One of Us | Jegulus

Eight

The next three days had been all the same. Regulus mostly avoided Potter, Sirius and their friends and only came downstairs to fetch some food.
There hadn't been an opportunity to inspect the house in private just yet. There always seemed to be someone nearby when he left this room and he couldn't tell whether it was just a mere coincidence or if they constantly paid attention to what he was doing. One way or another, it was very annoying and frustrating. He wasn't a little child that required constant supervision.

But when he finished the last remaining book of the pile he found himself forced to head downstairs once again.
He noticed music coming from the living room when he descended the stairs to the hallway. Slowly, he entered the room. Lupin was sitting in one of the armchairs, reading a book. Next to him stood a record player. Regulus walked over to the player and examinated the vinyl.

Remus looked up and smiled at him.
"Do you like it?"
Regulus shrugged. It was unfamiliar, but not bad. "Is this muggle stuff?"
"Does it matter?"
"I was just asking!" He scowled and turned to the book shelf next to the fireplace. He inspected the book titles for a while. He actually recognised a few, but the majority was new to him... Muggle literature.
He remained there for a while, trying to pick something good. He suddenly wasn't in a rush to return to his room anymore. It was the music that seemed to compel him. He wasn't used to this pleasant background sound. He didn't want to leave just yet.

So, when he finally decided on a book, he turned to the couch and sat down, opening the first page in the same movement.
Lupin looked up and raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything.
"What?", Regulus muttered. Remus just shook his head and smirked. Idiot.

They both read in silence and Regulus started to genuinely enjoying the music. He also decided that Lupin was his favourite of their strange group from now on since he was the only one who didn't have to annoy him with stupid comments or angry glares every five seconds. And he seemed to have taste, well in music and literature at least.

"Oh, what a rare pleasure!"
Potter had entered the room and grinned at Regulus. Yeah. This is exactly what he meant.
"Shut up", he mumbled uncomfortably.
"Oh my god", Potter exclaimed and clutched his chest dramatically. "Did you hear that, Moony? So rude!"
'Moony'? What a lame nickname. It kind of sounded like moon. That's cheesy. Do they also call themselves Sunny and Starstar? But Lupin didn't seem to mind. He chuckled and put his book aside as Potter sat down in the armchair next to him. Regulus did his best to ignore the two boys who started chatting and focussed on his book again. But the relaxing atmosphere was now gone and Potter's presence made him feel kind of uneasy. He hadn't forgotten the pathetic situation he had been in when Potter had healed him. He hated the fact that Potter knew this weak version of him and it's probably why he'd never taken Regulus seriously since then.

"Will Sirius be back in time tonight?", he heard Lupin asking at some point.
Regulus didn't miss the uncertain glance Potter directed to him before he answered, "Of course, he never missed it, did he?"
What was that about? If they didn't want him to listen they could just leave, couldn't they?

"Yeah, you're right. And what are we gonna do with...", Lupin stopped mitsentence, scratching his neck awkwardly.
"That's not gonna be a problem... Hey, Reg?"
"Mhh?", Regulus answered unenthusiastically and glared at Potter.
"We've got to do something tonight... Listen, is it okay if you remain in your room again? Just for tonight, I mean. For your own safety, of course."

Regulus crossed his arm sulkily. "Why?"
"We're just going out tonight and, well. I mean, who knows what could happen in the meantime?"
"Going out?", Regulus asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't it a full moon tonight?"

James and Lupin shared a quick look, before Potter spoke again.
"Are you worried about us?" There it was again, that annoying grin of his.
Regulus snorted. "I'm just surprised, again, of how stupid you all are. You know that the Dark Lord is recruiting werewolves at the moment? Apparently you don't know what these beasts are capable of."
He'd heard some of his former class mates discuss this. When the full moon was close they'd place themselves near the houses of their enemies so they could hunt them down as soon as they turned into those monsters. Everybody was advised to take extra precaution those nights. Nobody in their right mind would leave the house!!