All Of Us Are Ghosts Here (Jegulus / Wolfstar Fic)

Four ~ The Boy Of Bones And Stardust

James~

T.W: Implied child abuse (Physical, Emotional)

He showed up. He actually showed up.

Merlin, he looked half dead.

James' mind was on overload. He could hardly think, let alone speak.

Because Regulus, his Regulus, had shown up. He was getting help.

Part of James wanted to shout with joy, scoop the pale boy into his arms and never let go of him again because the last two months had been torture.

Yet another part of him wanted to scream, hop off the train while it was still moving, and hunt down Orion and Walburga Black and beat them bloody. Because they had hurt him. More than just the bruises that marred his face and arms, it was the look in Reg's eyes. The emptiness, the lack of light. James hadn't a clue what they had done to his star, but he would find out, and Merlin help them both when he did.

The sensible part of James finally took control, and he realized they had all been staring at Regulus in silence.

"Shit, uhm- Here, sit down." James scooted over, making room on the bench between him and Sirius. Regulus stared at him for a moment.

Those few seconds felt like an hour, a day. Hell, they were an eternity. But there was none of the spark or the mischief. None of what made Regulus who he was.

James wanted to scream, cry, or hit something. Maybe all three. He reeled himself in as Reg awkwardly took the seat he was offered, and the compartment fell into tense silence again.

"Tell us what happened, Regulus," Remus said after what felt like an hour.

The boy looked out the window, his mouth opening and closing, as if unsure where to start. Finally, he spoke.

"They wanted me to get the dark mark." It was all he said, all he needed to say, to shake Sirius out of whatever it was that had kept him silent.

"Roll up your sleeves," he demanded, his voice emotionless.

"Pads, what the hell-" James started, but Regulus began to push his sleeves up, revealing skin that was unmarked, aside from the bruises and a few scars.

Sirius nodded, leaning back in his seat. "So," he said after a moment. "You made it sound like you had a plan, Reg. Do you?"

"I-" Reg sighed. "The Potters, they offered to take me in too when you- when you left last summer... I had hoped the offer still stood." He glanced at James.

"It always has, Regulus. You just need to talk to Dumbledore, and it's done," he said, a small, comforting smile on his face.

He received nothing but a nod in return.

"Well, that's settled. Whaddaya need us for, then? Don't you want to run back to your little Slytherin friends?" Sirius taunted, earning a kick from Remus.

"I don't- Not really," he said with a nervous shrug. "They're... They're like them, you know. What's the point in leaving if I don't distance myself from them?"

Sirius, for just a moment, looked impressed. He caught himself quickly though, his face molding into a scowl. "Fine, stay here then."

Needless to say, the rest of the ride to Hogwarts that year was awkward. He, Remus, and Pete carried the conversation while the Black brothers sulked next to each other.

It was remarkable, James thought, how similar they looked. The glares he would have received if he voiced that thought aloud would have been the same as well.

A few painful hours later, the train arrived at Hogwarts.

"Reg, feel free to come sit with us at meals. Dumbledore and Minnie won't mind, I promise," Remus said, earning a glare from Sirius but a grateful nod from Regulus.

As his star left the compartment, James felt the urge to reach out to him.

But James knew Regulus needed space. He'd find him when he was ready. He always had before.

((Damn, first chapter is DONE! I'm not going to lie, I really enjoy writing this fic. 

Also, I'll say it again, this fic is non-cannon-compliant. Partly just to cover my ass if I get a fact wrong. 

TLDR; Don't @ me.

:D Thanks for reading! Next chapter will hopefully be out in parts by the end of this week

Cya then!!))