unspeakable | jegulus

look out, kid

chapter title: subterranean homesick blues by bob dylan

"We have to tell Dumbledore." It was November fifth, and they were running low on time. James was clinging to each day like it was his last. They still slipped through his fingers like water. There was such an innate sense of doom to the countdown, like he was a prisoner waiting for the dementors kiss.

"We will." Regulus smoothed his tie, his cold hands lingering over his heart. "I've accounted for that." They were standing near the entrance to the great hall, not bothering to hide their quiet conversations now. Regulus went on tiptoe to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"We have to tell him now. Before we take the mark," James said quietly.

"Why?"

"I know him, not very well, but well enough to know that if we come to him already marked he'll be very suspicious of us. Far more than he would be without the marks. He'll listen to us. If he doesn't, Sirius and I have a two way mirror we can use to communicate, so we can still send them messages through that." He stilled, looking at him sharply.

"You have a two way mirror?"

"We made it in the fourth year. We used it to talk to each other over the summers, before he ran away." Regulus' expression darkened a little.

"That's good to know. It'll probably be helpful. You should have told me sooner."

"Sorry. Is it bad I also didn't tell you I have an invisibility cloak?"

"Are you joking?" He looked incredulous.

"No. I can show you. My dad gave it to me, it's a family heirloom." Regulus knocked his forehead into his chest, exasperated.

"You're truly ridiculous, James."

"When are we going to see Dumbledore?" He wouldn't drop it. He'd been getting more and more concerned about the lack of real Order involvement the more Sirius asked about it. He was very suspicious of his brother, and he wasn't shy to express it. Every hole he found in their plan he prodded a finger through, which was a good thing in a way, but for the most part all it accomplished was stressing James out.

"Soon."

"I need a real answer." James leaned close, tucking a strand of his dark hair behind his ear. Ever since Halloween, Regulus had been more outwardly affectionate toward him in public, but retreated as soon as they were alone. He didn't even touch his hands. He was running away. "As much as the mystery is alluring, it doesn't really do much to reassure me that you're actually going to do what I'm asking you to do."

"You can't seriously think I'm not going to tell him." Regulus looked offended. Not offended enough in his opinion.

"You totally weren't going to. Did I just catch you in a lie, Reg? I really am getting to know you."

"I'm not lying. We'll talk to him."

"Today."

"Not today."

"Why?"

"I have something I have to do first."

"What is it you have to do, Regulus? Put this off more?" James couldn't help the bitter edge bleeding into his voice. "Are you going to tell him the day before break starts?"