"No, I didn't call anyone," Regulus said, turning his gaze downward. "I went to the pub." He fell silent for a moment, compressing his lips together to keep everything he was thinking from bubbling out. "There aren't friends you don't know about either," he said at last. "It's easy enough to say there are people who would come if I called them, but it doesn't feel that way. What it feels like is that I have to walk on eggshells. Like I'm on probation. Like I'm terrified all the bloody time because of that madwoman, and I have to deal with her alone. Everyone I know... either they keep me at arms length or I have to keep them at arms length for one reason or another."