One of Us | Jegulus

Twenty-Six

I've had a writer's block for a week now so the chapter is a little chaotic and I don't like it very much but I also don't want to make you wait. Oh, and it's long. I could have split it up but I don't think you mind.

I'm also apparently losing many readers at the moment and I have no idea why but that doesn't stop me either. Love you all :)

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"You're stunning," James mumbled, his face buried in the crook of Regulus' neck while he lay on top of him, catching his breath.
Regulus thought that James was exaggerating a bit but he smiled nevertheless, feeling deeply calmed and satisfied.
Couldn't they stay like this forever?

But that wasn't possible. Not much later James propped himself up on his arms, placed a fleeting kiss on Regulus' lips and then rolled down from him.
"Where are you going?" Regulus muttered and reached out his hand to pull him back.
James laced his fingers with Regulus's and smiled at him. "I gotta look after Moony."
"But Sirius is with him!" Regulus complained sulkily.
"Yes but I'm the one with the healing skills if you remember," James reasoned, smiling slightly.
"Yeah..." Regulus mumbled. He did remember—but it felt like a lifetime ago.
He raised his head slightly and watched James standing up and getting dressed before he remembered that he should do it too, or it would be hard to explain why he just decided to hang out in James' room on his own.

So they left the room together, James heading for Remus, who still lay in his bed, apparently not having improved since Regulus visited him an hour ago.
Regulus in the meantime went into his own room, lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling, smiling. The static feeling from earlier hasn't left his body yet and he could still feel James' touch on his skin.

He could get used to this.

It was in the early evening when James knocked on Regulus' door and entered.

"Hi!" Regulus smiled and sat up, crawling to the edge of the bed.
"Hey," James responded, reciprocating the smile. "We're leaving now, I wanted to say goodbye."

"What?" Regulus looked at him. "No, you're not."
"What's that supposed to mean?" James asked, bewildered.
Regulus shook his head. "It's a full moon. You're not that stupid, you're not leaving the house."

James sighed. "Reggie, we'll be okay."
"No, you won't!" he exclaimed, standing up from the bed. "It's fucking dangerous! What's so important that you can't do it tomorrow?!"
James hesitated. "Can't you just trust us? Nothing will happen to us, alright?"
"That's complete bollocks!" He stepped closer to James, crossing his arms and glaring at him challengingly. "Something's up. I know it, James."

"Please don't make a big deal out of this. We don't have time for this." James said in a calm voice. "I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled weakly, turned around and left the room.

"No!" Regulus rushed after him and grabbed his arm, yanking him back. "I heard you talking to Marlene!" he cried desperately. "I know there's a werewolf attack!"
James ran his hand through his hair, frantically looking for words. It just intensified Regulus' panic.
"Look," he said finally. "There might be attacks, yes, that is what we talked about. But they aren't aimed at us. Even if, nobody knows of this safehouse, it's perfectly protected. So they wouldn't even know where to look for us."
"But that's the point! Here you are safe! Out there you are not!"

Before James could answer, Sirius called from downstairs. "Are you coming, Prongs? It's time!"
"Yes!" James shouted back and turned his back on Regulus, going downstairs.
"Wait!" Regulus exclaimed and followed him quickly. In the entrance hall he found Remus, Sirius and to his surprise also Peter, who smiled at him greetingly. Regulus ignored him.
"Don't lie to me, James!" He didn't care that now he also got the attention of the other three boys. "You said they aren't after you. But Marlene said that it is him who is in danger!" He pointed at Remus. "You'll get yourself killed if you're out there with him. You have to stay here, you all have to stay here!"