unspeakable | jegulus

cold eyes

chapter title: something there is about you by bob dylan

"I have a proposition for you, Potter." Regulus Black stood in front of him, the opposite of his brother in every way James could imagine. A stranger in everything save what Sirius told him about his past, his whispered memories in the dark. He had eyes like knives.

James could see Remus in the distance, at the farthest end of the corridor, Sirius presumably beside him. That was one path of escape. Just walk away in the direction of his friends and pretend Regulus had never spoken to him.

His fleeting smile was also like a knife. Sharp and pointed, only lifting one corner of his mouth.

"I understand you must be confused. As my brother's closest friend I don't doubt your loyalty to him. I promise my proposition is well-intentioned. There's no reason for you to feel threatened, despite our differences in the past."

He could agree then never follow through, reveal all of it to Sirius in the warm red light of their dorm. He could shout for his friends and stop this conversation in its tracks. He could tell him he wasn't interested before he finished whatever pitch he was planning to give him. This was bizarre. Deeply bizarre. James couldn't remember the last time he'd spoken to Regulus alone. Maybe he never had.

"I think you'll want to hear me out. I hope I've piqued your curiosity, at least." His voice was soft, pleasant. Formal. Like he was presenting an assignment for one of his classes. He was so poised and so perfectly in command of himself he seemed nearly inhuman. "I would understand if you aren't willing to work with me. I don't expect very much from this conversation. To be frank, you haven't expressed an interest in the war efforts against the Dark Lord before—not to my knowledge, at least."

Regulus Black was discussing Voldemort's rise to power in the sunlit corridors of Hogwarts as casually as he might discuss a quidditch match. All thoughts of escape slipped away. James stared him down, subconsciously sizing him up as though they were about to come to blows.

"I'm not joining him, if that's what you're here for." The ice in his voice was beyond his control. He'd never been good at hiding his feelings, or anything else.

Regulus' dark eyebrows lifted.

"I would never expect that of you." His voice was soft, hardly more than a whisper. "I'm not a fool."

"What is this about then? Be quick about it. If Sirius sees us talking..." James grimaced. "I don't even know what he'd do."

Regulus folded his hands together neatly.

"I want to destroy the Dark Lord." He didn't know what his face was doing. He couldn't form a single coherent thought. Destroy the Dark Lord? He opened his mouth and closed it wordlessly. Regulus smiled again. Amused. "I want to know if you would be willing to help me do it."

"You're sixteen."

"Evidently." Another amused smile. Was this some kind of game? What was he playing at, talking to him about the war, talking to him at all?

"You're a Slytherin, the worst sort. A Death Eater in training, as far as I know." Regulus' expression darkened. "I've seen who your friends are. Is this some kind of joke?"

"I'm not joking."

"Yeah? I don't believe you."

"Do you really think I would ask you about this so casually and at such great personal risk if I wasn't serious?"

"Yeah. I do." James loomed over him. Not looming quite as much as he used to be able to when they were younger, when Regulus and Sirius would shout at each other in the corridors, a flurry of curses and insults zipping between the two of them like fireworks. Regulus was taller now, but still terribly thin. Small. Fragile. "Get out of my face, Black."