Ultimatums

Chapter 6

Regulus and Hermione walked through the bustling train station, Regulus holding Hermione's wrist so they weren't separated. They found Euphemia standing regally by a wall with James and Sirius, hugging them maternally. Hermione took a deep breath and marched over, not sparing a glance at the boys.

"Mother? You're well?" she said formally, shocking the Potter Matriarch, and slightly wounding her. Her children had always called her Mum.

"Yes, I'm well. Did you get the package on Christmas? I did send Oliver in the morning..?"

But Regulus answered instead, looking Euphemia in the eye "Yes, Nita got it, however the explosives you hid inside caused my mother to have to refurbish half of the drawing room, and explain to my grandfather why several heirlooms and antiques are lost."

"I did no such thing young man!"
James was sniggering, but Sirius was a papery white, looking sick with worry.

"Aren't their reactions any indication that I'm telling the truth?" Regulus asked calmly.
Euphemia looked towards her boys and back at Regulus's unwavering seriousness, before grabbing James by the ear and pulling him away, calling back "Sirius, be a dear and give Mia her presents"

Scowling, Sirius passed her a tiny basket, grumbling "All you need to do is cast an enlargement spell" before turning to Regulus and asking "Does Mother know I was involved?"

"No. She doesn't know you call yourselves the Marauders, so she thinks it was just Pettigrew, Lupin and Potter. C'mon Nita, we need to get a compartment", Regulus turned to leave, but Sirius caught his arm and gave him a grin, saying, "Thanks Reggie"

"My name's Regulus. Only people who care about  me call me anything other than that"

☏

Narcissa, Andromeda and Bellatrix were playing cards in a compartment when Hermione came in and Regulus followed after, hanging his head.

"Alright kids?" Andromeda asked, eyes not moving from her cards.

"Yeah, Reg and Sirius had a spat, so he's brooding though" Hermione sat down next to Narcissa and pointed at the Greek Goddess of War card, whispering "Meda's gonna play the Goddess of Love next"

The game they were playing had all the ancient Goddesses on there from all different cultures, and it was a bit like Muggle Top Trumps.

A few minutes after the departure, Bellatrix straightened suddenly, said "Excuse me" and handed Hermione her cards to keep playing, before leaving the compartment swiftly. Andromeda knew that the Prefects were needed later, so she just looked at the door Bella had just left, puzzled.

Bellatrix slid open the Marauders's compartment door and stepped inside, standing just in front of them.

"What do you want?" James asked, his brashness failing to overcome his fear of the witch tremendously.

"I want to make one thing perfectly clear, so clear that we never have to speak about it ever again. So clear that you don't even think about the thing I'm asking you not to do, let alone act it out in any way shape or form" Bellatrix spoke coldly, almost calmly, but the edge on her voice and the steeliness in her eyes portrayed the message almost everyone knew. You didn't mess with the Sixth Year. Of course, the Marauders weren't ones for rules.

"And what is this thing, Black? You're being particularly vague" Remus spoke in his faint Welsh accent, quirking a scarred eyebrow.

"Oh Lupin do not test me. Do you not see by the mark on Potter's neck that I don't take kindly to that sort of thing?"
James gulped, a hand reaching for his neck subconsciously.