Chapter 20: Midnight Shenanigans

Summary:

If you have any questions about what's happened in the story so far or future chapters, feel free to send asks on Tumblr. Don't be shy 3

--

Remus is going to kill Reggie... you know, best friend shit and all that.

Chapter Text

"What's on your mind, Reg?"

Regulus looked up from the scroll of parchment he had been writing on and shrugged sheepishly at Evan, who frowned at him with a look mixed with concern and worry. Regulus checked the time, noticing that they only had a few hours left until they would be meeting. Until it was time to see what animals he and the Marauders were going to turn into.

They had planned this right down to the second that they had put the Mandrake leaf in their mouths. If he was being honest, Regulus actually appreciated not talking so much to anyone. He learnt to listen even more than he had been doing already. He had learnt quite a lot about what was going on in the school, about his friends, and about what Evan and Barty were like when they were bored. Was this good? Probably not.

"You've been so quiet; it's not like you," Barty added.

The next thing he figured out was that no one knew what he was really like. Not really. He found that this was a good thing because it meant that no one would be surprised if he suddenly decided not to talk. Like he had found out, it was really only Evan, Barty and Pandora who noticed him not being his usual self. Even then, it wasn't hard to get them to drop the subject entirely.

"So, I guess you won't be concerned that the blonde girl you like got into trouble," Barty continued, licking his lips with a smirk.

Regulus frowned before jerking his neck so fast that he was surprised it didn't click. He motioned silently for Barty to go on. What had Pandora got into trouble for? What had the Slytherins done this time? Why did they always go for her when they were by themselves? It wasn't very… well... He sighed; this was why he was in Ravenclaw. One of the reasons, anyway. He didn't agree with the way Slytherins handled… everything. He knew exactly who to thank for that - his parents.

"Malfoy hurt her, Reg. She's in the Hospital Wing -"

"Come on, Evan, what happened to blackmailing him into talking?" Barty interrupted, complaining. Regulus gave him a look of disappointment as he packed his stuff in his bag before Barty finally put his hands up in mock surrender.

"It wouldn't have worked," Evan replied simply, and Regulus pointed at Evan before nodding in response as he walked out of the library. Evan knew him better than Barty did; he didn't know whether that was surprising or not. But after the engagement party, he and Evan had clicked.

The walk to the Hospital Wing didn't take long at all, and before he knew it, he was walking past Madam Pomfrey and a few other patients until he reached Pandora. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was okay and awake.

"Regulus, you didn't have to come. I'm fine," she said softly. Regulus couldn't help but frown as he sat down in the chair next to her. "It was my own fault…" she continued, and Regulus's frown deepened considerably.

"I was in their way. They attacked me, but it was only a couple of hexes. Professor McGonagall caught them," Pandora explained, her usual sing-song voice gone. "Don't worry, I know you can't talk right now, but you'll have a lot to say to me tomorrow. I think you'll be cute as a dog," she said with a smile. Regulus's eyes widened; he actually pouted when Pandora giggled and messed up his hair.

OoO

The Marauders glanced at each other as if waiting for something terrible to happen. But as they stared at each other, Regulus nodded at each of them. He looked at his watch and then outside. He heard the thunder rumbling, the heavy rain hitting against the open window. They just had to be patient. He glanced at the potion in the flask and gulped. There was no need to be nervous. He could do this.

And there it was; Regulus grinned mischievously as the lightning struck.

"Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus," they chanted together.

Regulus closed his eyes and his mind as he drank the potion. He heard it. Faintly. The sound of another heartbeat.

Then, he saw it. A white, thick coated, fluffy dog coming towards him. Regulus shivered involuntarily when the dog kept coming closer and closer to him. Until, the next time he opened his eyes a few seconds later, he had changed.

It was strange at first. But it felt like second nature. Actually, it felt more than that. It felt like he was coming home after a long time away. He connected with his Animagus form in a way he could have never imagined. And for once, just this once, he was happy.

He licked his paws and wiped his paws on his cold nose as he glanced up. If he could smile - he probably would have - as he licked his nose, he saw James bend down to him. His tail wiggled from side to side when James patted his head, scratching the back of his ears.

"Aren't you cute?" James said, kissing the top of his head.

Regulus - no, not Regulus. He didn't have a name when he was in this form. Perhaps he liked that. He was just a pup. No heavy weight on his shoulders. He barked in affirmation and his tummy had a weird feeling when James's laughter was all that could be heard.

He barked again when Sirius jumped over to him, hitting him with his own paw. He growled in response and hit him back, and soon enough, both brothers were play-fighting.

The white pup paused mid-fight and sniffed suspiciously. He looked around the room, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dormitory. He was on a hunt, but on a hunt for what, he didn't know. He knew there was something in this room he had to hunt, and that was what he was going to do. And that's when he saw it. The small brown animal ran from one side of the room to the other. A low growl escaped him, and without even thinking or waiting, the pup pounced straight for the rat.

He was pleased when the rat squeaked in terror when he caught it between his paws.

But he growled when the rat was taken from him; he fought to keep the rat, but the human was too fast for him.

"Don't pout, Reggie. Remember, that's Peter. Change back. I know you can," James whispered, scratching his ears again.

The white pup closed his eyes and imagined himself in his human form. Not long after, Regulus was standing in just his school trousers, smirking at James, who had a look of admiration on his face.

"You're no fun," Regulus complained lightly while James just chuckled at him.

"Clearly, since I'm the only one who hasn't transformed yet," James said with disappointment in his voice.

"Why is that? I thought you'd be the first to change?" Regulus asked as he put on his school shirt, shivering slightly from the cold breeze that was coming through the window. He was thankful that Sirius and Peter were still in their Animagus forms, because if they weren't, he was sure one of them would have commented on his scars.

James shrugged sheepishly. "I don't know," he said quietly, looking down.

Regulus furrowed his eyebrows together, studying James. He looked at James's hands first: he was playing with his fingers. Regulus hummed knowingly. That was a nervous fidget if he ever saw one, and he knew James well enough to know that he only played with his hands when he was nervous. Something Regulus had picked up on over the years, but he was sure no one else saw it.

Before Regulus could answer, Sirius and Peter changed back.

"That was awesome!" Sirius exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Easy for you to say. You weren't the one being hunted!" Peter spoke, clearly put out.

Regulus snorted, covering up his laugh. "Sorry, Peter," he said, though in truth he wasn't sorry at all. He smiled sheepishly and said, "It felt like instinct, I couldn't help it."

"Whatever," Peter muttered. "I'm a stupid rat."

"You're not stupid. Rats are intelligent animals and are actually pretty skillful. You can get into all the small places we can't, so that'll be amazing for the pranks," James said encouragingly.

Lightning struck again and Regulus covered the distance between him and James, his arms folded across his chest, as he glared at James with a pointed look.

"Tell me why you haven't changed yet, Jamie. What's wrong?" Regulus asked, frowning when James sighed heavily, sitting down on his bed and placing his potion next to him carefully.

"I'm scared."

Regulus blinked not once, not twice, but three times. James was the bravest person he knew; what did he have to be scared of?

"James, you can do this," Sirius said, walking over to his best friend and patting his shoulder supportively while Regulus nodded in agreement.

"Remember why we're doing this," Regulus spoke quietly. "He's alone. He needs his pack, his family," he added, his voice just above a whisper. He didn't care that Sirius and Peter were staring at him in shock; his attention was solely on James at that moment.

"What he said," Sirius added after a few moments.

"What if -" James started, but Regulus shook his head, letting a smile pass through his well-crafted mask. He took hold of James's wrists while picking up the vial that contained the potion James needed to take before he dragged him to the centre of the dormitory, completely ignoring the existence of Sirius and Peter.

"Come on, Jamie. Stop overthinking. I'm by your side. Are you ready to do this or not?" Regulus asked, and that seemed to give James the boost of confidence that he needed. Regulus let go of James's wrists reluctantly and placed the potion vial in James's hand. James took a deep breath, just as the lightning struck once more.

"Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus," James chanted.

Regulus forgot how to breathe. Who needed to breathe anyway? There, in front of him, was a fawn.

The most beautiful fawn he had ever seen.

He blinked back the awe that showed in his eyes as the fawn walked towards him. Regulus laid his hand out flat and smiled when James sniffed his hand, licking it and rubbing his face against it.

This moment he would remember forever. It was perfect.

"Reg, we need to have a serious talk about you and James," Sirius said, breaking the moment. Regulus blushed deeply, his heart pounding heavily, not taking his eyes away from the fawn.

"Sure, Siri, whatever you say," Regulus said in a daze, not really paying attention to anything else.

"I don't think he registered what you said," Peter supplied.

"Oh, believe me, I will make sure he knows," Sirius replied.

Regulus jumped when the door slammed open. He moved his hand away from James just as he changed back to his human form. He visibly relaxed when he saw it was just Remus. But his eyes widened at the very annoyed look on Remus' face. He shared a look with James, Sirius and Peter.

They were in trouble.

"First, you prank me! Then you lie to me! Then you do it without me? I'm trying my very hardest not to kill you all right now!" Remus growled, his hands closed into fists.

"And you know why you won't?" James started.

"Because we're your best friends," Regulus continued, though he stepped back at the look that was sent his way.

"And you don't want to kill us," Peter added.

"Because you love us, and we did it!" Sirius finished confidently, but it was misplaced. Remus stormed over to him, anger written all over his face.

"WITHOUT ME!"

"I knew that this wasn't going to be a good idea," Regulus muttered to himself and froze at the look on Remus's face as he turned to him.

"If you knew it wasn't, then why didn't you stop them?" Remus asked, matter-of-factly.

Regulus blinked before chuckling. "To see this," he replied with a smirk, though he was slowly regretting his decision. "Your reaction."

"Regulus."

"Remus?"

"Run."