#also alicent floating in the lake like that spoke to me on a personal level

[nebulousfishgills]

Oh the bliss of realizing we didn't have to put up with Criston Cole this week. Unmatched, crops watered, skin cleared.

[halothenthehorns]

All in the Family

Chapter 176: The Muggleborn Registration Division

Alice cringed in disgust with every hand and foothold she had to use to climb down from this blight on existence of a statue, fighting back the urge to be sick as she got down off the head of the male odalisque but it was still a long ways down and she just could not bring herself to go any further and face each and every muggle and muggle-born imposed face. Squaring her shoulders, she tapped a feather charm on herself and leaped free, floating gently the rest of the way to the ground.

She found Frank at the bottom smiling at her. "You looked like a fairy." His girlfriend giggled and reached for his hand.

They hung on each other in comfortable silence as they went towards the elevators in hopes to get around. The doors opened, but they hesitated inside on where to go. The others could potentially be anywhere, and neither of them were sure they wanted to get involved with the Marauders right now.

"Going to get involved in Remus and Sirius' spat?" Frank asked indulgently as her hand hovered over level 2, the Auror office.

"Not sure," she was pretty confident they wouldn't be there. "I wanted to, but James kept it from escalating and I'm not even sure what they're fighting about." Her hand fell back to her side, she spoke distantly now as her mind clearly wasn't on this place. “I hope James will come and talk to me if it gets too bad again, but I’m not sure if I should get in the middle, you know? They’re not, making it worse, handling themselves?” She worried she’d start coming across as forceful if she offered to step in every single time, even if she did consider herself friends with at least James now.

Frank's worry for Lily grew as he heard the locket wasn't even in Umbridge's office, and the interrogations going on with the Muggleborns. They didn't usually get dropped in a place they'd already been in, but they'd also visited the atrium once so clearly the rules of locations were starting to change. He tapped nine to get to the old courtrooms.

"I'm worried about Neville," Alice quietly admitted under the guise of the noisy lift trundling along now. "At school with Snape, those mandatory laws. It's worse than him being home all year with your mum," she finished in as light a teasing voice as she could even if she wasn't kidding.

He squeezed her hand, both had their wands drawn and were shifting wearily for whatever would come as Harry began his rescue. Now didn't really seem like the time, but as the numbers slowly ticked around the memory began unpleasantly rising to the surface and he explained, "listen, my dad was killed by Death Eater's when I was young. Right in the middle of Diagon Alley, I saw the whole thing.” She gasped, but he squeezed her hand and tried to keep the briskness he’d inherited from his mother out of his voice as he continued, “I know she's a lot strict, but she does care about Neville and me. I know she comes on strong, but she'll love you when she meets you, it is because she cares."

Alice nodded and promised, "can't wait to get to that," as it came to a stop, but the doors didn't open. They both tapped their wands on the door in frustration, but then recoiled in surprise as the deep cold began seeping right through the doors. They looked at each other in horror and said together, "Expecto Patronum!" All that came out was a wispy fog that barely kept the dreaded memories at bay from the dementors on the other side.

Peter could suddenly hear Lily's voice telling of James's final moments with perfect clarity in his head, but now it all sounded somehow even worse than the first time he'd heard it, knowing it was his fault Prongs had to beg of his wife to take their child and fun for their lives. She was screaming as James was left behind, who always put himself in the middle of every fight and was the bravest person on earth had died because of him- and Regulus was shouting for help while being dragged into the inferi lake while Prongs was drowning and he'd truly never be any good to anyone, they'd all just keep dying and it would be his fault, over and over-

And Lily was screaming-

It was so cold...

He gasped and changed, falling right out of the icy grip to the cold floor. Lily was still screaming bloody murder, but she couldn't have run or even attempted a patronus, because she was being held down by a chair, the chains a universal torture, and the other dementor was tipping her face back as she screamed and sobbed so loud it was hurting his ears.

They were in Azkaban again! A place he'd deserved for what he'd put his friends through but knew how to escape!

The first thought that came to mind was, would the book still work if someone were soulless? He didn't want to change back, he was terrified as he cowered and fled farther away from the robbed black figure that began drifting over to her flaming locks as well. If he tried to help, it would only come right back over to him, and he’d never cast a patronus with one of these things in the room!

He didn't even make it to the door.

Its hood was lowering.

Even if James never knew he'd abandoned her, Peter would always know. He could not ever look him in the face again. Regulus wanted to change for the better, wanted something from his life he would sacrifice his own past for to get away.

"Expecto Patronum!"

The jaw was unhinging, the glistening bones and rattling breath drowned out even her last sob, but the silvery form of Wormtail soared through the air, the buckteeth sailing right into the open maw and causing the dementor to fall back in surprise. The rat glowed as it scampered in a circle around her, fur puffed up on end and hissing at the other, trying to bite at the stray cloaks if they dared float any closer.

She was going into shock he was sure, convulsing in the seat, her skin was even turning blue as if her body was remembering as vividly as her mind the poison that had once nearly ended her life. Regulus had saved her life and he'd still run off like a coward first when she'd needed him- the patronus began to flicker on the ground, they swarmed eagerly back forward.

Getting Regulus involved in pranking Sirius back when this started had been the best decision of his life. Wormtail began running so fast as he weaved around the embedded legs of the chair it looked as if he were chasing his own bald tail, the menacing rodent radiating warmth up to Lily as she finally began to breathe normally again. He wasn't sure he would have survived this without his friend now, would the Marauders ever fully accept him again? He wasn't so sure he wanted them to anymore regardless.

His knees were starting to shake, he was picking up the trembling as if Lily were passing it to him as the draining magic preserved them both, but the dementors still hovered on the fringe of the courtrooms, he saw now. They began circling and waiting at the stone benches, and he sadly didn't have any chocolate on hand as the book began.

Lily's bright green eyes finally began to blink tears away as she looked at him properly and whimpered as the rat flickered again. He grit his teeth and fought to wipe sweat from his lip as the chapter title began, The Muggle Born Registration Division. They were both right where they should be in the bowels of the Ministry in this new world order.

"Peter?" Her voice cracked, she didn't seem to think he had it in him to keep going another whole paragraph either as Wormtail began fading in and out. "In my pocket," she whispered urgently, "make sure James sees it, please?"

Prongs should have been here for her, he'd probably kill Peter anyways if he found out he'd missed the chance to save Lily Evans life, again. Regulus liked Lily too, they were definitely friends and even if he couldn't have managed a full patronus yet, he'd have thrown out puffs of silver smoke for days until the slowest and longest chapter ever were done and they got out. Wormtail glowed bright as a star. "Show him yourself," he said, voice shaking, but wand steady.

They were just creatures. Dementors were the scourge of this planet, but damn it all, he'd fought off Moony for months and a giant snake that should have killed them all with one look. These were just another, bigger, more awful kind of creature. He could do this! Wormtail shined so bright he dazzled both their eyes.

James squealed a noise he couldn't even blame Sirius for this time as something tiny and black moved towards him. He tried to take off running and slid on a pamphlet, crashing into a desk as it went off and heard another undignified yelp of fright not too far off that soothed his ego.

Stumbling in terror through black smoke and coughing, he finally found Regulus already halfway down the hall hacking up a lung and trying to wave it out of his own face, a look of such screwed up disgust as he looked at the door he'd stopped in front of it was mildly concerning.

He'd never be able to think of him as just some kid again, not after what he'd heard, but looking at him too long still kind of gave him the creeps. He still looked too much like a warped version of Sirius out of the corner of his eye, too young, his nose longer, with an ever present stoicism as he calmly observed everything with a closed off expression, the exact opposite of his best mate in every way. Now it didn't help that when he closed his eyes and remembered those endless hands trying to pull him into murky water, he kept seeing Regulus' face and blank, black eyes.

That wasn’t fair of him, rationally he knew that and sort of admired who he might become one day, doing more to take down Voldemort than his useless arse ever had getting thrown aside and duped out by his own friend. Those lingering thoughts though only made him all the more uneasy around Sirius’s little brother. If Quidditch was the only thing they’d ever have in common to talk about, it would never be an easy friendship going forward…but he wanted to try for Peter’s sake.

"You okay?" He asked more out of moral obligation than anything, mind still longing to go find Padfoot and Moony and make sure they weren't killing each other.

"You remember how Ron was trying to say Moody's out there somewhere alive," he returned without turning around. "I think I found him."

James stepped forward and made his own disgusted face at the electric blue eye gazing at them. "How much you want to bet the book's in there?" The plaque underneath read this as Umbridge's office, it was obviously fitting of something unwholly and magical being in there.

"I'm good," Regulus assured, still having a staring contest with a sightless eye.

James reached around him and opened the door, unsurprised when it fell away and the book was sitting on the desk, open and waiting for them. He sighed and went over, making sure to knock as much to the ground as he could, throwing himself sideways in the plush pink chair, and trying his very hardest not to scream bloody murder at all the flashbacks he was getting of being back in a replica of this office as he forced himself not to intervene in the pair.

Sirius' little brother stayed in the doorway the whole time watching him, giving him the creeps. As Harry found the place himself it was really starting to annoy him and he was fighting off the old urge to just curse the little bugger to go away.

Regulus kept counting back all the injuries he'd procured through this, most of them minor and forgettable unless you counted the penguin. That lake was a creature feature he hoped he wouldn’t ever have to repeat, just a horrible warped version of the future he now knew how to escape with Kreacher’s help if he must, and even still he’d gotten off only with some ugly bruises. The one that oddly stuck out now was James Potter saving him from tumbling off that broom and how badly his shoulder had hurt from nearly being ripped off in the process. Sirius had possibly gone through even worse, alone. What had James Potter done so right that he hadn't?

Remus stumbled around as always in complete confusion. The place smelt very strange, a familiar tinge lingering in the air that he’d never actually smelt before, but it was better than the vomit so he didn’t care enough to figure out the odd puzzle as he sat in the nearest chair.

There was a dangerous, sizzling feeling that traced up his spine. He tried automatically to jerk away, but it was too late for that. The chair sprang to life, leather straps lashing his wrists and ankles into place that burned where his palms fell into place. A scream was already building in his throat before something latched onto his face.

Sirius rubbed his head from where it had smashed against the golden lifts. Using it as a prop to get to his feet, he frowned in confusion though to not really recognize the part of the Ministry he was in. All the desks and cubicles were completely bare of personal effects, just a lot of paper work. He went over to the first one curiously and found a stack of reports over recent news of a Quintaped rampage.

Then he heard the scream.

“Remus? Remus!” He was trying to run before he even had a clear direction. Even as he left the first batch of cubicles the shout for help had no clear direction as it grew in desperation. His help, from his Moony, echoed around the labyrinth of pathways before him. “Remus, I’m coming!”

He loathed to let go of his wand right now, but he could think up no other way to find him in his desperate mind, so with a little pop, he knew Padfoot could. His boyfriend's shouts were even louder now, but he could finally narrow in on the direction, feet blazing a path. When he turned a corner so sharp his nails skidded even after his padded feet caught back traction, he knocked a plaque off the wall and didn’t even read the sign he’d knocked loose, Centaur Liaison Office. It wasn’t until he got close enough to find Remus’ scent did the smell of the other werewolves spurn him into a life threatening growl as he rounded the last corner.

Maybe it was Greyback himself in here terrorizing someone before their untimely landing, maybe it was some poor soul actually being forced to register or doing it themselves to acquire a pitiful show of help and support, but whatever the cause, the effect was being taken out on his werewolf. He took in the sight with unparalleled blackened fury as he changed back and bellowed, “relashio!”

Nothing happened except Remus screaming louder.

Sirius’ hands started to shake as he felt desperately around, but there was no latch, it was just suctioned into place by his sheer presence. He aimed carefully, his mind and wand crystal clear on the direction. “Stupify!” It did not fall away and Remus screamed loudest of all.

“Shit, shit, is it hurting you?” He demanded, reaching out to touch his neck and still unable to drop his wand as his mind swirled desperately at the stupid question. The chair was solid silver, if he hadn't been traumatized already he was definitely in pain! He couldn’t bring himself to do it, if his finger so much as twitched wrong he might kill him trying to cut that off, not to mention Remus thrashing like that.

“Sirius?” The way he choked his name out nearly sent him into tears. “Get it off!” He’d only ever sounded so desperate before when this had happened, it was a damn miracle he was even coherent.

“I’m trying Moony, I, I don’t know how,” his hand was trembling now, and he took it away in fear that would only make him even more frightened, but instead he started screaming again. He’d rather break every one of his fingers, but he finally forced himself to put his wand away and put his hand back on his neck, the other holding one of his balled up fists tightly, stopping his nails from scraping against the metal arm.

There were tears coming out of his green flecked eyes as he shook himself like never before, but the movement slowed as he said again, “Sirius?”

“I’m right here Moony, I’m not going anywhere,” he vowed. The book began, he could hear James’s voice, and he cursed as he still couldn’t hear anyone else nearby. He didn’t know where the others were, but he sort of doubted help was coming, who the hell could imagine up this torture?

Remus was still crying, his tears pooling up on the edges of the leather looking material, he was breathing so heavily under it the pitiful holes near his cheeks kept dipping in and out a beat after each breath unable to keep up. His voice came out nasally, Sirius couldn’t believe he was even still speaking. “Why does this keep happening?”

Sirius couldn't help it this time, his hand tightened in bruising force against Remus’, but he clutched back with what little movement he had in his fingers. He only let the most gentle of pressure into his thumb though as he traced his neck, making sure Moony was touching this torturous contraption as little as possible and looked him in the eye as he vowed, “I will burn this place to the ground so it never does again.”

He started looking carefully all around at their space to memorize the layout for this fact. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was the second largest in the Ministry. Located on the fourth floor, he’d never kept up with much past that, he got too frustrated for any news and tried to curse some student when they talked about it in the hallways, usually for some recent werewolf sightings getting mentioned in tandem. He was aware his friend for so many years was shunted back and forth between the beast and being division, but that was only because Remus liked to tell them when the change occurred, like it was some big success to him that this week he was on the same level of respect for mermaids instead of acromantulas.

His friend was a human. His boyfriend was a bloody wizard! Even the one night a month where he lost himself to that curse, Moony was intelligent. He learned and hunted with him as Padfoot, even if it was prey he did not desire, for months out in the forest and never tried to go back to the school once he discovered his sense of freedom was the price.

This particular cubicle was no different than the last, not even a name plate to attest to his first victim. His mind latched onto the lone bit of information he’d purposefully accumulated of this place, that Remus’ dad worked here. Lyall Lupin had once offended a werewolf. Apparently others had learned not to even tempt fate of doing the same lest one take revenge on a nicknack, or spot a picture of their family it seemed.

“Sirius,” Remus sounded hoarse again already, he was only just holding himself together. “Please talk to me.”

“Right, yeah, I can do that,” Sirius said at once, bending himself just enough he was sitting in his lap now, like this was just a casual afternoon in the common room. He could feel Remus’ heart beating a mile a minute while his own sluggishly thumped like a horse was kicking each to keep going he was so furious and trying not to let it show. “Um, okay, I realized we started dating during this time catastrophe mess, so we have no idea when our anniversary will be.”

Remus laughed. It was a true miracle of a sound, and he leaned in and kissed the other side of his neck while his fingers started playing with the hair on the back. “Got to say I’m a little disappointed in you right now,” he leaned up to whisper in his ear. “Are you not taking this seriously?” He leaned back and let his face pucker up in concern.

His breathing was finally starting to even out, he still sounded terrified but was gallantly trying to pretend otherwise. “Can’t take it any other way from you Sirus.”

A very inappropriate feeling washed through him as he met his eyes and told him in pure bliss, “have I ever mentioned how much I love you?”

“For many years, yeah,” his voice still sounded muffled, but his pulse was starting to slow under Sirius’ thumb. “Never thought you’d mean it the same way I did though, so it’s nice to hear.” His eyes were tracking Sirius, like he thought the second he looked away he’d vanish. His fingers kept trying to twist out from under his for a few moments before he latched on again, the urge to pry himself away never more powerful. That book wasn’t going fast enough.

“Well then, you should also know I love your sarcasm. I’ve adored that since the first time we shared a table. You remember?”

“No.” But Sirius could hear the faint smile in his voice. The lie was for him to keep talking, so he happily obliged.

“We were in McGonagall’s class, you’d just agreed to help us with our first prank and moved your bag to our table! So of course Peter was convinced she was watching us more than usual and being a twitchy git, but she just kept at her lecturing over the Transfiguration Alphabet, again, and you started supplying your own words, cheeky little thing you are. It was glorious, I couldn’t stop laughing the rest of the day even when she gave me detention anyways and Prongs got all the credit for over hearing and repeating it to get the laugh from the rest of the class.”

“We were so innocent and young,” he whispered remorselessly. “I could do much better now.”

Sirius laughed, the deep barking noise reverberated against the walls as he whispered the first one into his ear and only laughed harder at the lewd response.