Title: The Choice
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Regulus/Remus
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 836
Summary: Regulus has a choice to make.

Notes:

100 Word Prompt Collection Challenge: 28. Depart

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Muggle Studies - Task 2 - Write about frosty relations between two people/two groups of people. (Make sure to include why the relations between them are bad.)

Year Long Scavenger Hunt Challenge: E6. Write a story where a character of your choice has to choose between two characters of my choice (Regulus between Severus and Remus)

Remus and Snape stared at each other. They had never been friends. How could they be when Remus was friends with his biggest torturers? Of course, Severus wasn't completely innocent, but he liked to pretend none of it was his fault. It was a good way to get sympathy after all.

Things were worse between them now. Remus didn't believe their relations could get any frostier after Snape found out about his furry little problem, but he was proven wrong.

"Why would Regulus choose you?" Snape sneered. "A Gryffindor know-it-all. A Ravenclaw in Gryffindor robes. Someone who doesn't fit in at all. Someone who's a beast." The last sentence was hissed.

Remus thought about leaving at that. It had taken a long time, and many pep talks from the Marauders, for Remus to actually begin believing that he was more than just a werewolf. That he wasn't a monster, and the werewolf was only a little bit of what made him, him.

He didn't want to depart on that note, though. He didn't want to give Snape the satisfaction of believing he won this stand-off. He took a deep and with as much confidence as he could muster, he stated clearly, "I think he'll choose me because he's my first choice. He's not the consolation prize because I couldn't have who I really wanted. Everyone in school knows you wanted Lily. Do you honestly believe a Black will settle for being second best?"

Remus didn't truly think Regulus would choose him of course. Although Regulus didn't know about his secret, he was still a Half-blood, and he knew how traditional Regulus's family was. But so was Snape and the Slytherin seemed to be forgetting that bit. And Remus did truly believe Regulus wouldn't ever choose someone who didn't want him first. That wasn't the way Regulus was wired after all."

Snape glared.

Remus arched his left eyebrow.

Snape turned and stomped away in a truly dramatic fashion.

Remus sighed. That was a point to him.

Sirius stared at Regulus. They hadn't talked much in the last few years, but this was important enough for him to break the silence between them. This was for Remus.

He approached the younger boy.

Regulus didn't look up from his book. "Go away."

Instead of listening to the command, Sirius sat down and began with, "We need to talk."

Regulus put down the book. "What does the great Sirius Black have to say to me?"

"I know you have a choice to make. You know you have a choice to make. I can't honestly believe you'd choose Snape over Remus, but I guess anything's possible. It's hard for Remus to fight for what he wants because he has trouble believing he deserves good things, so I'm here to state his case for him."

Regulus rolled his eyes. "How sweet. Do you hold his hand while he goes to the restroom as well?"

Sirius ignored the barb. "Remus is—"

"Stop," Regulus interrupted. "What makes you think I'm choosing either one of them? They're both Half-bloods and unlike you, I won't disappoint our parents."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Because I know there's an inner rebel within you, dying to get out. Just listen to me. Remus is intelligent. He's sweet and kind. He's selfless and always tries to take care of others' needs before seeing to his own. He's great with Charms, Transfiguration, Defense, and even Potions. He's always helpful, and he's extremely loyal to those he cares about. When he loves someone, he loves with his whole heart. Once you have his heart, you have it forever, even if you don't want it. You would never regret choosing him because he'd do whatever he could to make you happy."

Regulus blinked. "Wow. Does he know you're his number one fan?"

Sirius didn't smile. "Well, I said my piece. I guess it's now up to you, but if you're going to break his heart, can you at least try to do it gently? You owe him that much."

Sirius didn't know it, but he had given Regulus a lot to think about.

Regulus and Severus glared at each other from opposite sides of the library. Regulus always came here at 3pm on the dot every Wednesday, and they were both here to see him.

They turned their attention to the left where they heard muffled steps and stared at Regulus.

Remus held his breath as Regulus looked from Severus to Remus, then back to Severus. It was the moment of truth. Would he sit with one of them? Or would he sit at a table by himself?

His heart began beating faster when after looking at Remus again, Regulus began walking towards his table. He stood there for a moment, his hands on the chair, before he pulled the chair out and sat down.

Remus felt like jumping for joy. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it was something. It made Remus believe he actually stood a chance.