulus was able to tell a half-truth, “Okay, what do you know?”

 

“I know that Liberis and Morsis are in a conflict they have been in for at least twenty years, but it is all inactive fighting between the two, just bitter rivalry within the ministry, Riddle and Dumbledor are always trying to one-up each other,” Regulus explained with such confidence that if Remus didn’t know more he would fully believe that was the full extent of the drama.

 

But that was far from the whole truth.

 

Remus has been on both sides of the war, he saw it all. His perspective on the war was much different than anyone else's, so Regulus should not hear these things from him. But he is going to have to explain, someone has to.

“That was the extent of it until six years ago.” Remus started moving to sit down on his bed as Regulus stood in front of him for just a moment before taking a seat across the room. “Six years ago the tides changed, and a fight broke out in the ministry halls between two loyal followers from the respective sides. People say that it was bloody, that right there in the ministry a bloodbath happened killing people from both sides. I don’t believe that there are a lot of myths about what happened that day. But that changed everything, it became more of a war after that day. Lord Riddle believes that Lord Dumbledor needs to be punished, he is under the impression that Dumbledor started this war and vice versa.”

 

“Okay but what does that have to do with death eaters being here?”

 

Remus shook his head at Regulus, cutting him off. “The territories are divided, each side is supposed to take a side in this war, that is what Lord Riddle wants.”

“What are the sides?” Regulus questioned, he may look uninterested but Remus could tell he was sitting on the edge of his seat and wanted to know every single thing he was telling the younger boy.

“Well the house of Malfoy is strongly associated with Riddle, and then the House of Potter is strongly associated with Dumbledor. The other three are technically neutral.”

“Technically?”

“They all have their biases, The House of Black favors Riddle, and The House of Longbottom favors Dumbledor.” Remus paused thinking for just a moment.

 

“And the house of Rosier?” Regulus grew impatient at Remus’s storytelling skills.

‘I’m getting there, let me speak.”

“It's not my fault you are taking forever to tell me this story, I would learn more by walking downstairs and asking the death eaters myself.” Regulus started and stood up walking towards the door.

 

Remus couldn’t help but roll his eyes “Sit down and let me finish.” Regulus hesitated for a moment before turning around and staring at Remus.

“I’m waiting,” he started tapping his foot impatiently.

 

“The house of Rosier is the definition of neutral, the other two neutrals pick sides but they do not. It upsets both sides, and because of that both sides sent a lot of their followers here. Both sides sent followers to recruit more people for their cause, and for the most part, that was fairly peaceful. But Riddle’s side is a little more violent, they are okay with destroying things without remorse, they want people to their side and they will create certain circumstances that force people to see their side.” Remus explained, holding onto Regulus’s attention.

 

The heir to the house of Black “What do they want? What is the purpose of the war?”

“My opinion? Both sides just want control, that’s it, they want control over most people. But if you were to ask other people they would say different things. They both fight for the opposite thing, Riddle wants survival of the fittest, and Dumbledor says he wants a more peaceful world.”

 

“That's bullshit” Regulus spat, rolling his eyes before turning on his heels and opening the door causing Remus to fly off of the bed.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Remus said nearly running over to Regulus.

Regulus hesitated for a moment to look back at Remus “I'm going downstairs, I can act good enough they don’t kill me or anyone here, I don’t want Mary down there alone.”

 

Without thinking Remus wrapped his arms around Regulus and threw him over his shoulder, he kicked the door closed with his foot and then walked over to the bed and threw Regulus down on it.

“What the fuck Remus?” Regulus yelled trying to get up but Remus pushed him back down before he could even think about getting back up. Remus held Regulus' arms above his head “You are not going down there.”

“Like fuck I’m not, let me go.”

“Can’t do that sorry.” Remus flashed a fake smile “Mary is not alone, she has Emmeline. I trust Mary’s judgment to keep you up here so that is what I am doing.”

 

Remus may not have known Mary long but he trusts her. He knows that she has lived life within the concept of war a lot longer than Regulus has. So he can’t help but trust her judgment with Regulus.

He knew little about Mary, not much. But knowing that she has spent considerable time in at least three of the seven territories he knew she knew how to navigate death eaters.

 

He couldn’t help but wonder what death eaters were downstairs, depending on the people downstairs he would be able to tell everyone the level of threat they would be. He knew the majority of the death eaters by face. Only a select handful could recognize him, he did not spend a lot of time within the ranks of death eaters that normally went out for raids. He only ever truly talked with the high-ranking death eaters. The ones that were the worst of the worst.

 

Regulus was not the first Black he had met. No, not by a long shot. He met the Black sisters long before he even learned about the Black brothers.

The first Black he met was Andromeda, better known now as Andy, she ditched her full name the moment she ran from the house of Black. They met before Remus had picked a side in the war. He was still young when she had helped him. He saw her now and then as he grew up.

He met the other two Black sisters once he joined Riddle’s side of the war. Both Narcissa and Bellatrix were high up on Riddle’s radar. Though Narcissa loved her husband, Lord Malfoy. Bellatrix was just known for her obsession with Lord Riddle.

Remus always favored Andy out of the three, but Narcissa was nicer than most would think.

 

The first time he heard about the Black brothers was when the news swept the land that the heir to the house of Black was killed in the territory of the Potters. Then not again until the engagement between the heir to Potter and the new heir to Black.

Then when he got the order to kill the man he was now practically laying on.

 

“Let me go, Remus.” Regulus spat to the man above him, he couldn't help but shake his head.

“I can’t do that, you will go downstairs. You at least need to calm down before I let you go.”

Regulus tried to fight back for just a moment before giving up.

 

Remus would not be taken down by Regulus as easily as last time, this time he was prepared for Regulus to fight back. It was clear to Remus that Regulus was a fighter.

 

“This is stupid.” Regulus huffed shaking his head

“You are the one wanting to get up and fight death eaters.”

“I said I would play nice.”

“I don’t think me and you have the same definition as playing nice, you said you were nice when you threw the soup at that guy earlier today.”

“I didn’t throw the bowl did I?” Regulus counteracted

Remus let out a small laugh and shook his head “I have dealt with death eaters before, they would kill you for anything being thrown at them, bowl or no bowl.”

“I’d like to see them try.”

 

Right there. That was it. I’d like to see them try. As those words left Regulus' mouth, Remus knew that was it.

 

“They tried, they would win.”

“I’m a good fighter, If they kill me at least it would be a show, make sure people watch.”

Remus laughed and got off of Regulus, not moving away from him though. “You’re feisty.”

“I got it from my brother,” Regulus stated as he sat up and pushed Remus away from him “I will wait five more minutes before I go downstairs. They do not scare me, I have a job and I am going to do it.”

“You do not think Mary is going to let you serve them do you.”

The heir thought for a moment before shaking his head “I don’t need to serve them. I won’t serve them.”

 

Regulus was full of fire that much you can tell. Anyone could tell it if you have one conversation with him, that's what was holding Remus back. It took this conversation for him to realize, that's why he couldn't kill him.

Regulus Black needs to be alive.

For as long as Remus can remember there have been two sides to this war. Two sides have done nothing but fight, enlisting people, and using them as pawns in a game. He was sick of it.

Remus has seen both sides, he knew both sides more than anyone else. He knew the danger of being good and the danger of being bad. Sure he had his preference, but at the end of the day, he knew he earned more following the bad. But this thing inside of Regulus, his fire, his determination, his fierceness. That's why Remus could not kill him.

From the moment Remus bought the order to kill him he thought it was strange, why kill a random heir in the house that is inches away from being loyal to you? What was the riddle thinking when he sent Remus after him? Was it the arranged marriage that scared him, if then why wouldn't he send Remus after Potter? No Riddle more than he let it on. Somehow he knows of Regulus Blacks, he knows that Regulus Black is going to be the one to end this war.

 

Regulus Black was not going to die at the hands of Remus Lupin.

 

—

 

James Potter is a sensible person, he has never been the type of person to just go out and fight a random person. That is unless you are messing with someone he cares about.

He has known Regulus Black for less than twenty-four hours and he is already ready to fight someone for Regulus.

Okay maybe not fight someone fully, but he means it with his whole heart that he wants to punch the man looking at Regulus like he is a piece of pie right now. If he makes one more comment to Regulus then James might just flip his lid.

 

After Mary took Regulus he was gone for at least twenty minutes before James finally saw him come back down the stairs. James wished he could have focused more on Mary's look when she saw him come down the stairs, if not for the other girl standing next to her James was sure she would have lunged and attacked Regulus in front of everyone.

A boy whom James did not recognize followed Regulus down the stairs only moments later, which led to James being worried until he watched Regulus walk straight to him as he walked down the stairs.

That was the first time they heard the whistle come from the table of guys that James had assumed to be death-eaters. Neither James nor Regulus paid attention to it. James was too focused on Regulus walking over to him.

 

“Do you need another butterbeer?” Regulus questioned James's empty cup. He placed his hand softly on his hip before swiping the empty cup off of the table “I’ll get you a refill.”

He walked away not allowing James to get even one word in before he walked away to get him a refill. He had left James stunned but for what reason he couldn’t place. A smile appeared on his face as we watched Regulus disappear, it didn't take him long to reappear.

That is when the trouble started.

 

“Hey cutie, why don't you come here with that drink?” one of the death eaters yelled to Regulus.

“Sorry you’re not my table, maybe next time though,” Regulus said with fake joy as he walked past them and back toward James.

 

Regulus couldn’t see them, but James did. He saw the way these men were looking at Regulus. He wanted to get out of his seat and punch these men. James wanted to grab Regulus and save him from these men looking at him like he was an object.

It disgusted him, no one should look at Regulus like that.

 

“Here’s your drink.” the cup of butterbeer sat in front of him, yet Regulus didn’t walk away. To James, Regulus looked unaffected. He was focused solely on getting James his drink. A smile grew on James’s face as he noticed Regulus was not walking away.

“Thank you,” he said softly as he took a sip of the butterbeer. “Just as good as ever.”

 

Regulus nodded, James could have sworn he saw a slight smile appear on Regulus’s face before the men from across the room yelled towards him again.

James watched as Regulus stiffened up for just a moment before he took the seat across from him. “I am going to sit here for a minute.”

“You’re always welcome to sit with me,” James stated flashing his boyish grin.

“It’s not like that.” shaking his head as he continued “I don’t want to deal with them right now and you are more…” He paused for just a moment, looking at James up and down before continuing, “Pleasant”

“I’m pleasant?” it was as if his smile could only grow wider.

The boy across from him rolled his eyes before shaking his head again “More pleasant than them.”

 

“You think I’m pleasant” He said softly as if he heard some of the best news of his life. James watched Regulus across from him, though his gaze was much softer than those of the death eaters. For a moment, while James was looking at him it almost felt peaceful, felt normal.

Almost.

The looks coming from the death eaters were heavy. It made James uncomfortable, he couldn’t even imagine what Regulus felt like at this moment. “Are you okay?”

 

Regulus didn’t even seem phased as James asked. He nodded but kept his face neutral. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

James knew that this would most likely be the first time Regulus had directly dealt with something like this. So it was safe to say James was taken aback by his calm demeanor. But James, sitting here now, could see past it. He could see it in the tension of his shoulders, the way his eyes kept themselves trained on James not daring to look anywhere else. Regulus could be fooling everyone else in the room, but he wasn’t fooling James. He could see through it.

“Are you okay?” James repeated.

“I’m fine.” his voice sharper this time, and there was something in his eyes that James couldn’t quite read.

 

James looked at Regulus for just a moment before his eyes flickered over to the death eaters across the room, “Reg... If they-”

“I know what they are doing. I am not stupid. I don’t need you to save me.” His tone was harsher than before. “I am going to grab you a new butterbeer. It looks like you are running low.”

 

Before James could protest Regulus had already pushed his seat away from the table and walked towards the back of the pub. His movements were harsher this time, holding a tension that was not there when he had walked over.

James looked at his butterbeer, it had one sip removed. So he took another. He had a bad feeling in his gut, something seemed off.

He felt like he was going to throw up the moment his eyes drifted back to the death eaters. They watched Regulus in a way that made James feel sick.

 

James had been trying to keep it together, he truly was. But the way they looked at him made his blood boil. They looked at Regulus like he was some sort of trophy that needed to be claimed. James had felt a sense of peace for a moment after Regulus disappeared behind the doors. That was until he watched one of the death eaters stand up and walk towards the door.

James was not normally the type to get angry, but he had never felt as much pure rage as he had in that moment.

He watched as the death eater followed Regulus behind the doors he had just escaped to. James’s blood ran cold. His stomach dropped, and for just a second he couldn’t think, he couldn’t move. But that quickly changed as he shoved his chair back and rushed towards the door.

 

He did not care who looked at him, he didn’t care how loud he was being. Anyone could look at him, anyone could say anything but nothing could stop him from running towards the door he didn’t even stop to think, he simply followed.

James’s heart raced as he walked down the small hall leading to where he had assumed the two had disappeared too. The sound of muffled voices twisted his stomach into knots. As soon as he got to the door he pushed it hope without a second thought.

 

James’s eyes went straight to Regulus, the death eater already gripping onto his arm pinning him to the wall. For just a moment James stood watching as Regulus struggled against the death eater, fighting against him. It sickened James to see the grin growing on the death eater's face as he leaned into Regulus starting to whisper things that James could not hear.

 

“Get off of him” James finally found the voice to yell. His rage bubbled to the service as he watched the death eater turn his head.

 

The smirk did not leave his face.

 

The death eater didn’t move away from Regulus he leaned more into Regulus “What’s this? Pretty boy playing hero?”

Regulus tried to shove away from the death eater again only to be met with more force keeping him where he was.

The death eater turned his face back to Regulus “Your pretty boy wants to save you? Well too bad you are mine now.” He pushed Regulus harder against the wall, making him wince for the first time since James had entered the room. But oddly enough Regulus did not seem affected by this action. His face remained neutral, though his eyes were sharp and defiant.

 

James’s hand clenched into a fist, he didn't care what would happen after this moment. For once, James didn’t care about the consequences of his actions. He just had to help Regulus.

Some part of him almost thinks it is strange, he had only known Regulus for a day. Yet something inside of him felt as if he had known Regulus his whole life.

Sure you could point out the fact that James knew him through Sirius, but this felt deeper than that.

James has always been the type to care about people, but never like this. Never so much he is pushed to anger. Yet at this moment, he is angry. Maybe he would be angry if anyone he cares about was put into this situation, no he knows he would be angry if anyone he cares about was put into this situation. But he had known Regulus one day and yet he was willing to risk anything to save him.

It made no sense.

 

“If you don’t let him go right now you’ll regret it,” James demanded, watching as the death eater only moved closer to Regulus and another sick laugh to escape the death eater's mouth.

“Regret? No, I don’t think I could regret touching this pretty boy here.” With that, he took his hand and ran it down Regulus’s side making him squirm. “Look at him.”

 

James did, but for the first time, he didn't like what he saw. Regulus was still beautiful, but not even his beauty could combat the disgusting scene appearing in front of him.

 

“Let me go” Regulus spat towards the death eater trying to wrestle him once again but to no avail.

“Fiesty one,” The death eater said and looked at Regulus, his whole focus returning to Regulus.

 

The death eater's hands were exploring Regulus’s body when Regulus launched his spit at the death eater's face.

“Oh you little-” the death eater became more violent with his movements towards Regulus.

 

James had his hands on the death eater before another thought could even enter his mind.

 

He pushed him to the ground, Regulus looked confused as he watched James.
But only just for a moment before he regained his composure.

“You are going to fucking regret that pretty boy.” The death eater stated as he stood up. “You have no clue what you just got this town into.”

 

Then a punch was thrown.

 

But not from James, no Regulus’s fist came out of nowhere and hit the death eater square in the jaw.

James knew that Regulus would have never gone to fight in school; it was almost unspeakable for the heirs to be sent to learn how to fight. But Regulus threw a mean punch.

 

He probably learned it from Sirius.

 

Regulus spat towards the death eater. “You are going to leave now.” He started and then stood with his arms crossed upon each other.

 

The death eater looked at the pair with a wild look in his eyes, it made James’s skin crawl. This was the first time he had ever been eye to eye with a death eater and he knew that he never wanted to do it again. It was not pleasant.

Despite the punch in the face his sick grin still stayed on his face.

 

“You’re right, I will be leaving.” The death eater said with a tone in his voice that made a chill crawl up his back. That feeling stayed even after the death eater left the room and they heard the soft click of the door.

 

“Thank you,” Regulus muttered, clearly not wanting to say it.

“You don’t have to thank me,” James responded instantly.

 

Regulus looked at James, his face looked as if he was thinking about something that took effort. It took only a few more seconds before his voice flooded the room again. “I have to get back to work.”

 

“Please don’t go back out there.”

 

“I have a job, I need to”

“Take the day off. Please.” James pleaded.

 

Why he was pleading with a man he had just met was beyond him. If there was one thing that James learned about Regulus through Sirius is that he is a very determined person. He is very set in his ways, even as a kid Sirius had always said that once Reg got something in his mind he would stop at nothing to get it done.

 

Sirius always said that Regulus could probably change the world if he put his mind to it.

 

So Regulus must not have wanted to go back to work because he agreed not to go back to work. “Follow me.” Then he walked away without even waiting for James to acknowledge that he would be following.

“Where are we going?”

“You are walking me to my room,” Regulus stated with no weariness in his town.

“Oh, am I?” you could hear the smile in his voice.

Regulus didn’t respond, he just kept walking towards the kitchen.

 

As soon as they entered the kitchen Regulus started talking “I am taking the rest of the day off.”

A girl with dark curly hair turned around, looking at Regulus, and nodded “I told you they were a lot, I heard them talking to you out there. Are you okay though, no one tried anything right?”

“They just yelled across the room,” Regulus lied. “It is fine.”

 

It was at that moment the two met eyes.

 

James knew her, it was Mary. Mary Mcdonald.

Fuck.

She knew who he was, who he truly was. He should have guessed that Mary would run with Regulus when he went. But he truthfully thought they wouldn’t get along well, maybe that is why he was naive to the idea of Mary being here.

He could see the confusion run through Mary’s eyes for just a moment before she went back to her natural state and asked “Who’s your friend?”

 

Regulus looked back at James and then to Mary before he walked up to Mary and whispered something to Mary that James longed to hear.

The two whispered between the two of them for a few moments before Regulus turned around and walked back over to James grabbing his arm and leading him away.

 

James had barely enough time to send Mary a look saying he would explain everything later. Because he would. But right now he is focusing on the man who is dragging him through corridors and to a room.

Every one of the doors looked the same, so James was taken aback when Regulus suddenly stopped at a door and started to open it.

“Look at me, bringing you right to your door just like you wanted.” A small smirk played on James’s face.

 

“More like I pulled you to my room,” Regulus said as he pushed the door open and walked in, he was about halfway into the room when he turned his shoulder over his head “Are you coming in?”

“Am I allowed?” James questioned

Regulus smirked and shrugged “I wouldn’t bring you to my room for you to just stand out of it.”

 

That was enough for James because he entered the room letting the door close behind him. They were both standing in the middle of the room just looking at each other, calling James a romantic but it felt intimate. He could see a million thoughts floating through Regulus' brain, he wanted to ask what he was thinking about but decided against it.

 

“How long are you here again?” Regulus asked, his voice casual.

“A week or two,” came the reply.

 

Regulus nodded and thought for a moment, James was going to respond but before he could form any words he was suddenly pushed onto the bed.

“Oh hello,” James said with a grin

“Is this okay?” Regulus questioned

James nodded eagerly “Yes, God yes.”

 

The next thing he knew Regulus’s lips were on his.

Notes:

heyyyyy sorry its been like wayyy too long, ngl i was really stuck on a chapter and I have a bunch of rules for myself for publishing so 😝✌️
this fics updating schedule is going to be like my sleep schedule... not real no matter how much I tell myself it is real.
dw tho, I do have a few chapters stored up so hopefully at least for a bit I can regularly get out some more chapters lmao but plz never quote me I might just cry if you do that. but anywhoooo
hope you liked the chapterrrrrrrr
some jegulus for you guys yw

Chapter 6

Summary:

warning:
violence, figthing, and death

It was the truth that the man lying before him was a vision of beauty that he struggled to look away from.

It was early morning, the two had spent hours at this point just in bed together before drifting to sleep. Regulus couldn’t help but wonder if Remus had desired to get back into the room at any point of the night. Not that he is willing to leave the man in front of him to find out or to make sure Remus has any other place to sleep.

He was perfectly comfortable right here, in James’s arms.

 

Everything escalated much faster than Regulus was expecting it to, but it would be only temporary. James was going to leave, this is just going to be something fun. It had been a long time since Regulus had allowed himself to have any sort of fun. He deserved it.

 

It helped that James was every beautiful word he could think of, Regulus had seen beautiful people before. The whole Black family was hauntingly beautiful, anyone could see that. Regulus had grown up around beauty, but none such as James.

His beauty was different, maybe that is what made him so beautiful to Regulus. From the moment James walked into the pub, he had Regulus’s whole attention.

Now as they were lying in bed together he is all the more aware of James' beauty. It was softer than anything he had seen before, warmer. His tanned skin stood out against Regulus’s own. Even in his sleep, he was beautiful, Regulus could take the time to count the freckles that appeared softly on James’s skin. They were faint, but they were there. Regulus couldn’t help but wonder if they appear more during the summer.

James’s glasses were carefully put to the side not long after they entered the room, but he almost wished they remained on. His eyes were beautiful, the color of honey, even though his glasses hid his eyes slightly, he preferred when they were on. There was something that felt natural about James wearing his glasses. Something that just looked right when they were carefully planted on his face.

 

Though Regulus has learned that James is anything but careful when it comes to his glasses, by the way, he had practically thrown them across the room the moment they got in the way. That caused Regulus to go after him and give him a small lecture about being more careful with them. Regulus was the one who put them carefully on the bedside table. Part of him wishes he put them back on James’s face.

 

Regulus found his mind wandering back to the events yesterday. He thought he had it handled, but he isn’t so sure now.

Yesterday he had made a lot of thoughts enter his brain. He needed to work on fighting. Sure he took down Remus in the forest but he needed to be able to protect himself in all situations.

Maybe today once James woke up and left he could escape to the forest for a while just to practice.

Growing up he was not allowed into the training rooms, no those were reserved only for Sirius, but that doesn’t mean that his big brother didn’t practice with him.

He knew how to fight with no equipment and so that is what he would dedicate today to.

He definitely would not just spend all of today thinking about how James saved him yesterday.

Regulus knows that logically he should say thank you to James, but maybe kissing him would be enough to get the message across.

 

Regulus truly didn’t know what he was doing at this moment, he didn’t understand the feelings or the thoughts swirling in his brain. Was starting to catch feelings for someone something that he should be doing right now? No, it was not.

He isn’t catching feelings.

Too much was at stake at the moment, he just ran away from an arranged marriage, and he couldn’t catch feelings for someone else. He needed to focus on building his new life, his new life where he would fade into obscurity.

He just found someone beautiful and that is it. This will end in two weeks when James leaves to go back to wherever he came from.

 

No one stays in the land of the Rosiers long.

 

Maybe James will pass through years from now and their paths will intercross again, but right now they have two weeks.

Regulus can make that work. He had never had anything good for a long time, so it wasn’t like this was a new concept to lose something this beautiful.

 

Regulus was always a forward thinker, but he could always savor the most out of a moment. Especially when, like most things in his life, the moment is only momentary.

He softly raised his hand to James’ cheek, letting his fingers hover for just a moment before feeling the warmth erupt on his fingertips.

 

The newfound touch caused James to stir leading to Regulus pulling his hand away fast enough that it shook James awake.

Regulus watched as James’s eyes met his own.

“Good morning,” James mumbled, bringing his hand to wipe his eyes.

“Morning,” Regulus replied, watching James.

 

As soon as he stopped wiping his eyes a smile bloomed on his face as he looked at Regulus, his arms, which were already partially around Regulus, wrapped around him tighter “You haven’t been awake for too long have you?” He questioned

Regulus shook his head “Just woke up.”

The smile on James’s face seemed to bloom even more, he seemed to think for just one moment before taking his hand and placing it softly on Regulus' cheek “You’re cute when you wake up.”

“I’m not cute” Regulus argued shaking his head

James nodded eagerly and rubbed his cheek softly “I think you are.”

 

Regulus didn’t respond after that.

 

The two stayed lying in bed pressed together like that for a while longer. Regulus was not going to protest this, so he stayed still. He honestly thought James had fallen back to sleep until he heard his voice softly mutter “This is nice”, so quiet that for a moment he thought he had made it up. That he was going crazy and was hearing things. But he felt his hair move softly, so he knew it was real.

The two stayed like that for just a moment more before James pulled his face so that he could see Regulus, he looked deep in thought.

Regulus found it amusing how you could tell when James was thinking about something, his eyebrows scrunched together just slightly.

 

Though they had only known each other a short time a part of Regulus feels as if he had known James his whole life. It only took another moment for a huge smile to spread on James’s face and his lips to collide with Regulus’s forehead “We should get up.”

 

But there was no time for any response from either of them. A scream erupted from outside causing both of them to bolt up fear crawling onto both of their faces.

They both fumble over to the window where there was chaos outside, Regulus didn’t take another moment to start searching for his clothes which were tangled on the floor with James.

“What is happening out there?” He questioned looking at James for answers.

 

James had not moved away from the window, he didn’t look away at the sound of Regulus asking him a question. He looked deep in thought as Regulus pulled on his clothes, James’s eyes looked over to Regulus for a moment before he seemed to snap out of the thoughts in his head.

“I think… I think it's a raid.” James hesitantly answered, “They are upset, I upset them and now they are taking it out on this town.”

Regulus picked up James’s clothes and walked over to him grabbing both of his hands “You put these clothes on right now.”

“They are here because of me.” Worry woven into his voice, Regulus rolled his eyes as he started to force James into his clothes.

 

“They are here because you saved me. Now put your clothes on, I am going outside.”

That snapped James out of his daze “You are not going out there Reg.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.” Regulus snapped back rolling his eyes again before walking out of the room. He heard a thump from inside the room as he shut the door that he assumed was James causing him to shake his head before going down the stairs two at a time.

The pub was chaotic, people scrambling inside, trying to do lord knows what. Regulus realizes that within his talk with Remus about the raids they never went over what to do if one were to happen.

 

Maybe they didn’t want to ever think that it would happen to them. They just hoped they didn’t have to face it head-on, that it would always avoid them. But they were naive, looking back they should have known that. You can’t turn a blind eye to the world around you, or you’ll never understand the danger until it’s too late.

Now it was too late, and Regulus was going to dive head-first into something he didn’t understand.

 

Regulus scanned the room looking for anyone he recognized. He found Mary and Emmeline talking to some crying kids, Remus was standing in the corner, and the two locked eyes for just a moment before Regulus continued on his journey outside.

He knew Remus was pleading for him to stay inside but didn’t listen.

 

Outside, smoke filled the streets, and people were everywhere. There was yelling coming from every single direction. For just a moment, it caught Regulus off guard; it felt like he was drowning in noise. Everything was too much, but a harsh blow to his side took him out of his head. Not allowing himself to drown.

A person had pushed him out of the way to get into the Pub, leaving Regulus in the middle of the street.

 

Regulus had never seen such destruction before. He probably looked crazy to everyone around him, the way he was standing in the middle of the street. He was looking at everything like a little kid looking at something grand.

But to some degree, he did feel like a kid; he felt naive to the world.

Growing up as the spare, he never learned about the outside world, his views have been limited. He would travel by carriage to and from the Ministry, other than that, he spent his days in the safety of his home. Though that was not always safe, it was never like the world around him right now.

“Reg!” he heard from behind him.

 

He knew it was James, so he ran.

What else was he supposed to do? Regulus was smart; he knew the moment someone grabbed him, they would force him inside to safety.

Other people are safe, so why should he be? He also just wanted to understand what was happening around him.

So he ran, going deeper into where the fights were happening.

 

Ridiculous laughter was echoing in the streets. He wishes he would have paid more attention before turning the corner because there he was.

He looked crazier than yesterday, if that was even possible. The look in his eyes made the hairs on the back of Regulus’s neck stand up straight.

He shouldn’t have been surprised; there were Death Eaters everywhere he should have realized that he would end up running into the same Death Eater from yesterday. There could be that many Death Eaters in this town on such short notice, but looking at the destruction around him, he questioned that idea.

 

Even though Regulus hated to admit it, the way the man’s robes were billowing in the smoke almost gave him an ethereal look. If he wasn't a crazy Death Eater, Regulus might even call the scene beautiful, But the sick look on his face destroyed all notion of that.

For just a moment, Regulus convinced himself that the Death Eater would move on, that he would not notice Regulus, and instead, he would walk past and find some new target.

But he is never that lucky.

 

“Look who we have here.” A devilish grin appeared on the man’s face; he walked towards Regulus. The way he walked almost resembled the smoke around him, it looked as if he was built to live in this destruction. “Look at you, A pretty thing here all alone. It’s okay; I could keep you safe from all of this big scary mess.” His voice talked down to Regulus in a way that made his blood boil.

“The destruction that you created?”

Another sick laugh fell from the lips of the man across from him “The destruction I caused? Good thing you’re pretty because you’re not smart.” He walked closer to Regulus.

“What do you mean?” Regulus questioned, looking at the man.

 

“You are the reason for all of this,” the man smirked as he got so close to Regulus that they could almost touch. “Where is your pretty boyfriend? You guys sure make an odd pair.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

The death eater’s eyebrow raised “Good for me then.”

Regulus took a step back “I’m not anyone’s boyfriend.”

 

“What’s your name, Pretty Boy?” The death eater asked, putting his hand on Regulus' face.

“Reg,” he said with no hesitation

“Reg?” He questioned before nodding “They call me Avery.”

 

The two stood face to face for just a moment; Regulus was letting his eyes wander to anything that could help him in this situation. The longer it went on, the more he wanted to get out of it.

Regulus hated everything happening at this moment; he could hear the screams of terror all around.

He was looking for something, anything that could help him. It took him one more moment for his eyes to land on a broken wooden beam. It was not much, but he could make it work.

 

“What are you hoping to accomplish by destroying this town?” Regulus questioned.

The Death Eater, now known as Avery, tilted his head and then smiled, this time, it was almost softer than every other time “Your boy gave me a reason to finally destroy this town.”

“What does it accomplish?”

 

“Well, if I take over it now, I can get you along with it.” He stated. “You would be mine, and no one besides the dark Lord himself could stop me.”

A chill ran down Regulus’s back “You want me that much?”

“I want to take over this town, you pretty boy, are just a bonus.”

 

Regulus thought for a moment before asking again, “Why this town?”

“Maybe you are a smart, pretty boy, asking all the good questions.”

He faked a playful shrug “I just want to understand.”

Avery nodded before going to explain, “The Dark Lord heard a rumor that an heir is residing in this town, so he sent in more troops who fall under my command to attack. We are supposed to find this heir”

Regulus tilted his head, faking intrigue “What heir? There is an actual heir here?”

A laugh “You are adorable, there's nothing special. That’s the problem, though: none of us know what they are here or what they look like. I do have my theories”

 

Regulus nodded and pretended to start walking as if he were deep in thought “What are your theories?”

“Well, my men think it is the heir of Black or the heir of Potter, But me? I think it is the heir of Longbottom.”

“Why?”

 

“The Dark Lord has been obsessed with the house of Black and Potter for the past years, so it would make sense for it to be them. But how dense would they be to run away to the territory right next to them? That is the easiest to find. If the heir of Black wanted to hide, then run to the heir of Potter; no one would look there first. Now, Longbottom, I heard the current Lord is sick, so the youngest heir would be scared of falling under the pressure and running away. We saw it happen with the heir of Rosier, look at us now. We have half of the Rosier heirs under our influence.”

Regulus furrowed his eyebrow, not understanding much of what he said, but he nodded to make it seem like he cared about what Avery was speaking about.

 

A loud explosion allowed Regulus the time he needed to lunge for the beam, grabbing it with both of his hands.

Avery looked at him with a shocked expression for only a moment before laughing “Look at this Pretty boy trying to fight, well, your boyfriend isn’t here to save you this time.”

He didn’t let one more word exit Avery’s mouth before slamming it into his side, knocking him off balance and sending him stumbling back.

 

Avery looked at Regulus with pure rage laced in his eyes as he regained his footing and pulled a dagger out of his pants, about to lunge at Regulus, but he didn’t have enough time to do so.

He swung the beam again, this time aiming for his head.

 

Terror flooded Regulus' body as the beam connected with his head. The wood cracked against his skill with a sickening thud. He used his slight advantage to slam the beam into his chest, pushing him away from himself.

 

Avery was not to be defeated so easily, though he was shaken, he did not let it stop him.

Regulus had let himself breathe for just one moment.

 

He didn’t mean to do it.

 

He never intended to kill him.

 

That was not what he wanted.

 

He just wanted away.

 

Regulus had hit him with another fatal blow to the head.

The scary part is that he didn’t even remember doing it. He just remembers the sick sound of Avery’s skull cracking, the final gasp of air, and the sound of the dagger that was going to kill him hitting the ground.

Avery’s body followed moments after.

 

Regulus didn’t mean to kill him. Not truly, he wanted to keep himself safe, that was it. He didn’t mean to kill anyone in the process.

He stood just staring at Avery’s body. Regulus knew nothing about this man, he did bad things, but who was Regulus to take his life?

Regulus looked at the dagger that was supposed to kill him. There was not one drop of blood on it, but he knew it had once had blood on it.

Maybe Regulus was just as sick and twisted as everyone told him because he felt no drop of remorse.

 

Moreso, maybe he is what everyone believes. Maybe he is as sucks and cruel as everyone believes him too. Maybe everyone is right in believing that Regulus Black is just another child who got lost in the tragedy of the Black Family’s Madness.

 

—

 

If not for Regulus Black, Remus would be dead.

The irony of the whole situation is not lost on him. The fact that the person he was sent to kill almost did end up saving his life.

It wasn’t something he wasn’t used to, Remus Lupin has always had a crazy life. So it makes sense that the moment he walks away from Riddle, he gets caught in the crossfires of a raid for the first time. You would think that he had a lot of experience with Riddle’s Raids, but he had never seen one, much less been a part of one.

His home territory was one of the few areas that did not receive raids on the regular. It was rare for them to have a raid in their territory at all, let alone in the capital city where he lived. It was almost impossible for them to get in there.

But that didn’t mean Remus wasn’t exposed to violence, he was a murderer. That much was true and undeniable.

Remus Lupin has experienced horrors.

 

But none like this.

 

In his life, the horrors were normally inflicted on him. He would be the one put into situations where he would have to fight to keep himself alive. He would not have to worry about the people around him. He wouldn’t even notice the people around him.

 

When the Death Eater tackled him to the ground, it wasn't that he couldn’t fight back. But the moment he got hit to the ground, he realized that he was a dead man walking.

 

Remus Lupin, the dead man walking.

His whole life, he has been walking to his inevitable death. The moment Riddle finds out that he didn’t kill Regulus Black, he would meet a fate much worse than death.

He had seen it before, in fact, he did it before.

 

Every Death Eater had taken a life; it was part of the very essence of what it meant to be one. You couldn’t call yourself a Death Eater without spilling blood. Most found their victims in combat during raids such as this one, once you reported it back to Riddle, only then could you prove your allegiance to the Dark Lord.

Though some had it worse than others, for them, killing wasn't enough; they had to do it in front of him. He needed to see their loyalty firsthand. Remus had drawn the short straw in fate’s game; he was one of the few to prove themselves this way.

 

It was his job to kill Rodolphus Lestrange right in front of everyone. The death eaters circled them. His wife stared right at Remus as he did it. Maybe that made him sick, but he did it. He killed him.

 

Rodolphus was Remus’s predecessor. Riddle had gotten mad when he refused to kill one of the girls from the house of Black.

Remus just happened to be there when the news came, Rodolphus' death was only hours later.

 

It was slightly ironic that it wasn’t the many lives they had taken that led to their deaths but the ones they didn’t.

 

The House of Black was left untouched.

 

It was just another cruel game from fate, and the one time they both choose not to kill, it leads to their death.

But Remus was okay with it. He didn’t have anything in this life holding him back from Death, Rodolphus did, Remus was the one who took that away. Maybe he deserves to die more than the person he killed, Remus has always thought that.

Remus didn’t want this life.

But maybe that's the cruel fate of life, isn't it? Sometimes, it is just the luck of the draw.

 

Remus Lupin was okay with dying, but Regulus Black saved him.

The same man who sentenced him to death kept him from it.

 

The death eater had come out of nowhere, Remus had just accepted his fight when Regulus hit the death eater in the head with a wooden plank. He had stayed long enough to ensure Remus was okay before he ran off. Remus lost him not long after that.

 

The raid still surrounded him; death eaters were everywhere, but a part of him didn’t seem to care. At this point, he knew he had nothing to lose, no people to care about him.

If he had people in his life, he is sure that by now, they were so mad at him for leaving that they wouldn't care if they got the news that he was, in fact, dead.

Hell, maybe they think he is already dead.

 

Remus didn’t run.

He didn’t move.

He just lay on the ground next to the death eater that just tried to kill him.

The death eater was now dead because of Regulus.

 

He knew that if he stayed here on the ground he might die.

But he also knew he didn’t care.

 

Remus looked up at the sky, it wasn’t blue. It was a cloudy day, the air was even slightly damp leading Remus to believe it would rain later in the day.

It almost seemed poetic, that Remus would die in the rain.

The only thing more poetic would be if he died at night.

 

For a moment it went quiet around him, the screams around faded out.

He took a moment to think about his life, to be honest, it was quite a pointless one.

He could have been something, truly been something.

At a young age, everyone had told him he would be the one to do something in this world. That he would change things, he was always at the top of his class.

It is crazy how that could have been his reality. He could have done something with his life, he was supposed to work with the Lord of his territory.

It is funny how one event can change your whole life. Remus had fallen victim to this, one bad mistake, and his life went up in flames.

 

When Remus heard footsteps come closer to him he thought his time was up. He heard the sound of a thud he prepared himself.

But the face of Regulus Black was not what he was prepared to see.

 

Regulus sat next to him, he looked as if he was in a dazed state.

That caused Remus to sit up, because why on Earth is Regulus sitting next to him?

“What happened?” Remus questioned

 

The Black Heir looked softly over to Remus confused “They ran.”

“They ran?”

“They ran.”

 

The two stared at each other for just a moment, “I guess I owe you one.” Remus joked looking at Regulus.

The Black haired boy nodded “You do.”

 

That made a soft laugh fall out of Remus’s mouth, “I’m serious, I owe you, you saved my life.”

“You’re not-” Regulus started without thinking. It was as if he choked on his words for just a moment. “I didn’t just save your life I saved others.”

 

“Why did you do it?” Remus questioned

 

Regulus shook his head “I just… I knew I had to.”

 

The two just stayed right there for just a moment. Neither of them commented on the fact that Remus was just lying there almost accepting death.

It is crazy how even ow a few moments after accepting death Remus realized that he didn’t truly want to die.

He just didn’t want to face his life.

 

Regulus and Remus sat together looking at the small portion of the city in front of them. Remus watched as a mother reunited with her children. The joy on her face as she pulled her kids into her arms.

He watched as people walked around working together to put out the fires that started around them.

He watched the small bursts of hope that popped up now that the death eaters were gone.

He watched the people stare at Regulus with hushed whispers.

 

This town is lucky.

It was truly rare for any town to survive a raid, let alone one to survive this put together.

Remus wondered if it was Regulus who truly scared them away. It was also rare for anyone to fight back the way that Regulus did.

 

If Remus did not know he was an heir he would know now, no one is this naive to raids that they would kill the death eaters.

Remus is technically a death eater himself, and not even he would kill a death eater during a raid. It was bold.

 

This raid was short, it was strange. Everything happening with this raid made Remus question everything around him.

There should be no reason why Riddle would send a swarm of death eaters to raid this town. Something was different, he wondered if one of the death eaters truly went rogue and just started the raid because of what happened yesterday.

 

“I killed them,” Regulus said softly looking at the body that was lying on the other side of them both.

Remus looked at Regulus for a moment before reassuring “You’ll get past it.” Remus stood up and reached his hand down to Regulus to help him up.

The younger boy looked at the hand, for a moment Remus thought that Regulus would just push the hand away and get up himself.

 

But Regulus took his hand.

 

The two walked together back to the Pub.

No words were exchanged between the two as they walked. The air was heavy as they walked, the town had been struck hard. But they still were living and it seemed that was enough for them.

The idea slightly confused Remus, the idea that they only cared they were alive. For the most part, the town was damaged a lot, mostly the homes and not as much the shops. So you would think that there would be a more heavy feeling of loss.

There was loss but there was also hope, something that had long left Remus.

 

But he watched as people watched Regulus as they walked. He saw their hushed whispers and then smiled.

He knew what they thought.

Remus thought it too.

Part of him hoped it wasn’t true.

 

The Pub was full of people, more full than the last time he was in there. The moment he opened the door chatter busted out at the seams. There was much joy and hope in this room. Drinks were being passed around, wounds were being cared for.

 

“Reg! Remus!” Mary busted through the crowd to get to them. “You are both okay thank god.”

“I told you they would be okay Mary!” Someone yelled from in the crowd.

Mary pulled away from the two and looked at them “Reg you are disgusting, you… you’re covered in blood?” She questioned looked at Regulus first and then her gaze shifted to Remus.

He shook her head telling her not to pry, based on Reg’s response he wouldn’t love retelling Mary everything that happened outside.

 

Plus Mary would probably hear about it from the citizens of this town soon enough.

 

“We need to clean you up Reg, let's go upstairs and I can help you clean off,” Mary stated softly grabbing his hand.

 

But it was Remus who took Reg upstairs, the younger boy dragging him upstairs was not what he thought would happen at the beginning of this day.

Once they went up into their room Regulus led Remus to sit down next to the sink before Regulus started to clean himself off alone.

 

Once he finished cleaning himself he took a seat right next to Remus, neither of them saying anything to one another.

But at that moment, they both understood.

 

—

 

Pandora Rosier has seen a boy drowning in her dreams since she was three.

When she was young they were less recurring, but the older she got the more she had them. They used to scare her, but now she looks forward to them.

Pandora was always an unusual child, both she and her brother were always deemed strange by the people around them. They were not what you would assume a typical heir of a territory would be like. Neither of them was, when the twins were younger people would voice it a lot, saying that the territory shouldn’t be placed in the hands of two psychos.

 

People never understood them.

 

Pandora always knew the drowning boy would understand her. She loved the drowning boy as much as she loved her brother.

She couldn’t wait to meet him.

And it was time.

 

She had been waiting for it for years, waiting, hoping, praying to meet the drowning boy. She knew it would come to her like everything else.

In a dream.

 

See the thing about the Rosier twins is that they are more than special, or unusual, or any words anyone wants to use to describe them.

They were cursed.

 

Pandora had dreams and her brother heard things.

When together they complemented each other perfectly. Because for every dream Pandora has, she can never hear them, and everything her brother can hear, he can’t see.

Growing up it was always Pandora’s that would get noticed more, but truthfully they both had it happening to them equally as much.

But they only ever told each other.

 

Evan is Pandora’s best friend.

A part of her hopes is that she will get him back once she meets the drowning boy.

Maybe then they all could finally be happy.

Maybe then her dreams can lead to something happy.

 

When she was young she had more dreams, they were more common. She would see things, and she would tell people.

She stopped telling people when people never did anything.

She would tell her brother though, he would do the same with her until he left.

 

The day he left she stopped having dreams, she always wondered if he stopped hearing things. She thought that just maybe they were only special when they were together.

Pandora would often stay awake at night pleading for whatever she could think of to give her a dream that would lead her back to him.

 

But the drowning boy was close enough.

 

“Father, I am going on a trip,” Pandora stated with a smile.

He looked up at his daughter from his desk, “a trip?”

“I am going to find the drowning boy. It is time.” She said with a smile on her face before twirling a little.

“Ah, I see, the drowning boy.” her father let out a soft sigh before setting down his pen “Very well fetch the horses.”

 

Pandora grinned like a child before running back to her room.

 

It was time to meet the drowning boy. 

Notes:

hi friends!
so sorry it has been so long since an update! life has been crazy lately between work and making the choice to go to a different college mid summer but another chapter is here for you xoxo
my update schedule might be really inconsistent for a little bit but hopefully I will give you guys another chapter somewhat soon!

hope you enjoyed this chapter, its got a little jegulus fluff to start but then the raid happened and that was fun for everyone. then finally my baby pandora she got her first pov guys, cheer my girl on, I love her sm its not even funny