Chapter Text
{Regulus}
Regulus is mostly blocking out his friends if he’s being honest, after a while you get used to Barty’s nonsense and block him out. Today he’s gotten Evan riled up and they’re bouncing stupidity off of each other. Regulus wants to strangle them both.
He voices this out loud, and Barty just grins and says “Kinky.”
Evan chortles, looking delighted and Regulus briefly wonder’s if he’s high. But alas, that’s just Evan for you. Regulus has been stuck on Barty-and-Evan duty because Pandora has been missing since last night and Dorcas is in a class of her own.
Regulus shepherds them towards their charms class, making it just a minute before class starts. He’s good at doing it, they’d probably all be late if he wasn’t.
The three of them sit in their usual row, in the back of the class. Evan and Barty are sharing a desk, but they push it up against Regulus’. Usually Pandora sits on Regulus’ right but she’s not here.
Regulus puts his bag on her seat to save it for her anyway.
Last night the five of them were relaxing in the boys’ dorm and Barty was explaining the ins and outs of his fling with Peter Pettigrew of all people, when a third year knocked on their door and said that Minerva needed Pandora, but they didn’t know what for. Pandora had gone without complaint, and they hadn’t seen her since.
Charms comes and goes without any sign of her, so they head to the Great Hall for lunch. As Regulus sits, he scans the Gryffindor table, searching for who knows. He’s hoping to catch a glimpse of his brother, or a particular Quidditch Captain who’s looking very mouthwatering lately, or perhaps Pandora.
He only finds one of those three, and he’s the second option. James is sitting next to Pettigrew, and their heads are bent close together as they talk. Regulus can’t make out their words but they both look distressed, and as if they hadn’t slept.
This is concerning for a multitude of reasons; for one, Sirius and James are always together. Always. For two, both boys look like they’d rather not be noticed, which is unusual and not on brand for either of them, especially for James Potter. And third, none of the Marauders ever look less than perfect, and currently they both look like shit.
Suspicious.
Regulus turns his attention to Barty, who’s trying to see how many grapes he can fit in his mouth while Evan rants and absentmindedly keeps track of the grapes on his fingers.
“I’m getting worried about Dora.” Regulus tells them.
“Regulus Black? Outwardly caring about one of his friends? Scandalous.” Evan says, clutching his head. Barty tries not to laugh so he doesn’t accidentally choke, which ends up him spitting grapes all over the table.
Regulus scrunches his nose in disgust and turns back to Evan. “You’re an ass, and aren’t you worried? At all?”
Evan shrugs. “Pandora is Pandora, she’ll turn up eventually.”
Regulus recalls that statement a few hours later when Pandora joins them again, eyes red rimmed like she’d just been crying and still wearing her clothes from last night.
The boys had met up with Dorcas again after classes and they were tucked into the back corner of the library studying. (Regulus and Dorcas were studying, Evan was reading something that is barely legal, and Barty was acting as their personal goggle)
“Dora? What on earth happened?” Dorcas asks, rising out of her seat to stand by Pandora and pull her into a hug. Pandora responds by bursting into tears, which has Evan jumping out of his seat to join the embrace and Barty and Regulus sharing a concerned look.
Evan and Dorcas manage to get her into a chair and Barty crouches by her legs, a supportive hand on her knee.
“What’s wrong lovely?” He asks gently. Not many people get to see this side of Barty, the kind, empathetic version. Most people see a kid who’s cold and malicious.
“Remus- He-”
And Regulus can assume he knows where this is going almost immediately. Remus, Pandora’s older brother, just so happens to be a werewolf (a fact only Regulus knows out of their group) and last night was a full moon. And Regulus isn’t an idiot, he knows some moons can be worse than others, and why else would Minerva summon Pandora so late at night?
It takes a few moments for Pandora to calm down enough to compose a coherent sentence, and they don’t rush her. Dorcas continues rubbing calming circles into her back, Barty remains crouched by her legs and Evan remains holding her hand.
Pandora looks straight at Regulus and says so quietly that he can’t be 100% sure what she said. “Sirius told Snape.”
And Regulus wishes nothing more than that to be a lie. Because if that’s the truth, then Regulus doesn’t know what to do with himself. Because if that’s the truth, then SIrius is a horrible, vindictive person.
Regulus and Sirius may have drifted apart to a point where they don’t talk anymore but Regulus knows his brother. And that isn’t Sirius, it’s not. Regulus refuses to believe it is.
“What?” Regulus’ mouth has gone dry.
“He told Snape how to get past the tree and Remus nearly killed him.” Pandora is hyperventilating now.
“Remus wouldn’t kill someone.” Barty says disbelievingly.
Regulus glances at Pandora, who nods, giving him the green light to explain what he can. “Barty, last night was a full moon.”
It’s quiet for a moment before Barty gets it and Regulus can see the moment he understands, because his eyes widen. “He’s a werewolf?”
Dorcas and Evan also seem to be processing this new fact, chewing on the idea. Regulus can practically see the cogs turning in their heads.
“Is that why he’s so grumpy every month? I thought he was just trans.” Dorcas shrugs. Regulus realizes she’s trying to cheer Pandora up.
Evan laughs and then slaps a hand over his mouth, looking mortified. This reaction makes Pandora smile softly, albeit she still looks like she’s having trouble breathing and her hands are shaking.
“What happened exactly Dora?” Evan asks carefully.
Pandora takes a deep breath before explaining how Sirius told Snape to get past the tree, how Potter showed up and got Snape out, how Peter ran for Minerva and Poppy. Apparently, Snape and Remus are both still in the infirmary and Sirius has detentions twice a week till the end of the year. He’s also been removed from the Quidditch team.
Pandora waited for Remus all night and stayed with him all day. She says that it was the worst moon he’s ever had, probably worse than his first. Their parents went off at Dumbledore and Mrs. Snape, with good reason.
Pandora also says that James was bad as well, and that his parents had been called for both him and Sirius. Which of course leaves a sour taste in Regulus’ mouth, and he’ll never admit it but he’s jealous of his brother.
Obviously not of the circumstances, which Regulus doesn’t quite understand, but the fact that he has parental figures who care about him apparently. It’s not fair that Sirius gets to be free of the Noble house of Black and that he gets to play happy families with the Potters and that he can get away with attempted manslaughter.
And Regulus has never really given Remus Lupin much thought, even once he found out his furry little problem. Sure, he’s his best friend's older brother, and his brother's weird fling but he’s never really been much else.
“He can’t stay in the dorm with Black.” Dorcas tells them. “I don’t care about Potter or Pettigrew, but he can’t stay with Sirius.”
“There aren’t any dorm spaces left, Sirius tried to get removed from theirs. Remus is dreading back, so he’s staying in the Hospital wing for longer.” Pandora says sadly.
A light bulb goes off in Regulus’ head. There's a spare bed in their dorm, because the previous owner had gotten expelled for using imperious on a younger year.
“Barty, can you get Pettigrew to pack Remus’ things? He can stay in Adrian’s old bed.”
“Are you sure?” Pandora asks them, turning to look at Regulus with a furrow in her brow.
Regulus shrugs. “I don’t mind. But I’m doing it for you, not him.”
Evan and Barty both look at each other and nod. “Yeah, we don’t care either.”
Pandora starts tearing up again. “Thanks guys.”
Barty presses a kiss to her temple before leaving the library to locate Pettigrew to pack Remus’ things and bring them to the dorm.
{Sirius}
Sirius Black has had a hard life to be frank. He’s struggled through life, floundering and hoping someone will throw out a buoy and pull him to safety. And three someone's did, they gave him a life jacket, but Sirius thinks that he’s just taken a knife and popped it.
And now he’s drowning with no hope.
The worst part of it is that he hurt his best friends in the process so can’t even blame them for dropping him in the surf. One stupid choice that wasn’t even thought out has successfully ruined multiple people's lives.
And it wasn’t worth it.
It wasn’t worth watching Remus flinch away from him, or the disappointment in Peter’s eyes or James’ anger. All because Snape had made a smartass comment about Sirius and his family, and Sirius had to retaliate.
It wasn’t even worth seeing Snape bruised and bloody, wasn’t worth knowing that he had almost made Remus a killer, without him having any sort of say. Because he would’ve killed him, could’ve killed him, if not for James and Peter.
James had launched himself between Snape and Remus, putting himself in danger. Luckily, he had only gotten a few bruises of his own, otherwise Sirius would probably be even more unstable than he currently is, which you wouldn’t think is possible. Peter had dragged Snape into the tunnel, locked him in and then run all the way back to the castle to get Poppy and Minnie.
Sirius hasn’t seen any of his friends since early this morning when they were all summoned to Dumbledore’s office to explain what had happened. He skipped his classes, hiding in different secret passages all day. He went to the kitchens briefly for a sandwich but left soon after.
Now he’s sitting on the roof of the astronomy tower, watching the stars as he waits for it to get late enough to head to bed without running into any of his friends. The sun set a few hours ago and it’s getting cold, but Sirius left his wand in his trunk.
It doesn’t matter because he wouldn’t have casted a warming charm anyway.
Sirius’ eyes land on the Orion constellation and a sick feeling twists its way through his gut.
“Maybe I really am your son.” Sirius whispers into the night.
Another half hour goes by before Sirius decides to go in, Peter is usually asleep by now and James should be climbing into bed by the time Sirius makes it back.
He still walks slowly, dragging his feet along the cobblestones to the fat lady, whom he tells the password to. She swings open and he climbs through, instantly spotting Lily and Marlene sitting by the fire in the comfy chairs.
In a very unlike Sirius action, he tries to sneak behind them, not wanting to talk, but Marlene spots him.
“Oi Sirius! Where’ve you been all day?” Marlene calls out and Sirius freezes in place and turns to look at her.
Sirius’ eyes flicker to Lily who is regarding him with a cold expression, which is all Sirius needs to know to realize that she knows. Sirius swallows thickly and looks back at Marlene, smiling what he hopes is convincingly, but it probably looks like a grimace.
“Not been feeling well.”
Marlene narrows her eyes at him. “What’s been going on with you and the guys? You all look miserable today and I saw James lose it at a third year just before.”
“Marls leave him alone, it’s probably just a silly fight.” Lily tells her firmly and the look she sends Sirius makes him certain that she’s only protecting Remus. Marlene looks between them suspiciously but lets it go and Sirius is grateful.
“Right. I’m going to bed now. G’night.” Sirius mumbles before bounding up the stairs without waiting for an answer.
He hesitates before opening the door but takes a deep breath. He immediately looks at Remus’ bed, confused when Remus is not only not there, but none of his stuff is anyway. Peter’s bed is made and he’s nowhere to be seen, but James is standing by his own bed leafing through a book.
James doesn’t acknowledge Sirius as he busies himself getting ready for bed. Sirius is about to slip into bed when he stops and looks at James who has since sat on his bed.
“Where’s Moony’s stuff? Minnie said he wasn’t being expelled, did Snape-”
“He doesn’t want to stay here and for goodness sake don’t pretend you care about Severus Snape.” James snaps.
Sirius recoils. “Right.”
James doesn’t spare him another glance as he climbs into bed and pulls the curtains tight around his bed and Sirius’ shoulders slump. He climbs into his own bed after flicking the lights off and pulls the curtains around.
It takes him two hours to fall asleep without James beside him.