One of Us | Jegulus

Twenty-Nine

Regulus felt overwhelmed by their sudden departure, not able to comprehend the situation. They sat in silence for several minutes, Remus and Peter exchanged nervous glances every now and then. Regulus was completely ignored.
He couldn't stand the suffocating silence but he also didn't dare going upstairs in fear he might miss anything.
He desperately wanted to know what was going on and since the two boys were more likely to understand what was happening he gave himself a push and raised his voice.

"Does anyone have an idea what this is about?" he asked.
Remus looked up at him with a weird, unreadable expression on his face. "Something must have happened," he repeated James' words.
"But why don't they trust you?" Regulus insisted.
"Who says they don't trust us?" Peter asked offendedly. "It can have numerous reasons that they only called for them."

"I bet it has something to do with werewolves," Regulus snapped.
"You know that if that was the case I'd be the one who could help the most?"
"Yeah but what if they suspect you?"
"Could be," Remus admitted.
"Ha!" Regulus exclaimed. "So you admit that you're sketchy and untrustworthy?"
"No, that's of course not what I was saying," Remus explained patiently. "But even if people think they might be accepting of my condition, they still tend to suspect the werewolf amongst them rather than someone else."

Regulus ignored that comment. He didn't understand what Remus' point was. "I know there's a pack somewhere attacking people. They probably think you're a part of it."
"Well if that's the case, Sirius and James can vouch for me. There hasn't been a full moon I haven't spent with them since our fifth year at Hogwarts."
"Yeah but maybe they think you plotted it together."
"Is that what you think?" Remus snapped.
Regulus looked at him for a moment. "No," he said eventually. "No, you probably wouldn't do that."

Remus raised his eyebrows surprised but didn't commend it.
"I think it's just that meetings are easier with a smaller group of people. It probably needs to be done quickly and they know that James and Sirius will fill us in immediately. No need to interpret more into it," Remus assured and leaned back in his armchair.
"I hope so..." Peter muttered.
Regulus bit his lip unconsciously. Yes, they would probably tell Remus and Peter immediately. But would they tell him?

"Do you think they're in danger?" he asked silently.
"It's just a meeting, I don't think anything will happen tonight," Remus answered but it seemed as if he tried more to convince himself than Regulus.

Minutes passed until they spent a whole hour sitting in tense silence. Nobody said anything but they probably thought all the same, more or less.
"I'll make some tea... Do you want some?" Peter offered after some time and stood up.
"Yes, please," Remus answered in the same moment as Regulus muttered, "No, thanks."
He nodded and left the room, and the nervous silence returned.

And then, finally, they heard the door open and some rustling in the entrance hall.
Seconds later James and Sirius entered the living room. James slumped into the armchair Peter just left, a worn-out expression on his face that made Regulus' stomach turn.
Sirius instead walked past his best friend and pulled Regulus from the couch, grabbing his wrists.

"You never had any contact to anyone but us since you're here, am I right?!" he asked agitated.
"What?" Regulus replied confused. "I—"
"Am I right?!" Sirius repeated and looked almost desperately at his younger brother.
"No, I obviously didn't, Sirius what is going on?!"
But Sirius didn't let go. "Regulus, do you swear?!"

"Sirius, he would never do that," James intervened silently.
"Do what?" Regulus asked weakly. He was more and more frightened every second.

"There's a spy."

Regulus stared at James. "Wha—on your side?"
James nodded gravely.
"Oh my god," Regulus muttered. Then he looked back at his brother. "Sirius, I didn't do anything. I really, really didn't," he pleaded. "I promise. I swear."
Sirius looked at him intently, his eyes darting over Regulus' face. Then he did something Regulus would have never expected.
He leaned forward and hugged him tightly.