Regulus had been persuaded (forced against his will) by his friends to attend the Marauder’s Christmas party hosted by his elder brother, Sirius, and his boyfriend Remus. A terribly tedious and awkward affair due to the Black brothers previously estranged relationship, yet he was willing to bear it for them. Dorcas promised her girlfriend she’d attend; Pandora was currently entertaining a romance with a certain ginger-haired Gryffindor and both Barty and Evan just wanted to have a good time and couldn’t care who’s booze they were drinking.
Immediately upon arrival, Marlene snuck up onto the group and embraced her girlfriend causing Dorcas to gasp in surprise before dragging her paramour to the dancefloor. Before Regulus could even register Dorcas’s departure, he saw Barty and Evan rushing over to the drinks and pouring overindulgent amounts of various spirits which they would regret the following morning. Pandora (who wore tinsel in her white hair) remained by the black-haired boy with an awkward posture as if she felt obligated to keep him company. He would’ve pretended to be oblivious but he saw the kooky and sparkly girl gazing with infatuated eyes at Lily Evans, “Just go speak to her.” he sighed rolling his eyes as she bear-hugged him all giddy before running off to her ginger companion.
It wasn't so bad being ditched as Regulus had found a secluded corner of the room where he could stand and observes the festivities from a comfortable distance. The decor was a wearisome red and gold colour scheme that reminded Regulus the hosts Gryffindor alumni and how little he missed his elder brother’s abhorrent interior design in their years apart. The tree was enormous, so much so the apex curled over against the ceiling, and was so loudly decorated Regulus could feel the beginnings of a migraine. There were tinsel and flickering lights all about the interior and exterior of the place that made it hard to discern where the flashing in the corner of his eye came from (especially with billywigs floating about with decorations attached to them). Yet in his corner he felt peace... until he didn’t.
“Not going to greet me, Reggie?” exclaimed the booming voice of his brother Sirius as he approached, dragging his boyfriend Remus with him.
The couple were wearing ridiculous matching jumpers that Regulus immediately as his brother’s crimes against fashion. “I’m greeting you now, aren’t I?” the younger replied in his usual deadpan voice.
His elder brother sighed and softened his voice, “Whatever. I'm happy you actually came.”
The relationship between the siblings was very strained since Sirius left the family manor, without Regulus. Until just a couple of months ago (when Regulus graduated from Hogwarts and finally felt brave enough to break free from the shackles of the black family) the two hadn’t spoken and they had to speak properly regarding the tension in their relationship. So, unsure of how to respond to his brother, he nodded and walked away before bumping into someone. A very regretful someone.
“Oh sorry-” “Ugh sorry” the two interjected in overlapped speech before looking up (and down) at ghosts of their past. Regulus had come face-to face (well shoulder to shoulder) with none other than the terribly handsome James Potter with an ability to make even the ugliest Christmas jumpers hot. “...Reggie?” the taller boy said peering down. “I almost didn’t recognize you with that makeup. It's cool. The whole like goth thing” he said with full sincerity indicating to the eyeliner on his face.
As if he hadn’t broken Regulus’s heart a year prior. Without thinking or composing himself, the raven-haired boy blurted, “Just fuck off, you specky twat.” and ran away from a very confused lad.
The story of their complicated past began two years ago during James’s final year at Hogwarts. The complex details of their dalliance were a little hazy, but after a party (celebrating on of the many quidditch tournaments) the two had both ended up alone in the astronomy tower and in drunken passion snogged under the stars. Which they did a lot more in various places until eventually it became a regular thing and slowly (to Regulus at least) more intimate. Until James Potter and the rest of his year graduated in July last year.
Due to the infatuation created through swapping spit and charming conversation, the two attempted to stay in contact over the months that followed to no avail. But with his stupidly ridiculous crush, Regulus Arcturus Black decided to reignite their passion (and confess his school boy feelings) through a Christmas present. In the Black household, most Christmas ‘traditions were considered “muggle garbage” so Regulus felt his gesture was ever so personal. As his final school year began, Regulus pondered deeply and starched various shops in Hogsmeade and adverts in muggle magazines for trinkets to create the “perfect” gift for the boy he was smitten for.
With love and affection, Regulus wrapped up James’s favourite chocolates, various trinkets that reminded him of the elder boy and even created various charms and sigils to protect him from evil and provide luck and wealth to convey the depths of his devotion. Alongside this, he crafted a long, soppy note confessing his feelings and wishing his beau a merry Christmas and happy new year. Looking back at the time and care, he felt like a stupid, hopeless romantic.
He sent off the present at the very end of November to assure it punctual arrival to the Potter Manor. Then he waited. And waited. Then waited some more until New Year's Eve when he realised his most inner and deepest feelings had been blatantly disregarded and ignored by James Potter, a man he’d at least expected to have gently rejected him if he didn’t feel the same but apparently, he was never aware of the Gryffindor’s true character after all. Regulus had been a fool and he’d never be again.
Since his outburst, Regulus had decided to hide himself inside a broom cupboard (literally the broom closet as his brother’s old quidditch broom was lying a couple metres away) and remain there until the party’s. Yet even his melodramatics were interrupted as he heard a knock on the cupboard door. “Reggie, what’s wrong? Why’d you run away?” a horridously familiar voice whispered gently against the door.
“Go away, Potter.” Regulus muttered as collected himself.
The door opened, and in walked the brown-skinned boy, still in his horrifically ugly Christmas sweater and round glasses, with an awkward manner about him as he lowered himself to sit beside the longer-haired boy, “I don’t mean to intrude, but you seemed upset and I’m sorry if walking into you just then worsened it.”
Regulus scoffed “You’re such a dickhead. Do you really think I’m mad about that? I’m obviously mad about you callously ignoring both my gift and letter last year. I mean if you didn't feel the same you could at least have replied-”
“Wait you sent that letter?” the Gryffindor interjected in pure shock.
Annoyed, Regulus took a deep breath. “Potter, what on earth do you mean? OfCourse, I sent the bloody letter, I signed it for Merlin's sake.”
James reached for the other boy’s hand, “But that’s just the thing! The ink must not have been dry or your letter got caught in the rain because the ink was all smudged at the bottom,” he squeezed Regulus’s hand, “If I had known it was from you, I’d have written back instantly. Though if it upset you so much, I don't understand why you didn't respond to my card.”
“Your card?” Regulus repeated confused.
“Yeah, I thought maybe you just didn’t like Christmas cards or something cos it was return to sender or maybe your parents found it or something. And then I was gonna send you a birthday card, but it said in the Daily Prophet you moved out of your parent’s house and I wasn’t sure what your new address was.”
Upon realising the situation, Regulus burst out laughing. He had thought James Potter had brutally rejected him, yet it appeared both of them had attempted to reignite their tryst. He turned to the Gryffindor who had joined him in laughter. “Well, next year I’ll send you present to make up for it.” James joked with his usual grin.
“Oh, shut up Potter.” Regulus retorted endearingly before pulling him in for a kiss.