Chocolate Frog Card
And then, in one minute, several things happen. Barty quickly gets up from the bench, shocked. Sirius looks at him, then back at James, frowning. Then he focuses on Regulus, who calmly, with an arrogant smirk, finishes his meal. James adjusts his pants, looking uncomfortable, and jumps from foot to foot. He dodges Sirius' arm, which quickly reaches for him, trying to grab his collar.
As the other hand approaches him, James is already jolted into a run like his life depends on it. In a way, it does. Sirius is chasing him. Running out of the Great Hall, they push all sorts of confused people who didn't manage to get out of their way. Remus opens his eyes wide and smiles softly. Peter is slowly putting the facts together.
Pandora watches them curiously, Evan bursts out laughing, and Dorcas shakes her head.
"No way. James fucking Potter," Barty drawls through his teeth, still standing over them. "You really have damn low standards."
"I guess I do."
"No, but seriously, Regs? You can choose much better. Much, much better. In fact, I'm not sure if you could ever choose worse," Barty slowly sits back in his seat. "So this is what you did last night. You fucked your Gryffindor boyfriend."
"Mhm, jealous?" Regulus doesn't look at him. He doesn't have the courage to raise his face. This situation is hilarious because he wasn't shy when he told the rest of his friends about the deal he made with James. But now he's trying to find a way to cover his red ears.
"Rather disappointed," Barty's voice is gruff.
"That's mean, don't be mean. You know, the heart wants what it wants, as they say," Pandora chuckles and Evan snorts.
"Then how the fuck does his heart want Potter if it hated him not long ago?"
Regulus shrugs. He thought it would give him satisfaction to make Barty angry about James, but he found himself feeling nothing but uncomfortable at the moment. "Leave it, it's not a big deal."
"Of course not, since you didn't deign to tell me. I'm your best friend, and you just didn't tell me?" he hisses, standing up again, frowning in anger. "How long has this been going on?"
"Literally since yesterday. I just haven't had a chance to tell you yet."
"But you had a chance to tell the rest of us, right?"
Regulus tenses and turns his head in the opposite direction. He doesn't like it. He looks pleadingly at Evan, who immediately understands the suggestions and says, "Alright Barty, calm down, what are you even so mad about?"
"What am I mad about? You ask me, what am I mad about?" Barty snorts arrogantly, as if the answer is obvious and someone just asked him if the earth goes around the sun. "Because I am his fucking best friend. And he doesn't trust me like I trust him," he gestures at Regulus, who clenches his teeth. "You won't even look at me, will you? So it's true. You know everything about me, Regs, how come I never know anything about you?"
Regulus stubbornly remains silent, doesn't move at all. He doesn't even glance after Barty as he leaves the room. Pandora follows him after a few seconds.
"Are you sure about this plan?" Dorcas mutters, face turned to the plate.
"No, but will it make a difference now?"
"I mean, Regs, you can still back out," Evan suggests, "I can talk to James if you don't want to. And Sirius. We can say it was a prank on him, that's it."
Regulus shakes his head and points to the various students whispering with interest and stealing glances in his direction. "I think it's a little too late."
James groans in pain and pulls up his knees as Sirius drags him across the grass, tugging at his elbows.
"Come on, Pads, you won," he grunts, "let me get up."
Sirius hovers his boot in the air, millimeters above James' face, threatening him.
"You can choose anyone else to help you win. Whoever suits you, since Lily will never want you," he snorts dismissively. James knew that Sirius hadn't been serious before and that he would never really hurt him. But now he spoke harshly and looked down at him coldly. "But you won't bring my brother into this, understand? Not him."
James' heart is beating fast, he's nervous. He can feel his palms sweating, and he's staring at his friend wide-eyed, panting after their scuffle.
"You think I'm using him?"
"Are you not?"
"No, Merlin. No."
Sirius runs a hand through his hair and looks up at the sky as if the answer is about to fall on his head. James doesn't dare to sit up, so he just lies there, grateful that Sirius's foot no longer dangles threateningly over his face.
"I love you. I really do. But if you hurt Regulus, I'll be forced to make a choice I never, ever want to make," he says warningly, "you didn't shag him, right?"
"No, of course not! He just gave me his tie and some book. We talked. And... I like him, Pads," James admits, surprised that he said it so easily. Earlier, when he wondered what he was going to tell Sirius, he was afraid that nothing would come out of his mouth.
He narrows his eyes. "So you messed up the room trying to sneak out? To talk to my brother?"
James scratches his head and nods uncertainly.
"Just to talk?" he makes sure.
"Yes. I swear."
Sirius sighs and sits down next to him. "Prongs, he means more to me than my haircut," he confesses and James snorts a laugh, "and even though he doesn't love me as much as I love him, it won't change anything. He may even hate me, and he may be mean and gruff, but he's my brother."
James doesn't know what to say, so he stays silent and looks at his feet. He's not using Regulus, is he? They simply follow a mutually beneficial plan that they both voluntarily signed up for.
"What about Lily?" Sirius asks suddenly, and James looks up.
"I admit, my obsession with Lily was a bit unhealthy. I talked to Marlene. But that doesn't mean I can just... move on. Yet, I realized that I was just making her life miserable by being pushy. Lily has, had, and will always have the right to say no to anyone, and I wish I had been able to accept that before." James closes his eyes gently, as if his own words hurt him. "I said I loved her, but I couldn't even respect her. I thought about this last night as I walked back to our room. I still can't figure out why this happened, but I'll get to it eventually."
"And now you're switching to my brother?"
"No, that's not true. He's just—" James gets up from the icy grass and dusts off his pants. He's not sure if his cheeks are so red from blushing at the thought of Regulus or Lily, or from the cold wind blowing at him. "—he's interesting, you know? And funny. Even though he's so, so mean."
"Very mean," Sirius laughs and stands up too. His white shirt billows and his hair falls unruly over his eyes. "Just be careful, Prongs. Whatever you do with him, whatever you say to him, however you touch him, remember: I'm faster than you and I know you better than your own parents."
"It seems to run in the family, being so good at threatening me," James says.
Sirius grins. "Really? No, he must have learned from me."
Evan keeps talking as he walks up to the bleachers, and Regulus just wrinkles his nose because he can't fucking hear him when the wind is whistling so loud and everyone around them is talking like crazy, impatiently waiting for the game to start.
"Will you answer me?" Evan turns sharply, and Regulus jumps back, startled.
"I didn't hear a word," he admits.
"I asked why we didn't use a ladder to go higher. We used to watch the games from the highest stands."
"Not today."
"Don't you want to see your boyfriend?" he teases, and Regulus rolls his eyes.
"Fake-boyfriend. And I want. That's the point."
"You want to watch him from below?" Evan ponders, grinning, "that's weird," he says, but sits right next to Regulus and keeps three empty seats right next to them. "Did you talk to Barty about what happened?"
"I did not."
"You should. He's upset."
Regulus lowers his head. "Me too. I'm upset as well. And I don't even know what to tell him. That Potter and I are going to pretend we're in a relationship because he asked me to, and I wanted Barty to be jealous and my brother to be pissed?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what you tell him," Evan shrugs, "honestly, it's something he would do himself. He'll understand, Regs. Besides, Talkalot is your reason too. And it's even the most rational of the three, so maybe you should start with that..."
"I can't. And neither can you. I'll apologize to him after the game, but... promise me you'll keep your mouth shut," Regulus pleads, and Evan has never seen such desperation in his eyes before, so he just nods. "Barty is only angry because he thinks I acted unfairly. Not because he is actually bothered by the idea of me and Potter."
"Maybe that's bothering him too. You don't know that if you haven't even looked at him all damn day."
"He's not looking at me either," Regulus grumbles. Evan adjusts his scarf and bites his lip.
"You know how he is. He's always been sensitive about you. Remember how in fourth grade, he tried to beat me up because he thought I was your new best friend? You're important to him, Regs, if not the most important. You were the first person to mean something to him, and he's just terrified of being replaced by someone else," Evan explains calmly, looking out at the empty pitch before him. "All you have to do is reassure him that it's not true. Everyone needs reassurance sometimes."
Regulus leans back, his nails scratching at his knee. Calling Barty a friend hurts him, because he wishes he was more to him, but he seems to have always been greedy and had a hard time appreciating what he was getting.
"Wait, do you think he himself would agree to such a deal?" Regulus looks at Evan curiously.
"I mean... he can be even more bitchy than you, you know that, right? He's usually nice to us, but that's because we're special," he replies, smiling cheerfully, "the rest of the people aren't."
"I guess."
"And are these friends of James also taking part in this... Valentine Finding Challenge?" he asks.
"Yes, all four of them. Why?"
"Remus too?"
"... Well, yes?" Regulus squints.
"Oh, this could be fun then," Evan has a smirk on his face, "for once, I'm looking forward to partying with them."
"I'm afraid I don't follow," Regulus confesses, waving from above as Pandora and Dorcas approach them. He looks for Barty, but he's nowhere to be found. He stayed in the dorm.
"You know, if Remus Lupin wants a boyfriend, he'll be forced to flirt back. I just hope he will make my evening more pleasant," Evan sounds excited. Regulus snorts and shakes his head. "I think he's finally coming around to me."
"Leave my brother's friends alone, they're weird."
Evan blinks. "What did you just say? You fucking hypocrite—"
Regulus laughs and gives him a nudge in the side.
"Who's a hypocrite?" Pandora asks, taking the empty seat next to them. Dorcas leans out behind her.
"It has to be about Regulus. It's always about Regulus," she says.
Evan bursts out laughing. "Correct!"
"Evan wants to shag Remus Lupin," Regulus says, trying to look disappointed, but the corners of his mouth curl up involuntarily.
"You've got taste," Pandora praises him, patting him lightly on the back, "I agree."
Dorcas sighs. "Am I really the only one here not looking for connections with Gryffindor?"
"I'd like to remind you how less than a week ago you marveled at Marlene's hair falling into your mouth when you accidentally bumped into each other in the hallway," Evan says.
Dorcas groans, "one time situation."
Regulus and Pandora exchange glances, nodding in amusement, "yes, yes, of course."
"Oh, you shut up, Regs. You came to this game just for your Not Even Real Boyfriend, and you're rooting for him, and it's fucking disgusting," Dorcas threatens with a finger, "hypocrite."
"I love hearing sweet words from you. You're always so affectionate," he replies with a smirk, "unfortunately I don't have to root for Potter to win because he'll do it anyway," says as both teams began to enter the pitch.
James struts proudly at the front of his team. He looks for Regulus and when he finally locates him, he smiles softly.
"This win is dedicated to you," he whispers, and though no one can make out his words over all the noise, Regulus knows.
James Potter scores the first goal of the match and Gryffindor takes the lead with 80 to 30 points. Sirius almost gets the Snitch back until one of the Ravenclaw Beaters brushes his broom with a Bludger. Black looks at him ostentatiously, furiously wrinkling his nose. Regulus catches himself making the same face. And immediately stops.
Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are now only 50 points apart when Sirius spots the Snitch for the second time and dives after it without thinking. Ravenclaw chaser, Sirona Ryan, follows close behind, rushing as fast as she can, but Regulus clenches his fists, leans in and unconsciously mutters "no one is catching up to Sirius", and she actually fails to do so either.
Regulus tenses, and Evan places a hand on his shoulder, waiting nervously. They watch Sirius as he hunches over his broomstick and hides his head under his clothes. Some people get up from their seats to see better, while others squint. Everyone is waiting and everyone is silent, even the commentator. After a second, he chuckles happily. "He's got it! Black has the Snitch!" he shouts into the microphone, and the crowds begin to shout along with him.
Regulus looks around, fascinated. Three-quarters of the audience wear scarlet rosettes, waving flags with the Gryffindor lion on them. He can't help the smile that spreads across his face. Sirius victoriously raises his hand, in which he holds their pass to the finals. The Golden Snitch. Its silver wings flutter slightly, and Sirius laughs euphorically.
Regulus focuses on his brother, not noticing James, who watches him infatuated. And then he remembers what he was supposed to do and what had completely slipped his mind. Oh.
He snaps out, glides smoothly over the wooden railing and rushes towards James, who, still focused on him, begins to move closer too. He steps down from the broom, spreading his arms cheerfully.
He wants to embrace him, but it's not in the plan. He doesn't actually know what the plan is or if there is any plan at all, but Regulus looks so pleased and smiles so completely sincere that James could go along with any of his ideas right now. And he really wants to hug someone at this moment.
However, Regulus grabs his face in his hands and kisses him on the lips in front of everyone.
James almost drops his broomstick. And Sirius almost releases the Snitch from his hand. For half a second, everyone falls silent, stops moving, just stands still and watches. Pandora, Evan and Barty are smiling in disbelief with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, Remus is just confused, and Peter has poor long-range vision, so he doesn't even know what happened yet.
"Did Regulus Black just kiss James Potter or am I dreaming?" exclaims the commentator, "I guess I'll try my hand at sports, since they give out prizes like that," he laughs.
It's loud again, but James can't hear anyone but Regulus and his whispered, "you really did your best, Potter."
And, damn it, James can't find any words, so he just stands in front of him, not knowing what to do with his hands or how to overcome the huge blush on his cheeks. He tries to focus on any thought in his head, but his brain just seems to keep repeating "Regulus Black bloody kissed me" for the fifteenth time, and his thinking is fucking failing.
"You told me to," he finally replies, his voice weak.
"Will you listen to everything I say?" Regulus coquettes, but James nods.
"Well, probably, yes."
The rest of the Gryffindor team descend to the ground, leap at James in ecstasy and elation, lunge at him, yanking his arms, wanting him to join them in jumping enthusiastically and celebrating their victory, but he ignores them and watches as Regulus slowly walks away. And he can swear they're both smiling, even though James can't see his face. He senses it.
Soon after, people from the stands join them, lifting Sirius up and tossing him as he laughs his head off. "Black! Black! Black!" they are chanting. Funny thing is, the same thing goes through James' head, but he is still unfazed, looking in a completely different direction.
James sits relaxed, leaning his head against the wall. He flinches as the door slams open.
"Oh no," Remus comments.
"Here he goes," adds Peter.
Sirius storms into the room and stands in the middle of it, completely stunned. "Tell me why the hell did he kiss you?"
James immediately throws his hands up. "I don't know! Pads, I didn't even do anything, why don't you ask him?!"
"Are you manipulating him? You made him do it? He fell for it, didn't he?" Sirius rakes his hair nervously. "My little, innocent brother fell for your tricks."
James opens and closes his mouth. "He's the one who plays tricks on me."
"I won't believe it."
"Come on. Wouldn't you rather go back to your groping and adoring fans instead of yelling at your friends? They must miss you," Remus interjects, and Sirius looks at him sharply at first, then softens, keeping eye contact.
"I wouldn't," he replies, "anyway. I'm guessing it's not your fault since he chose to kiss you himself," he says reluctantly to James, then notices a book lying next to him and points his chin at it. "He gave it to you? Voluntarily?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh, okay," he murmurs, stepping closer, "he loves this book."
"Yeah, he told me about it. I was reading it before you came here to get mad at me."
"I don't appreciate you hitting on my brother."
"I am not. We're just... we're friends."
"Yes, very close friends, apparently," Peter chimes in and throws a candy at James' head in amusement.
"I like him. It's not about our bet, okay?" James says, frowning and sitting up straight on the edge of the bed. "I'm not saying I want to back out, of course, but I'm saying I will not hurt your brother. Trust me, Pads. You always trust me, and you can this time, too."
Sirius cocks his head, somewhat convinced, "I know, sorry."
"You're being a bit overprotective considering Regulus doesn't even like you," Remus comments, "and he's probably playing with James just to piss you off."
"Don't talk about him like that, he's not cruel," Sirius replies, and James raises his eyebrows. Oh, so little do you know...
"James said he was a bit mean, but only a bit, right?"
"Oh, no, he's unbearable."
"What?"
"No, no! What I mean is, er. That's the point. That he's obnoxious and vicious at times," James explains, "and if he acts like a bitch for too long then he rewards me for putting up with him by laughing at my joke or telling me something nice, and I feel a certain satisfaction and... such a warmth in my chest when it happens, you know? As if he was praising me. Besides, I don't mind that he's rude I just tell myself he doesn't think that about me at all, and it works. You know, he kicks his feet while reading and his touch is very gentle, actually he can be a sweetheart in some circumstances."
Peter looks at him, blinking slowly. Remus tells him that he's delusional, and he's probably right.
And Sirius looks genuinely disgusted, "ew. I didn't want to hear it from you. You seem to have some issues with yourself and a lot of unresolved trauma, my dearest friend," he says and fakes a gag reflex.
"Looks who's talking," James replies and grins teasingly.
"My trauma is an important condition of my charisma," laughs Sirius.
"You're both nuts," Peter admits, "but that's a compliment."
"I wouldn't even dare think that's an insult," replies James.
Sirius falls frivolously onto the unmade bed. "We have to finish the preparations for the party," he says, "we have less than two hours left."
Remus pokes his nose out from under the map he just picked up from the shelf and has been following with his eyes, tracing the professors' locations. "So instead of going to sleep, get to work," he orders Sirius, who opens one eye in response, "Peter and James, you two cast protection spells, Sirius, you talk to the portraits and ghosts, you're the best at persuading them. And I'll go get the goods."
"The goods?" James laughs.
"The goods!" Sirius exclaims, immediately lifting his head.
All four are heading in the designated direction with the intention of completing the task entrusted to them. James and Peter take out their wands and secure everything with spells. Sirius goes to the Grand Staircase to convince some of the portraits to either join them or keep their mouths shut about the Gryffindor party.
And Remus steps into the Hufflepuff common room.
Evan genuinely hopes Regulus will say more than a mumbled "sorry" as he watches his feet move nervously across the floor of their room, as if he's waiting to be executed.
But somehow it turns out to be enough, because Barty smiles contentedly.
"Oh, yes? What exactly are you apologizing for?" he asks, walking over to Regulus, who is silent for a long moment, considering his answer.
He wants to tell Barty about the deal he got himself into and why he did it. But he can't, because then he'd have to reveal too much. And he is terrified. He feels his stomach do a flip at the thought of being rejected.
"I'm sorry I went out last night to meet Potter and everyone knew except you."
Evan, who is standing in the corner, sighs resignedly upon hearing these words.
"Mhm, want to add something more?" Barty narrows his eyes suspiciously, causing Regulus to panic as he casts a distracted gaze everywhere.
"N-no?" Regulus looks pleadingly at Evan, because he's so damn bad at this and he needs his help.
"Assurance," he whispers in response, pressing his hands to his cheeks.
"Oh, yes, assurance," Regulus repeats as if he had a flash, "Barty, I assure you that you are and will always be my best friend and I do trust you."
And he really trusts him, his words flow smoothly and are sincere. The problem is that he would trust Barty with his life, but he wouldn't bare his feelings to him. The idea that it would change their relationship and that it would make things awkward between them was perhaps the worst of all his unpleasant visions.
"Is it true?" he smiles broadly.
"It is."
"Okay then," he mutters, hugging Regulus to him and ruffling his black curls, "I heard your boyfriend won the match today?"
"Yes, if you weren't so stubborn, you'd see it for yourself."
"Oh, I'm so glad I missed that, to be honest," Barty laughs and releases him from his arms, "the only good thing about this is the party tonight."
"Yeah, that's right, I was going to ask if you were going," Evan finally speaks up and Regulus tries to make eye contact with him to find out if he's angry. He has every right to do so, as Regulus did not tell Barty the truth, forcing not only Evan but also Pandora and Dorcas to continue lying to their mutual friend about Regulus' relationship. But he just stands with his back to them and rummages in the closet.
"Yeah, I guess. What about the others??"
"Dora is staying in the dorm, she said she was too sleepy for that. Dorcas will probably disappear somewhere with Marlene, and Regulus..." Evan finds a knitted jumper with a Gryffindor crest patch on the left side and throws it at them. Barty unfolds the sweater and examines it carefully, trying not to burst out laughing, "... Regulus might get busy again if James sees him in these colors."
Barty pretends to faint and dramatically throws himself on the bed, "I can't believe it! You're growing up so fast, Reggie," he says and wipes away an invisible tear.
"Shut up."
"You really shagged him...?"
"Come on, Barty. Look at him, he's all red. Let him breathe," Evan teases.
And Regulus, in fact, is blushing furiously, clenching his fists and glaring at them angrily because he feels humiliated.
"I'm leaving," he announces and turns abruptly.
"Look at him, he's really looking forward to meeting his boyfriend," Barty chuckles, and gets a little nudge in the side for that.
"He must miss him so much, it's been so long... like an hour and a half..."
"Don't forget to put his jumper on, lover boy!" they shout after him, then burst out laughing.
The music is loud, Regulus grimaces in displeasure. He feels lost. He constantly bumps into people and clumsily tries to get somewhere in the corner of the room. Suddenly, a terrible feeling seizes him, as if he had fallen up to his ears in icy water. He glances back to see Nearly Headless Nick's greyish-silver back floating in the air.
Before he looks ahead again, someone pushes a drinkware filled with a brown liquid into his hand. He sniffs and winces as the pungent smell of cinnamon and alcohol hits him. He takes a sip, and warmth spreads down his throat and then his chest.
A portrait shouts something at him, trying to get his attention, but Regulus can't really focus on one thing for more than a second because everything is rushing around him, everyone is dancing, running, jostling, shouting or singing and the music is loud and spells on the furniture make him bounce off it like a soft pillow as he stumbles over bottles, dice, cards, and other things scattered on the floor.
He looks around the room with his wild eyes, he feels strange and out of place here. It would be reassuring if Barty or Evan were next to him right now, but all he has left is James Potter, who fixes his concerned gaze on him.
Regulus squeezes James's wrist nervously with his sweaty palm and feels a gentle tug towards the door. As they walk out into the hallway, he goes "shh..." and lets himself be led along, having no idea where they're going.
"Are you stressed out?" James asks and Regulus fumbles for some form of mockery in those words, but blushes as he realizes it's just a concerned question. "We're going outside, careful here," he says as they descend the narrow staircase beyond the empty frame. Most of the portraits were moved to Gryffindor Tower for the party.
"No, I just feel... different," he confesses, calming down, "I feel like someone put something in my drink."
James snorts, "yeah, Remus has been experimenting with this a bit lately, so it's possible, but it's definitely nothing serious," he reassures, avoiding Regulus's suspicious glare.
"Nothing serious? Drugs in my firewhisky?" his tone is rebuking.
"Not drugs. Herbs, maybe. I wasn't too interested in that," he shrugs, "everyone drinks from the same cauldron, really."
"But you don't feel weird, do you?"
"I haven't had a drink yet, I've been trying to find you," James explains, bracing his hands on the brick wall, trying to prevent Regulus from tripping on the uneven steps, "I've been waiting for you outside your dormitory for about an hour. It wasn't until Dorcas told me that you had long since left."
"Oh, I forgot about that."
"Of course you did."
"But I didn't forget to wear your jumper..."
James grins widely, taking his eyes off the stairs for a moment, "yeah, you look cute."
Regulus scoffs. "I can walk on my own," he mumbles and snatches his hand away, "unfortunately, I don't even know if you're abducting me again."
James snorts as he slides the heavy door open, freeing them from the cramped stairwell, and Regulus steps onto the short-cut, yellow grass of the Training Grounds. "Want to see something interesting?" he asks, and the answer is obvious, so without waiting for Regulus to take a good look around, illuminating the flat path with his wand, James starts walking forward.
He grabs Regulus's hand, directing the magic light onto the colored stained-glass window of the Hogwarts crest, then everything blinds them in green, red, blue, and yellow, and they squint and bow their heads, but James laughs merrily.
"There's a secret room behind it, but you have to guess the password."
Regulus lifts his chin slightly, adjusting his eyes to the sudden brightness, and opens his mouth because, Merlin, it's beautiful here right now. The windows above them also sparkle, and a rainbow spreads over the stone walls.
"How am I supposed to guess?"
"Do you want a hint?" James has a cunning expression on his face and moves a little closer to Regulus, who rolls his eyes, "best Quidditch player."
"It must be Regulus Black," he replies sarcastically, and nothing happens.
James laughs. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Why don't you try using my name?"
"No."
"No? But what if it works?"
"It won't. What's the password, Potter?" he asks, looking deep into his eyes as if that's going to do anything.
And it does, because James shakes his head in amusement and pushes the stained-glass window open, "I was just teasing you. There's no password."
"You can just open it."
"Mmm."
"Then this secret room sucks if anyone can just walk in."
"Well, a moment ago you were enchanted by the flashing lights above your head, and now you're grumpy again?" James smirks, "don't you want to know what's inside?"
And Regulus is trying to fight his pride that won't let James Potter tease him, but at the same time, he's, in fact, bloody curious, so he crinkles his nose and lets himself peer past the entrance to see four empty gray walls and a marble floor. There is a small object in one of the corners, so he goes to it to discover that it is Merlin's Chocolate Frog Card.
"... That's it?"
James nods vigorously, "known as the Prince of Enchanters and was part of the Court of King Arthur," proudly recites the description on the back of the card.
Regulus looks at him skeptically, "you brought me here just for this?"
"I brought you here because a few minutes ago you were freaking out and couldn't stand still, and now you're calm. Dissatisfied as usual, but your hands aren't shaking anymore, which was my goal," James explains, to which Regulus frowns in embarrassment, "besides, I like this room and haven't shown it to anyone before."
"Oh, I see. Even Lily?" he asks.
James nods.
Then there is a moment of silence in which Regulus contemplates how much he will regret his next words, but he already regrets many things he has done in the last few days, and this one won't even make a difference.
"Give me a hickey."
"I'm sorry—?"