Running in the dark

Chapter 23

"Why did you have to remind me, Pete?" Remus groaned. He'd completely forgotten about the Ravenclaw Vs Hufflepuff quidditch match that Saturday that he had to commentate on. There would be only one other match he would have to commentator for and then it would be over.

"It won't be that bad Moony," Sirius grinned, but he was just excited to hear Remus' comments again.

"I've got potions next, what about you guys," James asked the three beside him as he finished his lunch.

"Arithmancy," Remus answered.

"I and Peter have Care of magical creatures," Sirius told him.

"Potions sucks, I have Snivellus in my class," James groaned.

"Just blow something up, get out of class," Sirius said standing up as the others did and began making their way to class.

"Your late Mr. Potter, but never mind, as I was saying Mr. Black is going to help out today, he's very good with this particular brew of potion," Slughorn spoke upon seeing James late arrival.

Regulus gave him a small smirk and James felt his cheeks turn red. The room seemed to be burning with the smell of Regulus. That smell of strong coffee, old-silver jewelry, and a sort of minty scent seemed to be clouding the whole place almost suffocating him.

He made his way over to his cauldron which of course had to be right next to Snape's, it was his luck that he was late on the first potions lesson and no one wanted to be next to Snape.

"Do you even know what you're doing?" Regulus asked as he walked over to James.

"No clue," James breathed, with Regulus beside him the smell had become more intoxicating.

"Is there, a reason that I can smell you everywhere?" James asked, it seemed like a foolish question but Regulus would somehow have a reasonable answer to it.

Regulus leaned close to James his lips nearly touching his ear as he whispered "The potion Slughorn has brewed, it's amortentia James," he said and as soon as he had been there he was gone, walking across the room to help some girls who seemed to be rather confused on why their potion was bubbling.

James caught Snape's eyes on him and glared at him before beginning to brew his potion, his face very red.

Regulus knew he was going to be helping James' class a week ago, he knew what they would be brewing also, he'd always been quite good at the amortentia potion and he was even more pleased to help out when James asked him that question. Whenever he looked up from the person he was helping he could see James there, his face quite red and a confused expression on it, James was far better at quidditch and Defence against the dark arts than this.

"You've forgotten to add the petals," Regulus said softly now finding himself beside James again.

"Oh yeah," James said and he picked the pile up in one and threw them in.

"It was meant to be one at a time but alright then," Regulus said.

"Just say it, I've ruined my potion," James said looking at the bubbling green liquid.

"Yes you have Potter, not that surprising you never do things well enough do you?" came Snape's sharp voice.

"Oh shut it, Severus," Regulus retorted which made even Snape become at loss for words.

The class soon ended and James walked out with Regulus by his side. "You were hot in there," he said to Regulus and Regulus replied with a soft chuckle.

"So Lupin and Potter?" Mulciber asked making sure.

"Yes, we can't touch the Blacks, Walburga and Orion would have us in pieces in seconds," Snape replied.

"Alright, when's the right time," Mulciber asked Snape, he was good when it came to intimidation and physical pain, but he didn't have the sharpest mind when it came to planning schemes.

"After the quidditch match, when everyone's leaving, I'll get Lupin, you get Potter," Snape said and it was agreed their plan was in place.

The quidditch match came along and Remus' comments were as always adored by the crowd. Sirius was beside him, his laughter roaring loudly as Remus joked, swore, and got told off. By the time it was over and Hufflepuff had won, Remus was getting slaps on the back to say congratulations.

Regulus had been dragged there by James, and James also made him sit in the Gryffindor stands. The game wasn't too bad, though he would have preferred to take advantage of the quiet common rooms. When they started walking with the crowd Regulus was soon parted from James but could see his head bobbing ever so often. He then heard a loud sound, like something hitting the ground, around where James was and then he was Mulciber there and then in seconds he was gone, Regulus thought nothing of it and made his way towards the castle and hope to run back into James.

Sirius was happy to hear Remus' being so loud and funny, he seemed so much happier than he had in a while. Peter had joined him and Remus, as they walked towards the castle and Sirius was listening to Peter talk about interesting things that had happened as if he hadn't been there. But after a while of listening he turned and saw Remus was no longer with them, he probably saw Lily or maybe some of his Hufflepuff friends wanted to thank him for the commentary. He was sure by the time he was back in the common room Remus would be there too.

"James!" Remus yelled again and finally, James seemed to hear him. It was a sort of haze. He remembered someone tapping him on the shoulder as he got near the bottom of the quidditch stands and then he turned and then he had a fist to his face, knocking him out. Mulciber had punched him and then before anyone could realize what had happened he had pulled unconscious James under the stands.

James looked at his surroundings. "Just our luck," he muttered.