Chapter Text
The pickup came before sunrise.
The castle was still dark.
Hogwarts at that hour felt strangely quiet, like the stone corridors themselves were still half asleep. Torches flickered along the walls. The enchanted ceiling above the entrance hall showed a deep violet sky slowly fading toward morning.
Regulus stood in the front courtyard with a single duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
Everything he owned for the next several months was inside it.
Clothes.
A few books.
Toiletries.
A photograph Pandora had shoved into his hands the night before of the entire group crammed into the common room couch.
He hadn’t slept.
No one had.
Behind him the doors opened and the others spilled out into the cold morning air.
Sirius looked furious.
James looked like he hadn’t blinked in twelve hours.
Remus carried a thermos someone had forced into his hands.
Lily had her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Mary and Marlene looked ready to start a riot.
Alice and Frank stood close together, quiet but tense.
Fabian and Gideon were whispering furiously about whether it was legal to steal military vehicles.
Across from them stood Regulus’s friends.
Barty looked like he had personally been wronged by the concept of governments.
Evan had his hands shoved into his pockets.
Pandora had brought a small notebook and was writing observations about the emotional state of everyone present.
Dorcas stood beside Regulus with her arms crossed.
No one spoke for a moment.
The road outside the gates was empty.
Then—
A dark vehicle appeared.
It rolled slowly up the path toward the gates.
A black military transport van.
Sirius swore under his breath.
Regulus sighed.
“Well.”
The van stopped.
The door opened.
A uniformed officer stepped out.
Behind him stood Professor McGonagall.
She approached Regulus calmly.
“Mr. Black.”
Regulus nodded.
“Professor.”
“As you are still under eighteen, I will accompany you during the initial transfer.”
“Understood.”
Sirius stepped forward.
“You’re really taking him.”
McGonagall gave him a long look.
“Yes, Mr. Black.”
Sirius clenched his jaw.
Regulus adjusted the strap of his bag.
“Well.”
He looked at everyone.
“Guess this is it.”
Barty pointed at the van.
“This is deeply rude.”
Pandora closed her notebook.
“You will write letters.”
Regulus smirked faintly.
“Probably.”
Dorcas hugged him quickly.
“Don’t die.”
“Excellent advice.”
Evan clapped his shoulder.
“If you get sent to prison call me.”
“Noted.”
James grabbed him next.
“You’re coming back.”
“Yes, mother.”
Remus hugged him briefly.
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
Lily squeezed his arm.
“Write.”
“Okay.”
Finally Sirius stepped forward.
The two brothers stared at each other.
Sirius looked like he wanted to punch someone.
“You hate this.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Regulus snorted.
“I’ll survive.”
Sirius grabbed the back of his neck briefly and pulled him into a rough hug.
“Don’t get yourself killed.”
“Planning not to.”
The officer cleared his throat.
“It’s time.”
Regulus sighed.
He grabbed his bag.
Climbed into the van.
The door slid shut.
And just like that—
He was gone.
The others were not allowed to follow immediately.
Regulations.
Paperwork.
Clearances.
They spent the next few hours pacing the castle like trapped animals until McGonagall returned to escort them.
By late morning they were all loaded into another vehicle headed toward the military base.
The drive felt endless.
Finally the gates appeared.
Tall fencing.
Guard towers.
Concrete buildings.
The vehicle stopped at a checkpoint.
Uniformed guards approached.
Passes were checked.
Names recorded.
Doors opened.
They stepped out into the base.
It smelled faintly of fuel and metal.
Everything looked orderly.
Precise.
Structured.
An officer approached them.
“Visitors for Regulus Black.”
McGonagall nodded.
“Yes.”
“Follow me.”
He handed them visitor badges.
“Wear these at all times.”
They clipped them onto their shirts.
Then the tour began.
They passed barracks.
Training fields.
Vehicle hangars.
Rows of trucks.
A distant runway.
Groups of recruits jogging in formation.
Sirius stared around in disbelief.
“This is insane.”
Fabian pointed at a tank.
“I want one.”
“You cannot steal a tank,” Gideon said.
The officer led them through several buildings.
Finally they stopped outside a large training hall.
“You can see him inside.”
The door opened.
They stepped in.
And froze.
Across the room stood Regulus Black.
And for a moment no one spoke.
His hair—
Was gone.
Or mostly gone.
The curls had been buzzed down to a clean military cut.
It should have looked ridiculous.
It didn’t.
It looked—
Unfair.
“Holy shit,” Barty whispered.
Regulus turned.
He was wearing a uniform.
Proper military fatigues.
Dark green.
Perfectly fitted.
The belt cinched at his waist.
The sleeves rolled neatly at his forearms.
Boots.
Name tag.
Everything.
It looked—
Ridiculously good on him.
Pandora stared.
“…That is upsetting.”
Dorcas nodded slowly.
“He looks unfairly hot.”
James blinked.
“This is illegal.”
Sirius looked personally betrayed.
“They shaved him and somehow made him hotter.”
Regulus walked over.
He looked annoyed.
But not miserable.
Just—
Resigned.
“Hi.”
Everyone immediately surrounded him.
“YOUR HAIR!” Mary cried.
“THE CURLS!” Marlene wailed.
Regulus rubbed the back of his neck.
“It grows back.”
Barty pointed dramatically.
“You look like a soldier.”
“I am technically a soldier.”
Pandora studied the uniform.
“The belt is excellent.”
Evan nodded.
“It shows off the waist.”
Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Thank you.”
Remus looked around.
“How is it.”
Regulus shrugged.
“…Honestly?”
Everyone leaned closer.
“It’s not awful.”
They blinked.
“What.”
He leaned against a table.
“The other recruits are mostly chill.”
“You have friends already?” James asked.
“Bunkmates.”
“You have bunkmates.”
“Yes.”
Peter squeaked.
“You’re sleeping in barracks.”
“Yes.”
Pandora tilted her head.
“What about the training.”
Regulus sighed.
“That’s complicated.”
Sirius groaned.
“Of course it is.”
Regulus gestured vaguely.
“I’m not on the same routine as everyone else.”
“Why.”
“The rotation plan.”
Everyone groaned.
“Right.”
“They’ve put me in advanced training tracks.”
Barty raised a hand.
“Define advanced.”
Regulus started counting on his fingers.
“Strategy lessons.”
Remus blinked.
“Logistics.”
Frank nodded slowly.
“Basic combat training.”
James winced.
“Advanced fitness training.”
Fabian grinned.
“Medical training.”
Lily perked up.
“Weapons training.”
Peter squeaked again.
“Vehicle training.”
Pandora clapped softly.
“Photography training.”
Dorcas blinked.
“That one is random.”
“They said it’s useful for reconnaissance.”
Regulus shrugged.
“Basic military skills.”
“Survival training.”
“Field navigation.”
“Communication systems.”
The group stared.
“That’s a lot,” Remus said.
Regulus nodded.
“And in a few months…”
He hesitated.
“They’re having me intern under some generals.”
The entire group exploded.
“WHAT?!” James shouted.
“GENERALS?!” Fabian yelled.
“YOU JUST GOT HERE!” Sirius barked.
Regulus raised his hands.
“They said it’s part of the leadership evaluation.”
Pandora looked delighted.
“You are speed running the military.”
“Apparently.”
“And after that?” Remus asked carefully.
Regulus sighed.
“More training.”
“What kind.”
“Terrain training.”
“Different biomes.”
“Desert.”
“Mountains.”
“Forests.”
“Arctic.”
Evan blinked.
“…You’re becoming a video game protagonist.”
Regulus rubbed his face.
“I’m trying to adapt.”
Sirius crossed his arms.
“You hate this.”
Regulus shrugged.
“I’m here now.”
“So.”
He looked around the base.
“Might as well make it as easy for myself as possible.”
Pandora smiled faintly.
“That is very you.”
Barty leaned closer.
“Have you fired a gun yet.”
Regulus smirked.
“…Yes.”
Everyone screamed again.
The moment Regulus admitted he had already fired a gun, the room exploded.
“YOU WHAT?!” James shouted.
“ALREADY?!” Marlene shrieked.
“THIS MORNING?!” Fabian yelled.
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN HERE?!” Sirius demanded.
Regulus sighed deeply.
“…Three hours.”
“THREE HOURS?!” Mary cried.
“What the hell do they do here?!” Gideon said.
“Speed run war?!” Barty added.
Regulus rubbed the back of his neck, clearly already tired of explaining.
“You’re all being dramatic.”
“DRAMATIC?” Sirius barked.
“You got drafted into the military yesterday!”
Regulus leaned back against the table again, unimpressed.
“Yes.”
“AND YOU’VE ALREADY FIRED A GUN!”
“Yes.”
Pandora raised her hand politely.
“Please explain the morning timeline.”
Regulus sighed.
“Fine.”
Everyone leaned in.
“I got picked up at five.”
Peter made a choking sound.
“FIVE?!”
“Yes.”
“They brought me here around six-thirty.”
“And then?” Lily asked.
“Paperwork.”
“Lots of paperwork.”
“Forms.”
“Medical confirmations.”
“Background checks.”
“Orientation packets.”
Fabian nodded slowly.
“That tracks.”
“They issued my uniform.”
Everyone stared at it again.
Barty whistled.
“Still unfair.”
“They shaved my hair.”
Mary whimpered quietly.
“They assigned my bunk.”
“Then we had orientation.”
“What kind of orientation?” Remus asked.
“Base rules.”
“Chain of command.”
“Basic expectations.”
“Schedules.”
“Security.”
“Then breakfast.”
Sirius blinked.
“They feed you?”
“Yes.”
“Good breakfast?”
“Decent.”
James leaned forward.
“And then?”
Regulus shrugged.
“Initial training introductions.”
“Fitness evaluation.”
“Weapons safety.”
“Range orientation.”
“And yes.”
He pointed at James.
“That’s when I fired a gun.”
The screaming started again.
“THIS IS INSANE!”
“IT’S BEEN THREE HOURS!”
Regulus waited patiently for the chaos to settle before continuing.
“After that they showed me the barracks.”
Pandora scribbled notes in her notebook.
“And your bunkmates?”
“They seem fine.”
“Mostly normal.”
Barty leaned closer.
“Define normal.”
Regulus smirked slightly.
“Well.”
“Two of them already tried flirting with me.”
The group exploded.
“WHAT?!” Sirius roared.
“ALREADY?!” Marlene shrieked.
“THIS FAST?!” Fabian shouted.
Regulus shrugged lazily.
“I walked into the room.”
“One of them immediately said and I quote—”
He mimicked a deep voice.
“‘Well hello there Black.’”
Barty laughed.
“Iconic.”
Regulus continued.
“Another one asked if I’d ever used communal showers before.”
The room erupted again.
“OH MY GOD,” Dorcas said.
Regulus smirked.
“They were joking.”
“Mostly.”
Pandora looked fascinated.
“You are already causing social disruption.”
“Apparently.”
Sirius looked murderous.
“I hate this place.”
Regulus ignored him.
“The recruits are actually pretty chill.”
“And the instructors?”
Remus asked carefully.
Regulus shrugged.
“Strict.”
“But not awful.”
“They yell.”
“They run everything by last name.”
Barty straightened dramatically.
“BLACK!”
Regulus pointed at him.
“Yes exactly.”
“Lots of that.”
“They’re intense but…”
He shrugged again.
“They actually seem genuine.”
“Like they care.”
Lily blinked.
“That’s surprising.”
“They want us to succeed.”
“Not die.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Regulus nodded.
“They’re not monsters.”
Then James leaned forward again.
“What about the rest of today?”
Regulus sighed.
“…You want the full schedule?”
“Yes,” Pandora said immediately.
Regulus pulled a folded paper from his pocket.
“Fine.”
He glanced down.
“Lunch is in twenty minutes.”
“Then strategy class.”
Remus perked up slightly.
“That’s interesting.”
“Then logistics briefing.”
Frank nodded.
“Makes sense.”
“Then basic training drills.”
“Then advanced fitness.”
Fabian grinned.
“Nice.”
“Then medical training introduction.”
Lily looked intrigued.
“Then survival skills.”
“Then dinner.”
“And after dinner?”
James asked.
Regulus glanced down again.
“Weapons training.”
Peter squeaked.
“More guns?!”
“Different ones.”
“And after that?”
“Vehicle training.”
Everyone blinked.
“Tonight?” Sirius asked.
“Yes.”
“What kind of vehicles?” Gideon said.
Regulus shrugged.
“Motorbikes.”
Fabian looked delighted.
“YES.”
“Cars.”
“Military vans.”
“And apparently tomorrow they introduce tanks.”
Fabian looked like he might cry tears of joy.
“This place is amazing.”
Regulus sighed.
“It’s exhausting.”
Pandora tilted her head.
“You also mentioned bicycles earlier.”
Regulus nodded.
“Yes.”
“Bike training is tomorrow morning.”
Mary frowned.
“You need training to ride a bike?”
“Apparently they have tactical bikes.”
Everyone stared.
“Tactical bikes?” James repeated.
“Yes.”
“That sounds fake.”
“Welcome to the military.”
The group stared at him.
Then Barty leaned forward slowly.
“You know what.”
Everyone looked at him.
“I’m joining.”
Pandora nodded.
“Me too.”
Fabian raised his hand.
“Same.”
Gideon pointed.
“We can protect him.”
Sirius immediately stepped forward.
“Yes.”
“We all enlist.”
James nodded.
“Obviously.”
Regulus stared at them.
“…No.”
“What do you mean no,” Sirius said.
“You literally cannot.”
“Why not.”
Regulus started pointing.
“Sirius.”
“What.”
“You have three documented broken bones that healed incorrectly.”
Sirius blinked.
“…Oh.”
“James.”
James straightened.
“You have chronic eyesight problems.”
James frowned.
“I wear glasses sometimes.”
“Exactly.”
James deflated slightly.
“Peter.”
Peter froze.
“You panic under pressure.”
Peter sank down slowly.
“…Fair.”
“Remus.”
Remus didn’t even argue.
“Medical.”
“Lily.”
Lily blinked.
“What’s wrong with me.”
“Your asthma.”
Lily blinked again.
“…Right.”
“Mary.”
Mary frowned.
“My knee.”
Mary sighed.
“Oh yeah.”
“Marlene.”
“What’s mine?”
“You literally tore your shoulder playing Quidditch.”
Marlene groaned.
“Dammit.”
“Alice.”
Alice blinked.
“…Anxiety.”
Alice sighed quietly.
“Fair.”
“Frank.”
Frank frowned.
“My back.”
“Correct.”
“Fabian.”
Fabian crossed his arms.
“I’m fine.”
“You have hearing damage.”
Fabian blinked.
“…Oh.”
“Gideon.”
Gideon frowned.
“What about me.”
“You have terrible depth perception.”
Gideon squinted.
“…Oh yeah.”
Then Regulus turned to the Slytherins.
“Barty.”
Barty grinned.
“What’s mine.”
“You have impulse control issues.”
Barty looked offended.
“That’s rude.”
“Evan.”
Evan smirked.
“Try me.”
“You have a documented concussion history.”
Evan blinked.
“…Shit.”
“Pandora.”
Pandora tilted her head.
“Yes?”
“You once tried to taste a potion ingredient because it looked interesting.”
Pandora nodded.
“Valid curiosity.”
“They would reject you instantly.”
“Dorcas.”
Dorcas raised an eyebrow.
“And me.”
“You have a permanent wrist injury.”
Dorcas sighed.
“Right.”
He finished.
“That’s fifteen people.”
“None of you qualify.”
The entire group slowly deflated.
Like balloons losing air.
“…This sucks,” James muttered.
“We were going to protect you,” Mary said.
Regulus shrugged.
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
Sirius crossed his arms stubbornly.
“You still hate this.”
“Yes.”
“But.”
Regulus glanced around the base.
“I’m here.”
“So.”
He shrugged again.
“I’ll survive.”
Barty sighed dramatically.
“Our pretty boy soldier.”
Pandora closed her notebook.
“You will become extremely decorated.”
Fabian pointed.
“You’re driving a tank.”
Gideon nodded.
“You’re flying a jet.”
James added.
“You’re commanding a submarine.”
Dorcas smirked slightly.
“And everyone in your barracks is flirting with you.”
Regulus groaned.
“This is going to be a long year.”