Paint It... Potter?

Days and days

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This chapter does deal with some heavy topics such as child loss and miscarriage. And forced abortions. Thereafter little about shitty parenting and a little underage drinking. It's totally understandable if you don't want to read about that. I'll leave a summary of this section at the end for those who don't want all the details.

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The welcoming feast had been fairly tame, aside from the looks James potter had been sending him from across the hall. Regulus had resolved to ignore him. He had no room for Potter in his life, but knowing James he would stumble back into his life at the worst time and fuck everything up again.

He had found himself in a truce of sorts with the Carrows, even knowing that they had threatened his life mere weeks ago. That was the way it was. He knew it wasn't personal, you just did what you needed to survive.

James had tried to follow him out of the hall. Really he was stupid for that single-handedly following a group of Slytherins, the majority still simmering with hatred for him. Dorcas was the only one who didn't raise her wand.

You see, James had made an irreversible error with Barty and Evan when he hurt Regulus. And now James had hell to pay. The light curses he received were nothing in comparison to the rage building beneath the surface of His best friends. Regulus had made them promise they wouldn't kill him, but he would not be able to control the minor injuries that happened to befall him.

He had a meeting with Dumbledore that night. He knew there was no avoiding James so he decided to do the next best thing and ignore him. Throughout the entire meeting, James and Sirius sat to gather bitterly in the corner. Lupin was more active in the discussion acting as the voice of the other boys.

"Sir, I see no reason why suspension for James and Sirius would even be considered." Remus stood pacing almost like a lawyer.

"James maybe, I mean he dis attack another student, but not for Sirius he-"

"Calm down Remus." The headmaster spoke. The dreamy tone which he took was eerie.

"Now, yes expulsion was thought of as a consequence of these events. But Mr. Potter's actions hardly Merritt that. " the three Gryffindors seemed to let out the breath they had been holding, and for some reason, Regulus did too.

"That is not to say, you two boys are off the hook," McGonagall spoke up from her place stood behind the headmaster.

"There will be detention for the rest of the month, and Hogsmeade privilege has been revoked for the next visit." James seemed content with his punishment, clearly expecting far worse.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy on the other hand," Dumbledore said turning to face the two Slytherins. Narcissa was also supposed to be there as a witness, but nobody had been able to find her.

"I am afraid your attempt on another student's life, even by accident can not be tolerated in our school."

"He didn't try to kill me," Regulus said, sounding quite petulant

"It was just a bit of a tussle, boys will be boys and all that," Regulus told the group almost too at ease.

"Are you sure Regulus?" Slughorn asked

"We could always have Lucius removed from the house," Minerva suggested.

"No, I assure you, it's fine."

"You are sure?" McGonagall asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He didn't mean to even push me, he didn't know I couldn't swim." Regulus didn't want to remember that day, he never wanted to think about it again. He hoped that after this meeting he never would.