Curse Breaker (or how to find answers)

Heartbeat pace switches and you look beautiful in blue - pt.2

The Side History of Witch Hunts. James actually remembered studying it, vaguely, during third year, or maybe fifth. He wondered why such a book with such topic could be found in the Restricted Section when it was something Binns taught them during his lectures. Maybe because it was way too heavy to be clear. James tried to take it in his hands again, but picking it up was very hard, and even with his Quidditch training, James' arms didn't seem to be strong enough to pick it up. James truly wondered why it was so heavy.

"Potter," James heard, and he shot his head in the direction of the voice, Regulus' voice.

He was looking at Regulus over his shoulder.

"Hm?"

"What are you doing?" Regulus said, and he still had the blue book in his hands, but he had an interrogative expression on his face.

"Uh..." James started, still soft-spoking. "I... Nothing," he replied, a bit embarrassed to be caught being not strong enough to pick up a book. So he turned around, facing Regulus, hiding the book behind him. "You read the interesting part?" he asked back.

"Yes," Regulus nodded. "We have the cause of the curse. It was casted because of love," Regulus said, his eyes back on the book lines, as if he was looking for the exact line that justified his word. "It's said it's unreliable source, but it's all we have."

"It's important to know why a curse was casted," James said, and it sounded almost like a question.

"Yes. It can influence the way to break it."

James nodded, eyes looking at the floor. Then he heard Regulus moving, and when he looked up at him, he was putting the Underwater History in Scotland, the story of forgotten abysses book aside, next to other books James hadn't noticed him picking earlier. Regulus started to put them back on their shelves.

"What are these?" James asked, curious, getting a bit closer.

"Not useful anymore," Regulus answered, and James didn't expect that answer. He sounded a bit annoyed, and James wondered why.

"Oh," James said, trying to read their titles anyway. "Lumos," he whispered, to see better.

"Drop it, Potter," Regulus murmured, rolling his eyes. "You're losing your time."

He had put all his books back on their shelves, and at that he closed the one book that emanated blue light, before putting it back on its shelf too. James watched his movements. And then, Regulus left the History section without more words. James tried to find which books Regulus had taken to read their titles, his eyes back on the books, but they were all looking alike on the shelf, and he couldn't remember which ones exactly Regulus had taken.

His eyes fell on the very heavy book about Witch Hunts, still propped on the edge of the shelf. He put his wand aside, before trying to take the book, but he barely managed to lift the edge of it.

"Wait," James said, and he feared he had been too loud. "Regulus, I need your help," he added, his voice lower, trying to lift the book again.

Regulus' head appeared again, and he saw how James was struggling. James gave him a sheepish smile, trying to lift it unsuccessfully again, to prove his willingness.

"It's too heavy," James told Regulus, as to explain, even if it was obvious.

"Oh, Merlin, Potter isn't strong enough!" Regulus teased, keeping his voice low, a slight smirk on his lips. "That's news," he added, getting closer.

Regulus tried to lift the book too, but didn't manage to put it back on the shelf either. His little mocking smile was gone.

"For real, Potter, you're a sucker. We can't let that book here on display. You will never be able to carry out a perfect crime," James smiled at that and Regulus sighed before trying to lift it again.