p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b1ab58b2cb5961c10f86cc6858f2d1e1"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AN: /spanHello my wonderful readers! My fantastic beta reader has been very busy, as have I. But I figured a chapter was long over due so just bear with it if there are more mistakes than usual. I haven't looked it over super closely yet myself since I haven't had the time. However, I figured you'd rather have the chapter than wait longer ;)/p
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p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="54e10d085925434a07d94eff62a98ed9"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;".../span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="969922be1a031bba0f38ffa04d4b3b4e"James was feeling better after taking a nice long nap after dinner which Sirius had been absent from. It was bad enough that Remus habitually skipped meals. James knew he wouldn't be able to stand the not eating any longer if Sirius started doing so semi-regularly. James swung himself upright in bed and Sirius let out a snicker as he walked into the dorm pointing to James' bed hair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="64ee116c96878f545c8f456404db23bc""Piss off Black," James groaned, smoothing the hair down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a195be5918a7db7918cfb2f048ea756f""Thought you were going to sleep through Operation Solve the Second Task," Sirius commented lazily, taking a bite of a sandwich he must have nicked from the kitchens./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4de7cb2e73be46fc915b11509b092f9f""Where were you at dinner?" James asked, figuring if Sirius was content to forget their disagreement in Charms then he could as well./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0e7ed75d4cd71fc3e19363019269e575""In the library. I totally forgot about dumb Regulus wanting proof. I've been looking into his made-up story about some of the foreign students being bloody cheaters. If I show up empty-handed yet again he might look into it himself," Sirius groaned coming over to sit by James./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b7da6f1d95439809c0381d6787cd68f""Did you find anything?" James asked excitedly, hoping if one of the other schools had been cheating there would be more support for Gideon. Sirius gave him a mildly annoyed look and James shrugged. "Well, there's really no harm in it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf54644d23db1b017fedd72b4d244e3e""No harm in it? Are you a bleeding idiot, James he almost got himself killed," Sirius shot back angrily./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a756af6d0ad833d02be87492c64193e7"James thought this was a gross exaggeration considering the only one who had gotten severely hurt had been Davey but he was beginning to catch on to the weird protectiveness Peter and Sirius had about their little brothers unless taking the mickey out of the younger boys came from the older brothers themselves. So James just nodded and let Sirius rant about it a bit longer before James realized it was time to meet up with Remys and made up an excuse about having a stomach ache and needing to go to Madam Pomfrey./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="50b3a880900bcae3bcb2c66b90c22d15""Brilliant, I'm heading that way anyway, I'll come with," Sirius offered, giving James an infuriating smile as he let James flounder about trying to come up with an excuse before adding, "you're a piss poor liar James Potter. If you want to go pine after Lily then don't let me stop you just don't be late for our Marauding later. I've got to meet with Regulus anyways so I won't be bothered by you being a git," Sirius taunted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e2d276c500143ccbff236de9489a86ef""At least I'm not hanging out with my brother," James teased lightheartedly, not at all upset to have been giving such a convenient and believable lie. So believable that James would have actually gone to visit Lily in the library if he hadn't needed to talk to Remus. Although James wasn't entirely sure that he needed to talk to Remus again considering Sirius' current behavior./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4ebdb7647e205cdfb2ddc5c37bc83dc3""At least I'm not wasting my time stalking some girl instead of trying to help one of my mates," Sirius shot back with just enough edge that he made up James' mind for him about talking to Remus. He didn't even bother replying to that knowing it would lead to more bickering. Instead, he punched Sirius' arm just hard enough to hurt, warned him about being wanker, and left quickly before Sirius could physically retaliate. James took the stairs down the boys' dormitory tower two at a time but luckily Sirius didn't chase after him and he was able to make his way towards the library at a less neck-breaking speed. There was at least an 80% chance Remus was in the library so it was the best place to start. James didn't even bother to feel bad he had slept much longer than he had told Remus he would since he was nearly certain finding Remus would be easy. Sure enough, he caught Remus just as he was leaving the library waving as the doors swung closed behind him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="018a4208c13b0adc68b04653147ee46f""Waving goodbye to your girlfriend Madam Pince," James teased loudly causing several seventh-years to laugh. Remus started not even looking embarrassed about the ridiculous comment, just looking nervous. James figured it was because Remus was accurately suspecting the conversation had less to do with Sirius and more to do with Remus. But James did notice that Remus was fiddling with a blank parchment taking extra care to tuck it into his bag carefully./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2a19689f4ac7ad4d5cd3e7acb99508ce""That a love letter from Madam Pince?" James laughed and this time Remus' cheeks grew pink with embarrassment and he shot James an exasperated look./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="64422246446142c4c73c6cf0a7cc1e37""Don't be ridiculous, Madam Pince would never date me when she is so madly in love with you James," the young werewolf retorted quickly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2368dba7406326c99fd16db39ebd93fc"James laughed and walked aimlessly with Remus down the halls talking about nothing much at first./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fddad257f5c876ae63b9df44f8e56451""I really don't understand why they don't have more confidence in Gideon but I guess they didn't see him in action beforehand like we got to," James explained passionately and Remus nodded absentmindedly. James frowned. "You know the Forbidden Forest?" James prompted louder and Remus went rather pale looking at James guiltily./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f903edd2bae75b087c14a71ac147f001""What?" Remus asked frantically./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="841e40cd0b80da519c8f5d5f7c6e093a""Relax, I'm not suggesting we go there tonight though Sirius might try to get us to. I was talking about Gideon in the forbidden forest and how cool he was," James reiterated and Remus made a sound of agreement but still seemed rather preoccupied./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="467e97b31c01f821f55de851c7c3700f""But like I was saying Sirius and I hunted down Severus and now he's in critical condition," James lied flatly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="be02804c511a3a30b988285b09832bda""Mmhm," Remus replied distractedly and James grabbed Remus' arm./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3018b4ae86b4d9ae1579f25a26874263""You aren't even listening to me," he whined, realizing he sounded a bit like Peter. "What's going on Remus it's not like you to be such a rubbish listener."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a8426b47486777d8315fde71ce6ef14f""Sorry James, I just have a lot on my mind. What did you say?" Remus asked apologetically./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8921e2d6953a930245dc63c21b2366ea""Never mind, it wasn't important. But do you know what's up with Sirius?" James asked content to have Remus' actual attention now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="251c27bb2a9c774b4afa2739f940ec1b""He's seemed alright lately. Is everything alright?" Remus asked with a frown as James pushed open a door to an empty classroom not wanting to bring up anything related to lycanthropy if there was a chance someone could overhear them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c732dac1d900186eed5f30240b37c386""I guess, he's just being a nutter."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="59133a4f70a4024082f514f2a1746480""Pretty sure that's normal behavior for him," Remus pointed out with a tense smile glancing around the classroom, probably already guessing where this conversation was headed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0890d2194e8b1214d7db77133408223e"James felt bad about bringing this up to Remus but he just couldn't understand why Sirius was going crazy over finding some cure. It would be one thing if the transformations caused Remus a lot of pain but now that they knew they didn't, and James figured even Remus would have a hard time keeping that from them if it wasn't the case, it really just felt as if Sirius was being a git about the whole thing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="815f858d4918210b3e191a9ac4d26500"James needed Remus to provide some insight into the Black's craziness. After all, there were bigger matters to worry about, like Gryffindor securing the Quidditch cup and Gideon winning the Triwizard Tournament. Why couldn't Sirius obsess about those things like every other normal student?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f331e040d013592b14fc22acbaee72d0"Figuring it was better to not beat around the bush James explained the situation with as much delicacy as he could./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f371946000debfae85cd747cc4e1f4f4""I just don't understand why he's so caught up about this?" James concluded glad that Remus didn't seem too unformattable or upset all things considered. Remus frowned a little, his eyebrows pulling down in worry as he seemed to think hard for a long time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c842a9b3d9a417e20cd8412769b0fac3""I don't know why he's doing this James. I told you guys that this isn't what I wanted. Not to mention such a thing is impossible."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="212d4049665bee3e54b1c707d087f6a0""I tried telling him that Remus. And I'm sorry I had to bring it up but you know how impulsive Sirius can be. I'm worried he's going to become a little too obsessed."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b08f4c4b52141f607103d37ef36de77a"Remus sighed heavily, looking tired which seemed to be his primary state nowadays, dark bags looking like they would be permanently under his eyes. James felt a pang of sympathy for his friend. There was no doubt the full moon made Remus feel peaky but even that didn't seem like enough of a reason for Sirius to be so mental about finding a cure./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="17725605a65721b059653f5ae50c5f9c""I'll talk to him James, thank you for letting me know about this," Remus replied gently leaning back against one of the desks and still looking rather perplexed about the whole ordeal but James didn't notice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="859b3927f5bc02ac375153f675b1d81e""Yeah," James sighed, caught up in himself and his feelings of frustration with Sirius, "I think he got hung up on the idea when we thought your transformations were really painful and bad or something and now he can't let go of the idea?" James suggested almost telling Remus about the book Sirius' uncle had sent him. But somehow James didn't think Remus would take too kindly to that. Besides, James had nothing against figuring out a way of helping Remus, just in a way that wouldn't waste time by foolishly thinking they could cure lycanthropy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c2d331c572e3aeac4f549071d0beab27""Well, you would think he would let it go now." Remus mumbled going red, "James...do you think it's because...deep down...he can't stand the fact...that I'm a monster?" Remus asked in a small voice, sounding so embarrassed that it was painful. James was glad Remus wasn't looking at him because he didn't think he would have been able to hide the anger in his eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0f379c202c82a020d7cdc3d7e99ac39a""You aren't a monster Remus. And Sirius doesn't think that he just doesn't want you hurt...even if it only hurts a bit. You know how he is... But it's not about you being a werewolf, he's over that now," James assured Remus. At least Sirius better be!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fdc59bbf78ba13a63910610f542b1c72""Alright, thank you, James," Remus replied with a small sad smile that didn't leave James convinced that he believed him. Feeling disheartened and still more upset at Sirius than he had wanted to feel after talking to Remus, they mutually agreed in silence that the conversation had reached its end and started heading back. James thought desperately of something to say but kept drawing a blank on any sort of topic that might stop Remus from looking so grim. He was just coming to the decision to blurt out a random class topic and see where it led them when both Remus and James stopped dead, very familiar with the voice coming from around the corner and further down the hall./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="46173cc2b24b6a29fbc0617f268ec9e4""Keep your voice down!" Sirius called somewhat desperately. James and Remus turned glancing at each other, another silent agreement passing between them as they quickly ducked behind a massive tapestry. They were both quite good at finding one of the many nooks at Hogwarts being Marauders after all, and luckily this one was conveniently absent of older couples making out. Both Remus and James sat down as two sets of footsteps came stomping down the hall./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d432c7f594f897223c4a52b62793837""You are being an irresponsible child Sirius," Regulus argued primly and both sets of footsteps came to a halt./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6089b6e28695d3b5237606f10400c5ef""I'm not the child Regulus. Besides, I don't owe our evil parents anything," Sirius shot back defensively and James felt Remus flinch in response./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="29d978c5f8e497eedece82d3785f175e""They aren't evil Sirius. You don't even give them a chance," Regulus snapped, sounding less cool and collected than James usually heard him sounding. It would have been satisfying if the frustrated tone wasn't directed at Sirius./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4a720fa02fc43f0210006502233cafe9""Hah! You spend some more time with the dementor before you decide they aren't evil," Sirius spat back his own voice rising heatedly. James flinched with Remus this time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f66587bc8ef695696b82082766330566""That's because you act up," Regulus began but Sirius cut him off, his tone downright vicious./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5706b5e877fc01ee7545ea3c83da7e8a""News flash Reggy children disobey. Look around at your friends. Do their parents shove them in with a monster?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="620b5a856be75b2904d55cbe3bc43e77"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I..." Regulus faltered "I don't know. But this isn't what we were supposed to talk about. You went storming out of the courtyard like a wuss."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3c0e3b61e894ba0e85f46504d17f7cab""Don't call me a wuss! You're not the one being forced to have a dinner date with some prissy pure blood," Sirius shouted and James knew if the two of them didn't quiet down they would risk a prefect or professor scolding them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f854c55ae45d3d9a0a1bdae25d363434""Well, if I was, then I would uphold my responsibility to the noble house of Black. They aren't asking much from you Sirius, it's just dinner." Regulus stated in a judgmental tone./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="69f837923a00b46be7ac6f82aa754f32""You're such a moron Reg. Whatever just shut up about the stupid dinner."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7578d02cacb0f7cc9fa2c4790e0b4de1""If you go, mother is willing to overlook your...disgraceful house."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a33aa1b1613705144a506d8b25bd45b""It's not a disgraceful house!" Sirius growled angrily./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1af66e546bbf32b24a20c74af5018cdc""That doesn't matter. What matters is we can be a family again," Regulus attempted again this time his voice breaking./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="064248d679ee8427f36caa9085925102""You are so naive Reggy..." Sirius sighed but had quieted down himself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="99bce4d371bbcbed617fe14bfbd7e153""Fine...fine maybe I am then don't do it for our parents, do it for me Sirius, please?" Regulus asked in a small childish voice sounding close to tears. "I just want us to be a family again, maybe that's dumb but...but you can at least try."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="065a06ce0c1adab5a40240661c82b034""Fine...but for you Reggy. Not them." Sirius deflated the defensiveness that had been in his tone replaced by a truly touching and slightly surprising gentleness./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a4dd303a16d98c6051e4f20547f05dc2".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3818821406ebbe6f64e432630b2f1240"Regulus could hardly believe his ears. Sirius had agreed, he had actually agreed. It took all of Regulus' self-control not to burst into tears. At the moment it wasn't two brothers competing for attention or recognition. It was just Reggy and Sirius. It had been some time since it had been like this. They were suddenly six and five once more and Sirius was standing in front of Reggy who had accidentally broken a lamp, staring down their mum who was holding that awful cane of hers threateningly. No matter how infuriating his brother was, Regulus truly loved him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2c40d079ffbdf2dcbd03e3f271159849""Oh thank you, Sirius. Thank you!" Regulus cried all composure gone because he was so happy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b0d6d9772e51917a6fd41d8236fec59"Sirius caught Regulus in his arms who, not having to worry about maintaining composure at the moment, had hugged his older brother tightly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0bd6f6c82204acfa0bd44fa5fe2f1f2b""I'll write to mum and let her know. She will be so pleased. And I'm sure you will receive a wedding invite now," Regulus hurried, thinking that maybe he would tell Sirius the extent of what had happened and how Regulus had almost drowned. Maybe Sirius could help because they hadn't gotten any farther in the investigation and since the incident, Lucinda had been cold to Emma who she blamed for leading Regulus and the others into a trap. As a result, both Emma and Lucinda had been avoiding eachother more and more./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8d7ee89830ff6fb2bd033571d3f6080f".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f2565e3f233103b4cd5e477112cf3a9""I don't want a stupid invite," Sirius snapped the touching moment broken. Regulus let him go, reserved once more. Sirius felt a pang wishing he could see the childish smile that had been on his brother's face, moments before. It seemed like such a rare sight nowadays and Sirius feared a day would come where Regulus' face was that permanent haughty pure blood look./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="357eff13fccbd46eaf11b166d5060921""Of course you don't. But you'll get one and you'll go otherwise you won't actually be trying," Regulus pointed out coolly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="01e1b84c53ff51aa27b031ab902b54e5"Sirius wanted to groan loudly feeling he had somehow been tricked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bbaa654f2b4974ef85d3b98418cad54c"'Fine, fine I'll try to get along with our terri...I mean...out 'noble' family. But just this summer. That will prove to you whose fault this whole thing is. Once you realize our mum is psychotic then can you consider listening to me about other things."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1b3064ffb80a4e739a378f1be15c922f""Yes, of course, provided you make it through the summer on your best behavior," Regulus challenged and Sirius both admired and hated the cunningness of his brother's goading words./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c21b9f4d5b9294ecb558ac33cb06914""Challenge accepted. Just you wait, I'll have you singing to the Beatles in no time," Sirius boasted to hide how insecure he felt about the whole thing, "Now enough talking about our family. I found something out about Abreasalts they had a murder in their school twenty years ago and..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9ca436233dc55a12594e94e803a1ddd5""You actually found something? I thought you believed it to be a made-up notion?" Regulus asked surprised and Sirius pulled the sheet of paper he had taken all of ten minutes to compile, mostly full of bullshit./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0952a8e9bbde5080603a1c4fbfeafdef""Who are you and what have you done to my brother?" Regulus asked with a slight laugh skimming through the sheet. "Well I don't really think any of this is accurate but I appreciate you looking. Gregory, Lucinda, Emma, and I have come up with two likely scenarios, and the other day we were..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3c43b09b8fe33c0e382064397898b8ac""I thought you weren't going to look into it?'' Sirius asked his frustration rising with his brother all over again. It was downright dizzying to go in and between emotions as quickly as Regulus was an expert at making him style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"But I'm fine no one got hurt...not really," Regulus assured Sirius quickly- if you could call the poor attempt at a defense reassuring at all./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7b2c5c7669c281bcd2ad1f1058bdd2ed""You're such a sodding wanker Regulus Arcturus Black," Sirius snapped the tone immediately, making Reggy deflate some. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Good, he was being a complete tosser! /emThere was a time in the not so distant past where that tone and Regulus' full name would have been all it took to get him to listen and for the matter to be dropped. But Hogwarts had certainly resulted in Regulus gaining confidence and worse, an undeserved arrogance that seemed to make him think he could stand up to his older brother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="07aa7bec458c48af22b9469f07ab3802""Will you just listen to me," Regulus grumbled, becoming as frustrated as Sirius felt./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4fd1b170c1f4ed1fbe173f4f225d3a31""Why should I? You never listen to me!" Sirius snapped and began to stalk off, done with the conversation. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Why couldn't Regulus see he just didn't want him getting hurt? After the scare with the Whomping Willow, he didn't want Regulus sticking his big nose into anything else, especially this stupid made-up mystery of his!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5ec3018b3fb240622dce3ab22f1b347c""Fine, I don't even care if you're in danger! It will serve you right if you get hurt, you tosser." Regulus shouted and Sirius rolled his eyes, giving his brother, the ever terrible liar, a half-wave as he continued to walk away leaving Sirius behind to fume by himself. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He could and would be the responsible one. Someone had to. /em/p