TW: Swearing and mentions of abuse.
Haven’t posted in a good while and stumbled across this I’d started to write a few years ago, decided to finish it and post it. Might be a bit long but enjoy :)
James Potter crept through the castle back from the kitchens, the warm glow of candles lighting the cold stone corridors, accompanied only by the occasional snore from the sleeping portraits. He kept a cautious eye out for prefects but knowing he was undetectable under the invisibility cloak his mind was mainly on the midnight stash of sweets and treats he was about to devour with his mates.
He turned a corner and halted, at the top of the stairwell just ahead he could make out four figures, taking a moment to adjust to the light he felt devilishly delighted once he realised what he was seeing. Sirius was going to be so disappointed he decided to stay in the dorm.
James shuffled behind a statue and couldn’t help the smug grin that crossed his lips when he saw Ruben Bones, the Ravenclaw head boy, scolding Even Rosier, Barty Crouch and Regulus Black.
James watched the three third year boys, they were all sharing the same unbothered and board expression while Bones listed off the dangers of walking around at night.
He found his gaze lingering on Regulus, the candle light had soften his sharp features slightly. James could tell he was doing everything in his power not to roll his eyes and this relation made him want to laugh. He realised he’d never observed Regulus like this, any pervious encounter had just included more tension then James could handle between Regulus and Sirius, and he’d definitely allowed all of Sirius’s ranting about his little brother to cloud any of his own judgements on him.
Crouch, did not seem to have the same self control, and when Bones asked if he had made himself clear Crouch saluted sarcastically and replied ‘crystal sir’ in a loud American accent. This caused James to finally peel his eyes away from Regulus and turn to look towards Rosier who could not contain himself and who had burst out with laughter, he wiped a hysterical tear from his eye and swatted Crouch on the arm that was still holding the salute.
At this, Regulus finally did roll his eyes and looked towards Barty, at first James thought he looked annoyed by Barty’s antics, but his expression soften as they made eye contact and Regulus shook his head fondly making his black curls fall in front of his pale face and allowing a small smirk to cross his lips. James realised the parallels between himself and Sirius when they had found themselves in similar situations.
“Obviously, detention didn’t work last time.” Bones continued, getting increasingly annoyed by the three smirking boys in front of him. “I’m reporting you all to MY head of house, Professor Slughorn clearly does not seem to know how to keep his students in check, and I can assure you she will be writing home to your parents”
The laughing stopped instantly and all humour left the boys faces, replaced by intense glares. All three heads snapped directly up towards Bones, making James fully understand the term ‘if looks could kill’.
James was no longer enjoying seeing the boys get reprimanded, his mind swam with all the things Sirius had told him about his parents. James didn’t know what would happen to Regulus if that letter reached the Blacks but he knew it’d be terrible, and no matter how frustrating Regulus could be, he wasn’t going to let that happen.
“You can’t do that” Crouch argued harshly, “Slughorn is our head house, you have to report us to him.” James noticed a slight pleading tone to his voice.
“Ha” snorted Bones, “I can do what I please, I’m head boy, and I reported you the first time I caught you and obviously that didn’t work, do I need to list again why it’s so important you respect the rules?” Bones replied.
James wondered how Bones couldn’t hear the change in tone or see the glimmer of fear in the boys eyes.
“Listen Bones” Rosier spoke up. “We are only about 30 minutes out, and these two were just coming to find me, I’d lost track of time at the library and they were worried, as you have said, it’s dangerous for a young wizard to be out so late.” He’d stepped slightly closer to Crouch the sleeves of their robes just touching.
James watched Regulus, he’d taken a step back, his face was emotionless but the fingers on his right hand were twisting in on themselves something Sirius also did when he was feeling anxious.
“I’ll have no back chat Rosier, I’ve had enough of young cocky boys running amuck around this castle, we have rules for a reason, rules that need to be followed. Now back to your dorm, I’m off to report this incident and I better not catch you out here again, do you hear?” Bones declared as he stormed off towards Ravenclaw tower.
Crouch rolled his eyes before closing them tight and rubbed his temples with his hand. Rosier threw up his hands in defeat and Regulus carried on his glare, following Bones with his eyes until he’d walked out of sight.
James wanted to step out and say something, he found himself wanting to comfort Regulus, tell him it was all going to be okay. He however knew that was foolish, he’d properly get hexed or worse if they knew he’d heard the whole conversation.
Barty took a deep sigh breaking the silence, and a forced grin grew across his face.
“Well… we are fucking in for it, ain't we Reg?” he teased, elbowing Regulus softly in the ribs, but Regulus didn't even look at him, his gaze was still looking to where Bones had gone, his hands still in tight fists.
James was confused, did Barty not know what the Blacks were like? How could he joke about that?
Rosier touched Crouch’s arm and gave him a knowing look. Barty’s face soften as they made eye contact and he turn back to Regulus. ‘Hey, come on Reg it’ll be fine, Christmas isn’t for another three weeks, maybe they’ll forget?”
Both Rosier and Regulus looked back at Barty, eyes wide, like he’d just told them the sky was pink and the grass was orange.
“Okay, okay, I’m just trying to be optimistic, don't have to look at me like that” He replied, holding his hands up in surrender. “We’ll survive it’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before.”
Evan walked between Barty and Regulus putting his arms around both of his friends and pulled them in before Regulus could reply. “Look lets go back, we don't want to get caught out again, we’ll think of something.” Barty and Regulus nodded slightly and Evan coaxed them down the stairs back towards the dungeons.
James pressed his back against the wall, his mind was running at a millions miles. There was no way he was going to let that letter be sent. He took a deep breath and marched his way back to the dorm to work out his plan.
Once he was back he peeled off his cape and threw the bag of sweets onto the bed, an explosion of bright packets and baked treats spilling out.
“Absolute score mate” Sirius declared instantly rooting through the nights stash, passing a muffin to Remus. Remus looked up to James who was still breathing heavily from the run back .
“You okay mate?” he asked taking a large bite
“Did you almost get caught?” Peter asked as he joined the other two boys on the bed, snatching the fizziewizzbee Sirius was just about to eat from his hand.
“No, nothing like that, it’s just I saw Rosier, Crouch and Regulus get into trouble, they got caught out of curfew by Bones.” James replied worry in his eyes,
“Ha” Sirius laughed as he snatched a liquorice wand from Peter, “Little prats deserved it, what could they possibly be doing this late at night? Hope they got a good detention, please tell me it included them having to clean something particularly gross.”
James finally sat on and bed and let out a deep breath. “Can you all just stop” he snapped a bit harsher then he intended too.
“James what happened?” Remus asked as Peter and Sirius both dropped their sweets in response to James’s outburst.
“They didn’t get detention…” He started to reply
Sirius rolled his eyes, ‘Merlin, they get away with everything honestly…”
“They are having letters sent home” James cut Sirius off bluntly.
Remus turned to Sirius putting down the half eaten muffin, Peter took in a sudden inhale, and Sirius just looked intensely at James his mouth slightly open in shock.
“Oh shit…one day the prick will have to protect himself you know” Sirius sighed as he rubbed his temples. James looked at Sirius, unable to read his expression.
“…but for now, I suppose we have a letter to get” Sirius declared to the group and James finally smiled in relief as the boys got working on a plan.
As official Hogwarts post was alway collected and sent out to the Owlary at sunrise, they had to get the letter from the post room the following night.
However, timing was not on the Marauders side, Sirius and Peter had a detention already from a failed prank last week, ‘it was spur of a moment thing James, sometimes you have to just try and grabs these opportunities mate.’ They’d both exclaimed to James and Remus when they’d asked. And to top things off it was the night of the full moon, so Remus had to go to the hospital wing right after dinner to be observed. With promises to meet at the Shrieking Shack just before midnight, the boys went their separate ways and James started on his solo mission to the post room.
As usual, with the help of the invisibly cloak, he easily slipped into the teachers quarters, through the hallways and into the small post room. It contained a large oak writing desk and a wall of matching filing cabinets that housed the letters and post ready for the owls in the morning. James opened the draw labeled ‘B’ and flicked through until he found what he was looking for. He grabbed the letter and was about to leave when he saw the door knob twist. Quickly, James threw the cloak back over himself and crawled under the writing desk, and watched as the door opened and Regulus swiftly came into the room. He frantically rummaged through a draw, pulling out a letter before opening another and carrying on his search.
James couldn’t help but grin, he’d never seen Regulus move so quickly, but then again without an inviability cloak he guessed he couldn’t take his time and risk being caught.
“Fuck” Regulus whispered as he opened another draw and meticulously flicked through the letters. James realised he’d been watching Regulus look for a letter that was already in his hand. He slowly crawled out from under the desk and stood up pulling the cloak back.
“Looking for this?” James whispered causing Regulus to jump up and almost hit his head on the higher shelf. He turned around and his surprised expression turned into loathing when he made eye contact with James.
“What? Want to satisfaction of sending to it yourself did you?” Regulus almost spat.
The humour left James and he was overcome with a sorrowful feeling for Regulus.
“No, not at all, I’d never want that” James said quickly.
Regulus glared back at him.
“I overheard what happened last night I was on my way too… I mean on my way back from the library and…” James rubbed the back of his head and looked down sheepishly.
Regulus rolled his eyes but then paused and looked at James slightly puzzled “But why would you come and get the letter?”
James rarely felt speechless but he was very unsure how to answer that. “I just couldn’t let it happen, not after I’d heard and you..well you don't deserve it, Bones doesn't know but I…”
“What?” Regulus snapped, his eyes full of fury once more. “What do you know that Bones doesn’t? He snatched the letter from his hand, “You don’t know a single thing about me okay Potter? So now you have pulled your little hero act you can go back to Sirius and tell him about how great and brave you are for putting your nose into something that doesn't concern you”
James sighed, this was not going well. He paused for a moment and then noticed the address of the first letter Regulus has found. “You got Barty’s first?” he asked.
Regulus snorted in response, like he couldn’t believe he was having this conversation right now, but really, neither could James. “Yes Potter I did”
“Why? Would his parents tell yours?”
Regulus laughed harshly, “Well that’s just how little you would know isn’t it Potter? You think my parents are pally with the head of fucking magical law enforcement? How stupid can you be?”
James opened his mouth to speak, feeling very stupid indeed. But Regulus cut him off.
“The Blacks aren’t the only family who follow more traditional lifestyles you know, unlike Sirius, most of us just don't cry about it.”
James shook his head in disbelief. “I wouldn’t say torture counts as traditional Reg, I’ve seen what Sirius…”
“Leave it Potter, you don’t want to go there.” Regulus spoke harshly but quietly now. “Now can I go or do you want to interrogate me some more about my personal life?”
James shook his head, and stood to the side to let Regulus pass. This really had not gone at all how he’d wanted it to.
But before he could leave James blurted out “Wait, what about Rosier?”
Regulus paused and a genuine expression of humour crossed his face. “Evan? Ha, no he’ll want his father to see that, Rosier Senior believes the best thing a man can be is a troublemaker. Too bad Sirius wasn’t born to him right?”
James looked right into Regulus eyes, he was relived that the letters were going to be destroyed but feeling slightly ill at the other things he’d heard.
“Anyway, tell Sirius I’ll see him in three weeks and if I ever need a letter getting again I suppose I should just ask you, rather you get caught then me hey?.” Regulus pulled a devilish grin and left the room, letting the door slam behind him.
James stood there for a few moments longer, lingering in his state of confusion, which was accompanied with faint feeling of something else, before putting his cloak back on and making a B-line to the Shrieking Shack.
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