The Marauders: Year Four

Regulus's Request

Regulus's Request

Regulus was in the library, pouring over a book, doing research for his History of Magic assignment when he heard James Potter, who was sitting a few tables away, yell out, "Oi! Evans! You can study with us if you fancy!"

He looked up to see the ginger-haired witch coming up the main aisle between shelves, hugging a load of books to her chest. "That's quite alright, Potter, I plan on actually studying." She eyed Sirius, leaning back in his seat, his feet up on the table, the chair balancing on two legs. Beside him, Remus was staring down at his book looking quite agitated as Sirius's hand ran over his shoulder, walking his fingertips along his shoulder blades. Peter, who had been in the middle of talking to James when he'd interrupted him to invite Lily over, looked about, confused.

Lily walked past the Marauders' table, followed by Marlene McKinnon and Emmaline Vance, and found a table across the room from them. James hesitated in turning back, even after Peter had resumed his talking, but finally tore his eyes off Lily.

Regulus turned to Barty, who was sitting next to him, reading, too, and said, "I'll be right back."

"Alright," Barty murmured, without even looking up.

Regulus got up and he crossed the room, his heart slamming in his chest as he glanced about to be sure there weren't any clusters of Slytherins about that might witness what he was about to do... When he was sure there wasn't anyone around, he approached Lily's table, coming to a stop at the head of it. None of the girls looked up. He cleared his throat, and they all looked up in unison.

"What do you want?" Marlene McKinnon asked. She'd heard plenty about Regulus from Sirius in the brief conversations they'd held when they were together. She might not be with Sirius Black anymore, but that didn't erase the rubbish she'd heard about his brother.

Regulus looked at Lily, ignoring the tone to Marlene's voice. "May I speak with you in private?"

She raised an eyebrow, "The pureblood wishes to speak to me, a filthy little mudblood?"

Regulus took a deep breath, "Yes."

"Sod off," Emmaline snapped, "You don't deserve to talk to Lily after the things you've said to her."

Regulus's voice was persistance. "Please. It's important."

"Go away, Black," snapped Marlene, "She doesn't need to be wasting her time, consorting with arrogant little toadstools the likes of you."

Regulus kept his eyes squarely on Lily. "It's about Severus."

Lily, who had looked away now turned back to look at Regulus. There was something in his voice that made her worried. "What about him?"

"In private?" Regulus repeated.

Lily stood up.

"Don't be daft, Lily!" Marlene said, "He could hex you and --"

"We're not going far. Just over there. Where you can see." She looked at Regulus. "Good enough?"

He nodded.

"I'll be right back," she said to Marlene and Emmaline, and then Lily followed Regulus to where she'd pointed - a few feet away by the chest of drawers that contained records of all the books that were in the library on little cards. Lily stood and stared at Regulus when they'd come to a stop by the windows. "Talk," she said.

Regulus couldn't believe he was taking this sort of attitude from a mudblood like Lily Evans. He took a deep breath, counting to ten, then said, through grit teeth, "Severus needs you."