Only the Brave

Chapter 24: Oh, brother

Regulus is patrolling alone. For someone who detests conversation and just people in general, this is ideal. He didn't know it was even allowed. Had assumed they always had to go in pairs should anything happen. It turns out that when one of the prefects comes down with heavy food poisoning a few hours before he's due to report in for his shift, there's no time to cover. So, instead of with Lupin, Regulus is patrolling on his own.

Regulus and the Head Boy had, admittedly, looked a bit dumbfounded when Madame Pomfrey—Poppy, James calls her—showed up to inform them that Lupin was in her ward and wouldn't be fit for patrol, but whatever.

He's got a pretty shit shift, too. The one right before dawn, which nobody wants. Ever. It's the first time Regulus gets it and isn't it fitting that Lupin happens to miss this one.

The silver lining is that not even the worst troublemakers of all are out of bed this late. Or this early, depending on the type of person you are. Regulus has wandered aimlessly through the castle for a couple of hours, enjoying himself. He smoked a cigarette on the bridge, watching the full moon light a path over the lake. Listened to wolves howling in the distance and breathed in the crisp air of the approaching winter.

Myrtle comes to keep him company for a while. It's rather nice. She tells him all about Rowena Ravenclaw, the founder of her house, and the stories that circulate amongst them. There's some sort of legend about her diadem, a myth that all Ravenclaws know in the same way all Slytherins know about the Chamber of Secrets and Slytherin's heir. It's quite fascinating, Regulus has to admit.

If the world was different, if he was anyone else, perhaps he'd try to find the diadem. Just to be the one who managed it.

Eventually, Peeves comes and bullies Myrtle back to her toilet stall, even though Regulus does his best to fend off the Poltergeist. He's annoying, and relentless, and Myrtle gives in to her weeping and floats away leaving Regulus alone.

Regulus has been paying attention to the ghosts of Hogwarts a lot more these days. He knows most of them by name, courtesy of Myrtle, and knows a bit of gossip about them all. So far, none of it has been particularly helpful, but Regulus stores the information in his head anyway. You never know.

It's the last day of November, which means the nights are long like a day without food, and the days are short like a drunk night out. Not that Regulus has ever had one of those, mind you. But he's been told time goes all funny when you're properly drunk, so. It is what it is. Days without food he's had plenty, so at least that one he can confirm with authority.

He's coming to the end of his shift, which will leave him just enough time to go shower, get dressed, and make it to breakfast to start his day. He stops near a window on the ground floor and looks up through the large glass panes. The moon has just disappeared below the horizon, but there are stars still twinkling above.

The corridor is empty. Dark. No one around to witness it, so Regulus allows himself a sigh as he finds Sirius. He's been wondering what Pandora meant about him and his cage for a while, but Regulus won't ask. He has gone out of his way to avoid his brother after the incident they had a couple of weeks ago. It's not worth the upset it causes James.

James, who out of nowhere—literally out of nowhere—stumbles into the corridor giving Regulus the scare of his life. Regulus pivots on his heels, bringing a hand to his chest to calm the frantic pumping of his lungs... and feels the ground fall from under his feet.

"Sirius?" the word punches out of him without his consent, but he can't help it.

James looks up, finds Regulus. He sees the moment his boyfriend registers his presence in the corridor, a mixture of panic and relief. "Reg?"