Getting to know each other
Grimmuald Place has never felt like home to Regulus and it's not just because of his blood purist parents and their abusive ways or the desolate halls that seem to stretch on for miles. No. No it's not that.Grimmuald Place doesn't feel like home to Regulus because there Regulus Arcturus Black doesn't even exist.There, in that wretched house devoid of love and happiness where he spends his days writhing in pain on the floor at the mercy of his mother and father's wands, where he falls asleep on edge and with his hair matted with blood from when a simple crutiatus curse wasn't enough punishment in the cold and cruel eyes of his father, so he had turned to pocketing his wand and using his heavy fists instead. In that house he was still a she, he was Regina Black and his parents made sure he knew that.
Hogwarts is different though; Hogwarts is full of chatter and love and kindness and there he can simply exist as who he is, as Reguus Black. Deep in the depths of the dungeons regulus' dorm of which he shares with his friends Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch Jr is his home. Regulus' only home. His home where he was free to put his small trans flag on the wall in front of his bed. His home where he could talk without fear of punishment, without fear of disappointment.
Once upon a time Regulus thought his home would be wherever his dear older brother Sirius was, well until Sirrius upped and left to the Potter residence in his 4th year and Sirius' 5th just for Regulus to have to take the blame for all of his mistakes and nearly die because of it.
Regulus thought back to that night as he boarded the Hogwarts Express ready to begin his 5th year at hogwarts, he's turning 16 this year. That's how old Sirius was that night he ran. The night he didn't look back. When he didn't even try to bring Regulus with him. No. Instead he condemned him to a life of pain and longing in that torturous house with its haunting portraits decorating the halls and the bare bedroom of which he is forbidden to decorate. Sirius left him to die. Sirius hates him, his brother, and yet loves James Potter instead. Why is that? What could possibly be so great about him?
Regulus is brought out of his spiral by James Potter himself as he opens the door to his compartment; they lock eyes for a second, God is he breathtaking Reguls thinks before once again snapping out of it , James mutters a quiet "Pardon the intrsion" and enters, closing the door behind him and sitting across from Regulus.
Shooting him a glare and a low snarl Regulus begins to wonder what on God's Green Earth had possessed Potter to sit with him of all people instead of that treacherous brother of his.
As if he could read Regulus's mind James smiles awkwardly and says in that honey like voice of his "Sorry Reggie Sirius and I are arguing and the other compartments are full"
For a few seconds neither of them say anything, which Regulus guesses makes James quite uncomfortable judging by the significant amount of squirming he was doing in his seat.
"And what... pray tell...does that have to do with me Potter?" Reguls practically spits at him and there is so much venom behind the words that James' breath hitches just for a moment.
"Well Reggie-"
"Stop that" Regulus snaps seemingly out of nowhere, interrupting him.
"Stop what?" James replies tilting his head to the side slightly, a more pleasent smile plastering his face now instead of the awkward one he was sporting a few seconds ago.
"Stop calling me that. My name is Regulus and you will either refer to me as that or nothing at all."
"But Sirius-"
Regulus cuts him off " I couldn't give a rat's arse about what Sirius does" he says matter of factly. "Its either you call me Regulus or you leave! Now!
"Right, sorry"
"Now are you going to explain why you're here or are you going to continue with your quite frankly infuriating blubbering?"
"Ah yes! Sirius and I fell out and I'm giving him some space to calm down before we apologise to each other"
"I see." He gives a pointed look at James.
"What did you do"
"Aww Regg" he stops himself" I mean Aww Regulus you do care about us after all!"
And James has the absolute nerve to smile even brighter! How dare he? And how dare he look so handsome while doing it ? Wait what? Oh now that can't be good. Whatever strange feeling that smile elicted out of him certainly can't have been good and Regulus knows it.