Chapter 12: Evans and Snape
James's eyes went wide, his mouth hanging slightly ajar. Remus drew a sharp breath. Peter let out a short yelp and immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.
Sirius stood rigid in the doorway, fingers unconsciously clenching into fists. He wanted to draw his wand, but he held the impulse back.
Siding with an outsider against his own brother — win or lose, it would not look good.
Besides, he knew that even if he joined in, he could not win. Pressing the confrontation would only humiliate himself further.
Snape stared at the motionless band of red light. Slowly, he turned his head and looked at Regulus.
Lily's hand still gripped Snape's sleeve, but she had forgotten the gesture entirely — she simply stood there, staring.
Regulus finally raised his head.
He glanced at James with an expression as calm as if he were regarding a piece of furniture. Then he looked at the crimson ribbon. His right hand still held the quill; his left gripped his wand, which he flicked ever so slightly.
The red light dimmed from vivid to dull, from solid to translucent, and then it broke apart — dissolving like a melting shard of ice into countless minute red motes.