The days following Regulus's decision to seek help from Dumbledore felt like an endless balancing act. Every moment spent with his Slytherin friends, Barty, Evan, and Pandora, required careful maneuvering. He had to hide the storm of emotions swirling inside him while maintaining the cold, aloof mask they expected from him. It was exhausting, but Regulus had no choice.
In the Slytherin common room, the fire crackled softly as Barty sat on one of the green velvet couches, his eyes focused on Regulus. "You've been quiet lately," Barty remarked casually, though his eyes held a hint of suspicion. "Everything alright?"
Regulus forced a smirk, shrugging as he leaned back in his chair. "Just school, Barty. Too much work, not enough time."
Evan chuckled from across the room, shaking his head. "That's our Reg. Always buried in his books. You need to lighten up."
Regulus gave a nonchalant smile, but inside, the tension was eating away at him. He exchanged a brief glance with Pandora, who was sitting quietly, her head buried in a magazine. She didn't say anything, but Regulus could tell she was watching him closely.
Y/N had warned him that hiding this new part of himself wouldn't be easy. Even Sirius had mentioned the danger of deception—how one wrong move could make everything unravel. Still, he hadn't expected how heavy the weight of secrecy would feel.
"I'm fine," Regulus replied, maintaining his calm. "Just dealing with the usual. What about you lot? Anything interesting?"
Barty smirked. "I'm working on a little something that might turn out to be... quite the distraction. You'll see." He winked, but didn't offer any more information, which only made Regulus more wary.
Later that evening, as they left the common room, Y/N met Regulus in a quiet alcove just off the dungeons. It had become their secret spot, away from the watchful eyes of their respective houses. She could see the tension in his face, the strain of keeping up appearances weighing him down.
"You alright?" she asked softly, her hand gently brushing his arm.
Regulus exhaled deeply, leaning against the stone wall. "It's harder than I thought," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if they can see through me. Barty's been asking questions, and Pandora... she watches me like she knows something's up."
Y/N frowned, concern evident in her eyes. "Do you think they suspect anything?"
Regulus shook his head, though he didn't seem entirely sure. "I don't know. Maybe. But I can't slip up. I can't afford it."
Y/N stepped closer, her hand finding his. "You're not doing this alone, remember? We'll figure it out, and Dumbledore's working on a plan. Just... be careful."
Regulus nodded, grateful for her support. Her presence was a balm to the constant storm of anxiety that brewed inside him. "Thank you," he murmured, his fingers tightening around hers. "I don't know how I'd get through this without you."
Y/N smiled, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "You don't have to."
The next day, Regulus sat in the library, a pile of books spread out in front of him. He was supposed to be studying, but his thoughts kept wandering. How much longer could he keep up this double life? How long until Barty or Evan caught on to the fact that he wasn't fully committed to their cause anymore?
Lost in thought, he barely noticed when Sirius dropped into the chair across from him, startling him out of his reverie. "You look like hell," Sirius remarked, leaning back casually.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "Always so charming, Sirius."
Sirius shrugged, but his expression softened slightly. "I'm serious. You can't keep going on like this, looking over your shoulder every minute. Something's got to give."
Regulus sighed, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "I don't have a choice. If Barty or Evan find out what I'm planning, it's over. They'll tell the Death Eaters, and it'll be worse than anything I can imagine."
Sirius studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Maybe you don't need to hide from them forever. You've got Dumbledore on your side, and the Order... They'll help you when the time comes. But if it's too much, you need to tell someone."
Regulus's jaw clenched. He hated admitting weakness, but Sirius was right. The pressure was building, and it felt like a dam ready to burst. "I'll manage," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Reg, I'm not saying this as your brother—well, not just as your brother. You don't have to carry this burden alone. Talk to Y/N, talk to Dumbledore. Hell, even James has got your back, whether you believe it or not."
Regulus gave a small nod, though inside, he still wasn't sure how he could handle the mounting danger. "I'll figure it out," he said quietly.
Sirius gave him a long look but didn't push further. "Just don't get yourself killed, alright? Mum might be a nightmare, but you don't need to throw yourself to the wolves."
Regulus snorted softly, though there was little humor in his tone. "Not planning on it."
By the time evening rolled around, Regulus found himself wandering the corridors with Y/N. They had taken to walking together after dinner, finding solace in each other's company while the rest of the school buzzed with the usual noise of house rivalries and gossip. Tonight, though, the air between them was tense.
"How much longer do you think you can keep this up?" Y/N asked quietly as they rounded a corner, her voice filled with concern.
"I don't know," Regulus admitted, his hands shoved into his pockets. "But it won't be forever. Dumbledore said we're getting closer to a plan, and Sirius keeps talking about the Order. It's just... the waiting that's hard."
Y/N glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "It's not just the waiting, Reg. You're worried. I can see it."
Regulus stopped walking, turning to face her. "Of course, I'm worried," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "If this goes wrong, everything—everything I've worked for, everything we've done—could fall apart. And I don't know if I can protect you if it does."
Y/N reached out, placing her hand gently on his cheek. "You don't have to protect me. We're in this together. I chose this, Regulus. I knew the risks when we started."
Regulus's eyes softened as he looked at her, the weight of his fears momentarily lifting. "I know. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to keep you safe."
Y/N smiled sadly. "I know. But we can only control so much. The rest... we'll face it when it comes."
For a moment, they stood there in the quiet corridor, the world around them fading into the background. In that brief silence, Regulus felt the strength that Y/N gave him, the courage to keep going, even when the path ahead seemed impossible.
"I just hope we make it through this," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Y/N squeezed his hand. "We will. Together."
And for now, that was enough.
