A/N: To all the wonderful readers who actually bother to read Author's Notes…Anika and I have decided that it would be in our best interests to create a joint account for all of our James/Regulus fics. This story will be moved there before much longer. If you're still interested in reading it, please look up my favorite authors and click Kettleshipping.

Severus noticed right away when Regulus began to wake up. He knew every mannerism of the younger boy, and characteristically his eye twitched in protest once he'd decided to awaken.

It was late in the afternoon by now. Severus had long ago pulled out his Potions book to read, while Evans had curled up in her chair to take a nap. Sirius was building a tower with some exploding Snap cards. Severus secretly hoped he would burn his eyebrows off, but he wasn't really his concern.

No, Severus's concern was Potter. The current Head Boy had not moved for the last hour. His hazel eyes had barely even blinked, instead focusing almost solely on Regulus's face. If he could have thought of a diplomatic way to ask Potter what he was thinking, Severus surely would have done it.

Instead, he settled for watching Potter watch Regulus over the edge of his book and smiled to himself as Regulus's eyes fluttered open.

Regulus sat partially up, groaned, and fell over onto his pillow again. Severus watched James cringe, and didn't turn to look at Regulus as he spoke. "The potions Madam Pomphrey gave you will make you still weak for the next twenty four hours."

"Thanks for the warning," he heard Regulus grumble, and knew the younger boy was now forcing his eyes to open for the second time.

"She said you have pneumonia," Potter whispered. Snape could tell he was trying to stop his voice from shaking and not quite succeeding. He knew he shouldn't enjoy that, but he did.

Not wanting to miss the look on Regulus's face, he turned slightly toward the bed. He wasn't disappointed. Regulus's eyes had widened in surprise, probably forced open from it as well, and he looked some weird cross between shocked and frightened to see James sitting at the foot of his bed.

"Hullo, Potter," Regulus managed weakly. Snape could see Sirius was looking up now; just as interested as Severus himself was to see what was going to happen next.

"Hullo," was all James seemed able to say.

"You have pneumonia," Severus continued after a brief moment of awkward silence, "which is easy enough to cure when caught early enough. You cut it close, and if you keep wandering around without proper attire in the cold I'm going to have to resort to drastic measures."

He made note of the shocked and indignant look on Sirius's face. 'Let him see,' Snape thought with a sneer, 'just what he's lost then.'

"Oh," Regulus answered, his eyes never moving from James. Which was annoying.

"Potter, go get Madame Pomphrey. She wanted to know as soon as he woke up."

"Right," James whispered, standing up. Regulus's eyes followed him across the room.

Sirius cleared his throat, and Snape instant glared at him. Didn't that he ever know to keep his mouth shut. Regulus was not in any condition for that patronizing right now.

"Hi, Regulus."

Blue eyes darted away from James, seeing his brother for the first time. "What are you doing here?"

That was exactly what Severus wanted to know. If Potter was to be believed, and Severus wasn't entirely sure he was, then Sirius was there to apologize. If that was indeed his intention, then Severus wanted to hear it. Wanted to see Sirius down on his knees, begging his brother to forgive him even though he clearly didn't deserve it. He wanted to see Regulus refuse to give it to him.

"I…well, you see…I…"

Regulus raised an eyebrow, and appeared to be about to speak when Madame Pomphrey came bustling over.

"Awake then, are you? Good. You're going to need a few more potions that I couldn't give you when you were asleep before you'll really be on your way to recovery. Goodness knows you cut it close enough."

"I didn't feel sick right away, and I don't anymore either," Regulus complained, eyeing her potions warily. Severus had forgotten, until then, how much Regulus hated the hospital wing and potions. He knew how to coax him into taking them, of course, but perhaps he would let Sirius do it this time if he were so keen to make up for his 'sins'.

"I don't care whether or not you feel sick, you're taking them." Madam Pomphrey glared at the younger Slytherin, and Severus suppressed a laugh. Apparently she hadn't forgotten the usual struggle either.

"I am not, I'll do just fine without them. Muggles do."

"Muggles die from pneumonia."

"Well…I'm not a Muggle."

"Then why are you insisting on healing like one?"

"Because."

Evans sat up then, obviously awoken by the noise now being made, but she didn't say anything. Severus was grateful that she, at least, knew how to hold her tongue. It wasn't like anything she said now could help anyway.

Potter was still standing several feet away, close to the window. For someone who had refused to move from Regulus's side earlier, this seemed to be curious behavior. Severus glared at him, and made a mental note not to trust Potter to be there when Regulus needed him.

Obviously frustrated now, Madame Pomphrey reached out to hand Severus the bottle. "Here!"

"Don't look at me," he said in a deliberately bored tone, and pointed over to Sirius. "He's his brother."

Regulus looked betrayed for a moment, and a slight pang of guilt etched its way into Severus's heart. Still, the look of shock on Sirius's face was almost worth it. Particularly when Regulus turned his head to look at Sirius instead.

"Take your potion, Regulus," Sirius said mildly, refusing to look directly at his brother. Severus could just hear the sneer in Regulus's voice, a sneer worthy of a Slytherin, as he spoke next.

"Make me."