I Walk Alone,

Chapter 24, Fool Me Once, You Will Pay

The three waited almost patiently for Regulus to write his elf. They would've been more impatient but the general mood was lifted for all by Heather's antics. Soon enough Regulus was back, though, his face flushed from running. "I did my best to hurry, but I had quite a bit to write," he said breathlessly. "Kreacher shall be so thrilled that I've made us some new friends."

Severus, Raislen and Heather exchanged a glance. "Us," Raislen asked.

"Sure," Regulus said. "You are certain to meet Kreacher some day if we all remain friends, and I see no reason why we shouldn't. Kreacher is brilliant and funny with very useful magical abilities. Anyone should be glad to be his friend, and I'm sure you all shall like him as much as I do." Severus hadn't met many elves, but none of the few he'd encountered seemed particularly interested in direct friendships with wizards. They were all polite and respectful enough, but that was a far cry from close friendship as he saw it.

Regulus appeared to be a bit of an odd one but that wasn't always a bad thing. Some would call Severus odd as well, a fact of which he was well aware. *Some* as in certain specific gittish Gryffindors. Perhaps he was odd at that, but there was nothing wrong with not being like everyone else. When it came down to it, he felt he was more than most people. More intelligent, more talented, more perceptive and brave enough to be himself. There were all sorts of bravery, not just the annoying Gryffindor sort, whatever that sort truly was. If it meant attacking one person with an entire pack, he wasn't impressed.

The group's high spirits held throughout the evening. They enthusiastically raced one another on Dumbledore's stairs before settling down beside the lake to work on various homework assignments. They good-naturedly helped one another out with ready answers or helpful suggestions. All in all, the evening was pleasant.

They were all even in relatively good spirits at breakfast the next morning, though no one truly wished to be awake yet. By lunch, however, Regulus's good mood had slipped. When he joined the other three at the Slytherin table, he was scowling darkly. "Of course he can't just bloody leave me alone. I'd be happy just ignoring one another, but that just isn't in his blood," he practically snarled through gritted teeth.

Severus didn't need to ask who. "What's Sirius done now," he wondered, making a face.

"He can be next," Heather said happily and Regulus chuckled, relaxing into his chair at the supportive words from his new friends. "It wasn't really anything he did. I mean he only talked. He cornered me on the way to The Great Hall and got in my face, leaning over me in some weak attempt to intimidate I suppose." He made a derisive face. "So he's all in my personal space, telling me to watch it and that my friends should learn to leave his alone. I said that if only he and his friends set such an example first, I'm quite certain they'd be glad to."

"True enough," Raislen nodded. "Had that lot not started with Severus the first day for literally existing, none of us would ever have cause to even speak to them." Severus nodded in agreement. He certainly never would've started with them first, that was for sure. He left people alone with whom he did not wish to deal, and it was just grand when they did the same.

"He's such a git," Regulus ranted on. "What does he expect to gain by making petty threats?"

Heather smiled complacently. "Well now that I'm a prefect, it's about all they can do, and apparently they're actually smart enough to understand as much."

That sounded logical, only Severus had doubts about the smart bit when it came to the Gryffindor gits. Bravery of the Gryffindor sort and smarts didn't specifically always go hand in hand, after all, especially with that lot. Also self-control didn't appear to be their strong suit, if that was what Heather expected. Though if they were planning something, why warn Regulus? That wouldn't be smart. Then again, hadn't he just considered the lack of smarts bit on their part? He sighed, not wanting to give himself a headache by thinking about them for... any time longer than he had to. "Can we talk of something nontoxic," he asked, suddenly feeling peevish. Oh well, the good mood had lasted for nearly eighteen hours.

Regulus chuckled. "Sure, of course. It's just he's such a git! But you're right. What are we doing after classes today," he asked, changing the subject as Severus had requested.

"Heather and I have to go hunting mushrooms near the forest today for Herbology," Raislen said, making a face. "If you two want to come along and help, it'd go far faster which would be grand. I don't really enjoy hunting mushrooms."

Heather nodded. "Yes, your help to hasten our progress would be truly appreciated. I hate the idea of getting dirty in the dirt."

"Well when you make it so tempting, how can we resist," Regulus drawled.

"Indeed," Severus agreed. "So do we meet in the common room, then?"

"Sounds good," Raislen said. "The faster we get it done, the faster we can find something better to do."

"Which shan't be too hard considering," Heather said with a laugh. "Gods, I hate Herbology!"

"It has its uses," Severus said.

"You would think so," Heather nodded. "I mean potions can't survive without herbs."

"True," Severus said. "And learning what's what ensures one doesn't get poisoned or sold the wrong thing."

"You're sounding like a professor," Raislen groaned. "I'd prefer books to digging in the dirt any day."

"Yes," Heather and Regulus said nearly in unison.

"I didn't say I preferred it, just that it has its uses," Severus said. "And I don't want to be a professor." When classes were over for the day, Severus found himself eager to help Heather and Raislen with their Herbology assignment. Due to the fact he was more interested than they were in herbs, he knew he'd probably find the mushrooms they were after first. He was admittedly a bit eager to show his skills off to his friends as he hurried out of History of Magic, his final class of the day.

"Severus! Wait up!" The voice came from behind him, and belonged to Regulus Black, but what was he doing near History of Magic? He was two years behind Severus, so they shared no classes. Severus paused and turned to face the younger boy. "What are you doing here?" They were all supposed to meet in the Slytherin common room, after all. "How'd you get out of class so early anyway?" Had something come up, he wondered, giving Regulus a confused frown.

Regulus shrugged. "I told Flitwick I had to use the lavatory. I just got so bored, you know? Besides, I wanted to show you something!"

Severus wasn't aware that Regulus found charms to be dull. He looked excited, though, so Severus was intrigued. "Well what is it? We're supposed to meet Heather and Raislen to hunt for those mushrooms, remember."

"Oh yes, that," Regulus said, shrugging again. "Of course we'll do that, but first, there is something you've just got to see! You'll never believe it!"

"Well can't we get Heather and Raislen first," Severus asked. "And what is it anyway? Is it about Sirius and James?" What else would have Regulus so excited, after all.

Regulus laughed. "You're good. But I won't tell you. It's too brilliant and you've just got to see." He chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "I want to see your reaction. Trust me, it's good. Now come on!"

Severus sighed. "Alright, but we must hurry. Heather and Raislen will be waiting for us." It wasn't as if Heather hadn't kept them waiting yesterday, after all. Hers had been for a good cause, but from the sound of it, whatever Regulus had to show him could be as well. Though he didn't see why Heather and Raislen couldn't come along. Assuming he was missing something, and because Regulus was so eager, he followed along. "We've got to hurry, though," he insisted.

"It isn't far," Regulus said. He hurried ahead of Severus, eventually turning down a corridor that lead to the Astronomy tower. It was one of the rather round-about routs, and Severus frowned. Whatever had even brought Regulus here to discover anything. He was just opening his mouth to ask, when a sound of scuffling came from his left. He turned sharply to see Peter and Sirius pressed against the left wall, wands pointing at Severus, jeering expressions on their obnoxious faces. Before he could react, Severus was flying fast to the right.

His body slammed into the right wall, leaving him facing Peter and Sirius. He lifted his hand to reach for his own wand, but they must have used a sticking charm, because he could not move. His entire body was stuck to the wall! Smirking, Regulus came to stand in front of him. Severus felt his eyes widening in shock. Regulus? Helping them? Had he been that wrong about Sirius's little brother? If so, the two had played a great game. Then he understood. James was nowhere in sight. He was never away from Sirius and Peter. Lupin wasn't about at the moment either, but at times he wasn't, so his absence didn't seem particularly strange in itself. He'd never once seen James without Sirius, or Sirius without James, however. "Polly juice is it, James," he asked the probably fake Regulus. Fake Regulus smirked.

"I'd say fifty points for Slytherin, but your evil house doesn't deserve points," he said. Stepping forward, he snatched Severus's wand from where it stuck up out of the left pocket of his school robe.

Peter snickered. "Yeah, do it!" Grinning, James otherwise known as Fake Regulus, shoved the wand into Severus's nose. It hurt! It really hurt, but Severus ground his teeth, determined not to make a sound. These gits would so pay for this. Oh how they would pay! The rage that swept him was almost delicious in its intensity. Peter cackled. "Oh he looks brilliant! You're brilliant, James!" He clapped his hands. "That wand looks like a beak sticking out of his nose!"

Sirius scowled. "I'm the one who thought of getting Regulus's hair."

"Yeah, but James played such a good Regulus, and had the wand up the nose idea," Peter argued.

"Let's go," James, otherwise known as Fake Regulus said. "I'm not in the mood to hang out with Snape any more today."

"Tell your friend Heather hello for us, Snivellus," Sirius said as the three, still smirking, walked away. "Tell her that this is what happens when she tries to fight little baby's battles for him."

Severus felt his face flush in a mix of embarrassment and rage. He'd never asked Heather to do anything, and these gits would so pay. It wasn't as if any of them ever fought battles alone! Oh how he hated them. Struggling with all his might to unstick himself from the wall, he let his utter hatred for the Gryffindor gits fuel his efforts.

Sadly hatred did not serve him in this endeavor, for though his muscles bunched and cramped with the effort, he remained just as stuck to the wall as he'd been before he'd begun trying to unstick himself. He couldn't move a millimeter. Next he attempted to blow the wand from his throbbing nose, but also to no avail. James Fake Regulus had wedged it up there but good. It was perhaps half an hour later that the rage subsided enough to finally allow him to panic.

How long would he be stuck here before someone finally found him? This was a little used corridor, after all. When someone finally did come across him, how embarrassing that would be! What a ridiculous, undignified idiot he must look stuck to the wall with a wand up his nose! The corridor was silent and chilly. How often did anyone even come here, he wondered as his panic grew. What if he eventually had to wee? If he was forced to wet himself, he would literally kill James and Sirius. Peter too just for good measure and also for his stupid expressions.