I Will Follow You Into The Dark || Jegulus

50. Achilles Come Down

Regulus was gone. 

James's head was reeling. He was in his head boy dorm - or at least he thought he was - his mind wasn't the straightest at the moment. Pun intended. James felt like he was going mad, he needed to be away from his friends - he needed to be away from Sirius. Even just thinking something like that made him feel so much worse than he already did, but he needed distance, he didn't want Sirius to see him in the state he was in. 

Regulus had been gone for around two weeks, and James was barely holding himself up. At some point, he found himself in his invisibility cloak sneaking into the Slytherin common room. 

Oh, that was it. James wasn't in his head boy dorm anymore. The colors surrounding him were way too calm, and now that he focused more, he turned to see the other beds surrounding the one he was lying in. Barty and Evan were sitting on the end of one of the beds. James noticed he was wrapped up in a blanket on Regulus's bed. 

"How long have I been here?" James asked. 

"Only half an hour," Evan replied, James let out a sob. He couldn't believe he was confiding all of his worst nightmares to two Slytherin boys rather than his own best friends. he couldn't tell any of them about his episodes, not even Remus, who had witnessed one of the more tame ones, but the past school year, Barty and Evan have seen his very worst. 

"I can't believe he left again. And this time, he's actually gone, not just avoiding me."James cried. Barty scooted next to him, pulling James into his lap, "He didn't even tell me he was leaving. What if something happens? What if-"

"Shh, you're okay, He is okay. His mother had him pulled out of school, he is at the very least under supervision." Barty said.

James knew Barty couldn't lie and guarantee that Regulus was safe - he was never safe.

James thought back to that day when he ran into Barty and Evan in the room of requirements. The last time Regulus had ignored him. Back when he was still dating Lily. He admired a painting of Achilles and Patroclus, trying and failing to compare himself to Achilles, when he knew he related, but didn't know why. Now he knew.

James was Achilles, and Regulus was his Patroclus. He couldn't live without Regulus, he couldn't deal with that grief now, let alone if he died. If Regulus died, James was sure to head into battle and kill whoever would dare lay a finger on his Patroclus.

Hector was not Regulus, nor was he Lily. Hector was Voldemort. James would do whatever to make sure he died, and Regulus stayed safe. He would do anything to keep Regulus away from the fate Patroclus had. Patroclus was not meant to die, it was meant to be Achilles from the beginning, so why kill another innocent life?

"I think I'm feeling a little better now." James muttered, "Or at least I'm conscious."

"Regulus loves you, James." Barty said, "I, of all people, would know that."

"Thanks, Barty," James smiled weakly, "I think I should get back to my friends. they're probably worried about me."

Barty and Evan nodded. James got up and headed for the door, pulling the invisibility cloak over his shoulders, and snuck back out of the Slytherin common room, which James would never get over the beauty of. He loved it so much more than the bright, overwhelming reds of the Gryffindor's. The bright reds and golds were far too much and slightly maddening, but the Slytherin common room was the perfect mix of green and darkness. The blues of the lake contrasted perfectly, casting the entire common room in a dim light. The walkway to the dorms was a bridge over open water, which left the common room chilly, which he heard many complaints about, but James's blood ran hot, and he found the chill comforting.

James quickly snuck out of the common room and headed back to his own to greet his friends. Of course that came with questions, but he brushed them off and told his friends he was tired, then closed himself into his bed. 

𝄽

Voldemort made Regulus fight on the front lines when they attacked the ministry, and it was just his luck to end up face-to-face with a terrified looking Fleamont Potter, who just so happened to be visiting the ministry that day. How Voldemort knew, Regulus had no idea, but he knew better than to question the dark lord. But now came the issue, he was standing frozen in front of his boyfriend's father with orders to capture him. Regulus couldn't possibly do that, he just couldn't. So he looked around and did the one thing he could think of. He pulled Fleamont close, pointing his wand at the man's throat, pulling him close enough to whisper, making it seem to the others hopefully, that it was a threat. "I have orders to capture you. I want you to fight back, shove me, push me, or whatever you need to do, something that won't draw too much attention to yourself, but doesn't look suspicious, then sprint as fast as you can to the exit. Don't even think about looking back, I will ensure that you make it out safe." Regulus whispered as quietly and firmly as he could at the older man, who nodded stiffly in response, then shoved Regulus to the ground, making a break for it.

When Regulus regained his balance, he noticed a few death eaters saw Fleamont running and were on his tail, but Regulus was faster. He shoved past them, shoving them much harder than necessary, barrelling toward Fleamont, who neared the exit, and right as Regulus was about to reach him, he was gone. Regulus swallowed down a grin and looked around the room. Aurors were fighting the other death waters. Regulus saw Bartemius Crouch Sr. Head of the Department of magical law enforcement. He was facing off against Voldemort himself.

Regulus was forced the refocus his attention on himself when he was attacked by an Auror. He looked young - almost familiar. That's when he realized. This poor boy was probably still in Auror training. One of James's former teammates, Frank Longbottom. It's almost as if Regulus was cursed - forced to fight and kill those close to James.

Regulus couldn't help but think again - James really was the sun, the center of Regulus's solar system in every way imaginable, whether he wanted him to be or not. James was inescapable, no matter where Regulus was, the sun always shone. 

𝄽

Guys I think I'm in love with this story. I have consistently been 10 chapters ahead of my uploading, so I might do another double upload tonight, especially because I don't know how much writing I'll be able to get done over spring break. I still can't believe how long I've been writing this story, so much has happened since then. Anyway I doubt this story will be over 70 chapters so I might end it soon, I am not sure exactly how to end it at the moment but I do know a timeline of when.