Regulus awoke with a throbbing pain in his head. He blinked a few times before wearily opening his eyes. He was surprised to see the marauders standing over him; save for Peter who got slightly sick at the sight of blood and had quietly retreated to the boy's dormitory. Lily had left after an half hour or so. Regulus tried to sit up but laid back down with a groan, as the exertion of energy proved to be too much for him. He could clearly see his brother's haughty smirk and the weary glare from Remus. Regulus was especially surprised to see Remus at his sick bed. Soon a disappointed Madame Pomfrey shuffled in.
"Well I must say that your brother here did quite a number on you. Another millimeter or two and we would've had a fractured skull on our hands."
"Am I OK?"
"You should be," she started slowly. "However, I believe a day's rest in your dorm would do you good. It's Friday, so I believe you could spare one Saturday of your life to help your well being," she said with a slight sigh.
"So . . . can I go?" He shifted slightly, uncomfortable in the gazes of the three infamous Gryffindors in front of him.
"Just let me change those bandages," she said before departing to her office.
The silence was almost as thick as the tension around the bed, so much so, that Regulus wanted to talk despite how awkward it would be just to lessen it.
"So . . . " Remus spoke first, causing all eyes to focus on him. He coughed self consciously. Sirius wound an arm around his waist protectively.
"So you little prick, what the hell did you think you were doing beating up my little moonykins?" Sirius burst, an angry scowl appearing across his face.
"Little moonykins?" all three questioned.
"Oh hush it. What's your problem Reg?" He said trying to keep his voice low so as not to startle the occupants of the other beds.
"Look who's talking! You're the one that beat me within an inch of life," Regulus growled back.
"You started it!" Sirius accused. "What have we ever done to you?"
"You, you . . . you abandoned me."
"Wha-"
The conversation abruptly halted as Madame Pomfrey reentered the room.
"Okay let's do this," Madame Pomfrey said striding over to the bed. "Raise up please."
Regulus winced at the pain, but managed nonetheless. She murmured to herself as she dressed his quickly healing wound.
"Drink this, it'll help the pain," she said stepping back and handing him a bottle of purple liquid. He took it swiftly and gulped it down trying to ignore the tears in his eyes from the sting in his throat. With a satisfied nod of the head, she took the bottle and retreated into her office calling out that he was free to leave over her shoulder.
Regulus attempted feebly to stand but began to sway precariously due to lightheadedness. James caught his left arm, giving a pleading look to his two friends who were somewhat reluctant to help him in supporting Regulus. They acquiesced, and the quartet walked along the halls in silence, all glaring at each other for their own reasons.
Around halfway to the Slytherin common room, Regulus seemed to regain his wits and yanked away from Remus, leaving the tawny haired boy slightly shocked.
"How dare you touch me!" Regulus snapped. Sirius responded with a low growl and glared menacingly at his brother.
"Sirius," younger Black continued, "listen to me, you could do so much better. It's not so much the fact your gay that's not so bad, it's the person that your with now. Mum and dad would take it slightly better if you found someone more suitable. What about our family, what about me! How about Jeffrey in Ravenclaw? He's a pureblood, with a good personality and loads better than him! You know you could do better, why sink below your standards? You deserve better!"
James and Sirius looked slightly shocked at this short monologue, while Remus uncomfortably looks down, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting.
"Reg. . . " Sirius started.
"Are you happy?" Regulus questioned, interrupting.
"I . . ."
"Because you don't sound happy. Your giving up everything; your family, the fortune, your reputation, our future, for him! Is that what you want, is that what makes you happy? If he really cared for you at all, he wouldn't be forcing you to chose like this!"
Sirius stood there slightly speechless. James staring between the three boys quickly noticed Moony's downcast look, and nudged Sirius in the ribs indicating that he should say something.
"I. . .I don't quite know what to say," Sirius spoke at last. James simply glared, his best friend was making a terrible mistake.
"Is this what you really want?" Regulus appealed again.
"I. . . Yes."
"Sirius, I know you, you're my brother, this isn't what you want, you're not happy." Regulus said, more softly than before.
"Well you're wrong, you don't know me. And you don't know Remus! He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Remus' head snapped up at that, surprise shining in honey eyes.
"Sirius, please, you have to choose. We've . . . we've been brothers, friends maybe even. . .since, well, forever. Without you, what's it going to be like at home? You have to choose. Everything or him."
"He is my everything. So yes Regulus, I chose him." The two brothers simply stared at each other. A new form of emotion took over, loss. They understood, that it was over, no use. Sirius had chosen and Regulus had turned his back. There were to be no second chances, no rebounding, this was the end of a happiness between brothers; this was the end of a friendship.
Sirius, grabbing Remus' hand, abruptly turned and James followed. Regulus watched as the three made their way in the opposite direction, never turning back.
-XOXOXOXO-
Meanwhile, Snape and Lucius were working on phase two, unbeknown to the rest.
AN: I believe this is one, if not my longest chapter yet. I didn't put all that effort into this for nothing. You know what I want . . . reviews! Please, please, please, I crave them; they help me from chapter to chapter. Plus, the more reviews, the faster I'll update. Again also, thanks to my lovely beta Lady Annikaa for helping me improve my writing for this chapter and the others!
Reviews are Love! =D