February 21, 1977

In the week since Valentine's Day, Regulus avoided Remus quite effectively. He had his prefect duty partner changed, so that Remus was now on rounds with Lily Evans. She quickly dropped the subject when she asked how their date had gone and Remus looked at the ground and said that he didn't want to talk about it. She knew what that meant and the pity in her eyes made Remus want to skive off prefect duty permanently.

The first day that Regulus showed up for breakfast, Remus started toward his table to talk to him, but a stern look and shake of the head from Evan told him that was not a good idea. Okay, he clearly still needed space. And that was fine. Remus would give him whatever he needed. He tried to convince himself that it was just temporary—because whenever he considered Regulus might never forgive him; he became physically ill.

Regulus's new prefect duty partner was Philipa Macmillan, from Hufflepuff. They must have become fast friends because Remus saw them walking the corridors together between classes. Philipa enjoyed his rapt attention as she chattered away about the latest gossip. Remus thought perhaps Regulus found the partnership convenient, as the Hufflepuff common room would be the only safe space for him in the castle. There he could avoid the jeers of sanctimonious Slytherins, as well as Remus and Sirius.

Speaking of Sirius… They still had two classes together, Herbology and Arithmancy. It felt like first year all over again, with Sirius desperately trying to get Remus's attention, and Remus desperately avoiding it. After Herbology class, with only one exit from the Greenhouses, Sirius took his opportunity, waiting for Remus by the door.

"Lupin. Join me for a fag break?" Sirius asked, tapping on his cigarette case.

Remus attempted to push past him. "Sorry, I'm trying to quit."

Sirius followed him. "Hmm, that has to be rough. Stressful times and all."

Remus shot him a dark look. "Regulus doesn't like it. Thinks it's bad for my health."

Sirius tugged on his sleeve to get him to stop. "Remus, please. You don't have to have one, but…" He nodded toward their usual smoking spot at the side of the greenhouse. "For old times' sake?"

Remus sighed and followed him. He took his lighter out of his pocket and almost let out a sob as the pad of his thumb stroked the embossed image. An eagle and a snake. Sirius had told him they were friends, like Remus and Regulus. But murderous fury was all he could in the snake's expression. He looked away as he passed the lighter to Sirius.

Sirius lit his cigarette and took a drag before passing back the lighter. He held out the cigarette case toward Remus and raised an eyebrow. "You sure you don't want one?"

"I'm sure. Thanks though." He waited for Sirius to say something else, but he just kept smoking and glaring at him. Remus wanted to crawl out of his skin. "Look, Sirius. I know you didn't want me to tell him. I'm sorry if–"

"You're right. I didn't want you to tell him." Sirius interrupted, pent-up anger clear in his voice. "He's not talking to me again. So, you know, thanks for that."

"I tried to tell him it was my fault. I'm the one who kissed you. You didn't do anything–"

Sirius barked a laugh, "Didn't I, though?" The anger he felt seemed to have dissipated, and he sounded apologetic, "Remus, I was flirting with you. I knew exactly what I was doing." He leaned back against the wall with a sigh, ashing his cigarette. "I could see that there was something between you two, but I kept telling myself that it was an act. It was the show he was putting on to get out of the betrothal. I was being selfish. I preferred to think that I could do what I wanted without hurting him." He took another deep drag on the cigarette before tossing it to the ground. "He's the one person in this world that I never wanted to hurt. But I just keep fucking it up."

Remus was speechless as Sirius broke down in front of him, tears staining his cheeks. He realized for the first time that the nervous, giddy feeling that Sirius used to elicit in his chest was gone. Looking at him now, he didn't see an adonis deserving of adoration, the object of his adolescent infatuation. He just saw a lonely boy who missed his brother and needed a friend.

"I'm so sorry, Sirius. I swear I will do whatever I can to fix this." He swallowed the lump in his throat and stood tall with a new determination to be a better friend to Sirius from that point on. And he would do whatever it took to earn Regulus's forgiveness.


February 26, 1977

Amelia chewed on the end of her quill, frantically reading through the scroll with their final formula for the Wolfsbane potion. Remus fidgeted, glancing toward the library entrance whenever he caught a movement in his peripheral vision, his heart jumping in his chest. He deflated, sinking into his chair. It was just a couple of second-year Hufflepuffs.

"Well, I think we've covered everything… We just need Regulus's final notes on the Abraxan hair to aconite ratios." Amelia said, eyes skimming the parchment. She bit her lip, looking up at Remus apprehensively. "Do you think he'll come?"

Andrew scoffed. He sat across from them, his feet propped up in a chair. He was reading a muggle novel about American cowboys, and kept his eyes on his book. "The way I hear it, it's not likely." He turned a page. "Maybe we should postpone. Try to figure it out ourselves."

Remus groaned, "He's right. I don't think he's coming. He still isn't speaking to me, and probably hates me right now. Why would he help me after what I did?" He dropped his face in his hands.

Amelia sighed. "Remus, I know you wanted to give him space, but don't you think it's time to talk to him about it? You've both been miserable for the last two weeks. What is the point of moping around when you just need to talk and work it out?" She rolled up the parchment, shaking her head in exasperation. "Couldn't you have waited until we completed this potion to break his heart, for Merlin's sake?"

Remus gaped at her. She could be so single-minded sometimes she came across as heartless. "You're the one who told me to tell him!"

"I told you to tell him right away! Not to spend a month and a half wooing him and then drop the bomb on bloody Valentine's Day!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "I mean, really, I can't blame him for the way he reacted."

Remus's face went scarlet. He wanted to rage at her, but he knew she was right. Andrew set down his book, leaning over the table. "Remus, mate. I tried to warn you about getting involved with the Black family. I like Regulus well enough, but it seems to me you're better off without all that drama in your life."

"Andrew!" Amelia scolded. But her brother just shrugged and returned to his book.

Pandora, who had been quietly observing the conversation, stood from the table. "I'm sure Regulus still wants to complete the potion, Remus. I'll talk to him. In the meantime, we should gather the other ingredients this week to get started." She picked up her book bag, sliding it onto her shoulder. "Don't worry, Moony. My intuition tells me everything will work out." She smiled and the other three watched her leave, wishing they had even half of her optimism.


March 10, 1977

Remus poured a double shot of Firewhiskey into his pumpkin juice. For once, his friends didn't fight him on having a party, but they still wanted a minor celebration, at least. They settled on sneaking after-dinner drinks into the common room. They weren't in much of a celebrating mood, if they were perfectly honest. Amelia was on edge, fidgeting and chewing on her nails. She kept asking Andrew irritating questions like, "How long ago did she leave?", and "Shouldn't she be back by now?" while looking at the clock on the wall.

Andrew had put on an album and was tapping his foot on the music. He gave Remus a tense smile when he came to join them on the couch. "There's the man of the hour," he announced, poking his sister with his elbow. "Mimi, relax. You know Pandora, I'm sure she got caught up in conversation with another friend. She'll be here."

Remus took a long pull of his drink. It burned as it went down his throat. Maybe if he drank it fast enough, he could actually enjoy a buzz for a few minutes. Anything to calm his racing mind.

Pandora left an hour before, headed to the Slytherin common room. Her mission was, of course, to convince Regulus to come and join them. Her second mission, if he refused, was to retrieve his notes and ingredients for the potion. They were planning to brew it the following weekend, which is what had Amelia so high-strung. They had come so far, it would be a pity to stop now.

Finally, the common room door opened and Pandora entered. Remus stood up with a start when he saw she was not alone.

Evan marched right toward Remus, and it didn't look like he was there to shake his hand and tell him happy birthday. He grabbed the neck of Remus's robes, getting right in his face. "You're really a piece of work, you know that, Lupin? How dare you break Reggie's heart like that! I ought to smash your pretty face in!"

Evan was a couple of inches shorter than Remus, but much more broad shouldered and well-muscled. He could undoubtedly do some damage, and Remus ought to have been cowering. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and said, "You think I'm pretty?"

Evan scoffed, "Obviously. I mean, do you think both of the Black brothers would pine after a troll? You're gorgeous."

This news baffled Remus. "Oh. I mean, I always thought I was fairly plain."

"Damn it, I'm trying to tell you off here, Lupin, you prat!" Evan tightened his grip on Remus's robes.

"Right, sorry. I deserve that. Please, carry on. You were going to smash my pretty face in?" Remus closed his eyes, bracing for the blow. But Evan released him. Remus cautiously opened one eye.

"Nah, I think the moment's passed." Evan shrugged. "You should do something about Regulus though, Lupin. I can't handle his moping any longer."

Remus straightened his robes. "Do you think he'll want to talk to me?"

"Hell no. But someone has to make the first move, and if you ask my opinion, that someone is you. It's been weeks. How long are you going to wait before you give it a go? I mean, he's worth a little effort, wouldn't you say?" He grinned as Pandora handed him a cup. "Cheers!"

Remus returned to the couch, sitting next to Amelia, his mind reeling. "Maybe he's right. I should try to talk to him."

Amelia gave him a death glare, looking up from the notes that Pandora had handed her. "Oh, you think?" She whacked him on the knee with a rolled up parchment. "Yes, you should talk to him, idiot." Shaking her head, she returned to the notes. "I can't be sure… Is that a three or a five on the number of Abraxan hairs? His notes are all smudged."

Remus couldn't focus on the potion situation at the moment. He needed to step up and make a damn effort! "Alright, that's it." He stood and announced to the room. "I'm going to get my boyfriend back."

"Yeah, go get 'im." Evan raised his glass. Pandora clapped and hugged Remus in encouragement. He downed the rest of his drink and went straight to the dungeons.


March 24, 1977

"Remus is here again." Dorcas handed Regulus a note. Remus had been there asking to speak with him every day for the past two weeks.

"Shall I tell him to fuck off?" Dorcas asked in a bored tone. It was what she had done every day, but she was tiring of the routine.

"Yup." Regulus said, tossing the note in the fire without looking at it. They were all the same, filled with apologies and professing undying love. He didn't care.

Dorcas shook her head and walked back to tell Remus that it would not happen today. When she returned, she sat next to Regulus, her arms crossed over her chest. "That boy is repentant, Black. How long are you going to make him suffer?"

"I dunno. Forever." He was glad Remus was suffering. It was petty, he knew, but his own heart still ached, and he felt justified in sharing the misery.

Dorcas rubbed her temples. "Look, sweetheart, I know you're hurting. But this is getting ridiculous. Do you still love him?"

Regulus huffed. "Obviously."

"Well then, I'm not telling him to leave if he shows up one more time. You need to decide if you're going to forgive him or not. The rest of us are tired of this shit."

Regulus sank back on the couch. "Fine. If he shows up tomorrow, I'll talk to him."

"Good." Dorcas sighed. "This is exactly why I only date women. Boys are too fucking emotional."


March 25, 1977

Remus knew that on Friday afternoons, Regulus took Muggle Studies. It was not a very popular class, so getting his attention as he left shouldn't be too difficult. Remus waited, watching the door patiently as students shuffled out. Some of them gave him an odd look, but most paid no attention to the nervous sixth-year pacing outside their classroom. When Regulus stepped into the corridor and they made eye contact, Remus sucked in a breath. Regulus looked pale and thin, like he hadn't been getting enough to eat. His dark blue eyes were red-rimmed, and his jaw tightened and lips pressed into a thin line betrayed the anger and hurt that resurfaced when he saw Remus. He was beautiful.

Regulus didn't walk away. They silently stared at each other until the other students had cleared the corridor and it was just the two of them.

"Reg." Remus croaked.

"What do you want?" Regulus asked.

"Just so see you. To talk to you. Can I walk you to your next class?" Remus looked at his feet and bit his lip, waiting for Regulus to respond.

"I guess I can't stop you." Regulus started walking and Remus quickly moved into step next to him, taking that as permission.

"We've started brewing the potion. I'm taking my first dose this weekend. I'd really like you to be there. We all would. We couldn't have gotten this far without you. It doesn't feel right–"

"Silencio!"

Remus grabbed his throat in shock. No one had ever silenced him before. Regulus turned and pushed him up against the wall, his face contorted with rage.

"You're going to listen to me, okay?" Remus nodded, unable to speak. His eyes welled up, and he blinked to clear his vision.

"You humiliated me, Remus. Do you have any idea how that feels? To be made a fool of by the person you're in love with? When you're at your most vulnerable?" He gently cupped Remus's face, the pad of his thumb wiping away a tear.

"Oh, of course you do. Because that's what he did to you. It's always been him you wanted. I was just a cheap imitation. He was confident and dangerous, and he intimidated you. But me, I made it so easy. I was weak and desperate for your attention. I was safe." His voice cracked with emotion and Remus wanted to tell him he was wrong. It wasn't true!

No, I never loved him like I loved you! All that came out was a breathy sob.

Regulus closed his eyes, angry tears streaking his flushed cheeks. "I was a fool to think you would want me." He pressed salty lips to Remus's. Remus whined, but no sound escaped, still beholden to the silencing charm. The kiss was rough and angry, but Remus welcomed it. He would do anything to stay here like this, feeling the warmth of Regulus's body pressed against him, his hot breath on his cheek, his heart beat matching his own. So close. But in only lasted a few seconds and Regulus stepped back, dropping his arms. He cleared his throat and straightened his robes.

"Please, don't follow me anymore. Don't come to my common room. Don't bother writing to me. I'll just burn the letters." Remus knew Regulus had lifted the charm, but his own overwhelming emotion kept him silent. Regulus turned to walk away, then paused and said, "Good luck with the potion, Remus."

Remus wept, only the portraits looking down at him in pity in the empty corridor.


April 2, 1977

Remus's fingers shook as he held the lighter to his cigarette and sucked in the hot smoke greedily. He watched the rain pouring down as he shivered. He didn't even notice Sirius come up beside him.

"Thought you gave it up?" Sirius said.

"What?" Remus looked at him with glassy eyes. Sirius nodded toward the cigarette. "Oh. Right. Well, I guess I gave up on quitting instead." He took another drag of the cigarette.

Sirius nodded and lit his own fag, "It's really coming down out there, huh?"

Remus ignored his question, staring into the distance. He watched the rain form little rivers over the hilly grounds, all draining into the lake, already swollen from the heavy Spring rains.

"Are you feeling alright there, Moony? You've been looking a bit peaky. I mean, worse than usual." Sirius eyed him, worry etched on his face.

Remus actually felt awful. He had taken the Wolfsbane potion every day since the 28th and his first full moon under its effects was only a day away. His nerves were shot. His skin had gone sallow, and he'd had no appetite for days. This cigarette was the only thing he had craved. The tobacco was the only flavor that tasted good on his tongue.

"Have you talked to him?" Remus croaked. He didn't want to talk to Sirius about the weather or his health. He only wanted to talk about Regulus.

"A little. He still hates me, but he has agreed to come stay over the summer. I'm still a better option than our parents, I suppose."

Remus felt a lump form in his throat and he swallowed hard. "That's alright then. It's a start."

Sirius sniffed. "What about you? Has he–"

"Nah." Remus shook his head. "I don't think he's ever going to forgive me."

"Fuck." Sirius kicked a loose rock into a puddle. "I never meant to come between you two, honestly. I've tried to explain it, and apologize, and he doesn't want to listen."

Remus didn't seem to notice his outburst. Sirius sighed, "Is there anything I can do?"

Remus licked his teeth and tossed his cigarette into a puddle. "I don't know. Your brother is one stubborn bastard. I still love him, but at this point I don't know if I even want his forgiveness. I made mistakes, I know, but freezing me out for weeks like this…" Remus ran and hand through his lifeless hair. A few strands came away with his fingers and he grimaced. Losing his hair now, great. He groaned. "Did he ever even care about me at all?"

"Remus, Merlin, are you kidding? Of course he cares about you! He cares about you so much that he doesn't know what to do with it. We didn't exactly have any examples of what a loving relationship looks like in our household. Lashing out in anger is the only response to pain that he knows. Forgiveness and compassion… Those are things that need to be learned."

Remus gaped at Sirius in shock. His heart felt like it was wrenching apart, and he clenched his fist over his chest in agony. He felt like he couldn't breathe, his head spinning. Sirius pulled him to his chest, rubbing his back consolingly as he gasped for air, trying to will his lungs to cooperate.

After a few minutes, his breathing and heart rate returned to normal, but Remus still felt faint. He must have looked at it, too, because Sirius suggested taking him straight to the hospital wing. Remus refused, but allowed Sirius to walk him back to his dorm room. He went to bed and slept all night and most of the next day.


April 3, 1977

Remus awoke, still groggy, to Andrew jostling his shoulder. "Moony? Hey, you alright, mate?"

He blinked, rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

"It's half past 6. Time to take your potion. Do you think you can eat?" He held out a steaming goblet of potion, and Remus grimaced. His stomach recoiled at the thought of forcing down the putrid concoction.

"No, mate, I don't even know if I'll be able to get this down."

"Right, you look like shit." Andrew gave a sympathetic smile, pressing the goblet into Remus's reluctant hands. He patted his back and offered words of encouragement as Remus gagged on the potion. But he swallowed all of it. "There's a good lad. Well, that's it. The girls are waiting in the common room. We were hoping to get some food, but maybe we should take you straight to Madam Pomfrey."

Andrew, Amelia, and Pandora walked with him to the hospital wing. They kept the conversation hopeful about how the night would go, but Remus didn't miss the worried glances they shot each other when they thought he wasn't looking. He had to lean on Andrew as they climbed the stairs. He didn't know how he was going to explain the state he was in to the mediwitch. Though he was pretty sure that she suspected what they had been up to for the last year. He wished he could confide in her and have her reassurance that this was a perfectly normal reaction to the potion, and that his illness was evidence that it would work exactly as planned.

Madam Pomfrey looked concerned as she walked him to the shack. He claimed he had come down with some sort of flu, but she didn't seem surprised when he refused her flu remedy potion. And before she left him, sitting on the end of the cot in the shack, she did something she hadn't done in years. She took him in her arms in a motherly embrace, promising to see him as soon as the sun rose. He thanked her weakly and laid on the cot.

Normally, he felt energized before the moon. Magic swirling through his blood as the wolf slowly rose to the surface. This time, he only felt the tug of sleep as he drifted into a dreamless oblivion.


April 4, 1977

"Did you hear Filch caught Saanvi snogging Jason Partridge in a supply cupboard last week?" Philipa whispered over Regulus to Jessie Vale, another fifth-year Hufflepuff that had been joining them to study for OWLs. It was a fairly pleasant afternoon, if a bit chilly, so they were studying on the grounds with their textbooks piled on a picnic table under a shady tree.

Jessie gasped at the scandalous news. "No! She broke up with him ages ago! I thought she was dating Ernest now?"

Philipa giggled, "She is. But have you seen Jason? He's gotten really fit since he joined the quidditch team."

Regulus sighed, trying to focus on his textbook over the incessant chatter. His head was throbbing. He hadn't slept well the previous night. Remus had said they were going to attempt the potion, and he was dying to know how it went. He was also incredibly stubborn and didn't want to go looking for his old friends from Ravenclaw to ask about it. So when he saw Pandora jogging toward him across the grounds, he was simultaneously relieved and distressed, because she was not smiling. Pandora almost always smiled.

Philipa noticed the other girl approaching and turned to Regulus. "Isn't that the girl that Evan Rosier fancies?"

Regulus scoffed derisively. "Is that all you bloody care about? Who fancies who? They're just friends, for Merlin's sake." Philipa gaped at him as he slammed his book shut and stood to greet Pandora.

"Reggie, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Her face was red and blotchy. Strands of her blonde hair that had escaped her braid were clinging to her damp skin. "It's Remus. Something went wrong. He isn't waking up." She let out a pained cry and fell into his arms, clinging to his robes and sniffling. He patted her back to comfort her, while his own heart raced and he wanted nothing more than to run to the hospital wing as fast as he could.

"Oh, maybe he fancies her! No wonder he got so upset." He heard Jessie whispering to Philipa.

"No, stupid, Reggie doesn't fancy girls." Philipa whispered back.

Regulus released Pandora and turned to face them. "I can hear you, you know. Gods, you two really are insufferable." He shoved his books back into his bag. "Come on Pan, let's go." He took Pandora's hand and together they hurried toward the castle.

She filled him in on the way. Madam Pomfrey had found him still lying on the cot at sunrise. He did not have any injuries, not even a bruise, which was odd to her. But he was completely unresponsive. She could not revive him with her usual methods. She said he appeared to be in an enchanted coma. The three Ravenclaws were frantic with worry and spent the morning arguing amongst themselves about whether they should tell the mediwitch about the potion. They decided Regulus deserved to be a part of that decision and sent Pandora to find him while Amelia and Andrew frantically reviewed their notes, trying to figure out what went wrong.

When they walked into the hospital wing, Regulus's heart dropped into his stomach. Amelia and Andrew had been whispering to each other over stacks of parchment on their laps, but they went still, staring at Regulus. He only had eyes for Remus, who was pale and lifeless, tucked into the hospital bed. Regulus reached out a shaky hand and tentatively touched Remus's arm. His skin was cold and unresponsive. He wrapped both of his hands around Remus's, trying to transfer his own warmth into it.

"I want to know everything you did while brewing the potion. Everything. How you obtained every ingredient and when you added it. How many times you stirred and which direction. Leave nothing out."


April 9, 1977

Regulus could not sleep or eat, which made his mind foggy when he really needed it to be in peak condition. He pulled on his hair in frustration, frantically scribbling on his notes. They now understood where they went wrong, but Regulus could not figure out what had caused the coma. The uncertainty made him feel helpless, and more afraid than he had ever felt in his life. Remus lay there, perfectly still in his peaceful sleep, with no concept of the turmoil his friends were going through.

Regulus, on the other hand, could not escape the flood of thoughts and memories running through his mind.

The day that Pandora asked him to help with the potion and he demanded that Remus join him for breakfast. How quickly their friendship developed after that.

Valentine's day at Madam Puddifoot's, finding out that they like their hot chocolate the same way.

That night in the common room, when he fell asleep with Remus on the couch and he realized he fancied him.

The party in Gryffindor, when they played a drinking game, seeking each other out through the crowd with knowing smiles.

Flying over the French countryside with Remus's arms wrapped around his waist and warm breath on his neck.

Another Gryffindor party, snogging for the first time.

Kissing in Knockturn Alley after Remus asked him to be his boyfriend.

Remus disco dancing on the ice and pulling Regulus along with him, laughing.

Kissing in the Prefect bath when Remus went stiff. "I kissed Sirius."

"I was a fool to think you would want me." Silencing Remus and pressing him against the wall in the Muggle Studies corridor.

Tears streamed down his cheek as he brushed a limp curl from Remus's forehead. His skin was still unnaturally clammy, but there was a current of magic that Regulus sensed when he touched him. Remus was still in there. There had to be a way to bring him back. He leaned forward and softly pressed his lips to Remus's.

A voice interrupted his thoughts. "You read too many muggle fairy tales, if you think that's going to work."

Regulus was too tired to quip back at his brother. "I don't understand the reference, I'm afraid," he said, calmly returning to his notes.

"True love's kiss." Sirius said expectantly, but Regulus only shrugged. "It's a thing in muggle fairy tales. The Prince can wake the Princess from an enchanted sleep with a kiss."

"I haven't read those kinds of books." Regulus said blankly as he shuffled through his bag pulling out a new piece of parchment. "Where did you learn about muggle fairy tales, anyway?" he asked.

Sirius stepped around to the other side of Remus's bed. He tentatively touched Remus's arm, gasping at the odd sensation. It was like he was suspended in time–not dead, not asleep, but not exactly alive either.

"Oh, Mary's house. Spent some time there last summer," he said, fiddling with the sheets absentmindedly.

Regulus nodded as though he were listening, but he was busy composing what looked to be a letter. "Ah, yeah, that makes sense." After a few minutes, his quill went still, and he said in a quiet voice, without looking up from the parchment, "I'm not his true love, anyway."

Sirius sagged. "Reg–"

Regulus stood up, shoving his notes into his bag. "I have to go to the owlery. It was nice seeing you." He turned to leave the hospital wing, and Sirius hurried after him.

"I'll come with you."

Regulus scoffed. "Fine."

"Regulus, you know that he still loves you, right?" Sirius said, slightly out of breath do to the rapid pace his brother was setting.

Regulus shook his head. "You don't know everything. You don't know what I did, what I said to him the last time we spoke."

"I don't know what you said, but I know he was torn up about it." He tugged on Regulus's robes. "Hey slow down a bit, yeah? What's so urgent, anyway?"

Regulus stopped and turned to his brother. "It's my fault, okay? I wasn't there! I just gave them notes that were all smudged up because of my bloody tears and I wasn't there and they read the measurements wrong and now I don't know if he'll ever wake up! I might never get to tell him I don't care who he snogged…" he narrowed his eyes at Sirius, "even if it was you. Or that I'm sorry for being too bloody ashamed to admit that I overreacted! Now it might be too late." He gripped his chest as a sob escaped. "It's too late to tell him I would do anything if he would just take me back."

"Hey." Sirius gripped him by the shoulders and touched his forehead to his brother's. "It's not too late, okay? He's alive. He's alive, and that means we can still figure this out."

Regulus nodded and swallowed. "Yeah. That's why I need to send this letter. I know someone who might be able to help."

"Oh! Great! I'll help you too, Reggie. Okay? Please don't try to do this on your own."

Regulus pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes. "At this point, I'll take all the help I can get."


April 14, 1977

"Reg, are you headed to the hospital wing?" Sirius jogged to catch up to Regulus as he exited the Great Hall after lunch.

"What makes you think I'm not going to a class or a study group?" Regulus responded without slowing his pace.

Sirius shrugged, "I guess I can just see it on your face. That's the 'I need to go check on Remus right now' face."

Regulus clicked his tongue. "You're ridiculous. And yes, I'm going to the hospital wing to see Remus."

"Good! I'm coming with you. See, James and I have been working on a potion. It's a Restorative Draft and it requires mature mandrakes and luckily Sprout had some. It's supposed to reverse all kinds of curses or enchantments that cause petrification."

Regulus sighed. He knew the potion Sirius was babbling about. He also knew that it would not work in this case. Because he'd already tried it. But it was nice to hear that someone else was trying.

He was gently breaking the news about the Mandrake potion when they entered the hospital wing and stopped short. There was already someone there, waving a funny-looking wand over Remus and muttering some sort of incantation. It was a witch with long gray hair and a style of robes he had never seen before. The fabric was woven wool and had intricate patterns in bright colors. He didn't recognize the language of her incantation.

Regulus was about to protest to the stranger being there, when Madam Pomfrey noticed his arrival and signaled for his silence. So he waited, watching the woman work with hope rising in his chest. There was only one person this could be. Someone foreign who had an in-depth knowledge of lycanthropy. Someone he had written to asking for help. Pinga.

When she finished her ritual, she hung her head, panting. Madam Pomfrey bustled over to her, offering her a chair and a glass of water. Pinga gratefully took a seat and drank from the water.

Regulus and Sirius moved closer. Remus still looked exactly the same. Pinga finished her water and lifted her gaze to the other people in the room, acknowledging them for the first time. "Which one is Regulus?" she asked.

Regulus raised his hand. "I am."

She nodded and rose from the chair. She stepped in front of Regulus and placed a hand on either shoulder, examining him intently. He flushed, unsure of how to interact with someone from so far away. "Erm, you must be Pinga. I'm glad to meet you. Thank you for coming," he said.

She gave him a sad smile and pulled him into an embrace, patting him on the back. "Of course, child. I go where I am needed. And you and Remus needed me."

Regulus's heartbeat quickened, and he felt truly hopeful for the first time since the full moon. "So you can help him, then?"

"Well, I'm afraid I have bad news on that front."

His heart sank, the rising hope shattered with that one sentence. He took in a shaky breath and steeled himself for the coming blow. "What is it?"

Pinga walked back to the head of the bed and lay a hand on Remus's forehead. "He is still here, but the potion has poisoned the wolf spirit and it is holding him prisoner until the full moon releases it. When that happens, it will transfer the poison to the boy, and I'm afraid he will not survive."

Regulus gasped, "We'll just have to counteract the poison then! We can give him an antidote. We can deal with poisoning."

Pinga shook her head, "Not this type of poison, I'm afraid. There is only one way to save him, but it is incredibly risky. Almost every time it has been attempted, it has ended in tragedy."

Regulus's throat was tight as he asked, "Has anyone ever succeeded?"

Pinga paused in thought before she answered him. "Successful attempts are rare, but yes. As far as I am aware, it has been accomplished only twice in the last 500 years."

Regulus lifted his chin and announced, "Well, then this will be the third."


"We need seven. These kinds of rituals, old earth magic, usually require a full coven. Seven witches and wizards." Regulus tugged his hands through his hair, which was unusually untidy. His sallow skin and dark circles under his eyes only added to his disheveled appearance. If the others were not similarly distressed, they might have been concerned.

Amelia chewed on the tip of her quill. She looked around at their small group. "Well, we're all in. Me, Andrew, Pandora, Reggie. That's only four," she whined.

"Seven." Sirius entered the abandoned classroom they were meeting in and closed the door behind him. "Do you want the whole school to know what you're planning? I could hear you halfway down the hall!" He dropped a small silver box on top of a parchment Regulus was poring over. "Silver vessel! It's an antique trinket box. I remembered I saw it in a drawer of the old drawing desk in Alphard's study."

Regulus scrutinized the box, which fit easily in his palm. "Do you think it's big enough?"

Sirius scoffed. "It's a spirit, Reggie. How much room can a spirit take up? It has no physical mass, right?"

Regulus sighed. "I suppose it will do."

Amelia was still counting on her fingers. She looked up at Sirius in confusion. "So, who are the sixth and seventh?"

"Oh! James and Lily, of course. They're Lupin's friends too. They want to help."

Regulus gave Sirius a quick smile to show his appreciation. That was two fewer things to worry about, thanks to Sirius. "Great," he said, as he laid a piece of parchment on the table. He started drawing, using X's showing the positions of each person. "Remus will be in the center here." He circled the X in the center of the drawing. "And five of you will be at these points." He drew five more X's evenly spaced around the circle. He drew lines to connect them, forming a pentagram. "Two of us will be in the center to perform the transfer. I'll be the conduit, obviously."

"What?" Sirius interjected in alarm, "No, you will not. I will be the conduit."

"Sirius…"

"You're not of age, and as your guardian, I can't let you put your life at risk. I'll do it." Sirius insisted, glaring at his brother, daring him to argue.

But he could not dissuade Regulus. He shook his head. "No. Look, I'm the one who got him into this mess. It's my responsibility to clean it up. You all are already putting your lives at risk just by being there. Besides, I need you to be the one to conduct the transfer. And if I cannot divert the spirit into the container and it takes over my body, I will need you to destroy it."

Sirius went pale and gaped at him in disbelief.

"With this." Regulus reached into his backpack and withdrew a silver dagger in a sheath. "Sirius, you're the only one I trust to do what needs to be done."

Sirius took the dagger from his brother and gave a small nod.

Regulus let out a breath, glad to have that resolved, and hastened on to the next concern. "Okay, I've been examining this map, looking for magical vortices. Pinga says the ceremony has only been successful when performed at locations with especially strong magical energy. The good news is, there is one close by." He spread out a map of Hogsmeade and the surrounding area, and tapped it with his wand. A golden light radiated from a point only a few miles from the boundary of Hogwarts.

"The forbidden forest." Andrew said, trepidation clear in his voice. "We're not supposed to go in there."

Sirius clicked his tongue. "I've been in the forest plenty of times. It's not usually dangerous. However…" He looked at the map again for a long moment, measuring distances and angles with his fingers before he added, "There's one big problem with this plan."

Pandora gasped, "Oh yes, I see the problem!" She looked up at Sirius and did a motion with her arms like a hunter using a bow and arrow. Sirius nodded, clearly understanding her meaning.

Regulus slapped a hand on the table, looking back and forth between Sirius and Pandora in exasperation. "What is it? What's the problem?"

Sirius and Pandora spoke in unison. "Centaurs."

"They really don't like wizards invading their territory," Sirius added. "And this is smack dab in the middle of it."

Regulus collapsed back into his chair. "Well, we'll just have to hope they don't notice us. I can't find any other vortex that we could get to. Maybe we should have some lookouts. I could talk to Dorcas and Evan. They could cover us while we're conducting the ritual."

"I don't know if two people will be enough to cover seven of us if the centaurs want us out," Sirius said.

The room went quiet as they all thought hard. Amelia chewed on the quill as though she would find the answer in the core. Andrew drummed his fingers on the table. Then he slammed his hand down, startling everyone to attention. "Of course! Alice! She's studying to be an Auror, and Moony was her best friend forever. She'll want to help and might actually have the skills to do so. No offense to Evan and Dorcas." He nodded to Regulus.

Amelia jumped up from the table. "I'll go write to her now!"

Regulus relaxed. "Well, I guess that's all we can do for now. I'm going to go see Moony and then try to get some sleep." He started packing up the map, books, and parchments that were spread across the table. "I suggest you all do the same."

Pandora stood and stretched. "I'll come with you," she said.

Regulus smiled at her and they said goodnight to the others as they all headed to their own dorms and their beds.

When Regulus and Pandora reached the Hospital wing, it was dark and quiet. They tiptoed over to Remus's bed, and Regulus groped in the dark to find him. He gasped and lit his wand. He looked at Pandora with wide eyes. Remus was gone.

It was late, but they had no concern for the mediwitch's sleep as they rushed to Madam Pomfrey's door and pounded on it, demanding her attention. She opened the door, looking exhausted but not surprised to see them.

"Mr. Black. I had hoped we could have this conversation tomorrow." She yawned.

"Where is he?" Regulus demanded.

"Mr. Lupin's parents were not satisfied with the care he was receiving here. They've taken him to St. Mungos for further treatment." She sounded mildly offended, but her tone indicated she was not willing to argue about it.

"Now, I must insist that you return to your dorm immediately. It is after curfew." And she closed her office door.

Regulus looked at Pandora in desperation, and a slow grin spread across her face. "St. Mungos. Don't worry, Reggie. I can get him out." She winked and took Regulus's hand, leading him out of the hospital wing.

Notes:

We are getting so close to the end! 😭 Thank you to those who have been on this journey with me, it makes it so much more fun.