Chapter 2: The boy who lived
Summary:
Regulus didn't plan on spending his wedding night alone and pregnant in his flat in London but things rarely turn out in his favour.
Notes:
TW: grief, talk of death, character death.
CW: smut
Chapter Text
Regulus
Regulus Black did not by any means think he'd be spending his wedding night alone in his London flat. Gay marriage between wizards was only legal in a few countries England was not one of them, which is why only hours ago Regulus Black now technially Regulus Potter had married the love of his life in France. France where his roots came from, France the country of romance. France where he should be snuggled up with James but he is instead in his small miserable flat alone and pregnant. McGonagall had shown up at all hours of the night and insisted they all come back home at once because something happened, something terrible. So not only was Regulus Potter alone and pregnant in his flat on his wedding night but he was also overcome with anxiety about what could have taken place that would require them all to portkey home.
James had gone to speak to Dumbledore as well as Frank and Alice longbottom as soon as they arrived back he had taken Sirius with him. Before the pair left they merely instructed their lovers to return home and wait for them. The aurors were involved so something related to Voldemort must have happened right? Regulus sighed while twiddling his silver wedding band that has red and green gems scattered around it 'What a wedding night this turned out to be' he thought of course the day had been perfect. The ceremony beautiful, the celebration fun the fact he got to share the news with his husband that they would be having a little girl (well if she ever realised that she was in fact a he that would be fine by Regulus) everything really was amazing until McGonagall had showed up.
"Whatever god is up there please, please do not let anything bad have happened to Lily and Harry," he said to the ceiling. Inwardly he was pleading with the very universe to make it so that they were both ok, both safe. He hopes this is just crucial news about Voldemort or about how they needed more measures to keep James, Harry and Lily safe at Godric's Hollow. It had to be it there was no way while they were all celebrating something sinister was happening to James' family. Regulus pulls his old diary out from when he started transition; it was meant to record that but ended up recording him and James' relationship in some weird Jegulus diary instead of a transitioning journal. He opened the page at November 15th 1976 and smiled reading through sentences, laughing to himself flicking through until a passage caught his eye it read;
'It wasn't long before I heard Flich calling someone so I disappeared through a door, down a corridor and through a door I've never been through before. I caught my breath before looking around there was a massive mirror in the centre of the otherwise plain room I walked towards it and read the writing,
erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'
I studied it frowning. After playing around with the words I came to the conclusion it said 'I show not your face but your heart's desire' I took a step forward and stood in the centre of the mirror looking in. In the mirror I saw myself looking more masculine I had broader shoulders and light hairs were gathered on my lips. A wedding band was on my left hand and the person beside me who had their arm wrapped around me was also wearing a wedding band and with his other arm was holding a tiny brown baby wrapped in a white blanket. It was James. There were also toddlers at our feet playing, I was overwhelmed at
what I was looking at, I wished with everything in me that this mirror showed the future but it didn't only my deepest desire which I had locked away. It really knocked the air out of me.
"un jour nous pourrions être ordinaires" I said aloud, 'one day we could be ordinary' when would that day come? I placed a kiss on my fingers and rubbed it on James' face and our make-believe children's faces. I went straight back to the dorm without getting caught and recorded this all down. Now my pocket watch reads one minute to midnight but my head is five years away in a future that may never exist.'
Five years away in a future that may never exist he read with a weird smile. It wasn't far off being exactly five years later and here he was actually married to James Potter. Here he was with their baby in his stomach, he happily stroked over the slight bit of swelling of his belly
"Five years later and were almost ordinary Jamie," he said aloud before putting the diary back. He got what he wanted but he couldn't help but breathe out, "Don't let this all come crashing down around us," he was really pleading for James' son to be okay for his ex to be okay, just for it all to be okay and they can just get on with their lives, tonight just a blip. Just further knowledge about Voldemort that needed to be addressed. Eventually James comes crashing through the front door looking like he has been hit up the face with a school trunk. It is apparent that James, though looking pained, now completely sober even though it was only a few short hours since he'd been drinking.
"Harry and Lily? Are they okay?" Regulus asked, breaking the silent stares. He gets off the sofa and runs over to James taking him into his arms.
"Yeah Harry is okay, he is at Sirius'," James tells Regulus in a voice most unlike his own.
"Oh thank Merlin," Regulus places a kiss on James' cheek. James lets out a pained groan, "But that's not all?" Regulus realises aloud,
"No Reg that's not all," James whines. Regulus holds him a little tighter, "Voldemort he found where they were hiding he um he tried to use the killing curse on Harry. He tried to fucking kill him Reg, I'd of had another baby boy dead," his voice was strangled. Regulus began stroking him, "Anyway it didn't work the curse backfired, My Harry he survived," Regulus is beginning to feel lost. He decides to ask for clarification,
"Wait so Voldemort, he actually used the curse and pointed it at Harry and it didn't work," This was insane no one ever survived the killing curse. Regulus was gobsmacked,
"Yeah, the poor kid has got a big lightning scar all over his forehead because of it, you should see him Reg. Dumbledore said it can never be removed because of the nature of the curse," James groaned. Regulus cupped James' face and made him look him in the eyes,
"He is going to look so badass, all the kids at Hogwarts will be fighting to be his friend in ten years," He gave him a smile which James only half returned.
"Course he will look badass, It's just Lily she um she's gone she is dead Voldemort killed her," with that James fell to the floor with Regulus also collapsing under his weight, "Dumbledore reckons she sacrificed herself to save Harry, that's why she's gone and with her doing that made some form of protection that's why he couldn't kill harry why it didn't work, Lily saved him," he dissolved into tears as he finished speaking. Regulus stroked his cheek letting him cry, of course Lily saved Harry she was perfect, probably better for James than an ex death eater. "So now that Voldemort is gone Frank and Alice want to have a chat with you about who exactly was in Voldemort's ranks up to your knowledge." James told him wiping his tears away. Regulus frowned,
"I mean of course I'll talk to them but James you know Voldemort can't be gone we never destroyed that horcrux, Kreacher he couldn't do it," James meets his gaze. Regulus places a kiss on his husbands clammy hands. He also feels guilty because he discovered Fiendfyre gets rid of them but he found it too dangerous and decided to keep looking.
"Well he is gone in a sense, however as long as the Horcrux is there he can come back," James began, "Which is why we are meeting Sirius and Lupin at the three broomsticks tomorrow evening, They'll give Harry back to us then and I'm going to be having a chat with you three adults about about the horcrux and what were going to do okay," Regulus nods at what James has said. He places a kiss on his chin. Why did the world have to get rid of Lily Evans she was the perfect mother to Harry from what James had told Regulus, how Regulus could ever measure up as step dad? He found that to be an impossible thought.
"Ok shall we get you to bed so you are able for Harry tomorrow" Regulus asks stroking James' cheek,
"I don't know how I'll ever be able for anything again after tonight" James replied solemnly. This was supposed to be the perfect night and it was it truly was until it wasn't.
Regulus helped James to the bed. James could hardly stand and Regulus was finding it hard supporting all his weight but he managed, he was focused. He had to make sure James was okay because whether he liked it or not everything was in fact crashing down around them. Regulus helped James get out of his clothes and then Regulus strips himself to his boxer and climbs into bed beside James sitting for a moment on top of the bedsheets.
"That's driving me crazy," James said, rubbing at Regulus' belly. Silently Regulus thinks at the stage he believes the baby to be at that this swelling was more than pregnancy and somethings else was making him bloat on top of it making the bump appear bigger but he doesn't say anything. He lets James have his little crumb of happiness. "Let me touch you Reg," James asks eagerly, "I need to bask in something nice to fall asleep," he tells him.
"Yeah ok you can touch me," Regulus says his eyelashes fluttering. James draws a few circles on Regulus' belly with his fingers and then slips them beneath his boxers. He starts rubbing Regulus' clit quite aggressively. Regulus's clit feeling more sensitive than usual he moans right off the bat. James kisses him keeping up the speed,
"Are those noises for me?" he asks, Regulus nods while sounds spill out of him. "Really all for me?"
"Yes," he cries out,
"What a good boy you are and a handsome one at that," Regulus hums happily as James speaks, "Perfect Vagina on the perfect boy,"
"Ah," Reg gasps, feeling waves of pleasure as James rubs him nicely. He starts seeing vivid colours as James moves his fingers around "Aww fuck James." He moans gripping the sheets tightly and letting gasps tumble out of his mouth
"Tell me Reg, does having my baby in your stomach make your clit more sensitive?" he coo's
"Yes, yes it fucking does," Reg cries between moans and then begins to purr. James finds a rhythm that partiquallary pleases Regulus, "hmmm," he mouths the sweet moment of the orgasm building up "ahh, ahh, ahh," he whimpers as it builds in him before screaming, "Jamie," as it comes over him. After that it doesn't take long for James to fall asleep on his chest but Regulus is left wondering if Lily died, if Voldemort found where her and Harry were hiding and attacked Harry that means Peter told Voldemort where to find them. That thought stayed on his mind for a long time before he fell over.
While they slept wizards and witches were waking up all over britain hearing the news 'Voldemort it gone' and just who stopped him all over the country people were filling up their glasses to toast
"To Harry Potter the boy who lived,"
James
James woke up early the next morning. Regulus lay beside him just slightly covered by their blankets. James watched as the early morning sun shone in the window and highlighted Regulus' pale sink. Regulus looked so beautiful as James's breath caught in his throat. He could easily stare at him all day and just forget about the whole world. Just have the two of them locked away in secret never to have to share each other with anyone else. James smiled and placed a gentle kiss on the left temple of Regulus' head. Moving him gently so that he could get up to use the bathroom. Regulus stirred slightly before his breathing returned the gentle breaths he was having when James watched him sleep.
James left the bathroom and made his way in the kitchen pushing the button down on the kettle as it began to boil. James took out a cup and the sugar from the press and leaned against the counter waiting for the kettle to finish. James let his mind take him back to the night before hand, his stomach flipped with excitement as he remembered the moans leaving Regulus's lips as James pleased him. Nothing made James happier than servicing Regulus, he always looked so perfect as he came to his big finish and James would always make sure to get a glimpse of him vibrating in pleasure. The kettle finished boiling and James made himself a cup of coffee sitting down at the kitchen table taking a little sip. The next part of the plan was going to be difficult. Finding these Horcruxes was not going to be easy, James felt his heart begin to speed up as his thoughts rushed in about the new baby that was currently growing in Regulus' stomach, was this really a good idea to try and destroy the Horcrux while pregnant? Who knows what could happen as they tried. James thought to himself. Regulus was never going to not come, no matter how much James would protest, James knew that but it didn't stop him beginning to panic about it. If the job wasn't done then Voldemort would never truly be gone. They would all have to sit done and organise a true plan of action for what they were about to do. Lily's face flashed in James's mind and he felt his heart pang with guilt and pain, if they failed Lily would have died for nothing. Harry would be without a mother for Voldemort to come back and finish what he started.
James cursed himself as he wiped a tear from his eye, how had Voldemort even found Lily and Harry? James wondered with anger, James would have to ask Peter, his mind screamed at him. Then it hit him that no one had heard from Peter, not an owl or a fire visit or nothing to try and explain what had happened. After All, Peter was the secret keeper, he knew where Harry and Lily were, so if Voldemort found out where they were hidden it would have had to have come from him. How had Voldemort managed to get the information from him? Peter was one of his best friends; he would have never given that out for nothing, that's why he had been trusted with the secret because they all knew Peter was one of them, had Voldemort used the unforgivable curses? He must have! Where was he now? Was he wandering around confused, his mind twisted from the tourture? Was he badly injured? Was he even still alive? James's blood was boiling as the thoughts ran through his head, one of his best friends was missing, the mother of his child dead and he, his pregnant husband and his last two best friends have to go on what is possibly one of the most dangerous missions any of them have faced.
James tried to shake his head, trying to get himself to relax. It wasn't long ago since James had been marrying the love of his life only to have it unturned in the blink of an eye, everything had changed, everything had dragged them kicking and screaming back into reality. How James had of wished he could have had Lily bring Harry to the wedding, maybe if they had of been there then Voldemort would have never had found them, even though he knew Lily probably wouldn't have really wanted to be there, but she would have been safe at least! James gave out a deep sigh as the tears sprung from his eyes. It was his job to keep her safe for Harry's sake at the very least and he had failed at that. He had left them alone, with only themselves to defend themselves. James wanted to scream but he didn't want to wake Regulus so he swallowed his rage and gulped down this steaming cup of coffee. The burning sensation made James's mind stop for a moment, but just for that moment, they had been getting on so well as of late, Lily had seemed to come to terms finally with Regulus and Him and the co-parenting was working out perfect for everything! It was all as perfect as it could have got, during a wizard war of course and then the guilt returned but this time it came hand in hand with the memory of the night that James had finally left Lily, he didn't regret leaving her for Regulus's of course he didn't but he did mentally scold himself for how he done it. He wanted to push the thought away but he was unable as it began to play out in his mind as if it was happening right this second in the kitchen in front of him.
"Lily I need to give these to you," James said softly. Lily looked up from her cup of tea, the two of them hadn't talked in three days after a huge fight after she had blew up about the idea of Regulus being back. Regulus had been back for about a month and a half at this stage and Lily had made it very clear that she didn't want him anywhere near her or her family. James felt caught in the middle, but he always knew where his heart would take him.
"What is it?" She asked to hold out her hand and took the envelope from his hand. James sat at the opposite side of the table as she took the papers out and her eyes scanned over the words. Her brow screwed up in confusion and then anger as her eyes snapped up at James's face. James could feel the tears filling up in his eyes, "Divorce papers?" She questioned and James just nodded letting out a sigh.
"I know with you being pregnant and everything probably isn't the perfect timing but I promise I will always be here for you and the-'' James began explaining but Lily threw the papers at him and got up from her seat.
"Is this real? All because I said I didn't want that Deatheater in our lives? This is madness James. You would rather have one of Voldemort's minions walking among us as if he's done nothing wrong?" She spat and James' heart sank, clearly the venom from the argument had just festered in her.
"Lily you know he's turned his back on Voldem-" Jame jumped in but Lily threw her tea cup at James who ducked out of the way just in time as the cup smashed off the wall behind him.
"You are insane James Potter!" She screamed and stormed over the sink, refusing to make eye contact with him.
"I love him Lily," Just said suddenly and her head snapped round to face him.
"What?" She asked caught off guard.
"I love him and I can't be with anyone else while he's back in my life, I just can't" James said tears rolling down his face.
"You don't get to cry here James, this isn't for you to mourn," She said angrily, "You love him? What have I been all this time? Just a filler to use until he came back? Was this always your plan?" She spat and James shook his head.
"No No! Of course not Lily, I did have feelings for you otherwise we wouldn't have gotten married or be starting a family together but you're just not… Him," James finished and Lily burst into tears.
"I've taken second place to a murder," She cried, it almost seemed like she was going laugh at the thought, "The very people we have been fighting for and you have been…." she paused and met James' eyes, staring hard into them, "Is that where you have been at night? Where you've been sneaking off too?" She questioned frantically, "Have you kissed him? SLEPT WITH HIM?" She asked with force as her eyes went wild. James jumped up from his seat and made his way over to her, pulling her close to him but she tried to fight him off.
"No I didn't I promise, I would never do that to you Lily," James said softly, with those words Lily seemed to relax slightly and allow James to pull her in, but her back was still tense as she stood shaking and crying, "Regulus doesn't even know I still have feelings for him or even that I am doing this right now, he is just as in the dark as you were," James whispered and stroked lily's hair, "I'll have to tell him soon too," James finished and Lily pulled away, taking a glass of water and filling it from the tap.
"I always had a feeling you know," Lily said softly, her tear stained face being highlighted by the light of the sun outside, "Even when he went away and we actually got together, I always had a feeling that you missed him, you always seemed far away, I would catch you muttering in your sleep and I always just tried to ignore it… Hoping that with time your heart wouldn't be his anymore," Lily said softly, sniffling as she took a drink of water, "And it seemed to be working, everything was going perfect and then he appears and suddenly everything, the illiousn was gone," she finished and James wiped his eyes.
"Noone would ever have been able to take his place in my heart Lily, I'm sorry, it was never my intention to do this to you, I should have just been alone rather than have you led through this life of a life… but Lily I just can't make myself love or be with anyone else…. He is my heart" James took a step towards Lily and reached out his hand to wipe the tears that flowed freely down her face but she pulled away.
"Was it all a lie?" She asked softly and rubbed her small but swollen stomach.
"No, I have love for you Lily, of course I do I always will just not that kind of love… But Regulus is it for me he always has been he's the one Lily," James answered and Lily turned to face him, her face red and swollen as she began to let her feelings take hold of her again. Lily fell to the floor and began crying loudly as she slammed her hands on the wood below her. James dropped down beside her and pulled her close; she allowed him as he began rocking her on the floor.
After what seemed like forever with them there in the kitchen Lily's crying slowly became soft and her tears lighter as James willed himself to hide his own tears and just allow her to have her moment. Lily pulled away and stood walking to the table, James followed her. The both of them sat there, their eyes meeting as James waited for Lily to speak.
"I need a drink, but I don't think baby" Lily said, her voice horse from all the crying, she tried to force a laugh and James copied her laughter, "The whole school was rooting for us and all along you were rooting for someone else entirely," she said softly and wiped her face.
"I Just need-" James began.
"Him," Lily finished and nodded in understanding, "You just need him and not me, I'm just in the way," She continued and James wanted to shake his head, but at the same time what she said was the truth. James could never be with Reg if Lily was still his wife, he wouldn't be able to do that with her or him.
"I will always be here for you and our child Lily nothing about this will ever change that," James jumped in to reassure her, Lily laughed softly.
"I know I'm angry James but I also still know you, I know you wouldn't leave the baby behind," She answered and ran her hands through her hair before reaching out and pulling the papers back towards her and signing them, "But I can't play second to him… to a Deatheater and I won't allow myself to played with," She said as she finished signing the papers and pushing them towards James. Her hand resting in the middle of the table.
"I won't leave you behind either Lily, I promise we are in this together, we can work out how to be parents together while also we can be happy with who our hearts truly lay with," James said softly as he reached his hand out and placed it on hers, rubbing the back of her hand gently.
"My heart lay with you James," She said lovingly and pulled her hand away, "But I can't force yours to lay with me," she finished. James nodded and smiled at her.
"Thank you," was all he said as he stood up and grabbed the papers, "I'll stay with Lupin and Sirius for a few days until we figure out all details, but Lily if you need anything tell me and I'll be here in a heartbeat," James whispered to her as he walked over to her and placed a small kiss on her head.
"If there was ever anything I knew for sure with you James Potter it was that I always knew you wouldn't let life be boring not even when it's normal for it to be sometimes," She smiled up at him and gave his arm a little squeeze and with that James left their home and made his way to Sirius's with both hope and sadness in his heart.
James pulled himself from the memory and wiped the tears from his eyes, he had never truly, like really truly thanked Lily for allowing him to have what he needed and now he wasn't ever going to be able to. James sighed and held his head in his hands as he allowed his tears to fall down his face, allowing the pain to fill him so that he could feel it, for that time James took this time alone to just begin his mourning process properly.
After an hour James had stopped crying and finished his coffee, but he remained at the table just staring into space when suddenly Regulus appeared around the corner, stretching his back and pulling James back into the room with a light kiss on the lips.
"Morning James,' He smiled as he made his way towards the kettle and began making himself a cup of tea. James's eyes jumped to drink him in. Regulus had come out to the kitchen in only his boxers and the sigh before him, James could see the slight swelling of Regulus' stomach. He hadn't seen Regulus in weeks before the wedding so he had never really noticed it, until last night before they had wrapped themselves in passion. James stared at the swelling stomach and bit down on his lip. It was almost like a kink for James, having Regulus pregnant, the sight and thought just drove him mad with lust and love, something he didn't really understand. These thoughts were all new because James had never felt like this when Lily was pregnant with Harry, if anything when Lily was pregnant, sure James had looked at her swelling stomach and thought it looked cute and the idea of his child growing it there made his heart leap, but with Regulus it made James want to pin Regulus' arms above his head and snog him senseless before pulling him back into their room, to be locked away naked and sweaty together.
"Sorry morning my love," James answered quickly and Regulus laughed as he lifted his cup and brought it to the table.
"Someone is a bit distracted this morning," Regulus smiled and James just let a noise escape his lips as his eyes scanned Regulus' face which seemed to be glowing, James believed this to just be Regulus' normal glow but the pregnancy was definitely making it brighter.
"Come here to me please Reg," James said and turned his body round for Regulus to sit on his lap. Regulus looked at him amused, but did as James asked and took his place on his lap. James began rubbing Regulus' stomach, his brain taking him back to the first time Regulus and James had been here. James remembered how Regulus would wear clothes that were big and baggy on him to hide the bump as it started to grow when they were at school, a little secret between just the two of them. The images of James smiling when he would see the little bump, knowing he had done that, THEY had done that together and it made James heart swell with happiness. How James would take any opportunity to kneel down and place light kisses on every inch of the bump. Then James' heart panged and he shook his head, taking himself from those thoughts, he wouldn't allow himself to think of what then went on to happen to his first baby boy Atlantis, "let's have some breakfast shall we, seeing as your eating for two now,"James smiled up at Regulus who looked at him amused before standing up straight and James pulled the little swollen stomach to his lips.
"Yeah that's a good idea I think, baby seems to be punishing me for food," Regulus laughed and made his way over the fridge.
After breakfast James and Regulus lay curled up together on the sofa, Regulus had put on an old black and white film for them to watch and James kept forgetting the name of. It wasn't that James wasn't present in the moment, every moment with Regulus demanded acknowledgment and James happily did so, but everything in James was filled with sadness. Everytime he thought he had gotten his emotions in check he would begin breaking down in tears again only for Regulus to pull her close and coo at him.
"Sssshhh James It's ok I'm here," Regulus said, his words warm as they would wrap around James, almost like the very words were kissing his heart to heal it.
'I don't know how I would get through this without you Reg," James sniffled as Regulus rubbed his back.
"Just as well you don't have to think about it then isn't it," Regulus joked and James gave out a puff of air.
"You always know the right thing to say, if only I had been there Reg," Jame continued and Regulus pulled James face up to meet his own.
"Don't do that to yourself James, don't blame yourself," He said forcefully but also gently, James tried to smile but the tears came out harder and Regulus kissed each tear gently, "I will help you heal from this James, we will make Lily's death not be in vain together, you and me ok?" Regulus asked and James nodded into his kisses.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, I wouldn't be able to fight without you by my side Reg," James whispered, "You make me want to fight, for the future to be bright for Harry and our New baby and for us, so that we can be together just a normal husbands with no madness," James said the words rushing out from his lips. Regulus just pulled him close again and comforted him some more. Sometimes James felt the need to fill the room with words and conversation and everytime Regulus reminded him that just allowing himself to feel was all he needed in that moment.
Once James had pulled himself together he and Reg now stood in front of the fireplace, floo powder in hand.
"You ready to go?" Regulus asks.
"As ready as I'll ever be, we need to have a meeting there is always time for tears later," James smiled and Regulus returned with his own. It made James' heart leap, now he didn't want to go, now he wanted to drag Regulus into the room and take him, have him, all of him. He shook his head to get the dirty thoughts to stop, this wasn't the time.
"That look on your face Potter, there will be time for that later as well," Regulus smirked and walked into the fireplace, "See you on the otherside lover…. THE THREE BROOMSTICK," Regulus finished shouting to the location they were going to and in an instant the blue flames licked at every inch of him before engulfing him and taking him from view. James smirked at the now empty fireplace before following in Regulus footsteps and announcing the same location out loud.
As soon as the flames disappeared in front of James, he immediately spotted Regulus and Sirius standing hugging at a table only a few feet away. He made his way towards them. The place was quiet for once. As James got closer he could see the small person sitting on Lupin's lap and the sound of little screams escaping his lips as he moved his mouth away from his bottle, Lupin looked exhausted.
"Alright there Moony?" James laughed looking at Lupin's dishevelled appearance. Moony's eyes snapped up, the both of them red from tiredness, "Sirius you didn't leave Moony to play mommy all night did you?" James laughed again and held his arms out for Harry. His dark messy hair is just like James's and those striking green eyes that he had been given by his mother. James scanned his face and everything seemed in order except for the now lightning shaped scar on his son's forehead. James's heart sank, everything threatening to leak out again, but he swallowed it down.
"Sirius there wouldn't wake for a bomb nevermind a kid crying," Lupin huffed and took a drink of the beer in front of him, "He's been fussy since he came to us, not that we can blame the kid he probably wants Lily and can't understand where she's gone," Lupin continued sadly as he looked round the group. Everybody nodded sadly. Harry was screaming in James arms as he tried to settle him and after a few minutes of trying Harry drifted off to sleep.
"I don't have a mother's touch but I suppose sometimes they will accept the father when they have too. Am I right?," James laughed, holding Harry tight in his arms.
"Little troublemaker, if I had thought that would have worked I would have you at ours first thing this morning," Sirius laughed.
"You could have also taken him for five minutes so that I could have washed Sirius," Lupin snapped and Sirius smirked.
"But Lupin you were just doing so good with him, I didn't want to rock the boat and besides I wanted to see your motherly instincts," Sirius Joked and Lupin threw a napkin at him.
"Aww yeah so good that I'm not covered in baby food, milk and puke," Lupin snapped. James and Regulus looked at one another, trying not to burst into laughter at the two before the bickering.
"Details, details My love, now let's get a round of drinks in," Sirius announced and got the attention of the bartender and pointing at their table, "Get down to business shall we?" He finished, and like in a flash of time their drinks had appeared in front of them. Regulus just held his in his hand as James looked at him out of the corner of his eye and took a drink of his own.
"Ok so we are going to have to destroy this horcrux so that he can't come back," Lupin said very matter of factly and suddenly the air in the room changed.
"I don't think that's the only one we might have to worry about," Regulus interjected and the three of them look at him, "I have a theory he could possibly have more," He went on and James felt the colour drain from his face, why couldn't anything be simple.
"Really Regulus?" Sirius asked and Regulus nodded.
"I believe it, someone like him wouldn't only have one safety net, he wanted to live forever to be the greatest Wizard and only having one of those things wouldn't guarantee that, but having several now that would be a better idea." Regulus finished and the three nodded.
"That makes sense, that crazy lunatic just wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket," James answered, grabbing Regulus hand and giving it a little squeeze, Harry squirmed in his arms, "So well have to find them all" He finished.
"Like a road trip!" Sirius said excitedly, "Us five boys on the road together, camping, having pints it'll be fun," He laughed and Lupin gave him a slap on the shoulder.
"Be serious Padfoot," Lupin snapped and then rolled his eyes as he realised what he said.
"I am being me Moony, why? who else do you think I would be?" He winked in response and James laughed.
"Enough, we have to do this properly and soon, We'll have to figure out how to destroy them… whatever the rest of them are or even where they are and destroy them all," James spoke, his voice full of authority.
"I found out that fiendfyre does destroy them," Regulus jumps in, "I found out just before the wedding but I wanted to put it off till after," He finished his face filled with regret, James gives his arm another squeeze and a small smile as Regulus looks at the floor.
"Well that's something at least now as James was saying we just have to get out there and find the rest," Sirius jumps in, holding up his hand for a high five.
"We'll have to brainstorm all that after the funeral of course, cause we can't miss that," Regulus interjected and gave James a sad smile. The four of them looked down at their drinks in silence for a moment.
"Of course Regulus is right we have to wait, Lily would want us there for her funeral, she can't not go she was one of us," James replied, "So I say Sirius, Lupin you go and pack anything you need and then go to Regs flat and do the same for us… the five of us will stay together, tonight, tomorrow and until after the funeral here in the three broomsticks, because sitting round at home won't get it done and then we will find out what they are destroyed them," James finished forcing his voice to be strong. Sirius and Lupin nodded in agreement and Downed their drinks and left to do as James instructed.
"Take Harry up to our room, I'll get us something to drink to bring up," James said softly to Reg, handing Harry over to him with a smile and planting a kiss on his lips.
"Don't take too long, ok? I'll worry," Regulus smiles back and leaves the downstairs area.
James makes his way to the bar and orders himself a glass of fire whiskey and a jug of pumpkin juice for the room. As he waited to pay the bartender a voice crawled in his ears that made him want to go deaf.
"Pumpkin Juice ? don't tell me you knocked him up again?" came the voice of Barty crouch Jr, as James spun round on his feet and narrowed his eyes. Reg had told him Barty was a death eater, but this wasn't the place or the time to take out his wand.
"You should be less concerned about that and more concerned about what Reggie is gonna say to Frank and Alice about who was involved with Voldemort," James spat smugly and turned back to the bar handed over the money and made his way to his little family in the room.