(53 : FORGETTING ANY . . .
OTHER HOME BUT THIS)

✧࿐ ཾ✧

"INFUSION OF WORMWOOD? STEWED MANDRAKE?" Regulus neatly folded the parchment in half, a small frown forming on his face. "I have to say this is a weird shopping list, even for you."

     Juliet snorted. "You're hardly in a position to judge when you bought basilisk venom from Mundungus Fletcher last week."

"That's different, it's to destroy the hor—"

"To destroy the horcrux that you idiotically risked your life for, I know." Her response came out harsher than intended, causing her to wince. "Sorry. It's still a sore topic. I mean, you died. Repeatedly. If the ring didn't work, I would have been the only one to know the truth, but now you're here in front of me, laughing and joking . . . I guess it almost feels like I imagined the entire thing," she explained, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. "You shouldn't have gone alone. You promised not to."

     Regulus looked successfully guilt-tripped."Fine! I'll make a trip to Diagon Alley."

     "Good," she said, cracking a grin. "I think it's time we visit Sirius too. It's been a month, Reg. As much as I like having you with me, it's too dangerous with you now playing double agent. I've already had a close call with McNair and Mulciber. If someone recognises you with me —"

     His expression hardened. "And what is Sirius going to do? In case you forgot, he's the one who left me. I'm not one who should be crawling back, wanting forgiveness."

     "I don't care about your petty sibling war when we're in the middle of an actual war," she told him, a sense of finality to her blunt words. "Both of you can swallow your pride or I will make you swallow it. I'll send him a patronus and arrange a time soon."

     Although Regulus grumbled, Juliet thought he would thank her later.

✧࿐ ཾ✧

     In the month since the skirmish at the cave, not much had changed for Juliet. Regulus had been following her around the country since she was still on the run, but their latest close call with some Death Eaters had encouraged Juliet to reach out to Sirius for the first time since leaving Potter Manor. With the Dark Lord oblivious to one of his most loyal follower's deference, Regulus had resumed his place amongst the coveted Death Eater ranks whilst simultaneously helping out Juliet. It was a dangerous game they were playing and she knew it was time for them to split up.

     Whilst Juliet still didn't trust Dumbledore, she couldn't protect Regulus from Voldemort and the Order of the Phoenix could. If all went to plan, Regulus would be placed under their protection and she would continue on — alone — dodging aurors and crazed wizards alike.

     It was a few hours later when Regulus returned from Diagon Alley with her shopping. Like a child, he pouted when she informed him they were to meet Sirius at Potter Manor around noon. In that moment, he reminded her a great deal of his brother. Of course, Juliet had always thought the siblings weren't as different as they wanted others to think. After all, they had both reached the same end point, Regulus simply took a little longer to get there.

     "Potter Manor is pretty safe," Juliet assured him when a strange silence fell between them. "The Ministry won't be able to track me without the trace, but we should disillusion ourselves as a precaution. We'll have to apparate beyond the wards and I wouldn't want any of the neighbours to recognise me when there's five thousand galleons on my head."

"If it's 'pretty safe,' why did you leave?" probed Regulus.

Ignoring the question, she pursed her lips. "Do you know where Potter Manor is or should we do it side-along?"

Almost disappointed, his shoulders dropped. "Juliet —"

"I left because it was better for everyone if I did," she claimed, her tone clipped and short. "I wasn't about to make anyone but me lie in the grave that I had dug. Voldemort wants me dead, not James or Sirius or Mrs Potter. As long as I'm on the public's radar, I'm the one who controls what he knows and sees." Juliet was tired, it was obvious from the dark circles under her eyes and the ache in her voice as she thought about the people she had ran from. "He's waiting — waiting for me to be weak. I am not weak."

Instead of the redhead in front of him, Regulus focused his attention on the grooves of his new wand. "I don't think you're a priority anymore. He hasn't mentioned you at any of the meetings."

"I defied him, Regulus," she reminded him, her resolve unflinching. "The Order of the Phoenix were expecting him and what he had planned for years ultimately failed because of something I did. That's not something he'll forget." Her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "And it's not in my head either. You must have seen that Lucius Malfoy is unable to keep my name out of his mouth in the press. And you've already witnessed firsthand that there's Death Eaters trailing me. Just because I'm not number one on his hit list, it doesn't mean that I've been given a free pass."

His head snapped up. "I didn't say that it's in your he—"

"You insinuated it," she remarked coldly. "Just grab my arm before we're late."

✧࿐ ཾ✧

Something about returning to Potter Manor was comforting and familiar. Juliet had made more happy memories in under three years with the Potters than she ever had whilst living with her parents. It was strange to think of how far she had come since that first Christmas. If anyone had told her exactly how much James and Sirius would come to mean to her, she would've hexed them blind, blue and bruised. Still, it was good to be back — no matter how brief or painful of a visit.

     To her surprise, Sirius was already outside when they arrived. He was relaxing against one of the beams on the front porch, a cigarette hanging lazily between his fingertips. His unfocused gaze made it apparent that he was deep in thought.

     "Daydreaming, Black?" called Juliet, her tone airy and teasing.

     A roguish grin invaded the boy's face as he was thrown from his daze. "Mrs Prongs! Why it's a delight as alw—"

     "You can shove off, Sirius." Whilst Juliet walked ahead, Regulus lingered near the manor's gates. "But, since we're on the topic, not a word of my patronus to James. It's kind of a new development."

     "You're the boss." He did a mock salute. "What did you want to talk about then?"

     "Well, I want to talk about how Witch Weekly said burgundy is the new royal blue this season and how I don't really agree because it washes me out," she replied in a flippant manner, attempting to lighten the tense mood. "What I actually need to talk about though is . . . your brother."

     Sirius didn't react. "What's he done now? It's hard to top joining Snake Face's murderous cult."

     Irritated by his indifference, Juliet knocked the cigarette from his hand when he went to take another drag and crushed it under her boot. "Could you actually look me in the eyes when we're talking? This is serious." As he went to open his mouth, she immediately held one finger up to silence him. "Yes, I know you're Sirius. Just show a little interest, please. This is your brother and he could've —" Juliet stopped her rant, leaning closer to her friend and squinting. "You've been crying."

     "Yep." He pulled a new cigarette from the packet, swiping his palms over his tear stained cheeks. "They must be tears of joy. I've somehow forgotten how much I missed your sparkling demeanour and cheery attitude."

     There was a note of warning in her voice as she drawled, "Sirius . . ."

     "Regulus." The name sounded foreign and far too proper coming from Sirius. "You came here to talk about him, so talk."

     "He needs somewhere to stay. I thought he could move in with you since you have your own apartment now," she admitted quietly. "I'll leave him to tell you the rest, but please don't be too hard on him. He wanted out, like we did, Sirius."

     Sirius faltered. "Reg is here?"

     "Near the gates. He didn't really want to come, but —"

     "Nobody leaves the Death Eaters," finished Sirius. "Not alive, at least."

     Juliet grimaced, recalling that Regulus had technically died. "I thought I'd come to you directly before approaching Dumbledore. I think both of us can agree that Dumbledore has his shortcomings and your brother has been through a lot. I don't want him being dragged into anything he isn't ready for." In regards to her opinions on the war, Juliet felt like Sirius usually understood where she was coming from better than James. Even if he hated it, it was in their conversations that she often saw a flicker of the Slytherin Sirius could've been. "I'll leave you both to talk. Is, um, James around?"

     Something akin to anguish crossed his face. "No. He's at Mungo's."

     "That's why you were crying," she concluded, dread settling in her stomach. "Merlin, what's happened to him? You should've —"

     "It's not him." His features twisted darkly and his voice lowered. "I moved back into the manor a few days ago because Mia and Monty have dragon pox and it — it isn't looking good."

✧࿐ ཾ✧

A.N: I always feel the need to apologise when there's no James in a chapter, but I feel this has become Juliet's story so I hope everyone doesn't hate when James isn't around — he'll be back soon enough though. Anyway, I think this chapter really shows how much running has been getting to her because she is very snappy with everyone and she needs a hug, okay? Every chapter is now working towards the end though, which is seven chapters away! Crazy. Hope you'll all stick around until then.

Question, is there anything you're proud of accomplishing this year? This pandemic has been hard, so be proud of anything you've managed. I haven't done much yet, but I'm currently working towards getting into uni, which is (not) fun.