James' POV
About ten minutes later, the majority of the Great Hall was beginning to stand, packing their things, waving goodbye to their friends, and exiting the large doors to head to classes. The corridors would soon be packed with students as most went on to their first morning classes. Some isolated 7th and 8th years took their time or remained seated, enjoying their free morning before afternoon classes. James couldn't help but be jealous as he slung his bag over his shoulder, the weight of it a reminder of his early morning Muggle Studies course.
His group was heading out the door when James' gaze again drifted toward the Slytherin table. He found Regulus and watched as the boy stood, dark hair falling delicately into his face as he and Barty Crouch Jr left the table. James' heart raced as he considered his friends, all of whom were leisurely taking their time with their belongings.
"I'll meet you lot in class," James exclaimed in a rushed tone before turning on his heel and abandoning the group. He could feel them watching as he left but ignored it. He needed to talk to Regulus.
The younger boy and his friend had joined the large crowd exiting the Great Hall and were on path to go down the left corridor, away from where James needed to be. He willed his pounding heart to slow as he reached out a hand towards Regulus' shoulder.
"Hey, Reg!"
Regulus stopped, his eyes darting to James' hand that now sat atop his robed arm. He'd missed his shoulder by an inch. James swallowed hard, the smile on his face both genuine and fake, as he couldn't recall ever being so nervous.
"Potter..." Regulus began in a relatively unwelcome tone. He shrugged off James' hand and took a step backward. "Do you need something?"
Right. What to say...
"Oh! No, not anything in particular," James brought his hand back to his bag strap and let the other fall casually in his pocket. But if his heart rate and burning cheeks were any indication, he was anything but casual in this moment.
Regulus raised his chin slightly, while his face displayed valid confusion. Even Barty was paying attention now, his eyebrows knotted in concern, though he was grinning like he was enjoying this.
"Ok..." Regulus responded, before slowly turning to leave.
"Hang on!" James reached for him again but Regulus dodged, effortlessly.
"Don't touch me again," he shot at James. The slight annoyance behind his words made the hair on James' arms stand on end.
"Sorry, Reg," he grinned at him and the younger boy looked ready to say something, before his attention was diverted. He was glancing behind James, his face turning sour. Had he been smiling?
"James, come on!" Sirius' voice was commanding and James turned to see all his friends standing behind him, watching with various expressions of shock and amusement.
"At least wait until we're gone," Peter smirked, his comment earning a laugh from the girls. James smiled back at the group and urged them to go on without him before another voice chimed in.
"Does this mean I'm dismissed?" Regulus' voice was thick with sarcasm and as James looked back and watched the boy's cocky smile fade into a tired blink, he felt a pang in his chest.
"Well, actually I wanted to-"
But James was interrupted. By Regulus turning and walking away.
Silence hung in the hair for a moment, the sound accentuated by the considerable lack of students now around them.
James ran a hand through his hair before facing his friends, all of whom had been watching, enthralled.
"Do you have a thing for people who are mean to you?" Marlene offered, glancing quickly at Lily while she spoke.
He sighed.
James: 0. Regulus: 1.