A Very Potter Christmas

The Final Day of Yule.

The Twelfth Night.

New Year’s Day.

It always felt bittersweet to James. Beautiful in its completion of the cycle, yet saddening too. Tomorrow, the decorations would come down, bundled into boxes and tucked away into the attic until next year. Tomorrow, there would be no more celebrations. No more feasts. No more excuses to gather. Tomorrow, the magic of the season would be over, and everything would go back to normal.

But for today… for today it remained. The shadow of tomorrow creeping in, but not here yet. Today, the Yuletide festivities trundled merrily along, and the Yule Log continued to burn bright. Today, Gus in his misshapen glory, and the other Yule Goats too, sat vigilantly upon the mantle and continued to watch over their table, keeping them fed and protected. Today, James ate until he couldn’t eat anymore, surrounded by his loved ones whom he treasured dearly. Today, he gave thanks for all of his blessings, and relished in the wonder of right now.

Last minute, Marlene’s little brother Joshua had fallen ill, so Uncle Alon had stayed behind with him. Unfortunately, that meant the Mckinnons couldn’t host the feast, so everyone piled over to the Potter house instead. In the spirit of a gathering thrown together hastily, they’d invited everyone to join the chaos fun — the Mckinnons, the Lupins, the Pettigrews, the Macdonalds, the Evanses, the Prewetts, the Longbottoms, the Tonkses, the Malfoys, and Alphard Black too. All except Lucius Malfoy and Lily’s family had accepted (though Lily herself showed up), so the massive dining hall at Potter Manor was, for once, cramped and full. Potluck style, everyone brought food with them, a mishmash of dishes cluttering up the table as everyone yelled down the way to pass ‘x’ platter. It was loud, and it was raucous, and despite the number of Purebloods in attendance, it didn’t involve a lick of manners.

James was having the time of his life.

On the other side of the table, he saw Hope Lupin and Ted Tonks in deep discussion with James’s Dad about something. Beside them, Narcissa and her sister Andromeda were having what looked like a tentative reconciliation. Mum was chatting up Alphard Black with Peter’s parents, whilst many of the other adults intermingled.

The kids had been grouped together on James’s side of the table, the ages approximately declining as you looked from right to left. Regulus was smiling softly as he talked with Ethan and Drew, the Prewett siblings catching up with Peter. James had Remus on one side of him and Sirius on the other, Marlene, Mary and Lily chatting opposite. They were all practically shouting to hear each other over the din, but James didn’t care. You couldn’t have wiped the grin off of his face if you tried.

“Mam’s been teaching me to cook,” Remus lamented in James’s ear at one point in the night.

“She has?” He perked up. “That’s great!”

“I blame you,” he groused, waving an accusatory fork in James’s direction. Cheekily, James bit the cube of roasted potato off the end of it, which only aggravated Remus further. “She was so impressed by your cooking, she’s somehow decided I need to do it too!” He complained. “Can you believe it?!”

“Well, it’s a valuable life skill, mate,” James replied automatically. Then he paused. “Merlin, I sound like my Mum.”

“Serves you right,” Remus sniffed. He ate a pig in a blanket to soothe himself. “I can’t believe people cook every day. It’s so much work.”

James had to forcibly bite back his smile. “Not just everyday — multiple times a day.”

Remus groaned dramatically.

“Padfoot doesn’t cook either,” James mentioned faux casually. “At least one of you should know how.”

Remus stilled. “If you’re trying to trick me into being more enthusiastic about learning to cook, solely to be a good boyfriend to Sirius, it’s not going to work.”

“Isn’t it?”

“… I don’t want to hear it.”

James laughed wildly. “You know, now’s a good time to go for it,” he encouraged. “Get the ‘boyfriend’ part sorted.”

At once, Remus’s demeanour washed with anxiety. “Now?”

“Why not?” James started to get up, swapping their plates around. “I’ll switch seats with you.”

“Prongs, I don’t know about th–”

“Seize the day!” James urged him up. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”

“Only about seven hundred times.”

James wasn’t deterred. “Make it happen, Moony! Gryffindor up!”

Remus took a bolstering set of breaths, reluctantly scooting over into the next seat.

At the movement, Sirius turned from his conversation with Mary to see Remus now sitting next to him. His whole face lit up like a lumos. “Moony!”

“Padfoot,” the boy smiled indulgently, melting like butter in the face of his crush.

“I was just telling Mary about my Rubik’s cube!”

“Still haven’t solved it yet?”

Sirius’s features contorted into a determined pout. “I will soon! I think I’ve nearly got it!”

“Sure, Pads, sure.”

Pleased with himself, James left them to it.

*

Soon enough, seat swapping started occurring more and more frequently — the whole affair turning into a complex game of musical chairs, minus the music. He made a point of catching up with Hope, curbing his shit-eating grin when she interrogated him about easy recipes for beginners. He also ensured to introduce himself to Alphard Black — Sirius’s favourite uncle — the guy turned out to be an aging rocker who wouldn’t shut up about his muggle partner, Steven, the moment he realised James was as liberal as they come. He assured the older man that he could have brought his partner with him, and no-one here would have said a word against it.

“If they did, I’d kick them out,” James stated emphatically.

Alphard seemed quite touched by this.

Later, James found himself nervously sliding into the seat next to the Black sisters with the awkward song and dance of, “Do you mind if I sit…? Ah, cool! I just wanted to say hi, hope I’m not interrupting! I’m James, by the way.”

Andromeda Tonks, née Black arched an elegant brow at him. She looked startlingly like Bellatrix, but for her hair, which fell in gentle and dark waves. She looked somehow softer, or perhaps simply less manic. Still, James didn’t doubt that she was as sharp as the rest of her family.

“I know,” she said dryly.

“We’ve met,” Narcissa added, just to mess with him.

James spluttered. What was it with Blacks and trying to push him off-kilter? Was it inbuilt to their genetic code to make him squirm as a source of amusement? “Merlin and Morgana, I see where Regulus gets it from,” he murmured absently.

Narcissa’s gaze sharpened. “On the topic of my cousin, I do hope you are treating him well.”

“Of course!” James frowned, offended she’d think otherwise. “He deserves everything!”

A series of emotions flickered across the other sister’s face lightning fast. “Oh?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You two are dating? Wait, you’re gay? Wait, Reggie’s gay? I am so behind on the society gossip!”

“That is precisely what happens when one runs off with a Muggleborn,” Narcissa drawled pointedly.

Her sister only rolled her eyes.

James, meanwhile, had gone wide-eyed, arms flailing. “We’re not dating! Or well— not yet! I just— I haven’t— we haven’t— I still need to— I’m not assuming we’ll get together or anything — It’s up to him! I just–”

“Oh darling, don’t hurt yourself,” Andromeda teased, amusement playing at her lips.

“We’re not together,” James finally managed to say.

“But you would like to be?” Narcissa’s shrewd gaze remained fixed upon him.

He tapped his feet against the floor anxiously. “Uhm. Yeah. Please don’t tell him though. I want to talk to him myself.”

“Why haven’t you already?” The question came out cold from the blonde.

He shrugged, smiling bashfully. “I only recently realised I’m queer, and it took me a bit to work up the courage. Regulus is… well, he can be quite intimidating. Like you two, really.”

The dark-haired woman smirked, but not unkindly. “May I ask how recent the realisation was?”

James mentally calculated. “Er, about ten days ago, give or take. Before that, I couldn’t tell if it was a real crush or not, because I’d been pretty sure I was straight. …Apparently not. Super gay for Regulus.”

Andromeda looked like she wasn’t sure what to make of him. Mirth, surprise, and exasperation all swirled about in her expression. She looked sideways at her sister. “This one? Really?”

“Mhm.”

“And we approve?”

Narcissa’s lip was twitching again like she was holding back a laugh. “Believe it or not, I do. He’s more competent than he’s presenting right now.”

James wanted to protest, but, “That’s fair.” He avoided eye contact. “I’m just nervous. I want Regulus and Sirius’s favourite cousins to like me.”

“We’re the favourites?” Narcissa parroted, genuinely surprised.

“Of course, we are,” Andromeda smugly sat back in her seat. “I’m Siri’s, you’re Reggie’s. And honestly, vice versa.”

“But Bella—?”

“Is Bella. Are you really all that surprised?”

The blonde seemed to consider this. Then, her lip quirked up, just the slightest bit at the corners, pleased but shy. It lasted all of one second before she cleared her throat and schooled her expression back to neutrality, but James was awed that she’d dropped her guard at all, brief as it had been. “Ahem. Returning to the matter at hand, Heir Potter has had a rather successful debut season, and seems to have enough wits to keep up with Reggie. He also negotiated the alliance which made it possible at all for me to attend this… gathering.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder in a subtle nervous tick. “Thus, I am leaning towards approval.” Abruptly, she switched tracks and narrowed her eyes at James. “This is subject to change should you step a single toe out of line.”

He straightened up. “Yes, ma’am. Understood loud and clear.”

“Good boy,” she replied condescendingly.

Oh, she was so hot and so mean. Just like Regulus. But older. Would Regulus be this brutal and composed when he was older? James hoped so. He very much hoped so.

Luckily unaware of his inner monologue, Andromeda was scrutinising him with interest. “He looks a little… soft.”

A scoff. “Like you can talk. Edward is practically a bunny rabbit.”

“A very cute bunny rabbit.”

Narcissa rolled her eyes. “Potter has more bite than anticipated. He chewed Aunt Wally out yesterday.”

This seemed to pique the woman’s interest. “Tell me more this instant.”

“At my ball, he threatened to air her dirty laundry for every guest to hear, and embarrassed her publicly about losing their little sparring match to a barely-debuted teenager.” Narcissa’s eyes gleamed with wicked glee.

Her sister gaped. Turned to James. “Welcome to the family. I take back all of my hesitation.”

James couldn’t decide whether to grin or run away. “Well… she deserved it. I would’ve preferred to beat her up, but that’s frowned upon.”

“And illegal.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “Only if you get caught.”

Andromeda seemed delighted. “What house are you in again? It has to be Slytherin.”

“Gryffindor.”

“How did that happen?”

“A mystery for the ages. My Mum’s Slytherin, though. And Dad’s Ravenclaw. I like to think I’ve learnt from the best.”

“I love him,” Andromeda declared to her sister, which made James preen like one of the Malfoys’ peacocks.

Narcissa nearly smiled. “He’s certainly entertaining.” Then to James: “Hurt Reggie and they’ll never find your body.”

James paused, conflicted. He chose his words carefully. “Fair. But the same goes for you two. Don’t turn your back on him and Sirius again, societal expectations be damned,” he bravely directed that at Narcissa. “And don’t let the distance grow to no contact again either,” that part was to Andromeda. Intimidating as they were, he stood his ground against both women. Because when the brothers had run away, they’d lost their home and their family, including Narcissa, who hadn’t fought to maintain a relationship with either of them. And when Andromeda had run away, it would probably have been difficult to keep in contact with her cousins, but he still felt like she should have tried at least, rather than writing them off with the rest of the family.

These women were the adults here, years older than both Regulus and Sirius. James would hold them accountable for the way they had treated their younger cousins, even if no-one else would. He knew they were both victims too, but that didn’t mean they had an excuse to be absent as adults.

“If you want to be in their lives, you have to stay this time,” he continued. “Don’t mess them around. Not again. They’ve been through enough already.”

The two women softened despite his harsh words.

“Oh, yeah,” Andromeda breathed quietly, “he’s perfect.”

“Perhaps,” was all Narcissa allowed.

James let himself hope that this generation of Blacks would be better than the last.

*

James watched in horror as Drew and Ethan’s feet remained magically stuck in place, an innocent little sprig of mistletoe placed above the only doorway in and out of the dining room.

He scanned the crowded table, instantly knowing who the culprit was, and sure enough, Sirius was grinning evilly at the sight. He shot out of his seat to confront his best friend, head ducking down to Sirius’s seated level. “What the fuck, Pads?”

“Are you accusing me of such tom-foolery?” Sirius gasped, faux offended. “I would never!”

“Where did you even get that? I thought we put it back in the attic!”

Sirius shuddered. “Yes, and it was very cobwebby up there. Nasty, really.”

James glanced over to where Ethan was trying to get rid of the mistletoe, aiming spell after spell at the sprig.

“Please tell me you didn’t use a permanent sticking charm on the enchanted mistletoe.”

The boy rolled his eyes. “I’m not a complete idiot. It’ll last twenty-four hours.”

“Padfoot!”

“What?” The git batted back. “I don’t know what you’re so pissed for. You should be thanking me.”

James wanted to strangle him. “What if I get stuck there with…?” he swallowed and furtively looked around, spying his laughing Dad explaining the charm to the rest of the room. Ethan and Drew relaxed and kissed chastely, their feet instantly unsticking. James took everyone’s moment of distraction to lean closer to his friend. “What if I get stuck there with Regulus?”

“Then kiss him. Boom, unstuck! Two birds, one stone.”

His glare was a mighty thing. “You think Regulus — so private he barely even feels comfortable smiling in public — would want a confession and first kiss in full view of everyone we know?!”

Sirius faltered. “… It’s not everyone we know.”

James levelled him with a severely unimpressed look. In the background, Marlene was heckling her brother and his partner as they walked back to their seats, cheeks stained crimson.

“Okay, I didn’t quite think that part through,” Sirius admitted sheepishly. “But I have a whole plan for me and Moony!”

He resisted the urge to face palm. “Bully for you.”

His best friend pouted. “I need you to be more supportive. I’m risking years of friendship here! Tell me I’m smart, and pretty, and make great plans.”

“One of those things is true,” James quipped back. He sighed, resigned. “Fine — what’s the plan, and what am I supposed to be doing? I assume I’m part of the plan.”

“Of course, you’re part of the plan,” Sirius agreed, because that was obvious. “I’m calling it ‘Operation Wolfstar’. Get it? Because I’m–”

“I get it,” James interjected tiredly. “Skip to my part.”

Mildly put out, Sirius obliged. “So, I need you to…”

*

Against his better judgement, James found himself idly waiting out in the hallway, listlessly pacing back and forth as he waited for Remus to come back from the loo. Did he have much faith in this plan? No. But there was no dissuading Sirius when he set his mind to something, so James simply sucked it up and helped his friend.

“Hiding out?” A familiar voice drawled, low and silky.

James whipped around to see perfect raven curls and a smirk playing at Regulus’s lips. He looked cosy in his festive green jumper, the sleeves pulled adorably over his palms. James’s heart caught in his throat at the mere sight of him.

“Something like that,” he responded breathily, like the air had been punched out of him. He found himself taking a subconscious step forward, delighted when he noticed the other boy do the same.

“It is rather loud in there,” Regulus admitted, the gentlest of creases forming between his brows.

Concern threaded through him. “Too much? No-one would blame you if you holed up in your room for a bit. Actually, are you doing that now? I could keep you company if–”

“I’m fine, Potter,” Regulus rolled his eyes. “Not made of glass.”

“Right, sorry.”

The boy quirked his lip. “I was only nipping to the lavatory.”

“Ah.” James took a sheepish step back. “Sorry to stop you then. You probably have to—”

“I’m not desperate.” Regulus stepped forward, eliminating the distance James had just put there. “I saw you speaking with my cousins earlier. I’m surprised they didn’t eat you alive.”

“It was a near thing,” he quipped, grinning down at the shorter boy. “But I have practice dealing with the Black family and their particular strain of viciousness.”

Grey eyes twinkled. “‘Dealing’ with us, you say? Are we such a chore?”

“More like a fun challenge.”

“You think me a challenge?”

James thought he was the challenge, the prize, and the whole damn competition. Regulus Black was everything.

“Yes,” he answered quietly. “But I like challenges.”

They were so close, James realised. Somehow much closer than they had been before. He didn’t recall moving forward at all, but he must have. He was near enough now to feel the other boy’s breath against his skin. Close enough to see a hundred shades of grey in mesmerising irises, framed by the most stunning and long lashes.

“Do you?” The word came out husky from pretty pink lips. James was drunk on it.

“I do.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he wasn’t even sure what he was saying anymore. It didn’t matter. Nothing but Regulus mattered.

“I’ve got a challenge for you, Potter,” Regulus murmured, his words like siren song. He tilted his chin up so they could make steady eye contact, James easily getting lost in grey depths. “Will you accept?”

He found himself nodding, too enraptured for words.

Silently, Regulus reached for James’s wrist. Gradually, incrementally, painfully slow, he brought James’s hand to his own waist, his gaze studying his face intently like he was waiting for James to spook at any moment.

James was far from spooked. The greater issue at hand was that he was struggling to breathe. His chest heaved shallowly, his breath stolen by the boy in front of him. Beneath his palm, he could feel the knit of thick cashmere at Regulus’s waist, could feel the curve of his shape beneath the fabric. But he could barely believe it. Was this actually real? Was he actually holding Regulus by his mouth-wateringly trim waist? What had he done in his past life to deserve this gift?

“Getting the hint yet?” Regulus whispered. So close, and so perfect, and so warm under James’s touch.

“Think so,” he managed, nearly inaudible. He began to lean in, hyperaware of every sensation in his body. The wild thumping of his heart, the roaring in his ears, the flutter in his stomach.

He leaned closer and Regulus made no move to stop him.

Closer.

         Closer.

                   Closer.

“This was not on my bingo card,” Remus’s voice cut dryly through the air, approaching from the direction of the loo. James whipped around to see his friend’s pointedly raised eyebrow and judgemental expression. “Padfoot’s baby brother? Really Prongs?”

“I’m not a fucking baby.” Regulus stepped back, scowling sourly, the mood utterly deteriorated. James had never hated Remus more than he did right now.

“For fuck’s sake, Moony!”

Remus didn’t budge. “Does Sirius know about this? Or are you shagging behind his back?”

James fumed, forcing himself to take a calming breath. “I’ll be back in a second,” he disclaimed to Regulus, before storming over to the cockblock he called ‘friend’, and grabbing his arm. He seethed as he hauled him back towards the dining room. “When you two get together, I am going to make it my mission to interrupt you as often as possible.”

Remus frowned. “What are you on about?”

James dragged him quicker. Sirius came into view, standing nervously in the doorway of the dining room. If it were up to Remus, the boy would never approach – not when he could get trapped under the mistletoe with Sirius. Unfortunately for him, James had a job to do.

“This,” he announced, unceremoniously shoving Remus forward.

The bloke stumbled a few steps before catching himself against the doorframe, nearly tipping over again when his feet stuck like glue to the floor.

James watched with evil vindication as several realisations flitted across Remus’s face in quick succession.

First: that he was stuck in the mistletoe-afflicted doorway.

Second: that he was stuck in the mistletoe-afflicted doorway with Sirius, his best friend and his crush.

Third: that the only way out of this predicament was to kiss said crush.

He sent a betrayed look James’s way. “I hate you.”

“I want to officiate the wedding,” James responded blithely, irate and out of fucks to give. He’d spent years hoping these two would get their shit together and start dating, but at this particular moment, his brain was stuck on Regulus. He just wanted to see this plan through so he could get back to the Slytherin boy. “Now kiss, or so help me I will drug you both with veritaserum and lock you in a room with plenty of condoms.”

Remus turned wide eyes on Sirius. “Ignore him! He’s just–”

“I’m not a coward,” Sirius interrupted determinedly. “I’m not going to let you talk me out of this.”

“I— what?”

“I like you, and I want to kiss you,” Sirius continued, bold and brutally honest. That was one way to do it, James supposed.

Remus’s eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. “What?”

“I like you, and I want to kiss you,” Sirius repeated, all bravado to mask the tremor of anxiety behind his eyes. “May I?”

The other boy blinked rapidly. “Y-Yes! Yeah! Definitely yes!”

Sirius didn’t wait to be told twice. He yanked Remus down by the collar of his jumper, to smash their lips together in a heated fervour. As their feet unstuck, Sirius only crowded closer, pinning Remus against the doorframe and rising up onto his tiptoes to bring himself even closer.

It was cute, honestly, and it’d been a long time coming, so James found himself softening against his will. He could hear cheers and wolf whistles emanating from inside the dining room, but the two boys didn’t pay attention to anything but each other.

“Go out with me?” Remus panted once they finally parted for air, looking frazzled and dazed. Like he wasn’t entirely certain this was real.

“I’ll do you one better,” Sirius grinned, hair ruffled, and lips kissed pink. “Be my boyfriend?”

Remus’s only answer was to pull him into another kiss.

At long, fucking, last.

Years of pining, finally resolved! It was a miracle as far as James was concerned.

Satisfied his work here was done, James turned back to look down the hallway, only to find it empty. He retraced his steps, searching, but Regulus was nowhere to be seen.

He slumped against the wall, disappointed and pissed off. He… They… James swore they nearly kissed. If Remus hadn’t interrupted… They would have… Would Regulus still want to…? James prayed to the gods he would.

He was more determined than ever to confess his feelings. He just needed to find the right time to do it. Not in the charmed doorway in front of everyone. And James certainly shouldn’t ambush him fresh out of the loo.

With a sigh, he trudged back into the dining room in time for a game of charades. Outwardly, he smiled, but inwardly, he couldn’t help mourning the moment that had almost been. They had been so close to kissing. And then James could have told him how he felt, and maybe, just maybe, Regulus would have told him he felt the same way. That moment was gone forever now, but James was already on the lookout for a new one. One perfect moment where, if he was lucky, everything might fall into place.

*

James’s parents defeated everyone at charades in an embarrassing landslide. They read each other’s movements like it was easy and guessed things from associations that only they seemed to understand. Marlene and James made a pretty good team too, though not as good as the winners. They’d been charades partners since James could remember, and so they were a fairly well-oiled machine by now, managing to snag third place behind the formidable team of Lily and Mary. Sirius pouted at not being able to team up with James, but was quickly placated when Remus offered to be his partner. The pair spent more time staring adoringly at each other and stealing kisses than actually playing the game, but no-one begrudged them for it. Hope even started stealing Dad’s camera to take pictures of them at every turn, cooing proudly and grinning at the sight of her son and son’s new boyfriend.

After the game which had given everyone some time to digest the feast, James helped clear the table and serve dessert, which was a huge hit. Dad had gone all out, whipping up tiramisu and trifle and crumble galore, others bringing cheesecake and biscuits and everything any of them could possibly want. James loaded his plate and vowed to worry about it during tomorrow’s workout, instead, simply enjoying the flavours that burst on his tongue.

Mum got out the crackers and started distributing them, commotion rippling through the room as everyone readied themselves. They each crossed their arms over each other, holding onto one side of a cracker with someone else on either side. On the count of the three, they pulled, the sounds of ear-splitting cracks erupting in a sudden cacophony. Little firework charms shot out of the crackers, exploding into the air above their heads in a shower of brightly coloured lights. James won one of two of his crackers, and grinned as he prodded through it. They went around the table loudly reading out the jokes they’d each received, trying to guess the punchlines before it was revealed. James proudly wore his red paper crown atop his head and fiddled with the strange little puzzle he’d received as his prize.

Eventually, dessert was finished, and the evening began to wind down, everyone gradually migrating from the dining room to the drawing room where there were sofas to lounge upon. James stayed behind to help his parents clear the table once more, Regulus doing the same whilst Sirius held court with the guests. They would worry about washing the dishes and properly cleaning the dining room later, but for now they simply moved the mess and dealt with the leftover food.

It was quiet as they worked. A comfortable sort of quiet. Though James found himself frequently looking over at Regulus, trying to will himself to speak.

He couldn’t just confess his feelings straight out of the gate, could he? It would probably be better to ease into it. But how? His brain abruptly wiped of all appropriate conversation topics besides the weather and Quidditch. But he couldn’t exactly go, ‘Hey, how about those Holyhead Harpies, right? Wanna make out?’ – Not the smoothest of transitions.

In the end, he didn’t have to figure out a lead in. The gods did that for him.

While Regulus left the room to hand James’s parents a couple of platters in the kitchen, James piled a precarious stack of plates together and turned with far too much confidence in his balance, overshooting and stumbling backwards into the altar mantle which held some of their icons, namely the ones watching over their feasting table to ensure they would have enough to eat. He felt himself collide with it, sending half of the mantle’s contents tumbling to the floor.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, hurrying to put the plates back down. He rushed through reassembling the mantle, sending up harried prayers of apology and thanking his lucky stars that there weren’t any lit candles involved. After a few minutes, he managed to restore order, though the sight of the mantle altar gave him pause. It was missing something. He looked around for the final piece.

Luckily, he spotted none other than Gus, Regulus’s Yule Goat over by the doorway. It was so small and light it must have skittered away in the frenzy, though he wasn’t entirely sure how it’d travelled so far.

Shrugging the thought off, he went to retrieve it, his hand closing around the straw just as feet came into view. He quickly straightened up and made to move out of the way when… he couldn’t. His feet were stuck in place.

Bewildered, he looked down into familiar grey eyes, dark and gorgeous as ever. The colour of impenetrable stone. The colour of storm and sea. The colour that haunted James’s every moment, in dream and waking alike. Because, of course, James would find himself beneath the mistletoe with Regulus. Of course.

“Ah.” The Slytherin experimentally tugged at his feet, finding them to be as rooted into place as James’s. “Well, then.”

“One of these days, I’m going to murder Sirius,” James muttered under his breath.

Close enough to hear, Regulus only smirked. “Get in line. If anyone does it, it’ll be me.”

Reflexively, James smiled. Endeared so quickly and easily by the object of his affections.

An adorable crease appeared between Regulus’s brows. “Is that Gus?”

“Oh! Yeah!” James held him up sheepishly. “I knocked him over by accident. Sorry.”

The boy grabbed his wrist to steady it and inspected the deformed goat ornament with the utmost intensity. “He appears undamaged, thankfully.”

Something warm bloomed in James’s heart. “You really like him, huh?”

“He was a gift,” Regulus replied defensively, snatching Gus from James’s grip to examine him some more.

James practically preened at knowing how valued his gift had been to the boy. It felt like a lifetime ago that he’d crouched over his desk, meticulously shaping a pile of straw into the rough shape of a goat, all with the intention of brightening his new housemate’s holiday. And now, here they were, the same people, yet so different. He felt far closer to Regulus than they had been back then, but he wanted to be even closer.

“Listen, Regulus,” James began carefully. “About earlier…”

Regulus’s fearful frown cut him off.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Regulus said gruffly, attempting to take a step back and swaying violently when his foot didn’t lift as he’d intended. James scrambled to steady him, but this only seemed to anger the Slytherin further. “Stop! Let go!”

James held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry! I know you don’t need my help—”

“Stop!” Regulus cut him off, furious out of nowhere. “Stop it with the nice, confusing platitudes!”

“Confusing?” James repeated, bewildered.

“Yes, confusing!” Regulus doubled down. “Are you even aware of how confusing you are? You are constantly sending me mixed messages!”

“What?”

“No, shut up!” Regulus silenced him. James’s jaw shut with an audible click. The shorter boy glared up at him, their faces only inches apart. “You are constantly being so nice, and kind, and hitting me with the most thoughtful gestures anyone has ever directed my way! And then you turn around and treat someone else the same way! So, I can’t figure out if you’re being nice because you’re you, or because I’m me!”

James opened his mouth to speak but Regulus shoved an accusing finger into his sternum. “I’m not finished!”

James closed his mouth.

“You should never be allowed to speak!” The boy berated him. “Because when you do, you call me ‘perfect’, and ‘handsome’, and ‘a pure Lionheart’! And that is inexcusable! You can’t just say shit like that to me! Do you even knowwhat that does to a person?! I live in perpetual fear that the next words out of your mouth will be some flowery bullshit that somehow turns me into a puddle yet again! Do you know how mortifying that is?! It should be illegal! I should gag you and save the world the trouble!”

James wisely did not argue.

“That’s not normal, you know?! Those aren’t normal things to say to a person! Those are intimate, and they make me feel things, and I hate you for it! They make me want to strangle you, and shag you, and do unspeakable things to you! It’s obscene!”

He narrowed his eyes fiercely. “They’re also so fucking gay — the things you say to me. You can’t just tell me I’m perfect and expect me to take it in a straight way! That’s flirting, James! Are you aware of that?! Are you aware that you have a crush on me, or is this news to you?!”

James wasn’t sure if he was supposed to answer or not. He had a feeling Regulus wasn’t done.

He wasn’t.

“I wouldn’t put it past you! You’re the most oblivious wanker I know! Didn’t even notice that floppy haired prick flirting up a storm with you for three hours straight!”

“You mean Marshall?”

Regulus’s eyes flamed.

Oh, that was a mistake. Talking was a big mistake.

The boy grasped James’s chin in a vice-like grip, covering his mouth like his hand was a muzzle. “Keep his name OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!”

Eyes going wide, James nodded as far as he could in Regulus’s hold.

“You’re not allowed to speak about him!” Regulus informed him, with all the gentleness of a drill sergeant. “Salazar, you’re not allowed to think about him! Do you hear me?”

Again, he nodded.

Regulus only seemed mildly appeased. “I can’t do this anymore!” He screeched, frustration in every line of his face. “I was trying to be the good guy for once — giving you space, letting you figure things out in your own time — but I’m OVER IT! This uncertainty ends TODAY! I cannot take not knowing how you feel anymore! I’m tired of it!

“Because I know you like me,” Regulus’s voice dropped low and dangerous, eyes boring holes into James’s skull. “I know you want me. I just can’t figure out in what way. Do you want to date me? Shag me? Do things the proper way and court me? I can’t tell, and it’s been driving me insane for weeks!

“Sirius says it’s all of the above, that you want me however you can have me. But if he’s wrong and all you want is a quick fuck, I’m going to have to murder him for getting my hopes up,” Regulus declared. “And then I’ll go to Azkaban for fratricide. I’ll have to live with that on my conscience for the rest of my life, and it will all be your fault!”

“Regulus—” James tried bravely.

Regulus clamped his hand around James’s mouth tighter. “No,” he whispered murderously. “You’re going to be a good boy, and hear all about the suffering you’ve caused me for weeks. Months. Years. Ever since the moment we met on that stupid bloody train, and you made my eleven-year-old heart skip a beat with that terrible, perfect smile of yours.”

James’s eyes widened in surprise. But that meant… that meant…

“Yes, exactly,” Regulus confirmed irately. “You’ve been terrorising me for years! And then you go and start hand-making me gifts!” Regulus aggressively brandished Gus. “And getting in snowball fights with me! And buying me expensive rings! And being hot whilst politicking! And it turns out you’ve been queer this whole time! That I actually have a chance!”

Regulus glowered, practically growling his words. “Hope is a hideous thing, Potter. I hate it. You gifted me so much of it, and I hate you for it. Why would you do that to me? Why would you set me up for disappointment like that? Why are you so perfect all the time? Why do you say the right things? Why do you indulge my whims? Why do you care so much about my family — the people that mean the most to me? Why do you get along with my friends? Why do you make me feel special? Why do you lift me up so much? I hate it. I hate hope, and I hate you, and I can’t stand to live this way any longer!”

He stared intently into James’s eyes. “Love me or leave me, James Fleamont Potter. Those are your only choices. I’ve decided.”

James could feel himself smiling beneath Regulus’s palm, decision long since made. “May I speak now?” He asked, muffled.

Reluctantly, the boy pulled his hand away. “Don’t go on a whole roundabout speech, Potter. I want a quick answe—mfph!”

James kissed him.

Not to shut him up, but because he wanted to. Because it seemed like Regulus wanted him to as well.

It was the greatest mistletoe kiss of all time.

There were fireworks, and butterflies, and sparks of electricity up his spine, the world falling away to every cliché at once. Because this was Regulus. Regulus’s plush lips pressed against his, Regulus’s waist beneath his hands, Regulus’s body tucked up against his own. This was the boy who liked to cut with his words, and plot with the enthusiasm of a supervillain. The boy with the most adorable laugh, and the softest little smile that James would write sonnets about if he could. The boy with eyes so beautiful, James never wanted to look away from their grey depths.

It was Regulus, in all of his flaws and his perfection. And it was James whom Regulus let this close.

It was everything. It was the best gift of them all.

“I’m choosing love, if that wasn’t clear,” James murmured against his lips as he pulled back, but only barely. “I very much want anything you’re willing to give me.”

“We’re going to marry,” Regulus decided. “And you’re not allowed to look at anyone else.”

“Okay,” James agreed easily, recapturing his lips.

It took several minutes for them to speak again.

“I’m not actually telling you what to do,” Regulus clarified as they pulled back a second time. “I won’t do anything drastic if—”

James chuckled lightly. “I know, love. Don’t worry. Besides, you’re not the only one with a jealous streak.”

At this, the boy smirked. “Barty.”

“Worst part: I actually like the bloke,” James admitted, a touch bashful. “I just don’t like knowing he could have you.”

Regulus rolled his eyes. “He couldn’t. We tried it once and it failed. My sights are set otherwise now.”

James grinned. “Are we actually getting married? Because I’m not opposed, I’m just—”

The boy’s cheeks flushed a delightful pink colour that had James caressing the skin softly, utterly fascinated. “No. I— well—” He cleared his throat and James relished in having flustered the normally so even-footed boy. “That is to say— I— We— Erm—”

“How about we table marriage for now?” James took pity on him.

He gave a clumsy, hasty nod. “Yes, I— ahem. That will be sufficient. I propose— not propose! I—”

“Want to try dating?” James supplied, with a shit-eating grin. “Like normal teenagers? Not Heirs to Houses and so on.”

Regulus nodded again, seeming relieved. “Precisely. That. I— erm, we’ll have to be discreet. Dating is improper, and you’ve only recently declared that you’re not looking to enter any courtships. We’ll have to wait to be publicly coupled in any capacity. At the very least, until the Summer Season.”

James grinned wider. “Planning to still be together in six months’ time? That’s bold considering we haven’t even had a first date yet.”

Regulus dropped his head against James’s shoulder, giving up entirely. “I hate you.”

“Sure, that’s why we’re getting married one day,” James teased, arms slowly wrapping around the other boy to hold him in a hug. He kept his movements steady and deliberate in case Regulus showed any sign of discomfort or protest. If anything, though, Regulus only seemed to burrow closer, sinking into the embrace, so James hugged him properly.

“This is nice,” the boy mumbled cutely into his shoulder. “This is one of your boyfriend duties now.”

“Oh, is it?” James couldn’t keep the mirth from his tone. Even now, cocooned in a hug and obviously embarrassed, Regulus was still bossing him around. Ever the pint-sized dictator. (James adored it and wouldn’t change him for a thing.)

Regulus hummed. “You also have to teach me to cook, and bake gingerbread with me every Yuletide. Next year’s house has to be even better.”

“Oh yeah?”

“And you have to let me wear those atrocious hoodies of yours. They’re hideous but they look warm.”

“They’re pretty warm,” James conceded, smile wide.

“And you have to let me kiss you whenever I want, and do whatever I say.”

James nearly laughed. “Sounds entirely fair and equal.”

“You get me in return, so I’d say so.”

James dropped a kiss into his perfect hair. His boyfriend’s perfect hair.

There was a tradition amongst Wix during Yuletide. On the Twelfth Night, the First Day of the New Year, you’re supposed to make a vow. A resolution that you will try your damn best to keep for the rest of the year, because you’ve vowed it to the gods above. And the gods take vows very seriously.

James tightened his grip on Regulus and held him close as he spoke his promise. “I vow to do everything in my power to make you happy,” he pronounced, with the proper ceremonial cadence.

Regulus’s head shot up from James’s shoulder. “That’s your vow? You’re making that your vow for the year?”

James cupped his cheek in a tender gesture. “Yes. It’s spoken now. In front of the gods and everything.”

Regulus held up Gus in disbelief, the icon of the spirit of plenty. The symbol of a divine protector. To make a vow like this count, you had to do it in front of an altar or a divine icon, and by speaking in front of little Gus, James had indeed spoken his vow in ritual fashion.

For several long moments, Regulus stared at Gus, then James, then Gus, then James. When he finally spoke, James was surprised by his words.

“I vow that I will not let myself get in the way and sabotage us,” Regulus promised, in the same ceremonial fashion as James. A perfect companion to James’s vow.

“You won’t sabotage this,” he told Regulus.

“Not anymore, I won’t,” the Slytherin replied sardonically. “It’s a divine vow now. I’ve got to stick to it.”

James smiled despite himself. “We’ll figure this out. I believe in us.”

Regulus blew out a heavy breath, wrapping his arms around James’s neck. “Bizarrely, so do I.”

“Kiss me again?”

Regulus did.

They kissed, and they kissed, and they kissed until James went dizzy with it, Regulus’s ability to take his breath away only amplified with the boyfriend title. They were no longer stuck in place by the mistletoe, their feet free to trip and fall as much as they usually did. But this time, they remained steady. This time, they stood firm in each other’s grasp.

In fact, James had never felt more balanced, or more grounded, than he did with Regulus in his arms.

He was rooted now, he and Regulus planting seeds they would get to grow and nurture together for years to come. They didn’t know the future. Didn’t know all of the happiness and success and family waiting for them on the edge of tomorrow. But they could both feel it, here in this moment, that this was the start of something beautiful.

Yule was still James’s favourite holiday, but he wasn’t sure how any Yuletide would ever top this one.

LA FIN.