A/N: Thank you, guys, for sticking with us :) We love to hear from you. And just so you know - we promise to follow through with the story. We both (me and my co-writer) feel strongly about this, because we know how frustrating it is getting into a good story and never get the rest of it. None of us have ever abandonned a story and it's not going to happen now - unless of course something hugely unexpected happens, such as earth getting hit by a giant asteroid ;)

Chapter 7 – "He Started It!"

Regulus' 4th year

When Remus came back from the hospital wing an evening after the latest full moon he could hear people yelling as he entered the common room. The voices were coming from the stairs to the boys' dormitories. No one in the common room seemed to be affected much by the yelling or sound of objects being knocked around. They were so used to it by now. The two brothers would be getting along fine one minute and at each other's throats the next.

Remus sank into a chair next to James and Peter, sighing, "What are they fighting about now?"

"About Regulus' new friend," said James. "A little snake."

"Who?" asked Remus, his interest piqued. Regulus had never had a friend at the school before. Had never wanted one.

"Barty Crouch," said James. "I think he's son of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"I forbid you to see that Slytherin scum!" Sirius roared. "You're a Gryffindor, so act like one!"

"I'm more Slytherin than Gryffindor!" Regulus yelled back and dodged the book Sirius had just thrown at him. "And you can't forbid me anything - it's none of your business who I choose to spend time with!"

"I'm your big brother, and you're my responsibility! I have a say in who you see and that's not going to be a bloody Slytherin!"

"FUCK YOU, SIRIUS!" Regulus screamed and stormed out of the dorm, smacking the door as hard as he could in his brother's face and rushed down the stairs.

Remus looked up as Regulus reached the common room. The boy looked furious and Remus didn't blame him. He had finally made a friend and now Sirius was trying to mess it up. Remus had to agree that it wasn't Sirius' business.

"Hi, Regulus," said Remus as Regulus was about to pass him.

Regulus stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Remus. His heart did a summersault. Oh, damn it. He couldn't even look at him anymore without feeling all funny. He had been feeling like that the whole year and had finally had to admit to himself that he fancied Remus. And obviously this meant that he had to be gay, which was an even bigger pill to swallow. His parents would kill him if they found out.

"What do you want, Lupin?" snapped Regulus, sending him a glare. He might be infatuated with him but that was not something he was going to show.

"Nothing," said Remus and looked a little taken aback, although he was used to Regulus' less than friendly attitude. "I just wanted to say hi. Haven't seen you in a couple of days, that's all."

"Well, it's not as if I'm going anywhere. I'm stuck in this hell-hole, aren't I?"

Regulus turned as he heard loud footsteps trampling down the stairs behind him.

"Don't use that tone with Remus!" barked Sirius. "And you belong here in Gryffindor whether you like it or not, so start acting like it!"

"Act like you and Potter?" scoffed Regulus. "Strutting around like I own the place, acting like an arse? I'd rather die!"

"And your behaviour is better? A stuck-up prat, always moping around like someone pissed in your tea! Merlin, Regulus, you've been here for three years now! Maybe if you would lighten up then you would make some friends in here!"

"I did make a friend!"

"A real fried! A Gryffindor friend!"

"I don't need any Gryffindor friends."

"So you're just going to hang around with Slytherins and be a disgrace to your house?"

"Disgrace to my house?" said Regulus, incredulously. "You sound like Mother!"

Sirius' eyes turned black like a thundercloud and he whipped out his wand. "TAKE THAT BACK!"

Everyone in the vicinity scrambled to their feet and moved out of the way.

"Sirius!" Remus said, jumping to his feet. "Put that wand away!"

"Mind your own business, Remus," snapped Sirius, not taking his eyes off Regulus.

Regulus drew his wand as well. It gave him a vicious pleasure to see his brother this offended so he kept going. "You act like her too! Screaming and raving whenever you don't get your way!"

"LEVICORPUS!" screamed Sirius.

Regulus was flipped over and hoisted up in the air by his ankle. "IMPEDIMENTA!" he yelled, pointing his own wand at Sirius, knocking him backwards into the bookshelves against the wall by the fireplace. The Levicorpus jinx was broken and Regulus crashed to the floor.

Sirius was up faster than Regulus and he pointed his wand at him, his eyes full of rage. "Impedimenta!" he yelled, sending Regulus flying backwards knocking over a coffee table.

"Want to intervene?" asked Peter.

"No, mate," grinned James. "This is too bloody entertaining!"

Regulus had dropped his wand in the fall and couldn't find it, so he dove behind the nearest sofa as Sirius shot another curse at him.

"Sirius! Stop it!" demanded Remus. When Sirius aimed another hex at his brother, Remus pulled his wand and quickly disarmed Sirius, wand flying into the air and landing at the other end of the common room.

Sirius turned, glaring furiously at Remus. "What the hell, Moony? I'm teaching my brother a lesson!"

"You're attacking an unarmed wizard is what you are," said Remus and kept his wand drawn on Sirius. "Now calm down!"

"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE?" roared a voice.

Everybody in the common room froze and stared at Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

"I demand an explanation right this minute!"

"We were just practicing duelling, Professor," Sirius said and picked up his wand from where it had fallen.

Of course McGonagall didn't buy that explanation. "Black?" she said, noticing Regulus sprawled on the floor. "I should have guessed. I've just about had it with you two! Fighting like animals. Detention - both of you, after dinner, my office!"

"He started it!" protested Regulus.

"You started it!" barked Sirius, working himself up again. "You know just which buttons to push to make me mad!"

"Enough!" said McGonagall, holding up a hand. "I don't want to hear any excuses. You will both receive detention. My office after dinner and don't be late!" She turned to Remus. "And Lupin - you're a prefect. Why didn't you try to stop this? Do try to live up to your responsibility, will you?"

"I did try to stop them, Professor," said Remus, shooting a look at one of the other prefects who had been hiding behind a table. "I promise I'll try harder next time."

"Good," said McGonagall, her voice kinder. "Godric knows it's a demanding job with those two."

"It's your fault," growled Regulus when the professor had left. "You just had to chase after me. And I had Quidditch practice after dinner! You ruined it!"

"Yeah, that's true," said James. "You actually did, Padfoot. Could've chosen a better time, mate."

"Yeah – go ahead and blame me for everything!" Sirius spat. "It's not because he is such a prat that we got detention! And I suppose that you want me to take the full blame so he can go fly around on the pitch?"

"You were the one who drew your wand, mate..." said James.

"So what? I just dangled him by the ankle, I didn't blast him into a bloody bookshelf!"

"You knocked me into a table!" said Regulus.

"That was after you attacked me! You started it!"

"You're such a child," said Regulus, crossing his arms. "You'd think you were the little brother!"

Peter sniggered.

Regulus spun around, glaring at Peter. "What?"

"He's a head taller than you and twice as broad."

"No, he isn't! You're twice as broad! And that isn't something to be proud of!"

"Please, lads... can't you just settle down?" begged Remus, rubbing his temples. He was working up a headache and almost wished he had stayed in the hospital wing another night instead of this.

"There you go again, pissing on my friends, you little shit!" growled Sirius at his brother.

"Right," snorted Regulus. "They can say all sorts of things about me but as soon as I talk back, you're at my throat. Well, sod you all!"

"People say things about you all the freaking time," said Sirius. "But that's because you're always so bloody serious and have no sense of humour. Maybe if you lightened up a bit, then people wouldn't pick on you and I wouldn't have to stick up for you all the time. Remember that and stop being so bleeding ungrateful."

Regulus who had been on his way out the portrait hole stopped and turned around. "What? You stick up for me? You've got to be joking! You stick up for your three friends and yourself and that's it!"

"You don't think I tell people to fuck off when you say stuff about you?"

"I don't have time for this rubbish," Regulus huffed and left.

"He's so bloody stubborn!" growled Sirius and dumped into a chair across from Remus.

"Guess it runs in the family," said Remus, sending his friend a tired smile.

o0o0o

Sirius and Regulus walked to McGonagall's office not speaking a word to each other.

"Yes. Come in," sounded the reply when Sirius knocked.

The brothers headed in different directions, seating themselves as far apart as they possibly could.

"Both of you up front," ordered McGonagall. "Next to each other."

The brothers protested but did as told, sitting down next to each other, arms crossed and looking opposite ways.

The professor sighed. "Why is it that you two can't get along? You're brothers. You should support one another."

Sirius looked at Regulus and then back at McGonagall. "We do get along sometimes but he's so bloody stubborn. He hates being a Gryffindor and we have to watch him sulk all day. It drives me nuts!"

"He just hates me," said Regulus. "He's got new friends that he likes better, so I'm just in the way."

"That's not true! I don't hate you."

"He wishes Potter was his brother," said Regulus. "I heard him say that to him."

"That doesn't mean I want him to take your place," sighed Sirius. "You could get some good friends of your own if you would just lighten up a bit."

"I just got a friend!" said Regulus, still looking at McGonagall and not his brother. "But Sirius does not approve, just because he's in the wrong house. That's what our fight was about!"

McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Is that true, Black?" she asked, her eyes on Sirius.

"Well, yes... Because I don't want my little brother meddling with the wrong sort."

"And what is 'the wrong sort'?" asked the professor.

"Slytherins," explained Regulus. "All Slytherins are evil and should be avoided or bullied."

"Well, they should," mumbled Sirius and dropped his head. He had to take a couple of deep breaths to keep his temper in check. It was typical. Of course McGonagall was siding with Regulus, just because he was a bootlicking model student who only lost Gryffindor house points when Sirius was involved.

o0o0o

The next morning Anders approached Regulus, looking positively livid. "You do realise we have a match against Ravenclaw in two weeks, yes? I strongly suggest you stop getting into fights with your brother, or if you absolutely must, then do it on your free days, because it's not the first time this has happened!"

"Well, tell him! It takes two to fight, doesn't it? And he's the one who won't leave me alone. If everybody would just leave me the bloody hell alone, I wouldn't bother anybody," snapped Regulus.

Anders looked a little taken aback but then pointed a finger in Regulus' face, hissing, "Well, don't let it happen again! I scheduled another practice tomorrow so you better be there or I'll cut you from the team!"

"Don't worry about it," Lily's voice sounded behind Regulus when Anders had left. "You know how seriously he takes that game. I bet he's more upset with Sirius because he knows Sirius probably landed you both that detention."

"Whatever," mumbled Regulus and hurried away from her.

He had actually sort of liked her until he found out she was Muggle-born. Since then he had avoided her or ignored her as much as he could.

o0o0o

On the first Hogsmeade trip after Christmas Regulus fell in love. He liked animals so he always swung by the menagerie at the end of High Street to see what new pets and creatures were in the store. And there he was: the most magnificent black tomcat. Their eyes met and something clicked instantly. The big cat got up and rubbed itself against Regulus' legs, purring.

"That's odd," said the storeowner. "He doesn't normally like people."

Regulus picked up the cat and scratched it behind the ear, making it purr even louder.

"You want it? You can have him for four galleons," said the owner.

Regulus sighed. "I already have an owl and we're only allowed to have one animal at the school."

He left the store but couldn't stop thinking about the cat. He could, of course, just let Lyra move home to Grimmauld Place, but he didn't want her to be that far away, and he didn't want to give her away or sell her either. Then an idea struck him. He could give Lyra to Remus. Remus didn't have an owl, and couldn't afford one, Regulus was sure. He would no doubt treat her well and this way Regulus would still have Lyra close. And then there was the ulterior motive of doing something nice for Remus without actually admitting it.

The Marauders were just about to enter Honeydukes when Regulus came stalking towards them. He looked determined and Remus wondered if he was angry about something Sirius had done, and that perhaps they would start a fight in the middle of the street, but as the boy got closer Remus could tell that he didn't look agitated.

"You need money?" asked Sirius as Regulus stopped in front of them.

"I have my own money, thanks," said Regulus. He decided to join them so he could discretely ask Remus to step aside with him a little later when the other three were occupied. After about ten minutes he got the chance. "Hey, I'm going into the bookshop. Anybody want to come?" he asked, knowing there was a good chance only Remus would be interested.

And sure enough, Remus nodded and told the others he would catch up with them.

"I wanted to ask you something," said Regulus as they walked together. "You like owls, yes?"

Remus nodded. "I do," he smiled and tugged his scarf closer around his neck. "Why do you ask?"

"Er, well..." started Regulus. "Come with me," he continued, deciding that it was easiest to show Remus the reason. They stepped into the menagerie and the giant cat rushed over to Regulus and asked to be picked up. Regulus did and the cat rubbed its head against Regulus' chin, purring loudly. "I really love this cat, but I'm not allowed to keep two animals at the school, so... I thought perhaps you wanted Lyra?"

Remus' eyes widened. He had seen Regulus with his owl many times and it was clear that he adored the bird. And here he was, saying he would give her to Remus? "I... I can't accept that. You're so proud of that owl. Why don't you just keep her at Grimmauld Place? You don't have to give her away."

"Yes, well... I really want this cat and I feel bad about just sending Lyra home. She likes it here."

"But why would you want to give her to me of all people?"

"I know you don't have your own owl and I know you would be really good to her. You have Care of Magical Creatures and all... So I would really like it if you would take her. You would be doing me a favour, actually, so you don't have to feel grateful or anything."

"Well... I..." Remus started. "Alright. If you really mean it, I will be very happy to have her." He sent Regulus a smile and had an urge to give him a hug but he guessed that would be pushing it. "Thank you for thinking of me."

"Well, like I said, you'd just be doing me a favour."

o0o0o

"Where's Regulus?" asked James when Remus came back on his own. "Did he get embarrassed to be seen with a half-blood?"

"Not at all," grinned Remus. His heart was still leaping in his chest when thinking about the present he had just received. "He went home."

"What are you looking all giddy about?" asked Peter, eying Remus closely.

"He gave me his owl so he could buy a cat."

"What?" exclaimed Sirius. "He gave you his owl?"

"Why would he do that?" asked James. "Why didn't he just send it to Grimmauld Place?"

"He said she liked living here, and maybe he just wants to be able to see her once in a while. I don't know," Remus said.

"It's a bit odd that he gives her to you," said Sirius. "No offence, but it's not as though you two are friends."

"Well, I'm happy he gave her to me."

"What about his new slimy friend, Crouch?" speculated James. "I don't think he has an owl. I've seen him get mail from school owls. Why didn't Regulus give it to him?"

Remus wondered the same "I don't know. He said he knew I would take good care of her because I have Care of Magical Creatures."

James snorted. "He's got an agenda. He's too much of a Slytherin."

"I... I don't think so," Remus said, a little hurt by the fact that they couldn't just accept that Regulus had wanted to give him the owl. "He is just being nice to me."

"He's never being nice to anyone," said James.

Peter wondered why Sirius never said anything to James when he criticized Regulus, because he did when other people said mean things about him. But Peter was not one to ask that sort of questions. He didn't want to risk Sirius or James getting mad at him.

o0o0o

Regulus walked back to Hogwarts holding his new cat until his arms got so tired he had to put it down.

"You're really heavy, you know that?" he said to the cat. "You've got to weigh thirty pounds at least. Are you going to run away if I let you go?"

The cat looked him right in the eye as if it were a little offended by Regulus doubting its loyalty.

"Okay," said Regulus and let the cat go. He was glad to see that the it followed him closely as he began walking.

"Hey, Regulus, wait up!" sounded a voice behind him.

Regulus stopped and looked around. It was Barty Crouch.

"You got yourself a new pet?" asked Barty, eying the cat. "We aren't allowed to have more than one and I didn't think you were one to go against the rules." He flashed him a grin and then eyed the cat. "Bit fat, isn't it?"

"He's not fat!" said Regulus and picked the cat up again, hugging it to him. "He's just big. I think maybe he's part kneazle. Anyway, I'm just going to send my owl home, I think."

"Oh, alright. Don't get why you would want to put aside such a fine bird for a fluff ball like that, but that's your call, I suppose."

"He's special. We have some kind of connection," said Regulus as he started walking again, still holding on to his cat, who gave an angry hiss in Barty's direction.

"Well, if you reconsider giving that owl away then I'm interested. But since you're sending it home then I guess you're not."

Regulus knew that Barty was likely to discover at some point that Regulus had given Lyra to Remus, but he didn't feel like explaining it now. Even if Regulus had not had feelings for Remus he would never have given Lyra to Barty. He like him all right, but there was something about him that made Regulus a bit uneasy and he wouldn't dare trust him with his owl's welfare. That was not a concern he had with Remus. He was kind to everybody and everything. Stupidly kind, Regulus thought sometimes. He let people walk all over him and then apologised for being in their way. He was kind to people who didn't deserve it. Like you, said a little voice inside his head.

o0o0o

Remus and the others came back to the common room a good hour later, finding Regulus sitting in front of the fire with the giant black cat on his lap.

"I see you got a new pet," said Sirius, acting like he didn't already know.

Remus sat down beside Regulus and held out his freezing hands towards the fire. It had started snowing when they headed home, and Remus' hair was sticking to his face, dripping from melting snow.

"Yes, he's wonderful, isn't he?" said Regulus. He was in a good mood because of his new friend. "I named him Polaris, after the North Star."

Sirius reached out a hand to scratch Polaris behind the ear. The cat growled and eyed Sirius suspiciously but then seemed to decide that it couldn't hurt letting the boy pet him.

"I hear you gave Lyra to Remus," said Sirius. "That's a very nice gesture, but how come?"

"Because we're not allowed to have more than one animal, you know that, you git."

"I know," Sirius said, still petting Polaris. "But you could just have sent her home. Not that I think it's a bad idea for you to give her to Remus, it's just a bit unlike you."

Remus looked from one brother to the other. "Regulus is a nice person and he knows I will take good care of Lyra."

"Yes, Sirius, why is it unlike me?" asked Regulus, a little offended. "I have always given you good presents, haven't I? I'm not cheap. I even give presents to Kreacher. Something you would never dream of doing."

"Who is Kreacher?" asked Peter.

"That ghastly house elf at Grimmauld Place," said James.

"You should remember him, since you've taken pleasure in torturing him on your visits," said Regulus, sending Peter a poisonous gaze.

"Fine, fine, I get your point," Sirius said and stood up straight. "Come on, lets go get our homework done. McGonagall will skin us if we aren't done by Monday. "He looked at Remus. "You coming?"

Remus looked a little hesitant and then shook his head. "No I think I'll stay and get warmed up. Besides I'm already done with my homework."

When they had left, Regulus glanced at Remus out of the corner of his eye, waiting to see what was on his agenda, knowing he had most likely stayed because he wanted to talk about something.

"I ... um," Remus started after a moment's silence. "If you would rather send Lyra home I'll understand, but I really appreciate that you wanted to give me the chance to take care of her." He smiled over at Regulus nervously and then leaned back, pushing the wet hair out of his eyes.

"I don't want to send her home," said Regulus. "She would just feel like I'm sending her away. She likes living here."

A couple of fifth years came in through the portrait hole and spotted Regulus sitting in the armchair with Polaris on his lap.

"Hey, what you got there, Little Black? A panther? Merlin, it's nearly bigger than you!"

"Just ignore them," said Remus in a low voice and leaned over to scratch the cat's head.

One of the boys reached out to touch the cat as well, but Polaris hissed and clawed his hand. "Ouch!" he yelled and pulled his bleeding hand back. "You're a good pair - he's as mean as you!" he said, scowling at Regulus.

"He's just smart," snapped Regulus. "He can tell you're a nasty bully."

Remus looked from Regulus to the boy who stood clutching his hand.

"I'm sure Polaris is just being protective of Regulus. Pets often are towards their owners. You should know that from Care of Magical Creatures," said Remus in a friendly tone. "I believe it was one of the first things we learned."

"Oh, bugger off, Lupin," grumbled the boy. "You stick up for everybody, but you're wasting your energy on that one," he continued, nodding in Regulus' direction.

"You don't have to defend me," said Regulus when the others had left. "I can look after myself."

"Well," Remus said and sank back into his chair. "I know you can but sometimes it's nice with someone backing you up."

Regulus was quiet for a few minutes, then said, "Don't you want to see Lyra?"

"I do," beamed Remus and stood up. "Very much!"

"Wait here," said Regulus. "I'll just put Polaris up in my dorm. Don't want to leave him out for any of those twats to tease."

When he came back down they went outside and headed towards the owlery. It was close to dusk and some of the owls were starting to fly out hunting. Regulus put two fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. A minute later the beautiful hawk owl came flying and landed on his shoulder.

"Wow," Remus breathed and studied the beautiful bird on the small boy's shoulder. He gently stroked the owls head and neck, making sure not to ruffle the feathers. "She is really beautiful," he smiled at Regulus. "I hope she will like me. It's clear that you two have a bond and I feel sorry that you can't keep her. You can use her for all your letters if you want."

Then Lyra seemed to register what they were talking about and she stared incredulously at Regulus.

"I just need to talk to her alone, okay?" he said and moved a bit away with the bird, which was now perched on his lower arm. "Remus will be your new Master, Lyra. Not because I don't want you anymore, but Remus is such a kind person and he can't afford his own owl. But he deserves one, so I decided to let him have you - the best owl one can have. I still love you and will be here, close to you."

The bird stared at him, her eyes full of blame. Regulus felt another sting of guilt for giving her away like that, but he knew she would feel even more rejected if he sent her home. Also, Regulus was terribly lonely and he badly needed a friend in Gryffindor tower. Owls were not allowed there, but he could have Polaris there all the time.

"You will come to love Remus - you'll see. He is very good to animals and he will love you a lot."

The bird still looked very offended when Regulus came back, but she nevertheless hopped onto Remus' forearm.

"She might be a bit miffed at first," warned Regulus, "but she'll come around. Just give her a bit of time."

Remus nodded, smiling from ear to ear as he admired his new owl. "She can take all the time she needs." He smiled and carefully moved a hand up to touch Lyra, but still offended by changing master, she bit Remus' finger.

Remus sucked on his finger. "Well, she knows how to use her beak," he smiled. "But it's quite alright. I hope she'll come to like me."

"She will. She loves bacon, so if you save some from breakfast you will come a long way with her."

"I'll bring her some. Well off you go, Lyra. You can go hunt now." Remus' teeth had started to chatter but he kept smiling.

Regulus watched Remus as he sent Lyra off. Regulus couldn't stop watching his face. He was smiling and had a look of admiration in his eyes as he watched the bird fly away to hunt.

What is wrong with me? Stop looking at him like that! He's going to think you're weird.

Remus turned his head and looked at Regulus with a soft smile. "I don't know how to thank you enough. I never thought I would get my own owl."

A/N: Remember to check the illustration for the chapter on Zayhad's deviantart. Link on my profile.