Chapter Text
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Regulus tried to be surprised when McGonagall announced the groups as he got off the coach. For such a petite woman her voice certainly projected across the coach park, the murmurs doing nothing to quell her as people gripped each other closely like they were being separated for the next week and not for all of four hours. They’d be reunited at lunch.
“Group four with me will be Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Bartimus Crouch, Evan Rosier, Emmeline Vance, Pandora Crawley and Regulus Black. Anyone's name who was not called out is in group five with Mr kettleburn. Please make your way to your professor” She finished and Regulus silently groaned.
McGonagall was clearly going for teacher of the year, grouping the marauders as his brother and friends referred to themselves alongside two trouble makers who would follow each other off a cliff, the schools biggest gossip and panda who well Regulus did adore her but he was the first to admit she was kooky and not to everyone’s taste. As to why he was grouped here he had no clue. He was a model student. Barty did his dirty work.
“Gather around all of you. It’s a busy day” McGonagall began as she passed around a thick looking booklet, the type that would have many questions that she would expect to be answered. “This needs to be filled in correctly, it is to be handed in to me at the end of the day to ensure that you have all attained something from the trip. It goes that no one is to copy from either Remus’s or Regulus’s books, please Sirius I can hear the two cogs of your brain whirling from here. We will all stick together in one group, any questions?”
“I’m wounded that you think so little of me Minnie”
“I don’t have to think, Mr Black for I already know”
Pandora bundled over to him, her jacket embroidered with little owls as she smiled up looking perfectly glad to be grouped with him.
“Are you going to be okay?” she asked, looking towards the gathering.
“Just fine” he shot his brother a glance who was still pestering McGonagall as they made their way into the museum. As soon as his hand was stamped he could at least relax. He liked museums and Panda had this way of interpreting things to offer them in an unusual light.
“Reggie” Barty slapped him on the back as he swung his arm over his shoulder
“Barty” he replied, awaiting Evan to join them. He was bound to join the gathering. Evan moved in the same circles as Regulus, forming a complicated bond that was a haze of hatred for family but a strange love all the same.
“Have I mentioned how lovely you look today”
“Not happening”
“Damn, Evan have I mentioned how lovely you are looking today”
Evan just let out an eye roll, “Thank You so much Barty, why my self esteem has just risen sky high”
“You're welcome. Miss Pandora you look exceptionally lovely as always”
“Thanks Bee” She smiled up at him, “you know i’m rather looking forward to this trip, getting to discuss such intellectual pursuits and listen to how everyone ideals are so different”
“I’m just happy to be away from Hogwarts for the day,” Barty laughed.
“Well we all know that it's not intellectual pursuits coming from you” Evan murmured and Regulus held back his laugh.
It was a little of a cage fight at the top between about seven students occasionally eight if Sirius rose to the challenge when he could be bothered but he tended to just settle below in his own little act of rebellion. Still Evan’s dampened mood probably came from sitting next to him for an hour on a coach, headphones did nothing to deter Barty from speaking. Small doses were fine but long unescapable doses tended to range in varying forms of torture.
“Oh Evan” Barty sighed clutching his chest, acting hurt as Evan stared him down for a moment. For half a moment Regulus thought it was actually going to go somewhere but both of them seemed to drop it at the same moment, Barty turning his attention back to Panda and Evan looking at the ground uninterested, kicking lightly at a pebble. No Regulus was not looking like he was going to survive this day.
“Gather round” McGonagall called out, a frown line looked deep on her face which would be a natural reaction of dealing with Sirius for the day. It was only going to get worse, not that Regulus voiced that. They shuffled closer and out of the corner of his eye he could see Sirius subtly looking at him. He glanced back, mouthing a quick what. Sirius shook his head, turning his attention back to one of his friends.
Regulus noticed how Emmeline stood slightly off from the group, one hand resting on her elbow as she looked around clearly displeased. He didn't blame her. This was the least gossipy group and he normally went out of his way to avoid her. He knew he wasn't the only one looking as Pandora slipped out from Bartys grasp and made her way over, offering a little greeting. Regulus moved a step closer, ready to defend her at whatever bite might come from the other girl's mouth, instead he ended up stuck with mistake number two of the day.
“Right who you are standing next to is now your partner for the day”
School trips should come with a tornado warning. In fact attendance should be made optional so that way he wouldn’t be stuck with James Potter. He had to remind himself it could be worse because James was merely a barrier between him and Sirius which would result in an explosion that would lead to the school never doing trips again.
“We shall start up on level four, so I want us to climb up the stairs in an orderly fashion and stop when we get to the entrance, anyone who fails to comply with this simple instruction will find themselves in a very boring room before returning to school where they will spend their time with the headmaster. Am I clear?”
“So we are partners, huh”
Regulus smiled up at James. One of those smiles that Sirius said could curse an army into running terrified for their lives, alternatively he said it also reminded him of Walburga which had a similar effect on just about anyone.
“Not thrilled about it, okay. Err Sirius, wait up”
It had the desired effect as James hurried up a couple of steps, latching onto the shorter whose hand was linked with Remus leaving Regulus alone. Exactly how he liked it.
“Reggie” Sirius scolding tone suggested that Potter had tattled. His hand reached back for him, and Regulus decided to grasp it before he ended up sent to the Dumbledore chat room.
“Sirius”
“Thought you promise to no longer terrify my friends”
Regulus held his hands up in mock surrender, “I recall making no promise”
“Mmm I guess I take back the one that said I’ll get mama potters famous cookies if you were nice”
“You bribed him” James raised a dark eyebrow in surprise, “with my mothers cookies no less”
“How else do you get a rabid animal to comply? I blame our parents upbringing, we only know bribery to achieve compliance”
Regulus held back a little snort. Remus seemed completely unaffected as if this was the typical occurrence that happened every time the black family was brought up.
“But with my mothers cookies? How? I asked her for a batch the other day and she practically told me unless I bucked my ideas up there was a fat chance of it happening”
“We come from a broken home, Jamie. We exploit people's weaknesses, and hers is kindness. She’d give me cookies everyday if it helped to bring me happiness”
Sirius was distracted then and James tried to argue the point that he shouldn’t take advantage of an older woman, and Regulus slipped back, falling in step with Barty and Evan.
“Help me” he muttered as they both sniggered.
“Surely this is everything you ever dreamed of. James Potter's full attention to you” Barty teased.
“Jealous?”
“Not in the slightest. He can have you, you’re a pest”
He cracked a smile at that, “oh B you say the nicest of things to me”
Barty slung his arm back around Regulus' shoulders, pulling him in between himself and Evan. “Come on let’s go stare at dinosaur bones, see if Evan can tell which is which”.
“Shame they aren’t real, we could have fed you to them” Evan snarked back.
“Enough” McGonagall called out sharply. “Now I’m trusting you to wander around the exhibit without causing chaos, yes I am looking at you Sirius and James, and fill out your work booklets. Any questions ask them. I expect you to meet me again back at this door in half an hour with the section completed. Stick with your partners”
Everyone split up at once, diving in different directions of the exhibit. Regulus heard McGonagall mutter under her breath how much she was going to regret this as he noticed James was lingering in wait for him. His face was earnest as Regulus took a lingering glance at the kind brown eyes that looked eager for him to come over.
Flipping open his booklet, he found the section they were supposed to be working on, beginning to work through the questions wondering as to why they were covering something they learnt in primary school. Clearly it was just to prove that they had covered the entire museum.
James continued to hover beside him as he moved slowly along working through the questions in an order that got it done. To his left he could see Panda and Emmeline looking at the pictures of dodo birds clearly enamoured by how ‘cute’ they were.
“Have you ever thought about what type of dinosaur you’d be?”
Regulus looked up, raising an eyebrow at James who didn’t seem even slightly disturbed at the sort of question he had just blurted out.
“You see you and your friends would be raptors because you alway move in a pack, vicious and ruthless. Remus would be a t-Rex even though he’d deny it. Sirius I’m not sure? Do you think they had pretty dinosaurs? Maybe he’d be a dodo bird since everyone thinks that they are cute. Not that I’m implying that your brother is cute, um unless that to is an offence in which case he is cute. I’d be a diplodocus”
Regulus really wasn’t sure how he was supposed to process that. His brow furrowed as he wondered what type of company his brother kept. Perhaps their parents were right about the whole pure thing except he knew James also came from an old blood money.
“You can disagree. It’s just you’ve got this edge that Sirius doesn’t have to his face. It’s kind of a mean streak and well that’s what is said about the raptors”
Checking that his questions book was finished, he noted that McGonagall was heading in their direction.
“Professor McGonagall, James here has just the most interesting theory about the dinosaurs, you just need to hear it”
He stepped back, his lips twitching with the tiniest twinge of satisfaction as James improvised an awful explanation that wasn’t his classmates as dinosaurs. Unfortunately it seemed that James was blessed with a blabber mouth that could come up with ideas that did have a bit of common even if McGonagall had a look of disapproval slipping on to her face.
“Thank You so much for that riveting idea, James. Has anyone else got anything that they want to share? Please don't be shy, the whole point of being here is to have these discussions and broaden our minds”
Regulus clenched his fist as James gave him a pleased smile. “See mean streak” he mouthed and Regulus raised his middle finger as subtly as possible causing Barty to burst into laughter. Evan gave him a soft prod with his own hand as McGonagall turned to see what was so funny.
“Something you’d like to share with the rest of us, Bartemius?”
“No. Nothing important, wandering mind and all that”
McGonagall didn't look like she believed him even for a second but she didn't force the topic. “Shall we move on to the next section then? Down the hall to the next room please”
Everyone did as they were told and Barty glared at Regulus giving a harsh whisper, “she's going to be on my back now”
“You were the one that cackled”
“Now as you can see we have moved into the early Cretaceous period, a time where rebirth is about to happen to the earth as the meteor draws closer. Can anyone tell me where the name came from” McGonagall asked, standing in front of an odd looking map.
“Latin for chalk” Regulus whispered to Barty.
“The term creta is latin for chalk, named after the fact that scientists termed most of the rocks found from that era as chalk” Barty quickly spoke.
“Good, Bartimus, can anyone else tell me what was happening during this time?”
“Earth was splitting up into different continents” Regulus whispered to Evan this time.
“It was beginning to form how the map looks today, with the plates moving to separate bits of earth from each other” Evan said, mock raising his hand in the air.
“Correct, Evan, you and Barty may get on with your work” McGonagall did seem much more pleased by this. The tiniest of high five happened as they lopped off, looking around and feigning interest. “Has anyone else got anything they want to add?”
Silence continued to fall. “Very well off you go, I’ll meet you in the next room”
Regulus made his way over to his friends who were comparing the way the continents looked to phallic shapes. “Thanks Reggie” Barty paused to give him an appreciative look.
“Just make sure you fill this part of the booklet in so she doesn't find it suspicious anymore when she checks your work” Regulus gave an elegant shrug.
“Fuck hadnt thought of that”
“You never do” Evan gave him a soft pat on the cheek, “also help because I wasn't given tutors as a child to learn my way through history, geography and science in a single sitting”
“Its two question on what we've just discussed”
“Oh”
Sometimes Regulus wondered if they would make it through life without him or whether they just turned into idiots around him so that he wouldn't notice their little lingering touches or glances. Not that you could waterboard that information out of him. He quickly jotted down his answers, making sure to grab a couple of names off the walls around him.
The rest of the exhibits were equally as dull however James had continued to use his common sense and avoid Regulus. He found it a bit of a shame because everytime McGonagall asked a question he could have easily provoked him into another dumb theory, although the one that Barty had just suggested did bring the same effect. If anything McGonagall certainly had a couple more grey hairs then what she had started with at the beginning of the day.
The lunch room was now crowded with the rest of the school trip participants, and they were the last group to arrive in. He noticed Peter give James an anxious wave from a back table.
“She really doesnt trust us, does she?” Barty told him as he took in the fact that it was the one empty table at the back left.
“No” Regulus allowed Barty to lead him over there, settling down at the opposite end to everyone else. Evan joined them so that they were their own little trio, sharing his lunch between himself and Barty who had conveniently forgotten to pack his. Not unsurprising for a seventeen year old boy however Evan for once had thought ahead and brought double. He insisted that it wasn’t the case and he was just really hungry because he was a growing lad. Regulus had let it slide. Talking about feelings was not where he wanted this friendship to head.
“Reggie, you are such a suck up” Sirius interrupted, leaning across to steal one of the sandwiches he had just unwrapped. There hands collided in the middle, as Regulus tried to push him away.
“If you were nicer to Kreacher then he’d give you sandwiches too and not yesterday's leftovers” Regulus retorted. Hoarding them back towards him. Sirius could call him names all he liked but it would be over his dead body before he shared his food.
“If you were nicer you’d share with your older brother” Sirius rubbed at his knuckles with a frown.
“Here, have one of mine” Evan interrupted, handing one towards Sirius sensing an impending argument. It was part of the black brothers charm. To spit insults at each other then go back to acting like nothing had ever happened. Regulus knew Evan did no such thing with his siblings or at very least he had never done so around him.
“Evan I don’t know why you hang around with such miscreants, Thanks”
“Your welcome” Evan replied as Barty gave him a middle finger.
“Oh suck a dick” Regulus shot back at him.
“I’ve tried but Moony won’t let me”
Remus who had been taking a drink at that moment let out a spluttered cough and James leant over to give him a pack on the back. “Can I be left out of this one”
“Fat chance” James told him as he watched, waiting to see if it would cease fire.
“Can't blame him, who would want your dirty mouth near them”
“Really all this over a sandwich?”
“Like they’d want your virgin ass anywhere near them”
“Okay guys perhaps you should”
“Yeah not Regs fault he's not a whore”
“Shut it Barty” Both boys spat glaring daggers at the other boy who just leaned back in his chair looking smug.
Silence fell on the group after that as Barty held his hand up for Evan to high five. Turns out he did have his perks. One getting the Black Brothers to shut up. Everyone decided to bask in said silence, munching away until Barty in a fit of boredom flicked a crumb that bounced towards Sirius. Sirius flicked it back until there was an all out crumb war across the table. It only escalated from there, with a packet of crisps getting thrown that flew across the room and narrowly avoided the teachers table.
“James, you really are clumsy” Regulus went hurrying to retrieve it before one of them came over, “at least we can see why you are on the footie team”. Really, Regulus thought it was my quick thinking that gets people out of trouble.
“What can I say Black, you just get me all flustered” James winked at him and Regulus found his hand clenching the bag a little too hard.
“Urgh that's my brother” Sirius gave him a whack from across the table.
“Yeah dont flirt with my boy, Potter”
Regulus threw the bag of crisps with a successful aim at Bartys head, hitting him square in the face with a thump. Laughter erupted across the room.
“Professor McGonagall did you see that”
“See what”
Minerva McGonagall suddenly went up in respect.
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“McGonagall, we are just going to head to the toilet. Five minutes tops” Sirius batted his eyelashes lightly. Distracted, she muttered go on as she continued her chat to Mrs sprout. Regulus watched as Sirius dragged Remus along with him, he really didn't want to think about what they were actually doing as he returned his focus to capturing the lines that were the statues angles. The day was almost over and it would soon be back to the coach for the hours journey back to home.
They sat on the floor, he could see Barty making his statue look far more crude than intended. Sirius and Remus were yet to come back from the toilet, and James seemed to have plonked himself down beside Reggie like it was an entitlement.
“Hey”
Regulus looked up momentarily before looking back down. His tawny skin was glowing under the lights and he just had to look away. Stop himself from comparing the richness to his own pale skin.
“Harsh”
“Not really. Mother always says if you have nothing nice to say”
“Ahh your blind hatred. I alway forget how much you adore me”
“I see you're more delusional than ever. Also press the pencil lightly to the page, it creates a softer line and you won’t snap the tip off” Regulus stared at the heavy charcoal line that occupied the page with a frown.
“Is that why yours is really good?” James questioned as he turned the pencil upside down to erase and smear it everywhere.
“No. The blacks have had tutors for everything, we fail to be nothing but exceptional at everything”.
“Of course”
The silence returned and Regulus focused on shading the statue, capturing the shadows that came from the light and angled westwards.
“I thought this would be weirder” James began, leaving the page blank as he watched Regulus’s page start to come to life.
“What”
“This. Us” James eyes widened and immediately looked like he was back tracking, “because you know we never talk even though I’ve known you my whole life”
“ Not my whole life. And it’s only just occurring to you now?”
“Yes and no. However you got me thinking about how little I know about you. For example you can clearly draw whether you were tutored or not. I don’t think you have ever told me anything about yourself”
Regulus looked up, realising that James was closer somehow, having shuffled forward and was now peering intently at his work. The soft brown eyes gazing in a manner of admiration that he normally only received from teachers. The proximity between them has shortened and Regulus can feel the ripple in the air that floats between them. It’s not unpleasant, it's just there.
“Nothing for you to know” he paused, eyeing James with a little caution, “its not like I know anything about you is it?”
“You have never tried?”
“See that might be another hint to understanding our dynamic. So to make this clear I have no interest in you”
A grin crossed James face and Regulus glanced up and down quickly, “But I am interested in you”.
Regulus swallowed, staring at James like he might be about to grow another head. “You are Sirius’s brother. He's trying to keep connected to you and I just thought it might be nice for us to know each other. It might surprise you as we could even have things in common”
“Doubtful. I think you just have separation anxiety. You're rarely away this long from Sirius” Regulus said sharply. He breathed a little easier as James moved away slightly.
“You think I consider you a replacement”
Mistake number three of the day; participating in a conversation with James Potter.
“No” Regulus said too quickly, “No. You’re just bored”
He glanced up,looking away as he tried to calm his breathing and thoughts. Counting in sets of four as he tried to think rationally, James didn't know what he was suggesting, instead his eye catching someone scuffling up by a rail before he felt a sharp sting in his neck.
“What the” he said as his hand reached up to the pain. It felt like he was burning, spreading through his body as he chest tightened to the point his lungs felt like they would break their cage. Air failed to go into his lungs and his hand clutched his throat as he tried to breath through his nose, eyes widening in alarm and his other hand reached for James unable to form words in his throat. He barely recalls James' reaction as his world dramatically blackens out and he wonders if this is the sweet release death offers.
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He awoke to the soft beeping of a machine. His alarm had never sounded like that and there was an uncomfortable pinch in his hand that wiggling his fingers did nothing to dislodge.
“Reggie” Sirus’s voice was hesitant and he wondered as to why he was in his room. Probably to be a pest. “Can you hear me? If you can please open your eyes”
Merde what did he want. “Sirius whatever is the problem” he mouth felt rather dry as he spoke, running his tongue around the dry roof and wondering if he had left some water by his bed. He still felt dead tired. Sleeping sounded really good right now, yet he forced his eyes open, screwing his face up at the bright light above him.
He half turned to see his brother's bloodshot eyes and pale skin. The scattering of freckles looked darker than ever. “Jeez, who died?” He asked before glancing down, “oh I did”. He didn’t know why but he felt compelled to let out a little chuckle.
“It’s not funny” Sirius said sharply, his eyes were filled with tears, “I really thought you were”
“I didn't, I'm still here. What even happened?” He tried to rack his brain but it was too tired to focus on anything much. Everything was distorted or jumbled. He frowned at the fact the whole day was missing and wondered what exactly he had missed, whether it was important and why his mind seemed to spot Potter's face so frequently.
“The doctors say that you had an allergic reaction to something. They aren’t positive as to what but you collapsed on the floor, went completely unresponsive and and” Sirius couldn’t get anymore out. The tears had spilled out and deep sobs racked him as he pulled Regulus’s hand into his own.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen him cry. It was normally the other way around. Sirius got angry. Regulus just hid and cried. Regulus pulled him closer, allowing the soft snuffs that fell from his brother to be absorbed by the blanket that was over him.
“I’m still here and I’ll be okay. I promise” he offered. His parents had probably ordered thousands of the tests so whatever he was allergic too wouldn’t come back to bite him. There’d be an epi pen for safety but otherwise he just avoided whatever almost killed him.
“Sorry” Sirius apologised, pulling back and wiping his face with his sleeve. He hit a button on the side. “Should probably summon a nurse or something”.
“I’d really like some water if I’m allowed” his throat was starting to ache and the dryness felt more icky than waking up in a hospital. The pinch was from the catheter that was feeding in what he assumed to be pain medicine and fluids. It’s probably why he laughed. Although he supposed it was something new to add to his list of ways to die, not that he was going to mention that to Sirius and set his water works off again.
“Here” Sirius held a cup to his lips and he took a small sip, savouring the wetness that coated his lips. He took a few more sips, stopping when the nurse came in frowning.
“Mr Black, you’re awake. I’m just going to check your vitals before getting a doctor. How are you feeling?”
“Tired” he informed her, “other than that, i feel just fine, maybe a little achy but nothing out of the ordinary”.
“That's good” she made notes of his vitals, giving a quick check to the fluids that were still dripping into his arm. “Right the doctor will be in shortly, if you could please stay awake until then, I’m sure your brother will keep you entertained”.
He nodded a little, and she adjusted the pillow behind him allowing him to sit up properly before exiting the room.
“So our mum and dad are here?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, yes. Walburga has upset half the ward with her demands before being politely removed, would have been a real highlight had I not been so distorted by my worry for you. She now off no doubt threatening to sue the school.Orion has gone to question the doctor as to what it was that caused such a violent reaction. I’d imagine you’ll probably spend the next few hours as a human pin cushion and if they find nothing it will be specialist after specialist”
“Brilliant” Regulus replied sarcastically, “I don't remember eating or touching anything different, in fact I” he trailed off knowing that Sirius would think he was spouting some sort of conspiracy theory, “Nope don't recall, probably a fluke and will never happen again”
“Won't happen again because I’m never letting you out of my sight” Sirius said darkly.
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