...

Hello there! This one is long and I'm quite happy with the length of it! It shows I'm capable of writing longer oneshots!

This is going to be my late Valentine's oneshot and I'm so sorry it's not as fluffy as you would expect a Valentine's oneshot to be. It's not as upbeat as my other ones.

I messed up the timeline when I began writing this and so I thought Y/N would still be in school, just on Christmas break, when Regulus showed up at her house but I later realized she would've graduated earlier that year so, uhm, if you see anything that suggests otherwise, please tell me.

I also kept forgetting Y/N is living in a flat, not a real home, so sorry if it mentions an upstairs or something. Ignore it.

Hope you all are doing well!

...

I twirled my quill between my fingers and switched between staring at my half-filled parchment and the steady light my wand gave me from the lumos I'd cast. The parchment, a letter to my aunt, was one that I was supposed to be finishing. Mum had stated that it was polite to write back and had sent multiple owls reminding me to write to her sister. She then started to add notes that said to stop ignoring her owls as well.

Wasn't living alone supposed to allow more freedom?

Apparently, despite the fact that she had agreed to let me move into a flat alone and let me do my own thing, she thought I was incapable of being polite... and maybe I was. I shook my head at the thought and reached to dip my quill into my inkwell but I was stopped, thankfully, by a quick, loud knock on the door.

I breathed out a sigh of relief and set down my quill haphazardly in the shallow pot of ink. It could stay standing there for a few minutes, right? I thought as I grabbed my wand and pushed away from my dark wood desk.

I padded out of the room and approached my flat's door. I extinguished my wand and hid it behind my back before opening the door. I never really cared about checking for who it was because I could make a weirdo pass out or something else equally amusing if they decided to mess with me. And I could obliviate them afterwards, too.

The door swung open and I sucked in a breath through my nose as the man before me hurried inside, nudging me aside and shutting the door softly behind him. I almost reached out for his shoulder as he passed by me to head into my kitchen but I didn't when I caught sight of the red covering it.

"Regulus?" I called out, incredulous, before following him into the kitchen where the tap had started to run, "What in - what in the name of Salazar are you doing here? And what happened to you?"

He shushed me like a bothersome child, much to my annoyance, and ran the dishcloth he'd picked up from somewhere under the warm water that was coming out of my tap. I approached him and was about to berate him for using my white cloth to clean himself up but, before the words could leave my mouth, he turned around and pressed his palm over my mouth.

"Don't worry, Knight, I'll get you a new cloth," he murmured in a way that would normally be teasing but, in the current situation, was far from it. He met my gaze, "Don't talk loudly."

I had the urge to lick his hand and was about to but he pulled away before I could, probably guessing where my thoughts had gone. I made a face at him and watched as he wiped the cloth over his shoulder then continued to do the same to the many other wounds scattered across his skin.

Salazar, every surface of skin seemed to be covered in red-turned-black and his clothes, obviously the robes of... of one of them were ripped up and soaked through. His hair was also matted down to his head and he carried himself in an exhausted way that seemed to suggest he had been in a terrible fight. But where?

"Regulus?" I called tentatively as he threw the now-red cloth aside and started searching through my cabinets.

"Yes, Knight?"

I hesitated for a moment and, before answering, I opened up the cabinet to my left to reveal medical supplies. He sighed in relief and started to dig through the bandages and what not as I leaned against the table and asked in a soft whisper, "What happened to you?"

His eyes darkened and he didn't look to me as he pulled out some alcohol, cotton balls, and bandages. I waited patiently as he scattered the supplies onto the table and started to tear the already-ruined fabric of his sleeves off his arms.

I winced at the sight but he didn't seem to care as he doused a cotton ball in the alcohol and dabbed it onto one of his cuts. I continued to wait in silence as he did the action more times, cleaning off the major wounds before bandaging them.

He finally spoke after wrapping up his shoulder wound, "I can't tell you, Knight, and I know this is a big thing to ask for right after saying I'm keeping secrets but... can you hide me?"

"Regulus - " I started, meeting his gaze that showed just how much his emotions were warring in his head. I shook my head in disbelief of my current situation and he seemed to deflate, taking the gesture as a no, but I quickly covered up my mistake, "Regulus, of course I'll hide you."

His tense stance disappeared at my words and he started to clean up the supplies he hadn't used as he whispered, "How have you been?"

My first thoughts were 'lonely' but I batted those away and went over to where I'd left the pot of leftover soup from my dinner on the stove, also grabbing a bowl on my way, "Normal."

I could tell he wanted to continue speaking but I didn't let him continue. I didn't want to face what he had to say so I ladled some soup into the bowl and cast a heating charm onto it before holding it out to Regulus, who took it hesitantly and watched me as I set the ladle into the sink, where my dishes were catching up to me because I'd been feeling lazy.

I didn't turn around to look at him like I once would've when I could feel his eyes boring into my back. I cleared my throat and wiped my hands on a new dish towel that I'd pulled out of a drawer. Still without looking at him, I tossed the towel aside and murmured, "The second bedroom is made up, you can sleep there."

I left the room and hurried down the hall, holding back the emotions that were wanting to burst forth at his presence. I pushed open the door to the second bedroom that was much smaller than mine and checked to make sure that the room actually was made up but I regretted the decision.

The room was exactly the same as it had been six months before, before... it had happened. Deep emerald green blankets, silver-cased pillows, and paler green sheets were halfway wadded up on the bed, as if waiting for someone to return to it any night. The walls, in the places without shelves, were, from Regulus' request, decorated with Slytherin banners, a couple tapastries, and a painting of a silver snake, coiled delicately in a clearing that had filtered green light. The polished wood shelves were lined with pictures frames and trinkets but I couldn't bring myself to look at them, despite the fact that I could probably list each and every one of them in great detail from memory... just like the room.

Salazar, I really should've cleared the room out as soon as he'd called quits but my heart hadn't let me change anything in the room, I hadn't even dusted since he'd left.

I heard a throat clear behind me and I spun around, silently cursing myself for not hearing him come up behind me. I avoided his eyes and nodded slowly to myself, insisting in a voice that had me wincing inside, "Just checking to see if it was... clean."

The lie was stupid, I knew it was stupid as soon as I'd spoken the words because the room was clearly a mess from the, literal, last time he'd spent the night there. The floor, which I had also avoided looking at, was covered in empty butterbeer bottles, Honeydukes' wrappers, and some of his t-shirts and such. There was even an envelope of pictures I had -

I cut off the train of thought as he ignored the awkward silence that had fallen around us from the lie and simply nodded back at me before shifting aside to let me leave the room, which I did quickly, carefully dodging around him so I wouldn't brush against him. Even if it was a very small touch, I didn't want to risk the contact.

I was about to enter my own bedroom when I heard him call softly, "'Night, Knight."

My heart was ready to shatter as I swiftly opened my bedroom door and stepped inside, closing the door behind me as I leaned against it. He'd always loved giving me that farewell because of the similarities in the words but it made me want to scream or throw my arms around him.

I'd wanted to hear those words for months and, when that wish was granted, it was only because he was injured and not because he missed me.

...

The next morning, I woke up to the scent of something... burning? No, not burning... maybe extra crispy? I sighed and threw the blankets off my bed before sitting up and stretching. I knew I should probably go to my kitchen and figure out what Regulus had done but I didn't, instead heading into my bathroom to brush out my hair and hunt down a hoodie and leggings.

After I was finished, I left my bedroom and made my way to the kitchen. The smell was more intense as I got closer and, when I entered my kitchen, I saw Regulus using a spell to make the smoke go away.

I gagged at the weird smells and started to cough but I managed to choke out, "What on earth are you doing?"

"Cooking?" he responded, successfully sending away the smoke and moving the burning pan into my sink.

Normally, I would've laughed but I couldn't bring myself to do that as he rinsed off the pan to cool it down then cast a scrougify to fully clean it off. He contemplated whatever he had in the oven before casting a scrougify on that too, making whatever it was clean itself out of my poor oven.

"You never were a good cook," I muttered, pulling out my own wand and giving it a few waves. Food flew out of different places and started to cook itself, "Out of here, go."

He almost protested but, at the look on my face or maybe even the lack of a look on my face, he left and I could hear him heading into the living room. As I watched over the food, I listened as he piled wood into my fire place and lit it.

I finished up cooking the food, well, overseeing the food and picked up the final product. The two plates were stacked with waffles, non-burnt bacon, and eggs. I took them out to the living room and paused in the doorway, watching Regulus as his eyes were glued to the fire with the red flames reflected in his eyes.

I cleared my throat and he turned around, offering a faint smile I couldn't return. I held out one of the plates to him and he stood up to take it from me gratefully. He returned to the rug in front of my fire and started to eat his food, watching me instead of the flames this time.

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Yes, Regulus?"

"Nothing," he replied, cutting a bite off one of his waffles and raising the fork without actually eating the food.

I watched as his fork hovered in the air and, without lifting my eyes to meet his gaze, I asked softly, "Are you going to need anything while being here?"

"Clothes," he responded immediately, finally eating the bite of food.

"What's wrong with your - " I started but cut myself off, "Of course."

He smiled again, "Thank you, Knight."

"No problem, Black," I whispered, moving to side cross-legged on my couch and clearing my throat again, "I'll go out after breakfast?"

He looked up from his plate, "I'll go too."

I shook my head immediately, ignoring the way his hopeful look faded. If I paid attention to that, I would crumble so I instead turned my attention to my fireplace, "It's too dangerous, Regulus, if I'm hiding you then you need to stay hidden."

"Knight," he called softly, "You can change my appearance. Aren't you good at appearance charms?"

I nodded without meaning to, "I am, but people can break those. Plus, leaving this building will let... them track you. I put wards around the whole building that doesn't let them sense your magical presence, only mine." I poked at my egg with my fork, causing the yolk to break and run over the rest of my food.

"I need to see what's going on, though," he protested, "I need to know if they think I'm dead or not."

"Regulus..." I started as my eyes unwillingly met his gaze. What should I say to him? I saw his raw emotions in his grey eyes. He was scared, not that he would admit it, and... sad. I forced my gaze away again and took a deep breath before whispering, "Fine..."

"Thank you," he replied, matching my tone, and finished eating his food. He stood up and held out a hand for my plate that I'd left mostly untouched. The gesture felt like a punch in the stomach because he'd quickly learned during our relationship, as both friends and... lovers, that, when I didn't finish my food, I'd want to eat it later.

I handed over my plate and he took it into the kitchen, where I could hear him washing his dish and murmuring a charm over mine to keep it from going bad. I leaned back against my couch cushions with a heavy sigh. I felt as though I'd been sighing way too many times in the past year.

The war was raging outside my home and I couldn't ignore it. It came up in the Daily Prophet headlines, bolded and so eye-catching that, even if you didn't read it, you could still figure out what was going on from a small glance.

Since the beginning of my seventh year, I hadn't actually read any of the newspapers since I couldn't stand to see what it said. Who else had died? Who had been kidnapped? What places were being attacked? I had collected a large pile of newspapers in the bottom of my trunk and had taken them out when the year had ended and had placed them under my bed, where they'd started to collect dust.

Maybe it was time to see what was going on because the reappearance of Regulus had me opening my eyes in a way I hadn't wanted to since they had started to rise. I let myself sigh another time before pulling myself off the couch.

I left my living room and checked the kitchen to see Regulus leaning against the counter, his eyes closed and his hands tangled in his hair in a way that suggested he was having trouble with his emotions as well. I left the doorway to let him collect himself and went down to my bedroom.

I kneeled on my rug next to my bed and winced at all the dust under my bed. There were some major dust bunnies and the thought of that brought back a memory, one I'd long forgotten.

I was sitting on my rug with my back against my sofa as Regulus piled wood into the fireplace and lit it with a spell. The spell caused the wood to quickly light and, moments later, flames were dancing in the brick.

He shuffled backwards so he was pressed against my side and he looped his arm over my shoulder as we both watched the fire. I shifted my weight so I was leaning against him and I smiled softly when he pressed a kiss to my temple.

"Come on, Black, we should start cleaning," I insisted, pulling away from him while ignoring his annoyed huff.

He let me go so I could find my wand, which I'd placed down somewhere. I found it and picked it up, pointing for Regulus to do the same and start dusting. He nodded and took out his own wand before turning so he could check under the sofa.

I flicked my wand and summoned a broom and added an additional charm so it would sweep and pick up by itself. I turned back to see if Regulus had started the dusting spell but I stopped when I saw small piles of dust... hopping around? I was about to berate him for it but I realized they were little bunnies.

He'd charmed the dust into actual dust bunnies.

I grinned and watched the dust creatures bounce around my floor. Regulus looked back at me and I saw his own smile grow at the sight of mine. I settled next to him again and reached out for one of the bunnies.

I knew what would happen but, when my fingers lightly brushed against the creature's ear, I gasped when it disintegrated. I was slightly sad but my expression turned back into wonder when the dust regathered itself and the bunny went back to hopping around as if nothing had happened.

I rested my head on Regulus' shoulder, "Where'd you learn this spell?"

"When I was younger and bored," he responded, resting a hand on my lower back.

"It's a great spell, you should teach it to me."

"How would I keep you amazed if I give up my secrets?" he chuckled and I turned to look at him, hoping my expression would make him cave but he turned away, "That's not going to work, Knight."

I huffed and pressed my cheek against his shoulder, "Aw, come on, Black!"

He shook his head, "No chance." then he released me and stood, ending the rabbit spell on the dust and instead made it fly over to the trash bin.

"All right, fine, go find the mop," I oversaw that the broom actually did put the dirt it'd picked up into the trash while shooing Regulus out of the room.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he dipped into a dramatic bow that had me rolling my eyes as he left the room.

How had we been so... carefree?

I groaned and pushed the intruding thoughts out of my head as I reached for one of the stacks of newspapers. I pulled it out and set it next to me before reaching for the others. I dragged out four stacks and blew across the top of one, coughing from the dust.

I took out my wand and spelled the dust away before placing each stack on top of each other then charmed it to follow after me as I headed down the hall. Regulus was still in the kitchen when I came out but he wasn't leaning against the counter, he was drinking tea.

"Where'd you find the tea?" I asked him, guiding the newspapers to the table.

"In the same cupboard as last time."

"Oh."

He pushed away from the counter and came up to look over my shoulder, peering down at the newspapers. I flipped the stack over and started from the oldest news. I skimmed through most and read some before handing them off to Regulus, so he could do his own inspection of them.

I lifted the next newspaper and couldn't get past the title. It was horrible so I set it back, face-down, onto the table without letting Regulus see it. I started to fuss with the stacks, making sure it was obvious which ones had been read and which ones hadn't, before a hand rested onto my shoulder.

"Come on, Knight, I still need the appearance charms," he reminded me softly, his breath brushing against my hair.

I cleared my throat and pulled away, pretending to look out my window before turning to look at him, "Of course, any preferences?"

"I've always thought that blond hair might be cool."

"On it," I took out my wand and got to work, changing everything that made him recognizable.

When I was finished, I transfigured a mirror for him to check his new appearance. He turned his head to inspect each angle and even said a few things that he said often. Once his inspection was complete and the changes were deemed good, he set the mirror aside and turned to me, "Ready?"

"Of course," I started towards the door and brushed my fingertips over his shoulder as I passed, something I hadn't been meaning to do. I heard him suck in a breath but I didn't stick around to see his full reaction.

I left the kitchen and reached for my coat rack, taking off a winter coat and a scarf for myself while Regulus went to his own room to see if he could find one of his old coats. I was surprised when he emerged with one because he usually took seasonal things out of his room but I guess he'd left it for emergencies or something.

I pulled my coat on and wrapped my scarf around my neck as I watched him do the same. He raised his eyebrows at me and I shook my head as I offered my hand to him, "We're apparating straight from here to the Leaky Cauldron."

He nodded and slipped his hand into my own with ease as if nothing had changed. I shoved the thoughts away and, instead, thought hard of the Leaky Cauldron. The building easily came to mind and I could picture lots of things about it so I turned quickly, pulling Regulus with me as I disapparated away.

We came to a halt just outside the Leaky Cauldron and we were quick to hurry inside. Muggles had been wandering about outside and we both knew it would be disastrous in multiple ways if they noticed us.

I pulled my hand away from Regulus as we stepped inside the building. Only a few witches and wizards were seated at the tables and they all glanced up with fearful eyes when the door opened, only to look down again as if they were scared to be caught watching. And they probably were, since times were getting harder and more dangerous by the day.

I weaved my way through the tables and went out back. The brick wall that greeted me sent a small whisper of familiarity through me as I took out my wand and counted the bricks. I tapped the right one and kept my wand in hand as Regulus and I stepped into Diagon Alley.

There was almost no one on the street and the few that were out were hurrying to get into the next shop, heads ducked and hands tucked into pockets and purses in anticipation of being attacked.

I breathed out and glanced at Regulus, not knowing which shop he'd want to go to. The muggle shops would have better selections for what he was looking for but going there was dangerous, since apparation into muggle-inhabited areas were being highly watched.

Regulus seemed to make up his mind and started off down the road, letting me catch up with him if I wished. I hesitated but let my legs carry me forward until I was falling into step with him. His eyes scanned the windows of the shops we passed with such alertness that it had me doing it as well.

The windows that were once plastered with bright advertisements were covered with wanted signs, warnings, messages melted into the glass, and, worst of all, death counts. Most of the death counts were plastered up by Death Eaters boasting about their kills but a few of them were put up by those who were brave enough to have their voices heard.

There was a stark difference between the two of them, the Death Eater's had a larger number. The point of posting death counts while not being one of them was to show just how much they were doing that wasn't reaching the general public. See that poster? It says there's been a hundred less deaths that their count. Who were those one hundred people? What were they doing when the rest of us turned our backs? That was the point of posting death counts yourself.

I shuddered and pulled my coat tighter around me as someone appeared behind one of the shops that was once one of the most lively. The person met my gaze for a moment but looked away as they pressed a new paper onto their window.

It was a call to the purebloods.

I turned my attention to Regulus to see how he was reacting to it all and I was greeted with a clenched jaw, steely eyes, and faked calm. I reached out, paused, then went through with the action.

He started as I rested my hand on his arm but his expression softened quickly, looking down at me as if he'd just remembered who had brought him to the alley. I held his gaze for as long as I could until my aching heart made me look away and retract my hand.

He accepted my retreat and gestured to a shop he was wanting to go into. I nodded and followed him inside, drifting away from him as he set off to find whatever it was he was looking for. I knew doing that probably wasn't the best idea since the shop was a great place for a Death Eater to come in and attack us or something but I couldn't stand to be in his presence any longer.

I wandered around the shop until I realized I'd headed into the same section Regulus was browsing in. I was going to hurry away but he noticed me too quickly and beckoned me over to something he was looking at.

I took slow steps towards him, knowing that he definitely noticed my stalling, but I decided being embarrassed was better than being at war with my own emotions longer that I had to be.

I stopped by his side and my gaze caught on the racks he was studying. They were full of jackets in rich red and gold, silver and green, black and yellow, and blue and bronze. It brought me back to when I was younger, ten, I think, and I had been shopping with my mother, my father, and one of my cousins.

We'd been looking for a new coat for my father when I spotted jackets like the ones Regulus had found. I'd dragged my family over and noticed the boy trying on the Gryffindor-themed ones. I reached out to finger one of the red and gold jackets as the memory became more prominent.

I bounced over to the rack, ignoring the protests of my older cousin, as I looked excitedly over the clothing. I still wasn't in Hogwarts but I knew that I'd be Slytherin, it was something that ran in my entire family and I was exactly like them all so why wouldn't I be a snake like them?

I looked over to the section of the rack where the Gryffindor jackets were hung. I noticed the older boy trying one on immediately and couldn't help but feel excited. Someone who was a Hogwarts student!

My curiosity took over as I approached them. My cousin had been one of the few of my family to chose Durmstrang over Hogwarts and I didn't really speak to any of my other family members so I was excited to have someone to talk to about the castle.

I tapped them on the shoulder, not at all caring about how I was randomly approaching a stranger, and asked them brightly, "Are you a Gryffindor?"

He started and turned to look at me before nodding, "I am."

"Cool! Year?"

"Third," he shrugged out of the jacket and returned it to the rack, looking at someone who was hurrying through the bustling street towards us.

"Sirius! Sirius!" the boy called, coming to a halt in front of us.

"Yeah?"

"Mother wants us."

The older of the two, Sirius, cursed under his breath, "Okay, Regulus, tell her I'll be there soon."

Regulus nodded and took off again, disappearing into the crowd as I turned to Sirius. He shrugged and waved before following after his brother.

I snapped out of it by my own accord and realized that Regulus was watching me with a peculiar look. I shook my head and nodded at the Slytherin jackets, "You could get one, but I'm pretty sure this is not actually what you're wanting."

"You're right, I just thought - " he stopped and, instead, shrugged before moving on.

I watched his back disappear among the other racks and displays of clothing. I pivoted and headed off to another part of the store to see if I could find some kind of sweater for my mother, who had been insisting the house was getting colder in general despite the season.

Regulus would be shopping for a long while.

...

When we returned back to my flat, arms laden with bags, I realized that Regulus was holding himself in a less-tense way. He hung his coat onto my coat rack then took all the bags into his room before returning.

"Thank you," he offered me a small smile.

"No problem," I answered truthfully and started to head into the living room but paused when I heard him give a soft call of my name, "Yes, Regulus?"

"Do you want me to cook something? I know how to cook dinner foods better than breakfast, don't worry."

I watched him as I hesitated. Was he actually offering or was he just doing it to feel better about having me buy him things? I bit my lip, making sure I didn't speak before I decided on a good response, then shook my head, "No, it's fine, I can make dinner."

He nodded and disappeared back down the hall, heading into his bedroom. I waited for a few moments then went into the kitchen to figure out what I could make. What would Regulus enjoy? He'd never really told me his preferences so I had to watch his reactions to each dish.

I decided to make some type of pasta and started to dig around for ingredients to see which kind I could make. I decided which kind and set water in a pot on the stove before casting a spell to make it boil, adding additional spells so the food would make itself because, honestly, I was lazy.

I left the room, knowing the spells were stable enough to work themselves, and I ended up standing outside Regulus' door. I hadn't exactly meant to check on him but I found myself pushing open the already slightly ajar door.

He looked up from his... cleaning? I held his gaze in confusion and he seemed to catch my feelings because he gestured around at the mess that was still untouched.

"I thought it was time to get rid of the old stuff."

I nodded slowly, "Yeah, of course... uhm, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes or so."

He nodded and I hovered for a bit longer then left, closing the door behind me. I stood outside for a few moments before returning to the kitchen to finish looking through the newspapers. I could hand them off to Regulus later.

Each article filled me with more dread. Would I survive the war? Only some of the articles spoke of normal things but, when I read them, they seemed to act like a false hope for the wizarding community.

Finally, finally, I finished reading them and I stacked them up again to bring them to Regulus, who would definitely want to read them too. I cast a spell that made them wait outside his door until he came out while I started to dish up dinner.

He entered the kitchen and pulled out a seat at the table, gesturing for me to slide into it. Before I could protest about needing to finish preparing the meal, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the seat. I scowled but he just offered a small smile in return and went over to finish dishing the food onto the plates.

He brought them to the table and sat across from me, waiting for me to do something. I was waiting for him to do something, though, so we both sat there in silence for a few minutes until I slowly reached for my fork.

He followed suit, "Is this made by you or magic?"

"Magic, sadly," I replied, taking a bite.

"Lazy," he commented with a small smile.

I barked a laugh, "Exactly, nothing's changed."

The moment the words slipped from my mouth I regretted them. So much had changed. He tensed and I tightened the grip on my fork. What was I supposed to say to cover up my mistake? Maybe if I just ignored it he would too?

"Nothing's changed," he repeated quietly, as if he was reassuring himself.

I ducked my head and focused on my food, trying to ignore the awkward silence that had fallen around us as the meal continued.

When it was over, I picked up our plates and stuck them into the sink, casting a spell to make them wash themselves, then I glanced over to Regulus, who had been sitting and watching me quietly.

"Need something?"

"No, not really... I think I'm going to retire early," he got up, "Night, Knight."

"Goodnight," I responded, watching him leave, before deciding I would sleep early as well. Salazar, shopping with Regulus was tiring.

I finished the dishes then headed into my room to change and get ready. I stood in front of my mirror and brushed my teeth without really paying attention. When I snapped out of my thoughts, I realized that toothpaste had gotten on my chin. I huffed and wiped it off, spitting out the toothpaste.

I returned to my bedroom and flopped onto the bed, falling asleep quite quickly.

I was in a dark... space. There were floors, since I was obviously standing on something, but there didn't see to be walls or a ceiling. When I lifted my hands I couldn't see them and I dropped them back to my sides, turning on the spot.

I stopped spinning and took a step forward, sighing in relief when I didn't fall through something. I knew I had to get somewhere and find something but what was the something? I asked myself as I continued forward.

I heard something behind me and I turned, hoping it was maybe the thing I was looking for but of course I couldn't see anything so I back tracked towards whatever the thing was. It moved away from me and I quickened my pace to keep up with it until I was in a flat out run.

I chased after the thing as a voice started to echo around the space. It was cold and mocking and, at first, I couldn't figure out what it was saying. I glanced over my shoulder, despite not being able to see anything, and felt shivers down my spine.

I returned my gaze forward just in time to see a pale face, one that I knew would haunt me for a long time, looming out of the thick darkness. The voice got louder and clearer so I could make out the words.

It was hissing about deaths, victories, who's next, the time I would agree to their requests.

I fell to my knees as the face rushed forward and a sharp scream pierced the air while -

My eyes snapped open and the screaming stopped but the face was still in front of me, still glowing out amid the darkness. I could feel it's haunting whispers brushing against my ears as it started to laugh, a mad sound.

I tried to look away but my eyes couldn't shift to something else and my chest felt pressed on as I heard a distant crashing. What was going on? I knew I needed to get away from the thing, to move and run.

I commanded my arms to push me up but they didn't, instead locked in place. I felt another wave of panic wash over me as another crash rang through the space, causing the darkness to be chased away by something.

Something was happening, something I had to get away from.

I wanted to scream when the surface I was on dipped and something was moving me. My first thought was to attack them but I couldn't, I still couldn't force my limbs to move. I struggled to take in a breath and, when I was able to bring in the air, I released it quickly and sucked in another.

I found myself able to move my eyes again and I locked gazes with the something, no, person, holding me. The panic started to disappear as the grey eyes met mine with such worry that I was pulled away from the feelings of the dream... the sleep paralysis.

He shifted so he was settled more comfortably on my mattress and continued to watch me for any signs of leftover terror, "Knight?"

I didn't respond for a few moments then nodded, slightly, and the action had him easing, "I'm fine."

"Didn't you... sort this out in sixth year?" he asked softly, not releasing his hold on me.

"I did," I admitted, pressing myself against him more, ignoring his sharp intake of breath. I needed the comfort, "But the recent stress and disruption to my schedule brought it back."

He nodded and pressed his cheek against my head, reminding me of the times we'd done this before, "Are you feeling better?"

Though I didn't want to say the words and cause him to leave, I nodded and pulled away from him, "I'm good, just... shaken."

"All right," he got up and switched on the lamp then started to search around my bookshelves.

I watched him with interest, "What're you doing?"

"Trying to find that book of yours," he pulled a book off a shelf moments later with a triumphant look, "Did you repair the cover?"

I nodded as he handed the book off to me, knowing that reading it would help me relax. I watched him as he turned and started to leave, pausing at the doorway with his back to me for a few seconds before pivoting to look at me again.

"Do you want me to make some tea?" he asked, probably already knowing my answer but I nodded anyway and he smiled softly, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

I settled back against my headboard and adjusted the blankets and pillows to form a kind of nest around me. I opened up my book, careful with the worn cover, and started to read the prologue of it.

I'd gotten through the prologue and a couple pages of the first chapter by the time Regulus returned, holding two mugs of steaming tea. I set down my book and watched his approach.

"Here," he handed one of the mugs to me and continued to hover at the side of my bed.

I made an impatient noise, not knowing exactly why I was annoyed, and gestured for him to sit down, "No need to stand there awkwardly."

He nodded, as if in agreement, and eased himself onto the bed, barely perching on the edge. I watched him, unimpressed, but he turned his back towards me as if he were inspecting my walls.

I cleared my throat and he briefly glanced back at me but, when I remained silent, he frowned and continued his inspection of my room in a way that seemed to suggest he'd expected more changes in the last six months.

I hummed thoughtfully then reached out to brush my fingertips across Regulus' shoulder, "Have your wounds healed?"

He jumped at the touch but relaxed moments later, "Mostly."

"Do you need a potion? I should've thought of that while we were out..." I trailed off and dropped my hand, noticing the way he was watching me, "Sorry..."

He blinked, "No, no," he sighed and turned around to look at me, "It's not that it's just... never mind."

"What?" I probed, knowing that, when I asked twice, he would either cave or refuse again.

He held my gaze but didn't respond, instead rebuilding his walls of defensiveness as he broke eye contact and finished off his tea quickly, probably earning himself a scalded tongue.

"Are you - " I cut myself off, remembering that prompting more would cause him to stand up and walk off or snap at me. He always apologized heavily afterwards but I still didn't like causing him to be annoyed.

He sighed again and stood up to leave properly this time, closing the door behind him and ignoring my eyes as I watched his retreating back.

I missed the care-free days.

...

The next morning I slept in because I'd ended up staying up into the early hours of the morning rereading the whole book that was now carefully tucked into one of my nightstand's drawers, since I'd decided that the bookshelf would just cause it to collect heaps of dust.

I went through my normal morning routine slower than usual and finally dragged myself out of my room, not ready at all to face the world that was going to come pounding at my door no matter what I did.

I shuffled into the kitchen, worried that Regulus had burnt something again, but didn't find him in the room. I flipped on the light and looked around for any sign of him. Maybe he was just sleeping in? I told myself but I knew it wasn't that, he didn't sleep in much, especially in a time like this.

I crossed the hall into the living room, pulling out my wand and keeping it behind my back. Still no sign of him and the fire had burnt itself out behind the grate. If he woke up, even to go to the bathroom, he'd always check the fire and put more wood into it if needed.

I was starting to worry and that worry curled itself around my heart, squeezing it.

I took a deep breath and decided to head into his bedroom because surely he was just in there, sleeping, right?

I set off down the hall with quiet steps and paused outside of his door. Was I supposed to just barge in? Maybe barge in quietly? But if he was just sleeping then that would be awkward...

I chastised myself and reached for the doorknob, finding it locked. Regulus never locked his door, I remembered, as my hand fell away and my wand hand rose instead.

I cast a spell to check for wards and other spells and the answer wasn't shocking but it still sent dread crawling down my spine. I started to unravel the spells, in quiet murmurs, wondering what I would do when the door sprung open.

That was the problem with some wards, when they were gone, the pressure of the release could make the door pop open. I steeled myself and removed the last spell, ducking to the side as the door slammed open in a way louder act than I thought it would.

I heard no shouted spells, no insane laughter, nothing. I turned and peeked through the doorway, ready to shield myself against any spells thrown my way but nothing happened so I decided to push my luck a tiny bit and whispered, "Regulus?"

My heart started to thump in my chest as I pushed the door open more using my foot. The room was lighter than I expected it to be, with the curtains heaped on the floor. The cleaning Regulus had been doing was ruined and things were scattered around the room and his shelves had been ripped off the walls.

Broken glass from his picture frames littered the ground and I saw some of it crushed in places, as if someone had stepped on them during... during a fight. I took a rattly breath in then stepped forward, suddenly and horribly remembering that there had been a silencing spell on the room.

Someone knew I was in the flat when they attacked Regulus.

I risked a glance across the floor then my eyes moved upwards, onto the bed. I almost shrieked at the sight and I took a stumbling step backwards, dropping my wand without meaning to.

Regulus was face-down on top of his mattress and the sheets and blankets were stained red from his wounds, both new and old. Some of old ones and opened up again and the sight sickened me.

"Regulus!" I tried again, louder, but nothing happened and I didn't want to face the fact that he could possibly be dead. I cursed under my breath and decided to act normally until I could confirm it, no need to worry myself early, right? "Regulus, I swear if you're dead..."

I trailed off, not able to finish the sentence, as I picked up my wand again and gingerly crossed the floor towards him. I avoided the glass and other items and eventually made it to his side.

I murmured a spell and his blood turned a glowy color. Not literally, the spell caused vapor to form around it and shine brightly so wounds could be more easily treated.

I groaned, realizing how much work would have to go into healing Regulus, and for a split second I wondered if I should take him to Saint Mungo's but I brushed that thought away. Bringing him there would be a risk, I needed to get out of my apartment and somewhere else, quickly, before they came back.

I contemplated bringing anything but coming back for essentials would probably work better. I would bring money and be able to buy what I needed on the spot, right? That was a solid plan?

I steeled myself and cast another spell then another, and another, weaving him in wards and charms that would keep him safe in many different ways. My words started to blur together and I slowed down, making sure each spell was cast correctly.

When I was done, Regulus was undetectable magic-wise, unrecognizable, stable, and tiny things that probably wouldn't do anything but was definitely still needed. Who knew, maybe if they caught us they'd tried to drown him or something!

I let out a breath and checked to make sure the wards around him were safe before leaving him to collect my coins from my bedroom. I also grabbed potions that could come in handy, an enchanted knife from one of my dad's friends, and a book on survival. I could come back for more later.

I stuffed the items into a bag and returned to Regulus' room, picking through all the stuff on the floor and the few remaining things in the drawers in case he had something that would come in handy. I found a small stash of coins and packed that too.

Then, I had to wake up Regulus for the journey.

"Regulus? Regulus!" I prompted, hoping he'd wake up from the urgency of my voice. I knew it wasn't likely but the other option didn't sound very appealing but I ended up having to so, with a resigned sigh, I pulled out a small potion from my bag and unscrewed the cap, holding it away from myself. I held it out under Regulus' nose and murmured, "Salazar, I'm sorry."

Not even a second after the words had left my mouth, Regulus's eyes snapped open and he jerked away violently, coughing and tensing in pain. I closed up the potion and tucked it back into my bag, watching his reaction with sorry eyes.

"Salazar, Knight," Regulus hissed through his coughs and pain, "Why do you still have that?"

"Sorry," I said, not really sorry but also painfully sorry at the same time, "I knew it would come in handy."

"I would've preferred a bucket of water," he groaned, clutching his side where a nasty cut had been slashed across his flesh. He gritted his teeth and pulled himself into a sitting position with a hiss.

"We're leaving."

"I figured."

He got off the bed and swayed for a moment, steadying himself on the bed post. I watched him with worry as he took deep breaths in a way that suggested he was feeling light-headed. He waved off my concern and started to search the floor with his eyes, not moving from his spot.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out what he was looking for, offering it to him, "Here, it rolled under your dresser."

He took it and spun it between his fingers, something he sometimes did when he was thinking, "What stuff are you bringing?"

"Potions, a knife, a book on survival, and coins."

"Did you find my coins in the closet corner?" he asked, pushing away from his bed.

"Yes, come here," I held out my hand and he grasped it firmly without hesitation, "We're going into Diagon Alley first, I need to access my vault. And don't give me that worried look, they probably don't know what I look like since I've changed my hairstyle and color since school, when I was last seen by lots of other people."

Regulus nodded and let me apparate us away into Diagon Alley, this time right into the Leaky Cauldron instead of outside.

I glanced around and started to lead Regulus carefully through the tables, keeping a sharp eye out for any signs of Death Eaters. It wouldn't surprise me if half of the current wizards and witches in the building were one of them so I had to keep my watching to a minimum so I wouldn't cause suspicion.

I headed into the back and quickly tapped the right brick then squeezed through the opening before it had even finished, Regulus following my lead. I emerged on the other side and warily paused for a moment, anticipating an attack.

I stood there for a bit too long because Regulus ended up taking the lead, dragging me along gently and I noticed that he had a heavy limp from the attack. I really needed to work on healing him but I wasn't skilled enough to do that.

"Come on, Kn - " he cut himself off before he spoke my name, shaking his head at his mistake, "Come on, we need to hurry."

"Of course," I breathed out, letting him lead me down the street while I kept a lookout. The signs on the windows looked the same except for the death counts, which were growing rapidly.

Regulus pulled me slightly off center and, as if knowing that my thoughts had turned questioning, he explained, "Walking in the middle seems too proud, walking on the side seems too suspicious, and walking slightly off center can either look like you're purposefully avoiding either or you're just not either. Hopefully if someone's watching they think it's the second one."

I nodded at his words, "Smart."

He didn't respond and continued down the road. I kept pace with him and made sure to watch for any signs of an attack. It would not surprise me if they waited for the last moment, before we entered Gringotts.

I was tempted to quicken my steps but I knew it was a bad idea but Regulus seemed to think the risk was worth it as he started to hurry a bit, making sure I was matching his steps as he went.

A Gringotts goblin stopped us at the door and made a harsh inspection to make sure we weren't fakes or something then waved us through, closing the door quickly behind us as we entered the bank that was surprisingly empty. But also, at the same time, maybe it wasn't that surprising.

I left Regulus somewhat behind so I could approach one of the desks that had a goblin inspecting coins. I cleared my throat, "I would like to access my vault."

"Name?" he asked without looking up from a large golden coin. I gave it and he set the coin aside, muttering about fakes, then looked at me, "Do you have your key, Miss Knight?"

"I do," I pulled out said key from my pocket and held it up for the goblin to see.

He nodded, "Wait here for a moment."

I tucked the key away again as he slid out of his chair and walked off. I stood there and fidgeted as I waited, noting that Regulus was standing a bit away as if he didn't know me. When the goblin returned, though, he came up behind me and followed as we were led to the large set of doors that was the entrance to the caves beneath the bank.

One sickening cart ride later, we were deep beneath the surface and in front of a large vault door. I handed over my key to the goblin and he accepted it, inserting it into the keyhole and twisting it.

The door opened and the goblin stepped aside to let me enter my vault. I slipped past him and took out the bag I'd brought with me. I shoveled galleons, sickles, and knuts into the bag until it was full then closed it up with a spell before tucking it away into my main bag.

We returned to the main bank and I gratefully accepted Regulus' hand when he offered to help me out of the bloody cart. I climbed out and stood there for a moment, hoping my stomach would settle down before we had to leave the bank.

Regulus waved goodbye to the goblin before leading me cautiously out of the bank. A light rain had started to fall and I pulled out my wand to cast a water-repelling charm when something caught my eye. The somethings looked like ink drops swirling through the sky and it had me pausing.

My brain clicked when the black shapes dropped down to earth and took on more solid shapes. They were black-cloaked figures with horrid masks covering their faces as they raised their wands as one and aimed at Regulus and I.

A scream tore up from my throat as spells were launched at Regulus, as if the Death Eaters completely thought of me as irrelevant. I lifted my wand and considered the spells I could do as Regulus grunted from the force of the spells that hit him.

At the corner of my eye, I saw him take out his wand while I decided on a spell. It was a simple spell but it caused great damage and, if done randomly, it could also cause a distraction. So, I forced my hand through the right motion as I hissed the spell.

An explosion erupted from the ground around the Death Eaters and, in the space of a few seconds, I rushed over to Regulus and grasped his arm, ignoring his hiss of pain, and apparated us away to a place that I hadn't even thought I remembered enough to apparate to.

I gasped and fell to my knees, releasing Regulus, as the dizziness that apparating caused mixed with the remaining sickness from the cart ride. I got up as soon as I could and picked up my wand from where I had dropped it.

I made sure Regulus hadn't splinched, wincing at the sight of him, then started to walk in a slow circle. I set up as many wards that I could think of. From the most obvious to the ones that had the tiniest chance of actually being needed. While I murmured the spells, Regulus lay flat on his back and watched my progress.

I finished with the wards and wanted to collapse from exhaustion but I didn't, I couldn't. Letting myself rest at that moment would make Regulus and I prone to attacks. The wards could slow the Death Eaters if they showed up but that wouldn't guarantee our safety. I needed to start healing Regulus so he would actually have a chance in a fight but my potions were no where near what he was needing. If he wasn't a Death Eater who'd deserted, I could've brought him to Saint Mungo's but that wasn't safe so I would have to do what I could with my limited healing knowledge. Oh, Salazar, I was probably going to end up killing him from my inexperience.

I pushed aside my worrying thoughts and pulled my bag off my shoulders as I kneeled next to Regulus to see what damage he'd gone through. All of his previous wounds had opened up again and new wounds were forming from the attack. And then there was also the spell damage that could cause his body to do odd things in its state of panic.

The stress started to catch up to me as I realized just how much danger we were in. The bloody Death Eaters were after us and there was no way this secluded mountain side would keep us hidden from them. The world was going to literally fall around us and they were going to show up and drag us off to torture and eventually -

I fell silent when Regulus met my eyes and told me firmly but hoarsely, "Shut up, Knight and start healing me with those disgusting potions of yours."

I almost retorted that potions were made of odd ingredients but I stopped myself, again, and started to rummage through my bag in hopes I had some sort of healing potions in there. I mostly made potions that were acidic, poisonous, etc. to help me defend myself but I just had to have something that could heal, right? Obviously I wouldn't be dumb enough to have nothing that could help a literal dying person -

I groaned in frustration when I came up empty-handed in my search. I was a complete idiot, no wonder I wasn't a Ravenclaw. I started to pack up my potions when an idea popped into my head. Another dangerous idea but at least it would help Regulus. I shouldered my bag and lay a hand on Regulus' shoulder, keeping away from his wounds, and pictured the place that I was hoping could help the both of us.

As we reappeared on a cobblestone street I hoped that the person I was looking for was actually still living in the home in front of us because, if they didn't, then we would be in serious trouble in more ways than one.

I considered Regulus then cast two charms on him, one to make him invisible and the other to lift him carefully off the ground so I could get him to the doorstep because I was not strong enough to carry him over and dragging him didn't seem very nice.

I knocked on the door and waited with my breath held, pleading that Payne, well Potter now, was still living there. When the door opened a crack I breathed out a sigh of relief at the sight of Potter, James Potter, "Potter! Is Payne here?"

He met my eyes uncertainly and asked, "Who're you?"

"Salazar, Potter, I'm one of your wife's old roommates. Please, is she here?" I tried to convey my need of seeing Payne through my eyes.

"She's here just not... well, come in," he stepped aside and gestured for me to slip inside.

I went in and immediately and stopped the spell to make Regulus float after me and instead sending him into the kitchen. I glanced over at James before heading towards the living room, where I knew Payne loved to spend most of her time, "Oh, Regulus is injured, by the way"

I entered the living room without hearing James' reaction to my statement and found Payne sitting in an armchair with her legs folded beneath her. She looked up and, for a moment, her expression was confused but that quickly faded and it was replaced with a look of joy, "Knight!"

"Payne! Or should I say Potter?" I teased, wrapping my arms around my friend in a hug.

"I would prefer Payne."

"Okay, well, I have a favor to ask of you," I said hesitantly, not knowing how she would react.

"What favor?"

"Do you have healing potions to help one of my... friends?"

"Of course I have healing potions," she stood up and gestured for me to follow her into the kitchen, "Come on."

I followed her and found her studying Regulus as if finding him randomly in her kitchen wasn't surprising, "So, can you help him?"

"I think so," she responded, a slightly worried look on her face.

"You think so?"

"Well, uhm, I - " she shuffled nervously on her feet before turning away from me, "I... lost my memory."

"What?" I gasped, "When? How?"

James walked into the room and shot a glare at me as if I'd caused his wife's accident, "It was a work accident."

"Oh, what do you remember, then?" I asked Payne with a worried tone.

"I remember the ending of our sixth year, and some potions knowledge so I should be able to help Black over there. Black is his name, right?" she turned to James for confirmation before looking back at me, "I'll start brewing a potion, why don't you go rest in the guest bedroom?"

I wanted to refuse but the two of them walked out before I could insist on helping them. I turned back to Regulus and sighed, "I'm sorry about this, Regulus."

I had thought he was knocked out but he turned his head to look at me, "It's fine, Knight, go rest."

As if that was the only prompting I needed, I turned to leave but stopped when a hand caught my wrist. I didn't look back at him and, instead, asked, "Yes?"

"Look at me," he asked and I did, dropping my eyes to watch him but I winced because, Salazar, he looked bad, "Do you want to know something?"

"What?" I asked softly.

"I missed you," he answered then his eyes closed.

I sighed, realizing the pain had finally caught up to him and caused his body to shut down. I squeezed his hand and leaned down to brush a soft kiss to his forehead, "I missed you too. We'll talk when you're healed."

I released his hand and turned to actually leave, hoping the conversation we would have would help rid the tension that had chased us since he'd appeared at my house only... only a few days previous. I sighed and headed down the hall, into the guest bedroom. I had to figure out how else to keep Regulus hidden away without risking any of my other friends' lives.

Hiding in the shadows took a lot of energy.

...

YES. First really long oneshot (this is a bit over a thousand words longer than my previous really long oneshot, Pranking Partners... not me just realizing Pranking Partners isn't a good name for that particular oneshot-)! Anyways, I'm so happy with this one! It's probably full of mistakes since it's harder to proofread a long text but hopefully it's okay enough. This one has an open ending but I kind of like it. I can't wait to begin working on the next oneshot because it's another one I've been looking forward to! Hope y'all are having a good day or night!

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[Word Count: 10486]

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