Sweet innocence ~ Jegulus

42

Somehow, Pandora had successfully convinced Regulus to accompany her to Hogsmeade for the day.

"I only came because I need more ink, I fully intend on leaving the moment I get that." Regulus muttered as they walked side by side down the path to the village. Pandora snorted, shaking her head gently. "We'll have tea first, then you can leave." She told him, looping her arm through his. It was late winter by now, the snow had started to melt away, yet there was still a frosty bite to the wind.

Regulus' cheeks were permanently blushed as were Pandora's as they shuffled along the crowded streets of Hogsmeade.

"I'll have one tea and only because I don't want to go back to the dorm and see Barty." Regulus grumbled, allowing Pandora to steer him through the crowd of Wizards and Witches. "You two are going to have to talk it out at some point. You've been best friends since first year, one little argument shouldn't change that." Pandora sighed.

"You don't know what he said to me, Dora. Barty can apologize all he wants but I don't think that I will ever forgive him." Regulus muttered sadly. Pandora looked at him with her big blue eyes, opening her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a loud, stern voice.

"Regulus Arcturus." The voice said.

Regulus froze, his eyes going wide at the sound of his father's authoritative voice. He turned slowly, taking a moment to compose himself and regain his stoic mask. "Father." He greeted. "What are you doing here?"

Please don't be here to bring me home.

Please.

"You and I need to have a chat. Off you are Pandora, this is family business." Orion dismissed the blonde with a wave of his hand. Pandora scoffed, looking towards Regulus for the okay to leave him alone with his father. Regulus nodded, mostly because he didn't want to enrage the man.

After Pandora was gone, Orion led Regulus to a pub on the outskirts of the village. They were the only ones there, minus the barkeeper who had disappeared into the back after Orion's instruction to do so.

"Father, what is going on? Has something happened?" Regulus made a conscious effort to keep his voice calm and steady. He didn't want his father to see just how nervous he was to be around him.

"You've always had a sweet innocence about you, Regulus." Orion said, ignoring Regulus' questions. "Always wanted to please everyone around you, your mother and I especially."

"Dad, I'm not- I don't think that I'm following." Regulus muttered, eyebrows furrowed.

"I know that you plan on leaving the family." Orion said , sighing heavily. Regulus' heart stopped. "I suppose it shouldn't have been a shock. I thought that you would have gone with Sirius when he left..."

"Sirius didn't ask me to come with him." Regulus said grimly.

"No matter, you're still leaving, aren't you? I can tell, you've taken most of the things from your room at home. Things that you don't normally take with you to school. Your mother hasn't noticed yet, she doesn't step foot into your room, but I have. I'm more observant than I get credit for." Orion said.

"Are you here to stop me? To drag me back to The Grimmauld Place?" Regulus asked, his hand subconsciously ghosting over his wand.

Orion laughed. Loud and hearty. He shook his head, his grey eyes darting around the empty pub. "No, no. I've come to give you this." He pulled a black velvet pouch out of his pocket, setting down into their table with a heavy thud.

Regulus hesitated, scrutinizing his father's expression before peeking into the bag. It was filled with money.

"Why are you giving me this?" Regulus asked, still suspicious. He eyes his father carefully, trying to decipher whether or not it was a ruse to get him back home.

"I don't know where you are going, but I suspect that it won't be the Potters since you're too caught on the boy to put his family in danger."

Regulus raised a brow, wondering how his father knew how much he loves James.

"Your mother told me what she saw in your memories." Orion said, sensing Regulus' unasked question. "So, you're giving me money because—?" Regulus rested his chin on his fist, looking up at his father.

"Because wherever you are, I want to make sure that you're well off. You're my youngest son, Regulus. You've always been tolerant of your mother and I even if we were less than tolerant of you. I don't want to know that you might be out on the streets with no food or resources. Our family has plenty of money to spare, this is just a small portion of what is rightfully yours." Orion's said, voice firm.

"Does mum know that you're doing this?" Regulus asked, curiously.

Orion shook his head. "She does not. Nor does she know that I plan to keep you as heir even after you leave. You'll inherit everything after I am gone." Orion told him.

"Why?" Regulus couldn't help but ask. Orion smiled, a weird and rare occurrence. "Because I made a mistake with one son and I won't do the same with you. I've always had a soft spot for you, Regulus. Even if my loyalty to your mother didn't allow me to show it. You're my little boy and I love you."

"Thank you." Regulus whispered, returning his father's smile.

"Stay safe, Regulus. Your mother will not be pleased with your decision to leave. Find somewhere safe to go." Orion advised, standing up from his seat. He pulled his cloak tighter around him and rested a heavy hand on Regulus' shoulder.

"I will, father. Thank you." Regulus said, smiling softly. Orion nodded once, then made his way to the door. "Goodbye, son." He said before leaving.

Regulus watched his father's retreating figure walk down the streets of Hogsmeade in the authoritative manner that comes so naturally to the Black family. He waited until Orion was fully out of sight before standing up and leaving. Going to find Pandora in the crowd of witches and wizards, the pouch of gold weighed heavy in his pocket.