Rewrite The Stars- R.A.B

55

It was the end of his sixth year and the moment that Regulus had been dreading for weeks. He was back home. Back in the Black manor. His parents didn't even bother with greeting him and just made sure he got home safe, because Merlin forbid anything happens to their precious heir. 

I wouldn't mind if something happened.... Regulus thought as he sat at his desk in his room. But then felt guilty when he thought about Grace. He wouldn't leave her alone. Not in this harsh world. Not in this time of war. 

His thoughts were disrupted when he felt a sharp pain on his left hand and immediately groaned in pain, feeling some beads of sweat on his forehead. But then it stopped. Just like that and he was left breathing heavily. He panted a bit and got up, knowing that death eaters meeting was about to commence. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and put on his usual cold mask of indifference as he made his way downstairs to see his parents no longer there. Seems like they had left, not wanting to disappoint their lord. 

Regulus also left, going to the fireplace and using the floo powder to get to their normal meeting room at the Malfoy manner. Lucius Malfoy was the first face he saw and Regulus instantly scowled. Lucius and him might act friendly towards each other, but there was always an underlying sense of hatred. They met each other's eyes, a silence sense of understanding passing through them that they'd be civil. As always. 

All conversation ceased when Malfoy and Black walked into the meeting room and the dark lord remained seated in his seat at the head of the table. 

"You're late." He rasped out to the two teenagers as their parents glared at them for disappointing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. 

"Apologies, my lord. We were just-" Lucius started but was instantly interrupted by the dark lord. 

"Excuses are not tolerated. Sit down and I'll make sure to make an example of you both if you're late again." He said and Lucius paled a little before scurrying in the direction of the table. But Regulus moved slower, his eyes glued to a specific someone he thought he'd never see outside of Hogwarts and social norms, yet here he was. Peter Pettigrew. A marauder. Sirius' friend. Grace's friend. Hell, one of her closest friends ever. 

He narrowed his eyes at the chubby looking boy and silently took his seat at the table. He listened the whole time during the meeting, staying silent and keeping an eye on Pettigrew. He didn't like him. And he most definitely found it suspicious that he was here. Especially now that he had graduated along with his other three friends. Was he acting as a spy? A rat? So he could tell the order what the dark lord was planning? Regulus almost wanted to believe that, but Peter never really did have the guts to pull something like this on his own. 

He didn't trust him and had a bad feeling. Something wasn't right and he couldn't help but worry about Grace, hoping to Merlin that Peter wouldn't hurt her. He'd make sure to have a real nice talk with him after the meeting. 

The meeting lasted two hours with the dark lord mostly talking about how he wanted to take over the world and that everyone seated at the table had to help him by recruiting more wizards to their cause. 

When Regulus saw Peter making his way out of the mansion, he followed a close distance behind before dragging the latter into an empty hallway. He clutched Peter's shirt and had him pinned to the wall with a wand at his throat. 

"I swear to Merlin, if you don't start explaining yourself right now, Pettigrew, I'm going to make sure you don't live to see tomorrow. I hope you had a good last dinner. At least you won't die on an empty stomach." The younger Black gritted out, his eyes darkening as they narrowed on Peter, demanding answers as to why he was here. One of the marauders a death eater? Now that was something no one would could've ever suspected. Or would've believed.

"Okay! Okay!" Peter immediately said, putting his hands up and looking at Regulus fearfully even though Regulus was a year below him. 

But then again, even the 7th year students would be intimidated by him. Everyone was. It ran in the Black genes. Well, maybe not with Sirius... He always acted like nothing bothered him and he was loved by everyone. But it was an act. That's how he dealt with trauma. The brothers were different like that. Whereas Regulus liked to be alone when dealing with stuff, Sirius needed to be surrounded by people at all times. That way he could pretend, even just for a second, that he was a normal, happy kid with no problems. 

But pretending could be toxic. Makes you believe things that aren't true. Makes you go soft and drop your guard. You couldn't trust anyone. Ever. That was something Regulus' repeated often. Until Grace fucking Potter waltzed right into his life as if she had ever right to be there. Which she now did. And Regulus was addicted to her like a moth to a flame. Now that he had her, he wasn't going to let go. And he would make damn sure that she was safe at all times. Even if it meant killing her friend, Peter Pettigrew, if he so much as even thought about putting her in harms way or making her upset.

"Look, I'm just here to spy on them, okay? Merlin, calm down. Why the hell are you so mad when you're a death eater yourself?" Peter said defensively which made Regulus narrow his eyes at him even more and push his wand a bit harder against his neck.

"Why I'm here is none of your business. Though it should be obvious. But if Gracie ends up hurt or upset because of you and what you're doing here, you better pray real damn hard to Merlin that I don't find you and crucio you on the spot." He gritted out in a low, threatening voice before shoving Peter away and watching him scurry off out of the mansion. He didn't trust that rat. And he'd make damn sure to keep an eye on him. 

"What. You're scaring Pettigrew without me? I thought we were friends." Evan's voice then from around the corner. He hadn't heard anything, but he had seen Peter run off and Regulus standing there, glaring at his receding back. 

Barty appeared as well and wrapped an arm around Evan with a grin. "Baby Black seems to not want us around anymore, eh Rosier?" 

Regulus rolled his eyes at them both, his usual stoic expression on his face as he listened to his friends dramatic responses. "I have no time for you two. Feel free to leave me alone."

"No can do, Reggie." Evan said and wrapped an around an unwilling Regulus with a grin before letting out a content sigh. "You see, I'm getting married soon and you two morons need to help me. Well, obviously I need to ask her first, but I'll just throw her over my shoulder and make her say 'I do' anyway so it doesn't matter. But formalities and shit, you know?"

Crouch rolled his eyes this time and hit Evan upside the head, making him frown. 

"Merlin's beard! What was that for?" Evan grumbled and Barty called him and idiot while Regulus stood there, listening to their argument as they all left the manor and went outside so they could smoke and talk in peace. 

AN: Okay, I finally wrote another chapter! I hope you guys like it! I'll write more soon. 

QOTD: Do you think Peter was telling the truth? Spy or death eater? 

Guess you guys will find out...