Rubatosis Rewrite

Chapter 14

After leaving a note on the bed, James took Astra to the one place he knew no one would be able to find them. The one place where he could get answers uninterrupted. The room of requirement. Not even the map would show their location. As he wheeled Astra through the corridors in a wheelchair, the cloak of invisibility over them, he thought about how this girl had him wrapped around her finger.

They approached the corridor where the door was hidden, he took the cloak off of himself but left Astra hidden, in case they were caught. 'A private place where we cannot be found by anyone unless allowed by myself.' A door appeared in front of James as he finished thinking through what he needed. He opened the door and walked back over to Astra wheeling her through and closing the door behind them, it immediately locked and disappeared.

He took the cloak off of them and they took in the place they were in. It looked like a small apartment. One bedroom with a bathroom, kitchen, and living room. One way windows flooded light into the room and gave the flat a very earthy, open feeling with plants all over. James brought Astra over to the couch and helped her sit down, easily lifting her onto the couch. He went over to the kitchen and started making tea. When he was done he returned to the living room and sat down.

Surely that had been enough time for her to get her thoughts together. Still she sat quiet, James wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his chest, using his wand to wrap a blanket around the two of them. Her once ridgid, timid demeanor disappeared as she relaxed into his body, the warmth creating comfort.

"Promise to at least tell me something? You don't need to tell me everything today, but promise to tell me someday, when you're ready." James ran his hand up and down her arm. "Regulus is a Death Eater." James' eyes widened in fear and sentiment. He knew how much her brothers mean to her and for this to happen so suddenly was a shock for both of them. Regulus was no longer to be trusted no matter how badly they wanted to.

He was no longer on their side. From now on he was only to be referred to as Regulus, he would no longer be called a friend, or brother. Forced or not, he was to never be trusted again. James' heart ached for the siblings, he can only imagine the pain Astra will go through when she tells Sirius.

"What are we going to do?" He stared at the fire burning in front of them. Every thought in his head crashing together. "The semester's almost over, I've decided to leave early and go to Romania to the dragon sanctuary for a while, to get some isolation from everything." Astra choked back tears. "I'll go with you."

"You can't. It's something I have to do alone. To heal." Her heart and head fought but she knew she had to do this.

"Who told you to do this, who is making you do this?" James sat up and looked her straight in the face, hurt and betrayal burned in his eyes.

"No one is making me do this, it was an offer and I accepted. I need some time to myself, James. I cannot heal from the trauma with distractions. I need to take time to myself."

"How long?" His voice broke.

Only a couple of months, you still have two months until Christmas and then I'll be gone for at least another month after that, if not more."

"I'll still be able to keep in touch with you right?" A tear fell down his cheek.

"That's not exactly how isolation works, James." She wiped the tear from his face and he wrapped her in a loose hug, trying not to hurt her. "When do you leave?"

"Two days from now. Your parents are moving my stuff to a flat in Romania as we speak."

"Then until then you will not be leaving my sight, you will remain here with me until it is time to tell everyone goodbye. No complaints about it. If I am to let you go for three months then you have to give me two days." Astra didn't argue with the boy as he held her close.