The Story of Regulus Black - Years 1-4

XCII. Comfort

Regulus was crossing the entrance hall the following morning, a yawn emanating from deep inside of him when someone grabbed the back of his robes.

Before he could process what was happening, he was dragged backward, around the corner to a deserted corridor, and shoved up against the wall. He felt all of the air leave his lungs with the force by which his back had hit the wall, and his shoulder blades smarted with pain. He let out a cough which had been forced by the expulsion of all of his air, and he looked at the person who was pinning him there.

He stared into a near carbon copy of his own face, the eyes of which were burning with curiosity and frustration. "Nice way to start to the morning," Regulus said sarcastically, his voice breathless sounding from the lack of air circulating throughout his body.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Sirius demanded.

Regulus furrowed his brow, and he placed his palms firmly on Sirius's chest to push him off. Instead, Sirius simply pushed Regulus's shoulders harder into the wall, and Regulus felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder. "Let go of me, you git," Regulus said, and he used all of his strength to shove Sirius off.

Sirius was quite surprised by Regulus's success. Ever since the two were kids, Sirius was always the stronger one. Plus, with his status as Gryffindor Beater, he had gained quite a lot of muscle, too. However, he assumed that Regulus's position of Slytherin Seeker had helped him gain a bit more muscle, as well. Even then, he was still a bit shocked.

He got over this surprise quickly and fixed Regulus with a glare. "It was you, wasn't it?" He repeated.

Regulus smoothed the front of his robes. "What the hell are you on about?" He inquired.

Sirius glanced around to be sure that no one was listening in on the two, and he took a step towards Regulus so that he could speak more quietly. "The note."

Regulus raised an eyebrow, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "What note are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Regulus. I know it was you who left that stupid note about Snivellus."

"And, why would I do that?"

Sirius paused for a moment, for he had been wondering the same thing. Why would Regulus want to warn Remus?

He thought back to what Regulus had confessed to him (well, to the dog) at the beginning of the year. He looked better, Sirius did have to admit - at least he wasn't crying or on the verge of it.

"The note to Remus," Sirius continued, though he was much less sure of himself, "you left it."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," Regulus replied, his facial expression one of calculation.

"Ok, well then who did it? Hm? Who would know enough about Remus and be close enough to ol' Snivellus to warn him?"

"Warn him of what?" Regulus asked, feigning unimaginable amounts of curiosity.

Sirius suddenly thought better of what he was doing. After all, if Regulus truly didn't know, didn't that mean that Sirius was risking things getting worse by telling him? Even then, though, he still couldn't think of who else did it.

The idea struck him suddenly. If Regulus had been so willing to spill all of his feelings and secrets to a certain shaggy black dog before, who's to say he wouldn't, now? Perhaps Sirius's animagus ability could help him in more ways than one.

With a sniff and the raise of his chin, Sirius turned around and stalked off. Regulus watched him go with an air of confidence.

Sure, the note that Regulus had left hadn't exactly been the most obscure of things. However, he had taken several precautions before leaving it to be sure that they would not know for sure that it had been him who left it.