The Stag and the Doe

Chapter Thirty-nine-Punching Baddies and Living in the Moment

 Disclaimer: Thirty-Nine chapters in and most of this is hardly original. Oops.

Also James ruffling his hair....Uhh, what was I thinking about?

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Punching Baddies and Living in the Moment

Regulus remembers this one time when he was six and had a really bad nightmare.

He had woken up shaking, trembling, heart pounding, and sticky with sweat. He had also woken up with the covers and his pajamas sticking to him wetly. With tears in his eyes, Regulus hung his head miserably. His parents had at first said that it was perfectly normal to wet the bed every now and then. But lately, they've started saying that he was growing up, so surely he should outgrow this bad habit. It's not like Regulus wanted to wet the bed. He couldn't help it. He just never woke up in time, or a nightmare had made him do it.

But with sticky pajamas, Regulus realized his parents were going to kill him for wetting the bed again.

He heard a bang, then a thud of feet that were rapidly approaching his chambers. Regulus held in his breath, and hoped to Merlin that it wasn't his mother coming to get him and punish him the way she punishes Sirius when he talks back. He could feel the terror from the nightmare still flash over his eyes, and the sweat that trailed down his back turned colder. Regulus clenched his soiled sheets with tightly shut, eyes.

His door opened with a force that made it hit the wall, but not great enough to make a louder sound. Regulus heard the pitter patter of bare feet tiptoe against the marble floors, and heavy breathing.

"Reg, are you okay?"

Regulus' head shot up with relief. It was Sirius, not his mum coming to hurt him. The boy, who was standing by Regulus' bedside, was only illuminated by moonlight that leaked through the silk curtains of his window.

"I heard a scream," Sirius continued, reaching even closer. "What's wrong, mate?"

Regulus clutched his sheets tighter. "Nightmare," he muttered and glanced ashamedly down at the wet spot on his bed.

Regulus heard Sirius let out a, "oh," and Sirius' hand went to Regulus' shoulder.

With familiar gray eyes looming over Regulus, Sirius said, "Hey, it's okay."

Regulus sobbed. "No its not. Mum said she'd kill me if I did this again. Now she has to find out."

Sirius' expression turned defiant. "No she does not. She won't find out, I can promise you that."

Regulus raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"C'mon geroeff the bed and grab your sheets and duvet, and get a set of pajamas and pants while you're at it."

With Sirius' help, he and Regulus bundled up the bedding, and grabbed the items from Regulus' dresser. They walked silently throughout the cold halls; the only sounds there were their feet squeaking and Regulus' sniffles.

"Wait, Siri." Regulus said once they reached a small doorway. "This is Kreacher's room. He'll tell mum for sure."

Sirius shook his head. "Nah, if I'm right, and usually I am, Kreacher is out by the kitchen's, polishing up the silver and copperware. It is Sunday morning right?"

Regulus nodded and opened the door.

Like Sirius had said, Kreacher wasn't there. Instead it was his, err, nest Regulus guessed he could call it, and the washer and dryer. As Regulus walked into the room Sirius grabbed the sheets from his hands, and gestured for him to get closer to the washer. With one arm extended and the other struggling to keep the bedding, Sirius opened the washer door. Sirius tossed them in with a slightly grossed out face and turned to Regulus.