Chapter 43: You're Too Late
The days that followed the minister's death were anything but pleasant. Charlus Potter repeatedly tried to calm the wizarding population but they were having none of it. The prophet had written article after article about his extended absence. The people listened more to the prophet than anything Charlus or Dumbledore said to them. Parents had removed their children from Hogwarts in fear of what would happen next. Some had even gone as far as to leave the country. A new Minister For Magic had been nominated and put into office over night; Berlus Uglinton, an older gentleman with a no tolerance attitude. Between the new minister and Barty Crouch, the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Office, they were working on changing the law to allow for death eaters to be taken in without questioning. In just two days Barty had developed something of a cult following. Dumbledore and Charlus had tried to reason with him but there was no talking him round. In a statement for the Daily Prophet Barty had said, "It is time for the Magical Community to stand up and fight back. We're going to fight fire with fire, if we have to. Where the death eaters are ruthless, we will be ruthless. Where they are brutal we will be brutal. We will do whatever we have to do to bring Voldemort down."
In Hogwarts students tried their best to ignore what was happening in the rest of the wizarding world as they prepared for their end of year exams. There was barely a month and a half left before they would be leaving school for the summer. Lily had taken to spending all her free time in the library studying. James often joined her but instead of studying, he just tried to distract her. He would often sit reading the paper and muttering to himself as she worked. There had been several attacks on both Muggle Britain and the wizarding community alike and Barty Crouch was changing law after law, every single day. Each new law was more extreme than the last.
"Evans," Sirius frowned, "what's going on with all the studying? You do realise these exams don't count?"
"Of course I do Black," Evans didn't even look up from her book.
"Right – that's why you look like you've not slept in weeks," Sirius frowned.
"Padfoot," James shook his head, "leave her be."
Midway through June, the exams were in full swing. It was dinner time and the sixth year Gryffindors were sat together talking happily. The exams were almost finished and even Lily had put her books away. Sirius looked up towards the Slytherin table and saw his brother walking away from the table and out the door. Sirius followed him out, calling him as he went, "Regulus!"
"What do you want Sirius," Regulus turned around.
"Reg," Sirius rushed to catch up, "let me help you."
"How? How can you help me?" Regulus asked bitterly.
"I can get you out," Sirius frowned, "get you away from HIM."
"It's too late Sirius," Regulus told him.
"What do you mean, too late?"
"It's too late," Regulus pulled up his sleeve, exposing his mark, "you're too late."
"Regulus," Sirius looked suddenly sad, "what did you do?"
"I had to," Regulus looked close to tears, "He threatened her… Rebecca, he threatened Rebecca…"
"But Reg," Sirius tried.
"No… I had to," Regulus frowned, "I love her… just promise me that you'll protect her."
"But Reg."
"Just promise me," Regulus begged.
"I promise."
Please Review...