What If? Year 2

Chapter 45

"Can't you two just follow simple instructions?" I scoff, as Sirius takes my bag from me and slings it over his shoulder, "I told you that Professor Snape could..."
"Oh come on, Golds," Dad cuts me off, "Sirius and I just worried about you. And since we're leaving the morning, I thought this would give us a good chance to check up on you." I glare at him, but he just smiles back at me innocently.
"Fine," I reply, "Good night, Professor."
"Good night, Miss Potter," Snape replies, "James... Sirius."
"Severus." They all glower at each other for a while, but stop once I push by my father and start up the stairs. Sirius follows right after me, with Dad just a few steps behind.
"Your school yard drama needs to stay out of my education, please and thank you." I tell them, harshly.
"It's past school yard now," Sirius replies, as we pass the Great Hall, "more like... protective fatherly love for you."
"Like Professor Snape would ever hurt me," I snap back, "he's a professor that Dumbledore hired. You'd do good to remember that." Dad sighs.
"You're sounding like your mother," he tells me, thinking this will put me off.
"Considering Mum is usually right about these things, I'll take that as a compliment." Sirius chuckles before fading into silence, which we keep the rest of the way to the common room.

After saying goodnight to Uncle Sirius and Dad, I go up to the dorm and get ready for bed. Ara, Heather, and Ginny are already asleep, so I do my best to keep quiet and slip into bed.
"Please don't get kidnapped tonight," Ara whispers, making me smile.
"I... I wish I could promise that." I hear her sigh, but I chose to ignore it and slip into the spirit realm.
Regulus is waiting for me and he picks me up from my bed and hugs me tightly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he shouts, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I laugh a little before putting my hand over his mouth.
"You're welcome, Regulus... but you didn't even get everything out you wanted to." Regulus smiles.
"I got out enough," he replies, "Sirius knows now, even if it's just deep down. He'll understand when he needs to." I look up at him, seeing the tears swirling in his silver eyes.
"Stop being so mysterious," I scold him, "what did... does Sirius know?"
"That I'm not the enemy," he answers, "when I died... everyone thought I was the... enemy."
"But... I swore him to secrecy, no one else is going to know."
"All that matters is that he knows." I smile and let him spin me around a little more. His hair starts to tickle my nose, so I push my face away from him. He's still smiling and singing my praises, but something catches my eye. The door creaks open a little, but there is no one in the hallway. But soon, Midnight comes running in, chasing a rat around the room.
"Wait, Regulus! That's Scabbers... Ron's rat!" Regulus stops and lets me go.
"Then why is your cat chasing him?"
"Oh, Merlin, you're right! Midnight, wait!" Before I can get back to stop them, the rat runs out of the room and my cat follows after it.
"Well, that's that, I guess."
"I feel like I haven't seen her all semester."
"Are you kidding? She's always around you! I can always tell what class you're in, cause that cat is always sitting outside it." I chuckle and shake my head.
"She must blend into the shadows. Luck of having a black cat."
"Or curse?"
"Thanks for that, Mr. Glass half empty."
"I had a black cat."
"Really... that was random?" He laughs.
"Yeah, well, I don't know whose cat it actually was, but Mari and I found it in the Courtyard and it decided to follow me to the common room. And then to all my classes the next day. So Mari gave it name and deemed it mine." I smile.
"What was it's name?"
"Edgar... don't ask."
"After Edgar Allen Poe?"
"Who?"
"He's a muggle poet," I reply, "I don't know why someone would think of Edgar otherwise."
"Mari never told me that, but I'll have to ask. I guess, you never know." I smile and nod.
"Hey, Reg.. could I ask you a favor?"
"Sure."
"Do you still have... energy? So you could appear?"
"I think so, why?"
"If you see... him, anywhere around me. Could you appear? Just so I've got a heads up?"
"Of course. I'll keep my eyes out. So will Mari."
"Thank you." We stand in silence for a while, before Regulus reaches out his hand to me.
"I'm never gonna let you get surprised like that again." I sigh, softly brushes the line on my collar.
"You're safe. Just promise me, you'll never do anything reckless. I can't save you from your own stupidity."
"I know, I'll be safe. No wandering without a friend."
"Preferable more than one friend. Or a teacher. If it's at night, definitely with a teacher."
"Yes, mum," I snark at him.
"You know I'm right."
"Yes, yes... thank you."
"Now, why don't you actually sleep? You've got class tomorrow."
"You would've been a good dad, Reg." His face turns pink and nods.
"Thank you. Now, off to bed with you." With that he walks off.