Only the Brave

Chapter 52: Trust

Rain falls in sheets over Surry Hills. 

Under his boots, Regulus feels the ground soaking up the water, turning muddy and slippery. It'll be saturated very soon, which will make for unpleasant running back to their apparition point but it can't be helped. He's pretty powerful, but controlling the weather is a bit much even for  him. On Regulus' right, Remus is smoking (he's charmed his cigarette to be water repellent).

Sam is between them, hands bound, and a cloak thrown haphazardly over her head. Regulus had to rough her up a bit for the transfer, so she's a little out of it, but this girl remains the luckiest woman alive. No one else can say they've been captured by Riddle and made it back to tell the tale.

One single light orb floats before them, casting a low glow over their silhouettes as they wait. The details were agreed and locked via traditional owl letter delivery (good luck to the Order trying to track anything of Regulus). Moody should be here soon with Rodolphus. Kissing his teeth, Regulus checks the dagger is in place at his belt for the third time, then glances at Remus, who's looking at him, too. A small nod. He's ready.

They hear them apparate before they can see them. Three figures trudging up the hill through the rain. Moody, slightly hunched over, Rodolphus, bound and gagged, and—

"Sirius," Remus whispers.

Regulus shoots him a warning glance, but Remus isn't looking at him. He's got eyes only for the man running a hand through his hair to push it back from where it's sticking to his forehead with rainwater.

If he didn't know that he's been struggling, Regulus wouldn't be able to tell by simply looking at Sirius. He's impressed, but perhaps he shouldn't be. Sirius is a Black, after all. And he was taught a lot before he went and got himself disinherited. Sirius may not be as good as Regulus is, but he's still better than most at masking his true emotions.

"Lupin," Moody says, looking at him appraisingly. "So, you're alive."

Remus smirks, cruel and edgy. "Moody," he replies, then he looks at Sirius. "Black."

"Gone a bit too far, haven't you?" Moody asks, raising an eyebrow.

Regulus almost rolls his eyes. His attempt at sussing out whether Remus is still on their side is so fucking transparent it's giving Regulus second hand embarrasment. Honestly.

Remus shrugs, then says, "They treat me better."

The light from the orb catches on Sirius' eyes as he slides them quickly towards Regulus, then back to fixate on Remus. There's little wind tonight, but the clouds are churning overhead rather threateningly. Regulus is uninterested in Moody, his attention caught by Sirius and his little stand-off with Remus. If he does something stupid, Regulus is going to be pissed.

But it seems Sirius just wants to look. To take Remus in. He's standing there, immobile, eyes trained on the werewolf at Regulus' side. Sirius looks older these days, like the war is stealing years off his life. Rain weighs his long hair down, water dripping from his straight nose.

Sirius is staring at Remus with such intensity Regulus wouldn't be surprised if he burnt a hole in Remus' head. The tension in the air is thick and heavy.

After the longest minute of Regulus' life, Sirius swallows, then purses his lips in an insolent grimace and gestures towards Sam. "Are we doing this or what?"

Regulus rolls his eyes just for the dramatics of it all. Stepping forward, he says, "Rodolphus first."

"No way," Sirius retorts. "Sam first."

Moody grunts, then steps forward. He grabs Rodolphus by the arm and forces him to move. "Same time. Go on, Black. We don't have all night."

Closing his fingers around Sam's arm, Regulus tugs her forward. She comes willingly and eagerly. Regulus didn't bother gagging her. Sam has been extremely cooperative the entire time, like she understands how lucky she is to be going back home and won't risk jeopardising that no matter what.