Only the Brave

Chapter 28: Love in French Music

Regulus is sure he's done something to piss a powerful being off. In this life or another. It's the only explanation for his bad luck, which finds him patrolling the train back to Hogwarts with none other than Remus fucking Lupin.

He looks alright, albeit a little tired. A small muscle on his jaw ticks every now and then, which tells Regulus he's tense. Whether it's about Regulus' proximity or something else, he doesn't know.

They patrol in silence for approximately fifteen minutes, which is enough to lead Regulus to believe that he might just get away with it. Just when he's about to start relaxing, Lupin yanks open the door to an empty carriage and gestures inside with a stern expression on his face.

Regulus looks at him like he's lost his damn mind. Shakes his head no and goes to walk away. He doesn't get to. It turns out that Lupin is a lot stronger than he looks. He full on hauls Regulus inside the carriage by his clothes, not giving a toss about Regulus' outraged yelp of surprise. Absolutely appalled, Regulus takes out his wand.

"What the fuck Lupin!"

"Show me your arm," Lupin says, taking his wand out too. "Show it to me. Right now."

Ah. So, he did see him. Well, then. That means they all know, because Lupin, James and Sirius are oversharers. At least he's giving Regulus a heads-up so he can prepare himself for the inevitable shitstorm hurtling towards him like a dragon whose egg has been threatened.

That's what he gets for daring to picture a passionate reunion with James after two weeks apart. He should know better by now.

"No."

Lupin's face hardens. "James knows you were there. He saw you, you know?"

He rubs a hand over his face, looking frustrated and just about fed up with the world.

"And I told him you were there to save me. I stood up for you, because you saved my life," Lupin hisses furiously. "But I'm not going to leave you alone with him unless I have proof that you aren't a Death Eater. You'd do the same for Dorcas. To protect her."

Oh. Wait. What?

They're giving him the benefit of the doubt?

Regulus is so thoroughly shocked that he abandons his stubbornness to comply. Wordlessly, he rolls up both his sleeves, because he's nothing if not meticulous. He can practically feel the tension lifting off Lupin's shoulders when he's met with smooth, clean skin. Not even the little star James draws on him survived the break. He needs James to re-draw it tonight.

Putting his wand away, Lupin slumps down on the seat and takes out a cigarette.

"I don't bloody get you," he says, sounding exhausted. "Why the fuck were you with them?"

Regulus takes out a cigarette of his own and sits opposite Lupin. "I have my reasons."

"They killed people," Lupin says, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow. "Dozens of them."

What does one say to that? Nothing, really. Lupin's right. People died. It's true. It also doesn't bother Regulus as much as he thinks it probably should. It's not that he doesn't understand taking lives is wrong—he does. But they're at war, and these things happen.

He's not responsible for the casualties of an attack mounted by Voldemort any more than the aurors can be held responsible for the deaths amongst the Death Eater ranks. Both sides must bleed for it to be a war.

As far as Regulus is concerned, the blame falls to Tom Riddle, and Tom Riddle alone. He won't lose any sleep over it. Or he wouldn't, if sleep was something he could do unaided anyway.