Popular
The journey back to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. The chill of the evening air was tempered by the warmth of Remus’s arm around Padfoot’s shoulders. Padfoot leaned into him, basking in the lingering closeness of their moment at the Three Broomsticks.
Behind them, James and Regulus walked side by side; James's usual loud confidence and Regulus's usual silent confidence were replaced by a rare, mutual shyness. Every now and then, James would glance sideways at Regulus, a soft smile playing on his lips, while Regulus fiddled with the hem of his sleeve, trying (and failing) not to babble nervously.
As they reached the castle gates, the soft hum of conversation between James and Regulus faded. Remus slowed to a stop, turning to face Padfoot.
“Well,” Remus said softly, his hand lingering on Padfoot’s arm, "I suppose this is where I leave you for the night.”
Padfoot grinned, though his heart felt like it might burst, "Awe. You’ll miss me terribly, won’t you?”
Remus chuckled, shaking his head, "Don’t push your luck, Sirius.”
But before Padfoot could retort, Remus leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. When Remus pulled back, there was a warmth in his eyes that made Padfoot’s knees feel like they might give out.
“Goodnight, Sirius,” Remus murmured, his lips quirking into a small smile.
As Remus turned and walked away, Padfoot stood frozen for a moment, staring after him. Then, without warning, he let out an ear-piercing scream that echoed across the grounds.
James and Regulus both jumped, startled, while several passing students turned to stare.
“Pads!” James hissed, his eyes wide, "What in Merlin's nam-"
“HE KISSED ME!” Padfoot yelled, spinning around to face James and Regulus, his hands flying up to his hair, "He kissed me! Did you see that?! He kissed me!”
“Yes, we saw!” James groaned, covering his face, "Merlin, you’re going to wake the entire castle.”
“I don’t care!” Padfoot exclaimed, twirling in a circle like a lunatic, "He kissed me, and it was perfect! Perfect, James!”
Regulus, who was standing awkwardly a few feet away, raised an eyebrow.
"Congratulations, I guess.”
But Padfoot was too far gone in his euphoria to notice the sarcasm. He suddenly whipped around to face James, pointing a dramatic finger at him.
“James, you’re dismissed for the evening.”
James blinked.
"What?”
“Go away! Do something else, I don’t care what... go talk to the bloody portraits... or something- just leave!”
“Why-"
“Because I need to bond with my roomie!” Padfoot announced, throwing an arm around a very startled Regulus.
"It’s about time for a roommate heart-to-heart, and you’re not invited!"
James opened his mouth to argue, but one look at Padfoot’s manic expression convinced him otherwise.
He sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine. But don’t scare him off, Pads.”
With that, James shot Regulus a quick grin before heading off toward the castle, leaving the two standing alone under the moonlit sky. For a moment, the silence stretched between them.
“So,” Regulus finally said, shifting uncomfortably, “what exactly does a ‘rommate heart-to-heart’ entail?”
Padfoot turned to him, his grey eyes sparkling with determination.
"It entails us, Regulus Arcturus, finally getting to know each other like proper rommates. No snide comments, no pranks... just bonding.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"I’m not sure I believe you.”
“You wound me,” Padfoot said dramatically, clutching his chest, "but I swear on my honor as a Gryffindor that tonight is all about rommie love!"
Regulus snorted.
"I didn’t realize you had honor.”
Padfoot ignored the jab, grabbing Regulus’s arm and pulling him toward the castle.
"Come on, Reggie, let’s go!”
"What did you just call me?”
“Reggie! Oh my gosh, I’m going to call you Reggie! It’s perfect!”
“No, it’s not. You absolutely will not call me-"
“Too late, Reggie! It's happening!"
"Okay well what can I call you?"
"You can call me... hmm... Padfoot!"
"What about-"
"Let's not quarrel Reggie!"
_____________________________________________
"Okay Reggie, what music do you like?" Padfoot asks, kneeling by his extensive vinyl collection.
Regulus shrugs from his own bed, "I don't know-"
"Are you a Phoebe Bridgers guy? You're sad a lot."
"I-"
"Deftones?"
"Well-"
"Conan Gray?"
"Listen-"
"The Smiths? Oh definitely The Smiths."
"Hey-"
Sirius gasps sharply and yells, "Lana Del Rey!"
Regulus groans.
"I do not like Lana Del Rey."
"Yeah yeah. I have Ultraviolence and Did you know that there's a tun-"
"Yeah, yeah, go with Ocean Blvd."
Once the music is situated, Padfoot sits on Regulus's bed, smiling ear to ear.
"Okay! Let's tell each other a secret we've never told anyone!"
Regulus sighs.
"I... what?"
"Okay fine, I'll start! If you insist of course!"
Regulus can't help but laugh as Padfoot thinks.
"I got it! Okay okay okay... Remus and I are gonna get married!"
Regulus raises an eyebrow, "Oh are you? Has he asked?"
Padfoot rolls his eyes, "Oh he doesn't know it yet."
Regulus laughs with his chest this time. Padfoot was funny when he wanted to be, unfortunately.
"Okay, your turn!" Padfoot exclaims.
Regulus sighs, thinking.
"Padfoot I don't know that I... really-"
"Okay well why do you sleep with this locket under your pillow!?" Padfoot exclaims, extracting the locket in question.
Regulus's eyes widen, "Hey! Padfoot!"
"Tell me why! Tell me why!"
"No! Hey! Stop!"
"Reggie-"
"STOP!"
Padfoot froze, holding the locket in mid-air as Regulus scrambled to snatch it back from him. Padfoot blinked, realizing he had overstepped, his grin faltering for a moment. He’d never seen Regulus quite like this before... vulnerable, almost defenseless in a way that made Padfoot’s heart twist.
“Sorry,” he muttered, his fingers reluctantly letting go of the locket and handing it back to Regulus, "I didn’t mean to pry. I just... well, you know how I am. Always poking around. I found it while I was bedazzling your pillow."
Regulus finds himself gently laughing despite himself. He didn’t say anything at first, he just clutched the locket tightly to his chest. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought.
Padfoot’s mind raced, wondering if he had ruined whatever small bit of progress they’d made tonight. But then Regulus’s voice broke through the silence.
“It’s… it’s all I have left of my family. I don't even know their last name. All I know is that they....” Regulus sighs, "well. They were Death Eaters. And they... they had to have had contact with Salazar Slytherin. I'm not proud. But... it's all I have of them. My house elf Kreacher kept it for years... he finally gave it to me this year and... yeah."
Padfoot’s eyes soften and he whispers, "I'm sorry Reggie. Genuinely."
Regulus shakes his head, "No it's okay. Just... yeah."
Padfood nods, and the room falls into a silence.
Padfoot eventually says, "My parents were Death Eaters too."
Regulus's head instantly snaps up.
"I... I actually never knew them either. Well, I was three, anyways... when I was taken from them. Apparently they were awful but... I wouldn't really know."
The silence hangs heavy between them, and for a long moment, neither of them knows what to say. Padfoot’s words hang in the air, and Regulus feels the weight of Padfoot’s revelation sink in.
Regulus swallows, glancing at the locket in his hands. The vulnerability of their exchange feels strange, like stepping into foreign territory that neither of them has ever truly allowed themselves to explore. He’s not sure what to say next, but the weight of the moment is undeniable.
Finally, Regulus breaks the silence, his voice quieter than usual.
"I’m sorry,” he says, his words catching slightly in his throat, "didn’t realize… I didn’t mean to-"
“No, Reggie, it’s alright,” Padfoot interrupts gently.
Then, he quietly whispers, "I uh... I had a little brother. He died alongside my parents."
Regulus' heart ached, "I'm sorry."
The room feels even heavier now, as the shared grief lingers between them like a delicate thread, weaving their lives together in an unexpected, raw way. Regulus looks at Padfoot, his expression softening, a quiet understanding passing between them.
Padfoot shifts uncomfortably, clearly not used to talking about things like this. He leans back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to shake the weight of the conversation off. But Regulus is still processing, his hand absently tracing the edge of his locket, his mind racing with the new layers he’s just learned about his unlikely roommate.
“So,” Regulus says after a moment, breaking the silence but keeping his voice gentle, “we're both… orphans, in a way, huh?”
Padfoot gives a half-laugh, still staring at the ceiling, “Guess so.”
“Not the usual conversation I thought I’d have with you, Padfoot,” Regulus murmurs, glancing over at him, the corner of his lips twitching in a faint smile.
Padfoot snorts, turning his head to look at him, "I’m full of surprises, Reggie. Get used to it.”
Padfoot then sits up straight agressively, as if having just had an awakening.
"What?" Regulus asks.
"Oh my god... Reggie!"
"What?!"
"Now that we're friends- oh we're friends by the way... now that we're friends, I'm gonna make you my new project!"
Regulus's eyes widen and he laughs awkwardly, "Oh Padfoot... wow. You really don't have to do that."
"I know! That's what makes me so nice! Okay okay okay oh my gosh!"
Padfoot hops off the bed and starts rummaging through his stuff, Regulus watching from his bed.
"Okay, question time! I can't quite tell Reggie, do you like boys or girls? Or both? There's nothing wrong with both- oh! Did you see Pete and Evan and Barty tonight? How cute! Okay so...! Are we finding you a boyfriend or a girlfriend or both at the same time or two boyfriends at the same time or two girlfriends at the same time- Ooooh! What shoe size are you! We can share! Oh my gosh Reggie-"
"Whoah! Slow down Padfoot!"
Padfoot pauses mid-rummage, looking over at Regulus with wide, excited eyes. He seems to realize he’s gone off the rails a bit and flashes Regulus an apologetic grin.
“Right, right. Sorry, Reggie. Got carried away. But seriously, we need to talk about your love life. You can’t keep all your secrets to yourself forever.”
The two share a comfortable silence after that, Regulus not really wanting to comment on his 'love life.' But the silence is different now. There’s a new sense of camaraderie between Padfoot and Regulus, born from the unexpected moments of vulnerability they’ve shared.
“So, you’re seriously going to make me your project?” Regulus asks, smirking.
“Absolutely,” Padfoot says with exaggerated seriousness, "No escape now, Reggie.”
Regulus laughs, feeling lighter than he has in ages, "I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to be able to stop you, am I?”
Padfoot grins back, eyes twinkling with mischief, "Nope. Not a chance. You Reggie... are gonna be popular!"
And just like that, the awkwardness of their earlier interactions fades away, replaced by an easy, genuine connection between two unlikely friends. The night stretches on, filled with teasing banter, laughter, and lots of experimenting with clothes, shoes, hairstyles, slang, and pick-up lines.
Padfoot doesn't even try to bring it up until three hours in.
"So... James?"
Regulus raises an eyebrow, looking up from the strange assortment of shoes Padfoot had convinced him to try on.
"James? What about him?”
Padfoot grins mischievously, clearly enjoying the way the night has unfolded, but also eager to dive into the conversation.
"Well… You two have been talking a lot lately. More than usual, I mean. What’s going on there?”
Regulus hesitates, a slight flush creeping up his neck. He adjusts the oversized leather jacket that Padfoot had insisted he wear for the moment.
"What do you mean? We’re just… talking. It’s nothing.”
Padfoot’s grin only widens.
"Nothing? Really? Because from what I can tell, James is definitely into you. The way he’s been looking at you, acting around you… I know my best friend. I think he's down bad."
Regulus groans, dropping his head into his hands.
"Padfoot... James is… well, James. He’s always like that. He’s… weird about things sometimes.”
Padfoot snorts.
"Weird? Reggie, he’s head over heels for you, and you’re over here pretending you don’t notice.”
Regulus looks up, eyes narrowing in mock disbelief.
“What? Are you trying to get me to admit something that’s not even real?”
Padfoot shrugs dramatically, flopping back onto the bed.
"It’s not my fault if the evidence is so obvious. Trust me, I see everything. And let me tell you, Regulus… James is crazy about you.”
Regulus fidgets with the collar of the oversized jacket, thinking for a moment.
"I don’t know, Padfoot… James is so… James. I don’t think he even knows what he’s doing half the time.”
Padfoot laughs.
"He’s not that clueless. And even if he is, that’s just more reason for you to tell him.”
Regulus suddenly looks uncomfortable, twisting the Slytherin locket around his fingers.
"I don’t know if I’m ready for all of that. It’s… complicated. I don’t really think it’s a good idea.”
Padfoot sits up, his expression softening for a rare, serious moment.
"Reg, whatever’s going on with you and James, it’s not a bad thing. You don’t have to rush or force anything, but I think… you should at least acknowledge it. If you don’t talk to him, you’ll never really know where things could go.”
Regulus looks at Padfoot, silently grateful for the unexpected moment of sincerity. After a beat, he sighs.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. But I’m still not sure.”
Padfoot grins again, leaning back with his usual carefree demeanor.
"Well I'm sure. Do it!"
Regulus rolls his eyes, but there’s a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm glad you're sure, but not all of us are charming enough to pull our history professors Padfoot."
Padfoot chuckles, and then immediately giggles at the reminder.
"Okay well Reggie, if you won't gush about James, will you please let me gush about Remus? I beg you."
Regulus raises an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a teasing smile.
"Oh, this I have to hear.”
Padfoot immediately lights up, his face beaming with excitement as he flops back onto the bed, his hands clasped together as though in prayer.
“Okay, okay, so like, Remus is… everything,” Padfoot starts, his voice practically oozing with adoration, "He’s smart, kind, mysterious, and don’t even get me started on those eyes! They’re like… like pools of liquid gold, you know? I swear I could drown in them and be completely fine with it.”
"I wish I could drown-"
"Hey! I'm not done!"
"My apologies."
Padfoot grins, clearly delighted by Regulus’s playful interruption, but he’s on a roll now, and there’s no stopping him.
“Okay, okay, where was I? Oh, right! Remus! So, not only does he have this… this otherworldly charm, but he’s also..."
______________________________________________
The next day, Regulus shows up to Mr. Lupin's class in Doc Martens and a leather jacket, with rings, earrings, and one singular star clip (insisted upon by Padfoot) accessorizing his outfit.
He immediately spots James sitting by the window. His eyes flicker up, and before Regulus even has a chance to take a seat, James looks him up and down, an impressed smile spreading across his face.
“Well, well, well,” James grins, eyes twinkling with amusement, “Look who’s been Padfoot-ified.”
Regulus raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“Padfoot-ified?” he repeats, arching a brow, "what's that supposed to mean?”
James leans back in his chair, still eyeing Regulus’s outfit.
“You know,” he chuckles, “leather jacket, rings, the whole look."
Regulus snorts, but the compliment lingers in his chest in a way he’s not used to. James leans forward, his smile turning sincere.
“Honestly though,” James continues, his voice softening just slightly, “you look great. Seriously. But… you don’t need to change for anyone, Regulus.”
Regulus blinks, the words catching him off guard. For a moment, he’s not sure what to say. His gaze shifts from James’s warm smile to the rest of the class, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his jacket as a nervous energy creeps in.
“Yeah,” Regulus murmurs, his voice quieter now, “I don’t… think I was really changing, though. Just experimenting.”
James’s smile only grows. “Whatever it is, you’re pulling it off. Just don’t let anyone make you feel like you have to be someone you’re not.”
Regulus holds his gaze for a moment, feeling something warm bloom in his chest. He wants to say something back... something clever, something meaningful... but all he can manage is a sheepish, “Thanks.”
“Anytime,” James grins again, his eyes glinting with that same playfulness.
Regulus takes a seat, still buzzing with the unexpected exchange. It’s a strange feeling, one he’s not sure how to process. But as he settles into his seat, he can’t help but glance toward the door, where he spots Padfoot standing just outside, waving enthusiastically at him. Regulus finds himself not only waving back, but smiling as he does it. Students notice the exchange, and Regulus notices them notice.
The rest of the class passes in a blur. When the bell finally rings, signaling the end of the lesson, Padfoot meets up with James and Regulus on the way to the Great Hall, a wide grin plastered on his face.
As they walk, Regulus receives a total of eight compliments on his hair.
As the three part to their respective Great Hall tables, Padfoot exclaims, "You’re totally popular!"
Regulus can’t help but laugh, shaking his head; but the sound of his laugh is genuine.
Regulus Arcturus. Totally popular.
Just not as popular as Padfoot.
Never as popular as Padfoot.