Thirty first of December, soon the beginning of a new year. The year 1976 was about to end with joy and happiness surprisingly.
The marauders were at their best : all gathered to the Potters to celebrate this year about to come. Euphemia Potter was sat next to her husband, Fleamont and talking about everything and nothing. Face to her was Sirius who was laughing a bit too loudly with James as they teased Peter with how silent he was when he should be partying.
Remus was calm, quite usual. Everything was normal excpet for one thing. This year someone joined them : Regulus. Sirius' brother wasn't too keen on the idea but James insisted since they were friends now. Regulus had to lie to his parents, saying he would party with Evan Rosier instead, they accepted. Maybe that is the most shoking thing here. Why would they even accept him to party somewhere else ? He did not look further neither ask more and went with that astonishing decision.
Regulus was not into their group, it was almost as if he was gatecrashing even though James was the one who almost begged him to come. The slytherin wanted to come, it would be a first to do something out of the manor, he hoped he could have fun somewhere.
It was the exact contrary. Sirius barely talked to him since the beginning, he preferred to discuss and laugh with his other brother. Regulus was sat next to the werewolf, eating silently and discreetly ; he could not do much.
The scarred one looked at him with a light smile, Regulus seemed at unease that was fun to see when at Hogwarts he kept his appearance of an unwavering boy who never flinches.
"Having fun ?" He said with a teasing tone that startled the younger one which made the older one giggle.
Regulus rubbed the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. "Yeah..."
"The Potters are really something." Remus said, looking at the family who were chatting and laughing together, Sirius included. Regulus leant back into his chair with a loud sigh, not of annoyance but exhaustion. He already struggled with James but the whole fam was something else entirely.
Regulus looked back at Remus, making an eye contact before the other one talked again.
"They're fun to be around. Why did you accept to come here ? You look really really uncomfortable." He chuckled softly, to ligjten the conversation somehow.
"I'm not uncomfortable just...it feels weird." He sighed and looked face to him, Sirius and James still laughing together while James' parents looked at them with a fond look. "At Grimmault, it's so different. The dinners
are cold and you feel like you could die anytime. Here it's...warm and joyful. I'm not used to that." He cleared his throat after his words, he never talked this openly out of his own group of friends. With Remus nonetheless, his brother's boyfriend, it was awkward, disturbing.
As an answer Remus smiled with a light hum in understanding and glanced back at the others. James was looking at them.
"You didn't answered though...why did you come ?"
Regulus sighed, trying to find a correct answer, one that will reveal less but still stay frank and honest.
"James asked me if I wanted to. I never did that kind of things I thought it would be fun, well he kinda forced me actually. I did not imagine how different it would be."
The werewolf hummed and leant back.
"I got that. I never really had a family but they felt like it. They welcommed me in without asking for anything. James trusted me and so did they." Regulus grinned, the Potters really were good people and it seemed that they never expected anything back. How could such people exist.
"It feels great to be here. James really is...a good guy. I did not expect him to invite me since it's kinda cold with my brother. And since I'm a Black." He made a break to breath shortly. "He's a good person, he's really kind and present for his friends and everything." He chuckled weakly, his words seemed so ridiculous.
"And handsome too." Remus said with a smirk, his eyes on the younger boy who scoffed and looked away. Of course James was handsome but he'd never admit it, not to Remus at least ; they weren't close enough.
Eventually Regulus had to go to the bathroom, he needed to take a break from this happiness and good mood. All those laughs gave him a headache and cramps from his smile, no matter if they were real or not. It's been a while since he actually spent a great like this one. There was no one to yell at him because he lowered his head more than he should nor to tell him that he must have the best grades in potions and DADA class. It was so damn refreshing, he could smile without having no one to ask why with a stern and harsh tone as if he could not be happy.
He splashed his face with water, his cheeks felt hot even after only one glass of butterbeer Fleamont allowed them to drink on this special occasion. He quickly dried his face and get out, James behind the door.
"Oh- wanted to check how you were doing. Remus said you were quite shook..." The Gryffindor smiled warmly, his cheeks were red and his hair messy from all the agitation and fun he had previously. After Regulus nodded slowly he continued. "It's almost midnight, just wanted to make sure you weren't escaping the tradition."
The Black raised an eyebrow, curious. "The tradition ?" James nodded with a smile.
"On midnight we embrace everyone, wishing them the best for the year to come." Regulus parted his lips, bewildered. Embracing them was a thing but wishing them the best ? Sincerely overmore ? Before he could answer properly small explosions cut him.
It was midnight and Euphemia casted a spell on the Halloween pumpkin to make them explode into confettis all over the room with a wide smile. James dragged Regulus in the living room with him then started to hug his parents first, kissing both theirs cheeks.
"Happy New year, Mama. Happy new year, Papa. I wish you both health and sucess." Then he did the same for Sirius "I wish you to be happy", Remus "I wish to your condition to get better" and Peter "I wish you become a great wizard one day".
Regulus looked at him and hugged Remus briefly, he stumbled on his words so Remus told him he could just go with the hug and that it was already enough. Peter greeted him with a smile and wished that Regulus had a long and beautiful life. He stopped in front of Sirius, not knowing what to do. Being touchy was not one of his main quality. They never get along since they were the perfect child and the complete mess, the failure that ended up in Gryffindor.
They stared at each other for a couple of seconds before Sirius spread his arms and Regulus couldn't do anything but accept. "I wish you run from them" was the wish Sirius said; his words were truthful but he never expressed them aloud. They quickly stopped the embrace, as if embarassed and Regulus went away. He did not kissed nor hugged James' parents, instead he shook their hands but still told his wishes, respectful : "may you be as happy as you were this year. Thank you for the invitation". Fleamont and Euphemia smiled at Regulus, he was honest at leastt even though his wished sounded really banal.
There was only one person left he did not greet : James. Regulus walked to him, he was his friend and the one who invited him after all, he could greet him. Instead James grabbed his wrist and after a quick look to his parents he ran away, Regulus with him.
"Hey- w-what are you doing ?" Regulus asked, having no choice but run if he wanted to stay on his feet and not fall face down the floor. James didn't answer, too busy running and laughing hysterically. He didn't want to stop, his lungs were burning because he couldn't breathe properly nor wanted too.
He stopped further, and finally let go of Regulus hand to support himself, his hand on his own knees to catch his breathe. Regulus was not in a better state but the feeling of James' hand in his was missing him already. It felt good to have someone holding him even just for a short period of time to bring him on the dock of what seemed like a pond.
"What is wrong with you ?" Regulus frowned, still panting lightly. "You're completely dumb."
As an answer James sat down, his legs dangling above the water. He looked face to him, the moon reflected on the water and in the sky, some fireworks works made by muggle and wizards. The one made by the magical being were more fanciful; they formed letter, names and portraits while the muggle ones were just simple explosion of colours. Regulus sat next to him with a loud sigh then dust his pants.
"I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year." He looked at Regulus and smiled warmly.
"You could've done it there." The slythering grumbled but he could not deny the view was appealing. James chuckled and faced him, sitting cross legged.
"Yeah. But no, actually. Remus told me things. I...I didn't invite just for that." He cleared his throat, suddenly shy. Regulus own cheeks were pink, how could Remus betray him like that. "But first. I wish you a better year. A year where you could be happier, happy at all. Where you could go over your parents and fight against them, being yourself without fear..."
Regulus parted his lips, James was not just friendly and he liked it way too much. What was he supposed to respond ? He gulped nervously, his hand sweaty and cheeks pink which was obvious on his pale skin despite the dark of the place. James was serious, determined to prosve it he took out he wand and made appear a small firework with Slytherin and Gryffindor colors, saying basically "Happy New Year" with some more small epxlosion.
"I have enough of being friends with you. Sirius is your brother and he kinda gave me his benediction. Well he doesn't care as soon as you don't hurt me, that kinda shit." He took a deep breath and graabed Regulus' hands in his, shakily. "I want something serious. If you even feel something like this in any case it's be awkward..."
He let go of Regulus' hands, aware he could have been too fast, awkward or even stupid with his feelings. He never panicked about that sort of things. If someone didn't like him he's just get over it in seconds. But not this time. Regulus was his friend but how he loved the way he sounded, the way he looked. He loved the way Regulus smiled and rebuffed him, the way he answered sarcastically most of the time, he loved everything about him.
Regulus froze, nothing could have prepare him to this. What do you mean James Potter was into him ? What do you mean, James Fleamon Potter, the perfect student who loved pranks and teasing him was into him. He looked at him and unable to answer verbally he took back James' hands in his with an anxious gulp. This small gesture could appear as nothing for anyone else but for Regulus it was a huge step forward.
"I do want to. Remus was...right." He sighed quite loudly as if to evacuate his stress and looked away as he refused to meet James' gaze. Maybe it was just another of his pranks, if so that was terrible and he would more likely kill him afterwards.
Except it wasn't a prank, when Regulus dared to look back at the Gryffindor he smiled widely, so wide we could barely see his eyes. The Sun was beaming. Regulus could not help a small smile to escape, James looked heavenly like this. He could not contain his joy anymore, he would probably epxlode just like the fireworks to make a pink heart shape out of spark. The Gryffindor judged this decision probably too brutal, instead he jumped on Regulus, one hand on his back and his other hand against the back of his head.
James could not stop to smile, happiness running through his veins, his heart beating so fast and his blood rushing to his cheeks. It was cold and smoke went out every time they breathed, it only hit them now after their run. However the cold was not a inconvenience. Regulus was not disturbed by his back against the cold and frozen dock, he was more focused on the warmth of James' body against his.
"So we're like- together now ?" When Regulus nodded shyly, barely perceptible James let out a virile and manly sound of happiness. They were finally together. "For this year I wish us happiness too..."