Never in Draco's life would he ever have imagined writing such an insane letter. Not only was it a letter addressed to the Weasley twins, but worse than that, Draco Malfoy was requesting some muggle jewellery.

For some absurd reason, James had decided that random metal, tungsten, would be the perfect material for Regulus's ring. He claimed that it was not only durable and scratch-resistant but, after extensive testing, was outstandingly absorbent to magic. The only problem was that no wizards used it. Unlike the prevalent gold and silver, tungsten wasn't naturally occurring, and only in the last few hundred years had muggles found a way to extract it. When Draco had casually asked how James and Regulus each got the metal in the first place, they both shockingly admitted to going to muggle shops.

Draco certainly wasn't about to step foot in a muggle shop, and besides, he had no muggle money. Any of his family's contacts would think him mad for wanting to obtain something so distinctly muggle. The Weasley twins, unfortunately, seemed like the only option because they would have no problem defiling themselves with the non-magical world and the worst they could do was tell Draco no.

Having no concept of how much tungsten cost, he piled galleons in with his request and promised to pay more once the tungsten was received. He trudged up to Owlry, groaning about how James and Regulus should be bloody appreciative of the work he was putting in.

And he was putting in a lot of work everywhere. He was apparently cursed never to have a relaxing year at school. Classes weren't exactly a priority, but he still made an effort to stay on top of lessons. He theorised with James and found obscure books to read with Regulus. He clung to every bit of gossip and scoured every Daily Prophet for any mention of Harry. No one knew anything worthwhile, and Draco kept repeating to himself that no news was good news.

Detentions were almost every night, and they were getting increasingly frustrating to deal with. Blessedly, the Carrows were afraid of him, something Draco shamelessly used to his advantage. It was a strange revelation to know that professors could be scared of him, and all it took was one offhand comment about the night Dumbledore died. They avoided him, basically permitting him to do whatever he pleased.

After brief negotiations to get his own classroom for his own detentions, he went to Crabbe and Goyle. The two were thrilled with the prospect of being included in Draco's schemes again.

"We get to do whatever we want?" Goyle asked excitedly.

"No," Draco said, exasperated. He had just explained that he needed extra eyes in detention and some imposing figures so the students wouldn't dare gang up on him.

"But I heard - " Goyle started.

"Doesn't matter what you heard. We don't maim, injure, or torture anyone," Draco said firmly, and they both pouted.

"But why?" Crabbe asked. "They are probably Potter-loving morons. No one cares about them."

"And what do you suppose happens when we make enemies with the Potter-loving half of the school?" Draco looked between them both, annoyed by their confused expressions. "We are outnumbered. If they get cross, we are the first to be attacked. The Dark Lord isn't here to protect you. We have to protect ourselves."

"And that means being nice?" Crabbe asked hesitantly.

"It means not being evil," Draco said and started to walk towards the classroom the Carrows had assigned him. "Come along."

The Carrows started by sending him ten students, all third year or younger, likely not wanting to give up the students who were able to properly cast curses. Most of the students were petrified of Draco and couldn't make up their minds between never taking their eyes off him and refusing to glance his way. His reputation preceded him. Per Regulus's suggestion, Draco just forced them to work on stunning. The spell was too advanced for most, but waving their wand in circles was far better than having upperclassmen curse them. Crabbe and Goyle complained about how boring it was, but Draco was proud that he'd found his way of doing something Harry would appreciate.

After only a few detentions, he settled into a routine, and even the students seemed to get more comfortable in his presence. One particularly talented witch had asked if she could work on a different spell. Draco flippantly said, "If you think you are so superior, then cast a patronus."

She took to it with far too much enthusiasm. He couldn't risk people actually enjoying the detentions, so when the next boy approached him, and Draco noticed owl treat crumbs on his sleeves, he ordered, "Cast a proper stunner, or I'll kill your owl."

It was perhaps too blunt and Draco didn't mean it. He didn't even know what the kid's owl looked like even if he wanted to carry out the threat. When the boy left detention crying because he hadn't been able to cast the stunning spell, Draco felt rather proud of the ploy.

That same night, Draco stayed behind to finish some essays while Crabbe and Goyle left to hunt down a second dinner. When Draco had finally written the required ten inches and packed up to leave, he was attacked by Weasley. She had hidden behind the door, so neither Regulus nor James spotted her, and she quickly jammed her wand at Draco's throat, pushing him against the wall.

"Watch where you point that thing," Draco snarled, trying to push her off and slowly reaching for his wand.

She pushed hers deeper into his skin. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing," Draco spat.

"Don't lie to me! I saw how terrified they were. I know how the Carrows run their detentions, and I have a feeling you'd be even crueller."

Draco's fury rose. Why did everyone think so lowly of him? "I'm not lying. They just waved their wands around for an hour."

"Dennis was crying."

Draco didn't recognise the name, but only one student left sobbing.

"I didn't do anything," Draco ground out.

"He said you'd kill his owl!"

"And have I?" Draco challenged. He finally pushed her off and got his wand pointed at her. "Is that what your traitor family teaches you? To attack just because someone might do something? Come back when I've done something to deserve it."

"If I hear anything," she growled.

Draco rolled his eyes, "I know, you come after me. Still using that bat boogey hex? I imagine it's a bit tame compared to what the Carrows are teaching you now."

She fired a hex that Draco dodged swiftly, but she clearly didn't want a fight. She turned around, hair whipping, and stomped down the hall.

"Damn, she's scary," James said, almost impressed. "I respect the Gryffindor house loyalty. You really didn't have to threaten that kid's bird."

"Shut it," Draco said and stomped off in the opposite direction.

The owl threat had its intended purpose of covering how tame his detentions were, but it made people even more polarised towards him. The rumour grew from threatening animals to how Draco was threatening students' families. Those who were scared turned terrified. Those angry got furious. His fellow Slytherins had the most confusing reactions. Some, like Crabbe and Goyle, only respected him more for it. Zabini teased him, calling him an 'owl eater.' The girls, Greengrass's included, only watched from a distance, but they did watch him intently.

But there was one Slytherin who seemed to despise Draco, Theodore Nott. Draco had returned late from finalising the designs of his new ring to connect Regulus and James when he found Nott alone and sulking in the common room. He looked up as Draco passed and sneered. Exhausted, Draco's patience was non-existent, so he stalked right up to Nott.

"What are you pissy about?" Draco challenged.

"Don't pretend like you don't know."

Draco had no clue why Nott would be this upset at him. He'd been ignoring most of his housemates since he'd returned to Hogwarts, but maybe that was the problem.

"This is about not including you in the detentions, isn't it? Do you enjoy watching first-years squirm that much?"

"No," Nott said through gritted teeth.

"Then don't be a prick about it."

"Do you understand what you are doing?" Nott said, standing up. "You are ruining my chances of proving myself to the Dark Lord. My father said it's because of you he stopped me from joining this summer."

So that was the real problem. Nott wanted to sell his soul to a madman, and Draco had stopped it. Nott should be on his knees thanking him. "And you think terrorising first years will impress him?"

"No, but -"

"Then I don't see what your problem is." Draco turned to the stairs.

"Stop! I want to be a Death Eater with you. Why are you not letting me help? Scared of some competition?"

"Don't talk about what you don't understand," Draco growled.

"I'm seventeen. I understand what I am asking for."

Draco considered him. "Do you know what it was like for me last year?"

Nott scoffed. "You were hand-selected by the Dark Lord and succeeded! You were praised. Everyone thinks you're the most powerful student at Hogwarts, so don't act all miserable now."

"Have you seen someone under the Cruciartus curse? Or felt it yourself?"

Nott looked a little taken aback by the direction of Draco's questions but answered, "No, but I've heard it. I was staying at my uncle's house last winter holiday, and the Dark Lord held a meeting there. They tortured some traitor at it."

Draco's frustration evaporated, replaced by dizziness. Last winter? That had been when…

"And did you enjoy hearing it?" Draco asked, breathless.

"Of course not, but it was a traitor! I understand the cost of war."

"It was me, you idiot," Draco said. "I was the one being tortured. You heard my screams."

"That doesn't make sense," Nott said, staring wide-eyed.

"I hadn't killed Dumbledore yet. I was disappointing him." Draco's eyes burned. He needed to get out of here before he lost it.

"But - you weren't even of age. They couldn't expect you to do it overnight," Nott protested.

"Do you think that matters?" Draco said, and feeling his throat tighten, he retreated for the stairs. "Just don't wish for shit you don't understand."

Draco stalked off to bed, his heart beating too fast and Nott watching him like he didn't know who he was looking at.

October came around, and Draco received a package from the twins. It was wrapped in the most obnoxious red and gold paper, with "I love Gryffindor" written in large lettering. Face flushing, Draco hid it in his robes and headed to an empty classroom as James laughed from beside him.

He opened it to find several large, chunky tungsten rings and a note.

Did you do any research before writing to us? Tungsten is expensive, but not nearly as much as you provided, so as a courtesy, we waived the finders fee and gift-wrapped it. We appreciate your business and encourage you never to look up any prices. We much prefer the copious amounts of gold.

Weasley and Weasley

"When did you order these?" Regulus asked.

Draco shrugged, trying to act casual. "I couldn't sleep one night, and I figured we needed some to start on Harry's ring."

"Amazing," James complimented, "I'd forgotten how much of a pain it can be to deal with muggles. One problem down." Regulus eyed him suspiciously but thankfully didn't ask more about Draco's late nights.

Draco was struggling with classes for the first time since Regulus came around. Wordless magic was difficult. They had learned it with simple charms the year before, but suddenly, it was like all the professors expected him to be just as good, with or without an incantation, for every spell.

Worse than it just being difficult, his classmates were better than him.

Regulus had said bluntly, "You just have to practice," but that wasn't working. James, on the other hand, was patient with him. Rather than just ordering Draco around, he gave real advice. He coached Draco to say the incantation quieter and quieter until it was just a breath, and then just in his head, and then hopefully, it would come instinctually. It wasn't that simple, but it did help, and Draco was improving slowly.

Something had changed after his time with James waiting outside the veil, thinking Regulus was gone forever. James seemed more in tune with Draco's thoughts, he almost seemed more complimentary, except when it came to his house.

The night before the first Quidditch match of the year, James had been teasing that maybe he would sabotage Draco and, therefore, the Slytherins so Gryffindor would get the first win of the season. Draco ignored him, knowing, in reality, James couldn't sabotage anything. It was in the middle of James's obnoxious claims when he finally saw who was stopping him from using the Room of Requirement, and, of course, it was Weasley.

"You're the one using the Room?" he snarled, interrupting James and stepped towards her as she exited the rapidly disappearing door.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, smiling, faking innocence.

"Don't play dumb, get yourself and whoever else is hiding in there to come out. I need it."

"No, I don't think I will," she said firmly.

"It's important."

"Oh, more important than keeping students safe from the literal torture your friends are putting us through?"

Considering he needed to destroy the horcrux inside, something that would keep students safe long-term, he said confidently, "Yes."

"You're delusional," she scoffed.

Before Draco could fire off a retort, they both turned to a thudding sound coming from around the corner. Longbottom limped into view, looking dreadful with a bloody nose and a tremor that made Draco uneasy.

"What happened?" Weasley said urgently, rushing to get an arm under him.

"Extended detention," Longbottom said with a wince.

She helped him to where the door to the Room of Requirement would be, then turned to Draco and said, "Fuck off, Malfoy."

Draco wasn't going to listen to her. He watched the way Longbottom's limbs shook. "Was it the Cruciartus curse?" Draco asked him.

Weasley scowled, but Longbottom gave a nervous nod.

"Hunt down some Nerve Soother and Dreamless Sleep. If it was short bursts, you should be able to sleep it off, but I wouldn't go to the match tomorrow." They both looked at him, stunned. "See, I can play nice. You have to let me in some time."

She just scoffed as the door opened, and she guided Longbottom through. When it shut instantly behind them, Draco cursed at the empty wall.

"Do you have zero tact?" James asked.

Draco shrugged and said under his breath, "It's not my fault she won't listen."

"You've given her no reason to!" James exclaimed, and Draco scowled. "Why do you dislike her so much?"

"Ask your son," Draco said without thinking.

"What is that supposed to mean? Did she do something to him?"

"No," Draco said too quickly. James gave him a look, so he clarified, "She dated him."

James snorted. "Did she break his heart? You know she does remind me of Lily." James watched Draco's expression twist and asked, "What?"

"It doesn't matter," Draco said, starting to walk back to the common room.

James kept protesting. "No, it clearly does. We need to get into that room, and if that means playing nice with her, then so be it."

Draco scowled but said reluctantly, "She dated Harry, but," he took a steadying breath, "I wanted him to choose me instead."

"Oh," James said, face frustratingly blank, as Regulus sighed, "Finally."

After a moment, James said carefully, "You shouldn't blame her. Harry made his decision. I get that it's lousy when you're rejected, but you know when I first started talking with -"

Draco's defensiveness rose, he hadn't been rejected. Harry had picked him. James had jumped too quickly to his conclusion. Draco interrupted, "Harry did pick me. I just fucked it up."

"Oh," James said, face still unreadable.

"Yeah, oh," Draco said and started walking again.

James looked nervous. "I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything. When she starts to treat me without hostility, I'll do the same." As they walked, Draco tried not to dwell on James's reaction, but it made his stomach twist painfully. James's face had been blank, probably holding back his real emotions. He was upset that he had something with Harry.

James and Regulus's conversation that night was short and awkward. James was still processing Draco's revelation, but he didn't want to talk to Draco about it. Regulus's initial smugness around Draco spilling the news turned sour when he realised that James hadn't taken the news well. He asked James to talk about it, but James shrugged it off and changed the topic.

Before Draco took off the rings for the night, Regulus said, "He didn't see you two together; don't let it worry you."

Draco nodded but, still feeling anxious about the whole scenario, stayed up most of the night. He finished carving runes into the new ring, thinking bitterly how he hated the way he craved James's approval so much.

The first Quidditch match of the season could hardly be called a match. Regulus had spotted the snitch before the first goal had even been made. It lasted barely over two minutes. The Gryffindors looked pissed, Weasley shouted something vulgar that he ignored and went to join his team. It felt good to be celebrated for something that he wanted.

The match ending early meant they had the afternoon to themselves to work on their schemes. Draco hadn't particularly wanted to party with his house, although he was still riding the high of his victory. Perhaps that was why he decided it was time to test his new ring. He had slipped it into his bag with his books and subtly reached for it.

As James was talking, Draco carefully took off Regulus's ring. He positioned his new ring on top of James's and then placed Regulus's on top of the stack.

"What -" Regulus started to snap, likely annoyed at Draco for removing his ring, but froze, staring at where James was sitting. Draco felt a rush of pride; he'd done it.

"I am not sure if the rune for Preservation is the right choice. I picked it for Reg's ring because it would play nice with Force, but I am nervous it opens a loophole for the horcrux to stay latched on. We have no idea how attached it'll be. Where was that book from yesterday?"

Regulus was still, staring at James in silent shock, and Draco grinned smugly.

"What's that look for?" James asked, looking over at Draco when he hadn't responded.

Draco grinned wider and tilted his head to where Regulus was standing. Confused, James turned his head around and gasped.

"Regulus?" James stood and took a step forward.

In a remarkably un-Regulus-like way, Regulus lunged at James, arms outstretched, trying to wrap himself around him. The moment he got close, Draco cringed as Regulus passed right through James's torso. They both turned sharply to look at each other as Regulus gasped. His new ring hadn't changed their intangibility.

"Woah, calm down," James said, holding up his arms.

"I can't touch you," Regulus said dumbly. And then Draco saw something that freaked him out. Regulus's eyes started to water.

"Wait, don't cry this is a good moment," James said quickly, taking a step forward and raising his arm as if to comfort Regulus. He froze, likely realising he couldn't physically comfort someone you couldn't touch.

"Tell me you are real," Regulus pleaded.

"I'm as real as you are," James said with a small smile. "You knew I was here."

"But I didn't see you."

"You missed my pretty face that much?" James teased, and Regulus's face crumpled further. "Oh shit, what did I say?"

"I thought I'd never talk to you again," Regulus said, voice cracking and wrapped his arm around himself.

"Woah, breathe," James said, taking a small step forward. "I don't fancy our reunion ending with you passing out." Regulus's eyes sharpened. "I get it, though. I thought the same thing. Sirius had a little memorial for you when we heard you died, and it destroyed me, but look where we are now! We're together."

"Are we?" Regulus challenged.

"I -" James stumbled over his words. "Well, not -"

"Do you hate me?" Regulus said, meeting his gaze.

"I could never hate you."

They paused for a moment as Regulus got his emotions under control, but neither could look away from the other. Eventually, Regulus straightened himself.

"You can't forget everything that's happened and pretend that it's all fine. You should hate me. The last time I saw you, I tried to curse you, and the time before, I told you never to talk to me again."

James grimaced. "But - Draco said that you didn't mean any of it."

"Don't bring me into this," Draco said firmly.

Regulus sighed. "I meant what I said about needing to end things. My family would have killed me."

"I would have protected you," James said confidently, "I got Sirius out."

"Then they would have killed you," Regulus retorted.

"Always the same argument, but what about now? They're dead. I don't think you count as a Death Eater, considering you betrayed the Dark Lord. Nothing is stopping things from going back to how they were. I missed you."

Regulus scowled and said bitterly, "Lily."

James flinched. "Why can't you just let me be happy?" He sighed and finally collapsed into a chair, frowning. He looked directly at Regulus and said, "I don't know how we should feel about each other, but it looks like we have time to figure it out. Merlin knows how boring it is while Draco's in class."

Regulus sat stiffly in the chair next to him but stayed quiet. After a minute of the awful tension, Draco interrupted.

"Well, you should start figuring it out now. I don't fancy you two constantly bickering while I am trying to do real work, regardless of how bored you two are."

They both seemed amused by Draco's comment, and they did start to talk quietly. Draco tried not to listen, feeling like he was intruding on something. It was exhilarating that his attempt at a ring worked, but watching the two, Draco quickly realised that maybe it wasn't going to make life easier.

He desperately wished that it was him and Harry whispering to each other instead.