Casting Moonshadows

79. Operation Recreate Goblin Battles

"He hasn't marked you," Remus mumbled through numb lips.

"It's only a matter of time."

"It doesn't have to be."

"Oh, what do you know? Stupid, pampered, sheltered little Gryffindors. None of the rest of you know what it's like. None of the rest of you know anything. He's been recruiting for over a year. He doesn't take no for an answer."

"You c-could turn him down."

Regulus tossed his head scornfully, shaking off Remus's hand, yanking his sleeve down and curling his right hand over his left forearm protectively. "Stupid! What would I do then, hm? How long do you think I would last? Where would I go? My parents are proud of me for joining."

"You c-c-could..."

"What? Beg protection from my poof of a brother? From his stuttering little half-blood boyfriend? You don't even know...I'm doing this to protect him."

"No!" Remus gripped the arms of Regulus's chair and leaned right up into Regulus's face. "I protect him. And I could p-protect you as well."

"You? Please! What could you do, Lupin? Everyone knows you're just this loopy, sickly little bloke who my brother is inexplicably attached to. One mention of the Dark Lord's name and you would be scuttling for the hills."

"Is that right?" Remus made a decision then. Took a risk – for Sirius and for Regulus who, even now, had started up scratching, scratching at his arm again. "You seem to think you know an awful lot, R-Regulus Black, but you don't."

He drew away from Regulus's chair and rose to his feet. Closing his eyes, he drew the wolf to the surface. He felt it fill his muscles, tighten his sinews, sharpen his bones, light fire in his blood. When he opened his eyes, he knew they reflected the pale light of Regulus's wand with golden intensity. Without looking away from Regulus's suddenly terrified face, he reached behind himself to pick up a small, sturdy pewter cauldron he's seen perched on Slughorn's table as he entered the room. He cupped it in both hands, then squeezed with all his might. It was a little harder than he expected – a well-made piece of potions equipment designed to withstand slapdash student potions – but after a few seconds, it started to buckle, then crumple.

Regulus's wide eyes were fixed in horror at the sight.

"Like I said," Remus said softly, wolf filling his voice with gravel and confidence, "I protect Sirius. And I could protect you, too."

"Who are you?" Regulus whispered, eyes fixed on the damaged cauldron. "What are you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it bloody matters! You're shagging my brother!"

"I'm in love with your brother. I would never, ever do anything to deliberately hurt him, I swear on my magic."

That silenced Regulus. A vow made on one's own magic could not be taken lightly in any circumstance.

Remus closed his eyes and shoved the wolf back. It fought and he shuddered, clenching his fists and fighting, fighting, fighting back. When he opened them, Regulus was still staring at him, dark head cocked to the side.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Whatever is it that you are."

"Does it matter?" Remus asked again, suddenly exhausted.

"Of course it bloody matters." There was an ironic twist to Regulus's mouth. "You're shagging my brother."

Remus glimpsed, in that moment, what Sirius loved in Regulus. What would be lost to the dark should Voldemort brand him.