Regulus hummed softly, feeling the warmth of the moment settle around her like a comforting blanket. Having James close felt right—more right than anything had felt in a long time. Ever since learning she was pregnant, she'd found herself craving his presence more and more.
She gently cradled her stomach. “Comme ça, ma petite étoile? Harry." she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. The words felt so natural, so fitting, as though the name had been waiting to leave her lips.
James, always the one to melt in moments like these, cooed, literally. He moved to kneel between her feet, his eyes lighting up with a mixture of joy and disbelief. Regulus couldn’t help but feel a flush rise to her cheeks, mortified by his overt affection, but he only smiled warmly, clearly undeterred. She tried to push him up, but he easily settled her back down with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"None of that," James reassured her, his voice filled with an affectionate firmness. "Sit down, love. Let's talk to our son together."
And so they did. James lay his head against Regulus's stomach, his ear pressed gently against her, as if listening for something she couldn’t hear. The connection between them felt more profound than ever before, the air thick with a sense of hope and promise. It was moments like this—when it was just the two of them, and the small life they were about to bring into the world—that the fear of the unknown seemed to melt away, replaced with something much stronger.
James looked up at her, his eyes soft but filled with resolve. “You know, Harry,” he said with a smile, “You've got the best of us. You're going to have your Uncle Sirius and Remus watching over you. And your cousin Draco, he'll be with you in Hogwarts, maybe you'll both play Quidditch together. You'll never be alone.”
Regulus’s heart swelled at the thought, and she placed a hand on James's hair, gently smoothing it back. “You will be so loved.” she whispered.
“And we’ll make sure he knows,” James continued, his voice more serious now. “He’ll know that no matter what happens, his family will always be here for him. We’ll make sure he knows that the people who love him—us, his uncles, his family—will always have his back.”
Regulus nodded, her smile small but laced with a bittersweetness that James couldn’t quite read. The words felt too heavy to hold, too fragile to mean anything at all. She could feel the sharp edges of the past closing in on her, the memories of her own childhood, the coldness of her mother’s love, the ever-present fear of never being enough. She feared that her son, despite all her promises, might one day feel that same crushing weight of sorrow. She wondered if Harry would ever feel that—if he’d ever know what it was like to grow up under scrutiny, of living in dread and constant fear. Of learning to differentiate his parent's footsteps and hide when they came, never having a lap to cry on.
“I’ll never let anything happen to him,” Regulus said softly, almost to herself. "I'll protect him from everyone, from myself too." Her heart ached with the promise she made.
James pressed his lips to her stomach, his voice barely a whisper. “Neither will I. We’re going to make sure he grows up knowing nothing but love and safety.”
They sat there for a while, the two of them, their hands joined on her stomach, dreaming of a future they weren’t entirely sure they’d be able to protect him from. But they would try.
====
"So, instead of using the Valerian root for a draught, maybe we could alter it into a different potion recipe." Regulus suggested as she chopped the root.
Lily, perched on a stool with an old potions book propped open in her lap, hummed thoughtfully. The book had been provided by Slughorn, filled with both well-known and obscure recipes. She traced a finger down a list of ingredients, her green eyes flicking over the text. “That’s an interesting idea,” she admitted. “I’ve actually been looking into ways to enhance a potion that the Order could use—something to give us an advantage.”
Regulus stiffened slightly but said nothing, focusing instead on the precise movements of her knife. She was not getting involved. No way. The war, the Order, the fight against Voldemort—it wasn’t her battle. Not anymore. Her parents had forced her to do enough for the Dark Lord. Her priorities lay elsewhere. With her child. And, though she loathed to admit it, with maintaining a semblance of her parents’ approval without fully obeying their commans.
Lily noticed that Regulus wasn't going to say anything so she continued. "Valerian root is primarily used as a sedative. But what if we infused it into a different potion to amplify its effects? Not just to make someone sleepy, but… to lower their resistance to certain influences?”
Regulus paused. That was a brilliant idea. There were countless potions they could alter with that approach, but only one immediately stood out—one that was notoriously unreliable due to how easily resistance could be built against it. Judging by the way Lily’s face suddenly lit up, she had reached the same conclusion.
They locked eyes, grins creeping onto their lips, and simultaneously exclaimed—
"--Veritaserum!"
At that, they both burst out laughing.
"Yes, yes it's perfect. Since people can build an immunity to Veritaserum, having Valerian root as an ingredient would calm the person and make them unable to resist!" Lily rambled on, leaning forward with enthusiasm. "They'd be too relaxed to lie and would confess everything."
"Yes," Regulus agreed, feeling quit proud of herself. "We just have to figure out the proper amount to ensure it works. I would love to be a test subject but I can't. Harry wouldn't like it."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Who's Harry?"
Regulus blushed and pointed to her bump.
Lily’s eyes widened, her green gaze flickering between Regulus’ face and her stomach. Then, just as quickly, her expression melted into something warm, something fond.
“Oh,” she breathed, a soft smile creeping onto her lips. “You already have a name picked out.”
Regulus ducked her head, pretending to be busy with the valerian root. “Of course, I do,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “It’s important.”
Lily set her book down and reached over, gently squeezing Regulus’ hand. “It is,” she agreed. “And it suits him.”
Regulus blinked, surprised. “You think so?”
Lily nodded. “Harry James Potter. It’s strong, but… sweet name. Easy on the tongue.”
Regulus swallowed thickly, something tight and warm curling in her chest. “That’s what I wanted for him,” she admitted.
Lily squeezed her hand again, her expression turning mischievous. “And here I thought you were just going to name him after a star or something,” she teased.
Regulus wrinkled her nose. “As if I’d saddle my child with a name that invites so many bad omens.”
Lily laughed, light and sweet, and Regulus found herself smiling despite the lump in her throat. For a moment, it was just them, just two witches in a potions lab, surrounded by the quiet hum of magic and the faint scent of crushed valerian root.
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother, Regulus,” Lily said suddenly, seriously.
Regulus looked at her, startled, but Lily’s eyes held nothing but certainty. And for the first time in a long while, Regulus let herself believe it.
Regulus cleared her throat, willing away the unexpected warmth in her chest. “Right,” she said, picking up her knife again. “We should get back to the potion.”
Lily grinned but didn’t push the moment further. Instead, she flipped through Slughorn’s book, skimming ingredients and their interactions. “So, if we’re adding Valerian root to Veritaserum, we need to adjust the brewing time. It’s a slow-release ingredient—too much, and the person could end up in a state of complete relaxation. Possibly asleep.”
Regulus hummed in agreement, carefully measuring out the root shavings. “And we don’t want that. The goal is to make them too calm to resist, not unconscious.” She tapped her fingers on the wooden table, thinking. “We should pair it with something that enhances awareness. Maybe a mild stimulant to keep the mind sharp while the body relaxes.”
Lily’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s actually brilliant. What about ginseng?”
Regulus frowned slightly, considering it. “Too aggressive. It could counteract the Valerian root’s effects.” She glanced at the book, flipping a few pages. “But… peppermint could work. It has mild stimulating properties without overpowering the sedative.”
Lily snapped her fingers. “And it won’t disrupt the base properties of the Veritaserum! That’s perfect.”
They worked in tandem, grinding ingredients, stirring the potion clockwise, then counterclockwise, each movement precise. The soft bubbling of the cauldron filled the air, and the scent of herbs and magic curled around them.
Lily shot Regulus a sideways glance. “You know, if you weren’t so determined to avoid the Order, you’d make an excellent potioneer for us.”
Regulus snorted, adding a pinch of dried peppermint leaves. “And if you weren’t so determined to recruit me, you’d be less insufferable.”
Lily laughed. “Fair enough.” She peered into the cauldron as the potion began to shift colors, a soft silver hue blooming through the liquid. “It’s working.”
Regulus allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. “Of course it is. We’re brilliant.”
Lily bumped her shoulder playfully. “Damn right we are.”
