vignettes

James laid out a blanket for them in the middle of the Quidditch pitch some hours ago. It’s springtime, the air cool as the sun dips beneath the Scottish mountains. It won’t be long before the moon takes its place and brings with it a sky full of stars.

At first, it started with Regulus reading and James’ head in his lap, soft snores as he dozed. Regulus combed fingers through James’ curls. Rolled his eyes when he stopped to turn a page and James made a petulant noise, keep going.

“I’m just turning the page,” Regulus mumbled with a gentle flick to James’ forehead. “Give me a second.”

“Put the book down and nap with me.”

Regulus rolled his eyes. “I don’t get the luxury of being a Seventh Year who’s finished with all of his exams. I have to study, James. At least for a little while.”

James opened one eye and grinned, a little crooked. “We can study. I’m sure I can teach you some things.”

“Merlin, you’re embarrassing.” But even as he said it, Regulus’ cheeks heated. “Go back to sleep.”

“Not until you kiss me.”

“James.”

“Please, Reg? Just one.”

“You promise?”

James’ grin should’ve been indicator enough, but his voice was honest when he said, “Promise, love.”

But when Regulus bent down, kissing James in an upside-down sort of way, there was suddenly a hand in his hair, palm flat against his skull, holding him there. James licked into his mouth, laughing when Regulus reached around to smack his chest.

“You said one,” Regulus hissed when James finally let him go.

“Couldn’t resist. You know how I am.”

Regulus does, of course. It’s been a year—today means it’s been a year—and he’s more familiar with James than he is with himself sometimes. So he finished his readings, slipped out from under James’ head, and crawled in his lap. Straddled him and laid himself flat over James’ chest, cheek pressed over his heart.

“Oh, now you want to be sweet,” James laughed.

“I’m always sweet.”

“Sure, sure. But only after you’re sour.” It was James’ turn to run his hands through Regulus’ curls. “They should name a candy after you. Sour something. First he’s sour, then he’s sweet. That’ll be their pitch.”

Regulus pinched the inside of his arm. “I’m always sweet.”

They laid there for a while, until the sun started to set properly and Regulus shifted up, found James’ mouth in the dim and kissed him. Nothing hurried, nothing with intention. Just the sort of lazy thing two people often do when they’re in love.

But now, Regulus sits cross-legged again, leaning back on his hands. The stars stretch out above them, the moon high. It’s only a crescent; the Full Moon is still a ways away.

“Do you think you could ride a broom clear to the stars?” he wonders aloud, fingers back to combing through James’ hair.

“Mm. You could try. I would.”

“Of course you would.”

James huffs a laugh. “I bet I’d be the first to do it. You’d be dating a record setter, love.”

“Blegh. Please don’t. You’re insufferable enough as it is.”

“You know what else I’d do?”

Regulus sighs, gaze flicking down to James and back up to the stars. “Tell me. I know you’re dying to.”

“Well, I would first learn a spell that shrinks a star. They’re big, you know? Gotta make it pocket-sized. Then I’d go up there and find one that reminds me of you. It’ll be the one that burns real bright. All sorts of colors, too.”

Regulus swallows around the lump in his throat. “Go on.”

“Once I’ve got it picked and shrunk, I’ll bring it back down here and put it in a jar. Then I’ll give that jar to you.”

“You’d do all of that? For me?”

James nods emphatically. “I’d do anything for you.”

Regulus dips his chin to meet James’ gaze. His stomach flips at the way James looks back at him—as though there’s nothing else worth looking at, the whole of the world condensed into the shape Regulus takes.

“We’re here to look at the stars, James,” Regulus manages, poking him gently in the cheek.

Without missing a beat, James replies, “I am.”