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Job hunting was never fun, especially not for a werewolf. Remus had already given up on finding a job in the wizarding world and was trying his luck in muggle London. Sirius insisted he didn’t really need a job as he could pay for everything they needed with his uncle’s inheritance while James suggested he asked Dumbledore for a job but Remus' pride wouldn’t allow either.

Despite the hardships of looking for a job he was in a good mood. Sirius woke him up with a morning quickie and then he had breakfast with Lily in a lovely coffee shop in Berkeley Square. On top of that the weather was wonderful for a change.

His good mood didn’t last long as his scars seem to make muggles assume he was a delinquent of some sort.

He was considering looking for a private spot to apparate home after another day wasted when he saw a bookstore looking for a temporary seller.

Better than nothing , he thought.

He took a deep breath and went inside. The nice smell of books, both used and new, and mahogany shelves made him instantly relax. An oddly familiar scent guided his steps through the store. He stopped at the sight of a young man with dark curly hair rearranging a few books on a shelf.

It took him a while to notice Remus’ presence and once he did he jumped startled, dropping a few books.

Remus kneeled to pick up the books. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

When he looked up to the boy he saw something flicker through his green eyes but couldn’t really figure out what.

“Can I help you?” he asked with a calm husky voice as he took the books from Remus’ hands. He had an accent, maybe french.

“I came to apply for the job.” he replies, gesturing to the flier on the window.

The young man, Regulus according to his name tag, looked at the flier with a scowl as if it had personally offended him. He then turned his attention back to Remus with an unreadable expression on his face.

“Do you have any experience?” he asked.

“Not really but I’m good with books and good enough with people.” he found himself giving an honest answer for whatever reason.

“What’s your favorite book?”

Merlin bless Hope Lupin and Lily Evans for getting him muggle books for every single one of his birthdays.

“A single man by Christopher Isherwood.” he said without much thinking.

Regulus stared at him for long enough to make him feel self conscious. Was he judging his favorite book or was he looking at his scars? Remus wasn’t sure but he didn’t allow himself to waver under the other’s gaze.

“How soon can you start?” Regulus asked.

It took Remus longer than necessary to reply as his brain caught up to what Regulus asked. Did he really get the job? “As soon as you need me.”

“Tomorrow then, half past nine.”

Remus blinked. “Yes, of course.” A pause. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, ultimately Mr. Fell has the last word. Tomorrow is more of a test, if you will. You need to impress him, not me.”

“Right.” Remus nodded in understanding and Regulus went back to rearranging the books.

“You may go now, Lupin.” he said after a few minutes.

“Right. See you tomorrow.”

He went home without ever realizing he never told Regulus his name.

-

Mr. Fell was the most English man Remus had ever met. From his clothes, to his scent to the way he spoke. Fleamont would love him.

He barely looked at Remus’ resume before making Regulus teach him the ropes of the job to see how well he did.

For what he understood Regulus was going to take a three week sick leave soon and they needed someone to cover for him in the meantime. Remus knew better than to ask the reason for Regulus’ leave of absence.

By the end of the day Mr. Fell gave him the job. “People like us need to stick together.” he said.

Remus wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that. Mr. Fell might act as odd as any old wizard but Remus was fairly certain he wasn’t one.

He couldn’t say the same for Regulus. There was something about him that made him curious.

Back in their flat, Sirius welcomed him with a celebratory dinner with James, Lily and Mary. They all felt the absence of the friends they lost during the war but nobody brought it up.

Everyone was doing their best to move on.

-

Working with Regulus was surprisingly pleasant. They worked in comfortable silence around each other. It reminded Remus of his days as a prefect, patrolling the school with certain Slytherin. Before she took the mark and everything went to hell.

They closed the store to take their lunch break. Remus followed Regulus to a cheap restaurant nearby with fairly good fish and chips.

“Did you go to school around here?” Remus asked, still trying to figure out whether Regulus was a wizard or not.

Regulus shook his head and replied without looking at Remus. “I went to a boarding school in France.”

Maybe he went to Beauxbatons. Remus definitely didn’t remember seeing him at Hogwarts and none of his friends seemed to remember a Regulus when he asked them.

Not knowing his last name didn’t help much either.

“Is your family from France?”

Regulus finally looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “Did you ask to have lunch with me just to interrogate me, Lupin?”

There was something familiar in the way he said his name.

Yes . “No. Sorry.”

-

Halfway through his first week at the bookstore Remus turned to the door when he heard the doorbell announce a customer coming in. He smiled at the sight of his friend. “Prongs.”

“Moony.” his friend gave him a wide smile. “Mom made you lunch.”

He could smell the food from the container James was holding. Effie’s food always made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. She cooked with genuine mother’s love, just as Hope used to cook.

Remus missed his mother deeply but he always found comfort knowing she didn’t die as a result of the war but from bad health. At least she didn’t suffer.

The sound of Regulus bumping into a shelf made Remus and James turn their attention to him.

“Alright?” Remus asked amused.

Regulus rubs his head. “I might have given myself a concussion.”

James chuckled. “You must be Regulus. Remus speaks dearly of you.”

“Does he?” Regulus’ smudge smile had an uncanny resemblance to Sirius’.

“Don’t let it get to your head.” Remus said as he rolled his eyes.

“Too late.”

James approached Remus to give him his lunch. He gave Remus a funny look and nodded towards Regulus. Remus gave him a knowing smile and James blushed.

“Right. I forgot to introduce you. Where are my manners?” he said, turning then towards Regulus. “Reg, this is James. James, this is Regulus.”

His coworker scowled. “Don’t call me Reg.”

“Pleasure meeting you, Regulus.” James said, offering him his hand.

Regulus stared at James as if he had grown a second head and Remus tried his best to stifle a laugh. Eventually he shoke James hand and Remus could swore his cheeks blushed just slightly.

-

“You don’t understand, Pads. He is so… so…” James struggled to find the right word. “Pretty.”

Sirius gave him an amused look. “Pretty?”

“And his accent.” James practically swooned.

“Should I be worried?” Sirius asked Remus with an air of jealousy.

Remus held his chin and gave him a sweet kiss. “You know you are stuck with me.”

Sirius smiled, showing his pearly white teeth. “Good.”

“Should I ask him out?” James continued rambling.

“Does he even like blokes?” Sirius asked.

Remus shrugged. He truly didn’t know and had no intention of asking. “Just try not to get me fired, Prongs.”

“I would never do anything to jeopardize your job, Moony.”

-

Regulus’ eyes went from James to Remus a couple times before settling on the container in front of him. James brought lunch for Remus again but this time he also brought some for Regulus.

The longer Regulus went without saying something the more James fidgeted.

“Um, thanks.” Regulus eventually said.

Remus hadn’t noticed he was holding his breath until he finally let it out. James’ shoulders visibly relaxed.

“You didn’t have to.” he added.

“But I wanted to.” James smiled.

Remus had no doubt Regulus blushed that time.

-

He wasn’t feeling particularly ill despite being just a couple days away from the full moon but a surprise visit from Sirius immediately made him feel better.

“I missed you, moonbeam.” he said before giving Remus a tender kiss.

Remus smiled. “You saw me this morning before I left for work.”

Sirius shook his head. “And it’s been a dreadful wait since then.”

He rolled his eyes but wrapped his arms around Sirius nonetheless, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.

“Where’s your friend Regulus?” Sirius asked. “I want to meet the guy that has Prong’s swooning.”

“He’s not here today.” Remus replied. “He had a doctor’s appointment.”

Sirius hummed without letting go of Remus.

A few moments later he was the first to notice Mr. Fell’s presence and immediately put some distance between him and Remus. The old man was staring at them surprised.

“Mr. Fell I-” Remus began to apologize and Mr. Fell snapped out of whatever trance he was in.

“It’s okay, Remus.” he interrupted with a kind smile. “It’s just… he reminds me so much of my Anthony.”

Sirius was visibly uncomfortable under the man’s gaze.

“Oh.” Remus had his suspicions about Mr. Fell but didn’t want to assume. As the man confirmed it everything made a lot of sense. “Is Anthony your partner?”

Mr. Fell’s eyes saddened. “Was.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Sirius finally spoke.

“Thank you.”

The three of them stood there in silence for a moment.

“Well.” Mr. Fell clapped his hands. “Don’t mind me, go back to whatever you lads were up to.”

“Wait.” Sirius stopped him, much to everyone’s surprise. “I was going to treat Remus to lunch during his break. Would you like to join us? Maybe tell us about Anthony.”

Remus found that surprisingly thoughtful coming from Sirius, who couldn’t speak about his dead sister without breaking down on tears. Death Eater or not he missed her. Mr. Fell didn’t know that much but he seemed moved by Sirius' offer regardless.

“I’d love that.” he smiled.

-

“You look like shit.” Regulus greeted him.

“Good morning to you too.” he said, already used to Regulus' bluntness.

Remus had taken the day of the full moon as well the following day off and was feeling much better despite what his coworker said. His bones still ached when he went to pick up a box filled with books.

“I got it.” Regulus snatched the box. “Go sit behind the till and try to look alive if a customer comes in.”

Remus could see the good intentions hidden behind Regulus' mean words and couldn’t help but smile as he went to sit comfortably behind the till while Regulus took charge of the boxes.

“So.” he said after a few minutes. “A little birdie told me you have a date tonight.”

Regulus almost dropped everything he was holding to the floor. Somehow James always made him awfully clumsy.

“It’s not a date.” he said.

“Right. Just a lovely dinner under the stars with a friend .”

Regulus snorted. “As if you could see the stars in London.”

Remus needed to remind James that as far as they knew Regulus was a muggle. Merlin forbid he broke the statute of secrecy during their date just for trying to impress him.

-

The bookstore felt lonely without Regulus.

Halfway into the first week of his sick leave Remus was already getting bored to death. Mr. Fell tried to make up for his absence but it wasn’t the same.

By this point Remus and Regulus could communicate with each other with merely a look in the same way James and Sirius always could.

Mr. Fell definitely noticed Remus’ brooding.

“Do me a favor, lad.” he said. “Can you take this to Regulus? I’m worried he might not be eating well. Anthony was just the same, always too stubborn to ask for help.”

Remus didn’t know the reason for Regulus’ medical leave but he had already figured out it must be something involving muggle’s surgical procedures if he needed that long to recover.

He wasn’t sure whether Regulus would want him to see him if that was actually the case. He knew he wouldn’t want anyone to see him while he recovered from surgery if it was him. James and Sirius smothered him enough as it was.

“Just make sure he’s alright. No harm done with a little visit. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. He might not show it but he likes you.” Mr. Fell insisted.

It was hard to say no to Mr. Fell.

Ultimately Remus agreed to bring the food to Regulus. James would appreciate him checking up on Regulus. 

-

Regulus flat was close to the bookstore.

Remus took a deep breath before knocking on the door. He considered leaving the food with a note before Regulus could open the door but decided against it. He wanted to make sure he was alright.

Nothing could have prepared Remus for what he saw once the door was opened. He was face to face with Barty Crouch Jr., a well known Death Eater that escaped punishment from both the Order and the Ministry.

What was he doing in Regulus’ flat?

They reached for their wands at the same time.

“Stupefy.” Remus shouted at the same time as Barty yelled “Protego.”

Barty tried to shut the door but Remus made it inside the flat before he could. Remus was a bit rusty, he hadn’t engaged in a duel since the war ended. Barty’s unhinged style wasn’t making things easier.

“What the hell are you doing here, Lupin? We had a deal.” Barty asked.

“You must be crazier than I thought, Crouch. I would never make a deal with Death Eater scum.” Remus almost bit his head off.

Barty laughed. “As if making a deal with Dumbledore’s lap dog would be worth anything. I meant the man himself, of course.”

The absurdity of Barty’s words made Remus hesitate for long enough for one of Barty’s spells to hit him. His wand fell on the floor, leaving him defenseless against Barty.

Remus was sure he was going to die.

“If Dumbledore doesn’t hold his end of the bargain I won’t either.” Barty sneered.

“Where’s Regulus?” he got so caught up with Barty he forgot what he was doing there in the first place. “What have you done to him?”

Barty froze. His face was unreadable. “You know Regulus?”

Remus was confused and in pain. He punched Barty right in the face and ran to what he assumed to be the bedroom, looking for Regulus and afraid of what he might find.

He didn’t want to lose another friend to one of Voldemort’s followers.

Once in the bedroom Remus couldn’t focus on one thing only. Regulus was sitting up in bed, half asleep, with bandages covering his chest. Most of his body was covered in scars but more importantly he had the Dark Mark on his left arm. It was right there that Remus realized he had never seen Regulus wear anything but long sleeves.

“Remus?” he croaked, sounding unsure. Probably high on meds.

“You’re a Death Eater.” Remus hated himself for sounding more sad than angry. He felt like he was relieving what happened with Peter.

“We defected.” said Barty, appearing behind Remus. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

Remus couldn’t tear his eyes from Regulu’s Dark Mark. Was everything about him a lie? Was their friendship even real? Why did he still care?

Regulus' eyes went wide open as if he just now realized Remus was truly in his flat. “I can explain.”

“Don’t bother.” Remus growled, the anger catching up to him. “Stay away from me and my friends or I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

Nobody tried to stop him as he left the flat, stepping over the broken container with Mr. Fell’s food for Regulus.

-

Remus went to work with his resignation letter in hand. Mr. Fell was sitting behind the till.

“Mornin’ lad.” the old man said.

“Mr. Fell-” he began to say.

“Not you too.” he interrupted, looking at the parchment in Remus’ hand.

Remus raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”

Mr. Fell sighs. “A boy came earlier today, as I was opening the store, to hand me Regulus’ resignation.”

Remus couldn’t meet Mr. Fell’s eyes.

“What happened yesterday? Was he upset you came to visit? I can write to him and explain it was all my fault.”

“It wasn’t that.”

“Oh.”

Mr. Fell’s expression turned angry.

“People like us need to stick together, lad.” he said.

Remus frowned. “Don’t you dare compare me to him.”

Mr. Fell shook his head. “I didn’t peg you for a bigot but if that’s the case I will gladly accept your resignation.”

“I’m not the bigot, Regulus is.”

The old man raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the one who’s mad at your friend because you found out he’s trans?”

“What? No. That has nothing to do with it. I don’t care that he’s trans, it's just… that wasn’t the only thing I learned about him yesterday.”

He wished there was a better way to explain it to a muggle.

“Is it because he was a Death Eater?” Mr. Fell asked. Remus stared at him in shock. “Don’t look at me like that, you wizards are not as good at hiding yourselves as you think you are.”

Remus was speechless.

“Anthony was a wizard, what you people call a muggle-born.” he offered as an explanation.

“I’m a half-blood myself.” Remus wasn’t sure why he shared that with Mr. Fell but it felt right.

“That must be why you blend in so easily with us muggles. You should have seen Regulus when he first started working here, he was so scared of everything.”

A pause.

“You hired him knowing what he had done?” Remus asked despite himself not being sure of what Regulus had actually done. He didn’t know anything about him, not even his last name. But if he was a Death Eater, friend of Barty no less, it couldn’t be good.

“We all make mistakes in our youth. What’s important is that we atone for our sins and work to be better.” Mr. Fell said.

“I wouldn’t call being a Death Eater something as simple as a mistake.”

“Usually I wouldn’t either but he was fifteen when his parents forced him to take the mark, merely a child.”

Remus remembered the tears in Cassiopeia’s eyes when he confronted her for taking the mark. She was fifteen too. To this day Sirius still regrets not getting her out of their parents house.

Maybe if they had reacted differently to the mark in her arm, offering her help instead of shutting her out things would have been different.

Was he making the same mistake with Regulus? 

“Did he really defected?” Remus couldn’t help but wonder.

“He did more than that, lad. He took down he-who-must-not-be-named.”

Remus shook his head. “Dumbledore did.”

“You’re a smart lad, Remus. Do you believe everything you read in that paper of yours?”

The Daily Prophet might had their biases but that doesn’t mean-

There’s no way-

Nobody knew the details behind Voldemort’s death. Dumbledore nor the Ministry ever revealed how it happened. There was a chance, small as it might be, that Mr. Fell could be telling the truth.

“I need to talk to him.” Remus didn’t mean to say it out loud.

“Give him some time. He is still recovering from surgery and it’s not good for him to exert himself.”

“What if he disappears before I get to talk to him?”

“He has every right to do so but I don’t think he will. Everyone deserves a second chance, he knows that too.”

-

“Are you insane? You can’t go to a Death Eater’s flat by yourself.” Sirius shrieked.

“Ex Death Eater.” Remus corrected him, not entirely sure if he believed it.

“As nice as he might be, that muggle doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

“He might have been one of Dumbledore’s spies.” James said. They all knew he was heartbroken since Remus told him about Regulus’ mark. “Don’t give me that look, Sirius, Moony was one of them.”

Remus felt goosebumps at the reminder of his time with the werewolves. He missed the pack -not Greyback, he could rot in Azkaban for all eternity- sometimes and that always terrified him.

“I’m really sorry James, but he is friends with Crouch of all people. You heard the way he snapped after Rosier’s death. No sane person would be friends with him.” Sirius said as if he wouldn’t have snapped too had James or Remus died in the war. As if he didn’t almost snap when his sister’s death was announced in the Daily Prophet.

Hell, they lost a bit of themselves with every friend they lost during the war. They almost snapped when they found out Peter was a traitor.

“I want to hear what he has to say. I need to see the mark for myself.” James begged.

Sirius watched him carefully. It wasn’t often that James needed to be comforted, not out of the three of them.

“Fine. We’re all going.” Sirius said, defeated.

“I don’t think-” Remus began to protest.

“I don’t trust him.” Sirius interrupted him. “We shouldn’t trust anyone with that mark in their arm. We’re going just to give you two closure but then we’re calling the Auror’s on them.”

Remus knew that was the reasonable thing to do but it still felt wrong. However Sirius was probably right. He was the only one who hadn’t met Regulus, he wasn’t conflicted as Remus and James were. 

“I’ll ask Lily to brew us some veritasium.” Sirius added.

-

When they apparated into Regulus’ flat the first thing Remus notices was the wards. Regulus, or Barty, had placed wards to protect the flat but had keyed Remus, James and Sirius in. 

Whether it was a sign of trust or a trap Remus wasn’t sure.

The next thing he noticed, as did James and Sirius, was Regulus sitting on the living room couch with Barty spread on it, laying his head on Regulus’ lap. He was wearing an oversized shirt, swimming in it more like it, and shorts. The scars on his forearms and legs were visible. They looked like claw marks.

James was the one to break the silence, with the least important question he could ask. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Barty snorted. “I see Lupin wasn’t the only thing you were hiding from me, Reg.”

Regulus looked at Barty with every intention to push him off but no strength to do so.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Remus.

“Why are you here?” Regulus asked as Barty sat up.

“Mr. Fell-” Remus began to explain.

“He told you.”

It wasn’t a question but Remus nodded regardless. “He did but I’m not sure what to believe.”

Barty sighed and got up. “Tea anyone?”

“And risk you poisoning us? No, thank you.” Sirius chuckled bitterly.

“If you’re going to be a prat why don’t you just leave, Black? You’ve always been great at that.” Barty said on his way to the kitchen.

Sirius said nothing.

By the time Barty returned with tea for just him and Regulus, the others had transfigured the furniture to sit across from them. At a safe distance. Regulus tried to grab the mug but Barty wouldn’t let him, holding it up for him to drink.

“Are you hurt?” James asked with genuine concern.

Regulus’ visibly softened. He then turned to look at Remus.

“I didn’t tell them.” Remus answered his unsaid question. “ That wasn’t for me to tell.”

If Regulus was thankful with Remus he didn’t say. Instead he turned to James. “I’m not hurt, just recovering from surgery.”

He doesn’t elaborate.

After a moment of silence Sirius placed a vial of veritasium on the table.

“No.” Barty said immediately.

“Barty.” Regulus called his name.

“No, Reg. You don’t have to do this. We don’t owe them anything, you don’t owe them anything.”

Sirius frowned. “You lied to them, you owe them that much.”

“Shut up, Black.”

“Piss off, Crouch.”

“It’s Rosier.”

Nobody knew what to say to that. They knew Evan and Barty were together but not that they got married before Evan died. Not many people were getting married during the war.

“You don’t have to do it.” Remus told Regulus. “But if you cared even a little bit for our friendship you will.”

Without saying another word Regulus reached for the vial but winced in pain. Reluctantly Barty got it for him and put two drops in his mouth.

They waited for the potion to kick in and then Remus gestured towards Barty. “What’s his name?” 

“Bartemius Rosier.” Regulus replied.

“What is he to you?” James asked, earning a glare from Sirius and Remus. Barty laughed.

“What Sirius is to you.” 

“Oh.”

Sirius sent James a stinging hex and Remus continued with the questioning. “What’s your name?”

“Regulus.”

“Your full name.”

“No, stop that.” Barty said at the same time as Regulus replied. “Regulus Arcturus Black.”

The room was so quiet after that revelation Remus could hear everyone’s heartbeat. Sirius was close to having a panic attack. He and Remus quickly realized what that meant.

“Are you my si- my brother?” Sirius’ voice wavered.

“Yes.”

Everything began to fall into place in Remus’ mind. His eyes averted from Sirius to Regulus, the resemblance was uncanny. He wasn’t an idiot, there was a reason he hadn’t figured it out before. Up until that moment Regulus had been using glamour to conceal some of his most distinguishable features, like his eyes. Who were now just the same as Sirius’.

“You died.” James said, more confused than anyone.

Regulus shook his head. “I didn’t die, Cassiopeia Black did.”

Sirius stood up and went to the kitchen. James went after him. Remus put his feelings down to ask another question.

“Who killed Voldemort?”

“Dorcas Meadowes.”

Remus remembered the last time he ever saw Dorcas. It was short after Marlene’s funeral. She was a shell of herself. More anger than person, understandably so. She cutted ties with everyone in the Order and disappeared, eventually being declared missing in action.

Everyone assumed she died. But if Regulus is alive-

“Is she-”

“Dead.” Barty clenched his jaw. If Remus didn’t know any better he could have sworn Barty was on the verge of tears.

“Why does Dumbledore claim he killed Voldemort? Why not tell the world it was Dorcas? It’s the least she deserves.”

Regulus shrugged his shoulders. “Because it served the narrative. Voldemort being killed by a rogue member of the Order and her Death Eater friends wasn’t the end of the war people were hoping for.”

“We made a deal with him.” Barty added. “He got the glory and we avoided Azkaban.”

It was time for the million dollar question. “What role did you have in Voldemort’s death?”

“He created a horcrux and made the mistake of hurting Kreacher to hide it. I found it, destroyed it and ambushed him with Dorcas and Barty before he could create more.”

That was a lot to digest.

“Is it even possible to do more than one horcrux?” Remus asked, vaguely aware of what a horcrux is. He peaked on some books one time he was left alone in Dumbledore’s office. The old man must have suspected something if he had been researching them.

“It isn’t entirely impossible but we made sure he hadn’t before going after him.”

“You should have seen Dumbledore’s face when we brought Voldemort’s body to him.” Barty was more amused than he should be. “He didn’t believe us, of course. I gave him my memories so he could see it for himself.”

They used a pensive.

Remus never had much faith in Dumbledore to begin with. The man allowed him to go to Hogwarts despite being a werewolf, yes, but he did so with a hidden agenda. He knew a war was coming and he wanted a werewolf on his side to spy on the packs aligning with Voldemort.

What Regulus and Barty claimed Dumbledore did wouldn’t be out of character.

“Can we, um, talk in private?” Sirius asked Regulus. Nobody noticed when he and James returned to the living room.

“Yes.” Regulus didn’t hesitate. “Please give me a moment while the veritasium wears off.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Okay.”

-

Forgiveness wasn’t something that came easy to Remus but he had lost so much in the war he counted himself fortunate to have second chances, as did Sirius.

Neither Remus nor Regulus resigned from their jobs at the bookstore. Glad to hear they were giving each other another chance Mr. Fell extended Remus' contract beyond Regulus’ sick leave.

“It has been useful to have an extra pair of hands around and it doesn’t hurt that you are easy on the eyes, lad.” Sirius was there when Mr. Fell said as much, he declared him his new favorite adult and couldn’t wait to introduce him to Monty and Effie.

As Regulus recovered, Sirius and Remus took turns bringing him food. Both him and Barty had been surviving on take out since he had surgery.

“You’re both wizards, how can you be so helpless?” Sirius scolded them, despite being just as bad.

Halfway through the third and last week of Regulus’ sick leave James came to the bookstore carrying two grocery bags.

Remus raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Are you, um, going to Reg’s place today?” James asked, already knowing the answer. He hadn’t talked to Regulus since the day they all intruded to his flat with the veritasium vial.

“I am.” Remus replied calmly.

“Right. Can you give him this? Mom made some food for him and I, um, got him some things I thought he might need.” A pause. “Please don’t tell Sirius.”

“I won’t.” he eyed him carefully. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? Reg would love to see you, I’m sure.”

“I’d like to see him too but I’m not sure if I’m ready.” James admitted. “But I figured this is a good way to start.”

Remus gave him a warm smile. “It is.”

-

Barty helped Remus put away the groceries James got, mostly out of curiosity. Midway through it he opened one of the containers Effie prepared for Regulus and took a bite without asking for permission.

“This tastes wonderful, what is it?” Barty asked.

“Naan bread.” Remus replied. He could see Regulus emerging from his room so he added: “James’ mom made it for Reg.”

They both turned to Regulus, who blushed adorably.

“Did she really?” he asked, voice small.

Remus nodded. “James dropped it at the bookstore alongside all these groceries, in case you needed something.”

Regulus’ face softened in the way only James Potter managed to. “If I write him a thank you note will you give it to him?”

“Of course.”

Remus was hopeful things were going to be okay after all. And maybe, just maybe, a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.