jegulus
# Chapter Two: **Shadows in the Moonlight**
The Astronomy Tower was quiet at this hour, the faint hum of distant laughter from the common rooms below barely carrying through the cool night air. Regulus Black leaned against the stone railing, his sharp features softened by the glow of the moonlight. He clutched a small notebook in one hand, the other drumming a restless rhythm against the cold stone.
He wasn’t supposed to be here. Slytherins didn’t sneak out to meet Gryffindors in the dead of night. Especially not *that* Gryffindor.
A quiet creak of the door startled him, though he didn’t turn around. He knew who it was. He always knew.
“You’re late,” Regulus said, his voice low but steady.
James Potter stepped into the moonlight, his usually unruly hair even messier than usual. “Didn’t realize there was a schedule,” he said lightly, closing the door behind him.
Regulus finally turned, his cool gray eyes locking onto James’s warm hazel ones. “There’s always a schedule,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
James grinned, stepping closer until they were a breath apart. “So, what’s tonight’s excuse, Reg? Stargazing? Or did you just miss me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Potter,” Regulus said, though his cheeks betrayed him, a faint flush blooming across his pale skin.
James leaned casually against the railing, his shoulder brushing Regulus’s. “You’re terrible at lying, you know that?”
“And you’re insufferable,” Regulus muttered, but he didn’t move away.
---
For a while, they stood in silence, the only sounds the rustle of the wind and the distant hoot of an owl. Regulus’s notebook lay forgotten on the railing, its pages fluttering gently in the breeze.
“I heard about the prank,” James said suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Regulus glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. “The fireworks in Filch’s office? That was you, wasn’t it?”
James grinned, his eyes twinkling with pride. “Guilty. Sirius and I handled the setup. Remus kept Filch distracted.”
At the mention of Sirius, Regulus’s expression darkened slightly. “He’s still running around with you lot, then?”
“Not *running around*. Strategically causing chaos,” James corrected, though his tone softened. “You miss him, don’t you?”
Regulus stiffened, his gaze turning to the horizon. “Sirius made his choice.”
James frowned, the usual mischief in his expression replaced by something softer. “It wasn’t that simple, Reg. You know that.”
“Maybe not for him,” Regulus said quietly.
---
James studied him for a moment, his brow furrowed as if debating whether to press further. Finally, he reached out, his hand brushing lightly against Regulus’s.
“You’re not your family, you know,” James said, his voice gentle.
Regulus looked at him sharply. “And what would you know about my family?”
“I know enough,” James said, not backing down. “And I know you’re not like them. Not really.”
For a moment, Regulus’s defenses faltered. He looked at James, his eyes searching, as if trying to find something—anything—that would make this complicated knot of emotions easier to untangle.
“You make everything sound so simple,” Regulus said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated,” James replied, his hand lingering on Regulus’s. “At least, not here.”
---
The sound of footsteps on the staircase below made them both freeze.
“James?” a familiar voice called.
James’s hand darted back, and Regulus took a quick step away, his heart pounding in his chest.
A moment later, Sirius Black appeared, his sharp features illuminated by the moonlight. His eyes narrowed when he saw Regulus.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Sirius demanded, his voice cold.
“Taking a break,” Regulus replied evenly, though his knuckles tightened around the railing.
Sirius turned to James, his expression incredulous. “And you’re just fine with this?”
“Sirius—” James began, his voice calm but firm.
“No, James. He doesn’t belong here,” Sirius snapped. “You know what he stands for. What his *family* stands for.”
Regulus’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait.
James stepped between them, his voice low and measured. “He’s not like them, Pads.”
Sirius let out a harsh laugh. “You can’t really believe that.”
“I do,” James said firmly, glancing briefly at Regulus before turning back to Sirius.
For a moment, the tension between the three of them was suffocating. Then Sirius let out a frustrated sigh, throwing his hands up in defeat.
“Whatever. Do what you want, James,” Sirius muttered, turning and stalking back down the stairs.
---
When the door slammed shut, the silence that followed was deafening.
“I should go,” Regulus said, his voice quieter than before.
“Don’t,” James said quickly, reaching out but stopping short of touching him.
Regulus hesitated, his shoulders tense. “It’s easier if I do. For you. For him.”
James shook his head, his hazel eyes burning with something fierce. “I don’t care what Sirius thinks. I don’t care what *anyone* thinks. You’re not just some Black family puppet, Regulus. You’re *you*. And I…” He trailed off, his voice catching.
Regulus turned, his heart pounding. “And you what?”
James swallowed hard, his usual confidence wavering. “And I care about you. More than I should. More than makes sense.”
For a moment, Regulus said nothing, the weight of James’s words settling over him like a blanket. Then, slowly, he stepped closer, his hand brushing James’s.
“This is dangerous, you know,” Regulus said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
James smiled softly, his fingers intertwining with Regulus’s. “When have I ever cared about danger?”
The moonlight bathed them both in silver as they stood there, the unspoken promise of something neither of them dared to define hanging between them.
For now, the world outside didn’t matter. It was just the two of them, hidden in the shadows, where they could finally be themselves—even if only for a little while.