Prompt 7 - Restlessly
@jegulus-microfic September 7, Word count 432
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Regulus seemed kind of stunned by James’s home when they first arrived. He stood staring up at the picturesque house. “Reg, love?” James nudged him with his elbow, and Regulus snapped back into the present.
“Sorry,” he mumbled and tried to pick up his trunk.
“Hilly will get them,” he said, pointing at the little house elf who had just popped into view.
“Master James, Master James!” She cried, barrelling into his legs and wrapping her thin arms around him. “Master James is being home. Oh, Hilly is so happy. Hilly made all of Master James’s favourites for dinner. Come, come, Hilly has tea all ready,” the little elf snapped her fingers, and their trunks and things vanished.
James finds himself being squashed into the loveseat by his dad, who then urges Regulus forward as well. Hilly hands them cups and saucers and balances tiny plates with thick wedges of cake on their laps. James glanced at Regulus out of the corner of his eye, and he still seemed to be in shock.
“Come on then, what’s the plan?” Effie asks, tilting her delicate cup to her lips and taking a sip. James’s leg starts to restlessly jiggle as he takes a nervous sip of his tea.
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Regulus says politely. That sly, all-knowing look his mum sometimes gets passed across her face, and James knew she knew.
“We’re all meeting outside Grimmauld Place in a week, and Regulus is going to use the cloak to get Sirius out as the wards will let him in,” James suddenly gushed, nearly upsetting his cake. Regulus turned and looked at him with his mouth agape. James winced and couldn’t look at him.
“And how exactly did you expect to get there and back?” she asked.
“Brooms,” James blurted out. He caught Regulus sniffing his tea.
“Don’t worry, lad, there isn’t any Veritaserum in your tea. Effie figured it out, and James knows it’s easier just to tell the truth,” Monty said when he spotted what Regulus was doing. A flash of worry crossed Effie’s face, and she got up and went to crouch in front of Regulus. She reached up and took his hands in hers and told him.
“Darling, we would never do that to anyone. I know about the rescue because I was trying to figure out my own way to rescue Sirius.” Regulus stared into Effie’s eyes for a second and then took a sip of his tea. The smile Effie gave him filled James’s heart with warmth. He bragged about his mum for a reason.
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