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

Twenty-Four ~ The Living Ghosts Of Hogwarts Castle

James~

TW: Child abuse (Physical)

"Toadsnapper," James said for the third time, staring at the wall that refused to move.

"Jay? You do realize that's the wrong wall, right?" Sirius asked from behind him, still covered by the invisibility cloak.

"... Yep. I knew that." He turned to the correct wall and said the password again, mentally kicking himself. He'd been distracted all week, replaying the conversation on the roof over and over again.

I miss you too.

"James?" Remus said as he pulled the cloak off and tucked it over his arm, reminding him to move.

"Right, yeah. Sorry."

The four entered the Slytherin common room, James in front, Sirius and Remus behind him, and Peter in rat form on Remus' shoulder.

The common room was empty, just like they'd hoped. If all went as planned, the Slytherins would all be fast asleep and the boys could sneak in and out unnoticed. They just had to hope nobody woke up halfway through the prank.

"Everyone remember the plan?" Remus whispered as Pete jumped off his shoulder and changed back into a human.

The other three nodded before heading off in different directions.

James was going to do the sixth and seventh-year dorms and then head back to Gryffindor tower to wait for the others.

It was a simple plan, perfect for the first prank of the year. Or it would be, if James could focus.

I wish things were different.

He made it through the seventh-year dorms with no trouble and moved on to the sixth years, really only half paying attention to what he was doing as he approached a red-speckled door.

When he pushed the door open, he expected another room full of sleeping students. He definitely hadn't expected a wand in his face.

"Don't come any closer- James?" Came a shaky voice, one he recognized immediately. Regulus lowered his wand, watching him warily. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh I was- we were-" James glanced back into the hallway. Still empty. Shit. "I didn't know this was your room."

Reg turned away, and it was at once easier and infinitely more difficult for James to breathe. "Okay, but what are you doing here? As in, the Slytherin dorms?"

He ran a hand through his hair, struggling for words. Remus was going to kill him. "We were just- it's a prank."

"... a prank."

"Yep."

"Get out of my room, James."

There was truly nothing like accidentally breaking into your ex-boyfriend's bedroom in the middle of the night. After drunkenly blabbering to said ex about how much you miss him. And subsequently being ignored for a week.

James wondered if there was a way to Obliviate himself.

Still, this had been the longest conversation the two had had since that night on the roof.

"Wait, Reg- talk to me. Please."

Regulus let out a long-suffering sigh, still facing away. "About what?"

"Just- fuck, I don't know. Just talk to me. I'm worried about you." He took a tiny step into the room, just far enough to shut the door.

"Don't be." Regulus turned toward his bookshelf now, a faded blue book in his hands. He recognized it, it was Reg's copy of The Oddessey.