Regulus' POV
Regulus could've never predicted what would happen that day.
He'd awoken with a headache, which wasn't uncommon but certainly wasn't pleasant. He'd had to drag himself out of bed, ignoring Barty's complaints about him moving too slow for this late in the morning, and shuffle to the bathroom. He light flickered on and he nearly gasped.
The dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced than usual and made him look downright gaunt. He let out a long exhale before shutting the bathroom door, effectively muffling Barty's rambling.
When he and Barty met Evan in the common room, the blonde boy's stress was radiating off him so clearly that Regulus swore there was a visible aura of tension surrounding him. On their walk to the Great Hall, Barty indulged their friend, letting Evan rant about his upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts dueling exam. His skill in DADA was unparalleled, landing him in an upper level course for which Regulus and Barty had made fun of him, though they both secretly envied his talent.
"You'll do great, Ev. You always do," Barty comforted as the group turned the corner and entered the hall. The smell of fresh food cleared Regulus' sinuses, and he found himself smile lightly for a moment, relishing in the company of his friends and scent of warm breakfast pastries.
Until his gaze traveled to the Gryffindor table. And was suddenly making direct eye contact with James.
Anxiety rushed through his body like a tidal wave as he slowed his pace, attempting to take his seat at the Slytherin table without looking away from the older boy, whose hazel eyes somehow pierced through him even from across the room.
"Regulus?" Barty's voice echoed. He blinked and forced himself to look up at his friends, who were watching warily as they sat across from him. "You've been out of it recently, mate."
Evan nodded in agreement as Regulus clenched his jaw, his mind racing. Should he tell them?
"You know, Pandora told me something interesting yesterday..." Evan began as he reached for the pitcher of pumpkin juice in the middle of the table. Well, that certainly didn't help Regulus' anxiety. He willed his breathing to even as he cleared his throat.
"Oh?"
Barty chuckled at that and Regulus' thoughts swirled. Pandora was his best friend. He trusted her with his life. And on top of that, she could see straight through the protective guards he put up. She definitely sensed his feelings for James were...
"She said Slughorn had you two smell Amortentia in class," Evan continued, piling food onto his plate. "What'd it smell like?"
Regulus unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, he'd never told Pandora what the potion smelled like to him.
"Not sure I remember," Regulus deflected as he too began filling his plate with pastries and fruit.
"You don't remember?" Barty questioned with a laugh. "How could you forget?"
Regulus shrugged. "Wasn't memorable, I suppose. I think I smelled pine, though."
Evan hummed as if that information was at all interesting as he took a bite of a croissant. "I wonder what I'll smell," he pondered with his mouth full.
"Probably my cologne," Barty answered with a wink. Evan rolled his eyes, but Regulus didn't miss the small smile that curved his lips as he did.
His breathing had returned to normal now as the conversation shifted from the Amortentia to what other classes the group had to suffer through for the rest of the week. Regulus let himself relax as he speared an apple slice on his fork. Then he made a grave error.
He looked up, back towards where James had been, and found the older boy watching him again. He swallowed, trying to keep his nerves in check, though they were on fire. Then suddenly, James tilted his head towards the hall doors, motioning for Regulus to leave. The younger boy blinked in response, confusion replacing his anxiety. Until James did it again, and then he stood, leaving the table of his friends and striding towards exit and out into the corridor.
He wants me to follow him.
Regulus mouth fell slightly open at the scene. He kept his gaze fixated on the Great Hall doors, weighing his options and chastising himself whenever he considered getting up and leaving.
But Evan and Barty were currently engaged in a debate on the best defensive spell to use in battle, and it was now or never.
Regulus inhaled deeply, mumbled some lame excuse about where he was going to his friends, and made his way towards the corridor.