5 Ways To Make A Star Smile

When hatching a master plan, it is best to get a second opinion. Especially if you are James Potter, who cannot scheme to save his life.

Normally, Sirius was James' advisor. Unfortunately for him, there was a slight conflict of interest: if Sirius found out who James was crushing on, there would be bloodshed guaranteed.

So it couldn't be Sirius.

Remus would be quite helpful, considering his similarities to Regulus, but one flutter of Sirius' eyelashes and he'd spill everything.

Remus was out.

That left Peter, who was a chronic people pleaser and could never provide James with the brutal honesty he needed.

If not Peter, Remus or Sirius, who could James trust?

He needed someone who was brutally honest. Someone who had insight into James' best and worst qualities. Someone who had been in Regulus' shoes.

Lily Evans.

That Monday, James made his way to the library.

Maneuvering through the bookshelves, he searched for that splash of fiery red. Unfortunately, when he spotted her telltale hair, she was being thoroughly snogged by a short blonde. Shit.

James stood frozen for a beat too long, finally catching Lily's attention. Her green eyes widened and she frantically pushed the other girl away.

"What the fuck, James?" She hissed, her slight Irish twang coming through as it always did when she was angry. James knew all too well.

He just chuckled awkwardly and held his hands up as if he were under arrest.

The short blonde laughed maniacally. James didn’t know her; he would remember if he did. She had chestnut skin and white-blonde hair. Her eyes had no particular color - they were just... shiny, like the unimaginable amount of jewelry she wore. One of her many necklaces read 'Brianna' in silver cursive.

"Sorry to bother you...Brianna?" He said to her, holding out his hand, "I'm James."

She grinned and shook his hand, "Pleased to meet you, I'm Pandora."

James blinked, his mind malfunctioning for a moment. "Oh...who's Brianna?"

Pandora's nose wrinkled, "Someone, probably. It's a common name."

"Uh..." He felt like someone was tying his brain in knots, "I don't get it."

She just smiled at him and waved goodbye to Lily, who had buried her face in her hands. Then, without another word, Pandora left.

"She seems nice!" He said, turning back to the redhead. Ironically, Lily didn't seem very nice in that moment.

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared, "What do you need help with? And it better be important, because I was having a good time before you showed up."

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"So let me get this straight... you want me to help you make the guy you're crushing on... smile?" Lily asked slowly, her eyebrows raised.

"Yep."

"Not even, like, go on a date with you?"

"Nope."

"Just smile?"

"Just smile." James said bluntly, grinning even though the girl across from him was confused in more ways than one.

"When you were into me, you wanted me to agree to marry you."

James blushed, "That's true too."

Lily thought for a moment and then laughed. James laughed too, although he was confused, "What are we laughing at?"

Lily chuckled, "You, James Potter, are an idiot. And that's exactly why I'm going to help you."

Well, a win is a win.

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James and Lily agreed to meet at a local café that afternoon, James arrived early to pay for drinks before Lily could protest. Mint tea for her, and the sugariest coffee on the menu for James.

“So, who is this guy?” She’d asked when she got there, involuntarily making James choke on his drink. Lily sat patiently while he hacked and wheezed for a minute too long.

“Do you need to know...?” He’d replied sheepishly, trying to hide his blush with his mug.

Lily snorted, “Do you want my help or not?”

“Okay! Just…Don’t tell Sirius.”

Lily’s jaw dropped and she covered her mouth with her hands,
“…You’re into Sirius Black?! Your best friend Sirius Black?! The guy Remus has been crushing on for five years Sirius Black?! Even more annoying than you Sirius Black?!”

James frantically shook his head and flailed his arms

“What? No! Ew! What?” He squealed, “Wrong brother!”

Lily’s jaw dropped farther, eyes squinting as though James had told her the world was ending.

“Oh. Oh? Oh.”

James sighed, “Yeah…”

“Sirius is going to kill you.”

“Yeah…”

“Regulus?”

“Yep.”

Lily hummed and took a long, slow sip of her tea, “This will be harder than I thought.”

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5 Ways to Make a Star Smile:
#1) Compliments

“Everyone likes compliments, it’s the obvious first place you should start.” Lily told him.

“How do I even approach him? What do I say?” James asked, biting the nail of his thumb.

“Pandora is friends with him, I think. Use that.” She said unconvincingly.

James had a sinking suspicion that this wasn’t going to go well.

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In the far corner of the large Hogwarts cafeteria, Regulus Black and his friends claimed their usual table. His workbook lay open in front of him, an apple forgotten in one hand as he scribbled notes while Pandora recounted her latest dream for him. Beside them, Barty Crouch Jr. attempted to get the attention of a half-asleep Evan Rosier, and Dorcas Meadowes hummed along to music in her headphones.

These moments were Regulus's sanctuary during the school day.

Until a golden-brown hand appeared in his peripheral vision, waving at Pandora. An older boy dressed in all red sauntered over. Regulus glanced up, only to lock eyes with James bloody Potter.

The entire table seemed to freeze—everyone except Pandora, who chatted with Potter as if they were old friends.

Regulus wanted to shrink into himself, to disappear entirely, but outwardly he remained stone-faced. He wouldn't let his brother's best friend affect him. Those days were over.

Just as Regulus thought he was in the clear, James had the audacity to turn to him.

"Oh, Regulus! Looking lovely today, as usual," he said with that insufferable, cocky grin.

Third-year Regulus would have blushed furiously, his voice cracking in a dozen different ways. But he wasn't that boy anymore.

"Why are you still here? Fuck off, Potter," Regulus spat, fixing him with a scowl.

James's smile faltered as he turned to leave.

Regulus should have returned to his work. Should have ignored the way James's eyes caught his one last time. Should have missed the flash of something in the older boy's gaze—not quite anger, but something that struck deeper than a thousand smiles ever could.

Regulus should have stayed put.

Instead, he followed after James Potter.

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That interaction hadn't worked out well for James. He could accept that.

But the cold way Regulus had addressed him lingered like frost on glass. Sure, James had dealt with years of that coldness, but this time felt different. Raw. Personal.

He was frustrated.

Frustrated that he'd failed, frustrated that he wanted someone who clearly despised him, and frustrated that he'd wasted his time hoping for something different.

"Potter!"

A voice behind him stopped James dead in his tracks. Sure enough, there stood Regulus Black himself.

Half of James's brain soared with joy while the other half clenched its teeth in preparation for another verbal blow.

"Yeah?" James managed, fighting to keep his voice neutral.

The younger boy tilted his head and stepped forward. "Hmm..."

"What do you want?" James snapped, harsher than he'd spoken in years. Part of him wanted to apologize, but he was exhausted from constantly trying to make everyone around him happy. This seemed to be his breaking point.

Regulus's eyes widened. James braced himself for every insult in the book. Instead, the shorter boy stepped closer, lips parting slightly.

Thank the Gods for James's height being helpful to hide his blush, or Regulus would see his cheeks bloom with hot pink.

Okay... James could work with this.

He spoke slowly, letting a hint of that anger linger in his voice.
"I meant it when I said you look lovely today." James leaned in and winked, his heart thundering against his ribs.

It was Regulus's turn to blush, the red spreading across his cheeks beautiful and simple—like everything else about him.

Then, for a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, he smiled.

A real, true smile.

James Potter had made Regulus Black smile, and it was possibly the most beautiful sight he'd ever been lucky enough to witness.

Long after Regulus had left, James remained frozen, replaying the moment in his mind.

He could think about that smile for the rest of his life.