Paint It... Potter?

Regret.

He woke up that next morning with a pounding in his head and a dull ache in his shoulder. Barty was half on top of him, with Evan's head resting on his shoulder.

"Bugger off Crouch." Regulus said pushing the boy off of him. Barty let out a small groan of protest.

"Piss off" Barty said rolling over. Evan dug his elbow into Barty's ribs for daring to move.

"Hey! What was that for." Barty said sitting up in outrage. Evan looked pissed at him for sitting up and running hhus comfortable position. Evan pulled hi.sefl off of Barty as an all too familiar green hue made its way to cover Barty's face. He threw up the covers, and ran for the bathroom. Regulus shared a quick look with Evan before they both mutually decided to go back to bed.

Not five minutes later he was awoken by a loud crack, small cheery houself was not and inch from his face.

"Fucking merlin!" He yelled reaching for his wand. His hands closed around the cold wood as he raised to rest infront of the small creatures nose. A pang of hurt ran through him remembering kreatcher. He was left alone in that house for mother to take her anger out on. He dropped the wand guilty for having raised it at the sweet creature.

"Master potter is waiting." Regulus had lived with the potters before, but this was the first time he had seen a house elf. She spoke quick high pitched tone that broke through the fog of his hangover. It split through his skull reverberating off of the sides and ringing out louder.

"What?" Evan asked sitting up to look at the small elf.

"Master potter," she said rolling her eyes. "He is waiting for you lazy naughty boys to wake up." She shook her head at the two disapproveingly she spoke.

"Hey!" Barty said exiting the bathroom clearly offended.

"You must be washing first." She said pushing Barty back into the bathroom. "Master potter doesn't need such foul smell in his office." She turted at his as he finally yielded and she closed the door behing him.

"When that one is done, young master black and mister Evan should be joining Master potter." She spoke so sweatly yet so demandingly. So, as per her instructions as Barty left the bathroom. The three slowly made their way to Fleamonts office.

"Boys." Fleamont said as they opened the door. He was sat behing his desk. Smoking, clearly stressed.

"Mr potter." Regulus said nodding in greeting. He realized just how deep the shit they were standing in was when Mr potter did not give him a warm smile in return.

"Sit." He said plainly gesturing to the three chairs in front of his desk.

"We almost reported you missing to the aurors."Fleamont said sternly.

"Well, that over reacting a bit." Barty said crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.

"You don't understand." Mr potter said, setting down his pipe.

"your parents have been notified." A cold shiver ran down Regulus's spin. He watches as the relaxed expressions on his friends faces changed to the practiced stoney exterior. Regulus himself sat up straighter in his chair and narrowed his eyes.

"You are to return home immediately." The three stiffened instantly at Fleamons words.

"You can't be serious." Barty said, but all three knew he was.

"There is no way around this, Mr Crouch raised a rather large fuss at the ministry." He supposed that this was how it always worked out, they had their week before the world came crashing down on them and reality was breathing down their necks.

Evan and Barty were sure to earn a lashing for this. They were associating with well known blood traitors. Going so far as to actually stay in their home. It was disgraceful. He was sure Barty could talk his way out of some of it. But then again, Barty would probably be talking his way into another beating too.

Evan would find a way out. Evan was always the sneaky one. A good liar. Barty was a rather sly himself, although his mouth often got him in trouble.

"Regulus, did you hear me." Monty asked him tapping his fingers on the desk

"I'm sorry, what?" Regulus asked. The door to the office creaked open. Sirius was ledt standing in the dirr way, James close behind.

"We do not have legal claims to you " Fleamont said. "You will have to return to Grimauld place." Sirius nearly jumped from across the room at Regulus. As thought he could hold him there and he wouldn't have to go.

"No!" Sirius said gripping his brother's shoulders. " I won't allow it. No."

"Now, understand if it was my way I would have all if these boys here." Sirius clamped his mouth shut. Furious.

"Because, Sirius." He said sighing. " It's illegal for them to be here." Evan and Barty had left the room, gathering their things, or making one final run for it, Regulus didn't really know, he didn't really pay much attention to anything at that moment.

"It's Dumbledores orders." Regulus laughed at that. nevermind the bloody minister, apparently Dumbledore's word was law.

"We can't let him," Sirius said sputtering.

" i know," monty said looking at the pair sadly.

"I'd expect Effie is still arguing with the minister as we speak." Fleamont tried to reassure the boys. James moved to set just  inside the room, he head in his hands, back slid down the walk.

"But we can not legally keep Regulus." Sirius was outraged. His hands shook as the grabbed the shoulders of his brother robes. Regulus was numb,as he often was, he had known when he left that it wouldn't last, that it couldn't last.

"Okay."

"What do you mean okay?" Sirius asked stepping back. His eyes flashed between his brother and Mr. Potter.

"I mean okay."Regulus said, he could feel the storm, the argument that was bound to come.

"You can't possibly think tha-"

"I can do it."Regulus said. "I will." He said he hoped those words could convince himself too.

"But Reg," Sirius said exasperated

"Sirius." He said silencing his brother. "It is my choice I'll go." He said setting his jaw frimly.

"You're making the wrong fucking choice." Sirius said stepping forward, almost hissing.

"It's my fucking choice Sirius!" Regulus yelled standing from the chair.

"Now boys." Fleamont said, trying to calm the two. Regulus gave him a glare that should have killed him. That was the first time he disrespected Monty, the guilt but as he did it, but it wasn't his argument.

"Why?" Sirius asked. " why are you doing it Reg." Sirius asked he had gone paler than Regulus had ever seen him

"Because I'm not a fuck up like you." Regulus said. Sirius scoffed at him.

"Bullshit." Sirius said.

"Because I can do it. They love me."

"That's bullshit too!" Sirius said pushing Regulus backwards.

Deep down Regulus knew taht was true. But in moments of blind unyielding loyalty Regulus could forget the horrors and imagine that his parents could love him. If he closed his eyes and thought hard, he could picture it. The happy family. The living mother, the father who played catch. The brother who teased you and gave you hell, but loved you anyway.

"Now come on now," Fleamomt tried.

"Oh piss off." Reg said rolling his eyes.

"Don't do it." Sirius tried reson now. " they'll kill you."

"I'm not a bloody coward." The damage was done. Might as well twist the knife.  He watched as Sirius expression went from his worried anxiety to pute rage, that wad only to be  found in a Black.

" Fuck you Regulus." Sirius  said. He looked him dead in the eyes. "Fuck you."