Jealousy, Jealousy || Jegulus & Rosekiller

26. A long night

Regulus

Regulus tries everything that comes to his mind against that door, flames, explosions, termites. Nothing. He goes to a window after the other and tries spell after spell on them as well. Nothing.

He is on the verge of throwing a desk against that door, but, apart from the fact that he is sure it wouldn't work, he feels James would interpret it the wrong way. As if, I can't spend even a second more in your company. Which is true, but not for the reasons James would think.

He finally sits on the ground in front of James, with his back against a desk.

James glances at him, "I'm sorry. I'm sure tomorrow morning someone will pass in this corridor".

"It's okay, it's not your fault", says Regulus.

Silence falls again.

The reality of being stuck with James for an entire night in that classroom dawns on him. It will be a long night.

James keeps glancing at him. In the end he decides to talk, "What changed, Reg?"

Regulus turns towards him, afraid to have understood the question correctly.

"You didn't want anything to do with me, and then from one day to the next you accept to let me help you with the Patronus, and act as we are friends again".

"Are we not?"

"Of course. You seemed not to want to".

"Aren't you glad?"

"I am".

Then just stop there, James, thinks Regulus.

James looks defeated as he nods and looks at the ground.

After a bit he says: "I guess I can't say anything. I behaved similarly in the end".

"And for such a silly reason". Regulus would take those words back as soon as he pronounced them.

"You remember", says James looking at him. "You said you were drunk".

Regulus rests his head against the desk's leg with his eyes closed. "I wasn't", he murmurs.

"Why did you say it?"

Regulus doesn't answer. He can't.

"Reg, it's true that I'm embarrassed that you saw me break down like that in tutoring, but that's not-", says James, "That wasn't the whole truth".

Regulus waits for him to continue but he doesn't. He can't help himself, he has to ask, "Did Evans ask you to?"

"Lily? Why would she?"

"You tell me".

"Of course not".

Regulus finally looks at James who is already looking at him intently. He has betrayed himself, hasn't he?

"Why would you think that?", asks James.

"I don't know. You seem close".

"She's my friend".

"What was the truth, then?", Regulus is more eager to change the subject than to hear the answer.

James looks at the ceiling, "I felt like I had to. You are with Crouch; and Sirius..."

"Sirius".

"I knew he would be upset if he knew I was talking to you more than necessary for the tutoring, and that we were becoming friends".

"But you chose to do it anyway".

"He's my friend, but you are too. I'm not doing anything wrong in my opinion. He just doesn't know you, I guess", James' voice sounds so sad.