Ink in Paper - Regulus Black

One of the longest chapters from this fic, i think over 6k words.

I think you'll like this chapter, guys... :)

The heaviness of the air around the families sitting in the restaurant's table made it hard to breathe, at least it was hard for Remus to breathe before dinner. The Potters were sitting on the other side of the table with both their children, waiting for Sirius to take the breath that he needed to say what he must. The Lupins (and Jensen) were sitting across from them, all uncomfortable and stiff in their chairs, unable to find something to say or do.

There was an unspoken agreement not to say anything about Sirius and Luna's past "relationship", for the sake of Luna's reputation, especially now that she was so deeply involved with Regulus.

"I..." started Sirius, still trying to find the words. "I never meant for this to happen. I tried to do something and didn't think of the consequences. It was all my fault. I'm sorry."

Remus just blinked, trying his best not to let a single facial expression betray the anger within his chest.

Euphemia turned to Sirius, urging him not to continue, clearly unsatisfied with what her son had said.

"I don't want to make this turn into excuses," he admitted, noticing his mum turning to look at him. "I don't know what to say besides that I'm truly sorry, and that I wish you understand that I never meant anything like this to happen. I just... I was scared. I truly thought that he wouldn't come, I thought that he would just watch from far away, I didn't think he would follow us into the tree passage. I thought he would go to Dumbledore, maybe then the headmaster would make him be quiet about his suspicions or anything else... I didn't think he would follow."

"But he did," Remus said bitterly. "And I almost killed him."

"He did," Sirius said, surprised to hearing Remus' voice, staring at him. "I sent him an apology letter. I was suspended, you see, so I can't go to school for a few days still, but I wanted to apologise to him –"

"And he will again, face-to-face," Euphemia added when Sirius failed to do so. It had been one of her conditions. "He needs to apologise to Severus Snape face-to-face and be honest about it."

"It's true. I was reckless, dangerous and stupid. I didn't think of the consequences that could follow or what could happen to anybody else – not you, nor James," Sirius said, peeking a look at James as well. He looked at his brother with some frowning but was more amenable to forgiving him. "And you got hurt, James, I'm sorry. I put everybody's life at risk. I was so angry that I made a mistake."

Remus scoffed.

"The thing is that I cannot be certain that you wouldn't do that even if you weren't angry, Sirius, and that makes me scared. That makes me wonder why it took you so long, but now I know," Remus said.

"It was a... twisted game that I was playing, and I hurt a lot of people, physically or not. I betrayed your trust, Remus, I'm sorry," Sirius said.

Remus glanced at Luna, who hadn't looked up from her hands resting on her lap. They couldn't speak openly about Sirius had made her go through as well, but as he looked back at the boy that had been his friend, he saw him looking at Luna with pity and pain in his eyes. He knew how he had messed up.

"And Luna," he said, surprising her enough to make her eyes wide and look at him. "Our argument... you were right." He pressed his lips together as if saying that had hurt him a bit. "I suppose you were right to say that I would end up alone if I continued doing what I was doing; I was angry, then I went and proved you right. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you." She looked away, but didn't answer. "I...," his breath hitched, unsure of what to say, "I think that I owe you a lot more apologies than I owe these two. You were always a good friend to me and I overlooked you time and time again out of pride and... fear. I should've been proud to be your friend."