Sirius stared at me, shock written all over his face. His mouth opened, and then closed. Finally he breathed,
"What happened?" I took a deep breath, trying to not let my emotions run away from me. Unfortunately, they were at a full sprint and doing better than a muggle marathon runner. Sirius could tell; I'm sure of it. He also knew how intensely atypical it was. As a former Slytherin, I knew how to hide my emotions. You had to. We weren't brash, foolish, heart-on-their-sleeve Gryffindors. Swallowing hard, I answered,
"I polyjuiced into you to take the Kiss and –" I saw Sirius' eyes widen and quickly realized that was not a good way to start. At all.
"What the hell, Reggie!" I flinched back, unable to help it. Sirius jumped to his feet and stalked towards me until we were almost touching.
"YOU JUST RISKED YOUR LIFE – YOUR SOUL!" I opened my mouth to reply, but Sirius wasn't done ranting.
"YOU"RE A FOOL, REGULUS! YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN! YOU – YOU DEATH EATER!" I heard Hermione gasp loudly. My mouth snapped shut audibly. Sirius had called me a death eater. After all I had done. I began to shake with rage, my limbs trembling harshly. I gave one final, fruitless attempt to wrangle my emotions back. It didn't work. Merlin! If Sev saw me now…
"How dare you, Sirius! DO YOU THINK I HAVEN'T TRIED TO FIX IT! TO FORGET IT! IF I COULD CHANGE IT… but I know by now that I can't. If you don't, just – just stay away from me Sirius. We brought Buckbeak. You need to leave. The Minister will probably be coming soon." As I spoke, Sirius seemed to realize his mistake. His mouth opened to gape as I spoke.
"Reggie-" he said softly. I shook my head and said,
"Just don't, Sirius." He opened his mouth again, and I felt anger fly through me.
"LEAVE, SIRIUS!" I yelled. Casting one more look at me, he turned to Harry.
"Sirius, you'd better go, quick, " Harry said softly, his eyes glancing from me to Sirius and back. "They'll reach Flitwick's office any moment, they'll find out you're gone. " I shook my head, saying,
"They probably already have." Sirius glanced at me, but one look at my cold expression seemed to say more than words could. Still, wit never was Sirius Black's strong-point.
"What about you, Reggie?" My eyes flashed once, and I had to forcibly calm myself down.
"I'll be going up to the castle. We can't have Hermione's cat disappearing, can we?" I said with a patronizing tone. I glanced at Hermione. She knew that wasn't my only reason for not going with Sirius. I twisted my face into a light smirk and said,
"But I expect I won't be sleeping in her bed anymore." Sirius bit his lip, obviously deciding to try his luck and said,
"You could come with me, Reggie…" I looked at Sirius calmly, using all that seven years in Slytherin taught me and said,
"I worked hard to put my past behind me, Sirius. If you can't do the same…" My eyes flickered pointedly to the skin of my left arm. Sirius paled and flinched. Then he turned back to Harry, asking,
"What happened to the other boy? Ron?"
"He's going to be okay. He's still out of it, but Madam Pomfrey says she'll be able to make him better. Quick-go -" Sirius' eyes were staring at Harry's bright green eyes. I could tell he was lost in memories.
"How can I ever thank -"
"GO!" Harry and Hermione shouted together. Sirius' eyes flicked once more towards me, and another pang of anger leapt through me.
"Are – are you sure, Reggie?" Coldly, I said,
"Go."
"We'll see each other again," Sirius promised both Harry and I. "You are-truly your father's son, Harry..." With that last cryptic statement, Sirius swung a leg over Buckbeak and mounted. He glanced at all of us for one more moment, his eyes turning to each of us. There was pain in his gaze as he saw me. I ignored it. Then Buckbeak surged forward, and in seconds, Sirius was swallowed by the clouds. Sighing, I closed my eyes, feeling quite exhausted. Then I said lightly,
"That was emotional." Harry's jaw dropped at my intense change in emotions.
"Wh-" he began to say, only to have Hermione step on his foot. "Ow!" he said indignant. She ignored him. I snickered, deciding to humour them,
"I was a Slytherin. I know how to hide my emotions. Sirius has been the only one to get a rise out of me since I was twelve. He always could…" I frowned as I finished, realizing I had not meant to say all of that. Hermione nodded at my statement, realizing that I wanted no more questions asked. Harry, however, was elbowed in the ribs as soon as he opened his mouth. I shook my head at his offended expression.
"Oh- And Harry. I disagree. You're nothing like James Potter was. You're a much better person." As we neared the castle, I stopped suddenly and transformed. Hermione glanced up at the huge clock, impassively, only to have her mouth drop open in horror.
"Come on, Harry!" She grabbed his arm and together they sprinted through the castle. Dreadfully confused, I followed at my swiftest pace, my fur an orange blur. Panting, Hermione, Harry, and I reached the infirmary. They darted to the doors, panting, just as Severus said,
"I'm locking you in. Three turns, Granger. I trust you won't run this with your idiocy, Potter." Severus stepped out of the door and took out his wand to lock it. Panicking, Harry and Hermione ran forward. Severus looked up and saw them, smirking as he saw me collapse on the floor next to them, panting.
"Well?" he said quietly.
"We did it!" said Harry breathlessly. "Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak... " Severus glared at them,
"I could care less about where that moron is. I did this for Regulus, Potter." I meowed, trying to show my thanks. Severus glanced down at me and nodded slightly. He recognized my attempt.
"Your past selves are gone -" Severus said. "Get inside." Without arguing, Harry and Hermione slipped inside. I transformed back for a moment.
"Thank you, Severus," I said. He sneered at me, which I recognized as his way of covering slight embarrassment.
"Get inside, Regulus. You could still ruin it." Rolling my eyes, I changed back and stepped into the Hospital Wing. As I entered, I was positive I heard Severus snicker and mutter something about orange fur. The Hospital Wing was empty except for Ron, who was still clutching at his leg, even as he was asleep. Ouch, it was probably healing. Harry and Hermione ran back to their own beds; Hermione tucking the Time-Turner back under her robes. I crept over to the window and jumped onto its sill. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey came striding back out of her office.
"Did I hear Professor Snape leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?" She was frowning intensely at them, taking her anger at Severus out at them. I laughed silently as Harry and Hermione both meekly accepted their chocolate, looking like anything but Gryffindors. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure to go all mother hen on them. Harry was biting his lip nervously. It was clear he was still worried about Sirius. Of course he was. Harry was smart enough to realize that if anyone could screw this rescue up, it'd be Sirius. Still, we made sure it was pretty easy for him. As long as he didn't fall off Buckbeak… Suddenly, we all heard a roar of fury... I smiled in my form. It was Severus. No one could be such a great Occulmens and a good spy without being a good actor. The kids were about to realize that.
"What was that?" said Madam Pomfrey in anxiety. Angry voices seemed to flood the Hospital Wing, followed by the heavy thudding of feet. I grinned lightly. Madam Pomfrey was watching the doorin apprehension. "Really-they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing?" I could see the others trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were getting both louder and clearer.
"He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out -"
"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Severus roared. I could tell how much he was enjoying blowing up on Fudge like that. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE ORDISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS-HAS-SOMETHING-TO-DO-WITH-POTTER!" Harry and Hermione stared at the door before facing each other. I laughed silently as they gawked at each other.
"Severus-be reasonable-Harry has been locked up -" The door to the Hospital Wing was flung open. Fudge, Severus, and Dumbledore came running into the ward. Dumbledore looked calm, unlike the other two. Though, I could see that both Severus and Dumbledore were enjoying this. Fudge appeared angry. Severus appeared livid. I have to hand it to him; he is an amazing actor, not that he'd admit it to anyone.
"OUT WITH IT, POTTER!" he roared. "WHAT DID YOU DO?" At this point, I was barely able to keep from falling off the window sill with mirth.
"Professor Snape! Control yourself!" Madam Pomfrey cried. Severus wouldn't like to hear that.
"See here, Snape, be reasonable, " said Fudge. "This door's been locked, we just saw -" Hearing Fudge trying to calm Severus down did nothing to help me keep my balance.
"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Severus howled, pointing a finger at Harry and Hermione. They looked truly terrified. I couldn't blame them. The first time Severus did that to me… I was waiting to be murdered, for Merlin's sake! He looked deranged, spit flying from his mouth; I noticed that it seemed to only be hitting Fudge.
"Calm down, man!" Fudge shouted. "You're talking nonsense!" Fudge has a lot of personal experience with talking nonsense.
"YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!" scream Severus. "HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT -" Finally, I could take it no longer. Mewing with rabid laughter, I rolled off the sill and fell to the floor. Madam Pomfrey took one look at me and exclaimed,
"A CAT! OF ALL THE INSANITARY THINGS…" I pouted the best I could in my cat form. Did she just call me dirty? Yes. Actually, she implied that all cats are dirty. Poor Professor McGonagall. Severus looked at me and yelled,
"HOW DID THAT CAT GET IN HERE IF THE DOOR WAS LOCKED! IT'S ALL POTTER'S FAULT; I KNOW IT!"
"That will do, Severus," said Dumbledore quietly. Even though Dumbledore fully enjoyed hearing Severus act like that, he knew it was extremely out-of-character for him not to stop it. "Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since you left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?"
"Of course not!" said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. "I would have heard them!" I meowed out a quiet laugh, earning myself a slight glare from Severus. Oh yeah, these kids definitely hadn't been anywhere but the Hospital Wing tonight.
"Well, there you have it, Severus, " said Dumbledore serenely. "Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further." Severus stood there, seething, his eyes focused on Fudge. Dumbledore was still grinning to himself. Sadly, I noticed that one side of Severus' mouth was beginning to twitch. He obviously realized he was losing his mask, for he spun around, sent me a small grin, and stalked out of the room, robes flying out behind him. He has to teach me how to do that…
"Fellow seems quite unbalanced," said Fudge, gazing after him. "I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore. "
"Oh, he's not unbalanced," said Dumbledore gently. "He's just suffered a severe disappointment. "
"He's not the only one!" wheezed Fudge, fixing his stupid hat. "The Daily Prophet's going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughing stock! Well... I'd better go and notify the Ministry...
"And the dementors?" said Dumbledore. "They'll be removed from the school, I trust?"
"Oh yes, they'll have to go, " said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. "Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy... Completely out of control... No, I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight... Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance... "
"Hagrid would like that, " said Dumbledore, sending a grin at all of us. Fudge, still muttering to himself, swept out of the room. For a moment, it seemed as if he was trying to imitate Severus' billowing robes. It didn't work for him. At all. Dumbledore left the Hospital Wing behind him, smiling to himself the entire way. I heard a groan and glanced over. Ron had woken up.
"What-what happened?" he groaned. "Harry? Why are we in here? Where's Regulus? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?" Harry, Hermione, and I glanced at each other. Suddenly, I sprung up from the floor and raced out of the Hospital Wing. Behind me, I could hear Harry's voice.
"You explain."
Hey guys! Sorry for the wait; I feel like a bit off more than I could chew… Anyway, I'll keep posting.
Everyone's lucky to get an update today, though. I had a Migraine come on at around 7:20 AM. I was at school. I realized I couldn't make the day at around 8: 20 and went to the Nurses' Office… Where I promptly threw up. Twice. And began to dry heave. Yay for me.
So I went home, covered myself with three blankets, all of which were over my head and laid in bed with tears streaming down my cheeks. The first time I was able to think a coherent thought was around 12:30 PM. It was, 'Ow. My head hurts.' At around 3:00 I got to the point where I was hungry. It's now 8:00 PM, and I still have a headache. In fact, sorry for any typos, I'm trying to avoid looking at the screen as much as possible…
Anyway… so, Sirius has escaped. I'm not going to focus much on fourth year in this fic. Most likely I'll do maybe four-five chapters on it before going to fifth year. I have a big surprise planned for fifth year.
I have a new poll up. Check it out. It's on if I should continue to answer reviews at the bottom of my chapters, or should I start doing PMs.
Disclaimer: I'm still waiting for that birthday gift! I believe it has been lost in the mail. Until I get it, I don't own Harry Potter.
Please review! You can get a hug from… Harry! The point system is still up! PM me if you reach two, seven, or fifteen!
Mrs. Regulus Arcturus Black: Yep! You're right with the points! I won't be able to keep track, so PM me if this was your second! Thanks! I made sure Regulus couldn't get rid of the Mark just to make sure it was clear that this fic will not be one of those fics where all the characters end up with perfect lives. (I hate those with a passion. No, seriously… Once I saw one where everyone came back to life because the Fates liked how Harry killed Voldemort.)
kittyhawk09 : Well, I suppose that's a complement. So anyway, I'm glad you enjoy his musing. It can be hard for me to get that right.
MissSadieKane : I love all fics that Regululs is in… With Harry, I reread that, and I agree with you. Once I'm feeling a bit better (damn Migraine!) I'm going to fix that. I was trying to work on Hermione's characterization and ended up screwing up Harry's. Harry's Aunt had obviously already been married on that Halloween. (It's in the PS prologue.) I doubt she would tell Harry anything about his mum voluntarily; and why would he need to know his Aunt's maiden name? Thanks for the comment about In His Eyes, too.
fan-de-carlisle-cullen : Severus is a hero. And yes, he did send Harry back in time. I make it a lot clearer in this chapter.
MaraudersAtHeart : I know what you mean about Dumbledore, but he was described in GoF as scary when he was interrogating Crouch Jr. Thanks for reviewing by the way! For your review on Chapter seven: Well, Regulus will be staying on. Severus was right when he said he wouldn't need to make Regulus stay.
WitchOfDarkness13 : thanks for the grammar correction! I never even thought about that! As soon as I can look at the computer screen without wincing, I'll try to fix that! For your review on chapter three: That's one of my favorite lines, too! I have a blast writing Regulus' thoughts. Though, considering how Kreacher talks about him, I'm pretty sure he's OOC. Then again, he's not gone into enough as a character to really know, so… I'm glad the interactions are realistic. My only brother is a freshman in college, and I'm a freshman in High school, so we're pretty far apart age wise.
Tessia : I had it so that Fudge got there after they left the room.
disney-hp-freak : Feel free to steal the idea! I'm a bit confused with how you said Harry and Hermione were 'kinda there.' Was it in the dialogue or in their descriptions? Also, I wanted to thank you for reviewing all of my chapters! That was extremely nice of you. Thank you so much!
Okay, so that's all, folks!