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Regulus

Another letter came a few days after. When I never showed up to the meeting, my mother was livid. Barty told me he overheard some of the Slytherins talking and it's not good. Word has already spread.

Snape and Malfoy are going around saying all kinds of shit like I've run away.

Sirius won't tell me, but I can tell he's getting a lot of shit too from the Slytherins. They all think it's his fault that I've suddenly gone missing and refuse to go home. I can't deny it, honestly. He did have a massive say in what I did but it was my idea.

I had to do something. They were going to make me into one of them.

I can't be one of them.

I wouldn't be able to have James. I would never put him through that. I care too much about him. Sirius would also murder me for doing that to him.

James is sitting with me this time when Barty comes rushing in the room with the new letter. He notices James and tries to hide it but it's too late. He's already seen the letter in his hands.

It worries James when this happens. It's been two new letters since the first one and Barty knows I don't want to worry James about it.

"My bad," Barty mumbles as he moves into the room more. He gives me a sympathetic look and hands me the letter. "I thought you'd be alone."

I take the letter, not bothering to answer him and open it. James tenses beside me the moment he notices it in Barty's hand but I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help him when I'm just as concerned.

"I'll go and leave you two to this," Barty says awkwardly. "I'll be back later, yeah?"

"Sure," I reply. "See you later- oh, my work is on the desk over there. It's done."

"I can't believe you're locked up here and you're still doing your work," Barty says in confusion.

"It's not as fun as you'd think being locked up here, you know? I have to do something."

"Now leave so he will open the letter," James jumps in and says. Barty smirks and nods his head.

"Alright, see you two later." Barty calls out again before he disappears.

James turns to me and motions for me to open the letter and, because I can't think of another reason not to, I open it.

Here we go.

Regulus,
I am not sure what kind of game you think you're playing but if you come home now, you won't be punished too bad.

Wait any longer and you'll be punished thoroughly. That's a promise.

Don't make us turn to drastic measures to find you. Make no mistake, we will find you.

Walburga.

"Okay, so it wasn't that bad." I say to James, hoping he agrees with me. I hate when he's upset and I hate it even more that it's my family that's making him so upset.

"I suppose it's the least threatening one you're received," James mumbles but I can tell he doesn't mean that. Not really.

"A bit too dramatic if you ask me," I add to try and lighten the mood. We were having a good afternoon before this. It would be such a waste to ruin it. "That must be where Sirius gets it."

James snorts and nods his head in agreement. "Must be," he agrees. "But don't tell him that, he prides himself on being very different from them."

"Yeah, it would probably break his heart to find out he's just like our wicked mother."