Bright Lion and a Stag (Regulus Black, James Potter, Marauders)

Chapter 5

Early October 1975

Night terrors became a much more frequent thing for Regulus Black. Waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, reliving all sorts of bad memories. 

On a happier note however, October had finally arrived. The first month of term was over, and Halloween was coming soon, which meant Regulus's favorite feast. He also always liked the horror of the day, and growing up Halloween would always be such a fun day. while usually purebloods were very uptight, Halloween traditions would include going throughout muggle neighborhoods and hexing them, and muggles being ignorant as always, thinking it was just their significant other pulling a strange Halloween prank. 

Putting it in perspective this didn't seem like a great tradition, Regulus thought, but nonetheless it's very nostalgic. 

One morning in early October Regulus woke up after another memory of Sirius being tormented within the walls of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. When Regulus woke up it was morning and all three of his roommates had been awake, so he had to avoid being seen with the tears from his eyes, because Black's were not to cry, especially in public. 

Regulus grabbed the pillow from under his pillow and put it over his face for a few moments to calm down. He nearly fell asleep again when Evan snuck up on him. 

"Mooorning." He beamed. 

"It's too early for this." Regulus muttered. 

Evans mouth hung open. "What's got your knickers in a bunch." 

"Nothing." 

"Was it that day with Avery at Quidditch last week, because you said it was nothing and apparently 'nothing' is your favorite word but you've been weird since then." 

"No I haven't." Regulus sat up in his bed and looked down to see his large grey t-shirt, but he kept his blanket covering the bottom half of his body. 

"Yes you have!" Barty called from the other side of the room. 

"Shut the fuck up Barty." Evan and Regulus exclaimed at the same time. The two boys looked at each other and Evan grabbed his bag off the floor by Regulus' bed. 

"Are you actually gonna come down for breakfast, Reg, or are you too scared of Avery. Oh wait, I'm sorry you actually like the company of house elves." He spat coldly. 

"Whats your bloody problem?" Regulus questioned.

"That for the past, what, 8 months, maybe more, you've been weird." 

"What do you mean? How have I been weird, that I'm trying to grow up?" 

"Eating breakfast with house elves is not growing up, it's being weird. House elves are servants not companions." 

"I'm sorry but the service down there is great and they're nice and just want friends." 

Axl, who had been trying very hard to ignore the arguing going on by sitting at his desk and doing work looked up at this and had an expression that showed he desperately wanted to ask a question of some sort. 

"I'm so sorry you're the bloody God of house elves who needs to be their companion, but you have actual friends who miss your company. Right Barty?" 

"Yeah!" Barty exclaimed.

"It's literally one meal I've been doing this since last term get over it." Regulus replied. Regulus was very confused one where this sudden annoyance was coming from. 

"Alright Reg, you're right. I'll go down to breakfast now, and sit at our house table like a normal person." Evan hissed and he marched out of the room.