Paint It... Potter?

Bloody Potter

He had isolated himself through the rest of the holiday. This wasn't his life. Maybe in another one where he had been sorted into Gryffindor alongside his brother he could be treated like this, in another life he could have a living family. Could love James.

But that wasn't this life. In this life all of these feelings were suffocating. He had thought about going to stay with Andromeda. But she had been disowned by the family and if he was seen with her there would never be a way back. He found himself slightly regretful. He didn't agree with the family,and he wouldn't stand the abuse.

But the fear of no longer being protected by the name Black had set in. Regulus found himself on edge and more jumpy than usual. As he walked on the platform he could hear the whispers. Surely he and Sirius had to be the talk of Wizarding high society.

It wasn't every day that a family, the Black family at that lost an heir, and they had lost both of theirs in a three day span. He quickly entered the train and locked himself in a compartment.not bothering to say his goodbyes to the potters, or his hellos to his friends for that matter who were now entering his compartment. Barty closed the door behing him before turning on Regulus.

"You fucking wanker!" Barty said reaching to hit him, Evan grabbed him and held him back by the shoulders. "Do you have any idea the position you've put us in?" Barty was raging pacing in the small area. Hands gesturing wildly. He finally sat glaring at Regulus. It was Evans turn now. He rounded on him smack him upside the head. Regulus glared up at him.

"You fucking idiot! What do you expect us to do now?" Regulus hadn't though of that. The boys were one. They were family, Regulus hadn't though about leaving them when he made his choice.

"I didn't think about that." Regulus said simply, which made Barty try to jump up and start talking again only to be pushed back down by Evan.

"Mum didn't want me to come back this year. Didn't want me around you."

"Same with mine" Barty added. Regulus hadn't just mucked things up for himself bit he had ruined every relationship tie he had when he left that night.

"I'm Sorry, I'll fix it." He said

"Why did you bloody leave in the first place?" Barty asked slightly curious

"Other than the physical and verbal abuse of course." Evan added with slight humor. It was a world all three boys knew all too well.  And they were sure to have matching scars to prove it

"They tried to mark me" Regulus told the boys. He remembered the dark lord. His snake like eyes, and the way he hissed his words. The feeling of Bellas heel in his back as she pushed him to the ground. Barty let out a quick "fuck" under his breath while Evan went ridged. He pulled up his sleeve to revealed the splintered black scar that rested on is left forearm. The glint of his wristwatch caught his eye as he did so

"Oh fuck" Regulus said in sudden realization. He scrambled to pull his robe one "prefect meeting" he called bacp to the two confused boys as he raced down the narrow hall of the train.

He sat through the meeting with more odd looks, Lucius and Mulciber even daring to get in a few rude remarks when Narcissa and the head boy, an Ravenclaw Regulus didn't know all too well were talking about the patrol schedule. Lupin and Evans sat in th opposite corner from him, a fresh angry red scar stretched down the side of Lupin's face by his ear. He was peculiar, there was something off about him that Regulus hadn't quite pinned down. He pushes it to the back of his mind.

He walked back down the hall after the meeting. He felt a cold presence behind him. He turned qtound and he was slammed into a compartment. The painfully familiar icy slim fingers were pressed into both of his shoulders.

"What the hell do you think you are playing at Black." Lucius stood above him pushing him into the window. "I should bloody put you down now." He pushed harder with every word, wand to Regulus neck practically spitting. "You're lucky the dark lord still wants you or I swear I'd-"

"Expeliarmus" a voice sounded. James. Lucius's wand flew out of his hand to Hames who was standing in the door way. Because of course it was fucking James.

"Oi! Drop it Malfoy!" James had his own wand pointed and Lucius. It annoyed Regulus, James talking about him like a dog with a toy. Lucius released him and Regulus felt himself relax back into himself. Lucius brushed off his robes sneering at Potter.

"We were just having a little family chat." He said to James who looked bored.

"Yeah sure," he said Jmaes twirled Malfoys wand in his hand  inspecting it. Lucius held his hand out waiting for James to give him his wand back. James smirked at him cooking his head to the side. "Why don't you go fetch Malfoy." James said throwing his wand out into the hallway behing him. Malfoy pushed past James running after it muttering curses.

"Hey!" James said at Regulus who had also run from the compartment.

"Piss off" Regulus said over his shoulder at James continuing on his path.

"I was just trying to help" James aid scratching the back of his neck. Regulus turned back to him.

"Yeah, well now he thinks that I need bloody James Potter to save me." Regulus stormed away. Now James had made him look weak. How was Regulus to survive the rest of term in the snake pit.

Surely everyone would be out to get the now estranged Black son. But, that's the thing. With what Lucius said Regulus wasn't sure anyone would hurt him in Slytherin. Regulus might be safe. He found himself full of hope.

If only that had been true.