IT'S OVER
The first two months of school had been a whirlwind for Regulus, but surprisingly, not all of it had been filled with the usual weight of expectations that came with being a Black at Hogwarts. While he still had to maintain the highest standards in both his academics and Quidditch, something had shifted this year. The pressure from his mother was more intense than ever, especially after she had discovered his relationship with James. Yet, despite her constant barrage of disapproving letters, Regulus found that having James in his life made everything feel more bearable. Even with the mounting tension, the love and support from James made it all seem a little more manageable, as though, for the first time in a long while, Regulus could breathe.
Regulus felt miserable without his better half. They weren’t seeing each other every day anymore—James was in London, deep in Auror training, and Regulus was finishing his final year at Hogwarts in Scotland. The distance was tough, but they kept their connection strong through letters. Their love was something they both embraced openly, even if they weren’t physically together all.
Regulus had been receiving constant letters from his mother, letters filled with venom and disappointment. Her criticisms of James were endless, her thoughts on their relationship harsh and unforgiving. But Regulus had stopped letting it get to him. The letters were long, scathing, and full of insults, but he was determined not to let them ruin the good things he had in his life.
Sirius’s letters came with updates about his life with Remus, always including mentions of James as well. Sirius seemed to be more supportive than Regulus had expected, and that was something he could always count on. Barty and Rosier, too, had surprisingly been understanding about Regulus’s relationship with James, though they couldn’t help but tease him about it. Their jokes were never malicious, just the kind of teasing that came from the way they were all growing up together.
Barty smirked as he passed a letter from James across the table. “You know, Black,” he began, leaning back in his chair with a teasing grin, “I always thought you’d be the type to go after a nice pureblood girl. But I guess you’ve got a thing for sucking cock after all, huh?”
Regulus couldn’t help but snort, rolling his eyes. “You’re insufferable.”
Rosier chimed in, laughing. “Honestly, we’ve all seen it coming. The way you and Potter look at each other it's like everyone else is just waiting for you two to make it official.”
Regulus chuckled, feeling a warm glow in his chest. Despite their teasing, he knew his friends had his back. They’d always known, in their own odd way, that he and James were meant to be.
They both chuckled, and for once, Regulus felt like he had found a place where he belonged, even in Slytherin.
As for his studies, Regulus was fully dedicated to his N.E.W.T.s. He was still the perfectionist he had always been, pouring over books in the library, making sure that every detail of his schoolwork was completed with precision. But it wasn’t just academics that occupied his time. Quidditch had always been a passion, and this year, Regulus was more committed than ever. He’d always been skilled on a broom, but this year, he felt the pressure to excel, not only for himself but for his house and for the chance to prove that he could focus on something outside of his personal life. Quidditch practice had become a welcome distraction from the rest of the world, and he threw himself into it, working harder than ever.
His teammates noticed the change, and even though they were Slytherins, there was a sense of camaraderie on the pitch that made him feel like he wasn’t entirely alone.
Then, of course, there were the letters from James. Every week, sometimes twice, Regulus would eagerly rip open the envelope, read James’s words, and savor them like they were the only thing that mattered. The letters were always full of affection and longing, and Regulus couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest person in the world to have James’s love.
“James wrote again, didn’t he?” Barty teased one day when he saw Regulus with a smile on his face, staring down at one of the letters.
Regulus nodded. “He did.”
Rosier chuckled. “What’s he say this time? ‘Miss you, can’t wait to fuck you again, etc.?’”
Regulus laughed. “Something like that.”
Barty snorted, but there was no malice in his voice. “You two are unbelievable.”
Regulus smiled. “You wouldn’t understand.”
But Barty just shrugged. “No, maybe not. But hey, at least you’re happy”
As Christmas approached, Regulus found himself feeling more confident in his relationship with James. There were still moments of tension with his family, his mother’s letters, and her pressure to follow the Black family traditions, but for the first time, Regulus was starting to believe that maybe things could be different. Maybe he didn’t have to follow the path his parents wanted for him. Maybe he could make his own future, with James by his side.
With each passing day, he was more certain that he was on the right path, even if it wasn’t the one his family expected. He had James, he had his friends, and he had his Quidditch. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
...
Christmas break was finally here, and Regulus could hardly contain his excitement. He’d left Hogwarts on the 20th of December, and now, he was on his way to London. James had been vague about their plans for the holidays, but Regulus didn’t need much more than the promise of seeing him again. He couldn’t wait to be with his boyfriend after what felt like an eternity apart.
When he arrived at King’s Cross, he was greeted by Sirius and Remus. Sirius flashed a grin as he pulled Regulus into a warm hug, and Remus gave him a more reserved but equally heartfelt greeting.
“How was the first term back?” Remus asked as they walked towards the car.
“Surprisingly smooth,” Regulus replied, his mind already drifting towards James. “Just can’t wait to see James, to be honest.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow. “You’ll get your chance soon enough. I’m sure he’s dying to see you too. He’s been… well, let’s just say he’s been rather ‘James’ about it all.”
Regulus smirked at the mention of James’ typical overenthusiasm. They had so much to talk about, so many things he wanted to share with him. But for now, it felt good just to be with Sirius and Remus again.
The car ride to Grimmauld Place was filled with light-hearted conversation. Sirius and Remus caught Regulus up on all the happenings they’d missed, their voices a comfortable backdrop to the anticipation building inside him. As they neared the house, however, Regulus noticed something odd. It wasn’t the house itself, it still looked the same, dark and imposing, but there was a shift in the air, a subtle change that made him uneasy. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but he couldn’t ignore the feeling that something was different.
Once they arrived, Regulus was immediately told to get cleaned up and presentable. His father insisted that he maintain the Black family standards, especially for the important visitors they would have later on. Regulus complied, quickly taking a shower and changing into clothes that felt too stiff for his liking, though he knew better than to argue.
As he made his way downstairs, Regulus paused outside the study. He noticed something strange. Sirius and Remus were still lingering nearby, which was odd. His father’s study was usually a place for more private discussions, and it wasn’t typical for anyone to be hanging around. Something was definitely off.
Taking a deep breath, Regulus pushed open the door and stepped inside, hoping his father wasn’t going to lecture him. When Regulus entered the study, he was immediately struck by the unfamiliarity of the scene before him. An older couple stood by the fireplace, both immaculately dressed. Their polished appearances were the kind Regulus had come to expect from old pureblood families, but there was something undeniably warm about them that immediately caught his attention.
The man had a friendly smile on his face, and the woman had an almost motherly kindness in her gaze.
“Regulus, it’s so lovely to see you again,” the man said in a warm, welcoming tone.
Regulus, though trying to hide his confusion, gave them a polite smile and a nod. Who are they? he thought,
The woman, noticing his confusion, smiled softly and said, “Oh, dear, you’ve been to our house so many times before. You’re certainly familiar with us, even if you don’t remember.”
Regulus was still confused, the his eyes met James . His heart gave an involuntary leap at the sight of him, dressed far more formally than usual. James wasn’t wearing his Auror training uniform, but instead had on a sharp suit that only made him look even more handsome. Regulus immediately wanted nothing more than to walk up to him, pull him into an embrace, and kiss him like he’d been imagining for weeks, but he held himself back. Something was off. He didn’t know what was happening. Why was James here? He had been sure that after everything with his mother, he would never be allowed at Grimmauld Place again. And now here James was, looking relaxed in a sharp suit, not his usual Auror training uniform. What was going on?
As he looked between the strangers, trying to figure out where he was and what he was walking into, James stepped forward with that familiar smile and mischievous glint in his eye. “Regulus,” James began, his voice smooth and reassuring. “These are my parents, Euphemia and Fleamont Potter.”
Regulus blinked, taking a moment to process. His parents? He hadn’t expected this.
As he looked over to his mother, he was struck by how content she seemed. She wasn’t scowling or glaring at James; she wasn’t angry at all. Regulus couldn’t wrap his head around it. How could this be happening?
He couldn’t keep the question in any longer. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze shifted between his mother, James, and his parents, trying to make sense of it all.
James glanced at him, his smile still present, but now tinged with affection as he stepped closer to Regulus. “Well, that’s what I was going to tell you,” he said softly. His hand brushed against Regulus’ briefly before he continued, “I wanted to ask you something.”
Regulus’ heart skipped in his chest. What was going on? He had no idea what to expect, but the tension in the room seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
James turned to face him fully, his expression serious but full of affection. “Regulus,” he said, his voice steady, “I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. I know we’ve been through a lot, and I know things aren’t always easy, but I want you to be my partner, for everything. So, will you marry me?”
Regulus froze, his mind going completely blank. The world seemed to stop for a moment as he processed what James had just said. He looked around, feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze. Euphemia’s eyes were bright with tears, and even, Fleamont, who typically exuded a calm, collected demeanor, looked emotional. Regulus looked down at James, still holding that nervous but hopeful expression, waiting for his response.
For a moment, Regulus could only stare, his heart pounding. Could this be real? His mind raced. After everything, after the madness of the last few months, could it really be possible?
Finally, Regulus found his voice, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. “Yes,” he whispered, his breath shaky. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
A smile spread across James’ face, pure joy lighting up his features. Before Regulus could even fully process what had just happened, James had pulled him into a gentle kiss, their lips meeting with the kind of sweetness that could only come from someone who had loved deeply and for a long time.
Euphemia and Fleamont smiled at the two, exchanging a look of pure happiness. “We’re so pleased,” Euphemia said softly, her voice full of emotion. “Welcome to the family, Regulus.”
As Regulus kissed James, everything else seemed to fall away. The confusion, the family drama, the weight of expectations, they all melted into the warmth of James' embrace, and for the first time in a long while, Regulus felt certain about something. He was home. He was with James. And everything was finally falling into place.
After the kiss, Regulus pulled back and glanced at his father. Orion cleared his throat and gave a small nod, as if he had expected Regulus to be wondering what was going on.
“You’re probably wondering how all of this happened,” Orion began calmly. “I’ll fill in the gaps.” He paused before continuing. “James officially requested my permission to propose to you.”
Regulus’s eyes widened slightly, the surprise evident on his face. He hadn’t expected this at all.
“And of course, Walburga accepted,” Orion added with a slight shrug. “And she allowed James to be in the house again, with the condition that he use the front door.”
Regulus chuckled softly at that, feeling some tension melt away. It wasn’t exactly the warm approval one would expect, but it was better than he had feared.
He turned to James, smiling softly. “Thank you.”
Before anyone could say more, Walburga, who had been silent until now, chimed in. Her gaze shifted to Remus, and with a pointed look, she said, “Well, now that we’re on the subject, I do hope you’re planning on proposing to Sirius, too.”
Sirius, clearly not bothered by the comment, leaned back with a smirk. “We’ve been living together for six months, Mother,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “We’re past the whole proposal thing.”
Remus bit his lip, trying to suppress his amusement, but Walburga was not having it. “That’s no excuse,” she insisted. “You should at least make it official.”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “And besides,” he added with a grin, looking at Orion, “Dad already gave us his approval, didn’t you Dad? You made it official.”
Walburga raised an eyebrow, curious, and Sirius explained with a smirk, “You gave us your blessing in the form of a pink teapot.”
Orion, who had been trying to stifle his laughter, added, “Not just any teapot, mind you. It looks... well, let’s just say it looks like something else entirely.”
Sirius grinned widely. “A teapot that unmistakably says ‘I approve,’” he added cheekily.
Everyone burst out laughing, everyone but Walburga of course.
Orion smiled and shrugged. “A pink phallic-shaped teapot is as official as it gets in this house.”
Sirius chuckled. “It’s practically a family heirloom now.”
Walburga gave Sirius a hard look, clearly not amused. “I don’t know why I even bother,” she muttered under her breath.
Regulus, still chuckling, turned to James. “Well, I guess that’s as official as it gets,” he said, his smile wide.
James grinned back. “Guess so.”
Regulus, feeling the warmth of the room and the love surrounding him, knew that this was just the beginning. The approval from his family, even if it came with a few jabs, was more than he had hoped for. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And that was enough.